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Minutes 02-11-25 Minutes of the Community Redevelopment Agency Board Meeting Held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 6:00 pm Or Soon Thereafter as the Special Joint Meeting of the Community Redevelopment Board and the City of Boynton Beach Commission City Hall Chambers, 100 E. Ocean Avenue and Online Present: Chair Ty Penserga Tim Tack, Acting Executive Director Vice Chair Aimee Kelley Katheryn Rossmell, Board Counsel Board Member Woodrow Hay Tammy Stanzione, Deputy City Clerk Board Member Angela Cruz Absent: Board Member Thomas Turkin 1. Call to Order Chair Penserga called the meeting to order at 7:49 P.M. 2. Invocation The Invocation was given by Board Member Hay. 3. Pledge of Allegiance Vice Chair Kelley led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 4. Roll Call Ms. Tammy Stanzione, Deputy City Clerk, called the roll. A quorum was present. 5. Agenda Approval A. Additions, Deletions, and Corrections to the Agenda B. Adoption of Agenda Chair Penserga asked the Board which items they wanted to hear from Section 16, CRA Projects in Progress. There was none. Motion: Board Member Cruz moved to approve the Agenda. Vice Chair Kelley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 6. Legal - None CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11, 2025 7. Informational Items and Disclosures by Board Members and CRA Staff: A. Disclosure of Conflicts, Contacts, and Relationships for Items Presented to the CRA Board on Agenda Chair Penserga, Vice Chair Kelley and Board Members Cruz and Hay stated they had individual conversations with Jeff Burns regarding Item 14F. 8. Information Only 9. Announcements and Awards There was none. 10. Public Comments The public comment section of the meeting is for public comment on items on the consent agenda or items that are not on the agenda. For items on the agenda, the public will be given an opportunity to comment at the time each item is considered. Each speaker will be given a total of three(3) minutes to comment; however, the Board retains the right to reduce the number of minutes prior to the start of public comment. Persons making public comment may not assign or donate their public comment time to another individual to allow that other individual additional time to comment; however, any persons requiring assistance will be accommodated as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Prior to addressing the Board, please go to the podium or unmute your device when prompted, and state your name and address for the record. Chair Penserga opened public comment. Tom Warnke, Vice Chair of the Move the Historic Andrews House committee, stated that he researched the cost of demolishing the Andrews House, which would range from five to fifteen thousand dollars. He also looked into the cost of moving the house, estimating it would be between seventy-five and one hundred fifty thousand dollars. Warnke emphasized that the Andrews House was the home of Major Boynton's daughter. Not only is it the oldest house in Boynton, but it was also frequented by the founder of the City. He announced that a charrette would take place on February 20th at City Hall. Susan Oyer proposed that the Board allocate part of the unreserved balance to preserve and rehabilitate the Andrews House. She mentioned that she sent an email to the Board at 5:15 PM with suggestions on how to utilize the House. Additionally, she highlighted that the City was originally a farming village, not a fishing village, and pointed out that Boynton is one of the oldest cities in the County. She questioned why 2 Georges was getting a sixty thousand dollar grant it is an established business and should be paid off by now. CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11, 2025 Barbara Ready, Chair of the Historical Resources Preservation Board, emphasized the importance of Boynton's history. She suggested that the Board allocate funds from the unreserved fund balance to the Historic Preservation Program. Since no one else stepped forward, Chair Penserga concluded the public comment period. 11. Consent Agenda A. CRA Financial Report Period Ending January 31, 2025 B. Approval of the CRA Board Meeting Minutes for November 21, 2024 C. Approval of the CRA Board Meeting Minutes for December 10, 2024 D. Approval of the CRA Board Meeting Minutes for January 14, 2025 E. Approval of the Commercial Property Improvement Grant Program in the Amount of $59,750 to DSS Restaurant Management Inc. d/b/a Two Georges Waterfront Grill located at 728 Casa Loma Boulevard F. Approval of the Commercial Property Improvement Grant Program in the Amount of $27,900 to Robinsons BBQ Inc. located at 132 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard G. Approval of the Commercial Rent Reimbursement Grant Program in the Amount of $24,000 to Bungalow at Boynton LLC d/b/a The Bungalow Bar & Grill located at 511 NE 4th Street H. Approval of the Commercial Property Improvement Grant Program in the Amount of $9,571.48 to The Meaning Channel Group LLC located in Colonial Center at 1210 S. Federal Highway, Unit 101 I. Approval of a Second 90-Day Extension to Trilogy Fitness & MMA LLC located in Ocean