[Call To Order ]
[00:00:05]
GOOD EVENING. THE TIME IS NOW 6 P.M., AND I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY WORKSHOP OF THURSDAY, AUGUST 13TH. MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? CHAIR KURETSKI? HERE.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KITZEROW? HERE.
[CITIZEN COMMENTS ]
AND I'LL BEGIN WITH CITIZEN COMMENTS. THIS IS THE TIME AS WELL FOR ANY ITEM, LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK? I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE ONE PERSON. YES, SIR.MY ADDRESS IS 720 NORTH HIGHWAY A1A IN JUPITER, FLORIDA. I'M HERE TONIGHT REGARDING THE PROPOSED 2027 CRA BUDGET. I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE CONTINUATION OF THE JUPITER COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AND I URGE A CLEAR PLAN TO BE MADE FOR AN EARLY SUNSET OF THIS AGENCY. FLORIDA LAW DESIGNED CRAS AS A TEMPORARY INTERVENTION TO CURE BLIGHT.
INSTEAD, OUR CRA HAS BECOME A PERMANENT PARALLEL GOVERNMENT.
ACROSS OUR STATE, MUNICIPALITIES ARE SUNSETTING CRAS BECAUSE THEY HAVE ACHIEVED THEIR GOALS. MANY OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF OUR CRA IN 2001 TO PROTECT AND REVITALIZE THE HISTORIC INLET VILLAGE. THE TOWN FORCED WATERFRONT OWNERS TO HAND OVER A 25-FOOT LINEAR PARK EASEMENT.
THIS WEAPONIZED THE PERMITTING PROCESS BECAUSE THE PROPERTY WAS NOT A PUBLIC GIFT.
IT WAS A HOSTILE REGULATORY TAKEOVER.
THE TOWN THEN EXPANDED BOUNDARIES DOWN THE U.S. 1 CORRIDOR, SHIFTING TAX REVENUES AWAY FROM THE HISTORIC INLET VILLAGE AND SUBSIDIZED MASSIVE U.S. HIGHWAY 1 COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, RESTRICTIVE ZONING AND LEGISLATIVE OVERLAYS PREVENTED THE INLET VILLAGE FROM DEVELOPING AS DESIRED.
TODAY, OVER $4.4 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUES IS DIVERTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THIS 399-ACRE CRA ZONE. AND FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, RESIDENTS OF THE JUPITER'S REMAINING 13,000-PLUS ACRES EFFECTIVELY SUBSIDIZE THE EASTERN CORRIDOR. THE EAST AND WEST SECTIONS COMPETE FOR FUNDING DOLLARS, AND THE CRA SITS ON MILLIONS OF UNSPENT REVENUE. CONSIDER OUR NEW PIATT PLACE FIRE STATION. IT SITS DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE CRA BOUNDARY, BUT NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TO FUND THE FIRE STATION BY INCLUDING THE PROPERTY IN THE CRA. INSTEAD, THE TOWN IS TAKING OUT LOANS AND LEVYING A NEW PROPERTY ASSESSMENT FEE ON RESIDENTS TOWNWIDE, WHERE NEARLY 56 PERCENT OF THE CURRENT $3.5 MILLION BUDGET IS SITTING IDLE AND IS A CARRYOVER IN AGENCY COFFERS.
IF SLUM AND BLIGHT CONDITIONS ARE NO LONGER URGENT ENOUGH TO EXHAUST THESE FUNDS, AGENCY HAS FULFILLED ITS PURPOSE AND SHOULD SUNSET IMMEDIATELY. WE DO NOT NEED A CRA TO MANAGE OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN U.S. 1. STANDARD MUNICIPAL PLANNING AND THE FREE MARKET CAN SUSTAIN OUR WATERFRONT.
PLEASE PROTECT OUR TOWN AND STOP THE INEQUITABLE DIVISION OF REVENUE TO THE COASTAL CORRIDOR BY ENDING THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY.
THAT WAS THE ONLY CITIZEN COMMENT? YES, SIR.
[1. CRA Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget/Community Investment Program]
OKAY, MOVING ON. TURN IT OVER TO STAFF. I JUST WANTED TO, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS BEFORE BOTH MEETINGS, BUT I THINK OUR STAFF DID A TREMENDOUS JOB IN PREPARING NOTICEABLY NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENTS FROM PRIOR YEARS. I'D LIKE TO KIND OF GET THAT ON THE RECORD BEFORE WE THEN OFFER COMMENTS ABOUT IT SO IT'S NOT MISINTERPRETED. SO, WE APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERABLE EFFORTS MADE. SO, ANYWAY, I TURN THAT OVER TO, AND, AND THIS MEETING WAS SCHEDULED FOR A HALF HOUR, WHICH I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WILL OR WON'T BE ENOUGH TIME. AND THEN WE HAVE A REGULAR MEETING WORKSHOP AT 6:30, SO WE'LL SEE WHEN WE GET CLOSER TO 6:30 WHAT'S LEFT AND WHAT ACTION TO TAKE.[00:05:05]
MAKING SURE MY MIC IS ON THIS TIME.THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT SPECIFICALLY WITH THE CIP THIS YEAR, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED A NEW PIECE OF SOFTWARE TO HELP STAFF WITH THE CIP SPECIFICALLY. AND AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, THE BOOK THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN YOUR HANDS, ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CIP PROJECT, WE WOULD WELCOME ANY FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL. IF THERE'S ENHANCEMENTS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THAT WE DIDN'T CAPTURE, WE DEFINITELY WELCOME ANY COMMENTS. WITH THAT, WE'LL JUST GO STRAIGHT INTO THE CRA PRESENTATION FOR THIS EVENING. THE AGENDA, AS OUTLINED, WILL BE TO PRESENT THE FY27 PROPOSED OPERATING COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN SUMMARY, A HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE INCREMENTAL CRA VALUES.
