CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2013 AT 5: 00 PM WILLIAM F: BILL" " DICKINSON COMMUNITY CENTER 1601 N. KROME AVENUE, HOMESTEAD, FL 33030 I. CALL TO ORDER Vice Mayor Jon Burgess called the meeting to order at 5: 10 P.M. Board Members Present: Vice Chairman Jon Burgess, Boardmember Patricia FaircloughMcCormick, Boardmember Stephen Shelley, and Boardmember Judy Waldman. Boardmember Jimmie L. Williams, III arrived at 5: 14 PM. Boardmember Elvis Maldonado arrived at 5:51 PM. Chairman Steven C. Bateman was absent. 11. DELETIONS AND/OR DEFERRALS a. ARTSOUTH EVENT FUNDING REQUEST CRA Executive Director Rick Ammirato requested to add this item to the end of the CRA Agenda. Vice Chairman Burgess inquired if any of the boardmembers had any objections to adding this item to the end of the agenda. There were no objections from the board to adding this item to the end of the agenda. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. DECEMBER 4,2012 CRA BOARD MEETING MINUTES A Motion to approve the December 4, 2012 CRA Board Meeting Minutes was made by Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick, and seconded by Boardmember Waldman. Chairman Bateman asked all in favor?Vote: Ayes all. Motion carried. IV. NEW BUSINESS a. CAR #774 WEST — HOMESTEAD ELEMENTARY A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, APPROVING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND THE MIAMI DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD TO FACILITATE THE EXPANSION AND RECONFIGURATION OF THE WEST HOMESTEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL INTO A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGTH GRADE FACILITY WITH A PROGRAM FOCUS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS ( " STEM"), PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick asked City Attorney Richard Weiss if it would pose a conflict if she engaged or participated in discussion since she worked for Miami Dade Public Schools, and this item was in reference to West Homestead Elementary school. City Attorney Weiss advised Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick she did not have a conflict because she had no financial interest or specified relationships that would cause a conflict of interest. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick asked that the record reflect that this would not pose a conflict of interest. CRA Executive Director Rick Ammirato stated CRA Staff was seeking direction from the Board regarding the attached Resolution to enter into an Inter local Agreement with the Miami Dade School District to help facilitate the expansion and reconfiguration of West Homestead Elementary School to a K 8 - Center, with a programmatic focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). CRA Executive Director Ammirato read the staff memo into the record. He stated CRA staff was charged with coming back to the CRA Board with more details on a proposed expansion and members of the School Board were present to provide a brief presentation and answer any questions the CRA Board may have. A Motion to approve was made by Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick, and seconded by Vice Chairman Burgess. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick requested City Manager George Gretsas provide a brief overview on how this project has evolved, the options that were explored and what ultimately led to this point. City Manager Gretsas stated there was a laundry list of items for the CRA Board to consider for funding that was available for Capital Improvement Projects for the CRA. At the conclusion of that discussion, there was direction from the CRA Board to earmark $00 775,000. from the funding that was available and to start working with the school district to determine the best way to assist with West Homestead Elementary School. He reported from that meeting forward, he and staff had spent a tremendous amount of time with the school district to better understand what their needs were and the overall scope of the project. He explained in the first phase, staff was trying to understand what the project entails, and although the City has 00 775, 000.earmarked, the cost of the project was approximately $6 million. Then staff tried to figure out how to leverage the City's 00 775, $ 000.to come back to the Board with a plan that would meet the needs of West Homestead Elementary School because if the project was $6 million, 00 775, $ 000.would not meet their needs. He explained staff wanted to know if there was some sort of a financing plan where the CRA could leverage the $00 775,000.and use it to pay off a larger bond or debt because, at the time, they were having issues with their bonding capacity. He mentioned staff was looking for creative ideas to assist the school district and during that time the bond referendum was approved. He reported once the school district bond was approved, and in staff's discussion with the school district, their position was that this CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCYMINUTES Page 2 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 project does not meet the criteria to be on their one or two year plan. He recommended the CRA Board attach some terms and conditions on whatever assistance would be provided to the school district so that there would be progress quicker than what the school district initially planned. He mentioned although there is funding in the school district bond offering for West Homestead Elementary School through their prioritization process, there would be no progress for many years. He reiterated if the CRA Board was still committed to funding West Homestead Elementary School with the $00 775,000. that conditions be attached that binds the school district to a construction schedule, and that funding be provided over a period of time to ensure the CRA does not disburse all of the funding if the construction project is not completed. School District Representative Jim Torrance introduced other staff present from the school district. He discussed the concept and idea of the Homestead Elementary School renovation project. He explained the school currently operates as a K 5 - Center and is in need of major renovation. He emphasized the concept was to give the community more than just a renovated elementary school. He explained the plan was to expand the opportunities for students in the Homestead community in the K 8 - Center with a high end academic program centered around science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which is the STEM Program. He noted if the collaboration goes forward, the school district plan is to move very quickly with this project; beginning in the 2013 2014 fiscal year with the commission of an architect and shortly thereafter with a contractor to perform the work. The idea is to demolish some of the older buildings on the campus and build new buildings, changing the frontage of the school to Lucy Street. This would provide more relevance to the campus and ensure the newer buildings are along the more significant thoroughfare rather than where they are currently. The improvements would include a new classroom building, new offices, and total technology upgrade. If the school district was to do the renovation project only, it would not be done until the later part of the bond program because of the way the projects are structured. He explained the smaller projects are scheduled to be done first, and the larger projects would take longer because they would have to bundle and commission architects for those projects. However, the collaboration with the CRA would advance this project to the first year and there would be no delay in starting. This project would add value to the community and school population. He reiterated the focus on the STEM Program and the programmatic opportunities it presents are very important to the students because it would provide different choices. He stated the students would be able to remain at the school all the way through eighth grade. The school district would begin to retain students in the sixth grade this year if the collaboration proceeds. He reported the school would provide portable classrooms to accommodate the needs of the students. He introduced Assistant Superintendent of Schools of Choice, Dr. Helen Blanch,to explain what the benefits of the STEM Program would be to the students and school. Boardmember Williams left the room at 5: 22 PM. Dr. Blanch explained the STEM Program is unique in that the school would be able to transition students leaving the eighth grade into the programs that were recently implemented at the high school level, such as the MAST Academy at Homestead, which has the medical theme, the International Bachelorette Program at South Dade High School, and the nursing and technology programs at both South Dade and Homestead Senior High Schools. The idea is that this school would be a model school in regards to the transition the country is making towards common CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 3 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 core standards. She mentioned this was a new way of looking at American education. She commented schools with K 8 - centers have been extraordinarily popular with parents, but the school district has also developed quite a stream of longitudinal data over the past ten years that shows students that transition from a K 8 - center to high school have a much stronger ninth grade as a result of coming from that environment. Therefore, this would be a very good thing for the students at this school and for the community. Boardmember Williams returned to the room at 5: 25 PM. School District Representative Torrance stated collaboration with partners is something the school district has been involved with for a number of years. In the handout he provided to the Council, there were examples of some recent collaboration that the school district had with municipal partners throughout the district, including North Miami, where the City donated the land for two schools and financed $124 million of debt for the construction of those schools which was later repaid by the school district. Most recently, the school district had collaboration with the Village of Key Biscayne for a construction of an addition to the MAST Academy at Virginia Key, which was completely financed by Key Biscayne. The school district had various collaborations with Sunny Isles Beach, both for the purchase of land for a school of which they paid 50% of the cost of the land and, most recently, for an addition the school district opened in 2008. The school district collaborated with the City of Miami Law Studies Police Academy High School, which was built on city land and jointly operated by the City and the school district. Therefore, the school district has a track record of delivering on these types of collaboration and it looks forward to this collaboration with the City of Homestead's CRA. He pointed out the original renovation project was going to cost $4 to $6 million, but now the school district is looking at a project estimated at $10 million for the K 8 - center conversion and partial replacement of West Homestead Elementary school campus. He commented this was a significant increase in the value of the project and physical plant, but when the project is completed, it is going to be greatly improved and more capable of serving the students and the Homestead community for many years in the future. City Manager George Gretsas requested Jim to explain the school district's prioritization process to the CRA Board. Jim described the prioritization structure in the school district bond program. The first year,the projects that are scheduled are projects that would cost up to $2 million because the school district has the contracting and design capacity on retainer currently to do those projects. In the second and third years, the focus would be on projects under $1 million because the school district is launching a small business enterprise program and an MWB Program through a disparity study that is being conducted. The larger projects would be primarily concentrated in the latter years, which are years 4 through 7 because it takes longer to commission architects and contractors and the selection