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CRA BoardTue, Jan 20, 2026

CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) approved a $287,995 engineering task order with Florida Design Consultants for the 2026 Grand Boulevard Streetscape project, plus a $138,000 budget amendment.

7 items on the agenda · 3 decisions recorded

On the agenda

  1. 1Call to Order - Roll Call0:00
  2. 2.a

    January 6, 2026 CRA Meeting Minutes

    approved

    The CRA Board approved the minutes from the January 6, 2026 CRA meeting.

    • motion:Motion to approve the January 6, 2026 CRA meeting minutes. (passed)
    ▶ Jump to 0:35 in the video
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    Auto-transcript · machine-generated, may contain errors

    [00:00:35] Okay, I was on the wrong sheet. June 6, 2026, CRA meeting minutes. [00:00:43] Move for approval. [00:00:44] I'll second. [00:00:45] All those in favor signify by saying aye. [00:00:46] Aye.

    This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

  3. 3.a

    Purchases/Payments for CRA Board Approval

    approvedon consent

    The CRA Board approved the consent agenda item for purchases/payments requiring board approval via voice vote.

    • motion:Approve purchases/payments for CRA Board approval. (passed)
    ▶ Jump to 0:47 in the video
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    Auto-transcript · machine-generated, may contain errors

    [00:00:47] Consent agenda, purchase payments for the CRA, board approval. [00:00:51] Move for approval. [00:00:52] I'll second. [00:00:53] All those in favor signify by saying aye. [00:00:54] Aye.

    This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

  4. 4.b

    You arrived here from a search for “Capital Improvement Program 26-27 — transcript expanded below

    2026 Grand Blvd. Streetscape Enhancements Project - Engineering Services Task Order

    approved

    The CRA Board approved a task order with Florida Design Consultants for engineering services on the 2026 Grand Boulevard Streetscape Enhancement Project (between Montana Ave. and Circle Boulevard) in an amount not to exceed $287,995, along with a $138,000 budget amendment transferring funds from the Sims Landing Boat Ramp ($38,000) and Streetscape Enhancement Project ($100,000). Board members raised concerns about a blind spot at Missouri Avenue, coordination with the multi-use path phase two, and crosswalk design, but were satisfied enough to move forward.

    • motion:Move to approve the engineering services task order with Florida Design Consultants and the associated budget amendment for the 2026 Grand Boulevard Streetscape Enhancement Project. (passed)50
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    Auto-transcript · machine-generated, may contain errors