THIS IS A NEW SLIDE THAT I'VE INTRODUCED THIS YEAR. IT'S IN OUR ACFR EVERY YEAR, ALTHOUGH WE REPORT OUT ON THE INCREMENTAL VALUES, BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE FROM A VISUAL PERSPECTIVE WHAT THE INCREMENT VALUES LOOK LIKE.
ALSO GOING OVER A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED '27 OPERATING BUDGET. ALSO, THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN, AND THEN SUMMARY, AND THEN GOING TO EACH ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT'S BEING PROPOSED, AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE CRA CASH FLOW THAT WE DISCUSS EVERY YEAR LEADING INTO THE SUNSETTING OF THE CRA IN 2035.
SO, THE HIGHLIGHTS RELATING TO THE OPERATING AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN, REVENUE INCREASES AND DECREASES. THE CRA INCREMENT HAS INCREASED FROM $552 MILLION IN FY26 TO $632 MILLION IN FY27. SOME OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: WE CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE CRA PLAN AS ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION.
THE COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING PROGRAM THIS YEAR ALSO INCLUDES A PORTION OF THE DRONE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED BY THE, BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE CONTINUE ON WITH COMMUNITY EVENTS. WE SEE THOSE UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE AND THROUGHOUT THE CRA DISTRICT TO ATTRACT COMMERCE WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND ATTRACT PEOPLE THERE. WE ALSO ARE RECOMMENDING THE CONTINUATION OF THE CRA GRANT PROGRAM, AND THEN CIP UPDATE PROJECTS, AND WE'LL DIVE DEEPER INTO THOSE AS WE GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
SO HERE'S THE SLIDE I WAS REFERRING TO, JUST TO GIVE A VISUAL ON HOW SUCCESSFUL THE CRA HAS BEEN.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THERE'S BEEN A 390% INCREASE IN THE VALUE, AND THE INCREMENTAL VALUE IS HOW WE MEASURE IT, FROM $167 MILLION IN 2004 TO $632 MILLION FOR FY27.
THE TOTAL TAXABLE VALUE FOR '27 IS ESTIMATED AT AROUND $800 MILLION. SO, YOU CAN SEE THE RECESSIONARY TRENDS AND SOME MAJOR PROJECTS, SUCH AS HARBOURSIDE, WHEN THAT CAME ONLINE, AND ALSO DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOU CAN SEE SOME LEVELING OFF OF THERE THAT IMPACTED NOT JUST THE CRA, BUT TOWNWIDE, AND REALLY ALL OVER THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THE PROPOSED SUMMARY, BUDGET IN TOTAL IS JUST OVER $5 MILLION FOR FY27. YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE RIGHT, TOTAL TAXABLE VALUE OF $799.
THE BASE VALUE OF $167 MILLION. THE TOTAL INCREMENTAL VALUE IS $632 MILLION FOR FY27. YOU CAN SEE THE TWO MILLAGES THAT ARE BEING USED TO CALCULATE THE AD VALOREM TAXES. THE COUNTY MILLAGE IS BEING PROPOSED AT 4.5, AND THEN THE TOWN MILLAGE, IN WHICH YOU ALL SET DURING THE TRIM PROCESS IS THE COUNCIL AT 3.5886. YOU CAN SEE THE COUNTY PORTION AT $2.7 MILLION, AND THE TOWN PORTION OF 2.1, FOR A TOTAL OF $4.8 MILLION IN AD VALOREM DOLLARS TO FUND THE PROGRAM. THAT'S AN INCREASE OF $1.2 MILLION IN AD VALOREM TAX AS YOU COMPARE IT TO FY26, AND THAT'S BASED ON THOSE TWO MILLAGE VALUES THAT I JUST DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY. INCREASE IN THE INCREMENTAL VALUE, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT.
NOW IT'S $632 MILLION, INCREASE OF $80 MILLION, OR 14.48%. THE SUMMARY, FOR THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN, YOU CAN SEE THE FIVE-YEAR TOTAL IS JUST OVER $13 MILLION.
