Okay, the time is 606. I'd like to officially call the community redevelopment agency uh here at the city of Opalaka meeting uh to order. Um can we take a roll call, please? >> Member Santiago,
>> board member Irving >> here. Board member Bass >> here. >> Vice Chair Williams >> present. >> We have quorum. >> Thank you so much. I'd like to >> call for a moment of silence. Thank you. So with that, I'd like to
just check in. Are there any add-on Oh, pledge of allegiance. Yes. 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. >> Thank you. Are there any add-on items today? >> No, ma'am. And if you'll give us a second. Um I apologize for not having the binder um collated properly. Uh we're going to read out for you the
numbers of the items so that you're not fumbling around looking for the next item. So for item number one, item number one starts on page nine and it goes to page 20. That's item number one.
>> Sounds good. Should I open it up for public comments first? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'd like to open the floor for public comments. Are there any comments uh online? None online. I'm going to keep the floor open for just a moment longer if anyone wants to
make public comments. Okay, with that we will close public comments. So, we'd like to go ahead and move to the first resolution. >> Yes, ma'am. Uh the first resolution, a resolution of the Opalaka Community Redevelopment
Agency expressing general support for the Opaaka City Place redevelopment application as a proposed public private partnership pursuant to section 2-361 of the city of Opalaka code of ordinances directing staff to conduct further review and investigation require
further OCR board action prior to the any execution of any agreements associated with the development and providing for an effective Hey, >> I'd like to make uh Do we want to make a motion to hear this? >> Move it. >> Okay. >> Second.
>> I think I have a problem with my microphone. >> Press the button. >> We can hear you. Yep. >> Yeah. >> This on. It's not on. >> All right. >> It's not up. >> Is I going to say, do you guys want to move over here? >> Move over there. >> Both of you move over. >> Yeah. Let me more comfortable. I I don't
think that didn't work. I had to be in the recording. Thank you. >> I see you there actually. >> Okay. >> Do we want to discuss item number one?
Yes, ma'am. So, item number one is um it's a a vote for your support for a public private partnership application that was submitted to the city um back on February 19th. Uh the city had 30 days to review that
application um and get back to the developer on their preliminary either approval or denial of the application. Um the city has reviewed the initial application and has indicated to the developer that they are willing to move forward both at the CRA level and the
city level uh for further evaluation of the detail proposal. Uh so in this case the ordinance requires the ordinance that the city passed for public private partnership. Uh the ordinance requires that the developer
submit now a $20,000 check. Um and then the city will now have another 60 days I believe to go into detail review uh before we start coming up with any agreements. However, we thought the manager and I both thought that it was important um for the developers and for
the staff to know kind of where our boards feel um after and I know you only reviewed the application because there's some issues around the public records of the proposal. Um, but the proposal is a $500 million development uh um project
in the downtown opalaka area that would include uh 900 uh units uh in the opalaka downtown area is a is a is a basic with retail shops uh office space as well. Um that's an overview. Um but
you have the application attached. So all we're asking for you today and the developer would have been here but there was a confusion on the meeting that was canceled and the meeting that was proposed. Um this is a symbolic vote. Does it mean anything other than you're
saying okay move to the next step? uh we want to move to the next step and and basically our part in this uh as a CRA board is we are we will be negotiating putting our properties that we recently purchased including the pink flea market
shop across the street and also the church with the um with the daycare center. we would be putting that as a part of this public private partnership and so that is our role in this project and so we would ask for your vote of approval to move to the next step so
that we can move this project along along along. Uh we also had a meeting with our attorney's office this morning. Uh we will be submitting uh in the Miami Herald a notice that we are looking at disposing of the two properties
downtown. that is required by state law and by your ordinance. And so we will be doing that within the next two weeks. That will give anybody in the public a reasonable opportunity to submit an application to compete with this application. So we're not just saying
here it is. This is yours. We're now going to send out a advertisement in the newspaper to say, listen, we've received this proposal. We are interested in this proposal. uh we are interested in disposing of our property and making something happen in downtown
development. Is there anybody else that would like to submit um and we would have to do that and so we're starting to work on that. In the meantime on a parallel track um we will be working with the city on the more detailed
review of their proposal. But initially we'd ask for you to support this so that we have something from our board to say that we're interested in this project. >> Madam chair, >> I just have a quick question. >> Yes. The two properties you mentioned
that will be a part of the partnership. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Vice Mayor Chair. >> Yes. >> Oh, thank you. >> Uh Mr. worker.
Um this resolution we're talking about the uh um the developments company that they like to come here and be partner with the city or and CRA >> and the state
>> and the state that's good to know. Okay. Now in the past week you know I'm be have complaints about you know a company that they
really interest to come to the city but they found too many uh uh points okay that they make the operation or the applications that they have to do
sometime impossible. when time and everything and I take the opportunity to say that I going to be uh attention to this situation because if
we want to see some changes as soon as we can here in the city with this progress that your department bring to us. This is the first time in all this year that I see a CRA department working like the way it's supposed to work and I can
see a lot of projects that you already done that is done by the right right way and made the city look more better all over. But this complaint come from people that they try to you know to do
the things uh like the way that we asking but we asking for too much sometime. I know that we had to go by a lot of regulation that we have and and and process but we had to look the way
to make uh possible and a little more flexible to deal with this company that they want to really bring the opportunity to make the city grow. I love that project, the 800 800
and something unit in downtown and all the projects that we have. I love to see the city in two, three, four years like that as soon as we can. Now, uh what what did you talking before about the $2,000
uh the $20,000 uh a fee? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> What does that mean? We I I think that we have in the past a discussion about about that and we bring a resolution about this uh typo fee.
>> Yes. So the the board your the city commission in October of 25 I believe >> um passed the ordinance called the public the P3 ordinance public private partnership ordinance. It was it's the first time it's been passed and this is
the first project to go through the test in that ordinance that you passed the initial fee and I think you revisited recently and and and made some modification but the original fee for the initial application was $5,000. They
submitted that $5,000 with the initial proposal. That proposal was reviewed by staff and there's a committee uh of staff members that that proposal was re was reviewed by staff over a period of 30 days. After the 30-day period, they
sent staff sent the developer a letter saying, "Okay, we want to move to the next >> question before you keep going." that we have any information about that process the the city doing it and if they doing
it on time or they take longer to that and may and make company to be you know upset with that when that process >> no I don't believe so >> no >> no >> I mean it's going okay with the time that we giving the 30 days
>> well the 30 days is up and we've responded with within that time frame responding. You know, >> now we're in a point, now we're in a now we're in kind of the lag, I would, let's say, where um I believe the developer will be reaching out to the city to get some
clarification soon on the letter that was sent. I I believe that there needs to be some further discussion between the developer and the city on next steps. Um, okay. You said you approve it, but uh what are the details in terms of what you want us to provide from the
developer point of view um for the $20,000 with the $20,000 check? Um, and I think that conversation is going to happen very soon. But I would say we're that that that we we being the city um completed our requirements under the
first phase and now we're kind of in the middle of transitioning to the second phase of the more detailed um proposal. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. >> Board member Urban. >> Thank you. I'm I'm I'm learning. I'm
about to be um a contractor here in a minute. I'm learning. Um I haven't looked in details at everything. I know that um years ago um we have a property
that the city kind of sold and we um did not do what I'm finding out is called a reverter clause. That if you don't do what you're supposed to do in a certain time, we take our property back. Will this project have a reverter clause or
it doesn't need one? >> It will. Um especially our properties. For example, we had that meeting uh this morning with our attorney um and we were talking about timeline and we're thinking two years at least on our part >> at least because >> you know we're going to move forward no
matter what. So and I told that to the developer and I said it to the city for our two parcels for me sitting here. We will move forward no matter what. and that that's why we're going to do our advertisement in the paper to dispose of our properties
and all that stuff. Now, once we get to a development agreement that we have to bring back to you, a part of that agreement, we'll have a reverted clause that says that you have, and we were talking this morning, two years. You have two years to get all of your
>> work done, your planning, your permits, your and breaking ground. And after two years, if this is not done, then the property reverts back to the city. Um and we also are discussing the um the different um options that we again we're just in the beginning stages. We had the
meeting this morning but the uh the different options whether we do a ground lease where we never lose possession of the property but we do the you know 50 80year ground lease which is actually what was proposed by in the initial proposal by the developer. Um or we just
sell it outright. Um and there's some tax things that we need to look into um that affect the developer and the CRA. But all that discussion will come through out when we do the development agreement. But yes, to answer your question simply, we're not giving the
property back without I mean the biggest issue I think one of the properties that you may be referencing is the state property. I mean, the idea from what I've read when the state when the because the state property across the street, which is a major part of this proposal,
that was a city-owned property, correct? >> From my understanding. >> Mhm. >> And my understanding is that the the city moved it to the state in order for the state to create some development opportunities in that space. And all the state did was move state offices in there. Correct?
