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Minutes 11-07-01MINUTES OF THE CITY COMMISSiON/COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JOINT WORKSHOP HELD IN THE LIBRARY PROGRAM ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2001 AT 6:30 P.M. Present City Commission Community Redevelopment Aqency Mayor Gerald Broening Vice Mayor Ron Weiland Commissioner Charlie Fisher Commissioner Mike Ferguson Commissioner Mack McCray Larry Finkelstein, Chairman Jeanne Heavilin, Vice Chair Joe Aguila Alexander DeMarco Don Fenton (arrived at 6:50 p.m.) Michelle Hoyland Henderson Tillman Also Present Jim Cherof, City Attorney Kurt Bressner, City Manager Janet Prainito, City Clerk QuintUs Greene, Director of Development/CRA Dan DeCarlo; Neighborhood Specialist Lindsey Payne, Assistant City Attorney I. Call to Order Mayor Broening called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. II. Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll and a quorum was declared present. Ill. Agenda Approval Mr. Tillman moved to approve the agenda. Motion seconded by Mr. DeMarco and unanimously carried. IV. Heart of Boynton Study A. Introduction of Consultants Mr. Greene welcomed everyone to the meeting. The study presented was the outcome of a six-month process. Many of tonight's participants also attended the various community workshops. Meeting Minutes City Commission/Community Redevelopment Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida November 7, 2001 Mr. Dan DeCarlo reported that the City received a grant last year from the State of Florida to perform a study of the Martin Luther King neighborhood area. The p!an name was changed to the "Heart of Boynton". Mr, DeCarlo introduced Mr. Bob Gray from the strategic planning Group, Inc. and Mr. JOe Gray from JEG Associates, the consultants engaged by the City that performed the study. B, Presentation Mr. Bob Gray presented a Power Point Presentation on the Heart of Boynton, a copy of which is attached to the original minutes. Mr. GraY commended the community for their participation in the workshops. The Plan will now reqmre approval of the CRA and the City Commission. The following is a summary of the presentation The study area (Heart of Boynton) begins at the C-16 canal, east to the railroad tracks, west to 1-95 and south to NE 3r~ Avenue. The Heart of Boynton is one of five studies that the CRA will be conducting. Major areas addressed were Cherry Hill, Boynton Terrace Easy-Mart and other commercial areas. This area has been losing population Household income is significantly below the County level. Currently there are approximately 1,081 housing units. The unemployment rate is double the City's and County's rate. The population is predominately African/American, with Caribbean influence. With regard to livability, participants in the workshops felt that the following were major issues: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) law enforcement, code enforcement, a medical clinic, increased community involvement, zoning issues, a community center, park improvements, housing, and school involvement The area has two Community Development Corporations (CDC), which is an asset to the area One CDC will be facility oriented and the other will be more housing oriented. There are a total of 234 vacant lots in the study area. Because the lots are small, there is no significant amount of land to do any extensive projects. This will require land assembly. There are approximately 53 residential non-conforming lots. There are almost 1,200 parcels that are owned by the School District. 2 Meeting Minutes City Commission/Community Redevelopment Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida November 7, 2001 The City of Boynton Beach owns 45 parcels. There are 889 pamels owners with 100 people that own more than one pamel. Discounting government owned property, there are only three parcels that are larger than one acre. 739 parcels are locally owned and 414 are owner-occupied. 83% of the parcels are valued at less than $5q,000. The Cherry Hill section will be eliminated entirely. The Cherry Hill section will become known as Poinciana Heights. Boynton Terrace will also be eliminated. Each neighborhood will be given an entrance,~ay. Traffic calming is needed, a~ well as sidewalks. The west side of Seacrest Avenue would gO back similar to Ridgewood. The zoning needs to be changed. to its single-family roots Palmetto Park would be extended and linked to Galaxy Park. Updating the Wilson Center is critical to the plan. Mr, Tillman inquired if building on substandard sized lots would now become prohibited and Mr. Gray said that this would no longer be permitted. The community urban design features need to be integrated into this neighborhood. The Floribbean architectural design was utilized as the new design for this community. Implementation of the Plan Phase 1 - First 8 months The master plan needs to be adopted this year, The Future Land Use Plan and the zoning map needs to be amended sometime in mid-2002. Design Standards need to be approved and th is should be done now. When the County approves the City taking over the Cherry Hill public housing, residents would be given Section-8 vouchers for relocation Begin a study for the acquisition of the Cherry Hill section. A cost analysis needs to be done. Continue the leadership already in place. Neighborhood Associations need to be formed. Begin dialogue immediately with HUD to address Boynton Terrace. Public Works needs to be relocated Issue an RFP for the design of Wilson Center. Begin work on Seacrest Boulevard in conjunction with the County. 