I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE, STEPHANIE THOBURN HERE AS THE
[00:10:03]
EXPERT WITH THESE, PROJECTS, ALSO OUR ENGINEERING DIRECTOR, THAT WILL BE ABLE TO DISCUSS IN DETAIL THESE PROJECTS IF YOU HAVE VERY DETAILED QUESTIONS.BUT FROM A CASH PERSPECTIVE, YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE, WE'RE WORKING THE PLAN AT $1.1 MILLION IN UNSPENT CARRY FORWARD FOR THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON, BUT FOR A TOTAL OF THE FIVE-YEAR WINDOW OF $13.6 MILLION.
BEFORE YOU GO ON, CAN WE JUST PAUSE THERE FOR A MOMENT? SURE.
I WANT TO SAY A COUPLE THINGS AND ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY WANT TO WEIGH IN, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ADOPTED, ON DECEMBER 17, 2024, AN UPDATE TO THE CRA'S COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
IT WAS AT THAT TIME WE DEFINED A GOING FORTH PURPOSE THAT WE FELT WAS NECESSARY.
OTHERWISE, WE COULD HAVE AND WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, SUNSETTED THE CRA. SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT. AND SO EVERY PROJECT THAT WE DO THEN IS JUDGED ON BEING CONSISTENT WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, CRA COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
SO, IN THAT CASE, I WANT TO JUST RAISE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TWO ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THIS LIST AND THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE AS WE START GOING THROUGH THIS AND WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE OR WHATEVER, CAN'T PRIORITIZE TO GET A COMPLETE LIST. SO, I JUST WANTED TO, THE TWO ITEMS. I DON'T THINK I'M SPEAKING JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT I'LL JUST SAY THEM AS ONE IS THE SUNI SANDS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WE EXECUTED BY COUNCIL MAJORITY EARLIER THIS YEAR HAS TERMS THAT INDICATED THAT IT WAS OUR INTENT TO VOTE ON DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS NO LATER THAN 12/31 THIS YEAR. AND THEN UNDER IMPLEMENTATION ACTIONS IN THIS SAME SETTLEMENT TERM SECTION, WE INDICATED THAT SHOULD WE COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON A DEVELOPMENT ORDER, OR SHOULD A DEVELOPMENT ORDER, WERE WE TO APPROVE ONE, BE ACCEPTED BY THE PROPERTY OWNER, THAT THEN DEDICATION AND PURCHASE OF LAND WOULD OCCUR WITHIN 90 DAYS. SO, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A LINE OF SIGHT, IN GOOD FAITH TO THE AGREEMENT WE HAD, WE HAVE TO HAVE LINE OF SIGHT ON HOW WE WOULD FUND THAT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CRA REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, AND I WON'T WORRY ABOUT IT GOING THROUGH ALL THE CITATIONS, BUT THERE ARE CITATIONS THROUGHOUT THAT INDICATED THAT, YOU KNOW, A PROPERTY ACQUISITION SUCH AS THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR PARK AND HISTORIC PURPOSES IS A PLANNED USE. AND THEN SECONDLY WE HEARD, SO THAT'S ONE ITEM. AND THEN SECONDLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD A, PROJECT AS A COUNCIL THAT IS ALSO WITHIN THE CRA, AND THAT WAS, SHOPPES OF JUPITER UPGRADE THAT YOU WOULD NEED, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS. WE PAUSE THAT.
THE, AND IT'S PREMATURE TO GET INTO TOO MUCH CONVERSATION, BUT I KNOW SOMEBODY HAD ASKED THAT THAT BE PUT INTO DISCUSSION TONIGHT. I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE IN DISCUSSION, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH BECAUSE WE ALL MAY HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT THAT, AND THAT'S A DECISION ON THE PART OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
I WAS CLEAR IN THE MEETING THAT IF THAT ISN'T DONE, THEN I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT. SO, I THINK GOING FORWARD, SOMEONE CAUSING AN IMPACT HAS TO HELP, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE THE FUNDS.
BUT THOSE TWO ITEMS, I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ONES, BUT THOSE TWO ITEMS, TO ME, THOSE TWO. OUR FUNDING, WELL, THE SECOND ONE, IF IN FACT WE APPROVE A PROJECT, THEN IT WOULD BE CONTINGENT UPON A ROAD IMPROVEMENT THAT I THINK MOST OF US, IF NOT ALL, THOUGHT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE IN PARALLEL. SO, THAT KIND OF PUTS THEM AS PRIORITIES FOR BEING PREPARED TO FUND.
AND THEN I CAN JUST SAY ON EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS LIST, MY PERSPECTIVE, AND I'LL ASK OTHERS TO WEIGH IN, IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY DOCK.