>> They didn't build housing. They didn't build uh stores for economic development or office space or grocery. They didn't do any of the things that what we should have had in the reverter that if they didn't do that, it would come back to us. Um but we're going to take care of
that now through this P3 process because we have already been in contact with um folks in this Tallahassee. Um they know that a development like this for downtown Opalaka, you know, will change the game here for
the city. financially for the taxes that that could be generated. They know that they haven't done what they're supposed to do on this huge piece of property uh back here except for make it into a state office. So, I think we have a listening ear and the governor's office
right now. Um, and that's why that's another reason why we want to push this because the governor is not going to be there too long and we're going to have another governor that may, you know, need to get caught up on where we are where this governor we know because we've been working with them for the past 8 years. Um, that's why we're
trying to push this and show that when we do go there, we have the resolution from the CRA board, we have the resolution from the city commission board, we have the advertisement in the Miami Herald that we're willing to dispose of this property. We're doing all those things to let let them know
we're serious about this and we need you guys to be on board and be serious as well. >> Okay. So, thank you for that um information, but I wasn't referencing that building, that property. I'm referencing the the property on Golf
Coast Drive and 37 that's illpt. We sold that property. Anyway, they they take very poor care of it and I wanted us to get it back, but we did not um do a revert clause in that
um particular um agreement. So, I have another question for you. I wasn't it was on my mind, but I wasn't going to say anything. I was going to wait, but since you mentioned that um about the agreement time and we may just outright sell it or whatever, if we don't
outright sell it and we do a 50 80year lease, whichever at that point, I think right now it's at a 6040. I know you and I had a convers I've been interest is it going to be one of those 6040 splits
with the developer or we haven't gotten that far into conversations. >> We haven't gotten that far but it will be a split and that's why I think it's always better to stay in the game. >> Okay. >> Uh stay, you know, keep hold of your keep hold of your property. I will not and that's why we were having this
debate this morning. I'm not in favor of outright selling it because we outright sell it and then you know what the developer doesn't do what they're supposed to do like the state didn't do what they're supposed to do and 10 years from now we're still sitting and everything's looking the same. We want to be able to control the process so
that if this guy doesn't work out >> then the woman that's coming behind him has an opportunity as well and we control that process. >> Okay. Okay. So, oh I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Sorry. But but we'll be informed um as that time comes
>> every step of the way. Um and right now uh like I said, we had the meeting with our attorneys. We're starting to set up a timeline um for when we need to get things done. Um but I would say you would give us at least 60 days uh to come back with a development agreement with you to you and it will spell out
all of the splits that you're talking about, the reverta clouds that you're talking about, all that will be in the development agreement. what we would be looking for like you know you know mixed mixed housing what's the income threshold we would be looking for all
that stuff will be spelled out in the uh development agreement >> okay thank you so much >> board member Santiago >> yeah thank you uh vice chair um you made clear a very good point because I heard the question all the question that my
colleague want to know about it because she want to learn but I want to learned something too in this agreement for this resolution um you're talking about a company that that they want to be a partner ship with us.
>> Mhm. >> This is totally different because I believe a partnership is me that they in the contract with us that oh >> that they are they supposed to go by the contract and rules and regulation that
we tell them to go. Mhm. Because we not selling the land to them to do whatever they >> No sir. >> No. >> No. >> Okay. It's me. Something different there. Yes. We have to be very, you know, careful and given the tight limit. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. Do they uh build or complete what what we uh what we uh decide to do it with them. >> Yes sir. >> Okay. Now um I don't know the difference between partnership or selling the land by uh surplus. That's what we call them.
Surplus in the city. That's different. >> Surplus. >> Yeah. Surplus. If you selling something, you're selling to somebody, you don't put no restriction. They do whatever they want with that land. >> Yeah. >> Uh at least you know that they had to uh build what we uh supposed to uh uh have
in the city. That's the only thing that I want to be clear because this is totally different. This is a partnership. that's a it's going to be a person that is going to be uh you know part of the negotiation of the city and they have to come for whatever we asking to okay thank you
>> Mr. manager. I have um just one question. Well, yeah, just one question. So, for clarity sake, I understand that this is uh our our board expressing general support to move forward. Can you
outline for me the steps once we express our general support? What are the two or three or five things that happen once we have then expressed our support of this resolution? >> So the next step is to get the city
commission to do the same thing at the next possible meeting. Um that's that's on your level. That's what you need to do from the staff point of view. We need to
now receive a more detailed proposal, financials, infrastructure. Um, you know, they're asking us for $15 million. You know, where's that going? Uh, what's that for? you know, some of the issues that were raised in the in
the um some of the issues that were raised in uh the committee meeting with the city staff is, okay, you're talking about bringing 900 units to downtown Opalaka. Where's the infrastructure for that? That's
going to cost money. So, we need to get into the details of that. You know, what's that going to cost? You know, what size sewer pipes are you going to need? water pipes, what type of um what do they call those stations? Uh >> pump stations, >> lift stations, you know, where do they
need to be more detailed proposal that the city will now that's why the second check is a larger check because now we have to now the city and the burden's not on us, it burdens on the the consultant, I mean the developer to pay for that. Now we need to go hire consultants to really dig deep into see
if this proposal is even possible and if it's possible what's the real cost what's the real cost breakdown of that and I believe that process is 60 to 90 days that we have and so once you pass this this is just symbolic actually in your ordinance
it doesn't require that you all do this this is something that I asked um and manager agreed that we should have this just so the developer has some s some idea before they write a check for $20,000 that we're
actually considering it. Um and so now that and I think they will feel comfortable um they will feel comfortable if you pass this to say um okay we'll write the $20,000 check. Now, if you don't pass it, then they may say, "Okay, well,
we're not writing a $20,000 check. Uh, we're gonna walk away." And so, in order for that not to happen, I would like for us to go to the second phase of your process, uh, which is the more detailed um, look at their project, and they
would have to give us more than what they gave us now. Um, and I think we're going to have to hire planners, consultants, uh, uh, um, um, engineers, uh, to give us, you know, real reports on what it will take for us to
accommodate a project of this magnitude. Uh, so that's the next step >> and that process is going to take 60 to 90 days, I believe. >> Got it. I appreciate that clarity in the timeline. Um, any other questions before we call for a vote?
Okay, let's call for a vote. >> Board member Bass, >> yes. >> Board member Santiago, >> yes. >> Board member Irving, >> yes. >> Board member Taylor, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Williams, >> yes. >> Resolution has passed. >> Thank you.
>> Next item. >> Yes, please. Next item is a resolution of the board of the Opalaka Community Redevelopment Agency amending, approving, and adopting an amendment to the Opalaka Community Redevelopment Agency's general operating and tax recommendment fund budget for the fiscal
year commencing October 1, 2025 to September 30th, 2026. reallocating funds from building purchase, streetscapes, and green projects to commercial grants as set forth in exhibit A, directing the interim
director to transmit a copy of said amend budget to the state of Florida oversight board, providing for incorporation of recitals, providing for serverability, providing for conflict and repealer, providing for scripters error, and providing for an effective date. Uh so basically we had um I know
this is about our second or third budget amendment. Um the first one was because of the mistake that was done with the carryover. Um this this was required because we didn't anticipate basically
how much money we had left over in our commercial um grant program. And there's some there's two or three projects that we have to finish that we don't have money in that line item to finish because
the money went away. We didn't budget enough at the beginning of the year. We should have budget more. Um so basically we had some savings in building purchases. Um we had some money in building purchases and we had some money in the green space initiative that we're not
going to use. And so we're moving that money into the commercial rehab program so that we can finish awards excellence um >> ENT Traders and um
14500 Northwest 27th Avenue >> which is the space across the street and fish space. Now Rudy's is going to go there. Um but that whole plaza that's there. Um, so we need to move the money over and we just can't move the money
over because the state will reject it. So the money is sitting there. It's not like we're getting money from somewhere else. There was a savings in building purchases. I think we had budgeted, you know, a million something for building purchases. And you'll see at the end of your on your discussion items, we have
purchased in the past 30 days uh 2100 Lincoln and 1441 uh Northwest 27th Avenue. And after we made those two purchases, we still had $200,000 left in that line item. We don't plan on making any more purchases this year. So, we're
able to move that money uh to commercial so that we can complete the commercial facade grants that we have awarded. >> Do I have a motion to open it up for discussion? >> Move it. >> Okay, that is so moved.
>> Madam Chair, >> yes. Uh board member Taylor. >> All right. Um, M. >> And if you all need to know where the paper where the um markers are, we have the numbers here so we can let you know where the item starts. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Then
>> Oh, it looks like we do need it. Yes. So, it looks like we need it. >> That's what I was going to I'm trying to figure out where you got the 200,000 from. >> So, I think this one starts on page 20. That is that correct? Is that if I'm following along? No, >> I think from page 10 because the other one is from it >> starts on page 20.
>> 20. The budget itself is on 23. >> Yeah, 23. >> And if you see in the comment section >> Yeah, cuz I see like the 1.5 move. >> Yep. >> 50 move, 100 move, 275 moved. But I'm
trying to figure out what do you That's more than maybe I'm reading the wrong thing. >> It's um we moved 125 into commercial grants. That's all we did. We moved 125,000 to commercial grants. Am I right, Ro? >> Yes, that is correct. We
>> we we got that 125. We have 50 from the streetscape project. We have 50 from green projects and we got 25 from building purchases. >> That's a very small page. what he said. Yep.
>> You were intelligent. I took your picture. >> Any other comments? >> Me too. >> Any other comments? If not, we can open this up. Yes. Okay. Board member Santiago. >> Thank you. Okay. Um what we try with this resolution is to uh move the
funding uh to keep you know operation to helping uh uh commercials of places >> right? >> Yeah. And by the no >> no he's talking to somebody. >> Oh okay. And uh by the meantime
uh Mr. worker. Uh please, I know the budget is very short, but try to make these pages bigger like that. We can see it, you know, the number. Please. Okay. Add us added some money from uh uh from um what is ink and all that. And plus,
let me tell you, I need a I need a pen. Yeah, we don't have no pen. Um and no water, too. Okay. Yeah. Keep in mind keep in mind to have some funding for that, please. But thank you. >> We will do better. >> Any other comments related to this
resolution? Any other comments? >> Since we put our dinner orders in, like I said, I'll go in. >> Well, with that, I think we can open it up for a vote. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Board member Taylor, member Bass,
>> yes. >> Board member Santiago, >> board member Irving, Vice Chair Williams, >> yes. >> Resolution has passed. Okay. Can we move on to the next resolution? >> Yes, ma'am. Next resolution is resolution of the Opalaka Community
Redevelopment Agency authorizing the executive director to execute an agreement with Eel Waters and Company LLC for consulting services related to the extension of the OCR sunset date and adjustment of the CRA's community redevelopment area boundaries waving any
formal bidding requirements due to the urgency of the need for the services providing for an incorporation of sidos providing for an effective date. >> Move it. age 46. >> Second. >> Oh, I didn't move it. >> Yeah, they were they were so excited
that they moved it. So, let's open it up. So, over to you, Mr. Manager. >> So, this item is um an item to contract with uh Eel Waters and Company to develop our redevelopment an update to our redevelopment plan and
the finding of necessity. So there are two things that we now we don't we don't expire until 2033 I believe um which is still a couple years away but with all the things that are happening in the state with them you
know messing with u talking about changing CRA laws there's even talk at the county about you know making changes to CRA's um I think we're okay but in order for us to ensure that we're okay
we need to start this process now. Now, this is also tied into item number one because in order for item number one to be successful and for us to even be in the game for item number one, we will need the extension until 2047 because that's going to help with some of the
financing piece that we would have to contribute to item number one. So, in order for again our P3 our P3 partnership to be solid, the state to look at us and say these guys are serious. Um, I believe that we need to
start this process now so that they can see that we're working towards our finding of necessity, that we're working towards our update of the redevelopment plan, uh, and that we're moving forward. Now, this is going to take some time. It's not going to happen overnight. This usually takes, you know, at least nine
nine 10 months, uh, to complete. There's a lot of data uh, research that's required. Um and so you know I have made the decision which you know to bring this to you I can't make this decision on my own. Uh there are firms out there
not many firms out there there are quite a few firms um that do this type of work. Um Mr. Waters has been in this um community day county for a long time doing this type of work. Um he also has
done work for Opalaka before. Uh so he knows the city um well and so this is your decision to make. Uh we are waving competitive bidding. I make no you know I don't hide away from that. I
know what we're doing and I hope you know what we're doing because it says it clearly in the title of the resolution that we're waving all competitive requirements. Um, and so I'm going to ask you to support this uh so that we can move forward and we will work with
Mr. Waters and his firm uh collaboratively with our office and his office to make sure we start bring out a a good project so that we could submit to the county for the extension of life of the opalaka. And I would like for Mr. Waters uh if he
would like to make a little talk or something. >> Good evening members of the board. For the record, my name is For the record, my name is Elbert Waters, president of Eel Waters and Company LLC. I am homegrown. Uh grew up
in the Rainbow Park area. attended Rainbow Park Elementary, uh Carol City Middle, well at that time it was junior high uh back in the day. Uh and also a graduate of Miami New Orleans Senior High School. Uh and I have been involved
in this type of work for well over 30 years. Uh I started I was away for a number of years, college and working. brought back home to help with the the Opaaka uh CDC uh
back in the day. I was the first planner for the organization and I as I mentioned I grew up in in the city so I'm well in tune in terms of uh where we were and where we're trying to go in that regard. I have with me my my
partner also Mr. Jeffrey Watson who's a part of this team and I'll entertain any questions that you all may have before >> board members. >> Um Madam Chair, >> yes. Okay, Mr.
