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Minutes 08-06-15 Budget MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD BUDGET MEETING HELD AT INTRACOASTAL PARK CLUBHOUSE 2240 N. FEDERAL HIGHWAY, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2014, AT 6:00 P.M. PRESENT: Jerry Taylor, Chair Vivian Brooks, Executive Director Joe Casello, Vice Chair (arrived 6:13 p.m.) Tara Duhy, Board Counsel Buck Buchanan Michael Fitzpatrick Woodrow Hay Mack McCray David Merker 1. Welcome by Board Chair Jerry Taylor Chair Taylor welcomed all to the meeting at 6:10 p.m. 2. Invocation and Pledge to the Flag Mr. McCray gave the invocation and led the members reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Roll call revealed a quorum was present. 3. Summary — FY 2015 -2016 Vivian Brooks, Executive Director, reviewed important dates for adopting the CRA Budget. After the Board reviews the Budget it will be on the September 8 th regular meeting agenda for final changes and approval and then be on the September 15 City Commission agenda for ratification. 4. FY 2015 -2016 Budget Overview Some of the highlights for the 15/16 fiscal years were property values increased 11 % from the prior year, which was commensurate with the City's increase of 10.8 %. This led to a $1 million increase or a 12% increase in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue. Marina revenues were up $100,000, totaling $1.1 million due to increased fuel sales. Departmental budgets were up 7% due to health care costs and a merit pool of 3 %. One position was eliminated from the organizational chart which was the Administrative Assistant position that was vacant for many years and they reclassified a Development Director position to a Development Project Manager which was a downgrade. This was not a funded position. They have nine total positions. Eight positions were funded, down from 10. Operating expenses increased 10 %. They have a new dock master building, landscaping and building maintenance, and a new parking lot. Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Board B oynton Beach, Florida August6,2015 Mr. McCray commented he chose not to meet with Ms. Brooks. Re- employment /payouts were up 35% and they have a 1 % contingency to the total General Fund. Transfers to the project fund increased 31% due to increased property values. This year, new projects included three Strategic Plan initiatives which were the Model Block Plan, the Cottage District and the District Clean program. There was $1.7 million added to ongoing multi -year projects and funds are rolled over each year. Debt service decreased 7% due to bond refunding. This saved $1.8 million in 2015 and a total of $4.4 million for the entire debt service of the CRA. They anticipated a fund balance of between $200,000 to $250,000 for 15/16. Compared to last year, assessed property values went down 1 % due to the real estate market leveling off. Ms. Brooks reviewed how Tax Increment Financing revenues come into the CRA. In fiscal year 15/16, the City's share was $5.9 million, the County's share was $3.6 million, The City contributes 62% of the CRA funding and the County contributes 38 %. 5. Review of General Fund, Project Fund, Debt Service The General Fund budget was $10,419,595. Ms. Brooks reviewed the operating expenses were $3.2 million, debt service was $2.1 million, and transfers to the project fund were $5 million. They use the current City and County millage rate to derive the budget. Ms. Brooks explained if there is a change in millage for the City and County, CRA staff will adjust the budget in September. Operating expenses increased 10 %, but revenue increased more than the operating expenses. Operating expenses were $3.2 million; debt service was at $2.1 million. Transfers to the project fund were $5 million. The project fund had $7.6 million and included the Marina management contract which had a 9% increase. The CRA uses Waypointe Marine. Because they added a retail store, they had to add a position to man it, handle the fuel and handle the slips. Direct incentive payments of $1.3 million were included in this fund as were ongoing projects at $2.5 million and new projects totaling nearly $3.7 million. Ms. Brooks reviewed they included a merit pool of 3% for fiscal year 15/16. They mirrored what the City offers. Taxes, benefits, retirement, and administrative costs were 10% of general costs which was very low. Ms. Brooks explained there was a rollover of $2.5 million which were encumbered funds for ongoing projects such as the entryway features, Ocean Avenue lighting and others. 2 Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Board B o y nton each, Florida August 6, 2015 New transfers were $5 million for a total of $7.6 million. The total increase for projects was 21 %. Direct Incentives funds were budgeted for Walmart, Casa Costa, The Preserve and Seabourn Cove. There was $750,000 budgeted for proposed new projects for 15/16. The Business Incubator project was budgeted at $1.2 million. The project fund included professional and other expenses, marketing, special events, community meetings, and others, including the Business Incubator Project. Pictures of projects completed, ongoing or funded were viewed. Mr. McCray asked how much was funded for Sara Sims, Ms. Brooks responded last year it was budgeted for $25,000, but it cost $32,000. Mr. McCray asked how much the City funded. Ms. LaVerriere responded the equipment was about $100,000 and she advised she would obtain the figures. Mr. McCray wanted the public to know the CRA should not get credit for the project as most of the funds came from the City. Another outcome of CRA funding was the