Palm Plaza at 1550 N. Federal Highway Units 4-10 for their Commercial Property Improvement Grant J. Approval of the First Addendum to the Purchase and Sale Agreement for 225 NE 9th Avenue for an Extension of Time Motion: Board Member Hay moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Vice Chair Kelley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 12. Pulled Consent Agenda Items - None 13. CRA Advisory Board A. Pending Assignments - Assignments from the CRA Board Assigned at the February 13, 2024 and the January 14, 2025 CRA Monthly Board Meetings 3 CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11 , 2025 Mr. Tack provided an overview of the Board's assignments and noted that the Board recommended acquiring a property, which will be presented at the next meeting. 14. Old Business A. Audited Financial Statements - Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Jobara Jenkins, the Accounting and Finance Manager, stated that the auditors did not find any errors or omissions during the audit. Chair Penserga praised Ms. Jenkins and the entire team for 16 years of maintaining a clean audit. Motion: Board member Cruz moved to Accept and approve the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 audited financial statements for the period beginning October 1 , 2023, and ending September 30, 2024. Board Member Hay seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. Continued Discussion and Consideration of the Preliminary Designs for the MLK Entry Feature Park on the CRA-Owned Property Located at 1101 N. Federal Highway Bonnie Nicklien, Grants and Project Manager, reported that from November 2024 to January 28, 2025, the staff collected community input through various channels. These included community meetings, social media, newsletters, utility bill inserts, project boards, and events hosted by the City/CRA. In total, the CRA received 542 survey responses. She noted that 92% of these responses came from residents of Boynton Beach. Version 1 of "I Dream" received the highest number of votes. Additionally, residents expressed a desire for an emergency call button, dog waste disposal cans, holiday lighting, and the incorporation of famous quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. Duane Burrows, AW Architects, gave an overview of Version 1 "I Dream". Board Member Hay inquired about the size of the benches. Mr. Burrows responded that the benches are approximately 18 inches. Board Member Hay asked if the lights would be left on overnight. Mr. Burrows replied yes and noted that it is recommended so that people can not hide in dark corners. Chair Penserga inquired if there would be room for dog waste stations. 4 CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach. FL February 11 , 2025 Mr. Burrows stated that the dog waste stations will be located at either entrance of the entry feature. Board Member Hay inquired about the types of flowers to be planted, expressing concern about the need to replant every year. Mr. Burrows stated that a landscape architect will be used to determine the best low- maintenance planting to be installed. Ms. Nicklien noted that the Board will review and approve the final design. Chair Penserga inquired if there had been a conversation about the emergency call polls. Mr. Tack stated that those conversations would be had after the final layout of the entry feature. Vice Chair Kelley stated that she does agree with Mr. Burrows regarding the wall being installed in front of the train tracks. There was a Board consensus to move forward with Version 1 "I Dream". Board Member Hay inquired if gunshot detectors would be placed in the entry feature. Chair Penserga asked that more information on the gunshot detectors be brought back to the next meeting. C. Circuit Transit Inc. 3rd Quarterly Report for Service Dated October 1, 2024 - December 30, 2024 Mr. Tack stated that On January 18, 2024, the CRA Board approved the contract with Circuit Inc. for the CRA pilot ride-share program which will provide all-electric on-demand transportation services. Alana Wortsman, Circuit Transit, Inc. provided a presentation on the 3`(1 Quarterly Report for Service dated October 1 , 2024 -December 30, 2024. She noted that the service area was extended north. Board Member Hay inquired about the ridership in District 2. Mr. Tack stated that the number of drop-offs and pick-ups within the HOB is on the rise. Chair Penserga noted that there was an increase in ridership for January and asked if any changes contributed to this increase. CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11, 2025 Ms. Wortsman noted that the increase is typical for South Florida, as people from colder regions travel to warmer areas. Vice Chair Kelley stated that she was happy to see a spike in ridership during City events. D. Discussion and Consideration of Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for On-Demand Transportation Service with Circuit Transit Inc. Mr. Tack provided an overview of Amendment No. 1 and stated that it would need the Board approval. Motion: Vice Chair Kelley moved to approve Amendment No. 1. to the Agreement for On-Demand Transportation Services with Circuit Transit Inc. pending final legal