director. Well, oh, >> I'm really excited to see this come forth because I've been asking you to expand the boundaries of the CRA, but only question I have is will this be inclusive of I know we spoke about a couple years ago updating the bylaws
or is just for the boundaries as well as the extension of the sunset date. >> Right. >> All right. Did we we didn't want to entertain that in this? >> No, this is se that would be separate completely. Um and so I think updating
the bylaws is something that we would workshop with uh the man to my right. >> Got it. All right. That's my only question. Thank you. Oh, you said up to nine months for completion of the report. >> Any other questions? >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Waters.
>> Thank you. >> Would we like to open it up for discussion here on the board? Okay. If not, then we will call the vote. >> Board member Irving, >> yes. >> Board member Taylor, >> yes. >> Board member Bass.
>> Board member Santiago, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Williams, >> yes. >> Resolution has passed. or or the socks. Resolution number four,
>> a resolution of the Opalaka um CRA accepting audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended 2023 and for the fiscal year ended 2024, copies of which are attached here to as exhibit A and B respectively and providing for an effective date. Um you
can pass this and then we can um we because of the scheduling issue we the auditors weren't not here um but we can pass it just to accept it but if you want a presentation on it we can schedule that for our next meeting and this came about because I was doing some
work for another CRA and I said oh my god I forgot to put this on our agenda for opalaka and it's basically you all have received this already >> you received it when it was done but we haven't officially accepted it as a board and so that's why
we have this resolution here to officially accept it. Um it's already posted on the website. It's already been done and you guys have received everybody received it. We just haven't formally accepted it by resolution. Uh and so that we're asking you to do that. So we check that mark off. Um and if you
want a presentation by the auditors, we can have them come at the next meeting. >> Got it. So how does this board feel about a presentation at our next meeting? Okay, I hear one. It's not necessary. Okay. Okay. So then with that, uh, does would
someone like to make a motion to approve resolution number four? >> Move for discussion. I have one quick question. >> Ah, okay. Yes, we'll open it up for discussion. It's been seconded by board member Bass. >> All right. So, um, Mr. Director, I see
this is Tut 2324. So the other ones are going to come because we still this is >> we haven't they're still working on one more which is at the end of 25. >> Okay. >> So that hasn't come out yet. When that comes out we'll bring it to us.
>> Okay. I think we just I think we're in the final >> Yes, we are in the final stages of the current 25 audit. But this this >> submitted with the city in June. >> This current resolution only refers to the 23 and 24.
>> No, we're only >> you received it. We passed it out. >> Send it to the state. >> We pass it out. I mean, the city may have done it because it's together, but we need to have it on our records that we accept. I know the state has it. You
have it. Everybody has it, like I said, >> but we as a CRA board never put it on our agenda where somebody can check and say, "Oh, they actually did what they're supposed to do and and and pass a resolution accepting it." >> Board member Santiago,
>> thank you. Um, Mr. Worker, why we are so behind in this outage? Why we are behind? Um, >> that's what I see here because we behind
for September 30, 2023. >> No, we're not behind. We're only behind in doing this resolution. These have already been done. >> It's already be done. >> Yeah. And they've already been given to you. >> We already presenting all this to the 24th to the state.
>> Yes. But we as a board didn't do the official action of passing a resolution accepting the audit. So that they know that you got it. It's very simple thing. >> Well, okay. It's very simple. Yeah. We
have to believe that that's this is already be done. >> Yes. >> And we had to vote for it. Even we don't have a hearing from. >> Oh, it's attached. >> It's attached. Okay. Um I want to be sure
that that we do the thing right. Okay. >> That's what we're doing right now. Making sure we do it right. >> Thank you. Any other comments? >> And by the way, this is one of those things that only one person in the state of Florida will check, but then when
that one person checks, it becomes a a big deal. So that's all we're trying to avoid is for someone to say, "Oh, you didn't do this thing right." And so we're saying, "Okay, yeah, we gave it to them. The audit was done because that's the most important thing, right? That the audit gets done. The audit was done.
Um, we passed it out. We gave it to the state cuz the city controls the audit process by the way. Um but we didn't do what our job is to do which is to have this resolution presented to you and you formally accept the audit and that that's it.
>> Yeah. >> Chair, just a quick question. >> Yes. Board member Bass. >> Just out of curiosity, if this does not pass tonight, then what? >> Nothing. >> Okay. Just just wondering. >> I mean, but to his point though, hopefully no one finds it, right? and
then it has to come back to us for approval at a later date. And so, um, Mr. Mr. um, manager, I appreciate you actually going back and confirming that it wasn't voted on and bringing it to us for a vote. So, do we want to open this up for a
vote? Okay, let's call the question then. >> Board member Taylor. >> Board member Bass, >> yes. >> Board member Santiago, >> uh, yes. >> Board member Irving, >> yes. Vice Chair Williams. >> Yes. >> Resolution has passed.
>> Great. On to resolution number five. >> Resolution number five is um the resolution of the Opalaka Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing the exe executive director to execute an agreement with PATH Housing Solutions
Inc. for educational and coaching services to benefit residents of the OCR's community redevelopment area, providing for incorporation of recitals, and providing for an effective date. >> Move it. >> Okay.
>> Do we have a presentation? >> Mr. Randy England is the um president. >> Good evening everyone. Um, some of you may be familiar with me. I the owner of the western portion of the barracks Douglas Road Saber Dunad Alibaba. Um,
I've been in the city of Opalaka for the since 20 2015. I've uh had the opportunity to invest in a variety of different opportunities here. Mainly single family, I'm sorry, mainly multif family and also single family. Uh during that time I had the opportunity I think
it was 2014 on the 51 units named Aswan Med right and at that time um we when we first took it over forclosure forclosing on the property we stepped into that opportunity where was a bit of
a the tenants were in bad really bad space uh we stepped in provided services for the tenants like uh local food bank like uh basically all type of services BJ Sams
Costco wave the annual fees funds together etc and around that and there's other services provided along with the kids as well uh but around that we were able to see a major difference and shift in the well-being of the tenants in terms of their dignity everything that
they were able to just shift their overall disposition and with that that's what created this whole entire program uh And then we decided to formalize it into an actual nonprofit organization and create it as an opportunity for to
create movement from tenency into home. So unfortunately lost senior gave me the opportunity to present to them. They um offered me the the the confidence to move in front of the board and that's why I'm here today. So if I if there's
any specific questions that I want to mad. >> Uh yes, board member Taylor. >> Okay. Um love the program and I think we you did this in another city, right? >> Um we are in conversation with a couple others. >> Okay. I thought I recognized this from
somewhere else, a path to home ownership, but good program. Thank you, Mr. Walker, for bringing that. >> Uh yes, board member Santiago. Uh >> uh thank you. Um uh vice mayor chair and I tried to uh figure out you know the
order of the uh uh board uh meeting that we have. I know be uh before uh we starting any discussion in our commissioner meeting, we we uh pull up the uh regular agenda that in this case
is supposed to be this one. The agenda that we have for the CRA and and from there we have you know any kind of pullups or whatever for discussing but I don't see that that happened here. Um, and the reason that I ask you by vice
may u vice chair is because I have a concern about the uh item number five in this agenda. >> Okay. >> Okay. um uh board member Taylor asking a question to the gentleman
and I don't see I don't think the correct answer one is he asked you if you already do that type of program in another city you say no not yet you talking in another city but you're not
started that now um it's a good program I don't want to say anything about it but We're gonna be probably the first city that we're gonna try. But to do that, I need a little more on informations, more information about uh
the uh benefits, real benefits that we're going to have in the city, especially for the resident and people that they really live here in Opalaka and they really need to have that type of help. Uh when we talking to helping people sometime what we looking is people that they can afford, okay?
whatever they bring uh to our city. And my recommendation for the board it is we need more discussion and more a little more information for this item uh regarded about
the money that we going to get because I think it's also like a partnership with the with that uh company know with this uh organization uh is money is going to come from CRA.