3 Meeting Minutes City Commission/Community Redevelopment Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida November 7, 2001 Become involved with the CDC's and PATCH to create public health and daycare facilities. Start identifying grants. Establish a strong code enfomement policy. Issue an RFP to begin the downtown study. Develop a relocation strategy to relocate people back into the community. Commissioner Fisher inquired what the price range of the homes would be. Mr. Grey stated that probably would range between $100,000 to $150,000. Phase 2 - 9 to 16 months Start to issue vouchers in order to relocate people. Accelerate improved housing. Continue to form a strong ministerial alliance. Complete design work for Palmetto Park and the Wilson Center. Issue bids for demolition. Begin redesigning Seacrest Boulevard. Start the Neighborhood Gateway Program. Expand the current grant program. Begin the construction for the improvements to Wilson Center. Ms. Heavilin inquired where people could go with the Section 8 vouchers and was told they could move anywhere they wished. Phase 3 - After 24 months Issuance of a bid for the demolition of Boynton Terrace. Commissioner McCray raised concerns that residents would not be encouraged to stay in the City. He would like to have a plan in place so that people could remain in the City if they so wished. It was pointed out that there are many areas within the City where Section 8 vouchers would be accepted. Ms. Hoyland questioned if there would be enough places within the City for the people that are displaced. Mr. Gray was not certain on this. Open the new center. Open Palmetto Park. Issue an RFP for the southeast quadrant. Commissioner McCray inquired how much of the CRA funds would go to the Federal Highway Study and to the MLK Study. Commissioner McCray felt that the budget would have to be reviewed to cover the costs of the various projects. 4 Meeting Minutes City CommiSsion/Community Redevelopment Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida November 7, 2001 Mr. Greene pointed out that the CRA has approximately $3 million for projects and felt it was too soon to determine what the costs of the projects would be. Mayor Broening pointed out that the CRA projects should not affect the City's budget. Mr. Tillman felt that the study was an excellent start in meeting the needs of this neighborhood and that the City is mowng in the right direction. His philosophy has always been that permitting substandard lots breeds substandard behavior. Commissioner Fisher also pointed out that this ~s a master plan and that people are not going to be displaced tomorrow. Discussion and Public Audience Mr. Harvey Oyer, 512 N. Seacrest Boulevard stated he attended many of the neighborhood meetings. He has some points that he strongly disagrees with. He would like the City to pumhase the property north of City Hall and put in public buildings. This would provide for a good approach into the City. He pointed out that most of the land on MLK Boulevard from Seacrest to the railroad is underutilized and this would be a good place to put in a viable shopping center. He also stated that historic districts should be set up throughout the City and that the City is taking a negative approach to keeping the property values down. Ms. Blanche Girtman, 912 NW 3rd Street had concerns that people wouldn't be fairly compensated for their property and would not be able to pumhase a replacement home. She felt that a shopping center placed in the Heart of Boynton area would not draw patrons from other areas of the City. A gentleman in the audience did not think that there would be enough land to build new affordable housing to accommodate all the residents. He would like the City to wait before it adopts the new land use and zoning amendments until it was prepared to address these concerns. Sister Lorraine Ryan, a member of PATCH, stated that a survey of the Heart of Boynton area was taken and it revealed that there is a major concern for affordable housing. She did not feel that the current residents could afford to purchase homes in the $100,000 plus price range. She pointed out that there is a definite need for a health facility in this area and was pleased to see that this was included in the consultant's report. Mr. Brian Edwards, 629 NE 9th Avenue, felt that the City was moving in the right direction. He pointed out that PATCH was introduced into the City approximately one year ago and the Boynton Beach PATCH will now be the seventh in the County. The PATCH committee 'is moving forward in obtaining its 501(3)(c) designation. He pointed out that the surveys revealed that there are 5 Meeting Minutes City Commission/Community Redevelopment Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida November 7, 2001 many things that the City is lacking, such as transportation, language barriers exist, teenage pregnancies, lack of prenatal care, after-school childcare and childcare in general. He was pleased that tonight's workshop recognized many of these same concerns. Mr. Greene addressed the concerns raised by Ms. Girtman regarding displacement of long-time residents. The Federal Relocation Guidelines provide that if Federal money is used to acquire property that results in relocation, those