Well, good evening everyone and welcome. I'd like to call to order the city of Homestead um community is that the first item? Community Community Redevelopment Agency meeting. Today is Wednesday, November
12th, 2025. It is now 5:06 p.m. We have a roll call, please. Madam clerk, >> board member Abula >> here. >> Board member Ron >> here. Board member Cannibal >> here. >> Board member Ksky >> here.
>> Vice Chairwoman Bailey >> here. >> Chairman Lner >> here. >> Mr. Director, do you have any deletions or deferrals for this evening's agenda? >> No, chairman. I do not. >> Very well. Thank you. We have under our first item, new business, tab one, the
approval of the minutes from October 22nd, 2025. Do we have a motion to approve? Moved by board member Roth. >> I hear you. Second >> second by uh Vice Chair Bailey. Forgive me if I say Fletcher. It's mus muscle memory
>> because I may have called him Faircloth once or twice or Guzman. I don't know. All right. Any discussion on the minutes? All in favor? >> Any opposed? Next item is car 4817 and this is a previously discussed item, the
mural installation at the Chrome marketplace. Mr. Director, >> that is correct. And um uh following up on the workshop that we had done with uh city council, uh there were a few items that the uh council had suggested that
the CRA consider making modifications to in the revised version of the mural before coming to you all today. The ask of you all today is to formally approve the CRA to proceed with installation of our mural on Chrome Marketplace, which is our building. And um what I'd like to
do is just show briefly the kind of changes that were made to the mural based on the input received from council. Uh the notable changes were the uh replacement of a couple of items uh within the letters to be changed with a
sunflower uh with a flag, a soccer ball and then also a request to uh change the type of planes which are shown in uh the uh letter D. We did also modify this to say greetings from the city of Homestead and the location of the 1913.
One of the other requests for this was to push it further towards the alley to leave more room uh between the uh Chrome Avenue frontage and the middle of the building. We've discussed that with the artist. This image doesn't quite depict that, but that is something we know has
to be uh finalized before we proceed. What I would like to also just share with you all is uh an example of or rather a depiction the current version as well as the prior version which I believe a couple of you had asked on during our briefing. So if you look at the top version that was the initial
concept that was presented to you as the city council. The bottom is the current version uh that we have with the requested changes. So certainly glad to to take any other input or comments that you all have, but the ask again is to uh approve the CRA proceeding with this
mural installation. >> Hey, thank you. Any initial questions or comments from the board? >> I know the vice chair is ready to chime in. >> Thank you, chairman. I I love the changes. I think that is a great representation. I am excited to see that
happening in downtown. I'm excited that it's a local artist. So, thank you so very much for for making that happen. I did have a request to look into as we're working through through this mural. Uh the owners of La Patrona who are moving
into the new they're moving into that warehouse type building, they are ready to submit a mural for our consideration. So, I just wanted to share with staff if that was potentially something that would work a little faster going through
the process now that this one is happening. I know that they have an artist and and a rendering. So, I will um if I can give you his information, I know you have it, but if we can uh follow up with him and see if
that could happen as well, then we've got some multiple murals to look forward to. >> Very good. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Bo Member Avala. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wanted to thank the artist for including the sunflowers.
I appreciate that. And uh overall, I I I love the new look. Um if if I could just ask for them to maybe fill in more of the O in the homestead to showcase the sunflower in its entirety versus having this the the space in the middle of the
O kind of cutting it out. So, whatever they can do to make it more prominent. I don't think it needs to come back for approval. After that, I'll trust the artist's uh rendering. Thank you, >> member Roth. Anything further cannibal? Couple of quick observations.
I think we need to capitalize the word city. Doesn't appear to be capitalized in the in the bottom version. >> And now you it's it's on our It was on our screen. Yeah. It doesn't appear that >> that the word city is capitalized. It is
in the in the book in our briefing book but not on the the presentation. >> If um if you look at your screen right now, we inserted the full page images. Uh the one on the right is a revised one and that was one that we had caught and want to make sure it's corrected.
>> Right. And I I had raised this issue in in the briefing and I appreciate the the old versus the new. The new version seems to be a little dark in the background versus versus the old, you know, going going to the right.
