okay we'll call this uh meeting to order roll call okay chair Bruner here Vice chair Rich here board member Clark here board member Colin I think I hearing go ahead board member McDonald here board member Camp peny here and board member brille here commissioner Collins has arrived get the record show okay all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge of Al to the flag of the United States of America and the for it stands one nation indivisible with liy and justice for all may I get approval of the agenda I'll move approval second we have a a motion uh approval we have a second um any comments right all in favor I and any comments from the public yes sir please good afternoon my name's uh Michael circus I'm actually a resident of Palm City but I'm a uh I'm a substitute school teacher here in downtown Stewart as well as a father two daughters who go to school actually right across the street um I'm coming not really with a comment more of a question um I got my email my phone number on there for follow up later but the the no meeting about a week or so ago there was a plan for Dixie Highway Rejuvenation um that's being taken up tap grants through the city of Stewart and I know it's pulled because the the paperwork just got back to you guys not too long ago and from what I understand is going to come in front of the CRA in the city before going back to the no so I was just trying to find out if anybody had an idea time frame when that might be coming in front of you and if if I can get an email when that would come up cuz uh there's a couple issues on the the cap Tech engineering plan that that I really think need to be addressed prior to going forward this way you guys have all the relevant Data before you make your decisions so I appreciate it we we'll get back with you it's cus Circus Circus yes just like the T Mr circus thank you any more comments no any comments from our board memb ERS yeah I have a comment yes sir I need to apologize to Mr Mortel for sending him an email saying what the hell are we having a meeting after it was canceled for and I was completely wrong because there was another meeting that was canceled you didn't even see it so even though you didn't see it I apologize for that all right that's all all right at least you shut up Mr oh Madam mayor yes oh just to address the comment uh I was one I'm the chairman of the no and we did have this and it was premature for it to come to the no I'm the one actually wanted it pulled uh we did have a short discussion just to get some input from the from the primarily the County Commissioners uh but uh we will I don't know the time frame yet but I think maybe September will probably be coming back before the crb yes um so we're going to have Outreach meeting in August um and then it'll come to the board and then the no so we going to do our okay so probably by about September October before we get back to the mo I think probably I don't think we have a meeting in September no it'll be October they'll go to the no so probably September before we get back to the city commission by the time we get the community out reach out so Mr circus that was a quick answer okay we don't um our action tonight is I'm sorry ask the comments yes yes I apologize I just wanted thank you mayor I just wanted to um ask uh the CRA staff uh to we have June July and up until December well actually up until our budget season I want to just see uh if we can have a recap or something at another CRA meeting on the status of the uh planning and design or whatever it is for MLK Boulevard and the funding and the status of the um the guy Davis spk and and and and something similar to that uh just so that we can just keep that alongside with all the other activities that the city will consider in its regular General budget not just CRA activities thank you thank you and I I want to say I'm still um not happy with the building on the corner not being painted I would like to get that in a in a budget but I know that maybe in a couple years we'll tear it down some anyway I would love for it to I'm still feel the same I'd like to see it get painted okay which building which corner is that the annx building on the corner okay here you yes yes mad Mayor Mike Morel uh for the record uh following those comments at a city Commission meeting I met with the public works director and we walked the building and it had been painted approximately six years ago I think it was and we actually had an artist paint a mural on the front side of it so we walked and there was no peeling paint anywhere on it and there was nowhere that needed even uh updating of paint so it if it's that the color I mean it was painted white so it's kind of a nondescript paint painting but it wasn't that it was uh lack of Maintenance it's there isn't anywhere that even would need painting right now unless you wanted us to change the color on it um because in the past when Commissioners have brought that up when we go we find that there's peeling paint or something like that obviously we try to get in and update it but I'm happy to review it and bring back um some close-up pictures at the next meeting just to show yall that where what kind of condition it's in okay no that's the color I wanted it paint it was white but it was what I wanted and I understand that it's it's new paint or not old okay so anyway um our discussion deliberation on business Improvement grant program the uh PP the guidelines and M Jordan's going to give us our presentation good afternoon CRA board members Jordan pingston C program manager for the record um today's staff I'd like to discuss the business Improvement Grant guidelines we are bringing this item before you because over the past few