Yes, they're requesting, I believe, 123,000 for the program. >> For the program. Okay. >> It's not that we will be writing a check to them for 100. Just make sure everybody understands that. We're not writing them a check for $123,000. We will, if you pass this tonight, we
will sit down with their attorneys and our attorneys and come up with an agreement. Um, and that agreement will set the milestones and how the money is dispersed and what the expectations are. um from our point of view in terms of invoicing and and milestones in the
program. So it's not like we'll be you know giving a check for 120 and we hope that it works out. If at some point during the process of this program we we're figuring that this is not working for us then we would have every right to
withhold you know to to to back out of uh of the contract for whatever reason that may be. Um because I I have talked to some board members and you know people made it seem like we were just writing a check for $123,000 and that was it. That's not the case. We
have to do with all of these things that you pass. We follow up with agreements >> whether it's a development uh whether it's on the development side or a grant agreement. When we pass for um money people getting commercial facade uh programs all that follows up with an
agreement. This will be a grant agreement. Uh, and we will, you know, sit down and work out the nuts and bolts and they will get paid even with Miss W, Mr. Waters. They're they're they're going to receive an agreement. He's not getting, you know, 100 whatever thousand a blank check and then come back to us
in nine months. It will be paid over time based on milestones. Um, and so I just wanted to clear that up because I had more than one council member um ask me about that. Uh, if it's not working out for us, either with Mr. waters or with path or with anything else, we
always have the ability to to to um to back up. >> Thank you, Mr. Manager. And Mr. Santiago, board member Santiago, I think what I hear you asking for, and please correct me if I'm wrong, is that you would like to see a presentation so that you have more information about the program. Is that correct?
>> Yes. of uh vice chair and we have more information about really what we going to do um to be a partnership with that uh institution. Uh I read in here in the language like the PATH housing solution
in uh they're going to have an agreement with us for educational and coaching and that's something that I think if we are not make a mistake I don't heard before about it what kind of
education we going to have for when I heard I think I think forgot from whom is uh we going to helping people to go and renting these places with the ocean to buy it. >> No. >> And uh and uh >> excuse
>> that that's what I heard before and that's what I need more information about whatever you know whatever transaction that we planning to do in the future. >> My suggestion is to see if we can you know bring that for the next uh board meeting that we have when more
information and a better presentation. So, madam uh or board chair Urban has a recommendation or wants to make a comment. >> Yes. I was going to ask Mr. Randy if he can just because he's not trying to do anything for people to rent to own. He's
teaching people a ninemonth course if I if I may you all a nine-month course to educate the people and teach them what to do to become home owners. not to rent but become home owners in our city. And
it's not ju it's for everybody. We don't want it's it's from my understanding it's not just for Opaaka residents. It's to bring people from the outside into Opaaka as well as maintain renters in
Opalaka and turn them into home owners. I wish he would do it with business people but >> maybe that's next. So, can I can I maybe then build on that? So, um Mr. England, might I ask that you uh elaborate on
what the program is so that this board up here has a full understanding of what you are proposing for what I believe is $133,000. >> So, what path housing solution is, we have five pillars of personal success and development. Those p five pillars consist of personal development, career
development, financial literacy, health and wellness as well as homework. when someone completes the ninemonth as you stated which is delivered in eight weeks eight week increments as well >> and how many people I don't want to interrupt you but I'm I'm going to get to the points that I think they want to hear how many people
>> so the launch would be 50 participants of the program and then during that 8week course we have various speakers that that presenters that speak on various specific topics for example the first two to three weeks is habit training you know habits are the beginning and the end of everything so
we touch on that Then the next two weeks is just uh personal development as it relates to uh uh planning, organizing, you name it. Then the other modules speak on career development piece, speaks on resume writing, social skills as relates to team building,
communication skills, >> financial gaming, >> excellent financial literacy as well. Uh that's a big deal. You know, budgeting, savings, uh we take it a step further. Financial space is my wheelhouse. So we do we teach people how to read the stock market. We go into money market
accounts, how to invest in your life insurance policy, take a little bit of deep dive because what we're looking to do is create when people get into the home ownership piece of it that they have they're thriving sustainable home ownership. That's what it's about. So you asked the question, you made a
statement earlier that it's so what we're doing is a lot of what's has already been done, but we're making it into a comprehensive program and we're we're b we're making it very specific because what we did over the past Since October of 2023, there were curriculum
developers that were brought in. There were public health officials that were brought in. There were speaking coaches that were brought in. We crafted this program over the past two and a half plus years. The reason why we're here now is happen stance around conversation CRA around my project in Barracks and I
asked about program and they allowed me the opportunity to elaborate and present it. So when someone completes the program, by the way, we also match them with down payment assistance. So they will have they will also have their credit will be improved. Their ability
to earn more money will also be there as well. Their financial acumen will be there as well. Health and wellness, chronic diseases, things like that. We get to save that off. Then the home ownership piece, which during that home ownership piece, we get them the eight hour certification for down payment assistance, right? So then we match that
with down payment. And then the second phase of it if it applies to the city of Blocka. I'm also a developer. I build homes as well. So I have identified opportunities lock where we could also develop two home ownership. Let's call it the affordable
uh dedication that Miami date county has designated. Uh and also this conversation around I haven't well I'm in the process of developing my seven and a half acres on the north portion. We're putting multif family mixed use there. But on the southern portion, um there's a I'm carving out roughly three to five acres for townhouse development
as well. So the idea is to cycle people through the program, place them in home ownership opportunities, and then continue that wherever we can throughout the city. So that's in a nutshell and if there's anything I can answer around that, I'd be more than that. >> Vice Chair, >> uh board member Santiago.
>> Yeah. Um can I uh heard from Mr. Walker? He say something that you want to we know about people or something like that. You mentioned it before. >> Just wanted to make sure that he pointed out how many people were in the program.
Um, so that he everyone knows what we're covering. >> And just so you know, from my point of view on this, um, home ownership is one of those things that we need to check off. I'm all about checking off, right? I'm not saying that this program is I
have my questions still about this program. and the final outcome because yes everybody goes through this process but is there inventory here in Opaaka CRA for example um to like I'm believe me I'm aware of
this is there inventory in opala CRA to handle those 50 people after they've graduated and no >> it's not there yet it's not there I understand that but I think that if we can give life lessons
or or these type of classes to people within our area and expose them to these type of opportunities, then we should probably do that. Now, as I said to you before, if things aren't working out, if and for example, you all you allowed me
to hire Miami service corps to do cleanup for our city and we put them in you sometimes I know some of you have seen them now. They have on the orange jackets with OCR on them and they're supposed to have six people out there five days a week cleaning up stuff and
they're supposed to have a schedule and we are on top of them so that there's no day where they're bringing three people. There's no day where they're getting away with bringing two people or not or or not coming at all. We we try to make sure that we're on top of them every day
so that we're getting our full $130,000 um uh fee out of this this uh program that we're doing. I I look at this the same way. We're going to give Mr. England this opportunity to
to put his program into work. If it doesn't work or if we see that it's not working, then we will have an out. If there are 25 people showing up to workshops and classes instead of
50 people, we have to sit down and have a conversation with Mr. Franklin about that. If there's not the participation there, if there's not what everything is said here, if it's not going the way that it should be going, we will have that option to move out. Now, my only my
my thing is that we haven't done anything like we haven't done historic preservation. We haven't done infrastructure. Councilwoman Urban, I shouldn't even say this because it's going to get me in trouble with her >> on my questions put something like we
haven't we we haven't we haven't we haven't done parts. You know, there's certain things that we haven't checked off the list of what CRA are supposed to do. We've done a lot. Home ownership is not one of those things that we've done. So listen, I still have my questions.
Um, I told you all I have my questions. Uh, I am willing to give the program an opportunity. Uh, and if it doesn't work, doesn't work. I'm going to bring it back to you and say, "Listen, this ain't working out for me. This is all
not working, and I would like to end this this grant agreement and we divert the rest of the fund somewhere else." But a we're not writing a check to the program for 133,000. It will be on, you know, monthly basis
or whatever or program basis. Um and B, we have the right to exit at any time, but let's give them the opportunity. >> Um Okay. Um >> board member Santiago. >> Yeah. To finalize my statement. Okay. Um
Mr. around it. I like I I like the idea to bring all that type of program here in the city and this type of um places to live. Okay. For people is is very good about
listen what Mr. uh worker, you know, say um my my my opinion or my recommendation is uh we need a little bit more um let's put it like that education with that okay and try to also in you know in this
type of meeting but um Mr. Walker inviting you know people from the public okay to like that they know what's going on and have the opinion for the you know for the public in here in the audience. Um like I say I I like to support that
but I like to uh you know to uh giving know more chance and more time you know to study everything good because I don't want nothing happen like the way you say in the future if it doesn't work and you have to come back and we're going to lose there. Okay. And why we don't um
you know do something you know today and for the next um meeting uh we can have more information for u Mr. Randy >> okay for Mr. Randy and bringing a like um a a very solid um um presentation to
us and and like that I'm like I say I love it I like it but I like to see more information for this for this item. That's my opinion, my recommendation all my colleagues here to uh defer that item for the next commission for the next uh
board board uh meeting uh next month. I think that we're going to have another meeting and and try to learn more about it. >> Thank you so much for your comments. Uh board member, I believe board member Irvin wants to make a few comments. >> I I do. I I'm going to say this.
I became a home owner at 20. It wasn't easy. We didn't have anybody that took us to a program and sat us down and educated us and walked us through. As a matter of fact, they didn't even want to give us the loan because of our ages. To be
honest with you, I like the program to give. People are out here paying $2300 a month for rent and I've been a homeowner here in Opalaka for more than 34. I think I'm in
about my 36th year, and my mortgage has never been over $1,000. So, if I can go through a 9-month course and become a home owner,
I think that we should give it a chance. It's not like I'm I'm excited that he decided to bring this in Opalaka. He's already a a a business owner here in Opalaka. He owns the barracks that's right down the street from me. He has other properties
here in Opalaka. He could have taken this program to any other city around us. But instead, he thought it not robbery to bring it to our city to turn some of our day-to-day workers that's out there paying so much money for rent
to be able to put them in a home that's that's theirs for life. And maybe one person out that 50 may decide that they enjoyed that process so much. So maybe they're going to buy another house and another house and create generational wealth for their family
opposed to renting for the next hundred years and have nothing. So my suggestion to my board members is a little different from what my colleague is suggesting. I'm suggesting that we pass it. we give the opportunity because we
all know where we're going to start, but none of us know where we're going to end. We start with this program and like uh Mr. Walker said, if it doesn't work, we separate it and we keep it moving. But what if it works? We have 50,
possibly 50 more homeowners in our city and they're not having to pay these crazy amounts of down payments that they're asking for to buy a home. right now they they're actually going to give money to help these people come with
their down payment. So, it's a process. It it it puts me almost in the mind of the other program that's out there, but this is actually educating the the people on becoming home owners and
other stuff that make you a better homeowner. So, I mean, I could come up with six people right now that I can sign up for the program and be confident that it could happen. He just said he's getting ready to build his own stuff right here in the city. So, it's not
like I think we should give him a chance. >> Thank you so much, Member Urban. Um, before you go, board member Bass, >> I just want to echo what, um, board member Urban said. I became a homeowner at 23. She got me by two by three years.