Is that a reproduction or is it in intentional? You know, if if you look at, you know, where the depiction of the windows are at the the top, you know, that's a a break point there. It seems to be really kind of dark and as you're
going north, that's the first thing you would Yeah. >> would see. Is there a rationale behind that? >> I think that there was a an initial ask during the council workshop to perhaps do more of a transition at the very end of the uh wall facing Chrome Avenue to
sort of blend with the gray on the building across the street. I do agree though. I think this has lost some of that color. Uh and certainly given the visibility that that segment of the windows has when you are going north on Chrome, we we likely do want to go back to a little bit more of the vibrancy
that we'd seen in that first one. Right. So I guess implicit in the approval was more of the the light of the original background with the other changes in the spelling out of Homestead and the capitalization
and the establish, you know, adding city and established 1913. >> You know, it just really seemed kind of kind of brooding for that that location. Board member. >> Thank you, Chair. And I did mention during our briefings, but just in case um we need to um clarify here, if there
is an electrical outlet above the mural to add some lighting for for for the residents to enjoy at night, that'd be great. >> And we have uh had and we'll be having a further meeting, but have talked with the uh electrician that we work with at actually doing some down lights off the
top of the building to to profile that. >> All right. So, are you looking for a formal directive from us or just uh a tacit nodding of the head to go forward? >> No, we are looking for a formal directive by the CRA board for the CRA staff to proceed with the uh procurement
and installation of the mural with the uh noted comments that the O will be modified to include a larger sunflower and that we will revert back to the lighter background and ensure the C and city is capitalized. >> All right. Would anyone like to make that motion?
>> I'll make it. Vice Chair Bailey makes the motion. >> Second. >> Second by board member Cannibal, board member Avala. >> Okay. Sure. >> Are the the funds for this coming from Arts and Public Places under CRA? Yes. Okay. All right. >> That was what, like 35 $38,000.
>> Mr. Mayor, >> if I may, if you look at the package, it says $30,000 as fiscal impact based on the recommendation to add the down lighting or uplighting. That budget may change a little bit. Okay.
>> Okay. And uh well so that we don't have to see this again, do we need to built build in that automatic escalator as we do in other procurement items? Just so >> I would suggest for this the ask is specifically to fund or approve the CRA
with procuring the mural using art and public places funds for that. I would would uh suggest that that be the approval. And in terms of the additional lighting that we do, that's something the CRA can do uh just as an addition >> the routine maintenance and repair of the CRA building as owned now.
>> Correct. >> I mean it would seem that there should be electrical in that wall >> behind the mural. >> Right. >> Okay. So we Yes. >> Thank you, Jack. Um the reason for it going to dark was because of there being potential doors or other entrances. So,
just I I agree. Also, I would rather see the more sunset, but does that not is that not an issue? If there if there would be another exterior door that needed to be built in there, the artist could just touch up around that door. >> I don't anticipate that to be an issue. And again, uh I should have added this
in the final comments of your approval. We had asked for this to push a little further towards the alley, so there would also be more room to expand. There were some alterations in that facade. I think though we'll we'll do that. uh and any other changes that we make to the facade with a future tenant. We'll do
touch-ups accordingly. >> Yeah, I think it's worth it to have that whole that whole wall and uh deal with those touch-ups as it comes. >> Deal with a potential user and and modifications later and just go forward. >> Okay. >> All right. So, we have a motion and a
second to uh provide the approval of the uh commissioning of and payment of this this item. Um, anything further? All right. So, do we need a roll call on this or we can just do a voice? All
right. All in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Then moving on to tab two. No, I'm sorry. Tab three. Uh, the commercial enhancement grant for 406 North Chrome Avenue. Mr. Director,
>> good afternoon. This will be our first commercial enhancement grant uh application of the fiscal year. We are uh certainly Oops. Let me go ahead and fast forward for a bit. Uh we are prioritizing some of the commercial
enhancement along Chrome Avenue and Washington Avenue. Uh this is the first one that we will be proceeding with. The property owner will be making a variety of improvements including a resurfacing of the parking lot, striping, ADA access, uh power washing the buildings,
repainting a new roof, uh landscape, and um rescreening or repair of the dumpster enclosures. Our commercial enhancement grant, as you all know, funds up to $25,000 uh on qualified improvements. And that
requires for this location a minimum of a 10% match. Meaning uh a property owner could spend $75,000 on a project. We will only uh reimburse up to that 25%. Or 25,000 rather. The reimbursement is
