Community Redevelopment Agency Regular Meeting

MINUTES Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Review Committee 6:00 PM - Tuesday, January 25, 2022 - Curtright Center CALL TO ORDER: 6:12 P.M. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF QUORUM AND PROPER NOTICE PRESENT: Nan Cobb, Willie Hawkins, Emily Lee, Karen LeHeup-Smith and Michael Holland, Marie Aliberti, Gail Isaac-Thomas, Horace Jones, Tom Popieski, Christine Cruz, Tom Carrino, Craig Dolan, Lori Barnes Community Members Also Present: Wesley Matlock, Carla Mitchell, Niece Allen Parks, Don Oliver, Kim Garry, Gessner Harris, Christopher McCollum, Ronnie Buggs, Monica Buggs, Mary Buckner, Clair Mackey, Ziverlyn Dunnelon, Yolanda Taylor, Dorothy Starnon, Jill Blunt, Richard Allen , Bryan Broomfield and Keith Ware Tom Carrino, Interim City Manager, Economic Development Director and CRA Administrator, explained the purpose of the meeting to obtain input from the community. He explained what is a CRA, how one is created and how it is funded. He provided a brief history of the Eustis CRA and explained the 2018 expansion of the CRA for the purpose of incorporating the remaining portion of Sharp's Mobile Home Park into the CRA. He reviewed the CRA Board and noted that the west side representative position is currently vacant and the City is accepting applications for that seat. He then reviewed the boundaries of the CRA. He emphasized that property owners within the CRA do not pay any additional property taxes; however, the taxing authorities give to the CRA any increase in revenues from the CRA since 1990. Mr. Carrino then explained what CRA funds can be spent on. He explained that the Commission recently appointed a CRA Review Committee for the purpose of reviewing the plan, obtaining input and updating the plan. He cited the members of the CRA Review Committee. He then stated that the intent is for attendees to provide ideas regarding what they want to see the CRA accomplish. After all of the ideas have been taken down, then each person will receive five colored dots with which they will vote on those ideas. Carla Miller Mitchell noted that the City and community did that previously and created a master plan. She asked why it needed to be done again with Mr. Carrino explaining that time has passed and people have changed. Horace Jones asked if the CRA boundary can be changed with Mr. Carrino stating it can be changed; however, you have to follow the procedure as set out in state statute. He explained that you have to have a Finding of Necessity, update the plan and then you can amend the boundaries. Eustis CRA Review Committee Page 1 of 4 January 25, 2022 An audience member asked if there are limitations in how big the CRA can be with Mr. Carrino indicating you have to be careful as any increase in the taxable values would only go to the CRA and would not go to the General Fund for City operations. Gail Isaac Thomas asked how far up Trout Lake Run does the CRA extend and whether or not the Dollar General is included with Mr. Carrino indicating it runs along Trout Run and it appears the Dollar General is in the CRA; however, the homes past there are not. An audience member asked how many people live within the CRA with Mr. Carrino indicating they would have to guess. He indicated the City could get from the Property Appraiser the number of homes and then guess how many people reside within each home. He stated the City has approximately 22,000 residents. Another audience member asked if it is possible to have committees for different areas in the city with Mr. Carrino stating that the City Commission represents the entire city and they also serve as the CRA Board. He stated that theoretically subcommittees could be created but they would report to the Commission and any decisions would be made by the Commission. Mr. Carrino then reviewed the twelve goals included in the Master Plan. He explained that in 2016 the City combined all of the various plans into one which includes the goals. He announced staff would begin taking ideas from the attendees. He explained that if someone suggests something that does not fit into one of the goals, then they would have to amend the master plan to create a new goal. Pam Rivas asked if the CRA can accept grant funds and, if so, can the CRA pay for a grantwriter. Mr. Carrino indicated a CRA can accept grant funds; however, they would have to be careful about having the CRA pay for a grantwriter. He noted that the City and CRA received a CDBG grant to construct Palmetto Plaza with the balance of the project being paid for with CRA funds. The following suggestions were made: 1) Bates Avenue streetscape to assist with traffic calming; 2) Installation of speed bumps or speed tables on Bates Avenue, Macdonald and Clifford; 3) Engaging youth in activities and sports and having low and no-cost programs; 4) Multi-use expansion of Carver Park recreation center; 5) Multi-purpose facility for holding events; 6) More events that showcase businesses; 7) Outdoor market at Palmetto Park; 8) Attracting community service businesses such as barber shop, beauty shop, nail salon; 9) Development of commercial spec space and rent subsidies; 10) Support for affordable housing; 11) Support quality development through design standards; 12) More City-wide events to include Palmetto Plaza; and 13) Better street lighting to connect the neighborhoods. Discussion was held regarding the following suggestions: 1) having a facility that children could utilize for free, such as for basketball, and possibly utilizing school buildings for some low and no- cost programs; 2) Assisting