Good evening. Today is February the 10th, 2026. Happy new year everybody. It is and we live to see another year. Um we you are at the city of Opaaka CRAA meeting and
we're uh Mr. Can you call the uh meeting to order and and give us the um >> roll call? >> Roll call. >> Board member Santiago >> here.
>> Board member Kelly. >> Board member Bass >> here. >> Board chair Russell >> here. >> We have a quorum. If you stand for the pledge of allegiance and bo board member Bass, if you would give us word of
prayer, please pray. >> Prayer first. Yes. >> Okay. >> Everlasting Father God, as we come before you to God today, God with humble hearts, Father, we thank you for this day, we thank you, oh God, for for family, friends, fellowship. Oh God, we
thank you for we know that without you, we are absolutely nothing. We thank you, oh God, for us being able to serve our community. We thank you for the grace that you have allotted to us. We give you praise, honor and glory in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Uh, Mr. Director, do we have any add-ons? No, ma'am. >> Okay. Can we get someone to move the approval of the minutes from 129?
>> Move it. >> Second. >> Moved by a board member, Vice Chair, I meant uh >> second. >> Vice Commissioner Kelly. Second by board member Bass. Roll call, please.
>> Remember Bass? >> Yes. here. >> Board member Santiago. >> Yes. >> Board member Kelly. >> Yes. >> Board Chair Russell. >> Yes. We'll open up for public comments.
Seeing none, public comments are closed. Mr. Director. >> Yes, ma'am. Uh resolution number one is a resolution of the Opaaka Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing the execution of a license agreement with property owners for the creation, operation, and maintenance of community
gardens on properties located within the OC community redevelopment area and providing for an effective date. I would like to put three addresses on the record for which these um u resolutions would apply to.
2141 Alibaba Avenue block >> 2141 Alibaba >> 1,800 Alibaba Avenue and the last is a folio number and that is 08
2122 003 2205. That is the folio number for the third property. I have a question. >> Uh, wait, just one second. Uh, board member Santiago, are you finished
reading? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay, board member Santiago. >> Okay. For the for the three addresses that you uh reading to us. The last one is folio numbers. And where is that? That one is
located. >> It's also in Alibaba. >> It's also in Alibaba. Okay. That's what I wanted. That's what I want to know. Alibaba. >> It's a vacant lot, but it doesn't have an address associated with it. It only has a folio number associated with it. >> Well, um, Madame Chair Russell, my
question is, okay. Um, I want to be fair to the whole community to everybody. >> Yes. >> East, west, south, and north. And we be concentrating on only in the east side
area. That's what I see. And you know, in that triangle, that area there is part of the east side. You know, I I hope that we can um you know, see uh a little bit more of that side and we
including okay for that area to the west side or the other side of the south. When I say south, I say the area from 135th, 135th by by the bank in the back of all the apartment that we have there
and houses and also we have houses by uh one 135th between 32nd and and uh Porson row something like that. We we forgot about that areas out there. Okay. Everything everything that we do is in
that side out there. Let's let's include in these people too, please. >> Well, I I think uh uh Commissioner Santiago um in order and correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Director, uh we have to stay within the boundaries of the CRA
and the CR boundary stop at um it it doesn't even go all the way to 135th. it comes around on Opaaka Boulevard and anything south of that is not included in the CRA. So, >> and who decide that?