review. Board Member Hay seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. E. Discussion and Consideration of Approval of the First Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) between the CRA and the City of Boynton Beach regarding Contract with Circuit Transit Inc. for the CRA Pilot Ride Share Program. Mr. Tack provided an overview of the First Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement between the CRA and the City of Boynton Beach regarding the Contract with Circuit Transit Inc. for the CR Pilot Ride Share Program and noted that it would need the Board's approval. Vice Chair Kelley inquired if the Amendment tracks the prior agreement. Ms. Rossmell stated that the Amendment does track the prior Agreement. She noted that the only change was the extension of the Agreement. Chair Penserga opened public comment. Susan Oyer inquired about when the program will be extended to Tri-Rail. She suggested that the program be extended out to Gateway and Congress. Chair Penserga replied that going outside of the CRA District the City would need to contribute to the Program. Motion: Vice Chair Kelley moved to approve the First Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) between the CRA and the City of Boynton Beach regarding the Contract with Circuit Transit Inc. 6 CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11, 2025 for the BBCRA Pilot Ride Share Program with the amendments that were edited and subject to final legal review. Board Member Cruz seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. F. Discussion and Consideration of the Second Amendment to the Purchase and Development Agreement and the First Amendment to the Tax Increment Revenue Funding Agreement between the CRA and BB QOZ, LLC for the 115 N. Federal Highway Mixed Use Project (The Pierce) Mr. Tack stated that in June 2022, the CRA Board approved a Purchase and Development Agreement (PDA), the Tax Increment Revenue Funding Agreement, and the Parking Lease Agreement with BB QOZ, LLC for The Pierce project in response to litigation, the PDA was subsequently amended to extend specific deadlines BB QOZ, LLC has requested additional amendments to the PDA. Ms. Rossmell indicated that the amendment currently before the Board was requested by the developer. She explained that the primary aspect of the request is to permit the developer to finalize the property purchase before receiving confirmation of financial closing. However, it would still require that financial closing occur before construction begins. Additionally, she mentioned that changes would be made to the reverter clause, stating that if evidence of financial closing is not provided, the property would revert. She also noted that the developer has agreed to cover the legal fees associated with the reversion of the property. Jeff Burns, Affiliated Development, stated that he would like to provide background on how this situation unfolded. He said that he original structure they proposed was designed to facilitate our financial closing. He said that they finalized our Joint Notice of Participation (JNP), secured financing from the bank, and completed the land acquisition, all while preparing to initiate the project simultaneously. He commented that during the permitting process, they discovered that in order to proceed with their financing, begin construction, and execute a JNP with their contractor, they needed to relocate certain utilities. He said that they have encountered a situation involving an overhead power line and an underground sewer main located in the alley between Ace Hardware and the Bradley Miller building. He said that the utilities are positioned too close to the site where they plan to construct a garage. He said that as a result, their lender and general contractor are hesitant to proceed due to the unknown risks associated with dealing with the utility companies, which have varying timelines depending on the case. Jeff Burns said that they have considered a couple of options. The first option is to accept the risks and maintain the current situation. This would involve extending our contract timeframe by approximately 12 months, allowing sufficient time to navigate the complexities with the public utility companies. He noted that this approach would necessitate commencing construction on the southern portion of the site, where Hurricane Alley is currently operating. He stated that the extended timeline would lead to a longer period of downtime for Hurricane Alley. He said that their objective in completing the utility work on the northern portion of the property is to facilitate the construction of the new Hurricane Alley and the parking garage without the interference of CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11, 2025 these utilities. He said that this would ultimately minimize the duration of Hurricane Alley's closure, which is our primary goal. He stated that the second option, which is being presented today, is to allow for a financial closing ahead of schedule. He said that this approach provides them with the property as collateral, enabling them to spend their funds on necessary work. He said that specifically, they would pay out of pocket—approximately