Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting

Lake Park Town Commission, Florida Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes Wednesday, December 06, 2023 at 6:30 PM Commission Chamber, Town Hall, 535 Park Avenue, Lake Park, FL 33403 Roger Michaud — Chair Kimberly Glas-Castro — Vice-Chair John Linden — Agency Member Carmen Rodriguez — Agency Member Mary Beth Taylor — Agency Member Judith Thomas — Agency Member Henry K. Stark — Agency Member Bambi McKibbon-Turner —Asst. Town Manager/ HR Director Thomas J. Baird, Esq. — Agency Attorney Vivian Mendez, MMC — Agency Clerk Laura Weidgans — Agency Deputy Clerk PLEASE TAKE NOTICE AND BE ADVISED, that if any interested person desires to appeal any decision of the Town Commission, with respect to any matter considered at this meeting, such interested person will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in the meeting should contact the Town Clerk’s office by calling 881-3311 at least 48 hours in advance to request accommodations. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL 6:32 pm PRESENT Chair Roger Michaud Vice-Chair Kimberly Glas-Castro Board Member John Linden Board Member Carmen Rodriguez Board Member Mary-Beth Taylor Board Member Judith Thomas Board Member Henry Stark Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting December 06, 2023 Page 1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Joanne Linden SPECIAL PRESENTATION/REPORT: NONE PUBLIC COMMENT: This time is provided for addressing items that do not appear on the Agenda. Please complete a comment card and provide it to the Agency Clerk so speakers may be announced. Please remember comments are limited to a TOTAL of three minutes. -Jason Ramos from Lokal Gastropub spoke about the holiday lights and displays and also stated that there was confusion as to why the roads were closed. He feels that the Town should consider reducing speed as opposed to closing the roads. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS: Assistant Town Manager/HR Director McKibbon-Turner provided comments (Exhibit A). Board Member Linden had no comments. Board Member Thomas spoke about how beautiful the holiday lights are. Board Member Stark also feels that the holiday lights are better than he expected and would like to see the Board and the Town Manager work more closely with the business associates in the CRA. He would like to see the holiday display improved next year to include music. He also asked about the alleyway behind 801 Park Avenue. Community Development Director Nadia DiTommaso advised that there are sections of alleyway that are complete, but the section between 9th and 8th streets is not complete. Board Member Stark asked about the future use of this area. Community Development Director DiTommaso stated that the area could potentially be used as a parking area. Board Member Stark asked about the progress of the Oceana site. Vice-Chair Glas-Castro stated that she also was looking for an update on the progress of this site. Community Development Director DiTommaso explained that Oceana has all of the necessary permits in hand and they have moved forward with construction. Vice-Chair Glas-Castro asked if the site was ready for vertical construction. Board Member Taylor asked what the cost was for the holiday lights project. Finance Director Jeffrey Duvall explained that the cost for the lights was $129,000. Board Member Taylor asked if there would be an assessment to see if the holiday lights were successful as far as generating more business in the CRA business district. Assistant Town Manager/HR Director McKibbon-Turner stated that there would be a discussion with staff and the Town Manager to evaluate the success and staff would reach out to business owners to assess the effects of the holiday lights. Board Member Rodriguez asked about signage indicating where the businesses were located. Chair Michaud advised there was a sign that advised the road was closed and directing traffic to the parking area. Vice-Chair Glas-Castro expressed concerns with releasing money to Oceana without a progress report from staff. Board Member Linden thanked Public Works for fixing the pot holes. Board Member Thomas spoke about Oceana and is unsure if Oceana has begun vertical construction and what the definition of vertical construction is. She feels that making another disbursement to Oceana is pre-mature because they haven’t met the vertical construction requirement. She asked for clarification from staff as to what constitutes vertical construction. Community Development Director DiTommaso stated that the site passed the rebar inspection on December 5, 2023. Chair Michaud asked for staff to provide a complete report of what has been completed so far. Assistant Town Manager/HR Director McKibbon-Turner advised that this item would be placed on the December 20th agenda and that the next disbursement of $200,000 to Oceana has not been released yet. Chair Michaud stated that we should hold off on releasing those funds for a little bit longer. CONSENT AGENDA: Motion to approve the consent agenda made by Board Member Thomas, Seconded by Board Member Taylor. Voting Yea: Chair Michaud, Vice-Chair Glas-Castro, Board Member Linden, Board Member Rodriguez, Board Member Taylor, Board Member Thomas, Board Member Stark. 