Marina Open Space project, which was the final piece of the Marina. They have rollover funds of $834,000. Staff proposed to add $740,000 this year to address the roads. Ms. Brooks referred the members to the geo- hydrological engineering reports contained in the meeting back up. The seawall was causing the road to sink. The road holds water and this project segues into the open space project because they are connected. This is an ongoing maintenance project. The last time the seawall was addressed was 14 years ago. Ms. Brooks recommended addressing this now. There is also a health and safety issue due to a gap in the road where people get in and out of their cars. Staff did not know if the road would cave in or when it would occur. The businesses endured the construction of Marina Village and the reconstruction of the rest of the Marina fairly smoothly, but they also did not want to disrupt the businesses twice. It must be done so they could move forward. Mr. Merker thought they should finish the project and commented the cost will increase. He favored increasing a set aside in the next year or two. Ms. Brooks explained they waited to address this item until the County approved the demolition of the building. It made sense to do the project now. If not, they will have to tear up what they just installed. The repairs would be made on the land side, and on the water side. They will have to "pull the water back" and repair the seawall. Ms. Brooks anticipated a new seawall would last 15 to 20 years when there is a lot of boat traffic and noted that storms and bilge pumping sometimes causes this. The Seamist does this all the time and the silt comes up eroding the road base and seawall foundation. She also explained the lifespan of the road next to the seawall is not that long. Staff recommended addressing this item this year. Mr. Merker and Messrs. McCray and Hay agreed. 3 Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Board Boynton B each, Florida August6,201 Mr. Merker proposed a physical cleanup and maintenance of the street was also needed, including a Police cleanup. The area should be protected by having the right protection financed by the CRA for a Police presence, or the area would fail. Mr. McCray clarified this was what the citizens were telling him and Mr. Hay. Property acquisition had $613,000 rolled over. Ms. Brooks proposed to add $385,000 to total nearly $1 million to acquire the rest of the land they need for Sara Sims Park. There are three parcels they have to acquire and maybe another in the Cottage District and Heart of Boynton. This would involve a place for the Community Caring Center relocation. Economic development grants had a $400,000 roll over. These were funds allocated to Family Dollar, and 211 and 480 East Ocean Avenue. Staff was adding $300,000 for a total of $700,000. The Boynton Beach Boulevard design has $108,000. Staff proposed to add $192,000 totaling $300,000 which was the expense they received from Kimley Horn to go through the State and County process for the road, and to begin construction drawings to start the project next year. The CRA only had conceptual drawings which involved traffic analysis. Mayor Taylor questioned the need for construction drawings when they do not know what they want to do there. Ms. Brooks explained this arose from the Town Square project. Chair Taylor commented they have not decided on the Town Square project, and there may be developers coming in. Ms. Brooks explained this was only from Seacrest to Federal Highway, which was the area they determined to be in the most need. The Board will have designs submitted to them with a few different scenarios. When done, Kimley Horn will move forward, if authorized, to make the project happen. Mr. Merker commented they do not have a designated plan and there is a plan to tear down the Old High School. If there is no plan or company indicating the best direction to move in would be to tear it down, it would be foolish to demolish the school. He pointed out the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council included the Old High School in its plans. He wanted to hear a developer say the Old High School should be demolished. Chair Taylor commented at the last Commission meeting, the meeting backup contained a proposal from a company to demolish the building as the Board requested for less than $200,000. Mr. Merker commented there was also an individual who proposed to keep the Old High School in a plan. Chair Taylor explained the Commission told him not to do that. They had already voted to demolish the high school. Mr. McCray pointed out there were proposals from the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council that did not include the Old High School. 4 Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Board B oynton Beach, Florida August 6, 2015 Mr. Buchanan commented if Boynton Beach Boulevard is improved, a developer would be more interested in Boynton Beach, and this project had nothing to do with anything beyond the sidewalks. The Board should modify and beautify the area and /or add utilities which will encourage developers to build in Boynton Beach. Once they see the City is serious about improvement and beautification, more businesses and developers will come. The Old High School is not in the scope of the project; it is just a streetscape. Chair Taylor commented there is money in the budget to demolish the school. After that, any decision will come back to the Board. Vice Chair Casello noted the streetscape and inquired what would happen with businesses that border the streets, such as check cashing or liquor stores and convenience marts. The project will