But in saying all that, I saw Mr. Ry's presentation and I was very very much impressed on the just the imagination that their organization have to bring this to our city. And if my statistics
are correct, I think only eight or 8 to 10% of our residents are home owners. Is that's what it is, right? 8 to 10. >> That's the current pipeline now. >> Yeah. Right now there's roughly around 3,000 multif family units permitting. There's maybe 10 single family
>> and we have what approximately 16 17,000 residents. >> This is going to allow our residents to learn lifong lessons in addition to being homeowners. And I like the fact
that he's preparing them or he wants to prepare them to succeed. And I have not seen a presentation of this magnitude in many many many years. I understand my colleague um Santiago and
maybe it's because he has not seen the presentation. I wish you had brought it. It sells itself. You could have just passed it to us, showed it on the screen and it would have been done. I am going to support this 100%. and would give me
confidence in knowing that if it doesn't work for us, we walk away. We shake hands and we're gone. But I sincerely believe that our residents will benefit from everyday knowledge. We have adults who don't know how to balance a checkbook.
Furthermore, work their credit. So all of this is going to be a part of it. This is liflong lessons and hopefully it can be generational lifelong lessons where mom and dad, sister, brother, uncle would teach the next generation on this is how
we do it. We have had generations I'm not selling if I'm preaching. Um generations of families and I'm not saying there's anything wrong with renting whose rent for three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10 generations and have not experienced the white picket fence. I would love for my
community to experience the white picket fence where their children could go outside, take their shoes off, and run on the grass. That's what I want to see. I'm going to support this. I'm going to pray for this that this manifests in the
way that we want it to be. because I would love to walk down the street in four years, 2 years and see this or speak to residents who have gone through that program and say, "My life is better for it." This is more than just building blocks
brick and mortar. It's more than that. You're dealing emotional, um, mental, physical, everything. It's like the Bible, all 66 Bible uh, books of the Bible in one. So, I applaud and I'm going to stop talking. I am going to support this and thank you for bringing it.
>> Thank you so much, board member. Board member Taylor, >> board member Taylor would like to give some um remarks before we go back down to board member Santiago. >> Question. Um so the down payment assistance is 50% is 50% match from >> sorry >> the down payment assistance is a 50%
match. >> No. So the down payment assistance is my there's like a multitude of different down payment programs. Sax, you know, you name it. Miami date county has quite a few. So depending on the economic need of the particular participant or the home buyer, we match them with that. So I know one program out there has up to
like 100,000, but nobody ever really >> Thank you. I just want to follow up on his question since you're on it. It was one of my questions. So when you say match, you were saying that you are matching them with a program that exists outside, not that you are matching the town payment amount. Correct? So they
are not getting money from you. You are matching them with another program. Is that correct? >> We are. we are matching them with a a program uh as it relates to the existing down payment assistance programs that now one of the down down the road in terms of when path gets to a point where we
are actively developing we are actively providing single family homes for our participants we do plan to carve out from proceeds our own down payment system because right now some of the programs are a little restrictive so with that you know we could buy down
points right to reduce instead instead of 6% we can make it 5%. We could uh instead of you know 10 to $20,000 towards down towards closing costs. So we have that opportunity on our within our own call it toolbox to provide that down payment assistance as well. So that's down the road. So that's another
iteration of the program. But right now we're matching with current existing programs. >> And you have a contract with those current existing programs to >> No contract. They're they're they're a multitude of programs that are out there. >> Yeah. Yeah. They're not guaranteed. They're not. But there's an entire
county that's applying for these uh for these dollars. So ultimately, it's not guaranteed. >> It's not a guarantee. So there's no contract. But not only just with the county, there's like 20 23 other programs out there. Not any banking programs, philanthropic programs is we've done quite a bit of research about what's possible in terms of what we can
layer and stack. Uh so there's a lot of different programs out there that we can tap into. >> Right. Also, you said 50 residents at 9 months and 8week cohorts, right? >> Yes. >> And then is there a cost to the resident to get in? is there is so we're making a nominal I'm well
initially I was thinking $50 per person and the only reason only reason is buy in skin in the game uh I have it that based on the all the information I've gotten so far from the various programs again we did a lot of different research we did focus groups to that's why the
past two years we've been developing this program free is very ineffective it's not working very well I think once you have buying from the tenants as it relates to having skin in I think they pay attention and then in addition to that they have the opportunity to get
substantial down payment uh to buy a home and or a home designated to them through development whatever we're able to make available. >> Okay. And then my last question, are you in contact with any banks going back to the guarantee
>> that say okay you once you finish this program you can apply with this bank and then we can >> yeah have so Miami date county in certain programs they have designated banks already right that you have to apply through um what I have done part he's one of our consultants gentleman by
the name is Tomar Williams he's been in the space probably almost 28 years now so I brought him in to consult and basically share with us around that banking protocol as it relates to which bank we can match up with various programs and or we'd like to approach new banks and bring them in as well too.
Uh but there are designated banks for designated type of programs that what we do on the front end of the program we qualify people together and then we have an opportunity to see where we can match them as well >> board member Santiago. Oh, thank you by by Sher. Um,
I really want to say that okay uh the comment for my colleague uh board member bass uh is open a little bit you know my heart and and also you know made me think you know sometimes uh uh to all
this process that we going to have. And now with the question that the ma um the board member Taylor asking you um that's what I say before you see we not we don't have anything in place like when banks or any organization to
guarantee whoever going to come to uh renting there or take the class for buy you know the house. one one one question that I have for you, okay, is um I bought my
house, okay? Like like a first first buyer, okay? And I believe that they require from me 3% in that time. We're talking about 25 years ago, okay? It is still because you don't have any
information from banks right now. you don't have any bank in place, you know, to helping people with the with the time coming and that's one of the thing that we've been talking about >> that we need that we need more information about it. But it mean I love to support that because I know it's
going to help in our community but we have to be sure what we do. Now my colleagues you want to doing it tonight it's fine but remember what I think uh the vice chair say okay that we we going
to be follow okay that situation this item and if we see is not working we going to say stop and that that's what we say before I think that's you or >> I don't know that I said that but um >> somebody that's okay you we're going on
an hour and a half I So I I get it. Um but do you have a question for Mr. England? >> Yeah, I know for Mr. England he already deemed he don't have anything in play when banks or any inh organization or institution to helping these people when uh when credit or to apply and and and
be a secting you know to be owners for the house. >> Got it. >> For sure. It's people that going to come from outside. Now let me ask you a question. Uh how much is any unit going to cost there? Oh, whatever you're going to build from uh
>> there's a there's a uh Miami date county standard. I think it goes up there. Right now it may have gone up to four 475 480 perhaps. >> 475. >> We will stay within the Miami date. >> $475,000. >> Yes, sir. >> But let's just say that's not saying
that. Okay. Here is it's a it's a balancing act. And just I want to address your question. Give me an opportunity. So the average single family here in Opalak is right around 500,000 somewhere in that ballpark, you know, which is amazing to me. >> Yeah. >> Um, so
you're talking about housings or you're talking about uh apartment units. That's the thing that you say that you're going to have some apartment units and town houses. So the home ownership portion of the program primarily in order to get the most bang for the buck in order to
do economies of scale town homes town homes to me are the way to go and there's not enough land to do infill single family housing honestly. So I think in order to provide that home ownership piece, town homes would be the way way to go and and actually I have done research around the city of
Opalaka, there are opportunities to develop within the city because I you know what what I try to do in any city that we have conversation with is preliminary do research to see if there is available land. So Opalaka has available land. There will have to be
some different zoning considered um through the live local act perhaps where you need to get a little creative but there is opportunities for development in the city of Opalaka which I'd love to go through at a different time. Uh but I I want you to understand something we sat in your office 30 to 40 minutes
sometime last week. Um I I apologize for not communicating the program effectively so that now you're left with questions that you're not clear on. So I I'm I'm responsible for that. Right. But I will say that what we're creating is a partnership with the city of Palcoa. That's what we're after. We're not just
after money. So I I you know, I do well enough. Not, you know, but so may I fish you? May I finish? But so it's not for me to be here to get a couple of dollars to do a program. This is a very personal thing for me, right?
Because because without the opportunity for home ownership, it's a good chance I may not be here in front of you now creating the opportunity for others. So that's why I'm doing it because I have the opportunity to go and I speak to different organizations and do different things and I see where it's going and you could even see in the city of
Opalakin which is the same multiple other cities home ownership is dwindling in a very major rate. I send out an article today uh sharing about different different the lack of opportunities in home ownership. And so this is just my part. So I'm doing what I think is
right. So I'm asking you to join me with that and if you choose to wonderful I'd appreciate it. >> No thank you and I want to say I want to say thank you for your good intention you go to come here and helping you know my community you know thank you very
much but what I told you I believe and remember in my office uh one of the thing that I like for any uh person you know come to making an offer okay to the city to be partner or whatever is to tell the truth to tell the truth. Okay.