1. October 18, 2023 Special Call Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes 2. November 15, 2023 Special Call Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes NEW BUSINESS: 3. Lake Park Car Show and Cruise Special Events Director Riunite Franks explained the item (Exhibit B). Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting December 06, 2023 Page 3  Exhibit A CRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING Wednesday, December 6, 2023 COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT  Oceana Coffee at 1301 10th Street is moving forward with their construction. They have met the provisions of the grant agreement so far in that they demolished the building on or before August 15, 2023 and they received their permit for site work and vertical construction on or before September 15, 2023. Their 2nd disbursement of $200,000 is scheduled to be released this Friday, December 8. They are also coordinating an ‘official’ groundbreaking ceremony on January 19. Staff is working with them on the details and more information is forthcoming. Of course, the CRA Board will be invited.  Two CRA expansion areas were previously presented to the CRA Board and approved by the Board and transmitted to the County. A meeting with the County is scheduled for January 2024 to discuss the Finding of Necessity at a staff level. We are hopeful it will then move forward to their Board of Commissioners sometime thereafter. The CRA Executive Director will update the CRA Board following the County meeting as needed.  754 Park Avenue: Staff met with the owner, his team and his contractor again on November 28. At this meeting, we reviewed their permit resubmittal requirements (for the exterior redevelopment of the property) again and they guaranteed the Town would receive a complete permit submittal by the end of last week (maybe this week). While it has yet to be received, Code Compliance does have a pending case for the permits and the property owner will be subject to a timeline them to have a permit in hand by early February so that construction can continue in February 2024. The owner acknowledged this timeline and confirmed resuming construction in February is feasible. We have confirmed with the property owner that the property is not currently for sale.  Staff has been in discussions with the Kelsey Market owners on Park Avenue. Staff met with them to discuss some code violations and encourage them to revitalize their property and possibly work with the neighboring owner as well. The owner is open to the idea and is currently working with an architect and engineer to develop plans and a cost estimate. A CRA grant may be requested, but more information is forthcoming.  801 Park Avenue (One Park Place): Staff has meet with the owner several times. The owner is working with a consultant on developing plans for the redevelopment of the alleyway directly behind their property to accommodate 1  additional parking. Once the plans are ready, along with construction costs, discussions on a CRA partnership for a possibly cost sharing will be coordinated. A dessert and coffee shop tenant (cheesecakes and more) is in negotiations with the owner on their two easternmost ground floor units. The tenant (Wow Concoctions) is a mother-daughter run business and the business owners live in Town and have been in business for several years (their previous location was in Jupiter). Staff is working with them on coordinating build out, grease trap requirements, and so on. Hopefully they will be able to open in early to mid-2024.  10th Street corridor (south of Park Avenue): Staff is in continued discussions with several property owners along 10th, south of Evergreen Drive. A vision plan that includes an extension of the downtown into this area is being discussions, so as to promote redevelopment in this area as well, promote streetscape improvements, and promote a refreshed entryway coming from Silver Beach Road, with a blend of active uses, residential and open spaces. More info is forthcoming. A follow-up (internal) meeting with stakeholders is scheduled for next week. HUMAN RESOURCES Job Opening: The following job opening is being advertised for the Community Redevelopment Agency:  Community Redevelopment Administrator – Salary rate $90,000.00 per year. This position is open until filled. To view the complete job posting for the above position or to download an employment application, please visit the Town’s official website at www.lakeparkflorida.gov . For additional information please contact the Town’s Human Resources Department at 561- 881-3300 and choose Option 8. 2 Exhibit B LAKE PARK CAR SHOW & CRUISE Benefitting the SUNDAY DECEMBER 10, 2023 3:00 -7:00 796 10TH ST, LAKE PARK FOOD TRUCKS & BREWS LIVE BAND $10 ADMISSION FEE PER CAR CONTACT: KIM THOMSON 561.309.2820