process is more time consuming. Therefore, this project being done in the first year would be an exception. Boardmember Williams inquired if the existing facility would remain an elementary school without this valuable collaboration. He commented this project was not presented this way before. The City was told this school was going to be a K 8 - center and the CRA was going to CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 4 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 assist with that project. However, in the school district presentation, it stated that with the collaboration, the school would become a K 8 - center, and without the collaboration the school would remain an elementary school. He asked the school district representative for clarification. School district representative Torrance commented that, without the collaboration, the school district could not guarantee that West Homestead Elementary would be a K 8 - center. He reiterated that, with the collaboration, the school district could guarantee the school would be a K8 - center this year in the 2013 2014 school year. Boardmember Williams inquired if the school district would be using local contractors within the City of Homestead to assist with the renovation of the West Homestead Elementary School facility. He commented if the school district was going to make this a real collaboration, he believes that individuals within this community should get some of the contracts to facilitate some of the renovations in the area. Jim explained that the selection of contractors by the school district was governed by state statute, and the school district has already committed in their bond program to using local employment zones. However, as far as the selection of actual contractors, the school district has a local vendor policy, which gives preference to local vendors (in case of the school district, local vendors are considered vendors in Miami Dade County). He stated he would have to consult with his legal staff in giving preference to Homestead in particular. He reiterated the school district was looking through all of their contracts to hire workers from the community. He commented this would be the first project to be done; therefore, it could be made the model to be followed by other parts of the district. He also stated this request was something that could be explored by the school district and to the extent it was legal, they would do it. Boardmember Williams explained his passion regarding this project was because it was in his district and he was trying to ensure that some of the plumbers, electricians and subcontractors would be able to bid on some of the work and there would be some job stimulation from the project. He asked Mr.Torrance what was the estimated cost of the project. Jim answered the estimated cost of the project was approximately $ 10 million. Boardmember Williams inquired how long it would take from start to completion of the project. Jim answered that with a construction project like this, the school district would be able to phase it because they have the advantage of first constructing the new buildings, occupy those buildings and then demolish the existing buildings. He explained from the hiring of an architect to completion, it would take from 2 to 2.5 years. He noted the school district collaborated before where the school district made a commitment to the community to hire workers from that community. He mentioned the contractors that are selected to do the job would be required to have job fairs and reach out to the community. He agreed it would make sense that the community as a whole should benefit from the project. CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 5 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 Boardmember Williams stated if the school district commits to local persons being able to work on the project and the school district stays on the time frame allotted to begin the project, he would continue to support the project, but if anything changes, he would be hesitant. Boardmember Shelley stated the original concept and estimated cost of the project was $4 to 6 million, and now the estimated cost is $10 million. It was great to have that money invested in this community, the K 8 - center and STEM program. He asked how does the $00 775,000. in funding from the CRA get the project moved forward, when the CRA is being told if it does not provide the $00 775,000.that this project would go to the end of the list and it would be 5 or 7 years before the renovation of the school, it may not be a K 8 - center, and the school would definitely not have the STEM program. He asked Mr. Torrance to explain how the CRA's small portion of funding would allow for the additional components of the project. Jim explained that the other collaborations the school district did, it was a give and take. He commented the school district was not going to take the City's funding, but the school district wanted to give more to the community. He reported the project would be advanced, and by virtue of making it a K 8 - center, the school district has to ensure there are labs and certain facilities that are unique to a K 8 - center that would not be required for an elementary school. He noted this was the value the community was receiving. He reiterated if the school district was to renovate the elementary school; the estimated cost would be in the $4 to 6 million range. Boardmember Shelley commented the $00 775,000.CRA funding was essentially because the City was reaching out to collaborate with the school board and the school district was deciding to do additional components to the project that they would not do otherwise. Mr. Torrance explained the bond program's focus was renovation of the existing building, but adding capacity was the last thing the school district would do under the bond program. He explained there were other areas in the community where capacity is needed, but the commitment to the community was to update the existing school district facilities and the technology in the schools. He reiterated with this collaboration, the school district would guarantee this project would be done within the first year of the bond program. Boardmember Shelley inquired if the school district would be able to accomplish the same goal if the CRA was to lend the $00 775,000.rather than gifting the money. Jim stated that would be difficult for the school district because they would have to justify this to other municipal partners. He noted the current terms of the collaboration between the CRA and the school district is consistent with what the school district did with other municipalities. He pointed out a loan would still be a liability for the school district. Boardmember Shelley pointed out when this was first discussed, the school district did not have the bonding capacity or financing ability, and he saw this as a way for the City to assist the school district to jump start something that would otherwise may never occur. However, the difficulty he is having is that, since that time this was originally discussed, the school district was approved for the $1.2 billion bond. He stated his concern was the school district now has CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 6 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 money, but the CRA does not. He stated that, once the City releases this lump sum to the school district, the money is gone and it cannot be utilized for any other purpose within the CRA, and that is concerning to him because the CRA only had this money because of the way things occurred over the last couple of years. He stated that, going forward, the opportunity for the CRA ever having this type of lump sum money again is probably non -existent; therefore this was the reason he was asking to make the $00 775,000.a loan to the school district so that the CRA could do other projects. He reiterated if the CRA funding was a loan to the school district, he would be more comfortable with funding the renovations at West Homestead Elementary School. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick questioned whether the Board believed that the students in the Southwest area were worth the investment. She noted the CRA Board had a discussion and allocated $00 775,000.to the expansion of West Homestead Elementary School to a K 8 - facility. The Board discussed fully how the CRA was going to fully finance the project, and now that the bond referendum has passed, West Homestead and each school in the school district has received a list of items on how they would be renovated. She advised that West Homestead Elementary School was slated to receive air conditioning, heating, and electrical upgrades, which are basically cosmetic type improvements, but with the support and collaboration with the City of Homestead, the community is getting more improvements than they are paying for. She pointed out $00 775,000.is nothing when investing in education. She read a list of cities within the school district that have collaborated with the school district, and asked at what point the City of Homestead will truly invest in education. She referred to the Visioning Session where education was discussed and how the Council was going to level the playing field among the students in the urban core so that they could compete against the proliferation of charter schools that are in the City of Homestead. She emphasized she was on the Council to advocate for those children in the Southwest area who do not have a beacon of light, a source of inspiration, and the expansion of this school from K5 to K8 with a programmatic focus on STEM is going to propel those students to a plateau of opportunity and promise. She affirmed she would continue to advocate for the 72% population of migrant students that attend West Homestead Elementary School. She asked if the Council would be willing to tell those families in the Southwest that $00 775,000.was allocated, but now the funding is going to be used for other projects since the school district has a bond referendum. She stated her belief is strong schools build strong communities and if this community is going to place its students in a position to compete, there must be a strong collaboration between the forces that form their lives, which is the school, home and community. She pointed out the collaboration with the school district has an impact on student achievement and, more importantly, the CRA Board has the opportunity to make a difference in the Southwest community. She encouraged her colleagues to support this initiative because the funding is already allocated. Boardmember Waldman commented the original meeting regarding the funding allocation for the West Homestead Elementary School project was January 2012. She pointed out this money was earmarked based on information that was to be brought back to the CRA Board. She stated she did not expect the item to be brought back to the Board combined with an Interlocal Agreement before the CRA Board had an opportunity to digest it because everything has changed from the first time this project was discussed. She mentioned she felt the Board was being challenged by the school district because the school district has advised they would not CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 7 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 do certain things if the CRA does not collaborate with the school district. She stated the children have been neglected by the school district, and an example is the students at Neva King Cooper Elementary School needed a pool pump because the pump had not worked for eight months and those students are totally immobile without their pool pump and her nonprofit organization purchased the pool pump. She also stated her non -profit built the children at that school a sensory room and smart boards. She pointed the CRA Board did not pledge this money, it was earmarked with more information to follow and the information has changed. She commented the CRA could use the $00 775,000.to help those children in the Southwest area by having programs at Phichol Williams, tutoring and other programs, but for the school district to tell the City that if the City does not collaborate with the school district, the West Homestead Elementary School project would not be done until 6 to 8 years away does not sit well with her. Vice Chairman Burgess noted when Charter School USA, which is a for -profit company, came to the City of Homestead; the Council gave them more than $00. 