Cycles we've noticed some push back from applicants regarding landscape upgrad as well as comments and concerns from board members pertaining to the program's current landscape and irrigation requirements as you are aware the intent of the business Improvement grant program is to further the CRA plan objectives to eliminate blight by assisting property businesses and business owners in the Redevelopment of existing businesses inside improvements improve property values by creating an aesthetically attractive Frontage that is inviting and improved visitors experience and stimulates private investment within the CRA to give you some brief history the property Improvement grant program was launched in 2009 to encourage visible exterior improvements to commercial and residential properties within the CRA the grant program provided a matching Grant of up to $4,000 per property the grant was eligible for improvement such as Windows Doors signage Landscaping Roofing architecture Street scaping Park Improvement decorative shutters and other Improvement um that program had successful applications for projects including sign awnings new windows Landscaping architectural design roof repairs porch enclosures and driveways um but the program was amended in 2016 2017 to be R to be renamed the business Improvement reimbursement program or bur um the program provided a re urement Grant of up to $10,000 per property to match private funds the grant was available to commercial businesses for exterior Improvement that enhance the property with improvements including Windows door replacement decorative shutters signage Landscaping parking lot driveways Street State included benches shade trees bike racks architectures which included additions to balconies porches and arcades and other exterior facade improvements were considered on a caseby casee basis that program was amended again in 2018 to replace eligible exterior improvements from exterior signage through the replacement of non-conforming poll signs a confirming free standing or monument sign and that's to encourage um and provide financial support and bringing exterior signage into compliance with the city's Land Development code while enhancing the property at the direction of the board the program was significantly amended again in 2021 to encourage commercial property owners to upgrade Landscaping on private property and bring it to compliance with City's Land Development code where feasible since many of the properties within the CRA were constructed prior to the adoption of the Cod the amendment encourages Property Owners to upgrade Landscaping to enhance the visible appearance of the property and provide shade along streets we strongly encourage these improvements along the perimeter of property lines that AB but the public rideway and interior parking lots also in 2021 the evaluation Matrix was amended to further encourage the property owners to provide landscape improvements as part as the overall site improvements and restrict funding for improvements such as Replacements of Windows Doors Replacements of existing awnings exterior painting and lighting and decorative shutters these improvements were eligible for funding only as part of a more comprehensive site Improvement since the program was amended in 2020 2 to encourage Property Owners to upgrade the Landscaping we have received 15 applications with VAR with various Improvement requests such as pool sign Replacements exterior paint parking lot improvements awning repairs seating fencing Etc most of these applications offered landscape enhancements as part of the original application request to meet minimum Point requirements for funding however some of the applications required staff to make significant recommendations to amend or proposals to be considered eligible staff has noticed an increase in push back from applicants regarding landscape recommendations concerns stem from the additional expense of adding permanent landscape improvements with the potential need for irrigation system however with the current guidelines in place staff cannot recommend funding for any improvements that do not include Landscaping even if those improvements are necessary or beneficial to the property owner please keep in mind that irrigation currently is not requirement but has been requested as a condition of approval for past applicant for example some of you may recall last year staff allocated $50,000 in fiscal year 2023 30,000 of which was awarded three applicants during the first cycle the board requested to have a second application cycle in hopes of awarding the remaining 20,000 allocated for the program the CRA received seven applications for the fiscal year 2023 application cycle which Ed the total remaining funds the crb voted 3 to one in favor of approving the eligible applications with the following condition irrigation shall be installed to preserve Landscaping enhancements to all applic all applications that include Landscaping the total Grant match for eligible improvements will be reduced by 33% and then upon CRA approval the applicant will have one year for the project completion if the project is not completed and not approved in its final inspection or does not receive a cert certificate of occupancy within one year of approval the granch board shall expire if the business Improvement Grant applicants cycle two off out of the program or award expires unused funding from cycle two will be then distributed to the remaining completed applicants for their original match request however it is important to know that the community redevelopment agency decided to move forward with the funding of each application in full without accepting the conditions offered