BUSINESS & CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD

REGULAR MEETING

December 6, 2007

 

A Regular Meeting of the Business & Cultural Development Board was held on December 6, 2007 at the City Hall Annex, 111 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, Florida.

 

Chairperson Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT

 

John Anderson

Dianne Marcum

Joanne Muncey

Darrell Peterson

 

MEMBERS ABSENT

 

None

 

OTHERS PRESENT

 

City Manager Bennett Boucher

Council Member Shannon Roberts

Recording Secretary Kim McIntire

Ray Osbourne, Freelance Writer/Historian

Steve Shirtzinger, Resident

 

Chairperson Anderson welcomed members of the audience.

 

ADOPTION OF MINUTES:

 

1.         Regular Meeting of October 17, 2007

 

Moved by Ms. Muncey, seconded by Ms. Marcum to approve the minutes of September 19, 2007.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Chairperson Anderson summarized the timeline and status of the business survey.  He advised he had recently met with the city manager and was in agreement and very supportive of the city manager’s feedback and revisions that were incorporated into the survey as a result of the meeting.  Mr. Anderson advised that Mr. Boucher would address the members prior to the start of business.

 

Mr. Boucher thanked members for their efforts and explained that some questions were deleted and additional questions had been incorporated into the business survey in order to assist the City Council in setting policy, drafting ordinances and implementing programs. The intent of the business survey was to obtain good, specific information on projects that the City Council was working on.  He mentioned there were no questions regarding a CRA and this needed to come to the forefront.  He summarized the revised questionnaire that came out of the meeting with Mr. Anderson.  Mr. Boucher said the revised survey would be provided to Dr. Wright the week of December 10th.

 

Ms. Marcum recommended that the final business survey be “test driven” with 2-3 businesses and requested that a “Green Business” question be added to the survey.

 

Mr. Boucher brought members up to date on the status of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report which assessed the effectiveness of the Comprehensive Plan and contained tentative recommendations, some of which came out of the Redevelopment Plan.

 

Mr. Boucher encouraged members to attend the P&Z Meeting on December 12th for an encore presentation of a five-story, 50 foot high retail center concept.  The developer presented his concept to the City Council and was seeking a height exemption.  Mr. Boucher said this would help the board understand how a concept goes forward.

 

Brief discussion followed regarding the transition period between the end of the shuttle program and the intervening 3-5 years before the new program.

 

Mr. Boucher advised members that the marketing video was in progress and could possibly be on the board’s January agenda.

 

Mr. Anderson thanked Mr. Boucher for attending this evening’s meeting.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

  1. Discussion Re:  Redevelopment Plan – Identify key issues for City Council to pursue in 2008

 

Mr. Anderson asked members to review the Redevelopment Plan and list their top five key issues.  Following this exercise, the following key issues were identified:

 

  • Establish a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for the city and encompass the maximum amount of property in the city allowable under Florida Statute – Objective 1.5 Administrative

 

  • Minimize the impact of increased traffic circulation on residential areas – Objective 2.2 Traffic Circulation

 

  • Establish safe, appealing and efficient city-wide pedestrian and bike paths linking all major activity centers – Objective 2.2 Traffic Circulation

 

  • Establish a solar energy and alternative fuel program for City facilities and activities – Objective 2.3 Public Facilities – THINK GREEN

 

  • Introduce “mixed use” of light industrial, retail, office, service, and residential development in selected areas of the city – Objective 1.4 Land Use Controls.

 

Moved by Mr. Anderson, seconded by Ms. Muncey to recommend the above-referenced key issues to the City Council to pursue in 2008.  The board reserves the right to add key issues in the future.   Motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Peterson voiced his concern with the safety of beachgoers in light of recent tragic occurrences and felt strongly this should be a stand alone key issue.  Mr. Anderson pointed out this issue was included in the Redevelopment Plan and members agreed on the importance of this issue.  Discussion followed.

