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   Discussion on Future CRA Projects

   discussed

   Council held a work session to discuss future CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) projects, with consultants Kimley-Horn presenting an update on the redevelopment plan that must be adopted by October 2019 and would extend the CRA from 2019 to 2049. Projections show $164 million in cumulative net revenue over 30 years, and six redevelopment areas were identified. Council and public discussed potential projects including a Grand Boulevard bike path along the river, gateway improvements, historic district designation, and density issues around the Hacienda site.

   📍6041 Florida Avenue📍Central Avenue📍Grand Boulevard📍Main Street📍Sims Park🏢Altman Law Office🏢City of Port Richey🏢Florida DOT🏢Hacienda🏢Kimley-Horn🏢Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)🏢Orange Lake Apartments🏢Pasco County👤Bob Smallwood👤Councilman Altman👤Debbie Manz👤Fred Kent👤Grady Pridgen👤John Cain👤Keith Grimminger👤Kelly Klepper👤Mr. Kasson#2012 redevelopment plan#Business facade grant#CRA redevelopment plan 2019-2049#Capital improvement plan 15-16#Finding of Necessity (FON)#Former community hospital site#Gateway program#Gibbs study#Jazz School Fiesta#Leisure Lane and Van Doren#Magnuson area / US 19#Main Street program#Rivergate area#Riverside Inn / North River area#Southgate Center#State Statute 163#Summer youth sidewalk development program#TIF (Tax Increment Financing)#ULI Technical Assistance Panel

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   [00:00:15] This is for discussion of future CRA projects. [00:00:20] Ms. Manz, would you like to get us started here? [00:00:23] I will, Mr. Mayor. [00:00:25] As a reminder to you all, we hired Kimley Horn in April [00:00:31] of 2017, the purpose of which was [00:00:35] to assist us in providing a CRA redevelopment plan, which [00:00:39] would span our current plan from 2018 [00:00:44] for another 30 years, which would take us to 2048. [00:00:50] As part of their efforts, they identified [00:00:53] six areas of the city where some redevelopment efforts [00:00:59] should occur. [00:01:01] They were the former community hospital site, the Rivergate [00:01:04] area, Southgate Center, Magnuson area of 19, actually all of 19. [00:01:12] The Riverside Inn, or what's referred [00:01:15] to as the North River area, the downtown area, [00:01:18] and Leisure Lane and Van Doren. [00:01:22] We have Kimley Horn with us this evening, [00:01:24] and I'm going to give them an opportunity to bring you [00:01:26] up to date on where they are with their plans. [00:01:30] But before I do, I want to remind you [00:01:35] that the city is required to completely adopt [00:01:41] the new plan by October of 19. [00:01:45] That is our legal requirement. [00:01:48] More important than that, though, I [00:01:51] think it's in our best interest to move a little quicker [00:01:55] than that. [00:01:56] In fact, I'd say move quickly based [00:01:59] on some of the discussion that has taken place [00:02:02] at the state level in regards to CRA plans. [00:02:08] I don't think the tool will go away based on what I've seen, [00:02:13] but I do think that there may be some amendments to the plan [00:02:17] that make it a little bit more difficult for us [00:02:19] to administer projects in the best interests of the city. [00:02:26] There are two things that we put at your places tonight. [00:02:29] The first is the New Port Richey financial projections. [00:02:35] And I think the most exciting part about that [00:02:40] is that we show $164 million in cumulative net revenue, which [00:02:48] means we can do a lot of good over the next 30 years. [00:02:55] $233 million, I think it's important to say, [00:02:59] is contributed by the city and the county [00:03:02] collectively over the 30-year period of time. [00:03:06] $107 million by the county and $126 million by the city. [00:03:15] The purpose in large part of tonight's meeting [00:03:18] is to discuss and consider projects [00:03:22] that you might want to have specifically [00:03:24] identified in the plan document before we