by the crb board instead a budget amendment was made for the oit and then the program aims to encourage shade over pedestrian walkways improve conditions for walking and pedestrian activities and again we amended the program guidelines to encourage businesses to upgrade Landscaping as part of the overall Improvement the CRA continues to do Outreach efforts to promote the program which always includes Distributing electronic newsletter to the city contact list Flyers to local businesses mailing postcards social media Outlets such as Twitter Facebook and Instagram however we believe our efforts are being overshadowed by the Improvement limitations in the guidelines over the years this program has been able to provide local businesses within the CRA some Financial relief for improvement such as curb stops resurfacing restriping mural preservation entryway improvements pavers benches Monument signage on exterior paint impact Windows Gates fences bike racks metal roofs and Landscaping and that's just to name some it is important to note that the majority of the improvements were not contingent on meeting a landscape requirement prior to 2021 um according to today's guidelines the following improvements are eligible for funding if the project meets our minimum evaluation criteria restoring or sustainably beautifying the facade or elevation exterior or architectural amenities such as additions or improvements of new awnings balconies porches entryways or arcades Landscaping improvements that a butt to a public rideway or interior parking lot Landscaping which includes what is not limited to Asphalt remover removal plant materials native plants shade trees and irrigation systems replacement of non-conforming Po signs to freestanding Monument signs property Improvement such as lighting fencing benches bicycle racks walkway driveway Improvement parking lot Improvement um architectural engineering and Landscape Design Services for design and that's a Max of $500 um but the following are not eligible for funding on their own but may be funded as part of a more comprehensive facade Improvement replacement of windows and doors replacement of wall air conditioning units on a building to energy efficient central air conditioning system replacement of existing awning exterior cleaning and paint exterior lighting decorative Bahama or Colonial shutters exterior signage and dumpster enclosures staff would like to mention that there are other cities and counties in Florida that offer similar programs to to support facade improvements as part of their Economic Development initiatives to revitalize commercial properties attract businesses and enhance the aesthetic appeal of downtown area Special Districts and Commercial areas some similar examples are boen Beach who has a commercial the S and sight Improvement grant that provides a 50% match up to 50,000 um some examples of what's eligible are exterior paint including murals Ada Ada Improvement signage doors windows Landscaping with irrigation fencing awning um Coral Springs offers a commercial property enhancement Grant with a reimbursement an equal amount to 50% of eligible project costs the total Grant amount up to is the discretion of the CRA board um daa Beach offers a commercial property Improvement Grant with a 30% match up to 20,000 eligible improvements are Landscaping signage awnings impact Windows parking lot improvements exterior painting Etc Holly Hill offers a program that mirrors ours with a 50% match up to $10,000 similar Improvement Mount Dora offers a commercial visual Improvement grant program with a 50% match up to $10,000 of the Project's hard construction cost so the owner must pay for the soft cost including an architect engineer permitting um Etc um Martin County CR offers a property Improvement program and provides 80% of the project cost as a reimbursement up to a maximum of 20,000 per property to supplement private funds to pay for the design and construction of proper Improvement um their eligible improvements are exterior painting duckco sting installation of awnings new Windows Doors signage Landscaping parking lot improvements repair of architectural elements dumpster enclosures Maron County also has a fence and Landscape program that is designed to encourage visible exterior improvements of fencing Landscaping um to any commercial property or building to comply with the Land Development code and they will match 80% of of the project cost in reimbursement up to a maximum of $10,000 and then the community redevelopment board recommended modifications to the business Improvement grant program guidelines which included removing the landscape requirements from the application as well as removing restrictions for awning Replacements they also recommended creating a separate landscape Improvement grant program to fill in those gaps the program would be for a commercial business is and offered year round the CRA would allocate $25,000 annually with a 50/50 match and a $5,000 maximum per application so staff is hopeful that both the crb and CRA can revisit the guidelines to ensure the success of the program and encourage applicants to apply um some key topics we ask staff would like you to consider are um one eligible Improvement specifically awnings and irrigation um the possibility of a separate landscape program and then three the maximum Grant amount offered to match the percentage and with that that concludes my presentation you can talk thank you so now we'll discuss it um Madam chair uh crb uh decided that it would be better if we changed the program and took out the Landscaping so that more people would apply and at the same time if we had a separate program for landscaping then we could have that