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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting - July 13, 2026

Clearwater Municipal Meetings — Monday, July 13, 2026

BodyClearwater, Florida

SessionClearwater Municipal Meetings

DateMonday, July 13, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 37:55

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:07

This time we'll call to order the July 13, 2026 meeting of the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency.

1:16

This time we'll move to item 2.1 in the agenda.

1:20

Approved minutes of the June 15th, 226 CRA meeting.

1:25

Is there a motion to approve the minutes?

1:27

So move.

1:28

Second.

1:28

All those in favor?

1:30

Opposed.

1:31

Unanimous.

1:32

Move to item three on the agenda.

1:34

Are there any citizens to be heard on items that are not on today's CRA agenda?

1:49

Now this hopefully this is going to be put online or on air so people can see my slides as I go through.

1:58

Okay, so okay, so I'll start now.

2:00

My name's Kathy Flaherty.

2:01

I came to talk about the area up in the Eastgate known as the Festival Plaza area.

2:07

To me, I guess I don't think anyone, I don't think anyone really knows it exists, so I'm here to make a presentation on that area.

2:15

Um basically in 2017, this the city of Clearwater passed is approved to have a festival core incorporated in the Cleveland Street phase through project, and it had a street market, it has a festival street area and surrounded with a little Mercado area.

2:32

Now basically what it was is a market zone up there in the Eastgate.

2:36

This was our this was our um economic revitalization.

2:39

It was supposed to hold special event markets.

2:42

Um basically here it is.

2:44

Um you have the you've got Gulf to Bay in Cleveland and the festival area is right there.

2:50

Um here's another shot.

2:52

So it's incorporated in the Cleveland Phase Three street project.

2:56

All right, so here's another shot of it.

2:58

So if you guys are looking for a food truck venue place, this is this was built.

3:02

20 million dollars was built just for this purpose.

3:05

All right.

3:06

So there was also a park at park park at park on Parkett Park on the Leon Street, which needs some attention.

3:13

And then that, and then in September, so that was one project.

3:17

And that first project, the street phase and the festival plaza was paid for with city funds.

3:23

Okay.

3:24

The other part of the project was the Mercado, which was inside.

3:28

That was approved on September 5th, 5th, 2017.

3:32

And that's what the Mericata was.

3:34

So basically, there are three projects up there in the Eastgate, the Cleveland Street Phase 3 project, the Festival Plaza project, and the Mercado.

3:42

Two were done by the city, incorporated in the and the other one was done by the CRA.

3:47

The whole thing started to be done in 2021 because it was a big delay because they didn't have the underground street, like the infrastructure, so it was like a four-year delay.

3:58

And during that time, a lot of things changed and got musked around.

4:02

So basically, here's the plans from the city engineer that so it was built by the city.

4:09

There it is.

4:28

Alright, so here's pictures right when it was finished.

4:31

And it was done, and then the prior CRA director, uh, Miss Matthew, she was starting to, she was gonna um start activating the area.

4:42

But then guess what?

4:43

She was fired.

4:44

All right.

4:45

Never heard another thing about activating that street market area.

4:49

Then we also had economic zones.

4:52

All right, and our economic zone, we had an economic zone right over that spot.

4:57

But then this economic map changed.

4:59

Thank you, Ms.

5:00

Thank you, Miss Fletcher.

5:00

Okay.

5:01

I'm tired of it.

5:02

This is ridiculous.

5:04

We have a whole experience.

5:05

Thank you for coming up there.

5:06

Yeah.

5:07

Thank you for your time today.