individuals have to be accommodated in at least, if not better accommodations than they have. Mr. Greene noted that after tonight's meeting there will be speculators going out into the neighborhoods trying to buy up property. Mr. Greene would like to make certain that people are very careful when being approached to sell their property to non-government entities and/or individuals because there would be no relocation benefits whatsoever. It is not the City's intent to displace anyone; however, he acknowledged that it would not be possible to relocate everyone within the neighborhood. People whose property is acquired with federal money will be better off than they are today. Mr. Joe Gray pointed out that the intent of redevelopment is to insure the future of a community. The study pointed out that things need to be improved in the community and if improvements weren't made, the community would die through attrition. Therefore, it is imperative that corrective actions be taken. Affordability is not achieved by building cheap, substandard homes. The City is fortunate to have two CDCs because those organizations will provide support to the people that the government can't support. The City is trying to stop the pattern of people being segregated and living in blighted conditions. Commissioner Fisher inquired if the City would be the developer and was informed it would not. Mr. Greene explained that the City and/or the CRA would be the primary entities responsible for land assembly. Once the land is assembled an RFP would be issued. Mr. Greene pointed out that the City by law is not allowed to sell land for less than fair market value. However, the CRA is permitted to do this. Mr. Ron Washam urged people to be flexible and to help one another. Commissioner McCray pointed out that it is important that the people in this area be informed on what is happening. Mayor Broening closed the public audience portion of the meeting and explained that no formal action would be taken at this time. The Heart of Boynton Study would be going back to the CRA and the Commission for approval. Ms. Hoyland inquired if they would be given an opportunity to address any items they felt needed to be addressed. Mayor Broening said that the CRA and Commission would have this opportunity. 6 Meeting Minutes City Commission/Community Redevelopment Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida November 7, 2001 RECESS WAS CALLED AT 8:20 P.M. THE MEETING RECONVENED AT 8:30 P.M. V, Administrative Issues A. Review of Mission and Purpose of the CRA Mr. Greene felt that there was a misconception in the community about what the CRA is and what the CRA is supposed to do. The purpose of the CRA is not to develop downtown. The purpose of the CRA is to deal with the removal of conditions creating slum and blight. This is contained in Section 163.355 of the State Statutes, which Mr. Greene recited. The purpose of including a downtown area in the CRA is to afford the CRA the benefits of the increasing increment as the downtown develops. The CRA area is divided into five different areas. The Federal Highway Corridor has already been approved and the Comprehensive Plan is now being revised for this area. Other CRA areas are the Heart of Boynton, the Ocean District, which includes Town 'Square, the Boynton Beach Boulevard Corridor and lastly, the/ndustrial Avenue area. Since the CRA expanded in 1999, the increment has increased from $305,000 last year to an estimated $940,000 for the coming year. Mr. Greene pointed out that there would be five area plans for each CRA District. One has been approved, one was presented tonight and the third one is just getting started, which is a State law. B, Current Status Report The independent CRA Board has been in existence a little under one year and a great deal has been accomplished. · Last year the City Commission approved a six-month moratorium on C-4 zoning applications in the Federal Highway Corridor and instructed staff to do a rezoning study, which also resulted in the CRA plan being updated. · A consultant was hired and a Plan update was prepared and approved by the Commission in May 2001. · Staff is in the process of securing DCA approval of an amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan. State law also requires that the CRA Plan and Comprehensive plan must be in sync. · Staff is processing a zoning change for the Federal Highway Corridor. This will be brought before the CRA at its next meeting on November 13th for approval and before the City Commission on November 20th. · Mr, DeCarlo earlier this year secured a grant from DCA to conduct a community planning study in the MLK area. With DCA approval, the Meeting Minutes City Commission/Community Redevelopment Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida November 7, 2001 boundaries of the study area were adjusted. A consultant was hired which resulted in the plan that was presented tonight. Once the CRA and the Commission approve the plan, it will follow the same process as the Federal Highway Corridor Plan. At their March workshop, the CRA Board identified projects that they wanted to accomplish. The projects were prioritized and adopted in August with the budget. A list of the priorities was presented to the members and the Commissioners. As of today, almost every priority project has been completed or is currently in progress. Mr. Greene reviewed the priorities as listed and a copy is