increase the value of their property which may make it harder for a developer to come in. Mr. Buchanan hoped it would cause a property value increase, but it will also make some people more willing to sell and help with assembling property. There are several contiguous properties on N. Federal Highway, which made it harder to improve. In the heart of the City, it would increase value. Vice Chair Casello inquired if the CRA could start bundling properties on Boynton Beach Boulevard. Ms. Brooks responded they would be looking at that when they have the broker. The north side of Boynton Beach Boulevard will be an issue for a Town Square developer and several developers said something needed to be done. Kelly Smallridge from the Business Development Board commented if they want to go downtown via Boynton Beach Boulevard, it needs to be attractive. If you have more landscaping, greenery and trees it will make it harder to see. Vice Chair Casello thought they should start focusing on some of these businesses. Mr. Merker thought it was an oxymoron but agreed with Vice Chair Casello. It was a timing issue. Mr. Hay pointed out in the many classes he had taken, they all say the same thing. By adding infrastructure and being proactive, developers will take a second look at the City. The Business Development Board said the same thing. Ms. Brooks advised the CRA was constructing a parking lot on City -owned land. There was property from the Florida East Coast Railroad, and it currently has bollards around it so it could not be accessed. They have a design which was moving through the City process. She recommended adding $80,000 for it. Rollover funds for the project were $171,000 totaling $251,000 for the project. The parking lot will help Hurricane Alley and Oyer Insurance. When the Little House is in operation, it would accommodate the East Ocean Cafe and smaller businesses. Mr. Hay commented they will need more space to park. Ms. Brooks explained it was not a requirement to provide parking for E. Ocean Avenue for new development. For the 211 E. Ocean Avenue property, they do not have to provide parking because the parking lot is there so it will be less of a cost for a developer. 5 Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Board Boynton Beach, F lorida s , 2015 The 211 renovation grant was rollover funds from this year to next. There was no increase in the Town Square project. This year there was $134,000 in roll -over funds. They paid for the survey for the Town Square site and ancillary costs. She recommended adding $20,000 to it for a total of $154,000. Ms. Brooks reviewed the CRA plan updates. They were consolidating their plans into one to make it easier for the end user. The Consolidated Plan included the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council contracts, community meetings and mailing costs. Staff was not adding any funds to this line item and was only rolling them over. The funding payments to projects involved direct incentives which were funded at $1,340,000. Direct incentives were funded for Casa Costa, Seabourn Cove, Walmart, Cornerstone/The Preserve. Vice Chair Casello noted this was the first year the Preserve would not receive their $100,000 direct incentive. Ms. Brooks explained in June, they submitted a request for funding and it was incomplete. They returned it and the Preserve did not respond in time so they forfeited the funds. The Model Block project, just west of Seacrest on NW 10 Avenue, was a partnership with the City. The CRA share to be used for property acquisition was $550,000. Mr. McCray pointed out NW 10 Avenue is also known as NW MILK Boulevard. The Heart of Boynton Plan concept was reviewed. The budget estimated with City staff, Utilities and the City Attorney handling eminent domain totaled $1.5 million. The CRA obtained three properties in addition to the properties included in the meeting backup. They will add underground utilities and new streetlights. The Cottage District is also in the Heart of Boynton. The CRA owns the bulk of a block between 4 th and 5 It is platted oddly and has land- locked parcels. They need to survey the entire area and market the property through LoopNet. They could create concepts so developers could see how it would lay out and how many units it could accommodate. The District Clean program was reviewed. The members had previously discussed the Clean and Safe plan. Ms. Brooks budgeted $100,000. If the members did not want to undertake the program, they could have some type of community policing effort. The Statute mandates a CRA could fund a unique program geared to the community. If the Board decided, the CRA could spend $200,000 on a pilot program on MLK. Police would walk the community and be part of its fabric to change the perception of the police and disrupt the demand for narcotics. A police presence may deter drugs. Mr. Merker agreed. Mr. McCray inquired about the budget the Chief provided and learned it was $675,000 including cars; however, the CRA cannot pay for supplies which a car is considered. 