>> Oh, this was decided years ago. >> By who? >> Um, uh, the person that was sitting here during that time can give that bit of information. Here you go. >> Okay. >> At the Madam Chair. >> Yes, sir. At the time, the CRA board,
which was obviously the commission, u decided because when we were doing and trying to create a CRA, we had to look at the most um challenged areas. We call that, they call that term, well, years ago, urban and blight, which I never liked, but
those were the worst off areas. And so the CRA boundaries was created based on that because at the time the city had um someone to do the um leg work consulted because they had to be presented to the county and that's how we came up well that's how I was came up with those
boundaries because the areas that you were you're referencing although they may be challenging at that time they were still considered uh in better condition than of course Magnolia North and the east side of town and so that's why that area um was chosen. The hope
was always to go back at some point potentially to uh include other areas, but as you know since then, even since you've been back, um there's a attack to even stop CRA period. Um and the other thing is that's why we only got 20 years
as opposed to 30 years like other cities did because they did not the county did not even want to give us a CRA um back at that time frame. So that's how that came about. But I would say to your to your concern, uh the commission has um
authorized money for improvements and the like, be it business and um home improvements. Um we've done that with the intention of addressing areas that are not in the CRA. And of course, you you uh were part of that. I know you
supported it. So that's that's been our response because the CRA cannot go past its current u boundaries. And so the city passed the legislation to allow for those areas that's not in the CRA to apply for funding whether it was
commercial. Um there's one pot for commercial, one for residential, but that that's how it came about. And right now, um I know everybody wants the CRA to come all over the city, but right now that I'm not going to tell you it's not going to happen because right now we
fighting for our life to stay alive. and I won't get too deep, but the reality is with property tax reform out there. Um, we're in, you know, the the director can speak to it, but I just try to maintain what we have right now and stay afloat
and maybe at some point because I think we're doing good work if it presents itself. I'm quite sure it might come back at some point in future years to maybe expand the boundaries, but all that's still a process. But I think if any business homeowner in area that
you're referencing, direct them to the city because that's why you got the social service component there to apply for um assistance. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Um yes. Okay. Um I I understand all the
explanation that you uh gave it to me that happened, you know, a long time ago and we had to do it like that because there so many reasons. Um but I want to make you know a point in that I hope okay by the next uh decision that we take um I don't say probably you know
the west side because the west side is a very property area in some ways okay but that area out out there is be forgot okay by even by the administration of the city and I can say we have some
apartments there I don't know if you family with that I think that they calling the Ingrren Ingrren Ingrren, >> I'm sure. >> Yes, sir. >> I'm I'm fully aware of Ingram Terraces. >> Yes, >> they've got drainage problems. >> Oh my god. Well, that's a disaster, >> but that's a different subject because
the reality is Ingram Terrace is actually owned by the county. >> Well, okay. >> So, that's a different discussion. >> That area, we have a lot of families, okay, houses there. they they really need some kind of uh help or whatever you know for
anybody now uh counting where whatever we pass few uh you know few months ago about city you know doing the same program like the program that the CRA has okay um okay we have it it's good
and and we and we decide you know to bring it back but now the problem that we have there is to get the fundings okay to uh you know to help with these And I believe is like $75,000 for each person or something like that I think or
25 I don't I think it's 75 but we don't have that funding that funding going to come in from the generic fund that we have okay that's that's one of my things that I be thinking there okay that we want to do something okay to make people believe that we can but we don't have it
but I I leave it like that madam chair please okay in the future let's see if we can help all these areas. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh board member Santiago, are are you finished board? >> I was just responding. >> Oh, okay. >> I want to move I want to move the item.
>> Yeah, I'm ready to move. >> But uh uh uh uh I ditto what uh uh board member Kelly says that there's nothing that we can do about expanding the boundaries right now. It would be something great if we could, but we dare
not touch that right now with the way we are looking in Tallahass as a CRA. The we need to magnify what we're doing even the more to uh show forth our good efforts and that we're being good stewards and that we uh uh have enough
wherewithal to go past the 20 years. But other than that, Mr. Director, you have anything that you like? Okay. But I one question that I have these three areas that we have um we already have uh
people in place that are going to start or are we moving towards that? >> They're ready to start. We just needed to get this approved by you and then we'll sign the agreements with the property owners. >> Okay. >> Okay. Sounds good. Sounds good. I look forward to those community gardens. I
think they're going to be much needed in the community the way uh things are going now in the economy. >> Madam chair. >> Yes sir. >> I'm sorry. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. I wanted to know we say garden but what kind of garden we're talking about? >> Vegetable garden. >> Vegetable garden.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Okay. We gonna get us some greens, beans, potatoes, and tomatoes. >> Peppers and tomatoes. Okay. uh >> to a resolution of
sir. >> Have we have we moved it? >> Moved it. It was second. Roll call. >> Board member Bass. >> Yes. >> Board member Kelly. >> Yes. >> Board member Santiago. >> Yes. >> Board Chair Russell. >> Yes.
>> Resolution has passed. >> Thank you. Mr. D uh director, please. Number two, >> a resolution of the board of the Opalaka Community Redevelopment Agency amending, approving, and adopting the amendment to the Opalaka Community Development Agency's general operating and tax increment fund budget for the fiscal
year commencing October 1st, 2025 and ending September 30th, 2026 to reallocate funds from development assistance, park amenities, and police agreement to fund the balance carryover as set forth in exhibit A. uh directing the interim executive
director to transmit a copy of said amended budget to the state of Florida oversight board, providing for an incorporation uh of recital, providing for servability, providing for conflict and repeal, providing prescribers errors, and providing for an effective date. >> Move it.