done and they could ask for they could also ask for that it wouldn't preclude them from doing so um I just think that I just not just I but the board itself I think we passed it unanimously uh thought it was better with these guidelines CH commission McDonald uh just I just want to on on the Landscaping P the irrigation portion um so uh the recommendation is to remove the Landscaping from the uh from the uh program is that from the original oral and then do it under landcaping okay and under the separate Landscaping program you're on next year but even though it's small to some people whether it's 10,000 or 30,000 or whatever that number is there's still some people who are in The Gap and I know Mr campen said something about businesses and I'd like for you to probably explain what you're talking about there but um it seems to me like we need people to have a smaller um number because some people just don't have that money they don't have the to to get to that match maybe it's somebody who does have a small business I just just for example I throw let's say when we had the roasted record coming or some other thing coming on Colorado maybe they just wanted just an extra amount to help them with a decent a minimal uh Landscaping plan but they just don't have it and uh maybe even 5,000 is too much I don't know if we could go down or have different categories or levels or something other than this um you know the big number the 25 and then the five because I think that there's some small people who are not still not able to take advantage of it because even at that they can't come up with their 50% and then there are other people who if they had to come up with 10,000 or 25,000 or whatever it is they could come up with it easily and and possibly qualify for this gr so what I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are people who over the years when we've seen the grant happen is that people who probably could have paid for something anyway or able to get it because they can always quickly come up or able some way to come up with their 50% but then there's somebody who might have a smaller level business who's still not able to come up with you know all of 2,000 or 3,000 or 5,000 or whatever that number is uh can you explain again how how we can make sure that we're not losing anybody in the Gap and that we're getting you know those really small people so there's actually no minimum requirement to apply for this this grant program there's just a maximum that we can allocate per application so say if someone comes in and only H is paying $5,000 worth of improvements we would match them at 2500 2500 yeah so the our Max is small thing they can still come in with something all right that's fine I I looked at the um language where is the language I was looking at the language somebody else can make a comment while I'm looking back at the language because this is what we're going to be using okay commiss clar I commission Clark If I Could Just because she does bring up a good point and panal perhaps you can respond to it it is difficult for some of these businesses to front the $5,000 that is that correct do you find that to be the case um I think they um I don't think the match is an issue uh because they do uh appreciate that the CR is matching uh their project so we haven't had any concerns about oh we can't provide the match that's not the problem it's just not on our part saying that the business owners said well I don't have the $5,000 and you know to expand while I have to wait for you to reimburse me do you find that we haven't had that issue where somebody complained that I don't have the money up front to pay um that hasn't been an issue it's it's really just the eligibility requirements that's yeah I think when that problem arises it's when we add a condition of irrigation that they weren't expecting that additional expense or we want them to add another large shade tree that adds another $5,000 that they weren't expecting I think that the only problems we've had so commissioner Clark have you had business to say to you I just can't I can't I can't come up with the $3,000 I can if I can respond briefly to that too I don't think anybody has affirmatively come into City Hall and said I don't have the money what we observed over the years and I don't know in the last couple years how it's been because I haven't paying as close attention but there were several years that we didn't get $50,000 in applications and it was surmised that the reason why people are not applying is because they have to pay upfront the money that you're describing commissioner rich and as a result there is nobody coming and knocking on the door and saying hey I filled out the application but I can't do it because I don't have the matching funds you don't actually get that verbal communication where they express that they don't have the financial wherewithal to do it but the fact that we aren't inundated with every single business in downtown Stewart asking for free money tells you by itself that part of the reason why is because there's a Buy in up front that makes it more expensive than they can buy in because otherwise why wouldn't everybody be knocking down the door but I don't know if the last three or four years have you guys had more applications than funding or less so we only have $50,000 up for grabs and we don't give it all away and now we're going to have $25,000 more but the reason that we didn't give it all away was because we didn't get $50,000 in applications and Madam chair unless we're going to Institute a program where we check their tax returns how are we going to determine if they can afford it or not right now it doesn't matter if your business makes $20 million a year or $20,000 every business is eligible yeah so I think we'll just make it I mean again I think this is a nice simple program the C staff can can administer it nice and simply let's keep it simple and let's keep it simple without trying to micromanage the program Mark wants to say something um go ahead yeah thanks Madam chair the um my comment on this as a business person myself and and having property is that what I think I've seen is that nobody's coming forward for these grants unless they're planning on doing the work anyway and so that's what they're doing and using this income this money to supplement what they're doing and I'm not sure that's what the purpose of this program was it was the purpose of this program just to help business people pay what they were going to do anyway or is the purpose to have some sort of targeted effort with this money to to actually make improvements within the CRA in my opinion it kind of goes to what what Tom said earlier is that I think a lot of the money is just going to help people uh who were already going to spend it anyway and and as soon as we start putting any kind of restrictions on it now you got to hire a landscape architect maybe and you've got some additional engineering costs or other costs that you got and it just raises the cost on their project and they say well I bother I don't need it that much I if you're going to give it to me as extra I'll take it but you know if it's if I got to really you know if I'm going to incur some additional costs and it's going to make my program more difficult why mess with it and and I think that's what I have a problem with is that and that's the same thing especially if it's small amounts of money I mean when we had the pain program back in the day um you know that was it was an effort that people did paint because they could get the money and and and they made an effort and so we got a lot of properties painted that probably would have stayed that way for a long time I'm just saying I I think to some degree I don't disagree with what we're talking about in terms of how to split this up the way it is now but I think we're wasting money because I think that we're spending money giving people money that they were all going to spend on the on the first place you could be right on some of it but I believe it gives them the uh the blight that we do have and that you do see in the city that incentive to want to be you know less blight full and and want to update their place and and I do believe it's a great incentive to get them to do it quicker How would how would we augment one more one more thing I want to say yeah I want to ask um what is the average that a person spends is it more than 10,000 yeah we do do you see coming that spend 20 30,000 yeah we do have a list where they're spending more of their private money making more of an investment and the 10,000 match is really just small compared to what they're investing on private property I would like I have a $21,000 dumpster so that gives you an idea what some of the stuff costs I mean that to to put a dumpster back there for the restaurant it was $21,000 so that's what I'm getting at $2,000 what to put that in that's what it cost me to put that Improv on my property a dumpster so I'm just saying you know a lot of this stuff if if they offered me $10,000 with a $10,000 match if I wasn't going to do that I'm not going to go out and spend $21,000 on a on something just because the city gave me 10 grand I don't I don't see um dumpsters as being something we' pay for no that was just my my point is that these things are expensive when people are doing these improvements to do something for 10 grand anymore or or 15 grand you know you can't do it anymore I mean penel it's just too expensive I was thinking just the opposite of what you were thinking I was thinking that uh that incentive that if we even made it larger could we get some some uh better bigger buildings uh to come to make more uh more improvements yeah that was M I've always wanted to that disc if you want to increase the amount maybe for architectural if it's a more of architectural investment I think that's worth giving a little bit more but um you know maybe it's a specific type of improvements not just overall exactly because I think that's more visible and um it'll it'll add character to the existing I think one day we might need to we might need to talk about that have this conversation commissioner Collins so there's a few different kind of threads that are floating floating around uh one would be if there is issue with this how would you remedy and this is kind of just discussion I'm throwing this out there I'm not trying to really make a defined Point how would you make this better if The Upfront expense is an issue would you just go ahead and prepay it out what would be how would you mitigate that liability if it all or is not even worth talking about yeah everything that all grants are usually reimbursement bases because they have to demonstrate that they completed the work right do you do it in pieces could you do half and half you could do a draw schedule just like the banks do on construction if you wanted to depending on what I mean we would only reimburse for the portion that you completed so like if they really needed the money up front and they received a grant for $10,000 for instance and they they could submit receipts and uh reimbursement package for dispersement uh for $5,000 we could pay that and then we could pay the 5,000 upon completion of the remaining in light of Mike's comment would that maybe open the door to more people applying so that we use all of what we're SCH we we work I mean I we really work with the applicant