Winter Haven Community Redevelopment Agency Downtown Advisory Committee Regular Meeting

June 23, 2020 5:30pm

Florida Citrus Building

Nora Mayo Hall 500 Third Street, NW, Winter Haven, Florida

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Roll Call

3. Approval of Minutes

a. February 10, 2020

4. Six/Ten Facade Development Incentive Application- 150 Third Street, SW

5. Water Tower Project Update 6. 2020/2021 Budget Discussion

7. Downtown CRA Development Activity Update

8. Other Business

a. Comments from Committee b. Comments from Staff

• Tinia Clark Resignation from Committee • CRA and Neighborhood Revitalization Manager • Next Meeting Date

c. Comments from the Public

9. Adjournment

If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the CRA with respect to any matter considered at such meetings or hearing, they will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purposes, they need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based (FS 286.0105). The CRA Office may be reached at 863-291-5850, at 490 third Street, NW, Winter Haven, Florida 33881. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Florida Statutes, Section 286.26, persons with disabilities needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding, should contact the City Clerk’s Office, 451 Third Street, NW, Winter Haven Florida 33881, in writing, no later than 48 hours prior to the proceeding; if not in writing, then not later than four (4) days prior to the proceeding at (863) 291-5600. Vision or hearing impaired please call (800) 955-8771 for assistance.

If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the CRA with respect to any matter considered at such meetings or hearing, they will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purposes, they need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based (FS 286.0105). The CRA Office may be reached at 863-291-5850, at 490 third Street, NW, Winter Haven, Florida 33881. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Florida Statutes, Section 286.26, persons with disabilities needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding, should contact the City Clerk’s Office, 451 Third Street, NW, Winter Haven Florida 33881, in writing, no later than 48 hours prior to the proceeding; if not in writing, then not later than four (4) days prior to the proceeding at (863) 291-5600. Vision or hearing impaired please call (800) 955-8771 for assistance.

2020 Downtown CRA Advisory Committee Attendance

Seat Term Expires Member 2/11 6/23 7/27 8/10 11/9

1 9/30/2019 Robert Sammons- Vice Chair P 2 9/30/2019 Christopher Collany A 3 9/30/2019 Eve Strang Bass P 4 9/30/2019 Rick Renardson A 5 9/30/2019 Steve Lockhart- Chair P 6 9/30/2020 Tinia Clark P 7 9/30/2020 Jessie Skubna P 8 9/30/2020 Julie Sands P 9 9/30/2020 Mike Potthast A

10 9/30/2020 Robert Stambaugh P CC Liaison

Page 1 of 2 CRA Downtown Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes 2020-02-10

CITY OF WINTER HAVEN

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY – DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

February 10, 2020

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Lockhart called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

2. ROLL CALL Members present: Tinia Clark, Eve Strang Bass, Steve Lockhart, Robert Sammons, Julie Sands, Jessie Skubna, and Robert Stambaugh Members absent: Mike Potthast, Christopher Collany, and Rick Renardson Staff present: Sean Byers, Planning Manager and Steve Rusich, Downtown CRA Police Officer Public present: One.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Bob Stambaugh made a motion to approve Minutes from the November 18, 2019 Regular Meeting. Motion was seconded by Robert Sammons, and carried in a unanimous vote. Robert Sammons made a motion to approve Minutes from the December 20, 2019 Special Meeting. Motion was seconded by Jessie Skubna, and carried in a unanimous vote.

4. OLD BUSINESS Eve Bass made a motion to approve the Six/Ten water tower “Winter Haven” logo submittal; Motion was seconded by Robert Sammons, and carried in a voice vote. Discussion ensued regarding technical limitations of wrapping the tank, lifespan of painted logos, and the fact LED lighting is important. Following discussion, the motion was amended to include an evaluation of lighting for the water tank, and carried in a voice vote.

5. NEW BUSINESS None.

6. Downtown CRA Development Activity Update Sean Byers provided an overview of new developments proposed within the Downtown CRA since the last regular meeting. These include:

Page 2 of 2 CRA Downtown Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes 2020-02-10

• Submittal of a site plan for and approximate 12,000 square foot office building located at

First Street, South and Avenue B, SW for MB Medical; • Construction began on the 15-unit Sunset Apartments at 750 Avenue C, SW; and • Inquiries have been received regarding possible redevelopment/renovation of the

Lakeview Tower and Lakeshore Club apartments.

7. OTHER BUSINESS

a. Comments from Committee • Jessie Skubna commented on the need to have lighting as part of the new skate

park under development in Martin Luther King Park. b. Comments from Staff

• Officer Rusich commented on the ongoing concerns with homelessness in downtown and indicated Police is working on the problem.

c. Comments from the Public • Anita Strang made some comments regarding upcoming activities and events

being undertaken by Main Street Winter Haven.

8. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Robert Sammons.