bring it [00:03:28] to you for final adoption. [00:03:31] In that regard, I spent some time earlier today [00:03:35] with Councilman Altman, and he penciled out [00:03:39] a few of his ideas for projects. [00:03:43] And we will bring that into the discussion [00:03:46] as we get further along this evening. [00:03:49] But as I indicated, Kimley Horn is in attendance this evening. [00:03:54] We've got Keith Grimminger and Kelly Klepper, [00:03:58] both who have been very involved in our project. [00:04:02] And I'd like to give them an opportunity [00:04:03] to bring you up to date. [00:04:11] Thank you all. [00:04:12] Excuse me, getting over a little bit of a cold here. [00:04:14] Seems like we Floridians. [00:04:17] You can sit down there, because you [00:04:18] might want to say something in the morning. [00:04:21] Yeah, we Floridians now, if the temperature [00:04:24] dips below 60 degrees, we just don't know what to do. [00:04:28] Excuse me. [00:04:28] So very quickly, I'm going to walk you through the update. [00:04:32] You've seen portions of this. [00:04:33] I've edited it quite down. [00:04:35] The goal here is to talk about the new projects [00:04:39] and the new opportunities that we see. [00:04:42] All right, so again, you know who we are. [00:04:46] We'll talk about the public engagement. [00:04:49] One of the things we're very proud of going through this [00:04:52] is we really reached out to the entire community, [00:04:54] got a lot of good feedback, categorized that. [00:04:57] And we listened to the community and yourselves, [00:05:00] what could be done and how we move forward with it. [00:05:03] So as a summary, they talked about many things. [00:05:06] Take advantage of our assets. [00:05:08] The downtown should be the driver. [00:05:09] You can see these here. [00:05:11] You've heard them before. [00:05:12] And we're going to continue to build upon that. [00:05:15] Getting to the meat of it, we talked [00:05:18] about redevelopment strategy and identified several things. [00:05:22] One of the things that Ms. Manns didn't mention [00:05:25] is we talked about some quick wins. [00:05:27] You've already started with your gateway program. [00:05:29] I think that's great. [00:05:31] I think it offers a lot. [00:05:32] I think following up that possibly [00:05:34] with lighting and other opportunities [00:05:36] could also be a great asset. [00:05:39] And then public art and how, indeed, it's [00:05:41] one of the things the community brought out. [00:05:43] Where can we incorporate those? [00:05:44] How do those play into the overall picture? [00:05:47] We want to build on our investments [00:05:49] that you've already taken place. [00:05:51] We've got Sims Park, what's going [00:05:53] to happen with the Orange Lake Apartments, what's [00:05:55] been done on the infrastructure, Central Avenue, the Main Street [00:05:59] landings, all good projects that are just bringing some vitality [00:06:03] to the overall area. [00:06:06] So we talked about some incentives [00:06:08] and some redevelopment plans. [00:06:09] These are all spelled out in the formal plan, [00:06:12] the business facade grant, the summer youth sidewalk [00:06:16] development program, things like this [00:06:17] that can keep the project moving forward. [00:06:19] You also, during this past year, also [00:06:21] had a ULI technical assistance panel [00:06:24] looking at revitalization of the residential aspects of this. [00:06:28] Very good information that came out of that [00:06:30] will be also incorporated into the plan as an appendix. [00:06:35] And then overall, city beautification opportunities, [00:06:40] code enforcement. [00:06:41] We know there's a lot of opportunities [00:06:42] there to continue to enhance the community, maintenance [00:06:46] programs, and waste pickup. [00:06:50] So the targeted redevelopment areas, [00:06:52] Ms. Manns just mentioned those. [00:06:55] This is an opportunity. [00:06:56] These are what we've identified, but we truly [00:06:58] believe that there are more opportunities out there. [00:07:01] We're seeing that every day. [00:07:02] I think you all are as well. [00:07:03] So