    [00:00:55] Aye. [00:00:56] And which item are we not going to talk about? [00:00:58] We're not talking about anything, so 2026 Grand Boulevard Streetscape Enhancement Project and Engineering Services Task Order. [00:01:07] So we're skipping over 4A? [00:01:09] Yes. [00:01:10] Okay. [00:01:12] The request is related to the Engineering Service Task Order for the Grand Boulevard Streetscape Enhancement Project, [00:01:24] which you have seen preliminary design work, and Mr. Eichenmueller will present the agenda item. [00:01:32] Good evening, Mr. Manson. [00:01:33] Thank you. [00:01:34] The request is staffed for the senior leadership of the managing director [00:01:38] to review and consider for approval the attached task order from Florida Design Consulting [00:01:44] for the Engineering Services in the amount not to exceed $287,000. [00:01:54] Yeah. [00:01:55] Trade. [00:01:58] Are we good now? [00:01:59] All right, then. [00:02:04] All right. [00:02:05] I'm going to do this again. [00:02:07] The request is staffed for the community redevelopment agency directors is to review and consider for approval the attached task order [00:02:14] from Florida Design Consultants for the Engineering Services in the amount not to exceed $287,995 [00:02:24] for the proposed 2026 Grand Boulevard Streetscape Enhancement Project. [00:02:29] In addition, staff would request the CRA approve the attached budget amendment in the amount of $138,000. [00:02:40] As the board of directors may recall, the conceptual design for this project was presented to the directors at the CRA meeting, [00:02:47] and this was on July 16, 2025. [00:02:52] This proposed project included elements like enhanced landscaping, a widened sidewalk path for pedestrians and multi-use, [00:03:01] increased pedestrian traffic for the businesses and patron experiences, [00:03:06] and replacement and relocation of trees throughout the district. [00:03:10] And this area would extend from Grand Boulevard between Montana Ave. [00:03:17] and Nebraska Ave. and going up through to Circle Boulevard. [00:03:24] As the directors are aware, staff has worked with FTC in the past. [00:03:30] Mr. David Flamin, the vice president and director of engineering, [00:03:34] has presented several projects for us to include the Gloria Swanson parking lot, [00:03:38] and staff feels very confident in their abilities and their capabilities to present something to us [00:03:44] that not only enhances what we're going for here in the city, [00:03:47] but really highlights that portion of the downtown district [00:03:51] and welcomes people in as they're extending north coming along Grand Boulevard. [00:03:55] With that said, Mr. Flamin is here to present the concepts to you. [00:04:01] The funds for the engineering services are identified and allocated in the city's current capital improvement project [00:04:07] or program as tax dollar increments in the amount of $150,000. [00:04:13] The budget amendment includes transfer of funds allocated and identified in the city's current capital improvement program [00:04:20] as tax increment dollars, and that's in the amount of $138,000. [00:04:27] And the $38,000 will come from the Sims Landing Boat Ramp, [00:04:31] and the other $100,000 will come from the Streetscape Enhancement Project. [00:04:36] And should the Board of Directors approve the budget amendment, [00:04:38] the two projects will be moved into the 26-27 Capital Improvement Program. [00:04:43] And with that, Mr. Flamin will be here to show you through the concepts. [00:04:48] You started the night with us, and you ended the night with us. [00:04:51] No better place to be. [00:04:53] Thank you, Council, for allowing me to come back again this evening. [00:05:00] So I'd like to refresh your memory a little bit on the Grand Boulevard Streetscape Project. [00:05:06] As was mentioned, we've met with you a few times and have, in some workshops, discussed the project. [00:05:13] It is, as you see on the board, it's going to include really reconstructing the entire roadway [00:05:24] in order to narrow the lanes and to move the excess space out to the edges [00:05:29] so that we can dramatically increase the pedestrian use area and improve that along the corridor. [00:05:38] So this is the southern half. [00:05:40] We've divided it in two pieces just for convenience of showing it on screen. [00:05:46] That's the northern half. [00:05:48] You can see it's got on-street parking, landscape islands, [00:05:52] as well as the enhanced and greatly widened pedestrian use area. [00:05:58] This is an isometric view of the southern half. [00:06:04] The northern half, which is very similar to what you've seen before. [00:06:09] This is a street-level view, which also is very similar to what you've seen before. [00:06:15] You can see it's got, like I mentioned, the center turn lane has been