WINTER HAVEN CRA Attest: Downtown Advisory Committee _____________________________ __________________________________ Steve Lockhart, Chairman Sean Byers, Planning Manager

CITY OF WINTER HAVEN FACT SHEET Downtown CRA Advisory Committee Meeting

June 23, 2020

DATE: June 19, 2020 TO: Downtown CRA Advisory Committee VIA: Eric Labbe, Economic Opportunity & Community Investment Director FROM: Sean Byers, Planning Manager SUBJECT: Request by Six/ten, LLC for a facade grant for the Lake Region Bank

Building located at 150 Third Street, SW BACKGROUND: Six/ten, LLC requests the CRA Board approve a facade grant for exterior improvements proposed for the old Lake Region Bank Building located at 150 Third Street, SW. The Lake Region Bank Building was originally constructed in the 1920s or 1930s; however, over time the original facade was closed in and covered in stucco. The proposed renovation will restore the original, open facade. Expected cost of the improvements is $30,710, and includes demolition; new framing stucco, and electrical; new storefront doors and windows; new awning; new signage; and new lighting. There are two types of Facade Grants available to applicants. The first program is a 50 percent match up to $5,000 paid as a grant; and the second, which allows for reimbursement of 50 percent project costs up to $15,000 as a TIF rebate. Following approval of the grant, the applicant will submit plans to the Main Street Winter Haven Design Assistance Team for review. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Endorsement of the facade grant application upon clarification of the desired Facade Grant program by the applicant. ATTACHMENT: Facade Grant Application

CITY OF WINTER HAVEN FACT SHEET Downtown CRA Advisory Committee Meeting

June 23, 2020

DATE: June 19, 2020 TO: Downtown CRA Advisory Committee VIA: Eric Labbe, Economic Opportunity & Community Investment Director FROM: Sean Byers, Planning Manager SUBJECT: 2020/2021 Budget BACKGROUND: Each year the Downtown CRA is required to adopt a budget for its operation. Within this budget, funds are set aside for operating expenses, debt service, development incentives, and capital projects. For Fiscal Year 2020/2021, approximately $1,815,940 is tentatively available for capital projects and development incentives. Current adopted development incentives include the following: • Off-site sidewalk reimbursement • Down Payment Assistance • Facade Grants • Housing Investment Program • Real Estate Development Accelerator • Capital Improvement Grant Program • Commercial Redevelopment Program STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Develop a list of projects for funding consideration in 2020/2021.

To the CRAA Feb. 13, 2020 I applied to be on our CRA advisory to learn and to encourage the city in regard to public arts. As members of the CRAA we all have our own opinions and represent different aspects of our community. My own agenda was to find ways and means to support arts and culture in our community, without art and culture it will be impossible to sustain growth. I would like to offer an afterthought regarding the water tower project, things I wish I could have said… things I should have said. This project has taught me that I am not well suited for this committee. I have learned that it comes down to a few of us making decisions to affect the whole lot of us, and some decisions are more urgent and require special meetings… while others seemingly take forever. We have drawn out this project quite literally for a year now. Maybe that is not a long time to you but it was to me and as an artist, I feel as though I have failed in this task at hand and I am disappointed with the proposed outcome. I know it is so much easier to play it safe and to not take a risk, to find ways in which to justify our concerns, constraints and our ultimate decisions: The paint will surely fade... We want something to represent our town... We want a "Wow" factor We don't want a "Wow" factor We have a Vision We want history, We want future We can't attach anything to the aged structure (except maybe lights) It is to hard (but not impossible) to find a company that can reach the top to wrap it Liability, liability Marketing and media potential? Would the proposed idea be more like a macaroon? Would the orange become a peach? Would it draw people downtown? Too many colors on some proposals Not enough color on others... Who would paint it? The sub committee thought the art submitted for the tower would be better on a wall... We talked about a wall below the tower, there is one in the budget already people could take photos there.... We could have murals... Yes, murals seem like a better idea... Please note thay all of the murals that I am aware of have been privately funded by business owners, They decided on the art and artists, that is pretty amazing in itself.

The next question will likely be: Can we ask the artists to paint the murals for free? Would we would need to put out an RFP or something like that to be fair? if we intend to pay them? We are going to pay them right? Local artists typically work for free… hmmmm How would we decide whose murals to paint? Let's form a sub-committee…. The moral for me is "careful what you ask for" Getting 35-40,000 people to like an idea might be easier than a small committee. We had a buzz about what it might be, what it could be. Trent Manning's suggestion to make it iconic created quite a stir, people were talking about the potential, people had opinions about it. I am sure there will be opinions about the proposed plan too. Exactly one year ago the CRA asked for more options. (see February 11, 2019 agenda) We voted and increased the budget in the fall, called out to artists... artists responded. Granted it is a savings to stay with just the lettering, we even have a bid still on the table and we can discuss for another year the type of font and the size of the letters.... And what logo will be best between the words Downtown and Downtown. Do we or don't we want to add the words Winter Haven? The project came about because of the text...remember? But it will be ok, because we will put lights under it and around it, that will add some color. Nothing so extreme as projected graphics, just more lights. Maybe we would say we spent all the money on the lettering, lights, and the wall so let's just put some plants in… I am not sure how it will play out or if it ever will. When given many choices for making our tower more artful, beautiful and interesting and taking many months we managed to come full circle right back to where we started. Simple text lettering to tell people they are Downtown. Spending a likely 50K to light up the word Downtown. I just believe we can do better. I would like to submit my resignation from this board at this time and I thank you for the opportunity to serve; it has been an insightful experience. Sincerely, Tinia Clark