775,000. He pointed out the City would be gaining ten times the value if the CRA Board moves forward with this collaboration. He stated he was impressed with bringing the K 8 - school with the STEM program to this community. Therefore, he sees the value in giving this funding to the school district for the community. He reiterated that, because of the way the bond issue was written and because the projects that have to be completed at West Homestead Elementary School are extensive, those were the reasons for it to be done in the 5 to 6 year phase of the bond program. He stated he was in favor to allocating the CRA funding to this project because the City has given more to other schools that are in this community making millions of dollars in this community. He commented it was time the City assisted the public school system although they may have neglected this community for years, but they were present offering a fair value for the CRA funding to help the children in this community. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick commended Dr. Williams, the Principal of West Homestead Elementary for the wonderful job he was doing at this school. She mentioned when Dr. Williams went to West Homestead Elementary School, it was a couple of points from an "F"rated school, now the school is a "B"rated school and paving the way to becoming an A"rated school. She noted there are many afterschool programs in the Southwest community and Dr. Williams operates it every day after school and on Saturdays, there are programs at Roby George, Phichol Williams and at the Pal Gym with Start off Smart and Weed & Seed. She pointed out the Southwest community has many afterschool programs, but what that community does not have is a school with the STEM program. She stated she had proposed this project through the CRA because it was designed to remove blight from the community and she thought this would be accomplished through this project. Boardmember Shelley stated the members of the CRA Board all have the same goal in mind. They all want to see a quality school in the Southwest area, and they want West Homestead Elementary School to become all that it should be. The difference is in the methodology of how that is being accomplished because he has a similar view point in that he believes it is the School Board's job and it is their sole purpose to provide quality education and schools in this community. Therefore, his problem is that the CRA residents are being double taxed because they are paying whatever Tiff funds that come back to the City's CRA and they are also paying CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 8 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 their School Board taxes and, essentially, having to spend double the money to get a product they should have gotten based on the taxes they are paying to the School Board. He reiterated they are trying to fight for the same thing, but it is the methodology. He inquired again how the CRA's funding accomplished all of what the school district is saying it is going to accomplish because it is such a small portion of a large project. He asked what precedence was this setting, and does the City have to put up money every time the City wants a school improved. He pointed out he has a problem with this principle and how this was working. He mentioned since the amount of money was so small why the School Board could not provide this service to this school anyway. He recalled the Council did focus on education at the Visioning Session and what the Council was supposed to do was to reach out to the School Board and ask them why they were not focusing on the City of Homestead and doing more for this community. He commended the representative from the school district for coming to this community to work with the Council, but paying the school district money in order for them to make this school project a priority was not right. He emphasized he had a real issue with this and it had nothing to do with whether or not the school should be focused on. He pointed out the School Board should be providing this to that school regardless of what decision the CRA Board makes at this meeting. He reiterated the School Board should be making this school a K 8 - and putting the STEM program in there and should be doing what the City thinks is best for the students in the City of Homestead without having to essentially sacrifice other programming in that area. Boardmember Waldman expressed her agreement with the concerns expressed by Boardmember Shelley. She reiterated the initial project was proposed to the CRA Board as a K 8 school. She commented the $00 775,000. could provide better programs in the Southwest community. She stated the City may not have an opportunity again to have this lump sum of money. She also expressed her disappointment in the way the School Board has treated the City of Homestead. She commented it was not fair to make the children in that school wait a long period of time if the CRA did not follow through with the collaboration. She stated she was not in favor of allocating the funding because it was not handled properly. However, she also stated she wanted the funding to be allocated to provide services to the children in the Southwest, and she wants them to have opportunities and everything the City could possibly provide for them. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick pointed out in reviewing the proposed General Obligation Bond project roll out; many of the schools in the City of Homestead were at the top of the list. She commended the school district for placing those schools at the top of the list. She noted this was a partnership, and asked her colleagues to consider converting West Homestead Elementary School into a K 8 - facility. Boardmember Waldman stated one of the first proposals was to renovate the administrative offices and not to do the classrooms. She asked City Manager George Gretsas to verify the components of the initial proposal for West Homestead Elementary School. City Manager Gretsas stated there was a component of administrative offices in the initial proposal, and there was an evolution of the proposal along the way. He commented that, after listening to the discussion by all of the CRA Board members, a piece of it all made sense to him as to why they were all concerned. However, the problem for staff dealing with the school CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 9 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 district is that they have their procedures and the City has its procedures. He explained that once the school district's staff drafts a document, they have an obligation to take it to their board and the City's staff wanted to make sure the document was brought to the CRA Board at the same time because the school district staff is taking the document to their board. The reason this item was on the CRA Agenda was to give the City's staff direction and or / pass the resolution because the School Board is going to be voting on this item. He reiterated this proposal has evolved over time and part of it was because the school district had an initial concept, but had the bond referendum which changed the concept. Boardmember Waldman asked the school district representative if the CRA had not gone to the School Board with the $00 775,000.proposal, would the school district not have helped West Homestead Elementary School with the bond referendum. Mr. Torrance stated this was an opportunity to advance a project providing an educational program to the students. Boardmember Waldman stated she does not understand what the CRA funding had to do with the school district timeline for the renovation of West Homestead Elementary School. She asked why the school could not give the importance that is needed for this school because it has been in need of renovation for many years. She mentioned she had many conversations with former School Boardmember Evelyn Greer regarding the conditions of that school and she had a few conversations with Dr. Feldman, the present School Boardmember for this region. Mr. Torrance answered the schools in the City of Homestead were going to be taken care of through the General Obligation Bond referendum. He reiterated this was an opportunity to expand on that, accelerate a project and do it this year, 2013 2014. - Boardmember Waldman questioned the school district representative what the CRA funding has to do with the timeline for this project. Mr.Torrance responded the school district had opened discussions with the City of Homestead before the bond referendum had occurred and they are honoring discussions and commitments that were made before the bond. Along with this project were the Village of Key Biscayne and the City of Sunny Isles Beach. He pointed out the school district was honoring those commitments although the bond referendum passed. He stated he was present at this meeting to follow through on the initial discussion the school district had with the CRA and the City of Homestead. City Manager Gretsas stated in fairness to the school district, he asked the same question when the CRA Board had directed him to meet with the school district and he was told by the school district staff that they go through a year by year Capital Improvement Plan process. He commented from a practical perspective, he did not think the school district was going to do this project soon if not for this collaboration. He explained the school district advised that they have a methodology of when they schedule their improvements, they have decided from a policy perspective which projects come first year by year, and that decision has already been CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 10 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 made. He advised the school district is willing to collaborate with the City and the CRA to do this project sooner because they are receiving $00. 775,000. Boardmember Waldman stated she would support the allocation of the CRA funding to the school district for the renovation project at West Homestead Elementary School, but she was not in agreement with the school district's methodology in accomplishing this project. Vice Chairman Burgess asked City Attorney Richard Weiss if the language about the local vendors being included in this project had to be added. City Attorney Weiss answered the school district would have to check with their attorneys to see what they could put in the agreement. City Attorney Weiss asked Attorney Jeffrey DeCarlo from his office if there was any reference to local vendors currently in the agreement. City Attorney DeCarlo answered this was not in the agreement. City Attorney Weiss stated this would have to be added to the agreement, but he would have to find out if the school district attorneys were permitted to do that or not. He would have to check with them. Anna Regio Condi with the department of school facilities provided information on how to see where the schools within the City of Homestead are on the priority list. She mentioned there is a direct link on their website to the bond program. She noted that out of the eight schools within the City of Homestead City Limits, five of those schools, including West Homestead Elementary School, are programmed for the first year of the bond program. Therefore, the City had quite a few schools advanced in the first year. She mentioned her department has been doing construction of schools for a number of years and in the period of six years, they have constructed over 100,000 student stations with great success. Fifty percent of those student stations were in the South Miami Dade area. She also mentioned although there are eight schools within the City Limits, there are a number of other schools that serve the City of Homestead. She commented the school district had a great track record in terms of delivering projects to the community. She commented the school district did projects in the past where they were able to include a provision in their contract where the