Loading...
Minutes 12-03-93NINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COFIFIlSSION FLEETING HELD IN COFIFIlSSION CHANBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON HONDAY, DECEHBER 13, 1993 AT 6:30 PRESENT Edward Harmening, Mayor Jose Aguila, Vice Mayor Lynne Matson, Mayor Pro Tem David Katz, Commissioner Robert Walshak, Commissioner J. Scott Miller, City Manager James Cherof, City Attorney Shannon Burkett, Deputy City Clerk CALL TO ORDER Mayor Harmenin9 called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. This meeting of the Community Redevelopment Agency (City Commission) is to consider a proposed reso- lution which would authorize submittal of an application for funding for the downtown area to be filed with the Economic Development Administration (EDA). Ann Ford, Downtown District Coordinator, supplied the EDA with the City's needs relative to infrastructure. She requested information from them on what is required to qualify for a grant. At a meeting with EDA on Friday, she learned that EDA felt this would be a good project. In looking at the possibilities of what could be developed in the downtown area, the costs would be too high for a developer to provide the necessary infrastructure and still make a profit on a hotel or recreational business. EDA supplied the preapplication and based on the information which was discussed during the meeting, the City can begin the preapplication process. This process requires that the Community Redevelopment Agency authorize the start of work, and when the preapplication stage is reached, EDA will further define the pro- cess and come up with definite construction costs, hotels, motels and recreational complex developers who would be interested in development in the downtown area. At that point, the EDA will either reject the application, or decide that it is a good project and refer it to the region for continuation. They will then invite the City to make a formal application which is sent to Washington, D.C. Ms. Ford requested that T.I.F. money be earmarked as matching funds for the grant so that it will be available if the application is successful. She further requested authOrization to move forward with the application process. In response to Vice Mayor Aguila's question, Ms. Ford advised that the City will need approximately $500,000. She is putting together a package of grants and this particular one is the most immediate one of the group since it must be sub- mitted prior to the end of December. EDA directed Ms. Ford to other sources which would allow the City to use money for matching grant funds; however, it is necessarY for the City to put together approximately $4 million worth of work. Approximately $500,000 of that money would come from T.I.F. and the remainder would come from grants. Vice Mayor Aguila questioned how this can be done when the City does not have that much money available or allocated in T.I.F. funds. Ms. Ford said it is necessary to look into the future and she was told that within two to three years, the City would have sufficient funds. -1- MINUTES - SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA DECEMBER 13, 1993 Vice Mayor Aguila confirmed with Ms. Ford that if this money is earmarked for the next two to three years, nothing else can be done with it. In response to Mayor Pro Tem Matson's question, Attorney Cherof advised that it is permissible to earmark those funds; however, this resolution is not binding on future City Commissions. Vice Mayor Aguila feels there may be other things the City Commission might want to do where a more immediate return on the investment can be accomplished. He does not want to create a situation where nothing at all is done, and future City Commissions are tempted to spend that money elsewhere. Ms. Ford stated that if the infrastructure is not put into the waterfront, it will never be developed. This grant requires the City to move along and it must be able to bring in the development companies which have expressed an interest in the process. When they are ready to provide the money, the City needs to have development companies on board, in response to Mayor Harmening's question, Ms. Ford explained that the infrastructure improvements would include paving, sewer, and drainage in areas that do not have those improvements and in areas that are inadequate. Parking infrastructure is a major part of this. Commissioner Katz inquired about the amount of money the City now has. Vice Mayor Aguila stated there is now $142,710. City Manager Miller stated there is approximately $50,000 to $$0,000 additional which will be deleted from another project. With $200,000 now, and $200,000 to $250,000 over the next two to three years, the funds would exceed the amount required. Mayor Harmening said that if we are given $4 million and it is 25 percent matching, we may not get any of the other grants to match the EDA grant and someone will have to come up with that 25 percent match. Ms. Ford stated that the City will know soon after beginning, because if the City does not get the other matching grants, it will not be able to get the grant. Vice Mayor Aguila does not feel the resolution is definitive enough. City Manager Miller stated that the resolution is generic during the preliminary stage, but will become more definitive later on. Ms. Ford explained that as the City brings in a viable project, EDA will figure out the actual infrastructure costs, the road construction costs and help reim- burse for administrative and technical costs which includes her salary, planning and feasibility costs. They have looked at the City's employment statistics and it is two percentage points higher than the national average. They realize that this City needs an economic stimulus. She believes this City qualifies for some of EDA's better programs. Vice Mayor Aguila feels Boynton Beach has suffered in the past because it has not been aggressive enough in seeking out available grants. He will support this project and will watch it closely. He is interested in immediate improve- ments as well as improvements in the future. Mayor Harmening asked for the downside of this program. Ms. Ford said that as long as the City meets the qualifications required, it will get the grant money. He inquired whether or not there are any other onerous stipulations. She -2- H[NUTE$ - SPECIAL CITY COHHIS$IOH HEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA DECEHBER 13, 1993 responded that there would be a down side if employment objectives are not met, or a promise was not fulfilled; however, if the requirements are met, there should be no problems. EDA has an excellent technical assistance program. Ms. Ford said this is what Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Coconut Grove have taken advantage of to make a nicer city for their residents. The taxpayers should be able to recover some of their tax money. In Commissioner Katz' opinion, Ms. Ford is doing what she was hired to do. Mayor Pro Tem Matson stated she is in favor of voter control of taxes. Proposed Resolution No, 93-197 Re: Authorize submittal of an applica- tion for funding for the downtown area to be filed with the Economic Development Administration (EDA) Attorney Cherof read Proposed Resolution No. R93-197 by title only: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, SUP- PORTING A GRANT APPLICATION FOR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION (EDA), AND DEDICATING MATCHING FUNDS FROM TAX INCREMENT FINANCING; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ~ Hotlon Vice Mayor Aguila moved approval of Proposed Resolution No. R93-197. Commis- sioner Katz seconded the motion. Deputy City Clerk Shannon Burkett polled the vote. The vote was 4-1. {Mayor Harmening cast the dissenting vote.} ADOOURHHENT There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting properly adjourned at 7:00 p.m. ATTEST: ~ Secretary '[One Tape)  Mayor ~A Vice Mayor  ayor ro Tern ~~~r ~ Co~ss~oner -3-