Special Call Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting

Lake Park Town Commission, Florida Special Call Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes Wednesday, October 18, 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 John O. D’Agostino — Executive Director Thomas J. Baird, Esq. — Agency Attorney Vivian Mendez, MMC — Agency 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 6:33 P.M. PRESENT Chair Roger Michaud Board Member John Linden Board Member Carmen Rodriguez Board Member Mary-Beth Taylor Board Member Judith Thomas Board Member Henry Stark ABSENT: Vice-Chair Kimberly Glas-Castro Special Call Community Redevelopment Agency MeetingOctober 18, 2023 Page 1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Gus Rodriguez 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. NONE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS: Executive Director John D'Agostino provide his comment via exhibit "A". He also raised concerns with the Business Before Breakfast meeting that took place on October 10th (Exhibit B). He stated that only 4 businesses within the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) area attended the meeting which he does not feel is enough of a presence to warrant the holiday display event. He stated that staff will be reaching out to all of the businesses within the CRA to create a group to see if additional businesses would like to participate in the event. Board Member Linden stated he agreed with most of what the Executive Director stated. He also stated that all of the CRA businesses were represented in the meeting and he does agree that the meeting became a little hostile due to three businesses that were not happy with the way the event would be promoted and that the streets would be closed during peak business hours for those particular businesses. Board Member Linden stated that there were 25 or 26 businesses that were represented. Executive Director D’Agostino stated that the Town will do the light display but may not move forward with the passport program in order to keep the streets open to vehicle traffic. Chair Michaud encouraged staff and the Board to work together. He stated that he had met with the business owners to see how these current concerns can be amicably resolved and stated that he encouraged the business owners to work with staff to resolve issues and address concerns and move forward. Board Member Stark asked how many meetings were held with business owners in the CRA prior to initiating recommendations. Executive Director D’Agostino explained that there had been a series of meetings, three total, with members of the business community. Board Member Stark asked when the idea of road closures was introduced. Executive Director D’Agostino stated he was not sure. Board Member Stark stated “I am sure that this last meeting was the first time this was introduced. You can imagine the surprise that people would have …that their business that do operate with people coming in there would have road closures. I think you had solicited comments, you had requested, I was at that meeting and I kept my comments to the end. I think Mr. Linden was very respectful because he allowed other people to talk. Your comments before were very disingenuous that Mr. Linden didn’t have comments. I think that’s inappropriate. I think that you need to recognize that his demeanor was leading the meeting of the business club which very few of the members in that business club belong to businesses in the CRA. I think that’s in another point that you need to take into account. The members of the CRA the people that it affected were not the majority of those people in that business meeting. Those people there very few of them commented, other than some of the negative comments you received and I think your perception was that you were being attacked. You weren’t. You had requested, you had solicited comments and for you not to have taken offense would be surprising to me. I understand why you felt attacked, but I don’t think you should have asked for comments at a business meeting where a majority of the people were not business members of the CRA and not expected that to happen. You asked for road closures at the first time in that meeting.” Executive Director D’Agostino explained that it was the marketing piece that created hostility, not the road closures. Board Member Taylor made comments about not knowing too much about this issue because she was not invited to attend these business meetings. Chair Michaud provided a brief summary of the project. Board Member Taylor asked what the expectation of the Board is in regards to this project. Executive Director D’Agostino explained that there is funding in the CRA budget for the holiday light display. He explained that the Board’s role was to pass the CRA budget which they have done. Board Member Taylor clarified that this project is only between staff and the business owners at this point. Executive Director D’Agostino stated that yes, that is correct. Board Member Thomas spoke about the formulation of a CRA business association and stressed that the CRA Board should not be a part of that association. Special Call Community Redevelopment Agency MeetingOctober 18, 2023 Page 3 CONSENT AGENDA: Motion made to pull item 1 from the Consent Agenda and approve item 2 on the Consent Agenda by Board Member Thomas, Seconded by Board Member Rodriguez. Voting Yea: Chair Michaud, Board Member Linden, Board Member Rodriguez, Board Member Taylor, Board Member Thomas, Board Member Stark. Board Member Linden expressed the following concerns regarding Resolution 77-10-23: He stated that while he is in favor, upon execution the company has 90 days to complete which will affect the area where the Christmas tree will be and proposes moving the item to a later date. He also expressed concerns with a portion of the street caving in on 8th street and understands it is not a part of this resolution and proposes addressing the street. Executive Director D’Agostino stated it will be taken into consideration and it was his understanding the work would be completed by December 1st. Public Works Director Roberto Travieso stated that it had already been decided to postpone the project. He advised that the project would not be started until after the holidays. Board Member Linden asked about the pothole on 8th Street and Park Avenue and asked if it could be fixed prior to December 1st. Public Works Director Travieso stated that this area is within the scope of this project. He stated that he would investigate the area of concern. Board Member Stark stated he believes the area could be fixed quickly and went on record to say “If it isn’t taken care of and somebody hurts themselves, you’re going to have a major problem”. Public Works Director Travieso re-stated it would be investigated and addressed as quickly as possible. Commissioner Linden asked if the contractor could address the street immediately and delay the rest until after the holiday. Public Works Director Travieso stated he would investigate and make his recommendation. Board Member Thomas stated that a temporary patching of the area may be appropriate. Motion made to approve Resolution 77-10-23 by Board Member Linden, Seconded by Board Member Taylor. Voting Aye: All 1. Resolution Authorizing and Directing its Chairman to Execute an Agreement with West Construction, Inc., for the Provision of Labor, Materials and Equipment Associated with the Park Avenue Downtown District Streetscape Improvement Project. 2. October 4, 2023 Special Call Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Minutes NEW BUSINESS: NONE  CRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS SPCECIAL CALL Exhibit A COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING Wednesday, October 18, 2023 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The Holiday Display project along Park Avenue between 7th – 10th is underway. Given our pilot year, we have decided to run the displays every day throughout the month of December, from 6pm – 10pm. Sunday through Thursday, all roads will remain open and the displays will be accessible to drive-thru vehicular traffic and sidewalk pedestrian traffic. On Friday and Saturday, there will be full road closure starting at 5:30pm (for a 6pm start time), and the displays will be accessible to pedestrian traffic only. The logistics are still being worked on, but we will be ready for our opening night on Friday, December 1, which is also our Holiday Celebration. Stay tuned for more details! All interested parties, including stakeholders who attended our recent meetings, will be updated by email as we move forward. Business participation is of utmost importance! Exhibit B