>> Moved by board. >> Kelly, second by board member Santiago. Uh >> discussion. >> You don't have anything you say, Mr. Director? Um, so
we passed a budget in the in the beginning of uh September, October. Um, when we passed that budget, we bought to you a carryover of $590,000. Um, and when we went to submit that budget to the city, because this also
should say transmit to the city and the county, not just the Florida oversight board, but we we have to submit our budget also to the city and the county once it's passed. When we and you know me by now, so I'm just going to put it out there since you asked me to discuss it. Um when we
submitted that budget to the city, uh the city's budget director um informed us that we could possibly have made a mistake in our calculation on our carryover um fund. Um the budget
director informed us by that by his numbers, our carryover was significantly higher than the $590,000 that we had projected. Um, having said that and looking at what he showed us, we came back to you in December to amend
that budget to include um the additional carryover that he indicated we had. Um, and in the interim between October and December, uh, since we thought that we would have this carryover, we put in contracts to buy
two pieces of property. Not only did we put in contracts to buy two pieces of property, but we also um put down deposits for those two pieces of property. Uh >> madam chair. Okay. Let me before they continue. Okay. >> You say city, but you don't give the an
amount the what they say do you have after that? I want the amount. >> Mr. Mr. Mr. Senior will give you the exact amount by a dollar in cents, but the the the approximate amount was from 590 to $1.4 4 million 1 point >> No, it
we passed a budget with 1.1 1 million562,15. >> That's what the budget was passed in speeding. Okay. So obviously u and so we we uh in the meantime between October and December uh
we went out because we thought we had this extra money uh to purchase not just one property but two properties uh we went out and we put deposits on on those properties um at a significant amount of money. Um and so when we passed the
budget in December, um again we did the same thing we do, which is we submit it to the city in order for us to be uh get approved at the city and then we're supposed to submit it to the county. When we submitted it to the city this time, uh this time a different pair of eyes looked at it and that was the eyes
of our CFO um Miss Naima Gant. And um Miss Gant informed us that the number was incorrect that we were given by the budget director um and that
by her calculation uh which we trust because her number came in closer to the number that we had originally. Um and her number was >> $652,750. So we had uh 590 originally, she came in
at 650. Um and so now we need to pass a budget to reflect the true number which is the 600 or what it what was it? >> The true number is $652,750. >> 652,000. So in that case, we had to now
go back to the budget and cut um line items that added up to almost $900,00 what? >> 99,265 >> $99,265 and those cuts came from we eliminated the line item for development
assistance. Uh that line item was $600,000. Uh we elimined um the police agreement uh to help with police um programming. Uh that was at $150,000 and we eliminated uh the parks um
assistance that we were going to give the city in an amount of $250,000. Uh that allowed us to close the gap uh and pass a balanced budget which is before you right now. Madam Chair, I have a quick question. >> Board member uh Bass,
>> thank you for explaining all of that, but I have a question in regards to the properties that we made down payments on. Are we losing that money? >> No, ma'am. We uh luckily we were able to cut where we just where I just explained
uh and also preserve uh the building acquisition line item to so that we can complete the purchase of those two properties. So, we're going to be able to acquire them. >> We will be able to acquire them. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you, >> Madam Madam Chair. >> Yes, board member Kelly.