contractor held job fairs and had reached out to the community. She noted that one of the Superintendent's initiatives was to make sure, as much as possible, that the money that is invested as part of the bond remains in the zip code of the schools. She stated investing the money within the community was a legitimate request because the collaborative funding was coming from the CRA and the mission of the CRA was to ensure there is job development, job creation and economic development. Boardmember Waldman stated the City had been neglected for many years, and she does not have the answer as to why the CRA funding of $ 775,000.moves this project up on the list to 00 the first year of the bond program. Vice Chairman Burgess clarified the reason the CRA funding of $ 775,000 matters is because the school district committed to beginning the renovation of the West Homestead Elementary School immediately if the CRA collaborated with the school district. He noted the scope of the CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page I I of34 MARCH 12, 2013 project was not going to be as extensive before the bond program. However, since the bond program has passed, the scope of the project has expanded and more improvements can be accomplished. He stated the school district was trying to honor the transaction that was committed to before the bond program was passed, which was an immediate renovation project with the funds that were available at that time. Mr. Torrance explained that, originally, the $775,000 was going to be used to service the debt for the project because the school district did not have debt capacity; therefore, they were going to take on the debt and use the $00 775,000.to service the debt. He pointed out their new proposal is a greater value to the community because the school district is not just using the funds to pay for financing costs, but the funding is being used to invest and expand the program, which could not be done originally. Boardmember Williams asked Mr. Torrance if, based on the $00 775,000.allocation, it would upgrade the school to a K 8 - facility. He stated his concern was when the project was initially proposed to the CRA Board, it was proposed as a K 8 - center prior to the bond program. He reiterated the CRA funding allocated to the project would ensure that the school would be a K 8 center with the STEM focus. Mr.Torrance confirmed the school would be a K 8 - center the next school year (2013-2014). Boardmember Williams commented if this allocation is not approved at this meeting, would the school still be a K 8 - center. Mr.Torrance stated they would have to go back to the school district operations and the school may eventually become a K 8 - center if that is what the community wants. He explained the facilities needed for a K 8 - facility are not going to be with only the bond program funding the renovation project. He noted in some of the schools that were converted into K 8 - centers, the school district did not do any cosmetic renovations, they basically changed the name and started the middle school programs without the high end STEM and technology facilities that would be available at this school. Boardmember Williams clarified if the school could possibly be a K 8 - center, but be very limited. Mr. Torrance stated the community would have a school that is over 50 years old with the program inserted for a K 8 - center, but it would probably not be able to support a STEM program because of the labs and type of resources required for the STEM Program. Boardmember Williams inquired if the allocation would ensure the labs and facilities required to support the STEM Program. Mr.Torrance responded in the affirmative. Boardmember Fairclough explained the $1.2 billion general obligation bond is basically for bricks and mortar and, with this project; the community is getting more than bricks and mortar. CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 12 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 She stated if this allocation was not approved, West Homestead Elementary School would still be renovated, but the STEM Program would not be at the school and in order for the City to get a greater value for its funding, the CRA Board should support this item to renovate the facility with the CRA funding extending beyond the original proposal. She agreed with Boardmember Waldman if this allocation of funding is approved at this meeting, she would be in attendance at the School Board meetings to make sure what the CRA Board is voting for is what the community receives. Boardmember Shelley stated he would be more comfortable with this process if the CRA was giving the school district favorable terms on a loan, an interest free loan or somehow the CRA would be receiving these funds back because with the other charter schools the City assisted, at the end of the day, the City gets the land and buildings back. Therefore, his concern is the City does not have much in the way of resources and to lose those resources and not be able to put them in other types of programs or projects within the CRA concerns him the most. He commented he would like to find a way to work with the school district in a partnership or collaboration, but not leave the City of Homestead coffers bare given the current economic conditions. He would like to find a way to make this work, but he had concerns about the current methodology for accomplishing it. Vice Chairman Burgess asked Boardmember Williams for a motion to open the meeting to comments from the public because, normally, in the CRA meetings, there are no comments from the public. Boardmember Williams agreed with Vice Chairman Burgess at CRA meetings there are no comments from the public, but suggested hearing from the public regarding this project. Vice Chairman Burgess opened the floor for public comments on this item. Dr. Jim Tranthem, 2375 S.E. 7th Place, Homestead, commented most of his concerns regarding the timeline of the project were answered by the City Manager. He stated it was extremely important that the project begins and ends right away. He mentioned the community needs jobs and there is no reason why this large task cannot be done by many of the vendors in the City of Homestead and the people who have businesses within the City. He also stated he was in agreement with Boardmember Waldman that the City of Homestead is not rich and 775,000. is a lot of money to this City, and all of the other communities that were 00 mentioned are much more affluent neighborhoods than this City. He noted to get a new school by contribution of approximately 10% 775, 00) ($ 000. of the cost of the entire project ($ 10 million) is a pretty good deal. He pointed out the CRA had the money and could expedite this project. He commented the City has been blessed with new schools on the east side of the City, but the Southwest area of the City needs schools. He agreed with Boardmember FaircloughMcCormick that those children deserve the best the City could give them, and if $ 775,000.in 00 lump sum is not being used for something else, the City should take care of the children in the Southwest, as the children were taken care of in the East side of the City. Maria Garza, who resides at 101 NE 19 Street, Homestead, supported the CRA Board doing its due diligence by asking the right questions and ensuring that when these types of projects are CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 13 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 being proposed the board members do what is expected of them as the leaders. She urged the CRA Board to approve the CRA allocation of funding to the school district because every time an investment in education is made; it is an investment in the future of the City's children. She mentioned that particular segment of the community has been neglected, but when the community can forge partnerships with Miami Dade County Public Schools, especially before the bond issue was approved, but now the bond money is available and the project can be upgraded from a simple renovation to a state of- the art - STEM program, why not, because this is exactly what is needed. Therefore, she supports both the school district and City on this project, and she believed with both organizations working together, this is going to be a phenomenal project with the diligence and watchful eyes of Boardmember Waldman and Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick, of whom the City could be very proud of. Vice Chairman Burgess closed the public comments. Boardmember Williams thanked Vice Chairman Burgess for allowing the public to comment on this item because this was not the CRA Board's normal procedure, but it was critical for the Board to hear from the public. He commented there was no STEM Program attached to the initial proposed renovation project. He noted it would be great to have such a state of- the art school in the Southwest area that the entire City could be proud of. City Attorney Richard Weiss read the Resolution approving the Interlocal Agreement between the CRA and Miami Dade County School Board by title. A Motion was made to approve the resolution by Boardmember Williams, and was seconded by Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick. A Motion was made to amend the Interlocal agreement to add preference to local contractors and subcontractors to facilitate the renovations of West Homestead Elementary K 8 - Center by Boardmember Williams, and was seconded by Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick. Roll Call Vote Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick Boardmember Shelley Yes Boardmember Williams Yes Boardmember Waldman Yes Boardmember Maldonado Absent Vice Chairman Burgess Yes Chairman Bateman Absent Yes Motion Carried. Roll Call Vote on resolution as amended CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 14 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 Yes Vice Chairman Burgess Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick Boardmember Shelley Yes No Yes Boardmember Williams Boardmember Waldman Yes Boardmember Maldonado Absent Chairman Bateman Absent Motion carried. b. CRA# 745 - FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR ICONIC ATTRACTION A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD OF THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL OF LEISURE AND RECREATION CONCEPTS, INC. FOR THE COMPLETION OF AN ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ICONIC ATTRACTION IN THE HOMESTEAD DOWNTOWN AREA; WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2-A) 411.1( 2)OF THE ( CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. City Attorney Weiss read the above resolution by title. A Motion was made to approve by Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick, seconded by Boardmember Williams. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick recognized the Region Superintendent, Dr. Alexis Martinez. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick left the room at 6:41 PM. CRA Executive Director Rick Ammirato reported staff was recommending approval of the resolution and authorized the City Manager to accept the proposal for consulting services from Leisure and Recreation Concepts, Inc. to complete an economic feasibility study for an iconic attraction in Homestead. He stated staff was only requesting funding for element one of the proposal for the cost of $00. 