About what's going on today in life out there outside and what is the reality? Uh $475,000 house or apartment no matter what where in Opalaka uh by my brother they selling a house the other day for $700,000 and
that's incredible. Uh I think in front of the uh uh the house from uh um >> by uh share bath and that's fine. Okay. But whoever buy the house, whoever buy whoever buy that house or whoever going to buy that apartment, okay, or that
unit that you're going to build, but it's more have to be ready for come when uh good credit, okay, good teams and everything. That's what I want to know. I love the idea. I don't say that I'm not going to support it. I supported that, but that's what I asked him before
for more information. So, I'd like to maybe I I would love to jump in here. I'd love to make a couple of comments and then what I will do is move us to uh ultimately getting to some type of resolution here on this board. Um if that's if that's okay with
everyone, that's not a problem. >> Beautiful. So, um the question that I have for you is are do you have any matching funds? So, you mentioned that you're a nonprofit. There are lots of organizations that provide grants to nonprofits. Um, I know that you mentioned this is a pilot program and so
I want to just acknowledge that this is something that is for the most part untested, but have you gone out to other institutions to find matching funds to support this program or or will we be the sole uh funer of this program? >> Um, there are definitely I'm in the grant process of with other
organizations as well. Um there's probably right three off the top of my head right now that we are actively um applying for grants for as well. Um so yes. >> Beautiful. So you're applying for them but none secured just yet. So I think what I might um what I might share is
I've had the opportunity to listen that I would be most concerned that this is a pilot program. Uh you know registering 50 people. I think you and I had this conversation. Getting 50 people in the door is one thing. how many people will stay throughout the entire nine months.
So, by the time you finish the program, how many people do you have at the end of the program? But then there are some truly some comments that were made up here about what's happening in our community that also present a huge challenge to getting these these residents where we want them to be.
First of all, the market is just incredibly high. So, folks being able to buy right now, it is it is really really hard. and the money that you're going to get from a down payment assistance program ultimately likely will not be
enough to get you to buy a home. And I want this board to realize that we could invest in this program, but uh uh our manager mentioned this, we have an inventory problem here in Opalaka. So we will this program ultimately will invest
in people, not necessarily invest in building homeowners in Opalaka. So there's a very strong likelihood that we will invest in this program and most of these people will purchase homes outside of Opalaka. I do understand that you are building homes right now or will build
homes in the future in Opalaka, but these program the the um the the barracks that you own, I don't believe that's even been started in terms of construction and building. Is that correct? So this is something that would happen in the future. I think if I were um so I I think I do have some serious
like I I love the intention behind this program. I will say that I think programs like this exist. There are programs like this in Opalaka. I think you are taking it to another level. You are adding lots of different elements in here. Um if I were to make a recommendation to this board, I might
make make the recommendation that we small we start smaller. I think $133,000 for a program for a first-time program that does not have any other funders at the table. I might say that's a lot of money. I might recommend that we reduce that amount of money. Let's see how the
program works for 70 or um let's say for half of this for 25 participants and then maybe we look at something else in the future for a second cohort. So that is what I might offer um to to this board knowing that we are making an investment that is um unproven and I
think there are some serious challenges that will exist at the end of this simply because of the market in which we live right now and so yeah that's what I will add. Madam Vice Chair, >> yes, board member Bass, >> I hear you and I totally understand,
but I don't think the market is going to get any better. >> If anything, it might just get a little worse, but I think everyone deserve a chance. If we were to walk away losing $132,000,
truth be told, I'll bite that. I got a chance at 23. And granted, that was 36 37 years ago. My house of 43 is was only $53,000. And then back then, that was a lot of
money. I didn't know how I was going to pay for this house, but God made a way. I don't think we should not support this because we win some and we lose some. I would prefer to try and lose than never try.
>> Sure. And I didn't say not try. I maybe I I made the recommendation that I think we do it on a smaller scale knowing that it is unproven and that there are some serious market challenges. So as opposed to having a first cohort of 50 people and an investment of $133,000 which is a
lot of money for a program that has not been invested in as someone who works in the philanthropic space. This is what I do day in and day out and I've worked at nonprofit. That's a that's a big grand. Um and so I I might recommend that we start off with what is a real pilot. So that would be my recommendation. Board
member Santiago. >> Yes. I um let me tell you it's something like we given the opportunity to you know uh to Mr. Randy to uh Conning helping us with that and cooperate you know together with the city. I I like
the idea uh by by chair bring um why we don't try uh my colleague first uh to see how it's working with half of the people that we have in mind and half of
the uh amount of the uh um expens budget okay that we have here $133,000 cut it to half for now and we going to see how always work and if we like he say before we're not sure if we're going
to win or we going to lose but if we win we keeping going thank God but if we lose we're not going to lose everything >> I think that's a very good idea and I and I going to support that uh amendment if we do it >> and Mr. Dr. England, can I ask if we
were to um to approve half of the budget that's being requested, would you be able to still execute a program again, not with 50 people, but with a smaller cohort? >> Um, by the way, in my community, in terms of because there was a question
that came up around would I be able to have 50 program, but my community alone probably has about 160 >> people. Um, and we also have an affiliate program where we partner with other nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations as well, and
that's how we recruit potential people to be in the program. So, I I feel more than confident that we'd be able to bring in those 50 people. And to answer your question specifically, um, certainly, we'd have to fine-tune our budget. We'd have to take a look at it, but sure, if that's what the CRA feels
is the best fit, then we'll make it work. and know that I don't doubt that you can fill a room of 50 people. A lot of people I I'm sure will will absolutely want this. Yes. >> If if I may I'm not sure if I I I kind of feel like
my colleague down there, board member Bass, if if if I have the opportunity to possibly drive a Lamborghini, what am I doing over at the Nissan shop? buying a Nissan. So we give we have the
opportunity of giving people the opportunity 50 people an opportunity of a lifechanging envi experience. We're going to cry about $133,000 or 130 whatever thousand. We've I've
seen this CRA spend money much more money for this than this for maybe the same thing not knowing if it's going to be a win or lose. So we've done
it and in life we sometime takes a take a gamble. I've done it and at 20 I did it. We took a gamble and like you said, I didn't know how we was gonna pay that $634 some months. 63. I don't know how we were going to
pay it. But guess what? We paid it. And we paid that house off and we've and we've even had the opportunity. This is what being a homeowner will do for you. We paid that house off. We in return got an equity line of
credit. A heliloc. >> Helock. Hilock. what you want to call it and we bought a business here in Opalaka. That's what being a homeowner will do for you and that's what he would teach them while he's there like while he's there.
I didn't I had learned that the hard way. I didn't know how to make my house work for me. But it was so happened I was at the at a car dealership nonetheless nonetheless purchasing a car
for my children and the a gentleman that didn't look like me said baby you're doing this all wrong. You don't ever come to a car dealership and purchase a house. You find out what a home equity line of credit is. You get that. You
come here. You write them a check for that and you drive off with your cars. And we did that. That's what we did. We bought our children, they're back to back. So, we bought them both brand new cars. And you know how much my heock payment was a month? $230 something
dollars. >> You know how much I paid a month? Much more just to get rid of it. But who goes on a car dealership to a car lot and buy two brand new cars and pay $200 a month? Nobody. But through somebody that didn't
look like me, that's how I found out about that. These people going through this program, they're going to tell them the benefits of what they're going to be educated. Unlike us at 20 and 23, they're going to be educated to know
what you can how you make your house work for you. People do it every day. I'm in the tax business. I people come on, oh, I bought a house this year. Oh, how how was your financing? How was this? Oh, no, we didn't do that. We we put a heliloc on this house and we went
and bought that house and now we're just paying this, which means your house is paid off, which if you don't want to, you don't have to pay that $2,000 a month for um homeowners insurance. Bass and I talk about homeowners insurance and the crazy price that people are paying for homeowners insurance. These
are things that you're not educated on. I wish I had the opportunity to have this in my life at 20. I I wish that somebody would have said, "Hey, we got this program going on and they're going to teach you this and they're going to
teach you that." Even my niece who has that other program that's out there. They didn't they educated her only on finances. That was it. Only on finances. And I think it's worth the gamble. I'm
going to support the 50. And >> so I want to move us to to a vote soon. And so, uh, board member Taylor, I Okay. And then I'm going to ask somebody to make a motion, but go for it. >> Fine. Um, Mr. Director, I'm I'm good
either way. The half or the whole 50 or the whatever. The only thing I want to make sure because I do like the safety net of you saying that if it doesn't work, then we can stop it and divert. Um, but the only thing I want to make sure is that it's for open locker residents only.
>> Well, not only that, but um just so that the board is clear, like I like I um said before, you're passing this to allow me to enter into an agreement with him. We still have to enter into an agreement with each other. >> Yeah, I understand it. That's why I said you're I just want to make sure that
it's Opaaka residents only. So I don't want to >> Not only that though is that it's actually supposed to be OC residents only because our money should only be spent >> for within our boundaries. And so when Mr. England first brought it to me, he
was talking about most of the participants coming from properties that he owned with the 160 that he has over there. His property was is within our boundaries. There are certain things that we need to still flush out in terms of what we pay for. Um, for example,
vice chair brought it up, uh, which I think we can get past the fact, you know, and I brought it up as well, the inventory, you know, where there's no, they're not working on they don't have anything ready right now for anybody to move into. It's like what they say putting the cart
before the horse or >> there's nothing prepared. So after the 9month period, where are they going? Are we preparing these people to move to Miami Gardens? Are we preparing these people to move to Aventur? You know, where are we preparing them to move that to because
we don't have it here. So those things need to be worked out in ter in terms of where our money will go. I think we can get past that because there other things within the 9month program that we could support. Um, but we will have something in there that at
least the majority of the people have to come from the Opalaka CRA boundaries. They have to live there currently. Um and then we will have a clause in there that says best faith efforts should be made to if you
can't get 50 from Opalaka Siri then we'll allow you to go outside the CRA but they have to be within the city of Opalaka boundary but it can't be majority of them in the city of Opalaka boundary unless in the opalaka CRA that won't work. We will not sign off on
that. the majority would have to be opaque CRA residents in order for us to fund it. Now, if the city commission wants to take it up and go to the city board and present the same program to them and and and and and and pay the
other 50% for city residents participate, maybe that works as well. But we will be looking at this grant agreement closely to make sure that we're spending our money in the right way. You want to make a motion?