we really want to hear from you [00:07:05] all what those opportunities are as we continue to move forward. [00:07:12] What we've identified is a culmination of over 100 acres [00:07:16] and between $100 to $125 million investment [00:07:21] with a huge taxable value that's added [00:07:24] to that at the end of the day. [00:07:26] And then we went through some financial analysis. [00:07:29] Again, this is all in it. [00:07:30] We show from 18 to 48, but obviously as we submit that, [00:07:35] this will adjust from 19 to 49. [00:07:38] As Ms. Manns mentioned, it needs to be in by October. [00:07:41] And we show what the five-year increment value will be. [00:07:45] We obviously now have better information [00:07:47] on what fiscal year 18 is, what 19 would be, [00:07:52] and move forward from there. [00:07:55] The next steps. [00:07:56] One of the things we've been talking about [00:07:59] is some additional properties that would expand the CRA. [00:08:04] And in doing so, we would bring back [00:08:08] to you a sub-district mapping. [00:08:10] It shows and identifies the eight parcels [00:08:13] that have been identified. [00:08:17] With that, to follow state statute 163, [00:08:20] we have to do a finding of necessity or blight, [00:08:23] commonly known as an FON. [00:08:25] Our research will pull that forward [00:08:27] and identify to meet the criteria [00:08:30] the state statute is looking for. [00:08:32] And then also do a five and 10-year investment [00:08:34] program of what would happen with those properties [00:08:37] potentially. [00:08:39] We see that being anywhere between 60 to 90 days. [00:08:43] We believe we can move pretty quickly on that [00:08:45] and incorporate that into the plan. [00:08:49] So with that, the final community redevelopment plan [00:08:53] would be put forward as an update. [00:08:56] We see that, again, maybe 30 to 60 days after that. [00:09:00] And all of these are probably on the longer time frame. [00:09:04] We believe we can move quite quickly [00:09:06] on these with your assistance. [00:09:09] Once we get the approval and we talk [00:09:11] about the extension of the CRA, Ms. Mann just touched on that. [00:09:14] So again, go from 2019 to 2049. [00:09:19] And in particular, those two, the approval and the extension, [00:09:23] could be combined to shrink that down several days there, [00:09:28] several months possibly. [00:09:30] So that's really kind of the whirlwind to it. [00:09:35] We've always enjoyed working up here. [00:09:37] And we'd like to hear your thoughts and ideas on what [00:09:40] are the other redevelopment opportunities [00:09:42] that you are seeing, listing, and believe [00:09:45] can take place that we should include in this project. [00:09:49] So with that, I'll turn it back over to you all. [00:09:51] Thank you. [00:09:55] Stay close in case we've got some questions as we go. [00:09:59] With some trepidation, I want to open it up for public comment. [00:10:04] Please keep it brief, on topic. [00:10:08] If anybody has any thoughts, come on down. [00:10:12] Give us your name and address for the record, please. [00:10:14] I'm Bob Smallwood on the Mee and Quartz. [00:10:24] I guess just a couple of comments. [00:10:25] And some of it has to do with the details. [00:10:27] I was looking at the sheet with the numbers on it. [00:10:30] And part of me, I was glad to see that you're actually [00:10:33] using some of the study work going into the CRA. [00:10:36] Because I keep seeing the Gibbs study and ULI. [00:10:38] And I keep thinking, OK, what are we [00:10:39] going to do with these studies? [00:10:41] And I'm glad to see that there's some thought put together [00:10:44] to actually incorporate and use those studies. [00:10:48] I mean, the main thing that always jumps out at me [00:10:50] is just the debt services on the rec center. [00:10:52] About $900,000 a year, it just amazes me [00:10:55] how much that center costs us. [00:10:59] But the question I had, I noticed [00:11:00] that 10% of the TIF goes to the general fund. [00:11:06] But I noticed on the spreadsheet here, [00:11:07] it says a CRA general fund loan. [00:11:10] But