38, 000. He informed the Board that the scope of work would include the collection and review of pertinent data, site analysis, market identification and an analysis that included size and growth trends, socio economic characteristics and growth projections, market demand analysis, development facilities requirements and a financial analysis. The study would be completed in 120 working days. He mentioned Michael Jenkins; the Principal of Leisure and Recreation Concepts, Inc. was present at the meeting to discuss what the economic feasibility study would entail and what they do as a consulting group. Boardmember Williams asked CRA Executive Director Ammirato if the $ 38, 00 000.was going to be taken from the CRA funding. CRA Executive Director Ammirato said yes, the funding was going to be taken from professional services. CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 15 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 Boardmember Williams inquired how much money was in professional services. He stated if 00 38, 000.was taken out of the funds in professional services, it would leave $99.00. CRA Executive Director Ammirato answered yes. Boardmember Williams asked CRA Executive Director Ammirato how much money there was in professional services. CRA Executive Director Ammirato answered the CRA had budgeted $00 50, 000.for professional services. He stated he would not support this funding from the CRA Budget for a feasibility study for an attraction. He suggested funding this proposal from another source. City Manager George Gretsas stated if the Board's decision was to move forward with the study, but preferred to use professional services from the General Fund, he stated it was up to the Board because the funding source was doable either way. Staff wanted to make sure the Board supported this feasibility study. Boardmember Williams stated he supported the feasibility study, but not from the CRA budget. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick returned to the meeting at 6:45 PM. Vice Chairman Burgess recommended moving the item onto the Cow Agenda. Boardmember Shelley asked if this feasibility study was limited to an attraction within the CRA District. City Manager Gretsas answered the idea was an iconic attraction within the CRA and that was the logic behind using the CRA budget as the funding source, but the General Fund is also responsible for that area as well. Therefore, the issue of the funding was less important as if the Board was comfortable and was more comfortable taking the money from General Fund. Boardmember Shelley stated he wanted to hear more about the feasibility study proposal before he endorsed it. Boardmember Waldman stated she agreed with Boardmember Williams and it was fine to move the item to the COW agenda. Michael Jenkins, residing in Dallas, Texas, and President Founder / of Leisure and Recreation Concepts, Inc.,which is a company that is 43 years old and has completed 1, 087 projects, stated that, currently, the company has 17 projects on the way. He explained his company is a consultant, design and management organization for the attractions and entertainment industry. Through the vision of City Manager Gretsas and his staff, there have been several conversations of the prospects of tourism, which is a large employer of people and new money that comes into the community that does not require the expansion of infrastructure services. He further explained with the tourists traveling up and down on the Florida Turnpike, the vision CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 16of34 MARCH 12, 2013 is to create a study that would draw people off the Turnpike into the City of Homestead. He stated the method his company uses to do this is if the study begins to show negative results, then the study is stopped, the study is not concluded and no fees going forward are dispersed. If the study appears to be viable, then they go into the process of establishing relationships with prospective private developments that would finance the proposed project if approved. He stated the approach is to determine if there is a market, how large is the market and is the market large enough to support a facility that is proposed. He noted if there is a market.and it is large, then can it be penetrated, which is done through over 1, 000 surveys in the local community and many other processes. This provides a tremendous data base from which to work on the proposed project. He mentioned his company looks at competition, school schedules, weather conditions and many other factors in determining the high and low seasons, penetration and daily attendance. The company looks at low or probable attendance. They based their financial projections on low attendance and their design projections on probable attendance. He stated the company prefers the project be phased so that phase 1 is viable within itself and it helps to create the financial complexity to build phase 2 and phase 1 and phase 2 builds phase 3. The company also looks at per capita spending in food and beverage, retail sales and miscellaneous incomes, locker rentals, general admissions and group sales. These are then calibrated into a per capita, which creates a Performa financials, reviews other projects that are similar and how they have performed, and how they might perform in this particular market. In addition to that, his company looks at how low the attendance can be pushed down and the project would still survive, so that it could be viable, especially with the creation of jobs. This industry is a large employer and creates a synergy of great spending within the community for sales tax revenues for others, including hotels, motels and restaurants. The study is very comprehensive, well documented and it's approved by a number of financial institutions in New York, including Bank of America, Deutsche Bank and International Finance Group in Hong Kong, Paris and London. The study would take 120 days because the data and documentation that is put into the study would take more than 30 days. He noted his studies are accurate, viable and feasible and are very usable to attract other tourism industry delegates to this area. Boardmember Shelley inquired if Leisure and Recreation Concepts, Inc. would come up with a specific attraction that the company would recommend at the end or multiple attractions or the theme of the attraction and then come back to the elected officials for more direction. Mr.Jenkins explained his company would come up with a specific attraction because they want the financial numbers to be embedded into that attraction and not be theoretical of any attraction. He also explained during the research process, the attractions would be narrowed down to three. Then each one would be analyzed and one would be selected for its financial viability. City Manager Gretsas requested Mr. Jenkins to speak about the projects he has done worldwide. Mr. Jenkins stated he had worked on World Disney Company, Sea World, King's Island, all of the Six Flags Theme Parks, Alton Towers in England, which is the largest park in the United Kingdom, Wonderland in Dubai, Amusement Tent City, in Jetter Saudi Arabia and his company has done 85% of CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 17 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 the projects in Tokyo and in Australia. In addition to his theme park work, he is the producer of Broadway shows, he has just completed 126 Broadway show last December and is preparing for this season, and tours these shows to sixty three cities across America. Boardmember Williams asked Mr.Jenkins where his company was based. Mr.Jenkins answered Dallas, Texas with offices in London, Tokyo and Singapore. Boardmember Williams stated he would support the study, but it should be paid for from the General Fund. City Manager Gretsas stated this item would be added to the COW agenda. City Attorney Weiss advised the appropriate Motion would be to table this item if the Board did not want to do anything with it on the CRA agenda and it would be heard on the COW Agenda. Boardmember Waldman commented she was glad Mr. Jenkins was here. She stated she started the Tourism Committee in 2002, she is a member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and she represents the southern part of Miami- Dade County. She commented the City of Homestead needs some sort of attraction to draw people off the Turnpike and LIS 1 - . She mentioned she was excited to hear what Mr. Jenkins does and his resume was very impressive. She welcomed Mr.Jenkins to the City of Homestead. A Motion to table the Iconic Attraction Feasibility Study and move it to the March 12, 2013 COW agenda was made by Boardmember Waldman, and seconded by Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick. Vice Chairman Burgess asked all in favor?Vote: Ayes all. Motion carried. C. CAR #705 — COMMERCIAL ENHANCEMENT GRANT PROGRAM A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA,APPROVING AMENDED GUIDELINES FOR THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY'S COMMERCIAL ENHANCEMENT GRANT PROGRAM; APPROVING THE REALLOCATION OF FUNDS FROM THE RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT FUND TO THE COMMERCIAL ENHANCEMENT GRANT FUND; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. City Attorney Weiss read the above resolution title. Boardmember Williams commented his motion would be to table this item for a CRA Workshop. He stated his problem was he needed more information. He had some concerns about the vitality of some of these programs, and how does it fit in a small concentrated area that could work versus being in the whole City of Homestead. He suggested the Board should CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 18 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 discuss this more in depth before moving forward, and look at each program and see how it fits within the framework of the CRA and how viable it is. CRA Executive Director Ammirato reported on September 4, 2012, the CRA Board discussed the disbursement of budgeted grant funds to the CRA Residential Grant Program, specifically board members discussed that during the life of the program, and not all of the funds had been disbursed into the community in a given fiscal year. Consequently, the Board directed staff to consider alternate Commercial and Residential Grant Programs that the CRA could offer to the Community. These programs would be funded in the 2012 2013 Fiscal Year through the reallocation of funds from the current Residential Grant Program budget line items. On October 9, 2012, the CRA staff brought to the Board a series of possible new Commercial and Residential Grant Programs. The Board directed staff to implement the Site Development Assistance Program and the Business Start Up Grant Program. The Site Development Assistance Program would encourage redevelopment in the CRA. These grants are provided to foster business expansion and relocation by assisting with the costs of impact fees, City building and permit fees, building renovations and exterior improvements. Grants are not to exceed 15, 00 000.each. Site Development Grants are on a reimbursement basis, funds are disbursed to grantees on a reimbursement basis after the application is approved and after proof of vendor payment has been provided to the CRA. Eligible businesses must be located in the CRA District. Business Start Up grants are designed to encourage entrepreneurs to establish businesses in the CRA District. The program provides a reimbursement grant not to exceed 1, 00 500.to eligible businesses on a first come, first serve basis. The Business Start Up - Grant must be used for eligible start up - expenses only, the business must be located in the CRA District, the business owner must apply within the first year of operation and this is based on the date the business license was issued. The business owner must complete two one on - one - consulting sessions with the CRA. The grant funds may reimburse legitimate start up - costs associated with opening the business, legitimate expenses may include, but not be limited to, license fees, building license fees, filing fees with the State of Florida, filing fees with the IRS, Certificate of Occupancy and permit fees, utility deposits, and facilities security deposits. The staff recommended allocating $ 85, 00 000.from the Residential Grant Program budget line items to the Commercial Enhancement budget line items to fund these new programs. He noted staff recommended taking $35,000 from the Residential Fa4ade Grant Program, 3 $ 5,000 from the Residential Repair Grant Program and $15,000 from the landscaping Grant Program. This resolution amended the existing Commercial Enhancement Grant Program creating guidelines for Site Development Assistance Program and the Business Start up - Grant Program and reallocated $00 85, 000. from the Residential Grant Program to the Commercial Enhancement Grant Program. He recalled at the meeting where the new Commercial Grant Programs were discussed, there was also discussion on some residential programs that is in the next item on the agenda which involves reallocation within the grant funds for residential that the Board gave direction to the CRA staff to move forward with. Vice Chairman Burgess left the room at 7:01 PM. Boardmember Waldman verified with Boardmember Williams if he would like this item to be tabled for a CRA Workshop. CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 19 of34 MARCH 12. 