>> Okay. I'd like to call the question. >> Oh, you want to call the question? >> Yeah. >> Before that I say something about that. >> Oh, last time. Well, it's not the time. We had to be show what we doing. >> Board meant board member Santiago. Last
comment and can I ask that you make it quick? >> You know something? No, we're responsible for for whatever happened because if we are not going to have the time to do that and it's only that I that I like to support it, okay, this
item because there's something good for the community, but I heard what the director say about the budget, about the morning, about everything. And let me tell you that it's a very good idea to starting by the low and not lose everything that we have. And when we can
use that type of of money for something else, um I'm very happy when your proposal before to starting with the half and continue to see because if we don't have the 50 people in opalaka, what is the harry, you know, to go and and put, you know, everybody out. Um I
believe though before you do your vote, I I want to supporting it. Not a problem, but we're going to be responsible for anything happen in the future. I believe that cutting in half is one of the best solution that we have and made this program. We tried the
program to see if it's going to work >> and not lose the all the $133,000. >> Board board member commissioner, I'm sorry, board member uh Santiago, do you want to make a motion? >> Yes. >> Because I I think you can make a motion that is the one that is being presented
before us, the resolution, or you can make a different motion. So >> well the motion that I like to you know to do is to uh uh bring that budget to the half to starting that program first. >> Okay. >> And from there you know we see if it's
work or we you know we we in a hurry and a hurry and a hurry all the time and sometime that's the reason why we make mistake >> guys. So what I hear is we you'd like to make a motion to approve uh resolution number five with half the budget that is being presented before us.
>> Yes. By uh by share. >> Okay. Can we call the question? >> Yes, I have a second. >> Oh, can can I get a second? Can I second myself? Yes, I will second. Can we call the question? >> Board member Bass. >> Board member Santiago?
>> Yes. >> Board member Irvin? >> No. Boy, remember Taylor. >> Oh boy. >> I want to say yes, but I have, but I would like to see the pro pilot. >> Vice Chair Williams. >> Yes.
>> Resolution has passed. Yes, he voted. He said yes, right? Am I Yes, he say yes. So I believe that motion passed which is for half budget. >> Good. >> Okay. Uh can we call resolution six?
>> No, no, no. We have to pass >> the resolution. >> Yeah. >> Oh, now we have to pass the resolution itself. Okay. Thank you guys. >> Can do I need a motion and a second? >> Okay. Well, then can we call the question? >> Board member Irving.
Board member Taylor. Board member Bass. >> Yes. >> Board member Santiago. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Williams. >> Yes. >> Resolution S. Bass. >> Thank you guys for your grace with me. Okay. Resolution. Yeah. >> May May I first of all, thank you for the spirit of debate >> and thank you for the investment. Also,
I get that you guys care about Oakla. That's why we spent whatever time we spent here having this conversation because of your deep passion for the res. So, I appreciate and I look I look forward to your partnership. >> Likewise. Thank you. Resolution six, >> resolution of the board of the Opal
Locker Redevelopment Agency authorizing the funding of an amount not to exceed 100,000 for improvements to be constructed at the property located at 2495 I'm sorry, 2495 Alibaba Avenue, Opalaka, Florida. authorizing the executive director to execute any and
all documents necessary to affectuate the funding subject to the OCR's board's budget and appropriation for fiscal year 2627 providing for an incorporation of recital providing for an effective date. So, Madam Chair, >> yes.
>> Uh this is a grant agreement for a commercial facade improvement program at the old police station. I believe this is the old police station, right? >> The old police station on Alibaba. It is a open air
um activation uh similar to um in Overtown, the urban uh they're bringing it here to Opaaka. There's some infrastructure work that needs to be done um for this site to get prepared and we are offering a grant for that
work to get done. Um, we have someone here from the the group that if he wants to talk about his program, he's more than welcome to stand up and talk about his program. Let me just give you my last piece on this. You probably asking why does it say
approving and budget and appropriation for fiscal year 2627? Because as you earlier probably noticed, we had run out of money for this year in the commercial rehab program. However, we don't want them to have to wait for us for October
in order for them to start the work on their project. Um, so we're probably going to get another one like this with Chavez um for the for the for the washing place next to his place next month. But but we will do this
limited only for those people that are ready to go now and they have the money to you know to spend it themselves to get reimbured later. So we're giving a grant now. They will spend the money now to get the work done and then when we
approve our budget in 2627 they will submit their reimbursement uh for the work that was done based on the grant agreement and we will pay them in 2627. I don't plan on making this a norm. Um, but there are some spots that
we want to hit and not have to wait six months uh to have them done. We want the urban to be open in 6 months. Uh, not getting started in 6 months. So, in order to do that, you know, they need they need to have the comfort level that if they go and do it, there's an
agreement in place. Um, and that's what this is. and it allows me to uh pay them at at the next fiscal year. Again, I don't like doing this, but I think that it's necessary for us to do this to move things forward quickly and and we may do
this. I may bring one or two more back to you and then that's it. >> Beautiful. Do we want a uh motion to open it up for discussion? >> Move it. >> Okay. Just just a quick question. Can you tell me exactly what the improvements are?
Do we want a presentation from Yeah. >> Yeah. Because I don't know what's >> onage right here like 153. >> Um >> Okay. >> Vice Chair.
>> Uh board member Bass has a question on the floor and uh there's going to be a presentation. So once that's finished, I will uh come to you for a comment. Okay. Okay. The what? >> No. No. I'm okay. I'm confused with the address. That's it.
>> The address. Okay. >> That's the land the open land for the police station, but this is going to the city, >> not to CRA. >> Ah, okay. That's a fair >> No, that's my point. >> Yeah, they have an agreement with the city. I believe they have an agreement with the city or working on agreement with the city to lease the land from the
city to activate the space. >> Thank you for clarifying. Okay, let's go to the presentation and then we will open it up to the board for additional discussion. >> Good evening, Keon Williams. I need to state my address.
>> Yes, not here. No, >> not here. >> Go for the presentation. Yes. >> 1253 Northwest Second Avenue. Um, excuse me. I'm just coming back from co so little um this project here uh is a been
a conversation that we've been having for for a while but just give you the particulars of what we currently do and why we're bring why we're wanting to bring it here to opal uh the urban which currently exists right now in overtown uh right off 10th
street and second avenue is an outdoor venue space it's about 58,000 square ft of space which I'm known owner uh in partnership with uh developer to bring a lavly activation uh to an area that was desolate. Uh we've been operating there
since 2017 and today we employ over 40 plus individuals on consistent basis. Um there's probably another 17 local businesses that benefit as a result of us being there. um in
addition to their own employees that they bring on board. Um the the concept is open air and so it requires low impact. It doesn't require heavy building. Um, but it opens us up to be able to bring in different types of
festivals, um, entertainment, um, concerts, you name it, into an area that will now begin to increase foot traffic, um, and begin to, uh, expose people to block. We've done that in Overtown, and as you can see, well, if
you haven't been to Overtown lately, you can see what's been going on around the area that we've been, we've been very catalytic to what is taking place. Uh we've attracted other restaurants in the area such as Red Rooster. Uh we've also and that's again with the support of the CRA that's been there. Uh we've also um
have uh you know special ordinances put in place that would allow the you know the the noise ordinance and those things to be supported. And so again this is for me as a small developer uh this is about economic development at the end of the day. This is about putting people to
work, putting businesses that are on the grounds for us to be able to tap into and use those local services while at the same time bringing entertainment to an area. Uh the last time I remember being not to this particular board um but a couple years ago we were
attempting to bring uh carnival back to Overl and uh we missed out on a really good opportunity to bring in the largest or the number one SOA SOA artist in the world which is Marsha Montana. And when
you think about carnival, Opalaka has its roots, Carnival. This is where the carnival was started here in Opalaka. And we sometimes forget that history. And so we've been on a mission ever since to try to figure out how can we come to Opalaka and bring quality
entertainment to an area that desperately needs it where we can jumpst start be catalytic to this economic resurgence that we want to see take place in. And so um that's in a short kind of what it is. Um, we obviously are
committing a lot of our own money to this project and obviously we're here today because of the amount that we're asking for to assist with the infrastructure because there's obviously a lot of things that need to be done initially and like I said, we've had conversations in the past um different
individuals um this is something that we know it's not about a trial and error. We've already done we know it works. um give you an example of the type of headlines that happen as a result of when we come to a
neighborhood. Um May 16th we're bringing in R&B week. >> You really want to announce that right now May 16th is the Arabian Nights Festival. >> But but we going to take it. We going to take it. Our brothers on other side they doing we'll take it. I want to know who you bring over.
>> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> And and and but this is a little bit later. >> Bring her to the festival. bring her over to the festival, >> you know. Uh but but you know, when you think about um music, you think about the celebration of our culture, right?
Music goes hand in hand with that. We're bringing in the queen of R&B, Mayor J. Blah. She's coming Overtown. Think about that headline for set. She's coming over. And that's what we do this for. We want to go in and change the narrative
about neighborhoods that often overlooked left behind. Uh as a kid on the raising over town tell you many times, you know, people would say, "Well, why are you doing this here?" And I'm saying, "Well, why not? This is this is our backyard." And just like town is
an area that, you know, it's beautiful. It's a rich history. It has all of the things that we need to be able to push things forward if we just got a little help. So for us, we want to come here and do our part. And again, this amount that we're talking about here is, you
know, small compared to what goes on on a regular basis. Like I said, um the types of, you know, and and I kind of wrote this down because somebody told me to do this. We talk about business. I think I heard a conversation about like how does it how does it help a block, right, outside
of these other things? And I just want to run off a few businesses to kind of like get you thinking about how we work with local businesses. Friendly Johns, Lanzo Handyman Group, Eco Green Cleaning Services, Zen Lighting Services, um Xavius Sound and
Lights, Pete's Turf Solutions, Raw Architecture Services, Top Art Services, Urban Venue Cleaning Services, Top Chef Catering Service, Worilla, uh Turner County, Jethro Accounting Services, Tropical Eyes, Hybrid, Headliners, Almighty Security Services,
Urban Landia Digital Marketing Services, and Triton Insurance. These are locals. These are businesses. You own the business. We work directly with the people who are with us. And so we imagine coming here to operations
and again putting people in position to win. And obviously if they win >> Thank you, Mr. Williams. Any I want to make sure board member Bass was your questions. Okay. Beautiful. Any other questions? Oh, board member Urban. >> I don't have a question, just a comment.
I want to say thank you for thinking about Opaaka. We do need a little excitement, a little excitement in our lives. Um, I've threatened to do it for years at a parking lot that I own. Um, because we
do, and I've always got to bring Opalaka back to life. I grew up in Opalaka where during a time that a DJ would pull up and just start playing music and before you know it, you have everybody out having a good time and whatnot. So, I do
want to say thank you very much for thinking of Opalaka and I look forward to my colleagues feeling the same way and us doing what need to be done to have a little excitement around here. Thank you. >> Any questions? >> Yes, ma'am.