the Eustis Housing Authority to convert one of their buildings to a community meeting space; 3) Obtaining grants to assist the City with building a facility. Discussion was also held regarding the Lake County tourism funding with Mr. Carrino indicating the City did apply for funding when it was considering the sailing center but that was withdrawn. Eustis CRA Review Committee Page 2 of 4 January 25, 2022 He explained that the County tourism funding is based on the number of hotel rooms that would be filled. An audience member asked how much does the CRA generate each year with Mr. Carrino indicating that it takes in approximately $800,000 per year. He explained that the CRA could borrow funds to be paid back with the annual revenues. The following items were then discussed: 1) Utilization of the former Waterman Hospital site and plans for development; and 2) Possibly borrowing $2 million to expand the recreation center and the need to have expanded programs for youth. An audience member asked about having more downtown events like Mount Dora similar to their Art Festival with Mr. Carrino responding there are different approaches. Those can be City sponsored events or the City can assist private organizations or businesses with promoting an event. Discussion was then held regarding why the former outdoor market was unsuccessful. Additional topics discussed were as follows: 1) Expansion of the neighborhood business district and how businesses went under following integration due to the black community going to shop downtown; and 2) The need to preserve some of the land for incoming commercial. Mr. Carrino asked what types of businesses would the community support that the City could help attract to the area. Discussion was held regarding how building up businesses would help the community. It was suggested that someone could erect a building on City-owned property which could offer lower rents to the businesses. The group discussed how to determine what the priorities are, how priorities have changed over time and how to obtain additional input regarding what the neighborhood wants. Discussion was held regarding the possibility of expanding the boundaries of the gateway grant program to help improve the property values with Mr. Carrino explaining the gateway grant program and where it currently applies. He indicated that the Commission has the authority to expand the program. Discussion was held regarding low income properties with Mr. Carrino stating the master plan discusses affordable housing not low income housing. Dr. Brockington asked about the Enterprise Zone with Mr. Carrino indicating that was previously a state program and it was discontinued. He indicated there is a federal program which is a federal tax benefit program. If someone invests in a property located within an opportunity zone, you can shelter capital gains. Also, any appreciation of the value of the investment you do not have to pay taxes on it. He confirmed the City is in an opportunity zone but it is not a program that the City assists with. Eustis CRA Review Committee Page 3 of 4 January 25, 2022 Discussion was held regarding what is being constructed within the community and the need to make sure it is quality development that will hold its value. They also discussed insuring that the First Friday types of events are expanded to include Palmetto Park with Mr. Carrino indicating it would probably not work to expand First Friday due to lack of staff; however, monthly events could be planned for Palmetto Plaza. It was commented on how First Friday evolved with a recommendation that the community get together to begin such a program. Discussion was held regarding the need for additional streetlighting with Mr. Carrino explaining that the City engineer drove through town to measure the lighting and they do it annually. He stated that the CRA paid for additional lighting. Questions were asked regarding previously planned referendum with Mr. Carrino explaining the referendum was going to be to ask the residents if they wanted to levy additional millage to fund an expansion of the community building and the recreation center. It was cancelled due to Covid and not being the right time to levy additional taxes. He explained that borrowing funding to expand the recreation facility would not have to go to referendum. He further explained that they would only have to go to referendum if the City wanted to levy additional millage to pay for a specific project. Discussion was held regarding what is the City doing about homelessness with Mr. Carrino explaining that the City works with LifeStream and Open Door to provide daytime assistance as the City does not have a homeless shelter. Mr. Jones explained that the Housing Authority just amended their rules to give preference to homeless individuals. Discussion was held regarding how the skatepark was developed with Mr. Carrino reviewing the history of the skatepark and how it was originally requested by a group of young people. Discussion was also held regarding how the dogpark near the high school was developed with Mr. Carrino explaining that was privately funded by family and friends of the late Commissioner Carla Gnann Thompson . It was suggested that the City offer training at the Resource Center. Mr. Carrino then had the dots distributed and asked everyone to place their dots by those projects most important to them. He explained that a report would be compiled showing the results of the survey. 3. ADJOURNMENT: 7:59 P.M. CHRISTINE HALLORAN MICHAEL L. HOLLAND City Clerk Chairman Eustis CRA Review Committee Page 4 of 4 January 25, 2022