2013 Boardmember Williams thanked the CRA staff for being aggressive, but the Board needed to have more information on these new programs. Vice Chairman Burgess returned at 7: 04 PM. Boardmember Waldman suggested the remaining items on the CRA agenda be tabled for a CRA Workshop because she has a lot of questions regarding the grant applications, and the CRA Board is long overdue for a workshop on these grants. Boardmember Williams commented it is not that he is not in support of it, he needed more information. Boardmember Shelley questioned if Boardmember Williams and Boardmember Waldman were proposing a CRA Workshop on all of the grant programs or just the overflow funds that the CRA is trying to find a way to utilize more effectively. Boardmember Waldman stated both her and Boardmember Williams were in agreement to table all the remaining items on the CRA Agenda because they all have to do with grants in order to have discussions to find out why the Southwest Advisory Board recommended some and not others. Boardmember Williams clarified he was recommending the CRA Workshop for the new grant programs. Boardmember Waldman asked what Tabs on the agenda that would be. Boardmember Williams answered Tabs 4 & 5. CRA Executive Director Ammirato provided a brief explanation of the remaining items on the agenda. Boardmember Shelley asked if the Board was looking to Table and re-evaluates these enhanced grants, Tabs 4 & 5, or looking at all the programs the CRA has already administered. Boardmember Williams clarified he was recommending tabling the items under Tab 4 & Tab 5, which are the new grant programs. Boardmember Shelley commented he had no objections to further discussing those items in a workshop environment if that is the will of the Board. A Motion was made to table Tabs 4 & 5 to a CRA Workshop to be set by the Clerk at the convenience of the CRA Board by Boardmember Williams, and seconded by Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick. CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 20 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 Boardmember Shelley asked if there was any time frame on the funding to ensure there is some program in place before this grant funding is lost. CRA Executive Director Ammirato answered the CRA had the remainder of the Fiscal Year which was until October. He explained the CRA ran the risk of getting a large amount of applicants for the residential program there may not have the ability to fund to the levels that are being proposed at this meeting. Boardmember Shelley stated the money is not restricted to the new programs; it is still in the existing programs. If there is a big demand for residential program grants, the funding is still available to be utilized. However, by the time the Board gets around to discussing the new programs if the money is still available, the Board can allocate whatever is left. Boardmember Williams stated the Board needed to discuss the criteria for Tabs 4 & 5. Boardmember Waldman asked all in favor?Vote:Ayes all. Motion carried. d. CAR # 704 — RESIDENTIAL GRANT PROGRAM A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING THE MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GRANT PROGRAM; ESTABLISHING THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM; APPROVING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL GRANT PROGRAM AND THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM; APPROVING THE CONSOLIDATION OF GRANT FUNDING ALLOCATED TO THE LANDSCAPE GRANT PROGRAM, THE EMERGENCY HOME REPAIR GRANT PROGRAM AND THE RESIDENTIAL FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IN THE APPROVED COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2013 INTO A SINGLE RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT FUND; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. A Motion was made to table Tabs 4 & 5 to a CRA Workshop to be set by the Clerk at the convenience of the CRA Board by Boardmember Williams, and seconded by Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick. Boardmember Waldman asked all in favor?Vote:Ayes all. Motion carried. e. CAR # 726 —REQUEST APPROVAL FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, APPROVING AN INCREASE IN THE ALLOCATION OF RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT FUNDS PREVIOUSLY AWARDED; APPROVING AMENDMENT OF GRANT AGREEMENTS; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. CITYOF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 21 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 City Attorney Weiss read the above resolution title. A Motion to approve CAR #726, request approval for additional funds, was made by Boardmember Williams, and seconded by Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick. CRA Executive Director Ammirato reported staff recommended that the CRA Board authorize additional Residential Grant funds in the amount not to exceed $2, 00 400. to complete the needed repairs to code for: Mr. Harvey Barlow at 249 SW 4 Court, Homestead, FL Mrs. Mimi Delaveaux at 500 SW 11 Avenue, Homestead, FL On October 18, 2012, the Southwest Advisory Committee recommended the approval of Mr. Barlow and Mrs. Delaveaux Emergency Home Repair Grant in the amount not to exceed 10,000. On November 14, 2012, the CRA Board approved the resolution authorizing the funding of Emergency Home Repair Grants to Mr. Barlow and Mrs. Delaveaux in the amount not to exceed $10, 00 000.each. Since the approval, the CRA has received estimates for both parties that exceed the $00 10, 000.maximum amount. The total estimated cost for Mr. Barlow is $00. 10, 703. The funds will cover the cost for additional materials for the required roof work and exterior painting that would bring the house up to current code. The total estimated cost for Mrs. Delaveaux is $11, 00 040.and the funds would cover the costs of additional materials for the required roof work to bring the house up to current code and tenting of the house due to termite infestation. He mentioned there was a typo error in the amount requested. He stated the amount requested is $00 2, 000.not $00 24 ,00. Boardmember Shelley inquired if the grant applicants had these estimates prior to the CRA Board's approval and for some reason these came up short. CRA Executive Director Ammirato explained the way the Residential Grant Programs work because of the capacity for the homeowners to get contractors, the CRA has a pool of local contractors, the CRA bid out the job to at least three of those contractors, the CRA selects the lowest bidder and that contractor goes out and completes the job. He stated staff gets the original estimates and bases the award on those estimates, but sometimes there are issues the contractor was not aware of in the original estimate, for example there are termites and the house has to be tented and this may exceed the amount of the original grant award. Boardmember Shelley stated this was a situation where the estimate was given, the CRA Board awarded it and then got into the project and realized there was additional damage or work that needed to be done and now is requesting the additional approval. Boardmember Williams asked CRA Executive Director Ammirato if these programs are successful. CRA Executive Director Ammirato commented he took a drive through Turner Circle and the work that was done did wonders for those houses. He suggested if anyone on the Board CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 22 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 wanted to do a tour on some of the places that were completed and he would be willing to organize it. He added staff has put a book together to show the before and after. He stated staff could disseminate the photos to the Board. He mentioned these grants have made a noticeable difference in some of these neighborhoods and what the CRA has accomplished. Boardmember Williams asked CRA Executive Director Ammirato how many houses there are in Turner Circle. CRA Executive Director answered the question should be how many houses there are in Turner Circle that the Residential Grant Program has not done yet. He stated there about 2 or 3 houses that have not applied for the CRA Residential Grant. Boardmember Williams stated these grant programs do work. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick stated Turner Circle was an example of transforming a community one block at a time. Roll Call Vote Boardmember Shelley Yes Boardmember Waldman Yes Boardmember Williams Yes Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick Yes Vice Chairman Burgess Yes Boardmember Maldonado Absent Chairman Bateman Absent Motion Carried. f. CAR # 756 —CRA COMMERCIAL ENHANCEMENT GRANTS A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD OF THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA APPROVING THE ALLOCATION OF COMMERCIAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT FUNDS RECOMMENDED BY SOUTHWEST ADVISORY COMMITTEE; APPROVING GRANT AGREEMENTS; PROVIDING IMPLEMENTATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. City Attorney Weiss read the above resolution by title. A Motion to approve CAR #756,CRA Commercial Enhancement Grants was made by Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick, and seconded by Boardmember Shelley. CRA Executive Director Ammirato reported staff recommended the CRA Board approve the resolution authorizing the disbursement of Commercial Enhancement Grant funds to the following grant applicants: CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 23 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 FOR Chefs on the Run (10 E. Mowry Drive, Homestead, FL) -up to $10,000. Gospel Truth Tabernacle (236 SW 4 Court, Homestead, FL) - up to $25,000. Hotel Redland (5 South Flagler Avenue, Homestead, FL) - up to $25,000. On February 21, 2013, the Southwest Advisory Committee recommended the approval of three 3)Commercial Enhancement Grants to:Chefs on the Run, Hotel Redland, and Gospel Truth Pentecostal Church. On October 11, 2011,the CRA Board approved Resolution CRA 2011 10 - 13 - adopting the guidelines for the CRA Commercial Enhancement Program. Boardmember Waldman stated she wanted to table this item because she had many questions about the Southwest Advisory Committee process in evaluating these grant applications. Boardmember Williams commented these were only recommendations from the Southwest Advisory Committee and thought whatever questions she had should be raised. He stated the CRA had not dealt with many commercial facade grants. He explained the process for applicants to apply for the grants; the staff uses the guidelines the CRA Board has set, staff then presents the documentation and grant application to the Southwest Advisory Board, who makes their recommendations on the amount given the criteria the CRA Board has defined. Boardmember Waldman stated the Southwest Advisory Committee has done a good job, but the Commercial Grant is fairly new and she has questions about the guidelines. She asked CRA Executive Director if he was aware if the landlord had insurance on the building that Chefs on the Run was renting. She asked if there was renter's insurance in place or property insurance in place for the landlord to fix the property if there was a problem. CRA Executive Director explained landlords and tenants can apply for the Commercial Enhancement Program. The tenant needs the approval of the landlord, who needs to have the general liability insurance so that if someone was hurt during the renovation, the City is not at risk. He explained staff looks at whether the real estate taxes have been paid, are all of their utilities paid and if that criteria is not met, they are not allowed to apply for the grant. He also explained the CRA had an issue where a tenant came to apply, they went through the entire process and they were delayed for approximately one year because the landlord had not paid the property taxes in a few years. The landlord did eventually pay the taxes and the CRA staff was able to move forward with the grant application. Boardmember Waldman inquired if the landlord had insurance to pay for the damage from the fire. She asked if the landlord was given the money to make the repairs and they were not made. CRA Executive Director Ammirato stated the CRA grant application requires general liability insurance in order to proceed with processing the grant application. He noted whether or not the general liability insurance was in place before the fire, he cannot answer with certainty. He CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 24 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 would have to check, but the CRA staff would not have accepted the application without the certificate of insurance. He pointed out that certificate of insurance lapse for non-payment. Boardmember Waldman stated in the past the CRA gave hundreds of thousands of dollars of CRA funding to the Redland Hotel and does staff have those numbers. She commented that, moving forward, she wanted to ensure the Board shared the same knowledge and the same information. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick asked if the Commercial Enhancement Program has been the most successful program. CRA Executive Director Ammirato stated it has been the program that has used most of its funding. He explained there are three components of the Commercial Enhancement Grant Program. They are the facade improvement,tenant relocation and build o- ut and a special fund if a business owner wants to bring a business into the CRA District that would generate a significant number of jobs and they need above and beyond the $00 25, 000.allocation, which is brought directly to the CRA Board. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick commented she knows this has been a program that was heavily utilized and, as a former member of the Southwest Advisory Committee, they are given a criteria with which to apply to these grant applications, and her experience on the Southwest Advisory Committee, under the leadership of Boardmember Williams, the committee did not move forward a grant application if they did not qualify based on the information the committee had. However, she also understood Boardmember Waldman's reservation with moving forward with approval of these grant applications without the answers to her questions. She would feel comfortable tabling this item, but with the intention of moving forward with the approval relatively soon because she was looking at the grant applicants who are depending on these funds to assist in the renovation of their commercial facilities. Therefore, she was amenable to Boardmember Waldman getting the answers at a CRA Workshop and coming back relatively soon to move forward with these grant applications. Boardmember Waldman commented she did not know how speedy that would happen because there are trips she has to take and everyone is busy. Boardmember Williams requested making the CRA Workshop a part of the Annexation Workshop in April. Boardmember Waldman stated she could do the workshop in the first or second week in April. Vice Chairman Burgess commented all three applicants were present at this meeting and he asked if there were any time sensitive issues for,any of the applicants. CRA Executive Director Ammirato stated if the CRA Board could conduct its workshop in the first couple of weeks of April, the CRA Board meeting could be held before the actual Council Meeting which would give staff enough time to put the agenda together for that third week in April so that the applicants would not have to wait until May. CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 25 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 Julius Riley, member of the Gospel Truth Pentecostal Church, stated the CRA Board approved the allocation of $00 775,000.to the School Board and that item did not go to a workshop. He stated the church's grant application came into compliance with what the CRA Board required. He reported his business has assisted in the neighborhood with jobs, crime prevention, homelessness and many other programs involving the Gospel Truth Pentecostal Church. He reiterated the applicants are in compliance and now have to wait for another workshop. He stated he respected the decision of the CRA Board, but he was hoping his church's grant application would be approved at this meeting. Vice Chairman Burgess stated he had the same concerns as Mr. Riley because if the CRA Board keeps having workshops the approval of these grant applications would be delayed. He recalled the CRA Board had a workshop to set the criteria before it was passed on to the Southwest Advisory Committee. It was clearly stated to the committee what the CRA Board wanted when the task was given to them to work with the CRA staff in bringing these grant applications forward and he thinks Boardmember Williams, the Southwest Advisory Committee and the CRA staff have done a diligent job in bringing these grant applications forward to this meeting and he is ready to move them forward. He stated there were two business owners that have worked diligently with the CRA and by taking everything to workshops; it delays these businesses getting their project done. He stated he was opposed to having a workshop on this particular item. Boardmember Shelley stated he did not have a problem with moving forward with the grant applications at this meeting because these applicants have gone through the process. However, he had questions regarding these applications, and if the Board was moving forward, he would like to ask his questions. Vice Chairman Burgess asked since these applicants have applied under the criteria that were given to them now, could the CRA Board go back in and changed the criteria on these particular applicants. City Attorney Weiss stated the CRA Board was not under any obligation to award these applicants any grant if the CRA Board did not feel comfortable with it. However, if someone has made a grant application to the CRA Board, the Board has the ability to review what was submitted. The CRA Board also has the ability to not award any grants and advise the applicants they were changing the criteria. Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick asked Boardmember Waldman if she could ask her question now so that the CRA Board could proceed. Boardmember Waldman stated she did not think the answers to her questions were available. She advised she had spoken with CRA Executive Ammirato today and he had to do some research on some of her questions. She commented she would vote on what she has to do. CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 26 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 Boardmember Williams asked Boardmember Waldman if it would be helpful if each grant application was voted on separately instead of as a whole. He requested that, in the future, the CRA staff not put all the items together. Boardmember Waldman answered that would be helpful. Boardmember Williams asked City Attorney Weiss if the CRA Board could deal with each applicant separately at this meeting. City Attorney Weiss advised the CRA Board they would listen to each application separately and vote to approve all of the applications or vote to approve some of the applications or vote to approve none of the applications. He stated each grant application could be voted on individually. He suggested the CRA Board put aside the item as presented on the agenda, and have the CRA Staff present each applicant individually. CRA Executive Director Ammirato stated the Gospel Truth Pentecostal Church was proposing a 33,000 renovation of the church, which includes both interior and exterior. The scope of work for the exterior; replacing exterior doors, pressure washing the exterior of the building, repair and replace stucco, prime and paint church exterior, replace ground tiles around the exterior of the church, landscape of the church grounds, replace sod and install non -seasonal plants, install mulch around plants and trees, clean and paint parking lot with black top, paint parking stall lines including lines for handicap parking spaces and place fencing around the church property. As the property is locates in the Southwest, it is a 95% match up to $00; 25, 000.therefore, they would be able to receive the $ 25,000. Vice Chairman Burgess asked for the City Clerk to call the vote on this grant application for the Gospel Truth Pentecostal Church. Roll Call Vote Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick Yes Boardmember Shelley Yes Boardmember Williams Yes Boardmember Waldman Yes Vice Chairman Burgess Yes Boardmember Maldonado Absent Chairman Bateman Absent Motion Carried. CRA Executive Director Ammirato reported the Hotel Redland proposed improvements to include pressure cleaning, painting of entire outside of building, repairing metal work in garage containment area, improving outside lighting on building, repairing back stairs, painting wood railing and lighting to building structure, adding landscape entrance enhancements to outside of building windows and back lot, improving back lot landscaping and frontage. The estimated cost of this project is over $25,000. To meet the full $00, 25, 000.the cost of the project would CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 27 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 have to be at least $00 27, 500.total. He advised CRA Staff would work with the applicant to make sure they meet the 10% match. He pointed out this was a historic building and the applicant would have to receive review from the City's Historic Preservation Board to make sure the colors are matching. Boardmember Shelley stated part owner of this building is a County Commissioner and the County Commissioner has the ability to approve and have input on the City's CRA budget; therefore, are there any issues legally regarding this matter and are there any problems voting on this grant application as the CRA Board. City Attorney Weiss stated his firm no longer represents Vice Chairman Bell; therefore, he would not want to give any legal advice as to whether she has any conflicts at the County Commission level voting on CRA budget. In terms of the CRA Board, he did not see any problem or legal prohibition with the Board voting on the grant application submitted by her husband. He reiterated there were no legal issues with this CRA Board voting on this application. Vice Chairman Burgess asked CRA Executive Director if this applicant met the criteria as every other grant applicant and was vetted in the same manner as everyone else. CRA Executive Director Ammirato answered in the affirmative. He stated the only difference is that this property is a historic building, which means they have to get extra approval that a non historic building would not have to get. He stated if Boardmember Waldman's question is if the CRA takes into consideration other funding that has been given in the past, it is not a requirement of the grant application as it currently exists. Boardmember Williams left the room at 7: 43PM. Vice Chairman Burgess called for the vote on the grant application for the Hotel Redland. Roll Call Vote Boardmember Shelley Yes Boardmember Waldman No Vice Chairman Burgess Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick Yes Boardmember Williams Absent Boardmember Maldonado Absent Chairman Bateman Absent Yes Motion Carried. CRA Executive Director Ammirato stated the third applicant was Chefs on the Run, who was requesting $00 6, 012.to complete their project of repairs to the restaurant as a result of a fire and the replacement of the exhaust hood system which was outdated and out of code. CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 28 of34 MARCH 12, 2013 Boardmember Shelley requested clarification on the scope of work for the original project. He asked the CRA staff if Chefs on the Run utilized funds that were approved for another project for repairs for fire damage. CRA Executive Director Ammirato explained Chefs on the Run used the original grant funding for the restructuring of the front entrance of the restaurant, painting and tile work to the interior of the business. He stated bringing the building up to code is a cost that can be covered by CRA grant