Loading...
Minutes 09-13-00MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING HELD IN THE LIBRARY PROGRAM ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2000 AT 6:30 P.M. PRESENT Gerald Broening, Mayor Bruce Black, Commissioner Charlie Fisher, Commissioner Jos6 Aguila Al DeMarco ABSENT Ron Weiland, Vice Mayor William Sherman, Mayor Pro Tem I. Call To, Order ALSO PRESENT Lindsey Payne, Board Attorney Quintus Greene, Director of Development Mayor Broening called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. II. Agenda Approval Motion Commissioner Fisher moved for approval. Motion seconded by Commissioner Black and carried unanimously. Presentations Approval of Minutes - Regular Meeting, August 9, 2000 III. None IV. Motion seconded by Commissioner Fisher Motion Mr. DeMarco moved for approval. and carried unanimously. V. Unfinished Business Meeting Minutes ~ ~ Co mmunity Redevelopment Agency Boynton Beach, Florida September 13, 2000 A. Update on Ocean Avenue Promenade Bids Mr. Greene reported that the contractor has begun construction. The contract calls for removal of 2" of paving; however, there may be 4" of paving when construction reaches 4th Street, which would require a change order. Also, one party along Ocean Avenue is not pleased where the staging area is located. Mr. Greene will be meeting with that party tomorrow. Mr. Greene introduced the Project Manager, Mr. Frantz LaFontant, who was presented to the members. Mr. Greene noted that there might be a slight delay because the subcontractor for the underground work was not satisfactory and the contractor is changing to another subcontractor. Commissioner Black asked about the signage stating that businesses are open and Mr. Greene replied that the City had committed to provide signage, but the merchants are not happy with the signage that was provided. They are requesting larger signs. Staff is getting quotes for larger signs. Mr. LaFontant stated that the original signs were made in-house by Public Works. However, the merchants would like something larger than 24" x 26", which cannot be made in- house. Commissioner Black inquired if one large sign was anticipated for all merchants or would each merchant have their own signs? Mr. Greene replied that there would be one large sign listing all the businesses. Commissioner Fisher inquired if the dedicated phone number for the project is operating and available. Mr. LaFontant said the phone number is open and the number is 389-8935. Secondly, Commissioner Fisher inquired when the communications newsletter for the merchants would be prepared? Mr. Greene stated he has spoken with Mr. Sugerman and he would like to expand the newsletter that had been put out for the bridge construction to include Ocean Avenue as well. However, this has not been decided. Commissioner Fisher requested that a sample newsletter be ready for the next CRA meeting. B. CRA Budget Members' attention was called to the figure in the budget of ($151,955) for "Home Improvements", which is an incorrect entry. Mr. Greene will determine by the next meeting why this figure is appearing on the CRA budget by speaking with the Finance Department. The ending fund balance of $898,209 should also include the $151,955. Mr. DeMarco asked Ms. Diana Johnson who was present if the Chamber received any complaints on the Ocean Avenue construction and she stated they have received none. Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Boynton Beach, Florida September 13, 2000 VI. New Business Discussion of modifications to parking requirements in the Community Redevelopment Area There has been a great deal of discussion regarding parking in the downtown central business district and staff has been looking at many ways to address the problem, included in the agenda packet was a memorandum from Mr. Greene to the Board on the parking revisions. Currently, there isn't a parking shortage in downtown Boynton Beach, but there is a shortage in the Marina area at peak periods. Staff is proposing to eliminate the requirement that businesses have to provide a certain number of parking spaces within the central business district for non-residential uses only. It is being proposed that a particular business would have an option to provide the parking or pay a fee in lieu of parking. In actuality it would be preferential to have the fee provided in lieu of the parking. Mr. Aguila asked if a business would have a choice to provide parking or pay in lieu of parking and Mr. Greene stated they would have a choice. Mr. Aguila pointed out that a business may want to provide for some parking and then pay for additional parking spaces. Mr. Aguila said that certain businesses.should not have the option if they can provide the parking, such as a restaurant versus an art gallery. An art gallery would require a lot less parking than a restaurant and the Board may want to consider that the parking requirements apply to certain uses only, or different levels. Mr. Greene pointed out that it is important not to have a sea of surface parking lots scattered throughout downtown. It is much more preferred to have a clustering of parking, either surface or structured in designated locations. This is the direction the City should go in. Mr. Greene pointed out that the CRA is the City's parking authority. Any funds for parking would be managed by the CRA and the CRA will build any structures that are eventually built in the City, as well as being responsible for their management. The City of Boynton Beach does not permit private operators to operate parking lots in the City. Mayor Broening pointed out that the City could lease the parking facilities if it so desired. Commissioner Black asked if this could be retroactive for anything that is currently in progress? Mr. Greene was uncertain on this point, but did not think so. Mr. Aguila said that any applicant that has an approved development order can always come in for a minor or major modification to their previously approved plan and it could be addressed in this manner. Attorney Payne pointed out that Mr. Aguila's point was well taken, however, it should be kept in mind if this is done for one applicant, it may have to be given