6 Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Board B oynton each, Fl August 6, 2015 Jeff Katz, Police Chief, explained the budget proposal was modeled after a prior relationship the Police had with the CRA. The proposed program is a Neighborhood Officer Program including one sergeant and three officers to work a walking beat to build relationships, learn about citizens and their concerns and gather intelligence. This was something they did in prior years, but the reduced budget in previous years did not allow the program to continue. This led to a lack of trust, and the Department would like to re -build that trust. Mr. McCray recalled the CRA paid for officers to ride bikes in the area and learned it was discontinued because of the budget. He thought if they did it once, they could do it again. Chief Katz commented they could comfortably implement this project for $300,000 to $400,000. Mr. Merker noted the City is divided into areas and questioned if one area was designated more troublesome, why it was not a major Police focus. Chief Katz explained they did not want the area to be an occupied territory. They were working towards an intelligence -led policing model and their mission with their personnel is to have effective, efficient and impartial enforcement of the law. The type of crime in lower socio- economic areas is the type of crime that is more evident and easily seen. It did not mean crime was not occurring elsewhere or it did not need to be addressed, but there is a gap and they want to ensure they fill that gap and be a partnering presence, not an occupying presence. They just added three additional officers to their crime prevention program, and Chief Katz commented the program would have a tremendous capacity for outreach in the north end of the City. Mr. Hay did not see the clean up as solving anything because in a few weeks it was the same as it was before. The mindset of the residents had to change and he referenced a Riviera Beach program that involves community residents. They were local residents hired to change the perception of the citizens and remove litter from the area. Ms. Brooks had proposed that type of program, and had $100,000 for cleaning, but there was no money for the safe portion of the Clean and Safe program unless the members allocated funds. She could forego the cleaning, and the officers could be the ambassadors to encourage residents to stop littering. They could build a rapport with the residents. Ms. Brooks noted the program with the Police Department has to be a unique program. Mr. McCray thought the presence of officers and others to clean up the area was needed. Mr. Buchanan agreed. As to the legal portion, he asked if they would have to fund new positions. Chief Katz responded they would. They could not institute the program without CRA funding because it was personnel intensive. Personnel would be specifically allocated to building relationships, collecting information and being ambassadors in areas of the CRA that need a symbiotic relationship. They need to develop a safe atmosphere. If they let the community know the residents are important to them and the CRA, it will help. 7 Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Board Boyn each, Fl August 6, 2015 Mr. Buchanan inquired if this would involve Code Enforcement and learned Code Compliance was not included in the proposal, but it would be a symbiotic relationship and one will help the other. Professional and other expenses including design, engineering surveys, appraisals, legal, site work, demolition and contingency was $600,000 which was usually all used. The marketing program has been successful and had $142,000, which was flat from last year. Special events were budgeted for $410,000. The budget was increased because they were adding the MLK Hope event, a Children's Earth Day event and the Pirate Fest budget will be doubled. Mr. McCray asked what other events would be funded. Ms. Brooks replied the Holiday Extravaganza, the Tree Lighting and Concert. The CRA also pays the City $25,000 for the Holiday and Boat Parades, plus the Movies in the Park and Music on the Rocks series. Ms. Brooks explained attendance at outdoor events varies weather permitting, but was anywhere from 100 people to hundreds of people. Staff was keeping a record of attendance, and Mr. McCray requested a copy. Ms. Brooks agreed to forward him the information and explained it would be included on every CRA agenda. The special event program for community organizations could be funded if held in the downtown because of the amphitheater. If an event is held off site, they have to bring in all kinds of equipment and a stage. Mr. McCray asked if an event could be done on MLK if they want one and Ms. Brooks replied it was up to the residents. The MLK Hope event was an off spring of the MLK Vigil. The CRA proposed to support the Business Incubator project, which was the Secret Garden for $25,000. Vice Chair Casello agreed Special Events draws people to the downtown and they funded $25,000 to the Community Caring Center. He understood slum and blight was the mission, but questioned if the community would be better served if they increased that number and had less events when people were going hungry. Ms. Brooks explained the CRA cannot fund social missions. They support the Secret Garden because the incubator portion was where the jobs were. There a dollar amount for each employee and business arising from the incubator and those businesses could be located in the CRA. The City funds $50,000 for it from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds each year. The Secret Garden requested $150,000. Vice Chair Casello would be in favor of doubling the $25,000 to $50,000 and have one less event or parade. Mr. Merker asked if they could allocate another $25,000 and Ms. Brooks pointed out if they want to pay for the Old High School and policing, the Board had to prioritize. Mr. Merker preferred to provide funding for the people instead of demolition of the High School. 