WE'VE ALREADY INDICATED WE TOOK THAT OUT AS A PRIORITY THAT WE WANTED TO PROCEED WITH. AND
[00:15:02]
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT, PUBLIC SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO, I WOULD SUGGEST THOSE THREE ARE THE, YOU KNOW, UNTIL WE KNOW WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING FOR THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, WITHOUT EVEN GETTING INTO IT, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT SAYING EVERYTHING ELSE WOULD BE PAUSED. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDING UNLESS, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WHERE THIS FUNDING IS GOING TO COME FROM IN THE SHORT TERM IN THE WAY OF LOAN OR WHATEVER. LET ME JUST PAUSE, BUT DOES EVERYBODY KIND OF AGREE WITH WHAT I SAID, OR DO YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THAT? I THINK WE NEED TO DISCUSS A FEW THINGS, AND I THINK NOW'S A GOOD TIME TO.ON THE SUNI SANDS AND PURCHASE OF LAND, THAT IS AN INTERESTING POLICY QUESTION THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME, AND I JUST WANT TO LAY IT OUT FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
BUT THERE WAS A BOND ISSUED, OR BOND ISSUANCE, AND THIS WAS VOTED ON BY THE RESIDENTS IN 2019. CAN I CONFIRM THAT? THANK YOU. THAT WAS PRE-PANDEMIC, PRE-COVID. SO, THEY, WHEN THAT BOND WENT OUT AND WE VOTED ON IT, THERE WAS A LIST OF PROPERTIES THAT COULD BE PURCHASED WITH THAT MONEY, AND THIS WAS ON THAT LIST, IS MY UNDERSTANDING. CAN I CONFIRM THAT AS WELL? IT WAS ON THE LIST, YES.
OKAY, SO WE MADE IT KNOWN TO THE VOTERS, KNOWING THAT IT WAS IN THE CRA BECAUSE THE CRA STARTED MUCH BEFORE IT, THAT THIS WOULD BE A PRIORITY OF OURS, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A SEPARATE CRA POT OF MONEY POTENTIALLY. AND THE THOUGHT, I THINK, AT THE TIME, AND THERE ARE SOME ON THIS DAIS THAT WERE THERE. I WASN'T THERE AT THE TIME. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT FOR THE CRA, AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON BECAUSE IT IS NOT A FOREVER.
WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOREVER. IT SUNSETS AUTOMATICALLY IN 2035.
SO ARE THOSE DOLLARS USE-OR-LOSE DOLLARS? YES.
OKAY. SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE. WE HAVE RIVERWALK AND MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE. WE HAVE RIVERWALK CONNECTION THAT WE'VE LONG PLANNED FOR THAT'S IN HERE THAT WILL PROBABLY BE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT I'M SEEING IN THE CIP DOCUMENT. SO, THERE'S AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE, ON ONE SIDE, THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO DO THE BOND ISSUANCE BECAUSE IT'S SO SPECIFIC, IT'S SO RESTRICTED.
THOSE ARE YOUR MOST RESTRICTED DOLLARS. YOU CAN ONLY USE IT FOR LAND PURCHASE, AND ONLY, I MEAN, EVEN BETTER, ONLY FOR THOSE VERY SPECIFIC PROPERTIES, IDEALLY. AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM, AND IT'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, THIS BOND WAS VOTED ON MANY, MANY YEARS AGO AND CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AMENDMENT 3 OUT THERE. WE HAVE DIFFICULT BUDGET DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW THROUGH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BOND ISSUANCES AND VOTING VIA REFERENDUM FOR BONDS IN THE FUTURE, BUT ALSO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST. SO, IT'S A BIG TOPIC IN TERMS OF WHICH OF THE TWO OPTIONS DO WE USE, RIGHT? BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE THAT BOND, OR WE HAVE CRA DOLLARS.
BUT I THINK, I DO THINK WE DO HAVE PROJECTS THAT WE CAN BE MORE PROACTIVE ON, AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE, KNOWING THAT WE'RE COMING UP ON THAT SUNSET DATE. SO, I THINK STAFF IS LOOKING AT THAT.
I THINK THAT'S WHY WE HAVE RIVERWALK CONNECTION. I THINK THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SOME OF THESE OTHER PROJECTS. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL, I WANT TO SAY, FOR THE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE AMENITIES. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WALKING THE RIVERWALK TODAY SEE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE BETTER MAINTAINED. AND I THINK SOME OF THAT, AND I GUESS NOW I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING A SEPARATE PROJECT. IS THE PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES IN THIS PROJECT, AND MAYBE SOMEONE FROM STAFF CAN SPEAK TO THAT, BUT THERE'S A DOCK THAT'S BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR A VERY LONG PERIOD OF TIME. IT'S CLOSE TO HARBOURSIDE. IT'S TAPED OFF.
CAN I GET A STATUS ON THAT? BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING ON THE RIVERWALK IS WE CAN MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THERE'S ALSO A RESPONSIBILITY FOR DIFFERENT PROPERTY OWNERS TO MAINTAIN THEIR SECTION OF RIVERWALK. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, STEPHANIE THOBURN, PLANNING AND ZONING. YES, AND THAT'S BY JUPITER YACHT CLUB, THE ONE THAT'S BEEN SHUT DOWN.