one other point just for folks to know is that when we do uh begin to accept an application, we do require multiple quotes on the different types of things that they may be doing. And then we understand that as we go through this process, they may expand their scope. They may get different quotes. That may
change. Uh that's more of a formality of us to begin with. But we do not release any funds until after the work has been completed, the permits have been closed out and that uh we review all of those receipts to ensure that they are a part of the eligible expenses which we as the
CRA will uh reimburse for. And what I'm showing you now is not a rendering of the completed product. What I am showing you though is a rendering of the uh landscape element of this. The ask from the CRA to anyone that we are discussing these grants with is that we invest in
those physical improvements that will be seen from the street. And so as a part of that, we have asked for a variety of of trees, a minimum six and 8 ft at installation, ground cover, shrubs, other aspects like that. Um staff is going to recommend that there be an
approval uh of the up to 25,000 uh for this project knowing there's some other work that they will be doing and with the uh reimburseable expenses uh that we will provide funding to assuming that they are making the match uh will be for
the uh repainting of the exterior will be for the landscape uh parking lot improvements as well as the dumpster uh improvements and enclosure. So that is the overall uh view of what we would like to present tonight and and request an approval for. I do believe that uh
there a representative of the property owner is also here if there are questions from the board. But with that I'll go ahead and open for any questions or discussion. >> Thank you board members, questions, comments. Um, I do have a couple and
I've I've shared these previously with excuse me, the CRA director. Is the applicant or their representative present available to come to the podium? >> Alanker, Mr. Padwary, would you mind just coming up for a moment? Hi, good to see you all and if you could
just give us your name and address for the record. >> Okay, my name is Kamalari. Uh I come from the 406 North Avenue. >> Okay, ma'am. >> I'm just >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Couple of questions I had and and this is a really
good start. This has been one of those properties at the interest of the downtown that I've been concerned about for many years. >> And I will say, you know, I'm I'm thankful that, you know, these repairs and improvements are going forward, but
I wanted to ask you about your willingness to go ahead and and make some additional improvements that I feel would really uh round this out. The first would be the removal of the security bars from the front of the
building. You know, over several years, we've all had discussions about, you know, bars on windows create the perception of crime and a perception then becomes reality. U not asking about the rear of the building, but would you be because I I see in the proposal it
includes the painting and repair of the building and the bars on the windows. Would you be willing to consider to remove the bars on on the the east and um southerntherly exposure if any on the on the building?
>> We can uh take out and can put the uh inside because before I put this uh the somebody broke the window night time and go inside the store they took the money and uh instant ticket lotto then we put the bar. So if you give the permission,
I take out the outside and I put the inside the behind the glass. >> Well, assuming you can meet code with that and and I I would I would like to see that as part of of this approval. Uh
my second item is that the fenced enclosure to the rear of the building. We've recently adopted for other areas a specific type of screening for um chain link type fence. Uh kind of, you know,
the weaving of the the the flexible plastic composite strips through through the chain link to kind of conceal whatever's back in there. not asking you to remove the existing chain link, but to install that slat screening in in the
back in the not around your parking lot, not the other piece of property, but the chain link area at the back of the building, the smaller area. >> Oh, go. >> Okay. And then finally, in terms of of lighting, I mean,
clearly, and I went by there last night, the the light level in in this parking lot does not meet the county codes that we are obligated to enforce. And I'll say that from where I sit, the county goes way too far. They're asking
for way too much light. But you're going to need to do lighting. And rather than have wall-mounted packs that would spill garish light out into Chrome Avenue, is there anywhere in the front or out at
the corner maybe where a pole could be installed with a light aimed at the building so that it doesn't glare and spill out into Chrome Avenue. You're going to have to do to do some lighting to be to be compliant here. And speaking
for myself, I'm big on aesthetics. And there's some buildings further north on Chrome that have installed the light packs in connection with their 30 or 40year certification. And it's for my taste pretty pretty unsightly. So, I'd like you to consider going ahead and and
and to the extent you have to do new lighting, not have it facing the street, but have it out at the street facing your building and parking lot. However, however you can accomplish that. >> Okay. Thank you. Um I want to ask you
one more thing though because I see saw some real dichotomy here in this package. Did anybody at the city or the CRA recommend any vendors or suggest anybody or steer you in any direction of any of the vendors here?
