Loading...
Minutes 03-12-98 MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY WORKSHOP HELD IN THE LIBRARY PROGRAM ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1998 AT 6:30 P.M. PRESENT Jerry Taylor, Mayor Kerry Willis, City Manager Shirley Jaskiewicz, Vice Mayor Jim Cherof, City Attorney Nellie Denahan, Commissioner Sue Kruse, City Clerk Jamie Titcomb, Commissioner Dale Sugerman, Asst. City Manager Henderson Tillman, Commissioner Wilfred Hawkins, Asst. to City Mgr. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Taylor called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Mr. Hawkins reviewed the attached Community Redevelopment Agency Two Year Implementation Plan Outline 1998-2000 Development Strategies. He referred to the composition of the Community Redevelopment Agency and how it was established in 1983 with an original area and the addition of two areas between 1988 and 1992. He explained the difference between the Community Redevelopment Agency and Community Redevelopment Act. He pointed out the community redevelopment areas on the map. He read the powers of the CRA from the Florida State Statutes. He then delineated the power of the CRA subject to approval by the City Commission. He concluded that these are the basic parameters outlined under the Community Redevelopment Act of 1969 that the Community Redevelopment Agency has the authority and powers granted under it. Mr. Hawkins continued with referring to development strategies and read the definition of urban redevelopment: “The discovery, or rediscovery, of community assets and development potential underlying neglected and/or under-utilized lands within mature residential and commercial areas through comprehensive analyses, the use of current, creative, and multiple funding sources and land development strategies, and through significant public and resident involvement and support.” He thinks the city has already been doing these components. Also, we are looking at the needs of the older areas of the city with the recommended expansion of the CRA. He explained the simple strategies for accomplishment of this redevelopment. He suggested that the specific steps included in the packet be read by the Commissioners at their leisure. Mr. Hawkins announced that the Community Redevelopment Management Team proposes the basic outline to the board as the content for the two year implementation plan. He reviewed the implementation plan outline covering operations, staffing, activities and programs. 1 MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 12, 1998 Commissioner Titcomb referred to the funding and budget strategies and asked if this was specifically coming from TIF funds, the general operating budget and/or bond issues? Mr. Hawkins responded that it was premature to talk about this, but all those sources will be a compilation of different strategies. City Manager Willis added that we are meeting with Mr. Art Fleming to look at our various funding opportunities. Commissioner Tillman referenced needs assessments with small businesses being done near October and asked if that date could be moved up and Mr. Hawkins agreed this could be done. A gentleman living in a condominium along the intracoastal asked why his condominium was included in the CRA and Mr. Iler clarified that this area was not included yet, but was being proposed and it would aid in redeveloping along U.S. 1. He explained how these improvements would be beneficial for the condominiums and would bring tax money back into this area rather than to other areas of the county. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz questioned the percentage returned to the city and Mr. Iler informed her that the operating millage of the county can be returned to the city. Further discussion ensued regarding the expenditure of taxes in the CRA area. TAX INCREMENT FINANCING Mr. Dale Sugerman stated that most important is the redevelopment trust fund for funding of these efforts. The CRA will have to create, support and maintain a redevelopment trust fund. All of that will be spent in the CRA and will go into the redevelopment trust fund. For the most part, it will be TIF, but community development block grant funds, general fund dollars, grants, loans, gifts, proceeds from bake sales, etc. can go into the redevelopment trust fund. He read the excerpt attached from F.S. 163.387. He clarified that any source of fund can go into it and any improvement can be funded out of it, but it must be done according to the plan. All of the local government taxes generated within the boundaries that we define as the CRA go into this fund, except for that portion of the taxes that is dedicated to debt service. This is 13 mills, which means $13.00 per thousand. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz asked if this would create a burden on the rest of the city in regard to city services and Mr. Sugerman explained how a CRA area is created and it is helped by segregating the tax dollars from that area and making improvements in that specific area and they also get police, fire, streets and all the other services without any additional tax burden. Mayor Taylor questioned if the full 7.925 must go into this fund and Mr. Iler clarified that what goes into the fund is the difference in the value from the base year and the year that you end. You still have a lot of value that was there when you created the CRA that still can go for basic services. You are required to put whatever that increment of value has grown to, and right now it is approximately $75,000,000. The County is also required to send a check for their increment of the 4.236. 