>> Thank you um for explaining. I did meet with you cuz you know I had a lot of questions which you you answered. Um I think going forward um and I don't know maybe this is not the right forum because I think we need to pass this um
given where we are. Um and fortunately that second set of eyes caught it before we got too far down the road and would have been even more challenging. And again, obviously the eyes, what you saying? Eyes. The previous person that
looked at the budget was the budget um whatever his title was budget director. I think that's called his title. Um who no longer now is looking at it was Miss Gant who's the finance director who gave us the number that was close to what you
projected. Okay. Um and so the question same one that Commissioner Bman Bass raised, we're safe on the deposits we made. I don't like the fact we had to do the cuts that we had to do, but I do understand not losing um the the the money or whatever and was
still able to acquire the properties. I think some of the money you cut the police was actually we hadn't really put it in place yet. So, u that's not really a deficit. Obviously, the park, you know, I explained to you I didn't like hearing that, but I I understand where
we are. Um, I would just suggest to the chair, to my me, to the board members, um, after we finish this, when we pass this and and we're on track that we've got to have possibly more than one set of eyes. And I know ultimately the city
is the first eyes other than ours. Um, and again, we're we kind of rely on that, but maybe if you all could think about and come back to us at some point with some kind of suggestion. um because we're relying on them. And
although Miss Gant caught it, if if she hadn't caught it and we're two years down the road thinking we got $5 and we're making decisions based on and we don't, it's even worse. And and I'm only saying that because right now, as the chair mentioned earlier, we, you know, all the CRAAS are under scrutiny
for everything. So, I want to make sure that that does not um become an issue later on. I appreciate trying to find the cuts. I know it was tough um but at least we need to move forward but I would hope madam chair that um we can direct the director to come back with
some kind of I want to say plan model so that we don't have that kind of challenge where we just listen to one number and it comes back totally different um you know with no cuz again well the city does but we don't control the folks who actually look at it in the
city side that that's a that's another discussion But um yeah, that's that's kind of what my heartburn is, but that's not for this board. Uh that's not for this board, but I I I'll deal with that in another setting. But I do thank you for um doing what you did
and your staff to cut it. I don't like having to do it, but I understand why we're doing it. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, sir. Board member Santiago. >> Thank you. Yeah, because I'm the the person that started this. Okay. Um
why did I be clear? Because whoever going to look you know bad in front of the public is the board 100%. And people they're going to come to us you know and asking question. Um second yeah I'm okay right we don't lose
the deposit that we have for that two property that it's okay it's fine and I mean that I'm happy or or I'm okay that we had to stop the other program because that's affecting okay for in
many in many ways the program that we have to keeping going uh forward to to the you know for the future of the And and I know that this is not a problem for the uh uh CRA board,
but we had to be a little more careful because we uh we talking about a bit a mistake that is not for a couple of dollars. We're talking about half almost a million dollar the dividend. And this is something that is not
acceptable. And like my Cali board curly say this is nothing to do with CRA. Okay. But I think that in the future we have to be more carefully with you bringing to us this type of budget
presenting it to us to be approved. I don't want to look embarrassing in front of the public. I want to do the right thing. and we keeping talking another day about you know uh where is the problem come from. Thank you.
>> Uh uh thank you uh board members and um in my meeting with the uh director I expressed to him as well that you know especially um you know the police department and the parks we really wanted to see those those projects go
forth this year. I understand um uh that you had to cut somewhere and um I it was my suggestion as well, board member Kelly, that maybe we need to look at um an external
uh someone for the CRA that also after we you all look at the budget and put your numbers together that you have a uh someone that's looking on our behalf. We appreciate the city for finding the
mistake before it got to Tallahassee that or to the county because that would have been even more of a stickler. But um I think the work that you all did in finding a mistake was great, but we need
to I don't know whether we want to bring back something. Um, I don't know what you you all have been thinking about doing or if you have anything if you have anything on the table. If not, you could tell us at a later date, but we
really need to look at um something and thank you to Miss Walker, Miss Gant for finding the mistake before, you know, it got to the state or to the county. >> Yes, ma'am. And, uh, on that note, uh, I do have a meeting set up with a CRA
budget expert. um for Friday at 11:30. It's just an initial conversation just to see where we are and um and I'll inform you about that meeting after it takes place. Okay. >> Do we do we have um our own accounting
system within the CRA outside of the city? >> No, ma'am. The city controls everything. >> Okay. Madame chair, >> is it uh this is just a followup. Is it
because we don't have the uh technology to do it ourselves? >> Um no. Um it's listen, we tried to uh it's it wasn't easy and we I'll be honest with you, we kind of gave up. uh
we went to a bank, we tried to open up the bank account, we tried to do all those things, but the CRA like one small thing uh EIN is that the E FIN number like we don't even have that our FEIN number that's what it's called is
associated with the city. It's not it's not a separate corporation. Sierra is not a separate entity on its own. If you go on Sunbiz, for example, and you look up Opalaga, there's nothing there. We're we're a part of the city. So, we we would have
to create a corporation um I believe um get a get a EIN number um in order to open up a bank account. Number one, that would be kind of the first step that you all would allow me to do. Um, again, as as I said from the beginning,
I'd like the fact that we have the city as a guard um with our finances. Um, I think it's an appropriate Most CRAAS, their money sits with the city. All the CRAAS that I've worked with, that I work with currently, all of their accounts
are with the cities. Um, I think that's the safest way. um especially if I'm no longer here or you're no longer here uh that we can control um you know this millions of dollars that we have uh I I I I have trust in the city um despite
this uh to manage our funds appropriately um but I don't know you know after we're gone you know can I can we do it here? Sure we can do it. Uh, I just like that extra level of protection
having the city in control of the funds. That's my opinion. This board can choose um how they want to move forward. >> Well, a follow a followup to that, Mr. director is I I I'm not talking about moving the level of of eyes that the
city has, but I'm thinking along the lines that if you had a it doesn't have to be an elaborate um accounting system inhouse, then you would have you you'll be able to say to the city, well, these
this is what we have and you have something that you can show them and you could together go over it. Um uh and you know that that's all I'm talking about and we had something inhouse a small accounting type of system that we were I
don't know whether you have the staffing for that. So you know that would be something. >> Yes sir. >> I can speak to that to a degree. Um being that it is the city's accounting system. we have access to their system
and we have access to a limited amount of reports within their system and that is what I use to come up with the initial figure of about $500,000 in carryover. So,
I've gone to Miss Gant and um requested if there's anything else that they may have available to help us stay to a closer dollar amount. And she informed me that they have given us access to everything that they are allowed to.