removed. [00:06:22] We've got one lane in each direction with on-street parking, landscape islands, [00:06:28] and widened pedestrian use areas. [00:06:33] The proposal before you is for preparing the construction drawings to create this. [00:06:40] It has topographical survey, subsurface sue investigation [00:06:47] to determine where underground utilities are buried, [00:06:50] and it includes preparation of roadway plans, streetscapes plans, [00:06:57] and some limited-site electrical engineering. [00:07:02] In addition, it includes construction plan permitting. [00:07:05] We're anticipating needing a SWFMUD permit exemption for this project. [00:07:13] And then it includes construction-phase services for the first phase of construction, [00:07:19] which has bidding assistance, supporting the city's team with construction observation, [00:07:26] as well as responding to construction questions and some project close-out and certification. [00:07:35] I am available for any questions you may have. [00:07:37] Any public comment? [00:07:44] Maps? [00:07:51] Which slide? [00:07:53] There's the north map and the south. [00:08:06] This is the beginning. [00:08:13] North. [00:08:14] Grand Boulevard from Illinois north. [00:08:22] Yes. [00:08:23] Right. [00:08:24] Yes. [00:08:26] Yes. [00:08:28] Yes. [00:08:30] Anybody else comment? [00:08:33] Let's see if no one can bring it back. [00:08:36] Well, come on down. [00:08:37] If you're – raise your hand, come down to the front, please. [00:08:40] Don't wait until – [00:08:46] Can you – [00:08:47] We got the mic. [00:08:51] Deanna broke the rules. [00:08:52] She was giving you the rules earlier. [00:08:53] Now she's broken them, so – [00:08:55] I really like it when you guys use the microphones, too. [00:08:59] Are all those trees going to be in planters or in the ground? [00:09:03] Oh, I'm sorry. [00:09:04] They'll be in the – [00:09:06] They'll be in the ground, but they'll be designated planters, but they'll be in the ground. [00:09:12] Who else had their hand raised? [00:09:15] They were pointing her out. [00:09:16] Oh. [00:09:17] All right. [00:09:18] All right, I'll bring it back for discussion and vote. [00:09:22] Some discussion. [00:09:23] Go ahead. [00:09:24] Yeah, my – thank you for having us pull up the map. [00:09:29] Is that Missouri, the far right? [00:09:32] Far north? [00:09:34] The far right is Porpoise Alley. [00:09:36] So the one before that, is that Missouri, or do we need to go to the other map? [00:09:39] I need Missouri Avenue. [00:09:40] I just can't tell where we're at. [00:09:43] I can pull it up on my screen. [00:09:48] Give me a second. [00:09:49] I'll pull it up. [00:09:50] Okay, no, yeah. [00:09:51] Yeah, that one right there. [00:09:52] So the Missouri Avenue, where it's on the left – one more. [00:09:57] Yeah, right there. [00:09:59] I had talked about that coming west into the street, there's a major blind spot there, [00:10:08] and Public Works has put a mirror to mitigate it as a Band-Aid solution, which is – it's effective. [00:10:21] How will – it was talked about during the, I want to say, workshop, our first reading on this, [00:10:26] or excuse me, our first time considering this, about that, and I asked if you guys could flag it [00:10:33] and provide an update. [00:10:34] Was there any consideration on what we're going to do there for mitigating a blind spot? [00:10:40] You're going to be further out and closer to the center line of the road by virtue of removing that lane, [00:10:45] so you're going to be further out past the faces of the buildings. [00:10:50] So then where that line is there, you're saying instead of it being where the estuary is, it's shifting forward? [00:10:59] It could be a bigger sidewalk, yes. [00:11:01] It could be a lot more sidewalk. [00:11:03] The stop bar used to be, or is today, somewhere back in here. [00:11:07] Right here, yeah. [00:11:08] And it's going to move up by virtue of narrowing up that lane. [00:11:12] With trees also joining it. [00:11:14] Correct. [00:11:15] So my only concern is until we phase out the rest of the project farther down South Grand, [00:11:22] you're going to have cars still coming in pretty quickly. [00:11:25] Even though, again, it's too – they're going to slow down here, but that spot there, I mean, [00:11:30] I don't know if you had a chance to drive it, but I invite you to go out there sometime [00:11:33] and stop at that stop sign, and it is impossible to turn right. [00:11:38] In my mind, if you're extending out the sidewalk, yeah, you moved the stop sign forward, [00:11:43] but that's because you moved the sidewalk forward. [00:11:45] To me, that's going to be the same issue. [00:11:48] And now there's trees there. [00:11:50] And Councilman Altman, when we – it might have been a different councilman, [00:11:53] but when I brought this up originally, we talked