2 MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 12, 1998 Mr. Sugerman continued that a memo was also included from the Finance Director showing some of the history of the revenue generating value. In 1983, the total evaluation was approximately $25,000,000 and in 1996, the total value was approximately $75,000,000. In the first year of revenue generation, it generated $67,000 and last year, it generated $173,000. A gentleman asked if there was any forecast on what additional funds will be available by the new areas marked in red and Mr. Sugerman replied negatively. Mr. Sugerman again clarified that it has to go into the CRA area, the geographical boundary as defined on the map. Further discussion followed about the area designated and how it could be changed with taking into consideration certain criteria. A resident asked if there would be any additional tax liability to the property owners in the CRA area and Mr. Sugerman replied negatively. Mr. Iler added that this is a diversion of existing taxes from one entity to another. The only difference is the city has more money to work with, but the residents are paying the same level of taxes. City Manager Willis added it rebates that portion of county taxes that is associated with these boundary lines to the city itself. It is a tool to redevelop these target areas. Further comments were made about this actually increasing the values of properties. MAPS OF PROPOSED CRA AREAS Mr. Henry Iler, James Duncan & Associates, stated one of their major components of the project is the neighborhood studies east of I-95. He referred to having driven the entire area from the northern to southern city boundaries. He showed a graph of the framework plan and pointed out locations of schools, parks, entry points into neighborhoods, etc. He referred to being given approval to do indepth studies of the Gateway, Ridgewood, and Mango Park neighborhoods. Mr. John Carline, Urban Design Studios, told about their study of these neighborhoods showing intrusion of medical uses and problem land uses along the railroad tracks. The goal is to encourage mixed use, infill and rehabilitation. Their general findings were overcrowding in residential units, drainage problems, housing units falling into disrepair, neighborhoods not effectively addressed in the comp plan, land use conflicts exist, code compliance, vacant unmowed lots, and trash piles. Their recommendations are to have the city establish a neighborhood planning function within city government with the existing staff to seek input from neighborhoods, develop specific neighborhood plans, address land use issues, coordinate implementation of projects and seek funding sources. There are a number of specific land use opportunities and problems to be addressed such as possible expansion of home occupations on some corridors, encourage compatible infill, mixed uses in appropriate areas, implement crime prevention, address zoning conflicts, improve buffering of commercial from adjacent residential, address unbuildable lots, neighborhood maintenance programs, promote 3 MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 12, 1998 housing paint-up and fix-up, address overcrowding, solve drainage problems, install traffic calming devices, provide code compliance resources, regular mowing of vacant lots, address rental unit maintenance, illegal dumping, crime watch programs, job training, employment and day care services. A few examples of financial resources are to continue neighborhood improvement grants, implement home ownership programs, encourage rental rehabilitation, and investigate safe neighborhood programs. Mr. Carline referred to doing a housing needs assessment for Mango Park and Ridgewood Hills and told about dividing into quandrants and noting the streets, housing conditions, swales and sidewalks. Mr. Kahart Pinder referred to traffic calming devices and told about driving through these neighborhoods on a block-by-block basis and meeting with residents. In Ridgewood Hills, he pointed out the entries from Seacrest Blvd. and explained how it was recommended to close some roadways and restrict others to right turns only. He also referred to the lack of sidewalks and people infiltrating the area and suggested starting out with four way stop signs to see how they work. In the Gateway Neighborhood, sidewalks should be on both sides of the road since there is quite a bit of activity and a pedestrian signal is recommended for the safety of the residents. Along Ocean Parkway, there is a lot of speeding and speed bumps would be best for that neighborhood. Mr. John Carline of Urban Design Studios pointed out design guidelines established in the framework plan with the opportunities to identify distinct neighborhoods. He explained the three phased approach planned. He also told about pavers, benches, markers, lights, etc. to identify the neighborhoods. Mr. Iler concluded that the next workshop will be held on April 9 at 6:30 pm at which time, they will be focusing on the urban design guidelines and recommending some of the other corridors which have been talked about, specifically U.S. 1, MLK Blvd., and Woolbright Road. In May, the implementation program of the master plan will be presented. Questions and Answers A woman complimented the older and special neighborhoods north of Boynton Beach Boulevard. A gentlemen also agreed that driving through the neighborhoods was beneficial and encouraged funds being identified for an evaluation and monitoring program. He stressed that with diverting traffic to other streets, they should be checked that other problems are not caused. Mr. Iler agreed that problems should not be moved just to solve them. A man referred to cities in the past tearing down undesirable neighborhoods and replacing them with large tracts of undesirable neighborhoods. He asked what kind of plan was going to be used here to eliminate barren landscapes? Mayor Taylor told him 4 MEETING MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MARCH 12, 1998 about the active infill housing program going on in the city. Mr. Bulent Kastarlak, Director of Development, referred to the houses which have been built and also told about restoration and revitalization planned for along U.S. 1. Mrs. Vicky Costello requested that the area east of Seacrest Blvd. be given some consideration in view of deteriorating conditions beginning. A gentleman inquired about zoning being affected and Mr. Iler informed him that a massive rezoning will be recommended, but some areas just need some upgrading through physical improvements. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was properly adjourned at 8:45 pm. Sue Kruse, City Clerk (Two Tapes) sk \\ch\main\shrdata\cc\wp\minutes\misc\031298.doc 5