>> Okay. Okay. But even with that being said, after all of these rounds of back and forth, I'm pretty confident in what we had initially if my if my number was less than $100,000 off from what it
actually was. >> Yes. Well, I I I agree with you, but um I just think sometime that you all have having access and I understand because it's the city, you know, there's certain things that you just can't have access
to because you're not an employee of the city. So, I understand that. But also, Mr. director. I would like for us to at least look into and give us a level of comfort that, you know, we understand that the city is doing a great job and
that they're the ones that caught the mistake, but in at the end of the day, it's going to be on you and us. If the mistake was not caught, it will be on the CRA. So, we need to look at that to make sure
that, you know, we're keeping as as firm as we can, a firm account on what's going on with the dollars and as close to getting the correct numbers as we can. So, >> I'm sorry. >> Yes, go ahead. I >> I just wanted to to say that I agree
with with the conversation about, but we have to still be reminded that the error was not on CRA, the initial. Am I correct? >> Yeah, that's true. It was not on us. >> No, it wasn't. >> Right. It was something that they caught. They they did. >> Yeah. >> So, it wasn't on
>> whatever whatever happened >> is like Sher Russo say is going to be in us. >> Yes. >> Okay. That's a CRA and I understand and I'm sorry. I'm going to wait for you to talk. >> Yes. Yes. So that that's what I'm saying that we understand that the city caught
the mistake but at the end of the day it's going to be left on the on the director and the CRA that the mistake was made. But you know not to belabor it and you know we don't want to draw it out but just Mr. director. As board
member Kelly said, if you could find a way to make sure that there are other eyes watching and then uh you know so we don't have at least that large of a mistake again. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. All right.
>> Yes, sir. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Yes. Um my point in this conversation is Miss Russell or Sher Russell she tried to tell you
like the director of CRA that you are we don't have anybody with the capacity to deal with this amount of money in CRA they don't asking you to be independent right now because you explaining why you know the reason why
we like and why we have to keep it, you know, the same way for now. But at least you're supposed to have somebody there to supervise, okay? The transactions and all the um all the things that we have when the finance in the city
because let me tell you this, I'm going to be loud and clear. This is nothing to do with the CRA uh board. Uh but the city have a lot of mistake in the past. many mistake and I really don't want to see or or be in
the middle of one of this big mistake. I believe that any of the people that sitting here we don't have the capacity for be an accounting accounting. Okay. And to we don't have that kind of experience. I understand what you say that you like to see somebody
in CRA inhouse to helping us. >> Yes. >> With the finance. >> Yes. movie that we have >> uh uh board member Santiago >> um I think uh uh Mr. Jerome >> Mr. Yam
>> initially gave us some numbers and some figures >> and his figures were close to being right but when it got to the city they said no you have more so Mr. Jerome was able to give us a good number but
>> yeah I'm okay with that. Yeah I know and we believe him. >> Yeah. So I want the director if you think that what we have in place is well enough with Mr. Jerome your office your staff looking at it and it's it's good
then going to the city it's all right. But I just don't want us to uh be held accountable because at the end of the day it's going to be the CRA cuz we have our own independent audit. CRA gets
their own independent audit now aside from the city and they they come to us because they want answers from us. Okay. So that's just my my whole point in in the situation. So, we could uh we can
move on. Now that we have Can you tell me what our dollar amount is in the budget? >> Where are we at? >> That's a good one. I like it. >> The the current dollar amount in the carryover liner. >> Yes. >> We currently have $652,750.