six figures—to relocate the overhead utility lines underground and remove the old clay pipes, thereby clearing the way for construction to commence. He said that the purpose of this amendment is to enable them to cover these expenses. He said that this presents a greater financial risk on their part but does not change the overall timeline. He said that you still retain the reverter rights however, this option would allow us to expedite the project and reduce the period during which Hurricane Alley is closed. He said that there is another option to consider: the CRA could retain ownership of the property while agreeing to fund the necessary utility work. He said that in this case, they would facilitate the project and act as the applicant. He said that they would hire the general contractor, sign contracts with the civil subcontractor, and manage the underground work themselves, with the CRA covering the costs. He said that after the financial closing with Achieva, they would reimburse the CRA for the expenses incurred. He noted that in this scenario, while the property would not change hands beforehand, it's essential to note that they cannot improve property they do not own simply by securing institutional capital; this would not reflect best practices. Board Member Cruz stated that she is supportive of the project and wants to ensure that it continues to move forward however, she is a bit nervous about giving Affiliated the property without proof of financing. She stated that she would consider looking into options "b" or "c," which involve exploring what the CRA could potentially do. She said that her goal is to find a way to make the project happen and to minimize the time that Hurricane Alley is closed. She noted that it is crucial to protect our property, especially since we have encountered issues with Town Square in the past. Mr. Burns stated that for them to receive financing commitments the utilities need to be addressed. Vice Chair Kelley stated that she had some concerns about taking too much risk however, she is open to having Jeff Burns and his legal team collaborate with us and our staff to explore what the CRA can legally do within our parameters to help expedite the process and assist the utilities. She said that she wanted to avoid any delays, especially since this project encompasses Hurricane Alley. She said that it is important that we minimize the amount of time the businesses are closed because, as we all know, the restaurant business can be quite vulnerable. Being closed for any length of time can result in losing employees. She commented that she is aware of this issue and wants to ensure that we take every possible step to mitigate the impact on the business, while also protecting the residents involved in this land deal. She said that she is ti CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11, 2025 open to revisiting this discussion if we find that there are not many options available or if we face limitations in what we can do. Chair Penserga stated that option 3 offers greater security for the CRA and its funds. He emphasized the importance of starting on the north side first to ensure a suitable location for Hurricane Alley to relocate. He then inquired about the expected duration of the relocation process and whether it would affect the timeline for fixing the utilities. Lastly, he asked what the plan is for parking. Mr. Burns replied that they are currently working with the building department on phasing the project, which will be a significant component. He said that their priority is to ensure a secure site; we do not want anyone to be in danger due to construction activities. He said that they will implement the project in phases. Phase one involves utility undergrounding to relocate those utilities. He said that once they secure financing, they will begin construction on the project, starting from the north end. He said that their first steps will include demolishing the Bradley Miller building and the lot closest to it, as well as some of the right-of-way. He said that then they would work counterclockwise around the site. He noted that the phasing approach allows them to delay the demolition of the building on Ocean Avenue or Hurricane Alley until necessary. He said that there will be extensive work to be done in that area. He said that during construction, there will be a temporary parking plan that Hurricane will need to coordinate with the City to ensure appropriate parking for their customers. He said that this plan can also be developed in collaboration with surrounding businesses. He commented that they are doing their best to phase this project and get it underway as quickly as possible. Board Member Hay stated that he is concerned because they have been down this road before. He said that this project does not revolve around Hurricane Alley. He said that it centers on the principle that when you know better, you do better. He said that he did not understand why we had an agreement that they are now trying to change. He inquired whether it would be faster, better, or cheaper. He mentioned that these are the types of answers he seeks, yet he has not heard any of these solutions in what has been