I don't see any recapture of that loan anywhere. [00:11:12] So I didn't know what that general fund loan meant. [00:11:17] Another net, I was glad to see the Main Street program funded, [00:11:20] extended as well, too. [00:11:21] There's a lot of work trying to revitalize the Main Street [00:11:24] program. [00:11:24] I don't think it's funded well enough if you really [00:11:26] want to be a Main Street city. [00:11:27] But that's a topic we can have at a later discussion. [00:11:30] So thank you for your time. [00:11:32] Thank you. [00:11:32] Anyone else? [00:11:41] Go ahead. [00:11:43] John Cain, 6041 Florida Avenue. [00:11:46] I don't know if this plan is already included. [00:11:48] And if it is, I'd be more than glad to get away from here [00:11:51] and sit down again. [00:11:52] But I've been talking for a long time [00:11:57] about establishing a bike path on Grand Boulevard [00:12:01] that follows the river. [00:12:04] The city of New Port Richey has been discussing, [00:12:07] and whether or not they'll do it, [00:12:08] I don't know if it will ever come to fruition, [00:12:11] but bringing a path underneath the bridge [00:12:16] so that you would be able to connect onto Grand Boulevard [00:12:21] without ever crossing 19. [00:12:25] I think it's a fantastic idea. [00:12:26] I think it would be one of our really strongest things [00:12:31] to promote our downtown because of what's [00:12:35] going on with our downtown and what they're [00:12:37] doing for the development of their point out there, what's [00:12:41] going on out there. [00:12:43] And if we could blend those together, [00:12:47] I think it would be amazing because I [00:12:49] don't know anyone else on the West Coast of Florida [00:12:51] that would have anything else like that. [00:12:53] And I don't think the investment would be much [00:12:56] because we have the room on Grand Boulevard. [00:13:00] We would, of course, have to change it. [00:13:02] There would be some logistical changes. [00:13:04] It would become a one-way. [00:13:06] It would leave room for a huge path [00:13:10] that could be for biking, rollerblading, [00:13:12] and a lot of things. [00:13:13] And the most beautiful scenery, I mean, honestly, [00:13:16] I don't know of any other place. [00:13:18] When I'm not here, that's what I miss. [00:13:20] I miss going along that river. [00:13:22] So I'm hoping that that's in the works [00:13:24] and that's something that's going to be considered [00:13:26] because I think it's going to blend in with the Hacienda [00:13:29] and everything that you're doing downtown. [00:13:31] I think it's going to just bring it all together for people [00:13:33] that want to bring their families right on bikes [00:13:37] and do both things. [00:13:37] So thank you. [00:13:38] Thank you, John. [00:13:39] It is actually one of the topics we're going to discuss. [00:13:41] Mr. Altman had included it in his list. [00:13:44] Did I just give him an update from the MPO board? [00:13:46] I was going to ask, Ms. Mansour, [00:13:48] if you could give us an update on where we are. [00:13:50] At the last MPO meeting, [00:13:51] Metropolitan Planning Organization, [00:13:53] the board approved a feasibility study [00:13:57] and we have an interlocal agreement [00:13:58] between New Port Richey City, New Port Richey, [00:13:59] and Pasco County that's approved. [00:14:02] So they're currently working on that study with the DOT [00:14:04] trying to get a cost basis of what it's going to cost, [00:14:08] what it's going to look like. [00:14:09] So it's in the works. [00:14:10] We've been told about six months for that study [00:14:12] and then hopefully the city of New Port Richey, [00:14:14] New Port Richey, and the county working together [00:14:15] will be able to act on it. [00:14:16] So it's in the works. [00:14:17] That's great. [00:14:18] I can't wait to see it before I get too old to bike it. [00:14:21] Tricycle. [00:14:23] It may be one of the motorized trikes, John. [00:14:28] Anyone else? [00:14:30] Seeing no one else come back, [00:14:32] I'm going to bring it back to council. [00:14:34] Mr. Allman, you did a marvelous job [00:14:35] putting these proposals together. [00:14:37] Would you like to kick off the discussion? [00:14:40] If that's all right with the rest of me, I'd be happy to. [00:14:43] I would like to note back to the Kimley-Horne study, [00:14:47] just their first page, [00:14:49] just to read the headlines they put [00:14:53] on the front page of their study, [00:14:57] that the 2012 redevelopment plan was... [00:15:00] an excellent document to work off of. [00:15:02] So it hasn't been that long since there was an update, [00:15:05] but because we've hit this 30-year mark [00:15:08] and the pressures, potential pressures from the state, [00:15:11] that I guess we're having this discussion [00:15:13] about a 30-year bond, a bondable time period. [00:15:18] Then it says, do not start over. [00:15:20] Validate, update, implement. [00:15:23] So, and then create a strategic action plan. [00:15:27] So when Debbie put this one document in front of us [00:15:33] and I wanted to kind of let those numbers become [00:15:39] like a jump-off point for me, [00:15:41] because when you look at all that money [00:15:43] that is projected to come in [00:15:45] from a relatively natural growth curve, [00:15:50] and then they showed another slide that they put up [00:15:54] was the bondable or the project cost for, [00:15:58] I think they were looking at them in 10-year increments, [00:16:00] kind of like, you know, [00:16:01] what would be the first tranche of projects to produce? [00:16:07] There had been discussion in the past about, [00:16:10] first of all, a sort of opposition or hesitation [00:16:18] to any kind of financing. [00:16:20] And when it comes to some of these projects, [00:16:24] if the projects will help to actually bring the investment [00:16:31] to improve the tax base [00:16:33] and to improve some of the other [00:16:35] general fund revenue sources, [00:16:37] that I'm hopeful that this particular council [00:16:40] will be open to an investment strategy [00:16:44] that we can create over the next five years [00:16:48] through the budget process [00:16:49] as we get into it in the summertime, [00:16:51] and then, you know, with a successful amendment, [00:16:55] have, you know, a good footing on where we're headed. [00:17:01] And I looked back at the capital improvement plan [00:17:04] from 15-16, and there wasn't a lot of future projections [00:17:10] of what those projects were, [00:17:12] and there wasn't a lot of adherence to that plan. [00:17:14] Every year, it just kind of gets redone. [00:17:16] But when it comes to the CRA plan, [00:17:18] once you approve it and you're set on it, [00:17:22] then it kind of should hopefully move forward. [00:17:26] Overlap that with the tremendous enthusiasm [00:17:31] that we've got going on right now in the city [00:17:33] and the interest in the investment community. [00:17:37] I know we've got the owner of the land at the Hacienda [00:17:41] who has suggested that he wants to do something, [00:17:44] and that's the Altman Law Office property, [00:17:49] my family's old property. [00:17:52] And so his interest may be more density-related, [00:17:56] and I think that we are going to hear [00:17:58] from him shortly, hopefully. [00:18:00] But I see Mr. Kasson in the audience, [00:18:04] and I had a conversation with Mr. Kasson [00:18:06] shortly after the election about his opinion [00:18:10] on the historic nature of our historic walkable downtown, [00:18:16] where, if I'm going to paraphrase [00:18:18] and hopefully get it right, [00:18:20] his recommendation was we look at [00:18:24] establishing a little historic district, [00:18:26] which I think we have a historic committee [00:18:27] that's getting reconstituted, [00:18:30] which would mean, if we have a willing investor, [00:18:32] that we have to capture that investment incentive [00:18:35] and redirect it. [00:18:37] To me, redirecting it to the gateway [00:18:40] is a natural way that a lot of folks have talked about, [00:18:44] increased density and residential going out that way. [00:18:49] But I think there are some specific projects [00:18:51] and discussions that are going to need [00:18:52] to