And that's what we're working with going into next year's budget until we get the tiff from uh um this next tiff that we're going to get. >> Yeah, we probably should already have it by now, but yes. >> Okay. >> Six.
>> You know, I I have a a dawning question in my mind. the bank account that we have. Do we still have that same bank account that we opened years ago? >> I I'm not I don't want to answer that question because I don't know if it's
changed, but do we do have a separate bank account um from the city >> from the city? >> Well, the city has a separate bank account for us. Let me put it that way. >> Okay. >> Our money our money is segregated in the CRA banking account.
>> Okay. Is it possible that um we could have doesn't have to be monthly quarterly uh reports of the bank account in our packages so that we could follow along as well. >> Um
yes, I w I did that my first meeting here. Um and I was asked by more than one board member not to do that anymore. Um but what we can do is have briefings um and I can give it to you then.
>> Okay, that'd be >> there. There was a concern that if we put it as a part of this package every month and you know I don't know there is a concern. >> Well, >> we we can do it we can do it in briefings. >> We can do it in briefings. But if that's the will of the board if that's the will
of the board. Okay. And if you feel that's the best way to put it. I see boy remember Kelly over here filling up. >> Yeah, cuz he was >> I'm I I'll speak I was one of those because you know you you put those numbers out there everybody think it's it's free money and it puts us in a
tough spot too. >> Okay. >> Um that's that's why I was talking about >> it probably haven't been reconciled with the city have taken the money out. >> We could also have already talked about how we want to maybe do something but somebody gets a hold to it. they just see a number and they figure that's just
free money, easy money they can access. Um, as opposed to like the the director saying, we have a briefing, you can get all the information, get the numbers, get whatever you want, but now we can we we know where it's at. >> Okay? >> You know, we know where it's at. But >> okay, >> yeah, that's what
>> it sounds good to me. Sounds good to me. and whatever works for us as a board and for staff that you all are very comfortable that when you come to the board because uh we might not have people sitting out here in the audience but we do have people that uh watching
uh uh on our social media so they're listening as well and uh so we want to make sure that we're giving the correct numbers you know so we're not uh looked upon as not being good stewards over to
sit over the resident's money. >> Madam Chair, question. >> Yes. >> How much is the tiff? >> The the city tiff is 1,700 thou 774,382. The county tiff is1,64,152. $152. I'm sorry.
>> Thank you. >> So, I'm sorry. Cumulatively, this is going to be our budget going >> plus plus the 650 carryover. >> Okay. And what's the total >> that along with estimated $130,000 in
interest earnings? We are looking at 3,691,284. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Nothing. I'm just ready to vote. >> Okay. Let's call. >> Half of that, by the way, is going to purchase property. So, >> I I I'm glad you said that because
otherwise it's like we got $3 million sitting somewhere and we don't. So, I was glad you said that. >> Half of that half of that will be gone. I just got a note that half of that will be gone on March 3rd. >> Thank you. Because the chair just said people are watching and they'll be calling all of us and Commissioner
Santiago saying y'all got $3 million. I want this done and that done and we don't have that free money. I'll just It's easy money to do something. It's already been Okay, Madam Chair, you call for the the vote. >> Board member Kelly.
>> Yes. Board member Santiago, >> yes. >> Board member Bass, >> yes. >> Board Chair Russell, resolution has passed. >> Um, so the uh next item is just some discussion items. Uh, number one, number one, we had two items on this agenda
that I took off at the last minute because I think it I thought it needed further explanation and further briefings from you. Uh, one was to, and I don't want to get into a discussion about it, but we will set up briefings for you, uh, throughout the next month, uh, to talk about a home ownership
program that we want to unveil. Um, that's number one. Number two, um, there was a item on here for demolition of the building across the street, uh, the pink building across the street that we purchased. Um, we have de demolition
quotes, uh, from three different vendors. As I told some of you in our briefings, uh I'm not comfortable with recommending any of those quotes yet because they're they are apples and oranges and pears. Uh that they don't relate to each other um and they're all
over the place. Uh so until I get comfortable um with seeking other advice uh from people that know better than I uh what to look at with these quotes, uh I'm going to hold off on bringing that to you. In the meantime, we are um
getting people to come out there and clean up the property and clean out the property uh while we do this. Um but those are the two those are two items that we have resolutions for and at the last minute I decided to pull them because I wasn't comfortable bringing
that for to for you um without proper information. Um the other item is just on the downtown development front on the two properties that we have purchased, the pink property and the church. I can tell you that we've been meeting with um we've been meeting with an interested
developer who wants to come in and and um and give an unsolicited proposal uh to develop those sites. Uh we are expecting the city's first P3 proposal uh to come this week u from those developers. uh the planning department
will look at the proposal and make an uh make a recommendation whether we should move forward and then we'll present that proposal to you within 45 days for so that you can make a recommendation on whether we should move forward or not. But just so you know that this is moving
we expect to see some type of um we expect to see some type of uh proposal at by the end of the week for those two properties. Um the other item is uh the triangle development. That's the
next map. If you go past on page 27 of your package or 28, um you'll see a map of the tri in the triangle area. >> What page is that? >> I'm sorry, page 22. >> Okay.