8 Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Board Boynton B each, Fl August 6, 2015 Mr. Buchanan explained they cannot fund the Community Caring Center to feed people and expressed Ms. Brooks had to submit the uses for the money otherwise if comingling funds, they would get in trouble. Sherri Johnson, Community Caring Center, clarified they approach the City every year for CDBG funds for the social service side of the project which is spent on salaries for services, not for the incubator. They approach the CRA for incubator funds because the City does not fund it for job creation or economic impact. Currently, the program had a $1 million economic impact on the community. They created 84 jobs. There is a justification for funding because many communities and States provide $25,000 for job creation on their grant applications and up to $250,000 for incubator programs. Ms. Johnson believed the CRA was getting a lot of bang for the buck. She thought if funding could be increased to $50,000, it would be instrumental keeping the incubator program going. They had a start -up business in Flamingo Plaza last year and 16 businesses, including one who was with them for three years. They have had tremendous success. She expected La Petite to be the next business hiring 10 new people this year and they will start a regional food distribution program with Boynton being the first distribution site. She anticipated the company would triple in the first year. The report had all the information. Ms. Johnson noted they are worth $300,000 and Pompano Beach funds $250,000 to $300,000 per year. Mr. Hay did not object to funding $50,000 and asked how many people were in the Incubator at any given time. Ms. Johnson responded they operate 24/7. Currently, they have 33 businesses and had as many as 47 businesses. The businesses paid monthly rent. This year, La Petite will pay $25,000. On average, their revenue from incubators is now covering the rent, which is $3,800 per month. The rent does not cover salaries, staffing, equipment repair, utilities. Ms. Johnson wanted to be able to pay for a really good staff and has an exceptional incubator coordinator. She wanted to be able to pay her for her worth. Mr. McCray inquired if she receives grant funds for the incubator anywhere else. Ms. Johnson responded she tries, but there is no economic development money for her unless she moves out of the City Mr. Fitzpatrick did not object to increasing the amount to $50,000 but favored keeping the parade. He thought they should go through their priorities and at the end of the meeting find the funds. Ms. Johnson reviewed the Incubator statistics. Chair Taylor noted there was consensus to raise the amount to $50,000 and let the Executive Director make note so when they approve the budget in September, Ms. Brooks could suggest where to take the funds. Ms. Brooks reviewed the aggregate debt service and advised they will pay off the Bank of America loan the City took out to start the CRA. Debt service remains stable and the 9 Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Board Boynton Beach, Florida August 6, 2015 net savings from the bond refinancing over the next 10 years saved the public $4.4 million. Ms. Brooks requested further direction for the Community Caring Center and funding for the CRA policing project. She could find $200,000 for the pilot Police project for the first year to see if it achieved the desired goal and there was consensus to do so. Mr. Fitzpatrick inquired how they would measure the success of the Police program. Chief Katz responded when they create a program, they review the input and outputs to measure progress. They did not do that yet because the program was still in the conceptual stages, but he anticipated there would be a qualitative response. He pointed out they would expect to see an increase in reported crime. When building relationships and trust in the community, the incidence of crime being reported increases in a shorter period of time. He clarified this pertained to reporting crime as it may not necessarily be a crime and he anticipated an increase in the clearance rate of crimes solved. Mr. Fitzpatrick had not heard of any survey and asked how often and when the survey will be done. Chief Katz explained they were still developing a program and they will get information to him. A conceptual survey was drawn up, but not yet implemented. They need a valuation process to ensure people were not just logging into the web. They want to ensure when they log in, they can provide information, assign it a case number and tie it to specific personnel and a specific cost. Mr. McCray noted the clean program was $200,000. He asked when they will know what they would receive for the funds and learned it would be brought back by the next month's meeting. Mr. Hay asked if there a correlation between reported crimes and enforcing no trespassing or if it is up the business owner. Chief Katz responded the trespassing agreements were a helpful tool, and noted the people with businesses in areas with frequent loitering and street level crime have a unique relationship with the people who loiter in front of a business. They are patrons and the Police are sensitive to act. Their ability to prevent people from loitering helps as far as crime is concerned. The ability to disburse people could go with the agreement. Without an agreement, the Police would have to rely on emergent occasions. The trespass agreement gives the Police the ability to act on behalf of the owner as the owner. Mr. McCray asked if the Cherry Hill mini -mart signed an agreement and learned they did not. They were working with Ms. Bell to pursue that. Mr. Buchanan asked if there were any Ordinances in the City about public gatherings or parades where a permit is needed. Chief Katz explained with public assemblies, regulations would be difficult to draft and enforce as there are constitutional components. Mr. McCray thought if there were a certain number of people for a special event, they must obtain a permit. 