>> No. >> Okay. I'm I'm glad to hear that. Let me let me tell you why. You know, you you've got a painting proposal that's a handwritten estimate. You know, maybe somebody works out of their home and your landscaping proposal
is from the probably the most expensive landscaper in in South Florida. And I just, you know, who the city also happens to do business with. So, I was just curious as to whether or not anyone
at the city is steering you in in any given uh given direction. And what struck me was, you know, the the difference in the uh and I don't mean this in a bad way, the notoriety of the two proposals. That's all I needed to
know. No one no one suggested. No one went out and got these bids. You did this did this on your own. >> Yes. >> So, I'm I helped Mr. Patrick um get the proposals. We just ended up with the three that actually answered the phone that were local. We wanted to stay
within the city to employ vendors within the city and those were the three that answered and and came out to the property to take a look. >> Fair. Fair enough. I appreciate that. Appreciate that. A big difference between landscapers and painters, but it just kind of struck me as kind of
interesting. So then I think what we've got here is their agreement to include the lighting, the chain link screening at the back of the building, which I think probably you refer to as the dumpster enclosure, correct? Which is far more than that.
>> And and then the removal of the exterior bars for the front and side exposure. >> Yes. >> Um is there any extra funding for the great suggestions that you brought up or is that part of the full to see what
what you could do with within the confines of of that funding. You >> for me, you know, if we don't do that, we're only going partway. We're not really >> arriving at the vision that we that we
that we want for the streetscape. >> Okay. So, that'll be on the top. >> Yeah, that would be in in addition. Okay. >> Um, you got to do lighting anyway. You know, I don't know what the difference would be between wall-mounted light packs versus something, you know, an
electric and not a street light type pole, but you know, whatever's economical to to face the light back toward the parking lot in the building rather than across the parking lot out in into the street. >> Okay. >> Okay. Mayor >> Yes,
>> just uh to to piggyback on that the the example that he gave for removing the bars and then reinstalling them on the inside. Um and that would have to be a code issue, which I don't know if that's even
possible to do. Maybe development service can tell us that now. And then to cover up to to go on further was maybe we could find a little extra money if he would install the impact windows on the front of the building which would add the aesthetics to it versus creating
some kind of an issue from the inside. Although >> they can smash the windows but they won't be able to get into >> go through and that would have always been my preference. Yeah. >> But you know they've seemed with with the work that's being done they seem to have met the limit of the whole 25. >> Right. So, you know, the happy median
would be remove the bars. But I agree that's, as I said, that's a code issue, >> right? Because I think you explained it somebody did kick in your windows and they got into your store and stole the money and that's why you put the bars up to help protect from that happening again, right? >> Yeah. >> So, and and I respect that and um and
we're all here trying to create the same aesthetic beauty along Chrome as you enter the downtown area. So, um, I'd be willing to hear more about some of that and maybe even if we have the ability to increase it a little bit to help with the installation of the impact windows, which I think would be beneficial for
all of us. That's all. >> Are there other complimentary sources? Perhaps >> at the time, the current time there is not there are a couple of paths forward if you wanted to proceed with that
route. Um, we do have a waiting period from the time that a grantee is awarded a grant to potentially receiving an additional grant. So, you could look at a phased approach if you wanted to. Um, and I believe that you have the
discretion as a CRA board to make a determination if you did choose to go beyond that amount. Uh, the 25,000. I would be very cautious in terms of what type of a precedent that sets but I think that is an ability that you all
have. There is no other grant program though that we have at this time that would be an additional uh layer to add into this. I'd be willing to enter I mean if we can go forward with their commitment with what we've talked about and if necessary
come back to us to amend this approval after we've looked at code issues on the inside versus the cost of of the installation of impact windows >> then perhaps what we would do um chair is to keep this process moving