on some of these details and we give extensions when it when it's needed so those are that's discre it's more just a lack of awareness of the program it's it's just that there's always so many people out there that want to do improvements in every one time right and if you look at business own owners if you make it larger so that say someone downtown will want to redo all their windows or whatever it is they got a building worth how many millions of dollars do they really need a couple thousand dollars from the city so I think this program is for the small business owner not necessarily a owner of a piece of property but the small business owner so that he can improve his business so that the so that the out side looks better and so we get a benefit and at the same time he gets a benefit by increasing his business and I think if we leave it that way it's fine if we start to go all over the place we're going to make a mess out of it but just uh one more is I like the idea of parceling this out that you you two had discussed as well my one of the comments that you had made uh board member Camp Penny was sort of driving everything toward drought tolerant plants so I wanted to offer potentially why not include irrigation or some you know if irrigation is kind of the issue um drought tolerant plants are not always the most attractive and Lush and tropical uh as a plant guy you know so maybe having irrigation be included within that or some portion of it uh for people that may not want to go all drought tolerant you know or it's not really appropriate for where they're at you know a shadier spot or it really depends Case by case bases like everything in downtown is so urbanized that it's really hard for them to even put any landscaping and then ask for irrigation like now if we go on us one yeah I mean they they could do uh you know major landscape improvements and we could require them to do uh irrigation what I'm saying is including uh the cost of irrigation within even the Landscaping yeah up to some percentage of it you know well we don't require any irrigation but if they want to spend money on irrigation that could be part of the program is that what you're saying basically so to commissioner McDonald's point you know if you're using drought tolerant plants that shouldn't there should be no requirement to right do irrigation but if you are and it's still required maybe we help cover the cost of that as well within yeah years so I think with the burp they could still probably do minor Landscaping improvements and still apply under the burp but if they're going to be doing major improvements um then we should probably require irrigation as part of the landscape Improvement program so for that program we could require them to do irrigation but if they're just doing some minor you know drought tolerant they could probably fall under the bur program because they would probably making other improvements also so you already have internally a way to navigate that without having to make any change to the program well we're going to have to bring back the amendments to the program to the board for approval because right now irrigation is I'm not irrigation Landscaping is required as part of the burp program so we have an application for resurfacing uh project and and they don't meet the minimum uh Point requirement because they have to do landscaping so we're not able to bring that application forward um so we're running into a lot of these you know um applications we can't bring it because they don't they're not eligible that needs to change thank you definely m commissioner uh uh today do you need from a say do you need just recommendations and you'll bring it back or do you need a motion any motions today I think we we got good recommendations U we'll make the Amendments and bring both programs together one will be the new Landscaping program with irrigation requirement uh with the maximum um $55,000 and for the burp we're probably just going to revert back to how the program was and it was successful and that's the direction I feel like I'm getting from the board and and your map that shows the area the outlined area you're going how how you going to um you're just going to have this up on the city's website are you going to send out a Target letter to these businesses we we send out notices to all the businesses about the program so they're getting notices every year okay and plus we have our neighborhood services department um and if we feel like a a a property owner could use some improvements we'll have them deliver the notice U hand deliver the notice to them have you ever had like a coffee time or something to invite the businesses to to tell them about the um have a little open house once or twice a year or whenever the application cycle season starts to just make sure that we're doing all everything education of all the C programs that's that's a good point we could do something like that we could invite the business owners and residents and inform them about different programs that's offered by the CRA or even if um if Commissioners or mayor having coffee with the mayor or something we could attend those meetings and were you volunteering is that were you we have done that were you volunteering to host him I can host one of those okay we'll continue to educate thank you someone needs to go tell Rosewood records to get an awning out front I wonder um in in with the money that we're talking about that that some spend and maybe they're they're not they're not uh applying for this in the last three years have we spent the 50,000 every year we have okay good good good news what we we don't need a motion then no all right well then this meeting ised right