5:08

Yeah.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Economic Development██████████████████████████████████████38%

Community Engagement██████████████████████22%

Procedural████████████████████20%

Budget Equity Analysis███████████11%

Arts And Culture█████████9%

Summary of Proceedings

Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting Summary - July 13, 2026

The Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) held a regular meeting on July 13, 2026, at the Main Library Council Chambers. The board approved routine minutes, recognized a local business, adopted budget amendments, and approved clarifications to multiple grant programs. A significant discussion focused on the future of the downtown library space, resulting in a decision to suspend the formal reimagining process in favor of informal outreach. Public comments raised concerns about the underutilization of the Eastgate Festival Plaza area.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes (ID#26-0815): The minutes from the June 15, 2026 CRA meeting were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

Kathy Flaherty addressed the board regarding the Festival Plaza area in the Eastgate district. She explained that in 2017, the city approved a festival core as part of the Cleveland Street Phase 3 project, which included a street market, festival street, and a Mercado area, funded by city and CRA funds. She noted that despite a $20 million investment, the area was never activated after the prior CRA director was fired. She expressed frustration that the economic zone map was changed and that no progress had been made in activating the space for special events, food trucks, or markets.

Discussion Items

July Business Spotlight – Social Sips Café (ID#26-0766): Tasha Hatley, CRA Specialist, recognized Social Sips Café and Bar at 801 Cleveland Street as the July Business Spotlight winner. Manager Bradley Shelton described the café as a community-focused venue offering specialty drinks, gelato, and boba tea. Future plans include adding food items, beer and wine services, live music, and community events. The owner also noted an ongoing program providing free coffee to police, EMS, and fire personnel year-round. The board congratulated the business.
Third Quarter Budget Amendments – North Greenwood CRA (ID#26-0777): Ann Lopez, CRA Assistant Director, presented amendments to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 North Greenwood CRA budget. Adjustments increased increment funding from Pinellas County and the City of Clearwater and raised interest earnings. A new container village project was established with $500,000 transferred from an existing project fund. The North Greenwood Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) recommended approval on July 7, 2026. The board adopted Resolution 26-03 unanimously.
North Greenwood Residential Exterior Improvement Grant Program Clarifications (ID#26-0778): Marilyn Brown, CRA Specialist, outlined administrative clarifications to the grant guidelines. Changes included allowing payments directly to applicants or licensed contractors, advancing up to 50% of the award (with no more than one payment every 30 days), adding mailboxes as eligible improvements, clarifying reimbursement procedures (processing within 30 days), and requiring applicants to acknowledge that grant funds are taxable income (Form 1099 issued). The changes were reviewed by the North Greenwood CAC on July 7. Approved unanimously.
Downtown Commercial Grant Program Updates (ID#26-0704): Vicki Shire, CRA Division Manager, proposed administrative revisions to the Downtown Commercial Grant Program. Key changes allowed up to 50% advance payment upon director approval, clarified eligible payees and partial disbursement procedures, and informed applicants of tax implications. A councilmember noted that commercial grant recipients were already aware of taxability, unlike residential grant recipients. Approved unanimously.
North Greenwood Commercial Grant Program Updates (ID#26-0705): Vicki Shire presented similar administrative revisions for the North Greenwood Commercial Grant Program, including advance payment options, disbursement procedures, and tax notifications. The North Greenwood CAC reviewed the changes in July. Councilmember Tishade expressed appreciation for the revisions, stating they improve user-friendliness and increase the likelihood of program success. Approved unanimously.
Downtown Revitalization Discussion (ID#26-0783): The board discussed whether to keep downtown revitalization as a recurring agenda item. Susan Nino, CRA Executive Director, noted that the item had been added when downtown discussions were less frequent and asked if it should be removed. Vice Mayor moved to remove it, stating it could be reinstated if needed. The board agreed.