to every applicant that comes in. Mr. DeMarco would like to see the City establish a 3 Meeting Minutes ~ f Community Redevelopment Agency Boynton Beach, Florida September 13, 2000 parking authority and that the City should start now to look at available land for parking purposes and not wait until it is too late. Mayor Broening requested that Messrs. Aguila and DeMarco be furnished with a copy of the Parking Study and Mr. Greene said he would provide them with a copy. Commissioner Fisher inquired if funds received for parking go into the general fund of the CRA or do they go into an escrow account? Mr. Greene said he would recommend that any parking monies go into an escrow account for that specific purpose. Attorney Payne said this is a legal requirement. Mayor Broening noted there are funds in the CIP fund earmarked for parking and questioned where this money really belongs. He noted that these funds are in the $700,000 range. Mr. Greene pointed that these funds have been earmarked, but not appropriated. Commissioner Black said he would like to see 4th Street closed off from Ocean Avenue to Boynton Beach Boulevard and have this area used for parking. There is a sliver of land along the railroad tracks owned by the railroad and Commissioner Black would like to swap that land for another sliver of land perhaps at the East Water Treatment Plant that they could use for their storage. Also, Mayor Broening pointed out that it doesn't have to be a dedicated structure, but could be a mixed-use structure with retail shops on the first floor. Also, Commissioner Black had thoughts of approaching the Congregational Church that has a very large parking lot behind it, for short-term needs. He pointed out that the City could approach the Church with an offer that the City maintain the lot in exchange for use of the lot. Mr. DeMarco said he would like to work with Mr. Greene on approaching the railroad on this issue. Mr. Greene said he would prefer not to get into discussions on specific properties. Secondly, Mr. Greene would like to have a meeting with legal counsel to discuss the subject of inverse condemnation, before selecting sites and discussing real estate transactions. Commissioner Fisher also mentioned that costs for the parking spaces need to be determined. Mr. Aguila stated that the location of the parking also needs to be taken into consideration when determining costs. Mr. Greene said that the Parking Study determined that a 320-car parking structure could cost between $3,000,000/$5,000,000 and this would come to approximately $10,000 to $15,000 per space, which is quite high. Mr. Greene also pointed out that it would not be necessary to charge people the full amount of the parking space in order to encourage them to build. Commissioner Black pointed out that the parking is not free and there would be a charge or a meter provided. 4 Meeting Minutes ~ Community Redevelopment Agency Boynton Beach, Florida September 13, 2000 Mr. Aguila asked what the next step would be? Mr. Greene said that the City requested McMahon & Associates to provide a quote to do a study to look at the implications of going in this direction. However, they came back with a quote, which the City considers excessive. Mr. Greene questioned how much study really needs to be done and felt that the City could draw from the experiences of other surrounding cities. Mayor Broening felt they were at the point where staff could start to move forward on this. Mr. Rumpf was asked for his comments. He replied'that the CRA should be the parking authority. Also, he felt that the study was very thorough and didn't think there was much more that the City needed and that the report addresses the demand and how much that demand will be. Mr. Aguila suggested that staff might want to consider utilizing some local design professionals who might volunteer some of their time to assist with this by creating some type of committee. Mr. Greene asked Mr. Aguila if he would be willing to chair a sub-committee of the CRA to work with staff on the parking issue and Mr. Aguila stated he would be glad to assist in any way necessary. Mayor Broening felt that a motion would be in order. Motion Commissioner Black moved to direct Mr. Greene to proceed with the parking issue in any manner he deems fit and to come back to the CRA with his recommendations on how to move forward. Mr. DeMarco seconded the motion. Commissioner Fisher asked if the Board wished to approve a subcommittee at this point and members felt this was only an option that would be available. Motion carried 5-0. VII. Public Audience Mayor Broening introduced Alice Gregory the new reporter for the Palm Beach Post. Commissioner Fisher inquired when the Board would move forward toward making the CRA independent? Mr. Greene stated this would be up to the Commission. Mr. Greene said that he provided the City Manager with his ideas on how to select the new members for the CRA. Mr. Greene inquired if the people who had previously applied and were not selected should still be considered or should an entirely new search be instituted. Mayor Broening stated that the Board had agreed to keep those applicants in the pool and add Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Boynton Beach, Florida September 13, 2000 any new applicants to it. Mr. Greene stated that those applicants would need to be contacted to determine their interest and whether they still wished to be considered. Commissioner Black noted that there is a future agenda item for a report on proposed criteria regarding CRA membership tentatively scheduled for th(J for · r 4th OctoDe Commission meeting. Mr. Greene stated he would have a report that meeting. Mr. Aguila was under the impression that the CRA has a 15-year life and would like to know the date that it was created. Also, if a Parking Authority were established, what would happen to the CRA sunset? Mr. Greene said he was uncertain on this, but would follow through on it. VIII. Other None IX. Adjournment There being no further business, Commissioner Black moved to adjourn. meeting properly adjourned at 7:20 p.m. The Res pectfully submitted, Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (one tape)