discussed. Board Member Hay stated that he can support option number three, which means we take another look at this, but he still needs answers to his questions. He inquired why do you need this land now when you didn't before. He asked if it was related to securing your financing. Are you struggling to get the loan? He stated that something does not feel right to him, and I'm being honest about that. Mr. Burns replied that this would likely expedite our project timeline by up to a year. He said that It will also increase safety, as we plan to bury the overhead utility lines that are currently located within a 10-foot radius of the construction site. He noted that OSHA regulations prohibit the construction of a parking garage in such proximity to overhead power lines. Board Member Hay inquired when would the clock start ticking. 9 CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11, 2025 Mr. Burns replied that this approach will allow them to expedite the project's delivery by up to one year. He said that if we choose not to do this, we will face a significantly longer timeline. He said that although they do not have to spend that money upfront, the extended timeframe stems from the bank and our general contractor not wanting to assume the risks related to uncertainties surrounding the public utility companies. Board Member Hay expressed his concern that this decision also opens the door to risk. He stated that unless our legal team can provide a definitive safeguard in writing, he feels uncomfortable with the current discussion. He emphasized that if the terms are not met and we attempt to reclaim the property, we could face legal action. Mr. Burns stated that he believes that we are all comfortable with option three. He said that whatever gets the project moving forward more quickly, we are all in this together. He said that we did not anticipate having to relocate all those utilities underground, but we learned that as part of the process. He said that we are handling it, and it is not uncommon to face such challenges. He noted that it is not unusual to encounter issues with the quality of the surrounding infrastructure. He said that as you delve deeper into a project, you learn more about the specific details and challenges associated with it. Board Member Hay stated that he had heard this before and we ended up in a hot mess. He said that he wants something that assures him that we will not end up back where we are now. Chair Penserga inquired if expediting the project by a year is something they can commit to in writing. Mr. Burns stated that he can guarantee that will expedite things because without that we are at the mercy of the public utilities. He said that he believes our progress will undoubtedly be much quicker if we can address this issue upfront instead of pushing it off to the contractor. He noted that when they initially structured this project, they made several decisions that differed from the town square project. He said that one key difference is the inclusion of a reverter clause. which allows the property to revert to the CRA if Affiliated fails to fulfill their obligations. He noted that the CRA has ample protection in place. He said that their main objective is to build this project, and they are doing everything they can to work with the City and the CRA to get this underway as swiftly as possible. He said that unfortunately, they experienced delays due to an external party that chose to bring a legal matter against the City, which was beyond their control. He said that however, we have consistently exceeded the timelines outlined in our contract with you. He said that we are moving forward as quickly as we can, and he believes the current protections in place for the CRA will prevent issues similar to those experienced with the Town Square project. He said that they are committed to working with legal to ensure that if we proceed with option three, those same protections remain in effect. IC) CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11, 2025 Mr. Tack commented that they have monthly coordination meetings with FPL and our staff to facilitate cooperation and expedite the process of working with FPL. He also noted that the situation with the sewer and clay pipes is somewhat different. Mr. Burns stated that to install the overhead lines underground, they cannot use the existing clay pipe because it may get damaged. He said that therefore, they need to replace the clay pipe with a more durable option that can accommodate the overhead lines in the same area. Chair Penserga confirmed that Mr. Tack has been directed to collaborate with Affiliated on an alternative plan and report back at the next meeting. G. Continued Discussion and Consideration of MLK Jr. Boulevard Corridor Mixed Use Project Update (d/b/a Heart of Boynton Shops) 15. New Business A. Discussion and Consideration of a Waiver and Ancillary Agreement for the Development Agreement with Wells Landing Apartments LLC for the Heart of Boynton Shops Mr. Tack gave an update on the Heart of Boynton Shops. Megan Harden, Project Manager for Centennial, stated that she will be on-site to assist with the project's progression. She said that she is hopeful that the