THEY DID RECEIVE DEVELOPMENT BONUSES FOR IT. SO, THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN IT, AND ENGINEERING IS LOOKING TO WORK WITH THEM TO GET A SCOPE ON THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT'S RACKING PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY. SO, WE ARE PROPOSING, AS PART OF THE RIVERWALK PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS, TO DO THE ONE BY COASTAL WAY, WHICH IS TOWN
[00:20:01]
OWNED. SO, THAT'S PART OF THE CIP.OKAY. SO, I DO JUST, I KNOW I'M ALL OVER THE PLACE THIS EVENING, AND IT'S EARLY, BUT ON THIS PROJECT, PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND CLARIFY, BECAUSE I HAD RECEIVED A QUESTION FROM A RESIDENT ABOUT WHY IS THIS NOT IMPROVED OR THAT NOT IMPROVED. SOME THINGS WE HAVE CONTROL OVER; OTHERS WE DO NOT, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH PROPERTY OWNERS.
ANSWERED. OKAY, THANK YOU. AND SO THEN BACK TO THE TWO ITEMS WITH SUNI SANDS. AGAIN, WE HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE IN TERMS OF SOURCE OF FUNDING AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SOME ARE MORE RESTRICTED FUNDS. CRA IS LESS RESTRICTED.
AND THEN TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS, I AGREE, THAT'S A NEGOTIATED ELEMENT, SO I DON'T WANT TO ASSIGN A DOLLAR FIGURE TO IT EITHER, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE FULL DESIGN FOR IT. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING I HOPE WILL COME FORWARD, AND I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AND LOOKING TO BRING THAT FORWARD POTENTIALLY AS A PROJECT, BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT TRAFFIC IMPACTS TO THIS AREA. ALL I HAVE.
MAYOR, IN REGARDS OF SUNI SANDS FUNDING, WE HAVE THE OPEN SPACE BOND MONEY, WHICH IS AROUND, REMAINING AROUND $13, $14 MILLION, CORRECT? I COULDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION.
OH, I'M SORRY. WHAT'S, WHAT'S REMAINING IN THE OPEN SPACE BOND FUNDING? IS IT $14 MILLION OR...
IT'S APPROXIMATELY $16 MILLION.
$16 MILLION, OKAY. AND IN THE SETTLEMENT WITH, ON SUNI SANDS, WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT? THE TOWN'S UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S $10.5 MILLION.
$10.5. SO, SO IF WE HAVE THE OPEN SPACE FUNDING, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO INCLUDE THAT IN HERE? WELL, TWO THINGS. NUMBER ONE, PERSONALLY, WE SPENT SO MUCH EFFORT, I THOUGHT, GOING THROUGH THE UPDATE TO THIS CRA COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN TO EMPHASIZE THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE MOST IMPORTANT TO THE CRA AND PUTTING IT IN THE DOCUMENT IN ORDER TO FUND IT. IN MY MIND, AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I HAD ALREADY CONCLUDED THAT THAT IS THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING SOURCE.
THERE'S ENOUGH FUNDING BEFORE THIS END OF THE CRA LIFE, AND IT'D BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME. SO, NUMBER ONE, IN MY MIND, I MADE THAT DECISION BACK THEN.
YEAH. AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, QUITE FRANKLY, IN LIGHT OF, YOU KNOW, THE REFERENDUM, I'M EVEN MORE RELUCTANT THAN TO USE THE BOND MONEY BECAUSE, IN THE END, IT STILL IS A TAX UPON, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC.
AND YES, THEY DID VOTE FOR IT, WHICH IS WHY I'M COMFORTABLE THAT THERE'S SUPPORT FOR IT.
BUT I THINK THE PRUDENT THING TO DO IS TO USE THE LIMITED CRA FUNDS TO USE IT, AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, TAPPING INTO WHAT WOULD AMOUNT TO AN INCREMENTAL TAX INCREASE, SO THAT BY DOING THIS, WE'RE BEING DISCIPLINED AND ONLY USING THE CRA FUNDS AND NOT INCREASING INCREMENTALLY, WHICH IS WHAT YOU DO IF YOU DID A BOND ISSUE. IT SHOWS UP ON THE TAXES AS AN EXTRA LINE ITEM.
SO, THAT'S, ANYWAY, THAT WAS JUST MY, YOU ASKED, AND JUST GIVING YOU MY LOGIC.
I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. I THINK IT'S A DIFFICULT POLICY QUESTION THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THE RIVERWALK CONNECTIONS ARE EXPENSIVE. SOME OF THE ONES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TOWARDS THE TERMINUS COULD BE QUITE EXPENSIVE. SO, IF OUR GOAL IS TO COMPLETE SECTIONS OF THAT, I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, AS WE GO FORWARD. THE SECTIONS THAT WOULD BE, WE'D GO SEAWARD TO CONNECT, RIGHT? YEAH, EXACTLY. WE LOOKED AT THAT MANY YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS JUST, WE LOOKED, IT WAS TOO COSTLY, SO WE JUST KIND OF SAT ON IT.
RIGHT. I MEAN, THERE COULD BE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE TERMINUS DEPENDING ON HOW NEGOTIATIONS GO, OR I KNOW WE HAVE THIS CONTRACT, THIS SETTLEMENT, THE SUNI SANDS. BUT IF WE PURCHASE LAND AND THEN IMPROVE IT.