Director's Report

Director’s Report for July 2026 (ID#26-0785): Susan Nino and CRA Executive Director Jesús Niño provided updates. Highlights included: successful monthly community outreach meetings (next on July 28, 2026, for an engineering update); ongoing efforts to find a partner for the downtown library space. City Manager Battle recommended suspending the formal reimagining process due to marketplace conditions and reduced funding availability for cultural organizations. Councilmember Tishade expressed sadness but supported the strategic pause, urging continued informal outreach. Vice Mayor supported the pause and encouraged creative thinking about the building's use, including potential performing arts or other public purposes within charter restrictions. Other updates: the Indigo project tenant leasing, Evo entertainment site cleared, parking garage progress, Pinellas County’s June 16 RFN for properties across from the municipal services building, a two-acre site near Nature’s Patch, a contract with Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council to amend the downtown CRA plan, the North Greenwood Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition’s successful Taste of the Village event (June 15), the mini container village groundbreaking expected in coming months, upcoming Night at North Ward event (July 30, 5:30-8:00 PM, over 100 RSVPs), the North Greenwood overlay approved by Forward Pinellas and heading to the County Planning Authority, property disposition including negotiations with Archway Partners, and a new restaurant tenant (Rippers) from Michelin-starred hospitality group in the telephone building on Cleveland Street.

Key Outcomes

Minutes approved (unanimous).
ID#26-0777: Third Quarter Budget Amendments and Resolution 26-03 approved (unanimous).
ID#26-0778: North Greenwood Residential Exterior Improvement Grant Program clarifications approved (unanimous).
ID#26-0704: Downtown Commercial Grant Program updates approved (unanimous).
ID#26-0705: North Greenwood Commercial Grant Program updates approved (unanimous).
ID#26-0783: The board approved removing downtown revitalization as a recurring agenda item; future updates will be provided informally as needed.
Library space reimagining: The formal call for proposals was suspended; staff will continue informal outreach and update the board regularly. No formal vote was taken, but consensus supported the director’s recommendation.

Meeting Transcript

This time we'll call to order the July 13, 2026 meeting of the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency. This time we'll move to item 2.1 in the agenda. Approved minutes of the June 15th, 226 CRA meeting. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? So move. Second. All those in favor? Opposed. Unanimous. Move to item three on the agenda. Are there any citizens to be heard on items that are not on today's CRA agenda? Now this hopefully this is going to be put online or on air so people can see my slides as I go through. Okay, so okay, so I'll start now. My name's Kathy Flaherty. I came to talk about the area up in the Eastgate known as the Festival Plaza area. To me, I guess I don't think anyone, I don't think anyone really knows it exists, so I'm here to make a presentation on that area. Um basically in 2017, this the city of Clearwater passed is approved to have a festival core incorporated in the Cleveland Street phase through project, and it had a street market, it has a festival street area and surrounded with a little Mercado area. Now basically what it was is a market zone up there in the Eastgate. This was our this was our um economic revitalization. It was supposed to hold special event markets. Um basically here it is. Um you have the you've got Gulf to Bay in Cleveland and the festival area is right there. Um here's another shot. So it's incorporated in the Cleveland Phase Three street project. All right, so here's another shot of it. So if you guys are looking for a food truck venue place, this is this was built. 20 million dollars was built just for this purpose. All right. So there was also a park at park park at park on Parkett Park on the Leon Street, which needs some attention. And then that, and then in September, so that was one project. And that first project, the street phase and the festival plaza was paid for with city funds. Okay. The other part of the project was the Mercado, which was inside. That was approved on September 5th, 5th, 2017. And that's what the Mericata was. So basically, there are three projects up there in the Eastgate, the Cleveland Street Phase 3 project, the Festival Plaza project, and the Mercado. Two were done by the city, incorporated in the and the other one was done by the CRA. The whole thing started to be done in 2021 because it was a big delay because they didn't have the underground street, like the infrastructure, so it was like a four-year delay. And during that time, a lot of things changed and got musked around. So basically, here's the plans from the city engineer that so it was built by the city. There it is. Alright, so here's pictures right when it was finished. And it was done, and then the prior CRA director, uh, Miss Matthew, she was starting to, she was gonna um start activating the area. But then guess what? She was fired. All right. Never heard another thing about activating that street market area. Then we also had economic zones. All right, and our economic zone, we had an economic zone right over that spot. But then this economic map changed.

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