efficiently then um I would recommend that you proceed with the um modifications that have been proposed which is the uh removal assuming it can uh be done by code of the bars to the interior, the parking lot lighting, the
screening as you had for the rear of the property at which time in which those permits are closed and we have satisfied that uh which would help keep us on a schedule. then we could come back for that second part to to you all uh show you the work that's been done at that point and then you could make the
determination if you choose. Oh, and real. Yeah. And I appreciate that. It was standard reason that if we that if the life safety codes allow those types of bars on the outsides of the windows, why couldn't they be moved on the inside? You're trapped. You're trapped whether it's from the inside or the
outside. All right. So I'm I'm okay with your your suggestion. >> Okay. So the suggestion then would be that we are approving the grant as with these changes and then we will uh you as a board reserve the opportunity to wave
that duration two-year waiting period for this grant to come back uh to consider the installation of impact windows and doors. >> Okay. So I think we have a motion. Don't we have a motion on the floor? >> I'll make the motion and thank you very much for doing this. You know, not only
is it one of the first buildings that you see coming into downtown, it has such potential. It just reminds me of the old old homestead stucco type buildings, it's my I don't know if you recognize me. I usually come in less fancy. Um, but that's my neighborhood. Uh, you know, come to to pick up
something quickly. Um, so the landscaping, it's just going to it's going to make such a big difference for the corner. So, thank you for doing that. And I would also love to see if we could make the impact windows happen. And don't underestimate with better lighting. Uh less crime is then usually
following suit. So thanks again. >> All right. So you want to make the motion that it's inclusive of all of our discussion. Yes. Council uh board member Amala. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wanted to just clarify because I do see in the um work proposals that there is a roof
replacement line item. You understand that that's not covered with the grant, correct? >> Yes. Okay. So, just to make 100% sure. Okay. Thank you. I do second the motion. >> Uh board member Ksky, anything to add? Any comment? No. Okay. You kind of
looked tentative down there. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't uh moving too quickly. All right. So, we have I think we have a motion and a second on this. There no further comments. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Thank you. I'll look forward to the improvements. Thank
you. Right. >> Um Mr. Director, anything further for this meeting? >> I would make one quick comment following on the uh vice chair's remarks about La Patronia Bakery. That is one that some
of you recall we gave a substantial grant to a while back to uh purchase or following their purchase of a warehouse to do a major rehabilitation of it into creating a a second retail bakery but also production bakery. And uh we are
very happy that they are working with their TCO. They are doing their temporary baking and testing right now. Uh they wanted to run through that before we have uh some type of a celebration and grand opening for them. But we did want you to know that that one's proceeded. And I I do want to
appreciate the importance of that one because it's not just a retail bakery, but this is creating a a greater enterprise for that organization. uh their baked goods are starting to be shelved in one of the grocery stores and they have been made aware that through
the good work that they're doing and the customer base that they have, they have an opportunity to start expanding their baked goods throughout numerous grocery stores and and really growing this into something that is is truly a local business that is flourishing. So, that is just a quick update and and certainly an appreciation for the uh consideration
this board gave in the the grant agreement. >> Thank you. I I don't think you were with us when we approved this, but you know, the representations were made that they're their their products are already stocked on shelves as far north as as Palm Beach. >> Yeah.
>> They say made in Homestead right on the right on the package and glad we're able to help promote that. >> So, that is all I have. There are no uh other updates. >> All right. Anything further from this board with respect to any CRA matters?
Um the agenda script also calls for any public comments at this time prior to the adjournment of the CRA. Seeing none, we have a motion to adjourn this community redevelopment agency meeting. Moved, seconded. All in favor?
I. And in just a moment, we will move into the very short committee of the whole agenda. It's just a couple of minutes.