I THINK WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE SENSITIVITY OF THE AREA.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THAT.
I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW, BUT YEAH. SO, I THINK IT WAS COST PROHIBITIVE, IT WAS.
BUT THERE WERE, THERE WERE TWO ISSUES TO ME THAT WERE SORT OF PUSHED IT ASIDE ON THAT, SO.
IT'S FUTURE YEARS UNDER RIVERWALK CONNECTION.
DOES IT ALWAYS BEEN IN THERE? OH, I'M SORRY. HAS THE CONNECTIONS ON THE RIVERWALK ALWAYS, ALWAYS REMAINED IN THE, IN THE CIP? DID, DIDN'T WE REMOVE THAT A WHILE BACK THERE? WHAT, DID IT JUST STAY, AND DID WE JUST KICK IT DOWN THE ROAD? NO, THERE'S SOME SECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. THEY WERE IN THE CIP. WE JUST HAVEN'T GOT TO THOSE OTHER AREAS.
THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN LISTED AS A PRIORITY IN THE PLAN. I WILL TELL YOU,
[00:25:05]
AS FAR AS THE BOND ISSUANCE, IT WILL TAKE A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS IF THE COUNCIL WERE TO DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD. WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT ISSUANCE A WHILE BACK WHEN THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE OCCURRING.THE COUNCIL OR THE COMMISSION CAN ACTUALLY ADD THAT AT ANY TIME. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE NECESSARILY RIGHT HERE AT BUDGET TIME. I UNDERSTAND MAYBE THE COMMISSION WANTS TO SEND A MESSAGE. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE ADDITION OF WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO USE TIF MONEY OR YOU'RE GOING TO USE THE AD VALOREM DOLLARS, THOSE CAN ACTUALLY BE DONE AT ANY TIME THAT YOU WANT THAT TO OCCUR.
THE AD VALOREM PORTION WOULD FALL IN LINE WITH THE BUDGET SEASON FOR NEXT YEAR EITHER WAY, BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE TO ADVERTISE THAT AND PUT IT INTO THE TRIM AND ALSO ADVERTISE. SO, IF YOU WANTED TO DO THAT, YOU CAN DO IT AT ANY TIME, BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO PUT IT THROUGH THE TRIM PROCESS.
SO YOU SAY THE BOND ISSUANCE TAKES THREE MONTHS. WHAT ARE YOU REFERRING TO THERE? IF YOU, IF YOU SAID TONIGHT THAT YOU WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TOWN HAD THE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO GO AHEAD AND PAY FOR THE SUNI SANDS, THAT WE WOULD GO OUT ON THE MARKET AND START ADVERTISING FOR A BONDING EITHER WAY, EITHER THROUGH A TIF FINANCING, MEANING THROUGH THE CRA DOLLARS, OR IF YOU WANTED TO USE THE OPEN SPACE MONEY, THAT WOULD BE A THREE-MONTH PROCESS TO DO THAT ADVERTISING AND COME BACK.
BUT WE HAVE $16 MILLION. WHAT TAKES THREE MONTHS? IT'S LIKE A LINE OF CREDIT.
WELL, THE $16 MILLION, WE HAVE LIKE A LINE OF CREDIT FROM THE RESIDENTS.
THE $16 MILLION IS SITTING IN CASH.
IF WE WANTED TO USE RESERVES, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER OPTION, AND THEN GO OUT AND BORROW THE MONEY TO PAY BACK THE TAXPAYER, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO. BUT THE $16 MILLION, IT'S BEING BOUGHT DOWN FROM THE ORIGINAL $20 MILLION THAT WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE TAXPAYER. WE HAVE SPENT SOME OF THAT ON OPEN SPACE. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY $16 MILLION LEFT ON THAT LINE OF CREDIT, BUT WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND WE HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO BORROW OR ALLOW US TO BORROW AGAINST THAT $16 MILLION AND LOOKING FOR A COMPETITIVE RATE ON THOSE DOLLARS.
I THOUGHT THERE WAS A LINE OF CREDIT THAT WAS JUST SET UP AND WE HAD ACCESS TO AT ANY TIME.
NO, NO. NO, IF YOU REMEMBER RIGHT, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS WHEN WE BOUGHT THE FIRST PROPERTY. WE HAD TO GO OUT AND WE HAD TO SHOP AND WE HAD TO FIND SOMEONE. WE DID IT AS A BANK LOAN BECAUSE IT WAS SO SMALL AT THE TIME. IT WAS JUST $4 MILLION.
SO WE COULD POTENTIALLY MISS THE DEADLINE, THE 90-DAY DEADLINE, BASED ON THE AGREEMENT? BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO, IS THAT? THE AGREEMENT, BY THE WAY, WAS ANTICIPATING THAT BY 3/31, YOU KNOW, ASSUMING WE, BECAUSE IT'S 90 DAYS AFTER APPROVAL DATE, SO DEPENDING UPON WHEN WE APPROVE IT, IT'S 90 DAYS THEREAFTER.