slab will be poured at the end of the month. Ms. Nicklien stated that the eight spaces have been leased. Vice Chair Kelley thanked Ms. Nicklien for staying on track and for keeping things moving in the right direction. Mr. Tack provided an overview of the Waiver and Ancillary Agreement for the Development Agreement with Wells Landing Apartments LLC for the Heart of Boynton Shops. Ms. Rossmell noted that the Waiver is going to ease up the friction with Centennial because they will not be building out the space. Chair Penserga opened public comment. No one came forward, Chair Penserga closed public comment. Chair Penserga opened public comment. Motion: Ii CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11, 2025 Board Member Cruz moved to approve the Waiver and Ancillary Agreement to the Development Agreement with Wells Landing Apartments LLC for the Heart of Boynton Shops. Board Member Hay second the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. Discussion and Consideration of Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Amendment for Unreserved Fund Balance Vicki Hill, Finance Director, stated that after the audit the CRA has approximately 2.1 million dollars that needs to be reallocated. She said that Staff has requested that $400K go to Economic Development and the remaining balance to go property acquisition. She noted that the Board can put they funds towards anything that they would like. Chair Penserga asked how much was set aside for the grocery store. Ms. Hill replied that there was 1 .4 million dollars set aside for the grocery store. Vice Chair Kelley stated that she is in favor of allocating funds for property acquisition because it can always be adjusted later. She commented that she would like to hear her colleagues' thoughts on setting aside some funding for the Magnuson House. She said that this would ensure that when we reach the point of issuing a request for proposals (RFP), we already have funds allocated for any necessary repairs or improvements needed to make the property usable for potential developers or business owners. She said that she believes it is a good idea to start reserving funds for this purpose. She said that this way, we can prevent the house from deteriorating further and consider ways to invest in the property and by doing so, we can make it easier for a developer to envision how to make the site work when the time comes to issue the RFP. Chair Penserga stated that he liked the idea, but he had a couple of questions. He asked how much funding are we considering. He said that he is not sure if you all have looked into that yet. He questioned is it possible to extend this to the Andrews House as well. He said that he understands it may be premature since we are still working on gathering information and data, but could we potentially include both houses instead of just one? Vice Chair Kelley inquired if they have to be more specific. Ms. Rossmell replied it does not need to be more specific. She stated that the Board is not allowed to do anything that is outside of the budget, but the Board can rearrange the budget as needed. She said that the plan does not need to be established for each specific property or address. She said that your Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) plan does not require 12 CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11 . 2025 historic redevelopment in every area. She said that if you are considering adjustments to your plan, this would be a good opportunity to evaluate where such redevelopment might be appropriate. She noted that CRAs have some capacity to collaborate with historic properties and their designations however, these considerations may sometimes conflict with the redevelopment goals of CRAs, so it is important to keep this in mind during the planning process. She said that the Board certainly has the option to allocate funds specifically for historic preservation issues. Each case can be evaluated individually to determine if the allocation is appropriate based on the specific property in question. Chair Penserga noted that it is his understanding that there is an adaptive reuse for the property. Ms. Rossmell stated that adaptive reuse can be a consistent approach however, historic preservation without adaptive reuse may not be permitted in every area of your plan. She said that Adaptive reuse is widely accepted as a form of economic development. She noted that the feasibility of this approach would depend on the specific property, its location, and the intended purpose for it. She stated that this does not prevent the Board from allocating funds to be used for historic homes for any of these purposes. Chair Penserga inquired if the line item can be named Adaptive Reuse of Historic Homes. Board Member Cruz would like to propose that the Board set aside $300,000 to assist with the move of the Andrews House. She said that this is, of course, contingent on ensuring that the intended use for the Andrews House aligns with the goals of the CRA, specifically to reduce blight and promote economic development, among other relevant purposes. Mr. Tack inquired if the Board wants to be that specific or more general when setting aside the funding. Chair Penserga and Board Member Cruz agreed that a more general approach would give the Board more leeway. Vice Chair Kelley stated that she is tired of looking at the Magnuson house and seeing us continually kick the can down the road. She said that she does support the Andrews house and whatever decision we decide to make. She noted that however, she also does not want to lose sight of the Magnuson house, as it is deteriorating and not in good shape. She said that they cannot keep putting it off. She said that she would prefer not to allocate funding specifically but rather to keep it general so that the Board can begin addressing the issues and determine what steps to take to move forward. Board Member Hay stated that he agrees with what is being discussed. 