about the different types of trees [00:11:56] and how the tree is going to not be within the safety cone, which I get. [00:12:00] But even with all of that, even with all of that, right now with nothing being in the triangle, [00:12:06] it is impossible to take that right-hand turn in a safe manner. [00:12:10] You could take it, but you're doing a little bit of a Hail Mary every time you've got to take a right-hand turn. [00:12:15] So – and I'm not exaggerating. [00:12:17] Go drive it. [00:12:18] So I just want to reiterate that. [00:12:20] I did bring it up originally, and I know someone wrote down a note about it, [00:12:23] but that was my only major – everything else is great. [00:12:25] It's wonderful. [00:12:27] I know we had – I had questions about the left turn lane there, [00:12:30] and you guys were able to answer that and say, no, that still will be – [00:12:33] that will still be necessary on the far end, so I appreciate that. [00:12:36] But I didn't hear a response on my right turn lane blind spot. [00:12:39] And it's business – ask a business owner down there how they feel about that turn. [00:12:43] And the only other thing – I don't want to beat a dead horse dead, [00:12:47] but it's been so long the horse is kind of decaying. [00:12:50] The other thing I brought up is the – and I'm hoping just with how you guys are designing this, [00:12:55] it will mitigate itself, but a lot of folks – is this Maine right here? [00:13:02] Are we looking at Maine on the – [00:13:04] Maine's further down where you've got the trapezoid. [00:13:06] All right, so one – go one left. [00:13:09] That crosswalk there causes people to stop early, thinking that is a – that is the red – like, that's the stop. [00:13:17] And I notice here it looks different. [00:13:19] I don't know if the crosswalk is removed or it's integrated into what will be railroad square, [00:13:23] but I do like that, and I hope that's what that is, [00:13:26] because when you have the same crosswalks that you do as an intersection, [00:13:29] they think they have to stop all the way back at whatever railroad square is. [00:13:34] They have to stop there for the red light ahead. [00:13:37] So those are the only two things that I mentioned before, [00:13:41] but it does look like the crosswalk's different in this design, so I'm not going to bring that up. [00:13:45] But the blind spot, that is something that I'm going to keep bringing up, because – please drive it. [00:13:50] You'll understand when you drive it. [00:13:52] Thank you. [00:13:55] To the point of us having seen this before and making comments, could you speak to any – [00:14:02] did you receive any of the comments that changed from what you showed us the first time, [00:14:06] or are we still seeing exactly what you showed us the first time? [00:14:10] The landscape islands down at this section of the northern section of the road have been revised. [00:14:18] As I recall, council expressed concern about having too much parking there and not enough green space. [00:14:24] So to improve that balance, additional landscape islands have been added. [00:14:29] That pretty much tells it all. [00:14:31] So I appreciate that you came and listened to us. [00:14:35] I've got another question, which was mentioned about the continuation of the bicycle path [00:14:42] and the improvements to our Grand Boulevard from the bridge in. [00:14:47] So what's the sequence of that work? [00:14:50] Is that work being designed, readying, or how is that going to play with respect to this one? [00:14:55] Because this came on after all of that design was discussed. [00:15:00] who's doing that and are they coordinating with you? [00:15:04] Are you doing that project as well? [00:15:06] Or have we even let that project? [00:15:08] Helen can respond. [00:15:10] So currently the multi-use path phase two [00:15:14] that's extending from the bridge going north [00:15:16] that will butt up against this, [00:15:18] both of those concepts have been shared. [00:15:21] We're still in the early phases with the consultant [00:15:25] on the concept design elements [00:15:27] for the multi-use path phase two. [00:15:31] And we're really trying, [00:15:31] because there's such a large right-of-way there [00:15:33] that we have to work with, [00:15:35] what we've kind of tasked them with is [00:15:36] you have 70 feet of space to work with in this right-of-way. [00:15:40] Make something that really pops [00:15:43] and draws people into the city. [00:15:45] So they have a little bit larger of a task [00:15:47] that they're gonna be jumping on. [00:15:48] But we've been working pretty closely with them. [00:15:51] What firm is that? [00:15:52] Kimmich. [00:15:53] Okay. [00:15:54] So that's who we've been working with. [00:15:56] So we've been kind of sharing [00:15:57] both of these ideas back and forth. [00:15:58] So when they