funds. Therefore, the costs for the fire exhaust system, sprinklers and such items could be covered with these funds. Boardmember Shelley asked staff if the grant funds that were approved last time included the exhaust system and the fire damage repairs. He stated his concern was if the CRA Board approved funds for the business facade or commercial project, and the business owners diverted the funding to another project because of an emergency without coming back to the CRA Board to fix something that was not included in the grant application, and the business owner is asking for more funding to fix the original request. CRA Executive Director Ammirato explained the staff is flexible with applicants because they encounter other issues as they are doing the renovation projects. He advised when these issues occur, the applicants would discuss with CRA staff who works with them to see what can be done. He stated if the applicants change something in the application, staff will work with them on a case by case basis. Boardmember Shelley stated his concern was the applicant used funds for expenses that were not included in the original grant application scope of work. He confirmed with staff that anything the applicant spent grant funds on went through the CRA first. CRA Executive Director answered in the affirmative. Boardmember Shelley stated the applicant complied. Boardmember Williams returned to the room at 7: 49 PM. Jessica Ujaque, 88 East Mowry Drive, Homestead, from Chefs on the Run, stated she had to show the CRA staff what she was using the grant funds for. Boardmember Shelley stated the questions were not directed to the applicant, they were directed to the CRA staff in terms of the procedure moving forward. He asked the applicant if the fire occurred before or after the first CRA grant was funded. Ms. Ujaque answered the fire occurred before the first CRA grant was funded. Boardmember Shelley asked if the exhaust system was a part of her initial grant application. Ms. Ujaque answered it was not. CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 29 of 34 MARCH I2, 2013 Boardmember Shelley commented he would not delay the funding request at this meeting, but he would like the CRA Board to be consulted on changes to the grant applications if there are substantial changes. CRA Executive Director Ammirato stated staff has looked at that internally and if the Board would like the CRA staff to bring the applications back, this was something that could be done. Ms. Ujaque answered she did not have fire insurance when the fire occurred and she was only opened for four months at the time. Boardmember Waldman asked if the landlord had insurance. Ms. Ujaque stated in her lease it says if anything breaks down, she is responsible. Boardmember Waldman asked if there were any insurance reports filed by the landlord. Ms. Ujaque stated the landlord was not responsible because it was not her equipment. Boardmember Waldman asked CRA Executive Director Ammirato if the landlord and tenant are required to have insurance. CRA Executive Director Ammirato answered the applicant is required to have the insurance. He stated the applicant is the tenant and the landlord has to agree to allow the applicant to apply for the grant. The affidavit has to be signed by the landlord, but CRA staff works with the tenant as the applicant. Jessica stated there are no insurance claims filed by her and if the landlord had filed an insurance claim, she would have been notified. Vice Chairman Burgess called for the vote on the Chefs on the Run grant application. Roll Call Vote Boardmember Williams Yes Boardmember Waldman Yes Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick Boardmember Shelley Yes Vice Chairman Burgess Yes Boardmember Maldonado Absent Chairman Bateman Absent Yes Motion Carried. Roll Call Vote on the Resolution Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick Boardmember Shelley Yes Yes CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDE VELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 30 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 Boardmember Williams Yes Boardmember Waldman Yes (with a note in the minutes that she was not in favor of the second grant application). Vice Chairman Burgess Yes Boardmember Maldonado Absent Chairman Bateman Absent Motion Carried. a. CAR # 759— CRA RESIDENTIAL GRANT A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD OF THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA APPROVING THE ALLOCATION OF RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT FUNDS RECOMMENDED BY SOUTHWEST ADVISORY COMMITTEE; APPROVING GRANT AGREEMENTS; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. City Attorney Weiss read the above resolution by title. A Motion to approve CAR #759, CRA Residential Grant was made by Boardmember Williams, and seconded by Boardmember Waldman. CRA Executive Director Ammirato reported staff recommended the CRA Board approve the Resolution authorizing the disbursement of grant funds to the following applicant of the CRA Emergency Home Repair Grant program: Tiffany Anderson (628 SW 8 Avenue, Homestead, FL) The applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000 for Emergency Home Repair. Roll Call Vote Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick Boardmember Shelley Yes BoardmemberBoardmember WaldmanWaldman Yes Boardmember Williams Yes Vice Chairman Burgess Yes Boardmember Maldonado Absent Chairman Bateman Absent Yes Motion Carried. CAR # 761— CRA RESIDENTIAL GRANT A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD OF THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA APPROVING THE ALLOCATION OF RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT FUNDS RECOMMENDED BY SOUTHWEST ADVISORY CITY OE HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDE VELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 31 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 COMMITTEE; APPROVING GRANT AGREEMENTS; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. City Attorney Weiss read the above resolution by title. A Motion to approve CAR #761, CRA Residential Grant, was made by Boardmember Waldman, and seconded by Boardmember Williams. CRA Executive Director Ammirato stated staff recommended the CRA Board approve the resolution authorizing the disbursement of grant funds to the following applicants of the CRA Residential Grant Program: Residential Facade: Julio & Maria Cruz (811 Turner Circle, Homestead, FL) Juan Chacon & Jorge Acosta (801 Turner Circle, Homestead, FL) Each applicant is eligible to receive up to $ 10,000 for Residential Facade home improvements. Vice Chairman Burgess asked all in favor?Vote:Ayes all. Motion carried. b. CAR #762 CRA — LANDSCAPING GRANTS A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD OF THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA APPROVING THE ALLOCATION OF RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT COMMITTEE; FUNDS APPROVING RECOMMENDED GRANT BY SOUTHWEST AGREEMENTS; ADVISORY PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; PROVIDING FORAM EFFECTIVE DATE. City Attorney Weiss read the above resolution by title. A Motion to approve CAR #761, CRA Residential Grant, was made by Vice Chairman Burgess, and seconded by Boardmember Williams. CRA Executive Director Ammirato reported staff recommended the CRA Board approve the Resolution authorizing the disbursement of grant funds to the following applicants of the CRA Landscaping Grant program: Julio & Maria Cruz (811 Turner Circle, Homestead, FL) Tiffany Anderson (628 SW 8 Avenue, Homestead, FL) Juan Chacon & Jorge Acosta (801 Turner Circle, Homestead, FL) Each applicant is eligible to receive up to $ 5, 000 for landscaping improvements. Vice Chairman Burgess asked all in favor?Vote: Ayes all. Motion carried. Boardmember Waldman left the room at 8: 06 PM CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 32 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 ARTSOUTH EVENT FUNDING REQUEST A Motion to approve the ArtSouth event funding request was made by Boardmember Williams, and seconded by Boardmember Fairclough-McCormick. CRA Executive Director Ammirato reported the CRA staff was seeking direction from the CRA Board regarding a request from ArtSouth to support a weekend of events celebrating their 13 anniversary. The events will be held at ArtSouth located at 240 North Krome Avenue, Homestead on the 12 13 and 10 of April, 2013. The request is for $5, 000. Boardmember Shelley stated his understanding was ArtSouth had amended their request for only the Friday afternoon event and they will come back to the CRA Board later on for an additional event for the Downtown Homestead area. Boardmember Williams inquired if the request amount was going to change. Marsha Maynard, representative for Art South, stated the request was amended to $ 1, 00 700. to fund the Friday afternoon "Tunes for Tales" concert for 250 or more Head Start and Pre K children enrolled in the Chapman Partnership for the Homeless Preschool. Boardmember Waldman returned to the room at 8: 08 PM. Boardmember Williams asked CRA Executive Director if the CRA Board could approve the amount requested without exceeding the cap of $ 5, 00, 000. it would assist ArtSouth without having to come back to the CRA Board. CRA Executive Director Ammirato stated this was a request from staff for direction from the CRA Board; therefore, the Board could make a motion to fund in the way the CRA Board decides. Boardmember Shelley expressed his concern with the proposal because it was not the way he envisioned using the CRA event funds. The concept that ArtSouth is going to come back to the CRA Board in the future is a different type of event that is more inclusive of the Downtown CRA / District including other organizations and community members. He stated ArtSouth would like to move forward with the "Tune for Tales" concert event, which is going to benefit various schools within the City of Homestead; therefore, they have amended their request for the 1, 00 700. and will come back with a different proposal. He commented he would be in agreement with approving funding be set aside contingent that ArtSouth comes back before the CRA Board or be approved administratively by the CRA staff for events that are appropriate for the CRA funds. Boardmember Waldman stated she had an issue with some of the things that were on the agenda for that event. For example, the fees that would be paid to the artists and staff members. She noted there should be volunteering. CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDE VELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 33 of 34 MARCH 12, 2013 Boardmember Shelley stated he did not support ArtSouth's original plan because he did not see the events benefitting the community as a whole and he raised those concerns. He explained the request at this meeting was the Friday event "Tunes for Tales' which pays for the musicians. The concert is a musical interactive performance for the children. He commented Boardmember Williams was proposing the concept of approving $00 5, 000. as a whole for ArtSouth, which could be used for this event or apply it to a future event, but not the current proposal and it would have to come back for the CRA Board to approve the allocation of those funds, but the money would be earmarked for ArtSouth. A Motion to earmark $00 5, 000. from the CRA for event funding for ArtSouth contingent on ArtSouth coming back before the CRA Board for approval of the actual event, and the CRA Board allocating $1, 00 700. for the " Tunes for Tales" event from the $5, 00 000. that is earmarked for ArtSouth was made by Boardmember Williams, and seconded by Boardmember Shelley. Vice Chairman Burgess asked all in favor?Vote:Ayes all. Motion carried. V. REPORTS None VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS None VII. ADJOURNMENT A Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Boardmember Williams, and seconded by Boardmember Shelley. Vice Chairman Burgess asked all in favor?Vote: Ayes all. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p. m. Respectfully submitted, F" p y gyyf/ iP , 4BEYHSEWh C MC,GPTY' M ,„ y r ' JO A.BURGESS, )E CHAIRMAN CITY OF HOMESTEAD COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINUTES Page 34 of34 MARCH 12, 20/3