All right. Not on tick box, page 22. >> Um, yes, sir. >> These are properties that we're looking to assemble in the triangle area. The blue properties are the are the county properties. The yellow properties are the properties that we're going to close
on on March 3rd. The red properties are private properties and the black properties and the green properties are owned by the city of Opalaka. We're in the middle of um getting um um rendering done on what we could do there as far as the development is concerned. Um we
should have something to you by the next meeting of what that could look like. And then the other discussion item is uh the new generations historic bank building. Uh you'll see they haven't given us a hard number yet on what the construction because you all asked us to
go back and see what we can do less than the 2 million quote that we got for windows, doors, roof. Um as you can see the the architect came back that just for their fees alone, we're looking at you know between$1 120 and $200,000
for that work just for their fees. They have not gotten back to me with um the hard numbers. Um but this is just the start. Just for the pre construction costs, we're looking at 120 to 200. Um
so I'm guessing that it'll probably be 5600,000 for for for that bank building. That's just for your information. Uh, and the last item I'd like to remove, um, at the request of two board members, uh, they would like for us to discuss this with,
um, the city and the county and not bring it up in a public meeting just yet. >> Okay. And that's >> that's what we're talking about. What you >> the water bill. >> The water bill. Okay. >> Okay. Um, the weekend um before we ending >> Yes, sir. um
giving some kind of advice to our director for CRA. >> Yes. >> And then and this is the way it's not me the way that you think the other member, but that's my way to think. >> Yes, sir. >> And we're talking about the bank. Uh
Mr. Jason, the idol for the bank. >> Yes, sir. I I think that we having a conversation before and I give you my opinion and I want to make him you know uh public for the day. >> Yes sir. um
what kind of benefits uh the CRA going to have with that and I I I believe that you say that we don't have anything because that's a private owner and he don't even want to you know uh tell us you know like why
how can we use that or if it's going to be part of the city for anything uh what I see is he want to yes repair and get the money for the CRA like historical building it is but it's that's it. It's nothing else
that we can uh you know do with that building and he's the one owner. We don't want to we don't want to own anything there in that building. We can use you know that funding for something else because that's a private owner. At least that he want to sell the
building to us. I'm okay with that. I that's my opinion. Good. >> Okay. about to help. We have to be sure who we help in in this kind of condition and how that we going to use our funding. >> Okay.
I I hear you uh board member Santiago and um I think uh that uh we as a board uh we uh careful as to how we want to spend
the CRA money and uh it's not a a real community benefit. So I know that in our last meeting that was brought to the attention of the director and I think
he's aware of it. So um you know and as he said there's not anything concrete that they brought back to us. So you know we have to kind of wait and see what happens. But he has that in his mind from the
previous board meeting. >> Yes ma'am. Okay. You have some P. Are you finished? >> I'm finished. That's I don't want to be sure that we do the right thing without fundings. >> Yes, sir. >> Yeah, that's it. >> Yeah, I could be wrong, but if I'm not mistaken, I think I recall something
about um the residents and the cities being the city being able to utilize um the space for certain things. Am I correct? >> Yes, ma'am. But okay, but it's not totally laid out
what it would be. >> No, >> because because it's uh uh church, >> but let's I didn't want to I didn't want to I wanted you have to work on it. >> We we don't have anything concrete yet.