included with the odginal minutes. Mr. Greene reported that the City acquired former FEC property at 4th Street and SE 1s~ Avenue, which will bdng a total of 55 parking spaces under City control. Appraisals have been ordered on several properties in the CRA target area and the Commission approved a contract for real estate administration services with the Urban Group, Inc. at last night's meeting. Staff toured the City of Hollywood, Florida to view its very impressive way-finding signage program. The City has received a proposal from them to design a similar signage program for the City of Boynton Beach. Staff is in the process of preparing a recommendation to the City Commission to enter into an Intedocal Agreement with the City of Hollywood, Florida to design Boynton Beach's way- finding signage. Mr. Greene reported that the conceptual design and corresponding model for the Town Square District have been completed. The model is on display in Conference Room C in the West Wing. The Development Department is mandated by City Code to provide services to the CRA. The City and the CRA entered into a Staff Services Contract in order to determine actual staffing costs in the event the Board wished to hire its own dedicated staff. The CRA Board adopted a 2001-2002 budget, which includes $158,000 for personnel. A job description has been prepared and approved for the CRA Director. Section 2-13.2D of the Code needs to be amended before the position can be advertised. City Manager Bressner stated he did not support a change in the Ordinance, but supports a continuing relationship with City staff. This change could be revisited at a future date. It was his personal opinion that this was moving too fast at this time. He acknowledged that there has been some good and positive work done, but urged the Commission and CRA to consider some alternatives to becoming independent of staff. Mr. Tillman felt that it was not necessary at this time to have a full staff for the CRA. He would like the CRA to have its own point man to devote 100% of his 8 Meeting Minutes City Commission/Community Redevelopment Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida November 7, 2001 time to CRA business to take some of the burden off Mr. Greene, who is also the Development Director, Commissioner Fisher felt that the CRA needed to have a person with some authority that could focus on the needs of the CRA. Mayor Bmening suggested that an administretor-type position might be more in line. City Manager Bressner suggested that if this route were taken that the position be outsourced. He pointed out that if a consultant were hired, the Ordinance would still have to be amended. Mayor Breening asked Chairman Finkelstein specifically what the CRA was looking for with regard to staffing needs. Chairman Finkelstein stated that they were also in need of someone that could provide secretarial services and felt it was not necessary at this time to hire a full-time staff. However, he would like to have a person dedicated to the CRA to handle functions that staff is too busy to provide. Vice Chair Heavilin felt that the Agency was ready for a full-time Director. Vice Mayor Weiland and Commissioner Ferguson said it was time for the CRA to move on Mr. Fenton pointed out that the CRA Board voted 7-0 to hire a full-time Director. Chairman Finkelstein pointed out that it was a vote to hire staff, not only a Director. Discussion ensued on the direction that the CRA should move ~n hiring staff. There was agreement amon§ everyone that the CRA was in need of some type of fulltime assistance. Vice Chair Heavilin felt that something needed to be done now. City Manager Bressner said he could place something on the agenda for the next Commission meeting. Commissioner Fisher requested that more than one option be considered. City Manager Bressner pointed out that the CRA direction was for a Director and not an administrator and the Commission should consider the original request. If the CRA wished to modify their original request, they would have to bring something new back to the Commission. City Manager Bressner said he was only giving his opinion and if the Commission wanted to move forward they should. Commissioner Fisher suggested that the money in the City's budget earmarked for CRA projects should be placed in the CRA budget. Vice Chair Heavilin asked about the timing. City Manager Bressner stated that th the first reading of the Ordinance could be December 4 and the second reading would be December 18~. If the Ordinance passed, whatever is a ppreved could take effect by the first of the year. 9 Meeting Minutes City Commission/Community Redevelopment Workshop Boynton Beach, Florida November 7, 2001 VI. Public Audience None Vii. Other Vice Chair Heavilin inquired about the survey that was performed for attendance for Board members. She asked if an attendance policy for the CRA Board had also been addressed City Manager Bressner stated that all Boards were included in the survey. However, if a Board meets more than once a month, the attendance requirements change. Mr. Greene stated that the agenda for the regular CRA meeting on November 13th will contain a copy of the Ordinance and an excerpt of the State statutes that deals with removal of CRA Board members. VIII. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting propedy adjourned at 9:15 p.m. ATTEST: Recording Secretary (three tapes) CITY ~ BOYN.TONJ3EACH, (November8,2001) 10