>> Board member Santiago. Uh thank you. Um to the gentleman. >> Yes sir. >> Okay. Um u uh 2495 Alibaba is a property for the city. >> Yes sir.
>> Okay. Um to that item be in this agenda, Mr. Jason. Okay. Um the city administration already know about it. Uh and and they
have a contract with you. >> Yes, sir. We're in trouble. >> They have a contract black and white with you with this land. >> Well, not a sign. We're in a process of going through to get it signed. >> Okay. >> Yes, sir. Um,
>> in that case, I mean, so just so just like we discussed before with everybody else, you guys are giving me the approval to go into a grant agreement negotiation with this group.
Okay. when we go into that grant agreement negotiation and we put in the particulars that we want, what we're going to pay for, all that stuff. This is different from Ry's thing because this is a site improvement. Um,
what's it called? Possession of site control is number one. So, we won't sign a grant agreement for the address listed in this resolution unless there's site control. So even though you approve this now, if
you approve this now and and and we start negotiating with um with them for the grant agreement, if they don't have site control, we don't do an agreement, just to be clear. And if they say, well, we didn't get site control on this site,
we want to use the money on another site that we found. In that case, they have to come back to you with another resolution for the proper address. But we won't sign a grant agreement unless the city has signed the lease with them
and they've signed a lease and everybody's in agreement just so that the board is aware. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um well for finalize and go to the vote. Okay. Uh what kind of activity you say that you're going to bring out there? >> So just to give an example, there's
different types. So >> different type. >> Yes. We're we're talking about from food festivals to uh small concerts. Uh on the regular as a part of the opening, we're talking a food hall, several food truck vendors and and small market
operators being available daily basis to be available. >> That's great. >> Oh, okay. Well, that's a good idea. You know, >> bring Sona life to Opaaka in that empty lot that we have there for a long time. uh
well for we voting you know to be sure that we got the grams but like he say they have a process and a problem with me I hope you can go through okay thank you >> so with no other comments let's call the question
>> board member Bass >> yes >> board member Irving >> yes >> board member Santiago >> yes >> board member Taylor, >> I want to vote no because he having his concert on the same day as the Arabian Nights Festival and I don't appreciate that. So,
>> like he didn't do his research, right? >> Oh, sorry. Yes. Yes. >> Vice Chair Williams. >> Yes. >> Resolution has passed. >> Thank you. >> Can I say one thing? >> Thank you all for for your time this evening. Uh and Mayor, uh I apologize
for that. It just she was here in the city and we had to strike >> while opportunity was there and that's what we will do for Oaka when we have people now. >> Well, well, tell her to just come just just swing by. We'll put her on
stage. Just swing by. Just just swing by, you know, we'll put her on stage. >> So, we're excited that you have the space because next time or hopefully you will have the space because next time it will be here. So, we are looking forward to 2027. >> There we go. >> How about that? How about that? Okay,
with that, I would like to with that, I would like to get approval of the minutes. I want to go back to item number six and get approval of the minutes from I've got >> Okay, let's call it. >> Board member Irving, >> yes.
>> Bird member Bass, board member Taylor, >> yes. >> Board member Santiago, >> Vice Chair Williams, >> yes. >> Mr. manager, you've got a couple of discussion items here. >> Um, very quickly, uh, literally 3 seconds. We have purchased those two
properties. That's it. >> There's Wait, but there's three properties here. >> Purchased three then. >> Okay, got it. Okay, beautiful. >> Closed completely. I'm sorry. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Uh, we uh the ball site uh and we noticed we put a coat of paint on there just so it could look a little better
while we own it. The idea is to tear it down and turn into a parking lot that could support uh the restaurant. By the way, the restaurant RFP was went out and it and it and it closed. Um unfortunately, we didn't have any responsive biders,
meaning people were interested, they just didn't fill out the response to the RP in the correct way. So, they were not accepted. So what we're doing now is we are talking to the
procurement department to open the RFP up again. Um because I've sp spoken to two of the vendors that um they say, "Hey, we submitted something but it wasn't the right way. Um it wasn't submitted in the right form following
the RFP. So, if we can open it up again and allow them another three weeks to respond, uh maybe we'll give them and more people uh that would look at it. But right now, we only we had zero responses from RFP. Uh the other development that we that we purchased,
which is the blue convenience store in the triangle, and the lot next to that next to that, uh we're working on a development plan for those two lots as well. Uh and that's it for me. >> Okay. Any >> hosting a concert on the Arabian Nights
Festival in the open lot. >> Any board comments? Just comment. >> Uh board member Irving >> comment to this. >> Oh, do you want to comment on that? Go for it. >> No, no, I would just Is it time for us? >> Yes. Yes. Regular board comments. >> Okay.
I have a history of picketing and I've done it right here in front of this building. If I don't get my splash pl my splash >> pad, >> me and all the kids from Shrebundi will
be out here pulling picket signs that we want. Where's I Come on. Come on. >> Okay. >> Do I do I need to go out and and fund raise the money myself? Just just be honest with me. Tell me what I need. >> No, actually I mean if you know I mean you know this that we have budgeted for
the splash park the two years that I've been here. Every year the park has the splash park has been in the budget, >> right? >> I don't run the parks department. I don't I don't I I can if if you want a splash park, all I'm saying for you to
do is talk to the parks director, >> find out where you want to put the splash park, find out where you want to buy the splash park from, how you want to procure it, and all we do is just transfer the money >> right >> over to the parks department so that they can purchase it. But I can't tell
you. I can't go out there and buy it for you and place it for you. And >> I got that. But the last conversation we had about the splash pad was it had to be put on hold because we didn't have the money because we were doing something else. So I never got the call back that said, "Hey, go ahead and move
forward so that we can make this happen." So you're telling me now we can move forward with getting the splash pad or we're back at See, there we go. >> No, you didn't let me finish. >> You didn't let me finish. So unfortunately um madam board member we
did budget for the flash the splash park this year again in October and I think you missed our last meeting but at our last meeting or maybe the meeting before that we had to do a budget amendment again because the numbers that we received in terms of what we were
carrying forward >> it was off by a lot >> it it was off by almost a million dollars and so in in order for us to balance the budget um we had to cut a lot of things um out of the budget.
Um so what I would recommend is that just the same thing that we just did here. What I what I would recommend is that we again we've been talking about this for two years as you say we sit down with the parks department with the manager. We source out the splash park. We see where we're getting it from. You
see do all that stuff now. Let's start doing that right now so that when se October 1st comes around, all we have to do is just like we do with him is transfer you the money immediately so that it gets paid for. But unfortunately, we were ready to do that
during this budget season. But when we found out in December that your carryover is not your carryover, we had to come back in January and figure out where we cut money. And unfortunately the lowlying fruit, we had a grant for
the police department was 150. We had to cut that. We had uh the parks department. We had 250 grant for that. We had to cut that. We had to cut back on um our our our commercial rehab program. We had to cut back to add up to $900,000.
So right now, unfortunately, because of an error, not on our not on our fault, um we had to cut that particular line item for the splash part. But as if like like we did with this gentleman, if you
all want to start working on it now and pricing it out now and when we do have the money on September on September 30th, have the new budget guy just do a transfer from our account to your account to pay for it. >> Chair,
>> yes. Um to Commissioner um Irvin, my suggestion is just work with the city manager, bring forth legislation on the commission's side to have her to take all necessary steps and to work with the CRA to bring a splash pad to the city of >> Perfect. >> Sounds good. >> And then once that pass, you pass that
resolution on to the CRA. Bring it to us. >> Perfect. >> But I but it's not it's not for lack of listening to you, ma'am, because I just want you to know we do listen and there's no need for you to protest. We we do listen and we put it in the budget as a line item every year.
>> The year before it wasn't used >> was used. >> So I'm going to move over to board member Bass who has a comment. >> Well, just two questions quickly. Um you mentioned the three properties that we just acquired. I just wanted to know do you know off the top of your head how many properties we have and the other
question is um you said that the applicants did not complete the paperwork or do it correctly. Is there um like a workshop or something that we have in place or will have in place to make sure that it's done correctly? >> Yes, we'll do that this time. >> Okay. Okay. >> Perfect.
>> Um and we have so I'm going to name you generally how many properties we have but one property for example like the church for example um the church actually has four four folios. So that would be considered four properties but we're going to
consider it one. So, the church, the build, the pink building here, >> that's actually two folios as well. >> That's actually two folios as well because it's the restaurant behind it. Um there's a park there's a park over by um the cultural arts center where the
Kaboom Park is. We own a piece of land sandwiched between the city and the CDC. We own a piece of land there that we purchased. Um behind the block behind that that that block is the two of these sites here which is the blue convenience
store and the um and a vacant piece of land >> 2100 Lincoln and 2100 or 21105 Washington I believe >> and 2145 Alibaba is a small one on the on the next cultural arts center and
these two over here is that it >> wow that's a lot of progress and how long you with us. >> Oh, no. Um, I apologize. We also have uh 14401 >> and 14441
Northwest 27th, the old Chinese restaurant and the ball appliance building. >> Yes. Board member Urban. Um I I think my colleagues may know if not people that know me know that I dreaded
coming to CRA meeting when I first got elected because we were doing absolutely nothing for a very long time and the fact that Mr. Walker came into our lives and have changed this whole thing of the C gives
me hope for the CRA. Now, when we first started the meeting and I think you read the first thing that you read, it said intram. Are you ready to not be intram? Cuz I would like
>> Oh, boy. You're opening up a whole >> Should we have this conversation sidebar? Because >> y'all have it later. >> I'm telling you, for years and years and years and years, the CRA was stagnant.
For years before I became elected, go to a CRA meeting, nothing. If we even had a meeting, but it still existed. and what you have managed to do seriously in these last two years you've been with us
is amazing and we would I would like to keep you here. So >> board member for anyone who can't speak for themselves. Um I I think the board members should um >> I got it. Thank you. Say this.
>> Okay. And so with that, can I get a motion to adjourn the meeting? Move it. >> Thank you guys. >> Move that second. You send the