THE APPLICATION IS STILL IN PROCESS, AND IT'S A WHILE BEFORE IT GETS TO US, AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT.
BUT THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO GET TO THE POINT OF DECIDING, AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE EASY, BUT THAT'S WHY I DO THINK THAT, AND WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COME TO A MAJORITY CONSENSUS, TONIGHT, AND, BUT I'VE MADE MY POSITION PRETTY CLEAR. I JUST DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT, AND WOULD NOT SUPPORT INCREASING, DOING AN INCREMENTAL AD VALOREM, GENERAL AD VALOREM INCREASE.
BUT I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH BEING DISCIPLINED IN THE EXPENDITURE OF CRA FUNDS.
BUT THEN THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT TO MAKE HARD CHOICES. IF OTHERS DECIDE OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, FINE. WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. AND IT MAY BE THE CASE, AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE CASE, YOU MAY NEED TO PONDER ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A QUICK DECISION.
THOUGH IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TONIGHT, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE A QUICK DECISION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED OR WE LOSE, OR WE'RE NOT FULFILLING WHAT AGREEMENT WE ENTERED INTO IN GOOD FAITH. WE CAN'T GET TO, WERE WE TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT, AND SAY, OH, BY THE WAY, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY YET.
THAT WOULD BE NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE AGREED TO.
MAYOR, I'D BE UNCOMFORTABLE PUTTING EVERYTHING ELSE ON HOLD TO JUST MAKE SPACE FOR THESE THREE PROJECTS WHERE, I MEAN, I DIDN'T VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE SUNI SANDS AGREEMENT.
WE'LL SEE HOW THAT ALL SHAKES OUT. I WOULD WANT TO USE THE BOND MONEY BECAUSE THAT PASSED OVER 70-SOMETHING PERCENT, SO I'D BE COMFORTABLE USING THAT FOR THAT. I MEAN, THAT WAS, SUNI SANDS, TO ME, WAS THE HOLY GRAIL PROPERTY.
[00:30:01]
I WAS THE ONE WHO PUSHED FOR THE $20 MILLION AS OPPOSED TO $5 OR $6. WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING BIG.AND THE SHOPPES AT JUPITER, I MEAN, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THEY WITHDREW BECAUSE OF THAT. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WHAT WAS THE COST OF THAT SORT OF ROUNDABOUT, AROUND A MILLION? WHAT WAS THE COST OF THAT? THE ESTIMATE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN HAND IS ABOUT $1.5 MILLION.
$1.5 MILLION, YEAH. SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I'M WILLING TO KICK IN FOR THAT.
TO ME, THAT'S MORE OF AN IMPACT FEE FOR THE DEVELOPER.
BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT THINGS ON HOLD BECAUSE THAT'S JUST SITTING OUT, TWISTING IN THE WIND RIGHT NOW. NOT A PRIORITY TO ME. I MEAN, I WOULDN'T APPROVE IT WITHOUT THE ROUNDABOUT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO PUT...
NO, UNDERSTAND. I'M JUST, THIS IS THIS IS KIND OF COMING OUT OF THE BLUE TO ME, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, GIVE MY KNEE-JERK REACTION TO IT. SO, I DON'T, WE MAY BE IN VIOLENT AGREEMENT, ALL THIS, BUT ON THAT ONE.
BUT THE POINT IS, IS IF AND WHEN THAT ONE COMES BACK TO US, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO DECIDE ACCORDINGLY, RIGHT? YEAH. IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FUND IT FULLY, IS EVERYBODY COMFORTABLE WITH SAYING THEN THE PROJECT CAN'T PROCEED, OR ARE YOU GONNA, OR IS SOME GONNA BE INCLINED TO APPROVE IT WITHOUT THE UPGRADE? YOU KNOW, SO THOSE, AND THAT'S, I DON'T, I'M NOT TRYING TO EVEN GET IN THE CONVERSATION ON THAT ONE. WE JUST NEED TO BE AWARE THAT WHEN THE TOWN COUNCIL GETS TO THE HEARING ON THAT, IF AND WHEN WE DO, AND MAKE A DECISION, YOU KNOW, THOSE FUNDS APPROPRIATELY COME FROM THE CRA, OR SHOULD APPROPRIATELY COME FROM THE CRA. THEY CAN'T COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND. BUT I VIEW THE CRA AS SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE OTHER CIP WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS AT OUR NEXT MEETING THAT WE'RE NOW LATE FOR, THAT WE HAVE USE-OR-LOSE FUNDS AND WE'RE ACCUMULATING THEM. I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE WITH THESE, AND THE QUESTION OF DEFERRING PROJECTS IS IN THE NEXT MEETING, PROJECTS THAT AREN'T COMPLETED THAT HAVE BEEN SORT OF IN THE QUEUE, IN THE PROCESS.