mirror up, [00:16:00] you have kind of this cohesive element between the two. [00:16:03] So that's kind of where we're at with that. [00:16:04] So they're humming and hawing about it [00:16:06] or are they coming along? [00:16:07] I guess my question is, in my view, [00:16:09] we started at Marine Parkway, we came to the bridge. [00:16:12] The bridge is gonna be under construction. [00:16:14] That area has probably got to be done [00:16:17] at the point when it's not gonna be so busy. [00:16:21] And final design, [00:16:25] the construction will be let separately [00:16:28] for each of these two projects in your mind? [00:16:32] Correct. [00:16:33] And that would be part in the size of this project [00:16:36] in comparison to the multi-use path project. [00:16:39] And then the other element there would be that, [00:16:43] we wouldn't want to have from the bridge [00:16:45] all the way to circle, [00:16:47] just completely in the state of disarray. [00:16:49] So you kind of want to do it in phases. [00:16:51] And so the idea here would be that [00:16:53] we would hit the downtown district [00:16:55] following the Railroad Square project. [00:16:57] And so you would have all of these elements [00:16:59] already starting to tie in [00:17:00] and then we'd be jumping forward [00:17:01] with the multi-use path phase two. [00:17:03] And when is the other Railroad Square project [00:17:05] going to the other side of Grand Boulevard [00:17:07] gonna be included in this strategy? [00:17:13] I don't know. [00:17:14] I don't think they have a date on it. [00:17:15] Yeah, we haven't. [00:17:16] So, I mean, just up here, [00:17:18] someone said earlier, reminded me who was in charge. [00:17:20] Thank you, Deanna, for letting us know [00:17:23] that we've set the pace here and the policy. [00:17:25] And so not to stop or slow you down, [00:17:29] but these design questions that have been asked, [00:17:33] once you get through this, we're out of it. [00:17:36] So I don't want to hold you back, [00:17:38] but if there's questions, [00:17:39] I would like to get the answers to them and understand. [00:17:43] I also brought up that Board Member Murphy [00:17:47] and I had attended a meeting [00:17:48] when they talked about some of the safety issues. [00:17:52] And one of the things you hear the most [00:17:54] about driving in that area has to do with the fact [00:17:58] that people don't seem to care where they cross the road. [00:18:00] They're just walking and they don't even look. [00:18:02] So, I mean, that's something waiting to happen. [00:18:06] And luckily everyone knows it's busy [00:18:08] and everyone's watching carefully and they go slowly. [00:18:11] Narrowing the road helps that. [00:18:15] What we learned at that, [00:18:17] they showed one street where the cars were driving [00:18:21] by the side where the restaurants had no business. [00:18:24] And the other side, the restaurants had lots of business [00:18:28] because they were divided by something such as those trees. [00:18:31] So I do like the design you have. [00:18:34] The other thing that they also did was showed a corridor [00:18:37] and maybe this to our new Public Works Director [00:18:41] is something that could be looked at as well [00:18:45] with the width of this road. [00:18:46] But they showed the ability to actually put the parking [00:18:52] as angle parking in the middle of the road [00:18:56] and keep all of that parking [00:19:00] from interfering with the passageway. [00:19:05] It doesn't look like we have enough room [00:19:06] for that under your design. [00:19:09] But I referenced something and I would have liked [00:19:12] to have thought that that information [00:19:15] would be reviewed and considered. [00:19:18] So I think my concern is that if it doesn't hurt anything, [00:19:22] I'd like to see how others feel. [00:19:26] But that turn that Bertel is asking, [00:19:30] the clear vision zone issues, we addressed them, [00:19:33] we talked about them. [00:19:34] You probably resolved them, I can't recall. [00:19:38] But seeing that tree there and seeing him show [00:19:41] that the stop sign is gonna be up at that mark, [00:19:45] I'm expecting, the way it looks, [00:19:49] that tree is not, those trees, if they do become busy, [00:19:53] would keep someone driving north [00:19:55] from seeing someone coming out of that side road. [00:19:59] Missouri. [00:20:01] The Street View. [00:20:02] Nebraska. [00:20:03] Certainly. [00:20:06] Yeah, there, okay. [00:20:08] So you have the corner, so you have the trees [00:20:09] that are gonna be trimming. [00:20:11] Well, I know that, but I mean, it's an example, yeah. [00:20:14] Oh, Nebraska's one lane. [00:20:15] All right. [00:20:17] Is that on the drawing? [00:20:18] Could we go back and look? [00:20:21] I don't. [00:20:22] That's right. [00:20:23] It looks like it's two lane. [00:20:25] Am