come up sooner than later, [00:18:54] and it really rolls off of what you all were saying [00:18:56] about the Hacienda's going to be open soon, [00:18:58] where's everybody going to park, [00:19:00] Jazz School Fiesta's coming, [00:19:01] what's going to happen with that footprint, [00:19:03] developers are interested in building. [00:19:07] So the third leg of this little introductory comments [00:19:12] that I have becomes the, [00:19:19] the boat ramp, the other side of the river, [00:19:25] the parking issues with the trailers, [00:19:27] and the need for us to look at the old, old plans [00:19:31] of Fred Kent and the folks we had almost 30 years ago [00:19:35] who came in and said, [00:19:37] your downtown should come out to the street. [00:19:40] And what we're hearing from Tallahassee, [00:19:43] which is the new Speaker of the House, [00:19:45] who seems to be focused on infrastructure projects [00:19:48] with the use of CRA money [00:19:50] versus direct payments to developers. [00:19:55] So, I mean, we've already heard [00:19:57] what Tallahassee wants to see from CRAs, [00:20:00] and we already know we're probably the only CRA [00:20:03] in the state that has a full city CRA, [00:20:06] which has been problematic, I think, in some areas. [00:20:12] But the good news is the county seems all in [00:20:16] on supporting our redevelopment plans, [00:20:18] and I think the time is right for us [00:20:20] to try to figure that all out. [00:20:23] So while we're at this 30-year plan, [00:20:25] and we have a great plan, [00:20:27] I think there's some immediate things [00:20:29] that are pending quickly [00:20:31] that could probably benefit by more effort [00:20:34] by our engineering firm to help us to visualize [00:20:39] what it might look like and what these projects, [00:20:42] these initial trance of projects might cost, look like, [00:20:46] so that we can all discuss them and decide, [00:20:50] you know, if we support them and either move on [00:20:53] or accept, you know, what's kind of coming naturally. [00:20:58] So that's my thing. [00:20:59] This is a list of things we've all talked about, [00:21:02] I think, at one point or another. [00:21:03] I just tried to compile it for discussion, [00:21:05] so I'm not necessarily wanting to talk about all of that. [00:21:10] But that's my spiel to you. [00:21:11] I think it's an incredibly important time. [00:21:12] We're right in a critical juncture, [00:21:14] and to look at that gateway project [00:21:17] that kind of follows the county's plan, [00:21:19] to look at a small area. [00:21:21] There's interested parties and folks with money [00:21:24] who are coming around saying they'd like to participate, [00:21:27] and I think we ought to be at the table [00:21:29] with our own team to say, [00:21:31] this is the public-private partnership. [00:21:35] How far do we go, and where do we start? [00:21:38] Very good. [00:21:39] May I ask him a question? [00:21:40] Yeah. [00:21:40] You had mentioned higher density, [00:21:41] and then you had also mentioned the gateway area [00:21:44] west of the bridge, and also Grady Pridgen's property [00:21:47] across in the Hacienda. [00:21:48] Are you looking at higher density in both of those areas, [00:21:51] or one or the other, or we're not getting [00:21:52] into specifics tonight? [00:21:53] He's indicated initially that he wanted [00:21:55] a lot of high density in the downtown, [00:21:57] and that he's not got that, [00:22:00] and he wants to just build apartments, [00:22:02] and we need to see what he wants to do. [00:22:04] But my point is, if he tells us what we want to do, [00:22:09] and then the public, and some of the folks [00:22:10] that have been here around a long time, [00:22:13] if Mr. Kasson is representative of a lot of our folks [00:22:17] in town who want to kind of not see a big tall building [00:22:21] go across from the Hacienda, or all residential, [00:22:25] or whatever he's got in mind, [00:22:27] that we have other pieces of property, [00:22:30] like our church property, and even the piece

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3. 3Adjournment▶ 22:32