 

Moved by Ms. Marcum, seconded by Mr. Peterson to recommend that the City Manager and City Council engage in ongoing discussions at the county level to address beach safety for the residents and visitors and the significant impact felt by the business community as a result of said beach safety.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

2.         Discussion Re:  Status of BCA Frame Project

 

Ms. McIntire advised that the application was still in draft form and was expected to be finalized on December 10, 2007.  BCA qualified for an additional $50,000 from the State of Florida and if this money were to be funded, there would be enough money for (40) frames.  If the money was not funded, there would enough money for (20) frames.  A big media push has been scheduled for after the first of the year.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

1.         Discussion Re:  City of Cape Canaveral’s 50th Anniversary (Spring, 2012)

 

Ms. Marcum presented that one of the board’s priorities was to enhance the cultural and historical elements of the City.  The City’s anniversary coincided with the end of the shuttle program and the anniversary would be an opportunity to accomplish this priority.  She presented a brief overview of her marketing ideas to members.  Ms. Marcum noted that the City was founded by the builders of the space program and this event would be an opportunity to obtain oral histories and bring the Cape Canaveral name back to the City.  Chairperson Anderson recommended that Ms. Marcum schedule a meeting with the city manager and mayor to present her ideas prior to the next board meeting in January.

 

OPEN

 

Ms. Marcum presented that she had spoken to Sarah O’Shea as well as Roger Dobson of the Residence Inn.  Ms. O’Shea had expressed an interest in attending the January meeting prior to completing a board member application. Mr. Anderson encouraged the City to reach out to Ms. O’Shea in light of the fact that the board had a regular member vacancy and two alternate member vacancies.  Ms. Marcum to provide staff with her telephone number.

 

Chairperson Anderson reported that the annual election of the chairperson and vice chairperson would be on the January 16th agenda and asked members to think about their interest in these positions as well as their continued interest in serving on the board.  He presented that his term, Ms. Marcum’s, and Ms. Muncey expired in 6/08 and Mr. Peterson’s term expired in 6/09.  Staff presented that members would receive a letter from the City Clerk’s office approximately one month prior to expiration of their terms asking if they would like to remain on the board.  Mr. Anderson presented that he would be out of pocket for approximately four months commencing in April 2008 and members needed to be looking beyond him for leadership.  He presented that he had spoken with the city manager regarding the possibility of being named as an alternate member due to his anticipated absence.

 

Staff was requested to place the following items on the January 16, 2008 agenda:

 

Election of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson

Status of Business Survey

Status of Marketing Video

Status of BCA Frame Project

Status of the City’s 50th anniversary

Status of the 2nd Annual Images in Art festival

 

Ms. Osbourne presented that the City Council had revised their agenda to allow guests to speak prior to the start of council business and asked if the B&CDB would consider adopting this process.

 

Mr. Osbourne presented a brief overview of the seminar he was hosting at the library on January 5, 2008 entitled “Ancient Indians of Cape Canaveral”.

 

Mr. Osbourne presented his concept for an annual Heritage Day at the Manatee Park and suggested February, 2008 as the date for the first annual.  Mr. Anderson felt the concept was intriguing and was worth exploring; however, he was concerned about the short lead time and the fact that the board was working on many issues.  He also noted the lack of staff and funding for this type of event.  He recommended that Mr. Osbourne present his concept to the city manager and mayor in order to solicit the City’s interest.

 

Ms. Marcum agreed with Mr. Anderson and requested that staff prepare a 2008 calendar of recreational and cultural events for distribution at the January meeting.

 

Ms. Marcum requested that Teri from T-N-T be invited to attend the January meeting to present a status report on the 2nd Annual Images in Art scheduled for March 29/30, 2008.  Ms. Muncey requested that Ms. McIntire obtain Ed Lawson’s checklist from last year.

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:45 pm.

 

Approved this _______________ day of _____________, 2008.

 

 

                                               

 

                                                                                ________________________________

                                                                               John Anderson, Chairperson

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

___________________________

Kim M. McIntire, Secretary