10 Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Board Boy nton Florida s , 2015 Mr. Hay inquired if the Police had the leverage they needed with the Family Dollar store. Ms. Brooks responded when the Bells wanted to use the CRA parking lot, they were asked to put up a no trespassing sign to use the parking lot for free, but they would not install the sign. Mr. Buchanan asked what would it take to have a small clean aspect to the program and Ms. Brooks did not know. She commented if they want to increase funding another $25,000 to the Community Caring Center and the Police and money for potential Town Square demolition, they would fund the demolition from Professional and Other Expenses if they increased the amount from $154,000 to $200,000. Mr. Buchanan suggested putting the funds on the side and Ms. Brooks play around with the budget. They would not know if they have the $200,000 until after the audit is received in January. Mr. Buchanan suggested putting $50,000 for the clean part of the Clean and Safe program. Ms. Brooks asked if they wanted to increase the demolition amount from $154,000 to $200,000 for the Town Square potential demolition of the Old High School. Mr. Buchanan was neither for or against demolition, but thought it was more the timing of the demolition. He asked if they had developers looking at the property to formulate plans, including demolition or not, or if it would be better to wait and see what the developer proposed. Chair Taylor commented he sat in on all of those meetings and the developers basically say it would be a lot easier for them if they did not have to deal with it. Mr. Merker mentioned he would like to hear it from them. Chair Taylor reiterated he sat in the meetings. Mr. Merker thought it was his interpretation. Mr. Fitzpatrick noted John Markey, handling the development at Renaissance Commons, mentioned at last week's Commission meeting he wants to work with the Old High School. He asked how the Chair could say developers did not want to work with it. Chair Taylor responded he was talking about developers of the Town Square. He pointed out the matter was voted on, done and it passed. Mr. Fitzpatrick pointed out that did not mean they had to allocate the money. Vice Chair Casello requested the City Manager provide her overview of the matter and Mr. Markey's comments two years ago regarding financing the Old High School. Lori LaVerriere, City Manager, explained they had spoken with eight to 10 development interests over the last two years. John Markey was one of them. He is a planner who has worked with the City on the Cortina project, and represents the developer, Blackrock. He expressed a strong interest and would love to do something like that. In all of their meetings they would talk and she asked them to crunch their numbers and never heard back from him. She was surprised he did not reach out on Tuesday to advise he would be coming. Vice Chair Casello requested confirmation that after their meeting, he never contacted her again about the matter. 11 Meeting Minutes Community Redevelopment Agency Board B o y nton Beach, Florida August 6, 2015 Mr. Merker noted the lawsuit and asked how long it was ongoing. Mr. Merker explained Mr. Markey .indicated they were in a predicament. Ms. LaVerriere responded he had issues getting the financial backin;, if something changed, they had to let them know. Vice Chair Casello inquired about the meetings with the development interests, if anyone had an idea or showed a desire to back the Old High School. Ms. LaVerriere responded the conversations did not go to that level of detail, or the financing end. Most of them would be interested in demolishing the building from a financial perspective. She clarified she could not say all of them said that, but they had to go back and work their numbers. They had initial "on a dime" meetings with developers trying to make the numbers work, and the City was waiting to hear back. No one has come forward. They have not received an inclination either way. The City's message to them has consistently been you have a clean slate. Let us know if demolition is part of the plan. If they want to save it as part of the plan, the City will entertain it, but they never heard back. Chair Taylor noted the City Commission voted to demolish the building. The CRA's mission is to get rid of blighted buildings and the building is a blighted safety hazard in the community. They voted to have it demolished. The building is in the CRA District, and they have the ability to fund the demolition. If the Board does not want to do that or refuses, they will go back to the City Commission because they had the votes to demolish it and take it from City funds for demolition. It was up to the Board, but it was the right thing to do for the CRA. They should remove blighted conditions in the community. Mr. Fitzpatrick commented the reason the building was in bad shape was because over the years, they refused to do anything about it. He questioned why a developer would want to do anything knowing the Mayor was against it. It was an impossible working condition. Chair Taylor explained there was no money then or now. Mr. Fitzpatrick thought it was his opinion. Chair Taylor explained he saw the money and the budget and Mr. Fitzpatrick was not there. Mr. Fitzpatrick commented he went to a hundred meetings and he remembered.. 6. Adjourn There being no further business to come before the Board, Chair Taylor properly adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m. Catherine Cherry Minutes Specialist 083095 12