JUST TO PUT CONTEXT TO THE PAUSING DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING HERE IN A FEW MOMENTS, THE CRA, I WAS ASKED ABOUT WHAT THE AMENDMENT 3 MAY LOOK LIKE IN REGARDS TO THE CRA. THE CRA, I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH IT, BUT IT'S ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, JUST OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS BASED ON MY CALCULATION. AND, THAT DOES COMPOUND OVER TIME AND IT WILL HIT THE CASH FLOW, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT IF AMENDMENT 3 WERE TO PASS. SO, FROM A PAUSE OR CONTINUED DISCUSSION, THE CRA WAS NOT PART OF THAT INITIAL EVALUATION BECAUSE OF THE MINIMAL AMOUNT OF IMPACT THAT WOULD BE SEEN WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
WELL, I'M GOING TO SUGGEST FOR CONSIDERATION TO MY COLLEAGUES. TWO HAVEN'T YET HAD A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN. WE'RE AT THE STARTING POINT OF OUR PLAN, CIP WORKSHOP FOR THE TOWN, AND, IF, AND, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT TIME ON BOTH OF THESE ITEMS, UNLESS WE SCHEDULE IN OUR, IN OUR MEETING, THE NEXT TIME IS THE BUDGET HEARING ONE AND THEN TWO, RIGHT? SO, I THINK IF, IF WE'RE NOT READY TO MAKE A DECISION, COME UP WITH A MAJORITY DECISION, THEN I WOULD SUGGEST EVERYBODY HAS TO PONDER ABOUT THAT AND LET STAFF KNOW, AND THEN WE COULD RECONVENE.
WE COULD SCHEDULE ANOTHER CRA WORKSHOP TO COME BACK AND FINISH THIS WHEN PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO DO. IT MAY BE THE CASE WE NEED TO DO THAT, BUT I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE FOR A SUGGESTION.
I WOULD LEAN TOWARDS THAT SUGGESTION.
WHICH ITEMS WOULD NEED? NO, THE CRA, WELL, THE BIG ITEM IS WHETHER OR NOT HOW THIS, A PROSPECTIVE SUNI SANDS PROPERTY ACQUISITION WOULD BE FUNDED. SO, I'M SAYING EVERYBODY KIND OF DECIDE THAT. WE WOULD, AND THEN GET WITH STAFF. SO, IN ADVANCE OF OUR WORKSHOP, TO CONCLUDE THIS, WE WOULD, STAFF WOULD KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE WERE AT A MAJORITY ON THAT OR NOT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD PROCEED WITH PLANNING THE CIP.
SO WOULD THAT BE ANOTHER CRA MEETING IN SEPTEMBER BEFORE OUR FINAL BUDGET MEETING? I THINK SO.
OKAY. I MEAN, BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THAT UPSTREAM DECISION TO THEN REPRIORITIZE EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY SPEND WITHIN THE MONIES AVAILABLE AND/OR WHAT FUNDING WE'RE ABLE TO SECURE PER LOAN, RIGHT? OR WHETHER THAT LOAN IS INTERNAL
[00:35:01]
OR EXTERNAL, RIGHT? YES. JUST AS A REMINDER, WE DO HAVE ONE MEETING FOR THE CRA SCHEDULED AT THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER. THAT IS THE FIRST AND LAST MEETING BEFORE WE ADOPT THE BUDGET. WE COULD LOOK TO SEE IF WE CAN PUSH THE ACTUAL ADOPTION OF THE CRA BUDGET, IF YOU'D LIKE. AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER MEETING, WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT FOR THE CRA ITSELF.BUT WE DO HAVE ON THE, I BELIEVE IT'S THE 8TH, FOR THE FIRST AND FINAL READING OF THE CRA BUDGET.
I THINK THE KEY IS, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER WORKSHOP. AND THEN AFTER THAT, THERE'S A CONSENSUS, YOU UPDATE IT, AND THEN, SO THAT'LL DRIVE WHEN THAT MEETING IS. OKAY. THAT MAKE SENSE? OKAY, THEN I THINK WE CAN TABLE THE CONTINUATION OF THIS AND CONCLUDE THE MEETING. IS THAT DIRECTION CLEAR? YES, SIR.
OKAY. AND THEN WE COME BACK AND WE'LL HAVE A MAJORITY CONSENSUS ON WHAT PROJECTS ARE ON THE TABLE TO BE FUNDED, WE CAN THEN PRIORITIZE THEM AND GIVE DIRECTION. NOW, PART OF THAT IS STAFF'S GOING TO HAVE TO TELL US AGAIN WHERE THE FUNDING WOULD COME FROM, BECAUSE IT CLEARLY LOOKS LIKE WE NEED FUNDING BEYOND WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN THE CRA FUND AS A BALANCE, AND WE WILL FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
THAT FUNDING WOULD INCLUDE THE $10.5 MILLION FOR SUNI SANDS, RIGHT? WELL, THAT'S IT, IF THE MAJORITY DECIDES THAT, YES.
RIGHT. I THINK WE OUGHT TO INCLUDE IT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS, WHAT THE IMPACT IS.
OKAY. THE TIME IS NOW 6:36, AND WE'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.