I wrong? [00:20:26] Yeah, I don't believe that update has been concluded yet. [00:20:30] Well, I think we need to update our drawings [00:20:32] before we approve them getting drawn. [00:20:34] I see one lane from here. [00:20:36] Yeah, there's one lane to me. [00:20:37] It looks like one. [00:20:38] That's one lane, yeah. [00:20:41] I don't see any separation. [00:20:43] If you look at where the car, [00:20:44] if you look at where the car is. [00:20:45] Same width as the one across. [00:20:46] That's where the curb is. [00:20:48] I guess we're planning. [00:20:50] Yes, you're correct. [00:20:51] It has been cut down to one lane. [00:20:53] Well, you're in luck. [00:20:54] I, my cohort, Rob, who actually generated this graphic, [00:21:01] has come from the back to the front, [00:21:03] so I think he's getting ready to tell us [00:21:04] that he cut it to one lane. [00:21:06] Okay, thank you. [00:21:08] Thank you. [00:21:08] That's all I'm concerned about, [00:21:09] is that all these different designs are seamless [00:21:11] and that they're working together. [00:21:13] Do you need a proposal on the task order? [00:21:16] I've moved to a, did they comment? [00:21:18] Did they? [00:21:19] I don't get any comment on it. [00:21:21] David's not going to push any questions. [00:21:24] There are questions, there are questions. [00:21:26] Excuse me, can I ask a question? [00:21:28] That's not what I'm looking for. [00:21:29] I'm looking, yes. [00:21:30] I want a motion if they had questions. [00:21:31] Do you have a motion? [00:21:33] Well, to Councilman Altman's point, [00:21:35] he doesn't want to rush this if there's still other stuff, [00:21:37] so I want to make sure if they had questions, [00:21:38] I didn't cut them off with a motion. [00:21:40] You guys fulfilled any question that I might have. [00:21:43] Thank you. [00:21:45] Do I have a proposal? [00:21:48] Matthew. [00:21:49] I'll move to approve. [00:21:50] I'll second. [00:21:51] Senator Baker. [00:21:52] Just to say that the CRA plan called for shade bump-outs, [00:21:57] and I know our former economic development director [00:22:01] was very advocated through the city manager [00:22:06] or through the executive director [00:22:07] that we as a city council take those as a priority, [00:22:12] and I think this is one of the many ways [00:22:14] we'll try to achieve that, so. [00:22:17] No, I utter Peter's sentiments that we've got this on paper, [00:22:23] let's rock and roll and let's get the ball rolling, [00:22:27] and I do agree with Bertel's opinion [00:22:30] of that particular intersection because I travel it often, [00:22:34] but I do think the way it's set up, [00:22:36] I think we'll take care of that issue, [00:22:39] so I think we're ready to rock and roll. [00:22:42] Yeah, that was the point of looking at the street view [00:22:44] to see how the trees were and how it bumped out [00:22:47] so you could actually have a lot of sight. [00:22:49] I think we should move the estuary, [00:22:51] just the whole building. [00:22:55] You already spoke? [00:22:56] Mom's a word for me, I'm a man of few words. [00:23:00] Signify by I. [00:23:01] I. [00:23:02] That's five nothing. [00:23:03] Communications, Pete. [00:23:06] Are you ready to speak? [00:23:07] No, sir. [00:23:11] Just to say, I appreciate the mayor [00:23:13] for listening to, what are we, directors right now? [00:23:16] Director Altman's advice that we separate [00:23:21] the communications from the council to the CRA. [00:23:23] Thank you, mayor. [00:23:28] Oh, I can go next, thank you. [00:23:30] I think we've said enough, and I just want [00:23:32] to utter my sentiments every meeting now. [00:23:36] I appreciate us working together, and let's get this done. [00:23:43] Thank you again, Robert, oh, he left. [00:23:45] Never mind. [00:23:46] I want to say that my decision a couple weeks ago, [00:23:50] there was one item that was only going to take [00:23:51] about 10 minutes, and people came in and didn't leave, [00:23:55] just as a comment, during communications. [00:23:58] The shift from the council meeting to communications. [00:24:01] And I just want to say one other thing. [00:24:04] I think this whole town feels that one [00:24:06] of the anchors of the town is the boat ramp. [00:24:10] I asked Jim Gunderson when he built Hacienda [00:24:13] that he was going to be an anchor in this town. [00:24:15] He says, I don't want to be an anchor town, [00:24:17] I want the theater. [00:24:18] But I really think it's the boat dock [00:24:19] is the anchor in this town. [00:24:24] Is that because the boats are the anchors?

    This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

  5. 4.a

    Option to Purchase Agreement - 6134 River Road

    Consideration of an Option to Purchase Agreement for property located at 6134 River Road.

  6. 5Communications
  7. 6Adjournment