13 CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11, 2025 Mr. Tack inquired if the Board wants staff to start evaluating this now, beyond just an allocation or do you think it would be more appropriate to address it later when the Board can weigh in? Chair Penserga asked what do you mean by evaluate? Are you considering issuing a request for proposals (RFP)? Mr. Tack replied not necessarily an RFP, but if you want to issue one, that could be an option. He said that alternatively, as mentioned, rather than delaying the decision, we could explore getting the property to a certain level of human occupancy. He said that if that is the Board's preference, we could look into opportunities to make that happen as well. He continued that there are various approaches we can take, and it is essential to have a clear and concise plan that aligns with the Board's will. There was a consensus to create a new line item for the Adaptive Reuse of Historic Properties with a funding of $300K. There was a consensus for Staff to obtain an assessment of what needs to be done to the Magnuson House and to bring it back to the Board. There was a consensus to increase the grocery store line item to 2 million. Ms. Hill confirmed the changes that will be made to all line item funding. C. CRA Board Discussion and Consideration of Acting Executive Director's Salary Review for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Ms. Rossmell stated that Mr. Tack was hired as an assistant director in November 2021 . By October 2023, he was serving as the acting director, a position he has continued to hold without the benefit of an assistant director, which was the role he was originally hired for. She said that the assistant director position is still available for him at the appropriate salary, pending the permanent hiring of an executive director. She said that in the meantime, he is receiving additional compensation, as well as a car allowance that is typically provided to an executive director, reflecting the full scope of the duties he has been fulfilling. She said that at the Board Chair's request, we have brought forward an opportunity for you to consider whether there should be an adjustment to Mr. Tack's compensation while he continues to serve in the role of acting executive director. She noted that a summary of his accomplishments, along with the job description and his current compensation, has been included for your review. She said that if 14 CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11 , 2025 you have any questions, we are happy to answer them additionally, she knows the staff has previously researched nearby salaries that they can discuss with you. Chair Penserga stated that he is comfortable with the 6% increase. Vice Chair Kelley stated that she supports the 6% increase. Board Member Cruz inquired if Mr. Tack had a car allowance. Ms. Rossmell stated that he has a car allowance of $3,600, while the executive director's car allowance is set at $6,000. Board Member Cruz stated that she would like to increase the car allowance to $6000. She also inquired about pay increase for the staff. Mr. Tack replied that they looked at the COLA which was a guaranteed 6% and then a 5% performance increase for staff. Board Member Cruz said she agreed with the 6% COLA and an additional 3% performance merit. Board Member Hay stated he would like to increase the performance merit to 4%. He stated that Mr. Tack took on the additional responsibility and has never complained. Ms. Hill inquired when the increase would take effect. There was a consensus for the increase to take effect immediately. Motion: Board Member Cruz moved to approve the 6% COLA in addition to the 4% performance merit increase and a $6000 annual car allowance for the CRA acting director. Board Member Hay seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 16. CRA Projects in Progress A. Social Media & Print Marketing Update B. Social Media Outreach Program 1st Quarter Report for FY 2024-2025 (October 2024 - December 2024) C. CRA Economic & Business Development Grant Program Update 15 CRA Board Meeting Boynton Beach, FL February 11, 2025 D. Neighborhood Officer Program 1st Quarter Report for FY 2024-2025 (October 2024 - December 2024) 17. Future Agenda Items 18. Adjournment Motion: Board Member Cruz moved to adjourn. Board Member Hay seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:56 P.M. Tammy Sta�e, CMC.-/ Deputy City Clerk 16