So we will uh wait until they give us give you something concrete and then we can uh further discuss it if it's necessary or in your briefings with us we can discuss it then uh before it's brought to the full board. Okay. All
right. Anything else? I see some good work going around in the community. Uh Mr. Director, I see the CRA is doing some good work. I see they're still working on the um liquor store. Um I think I saw the
parking lot being paved. Uh the food trucks look like they're doing good um out there. It's a good uh look like they've been getting good uh participation on Sunday. I saw it was pretty crowded. And I like the fact that
they're cleaning up after themselves. They're cleaning up after themselves. When they leave the next morning, you don't see garbage all over the place. So, for me, that's a plus. That's a plus. So, that's all I have. Anyone have
anything for the board? >> Yeah. Question. What is the day they that they have to parking out there on Friday and Saturday? >> Yeah, I thought it was Friday and Saturday. I'm Are you sure it was Sunday? >> You mean Sunday? You mean Sunday after Saturday? Uh,
>> yeah. And I come in because you asking about that date. But the other date I have a couple of call for the neighborhood and and well what I say is hey you have to go to the city and and asking the city you know what's going on because I don't have any anything with
me. But I believe from the beginning we say that they that they're going to be there Friday and Saturday >> night. Okay. And and I go there to eat sometimes. a very good place to eat but we had to be corrected with them. Okay.
The day the day is parking there because the people complain about it. >> Okay, we'll check. >> They uh they operating last Thursday. They starting Thursday. >> It's supposed to be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. >> Oh, that's what I asked him. It meant that's three days. >> Yeah, Thursday, Friday.
>> If it last three days is nothing we can do. They Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Okay. Not a problem. Weekly. Weekly. >> Weekly. Yes. >> Okay. If there's nothing else for the director, Mr. Director, is anything for us?
>> Um, other than the the the tire shop behind Bosco got his check, by the way. So, he's going to get his garage door. Um, the tire the tire place, the cafeteria behind it. We finally got their paint quotes in. So, we're processing that. That should get get
painted soon. Um, Mrs. Lee, the pink building across the street here. Uh there's some permitting issues with the owner living in Jamaica, but we're trying to get through that quickly. I know it's been a long time, but that should be done pretty soon as well. Um and there a couple other grants that
we're working on to give out, but we're trying to just get the money out, get these uh storefronts fixed, and uh that's it. >> Madame Chair. >> Yes, sir. Russo and and I want the uh the director of CRA and even the city co
enforcement uh they know if we spending money to beautify that area out there. >> Yes. >> I don't want to see that mess the mess that going on in the corner of the uh tire place. >> I told you >> it's too much >> the >> we helping them to painting the plate.
It looks very nice but we have there are a big mess around that building. >> The one by the >> Yeah, the tire place. The dire place. The one by the uh by the railroad track. >> Yeah. >> Oh yeah. >> That that place >> it was looking really nice for >> looking very nice the first day.
Paintingly clean. But now no we had to follow you know that they keeping the place clean because the liquor stoa is nice. Hey and beautiful the laundry the plaza for the laundry. Beautiful. Wow. I never see in my life in the 25 years
that I'm here. That place looks so good my friend. Okay. And that's the way they had to keep it. You see the hot order? >> That was a $100,000 grant. Just so you do it. Beautiful. That's beautiful. >> And I love the sign. >> The sign. I love the sign. >> The sign that they
uh one thing he said uh uh I stopped by the other day and uh they said that they needed the tree. There's a tree there and they needed the tree cut because it is over. So, >> but the sign is nice and beautiful.
>> Plan is the planting is nice. is really nice. >> The business owner from my city laundry did reach out to me and he requested permission to cut that tree. I have worked with the uh city manager's office and we have gotten that permission. So, we're going to work on cutting that tree back now.
>> And just one more thing, I know it doesn't look like it, but the barber shop across the street uh we put a new paint job on there. We're waiting for a sign to put on there, but we put a paint job on the barber shop right at the corner. But also beyond the beyond the um paint that we put on the building, if
you have a chance, one of these days, you should walk inside. Uh we gave them a $30,000 grant to to redo the inside of the barber shop. So if you go inside of that barber shop, it's a brand new barber shop. >> Wow. >> So it sounds good. >> If you want to go look inside, it's a new barber shop.
>> Yeah. I got to go. I got to go stop by. But uh every >> we're going to have a grand opening and invite everybody. So >> yeah. Uh, everybody's been talking about the laundromat. Uh, what's going on in Opal Locka? Y'all got a nice laundromat. >> That's a nice laundry. >> If it's is lit up, the lighting is is
really good. That makes a big difference rather than people parking their cars there, staying overnight, and doing all kind of uh things there in the parking lot. So, uh, uh, great job, CRA. Great job, St. >> That's the same way that we want to see the tire place.
>> Yes, sir. >> Yep. Uh uh Mr. Attorney, thank you for being here. >> Great to be here. Happy New Year to everybody. >> More lights for everybody. >> Meeting a journ.
Yes.