Agenda Item Name:
Title
Approve Funding Source for East Gainesville Waldo Road Corridor Study
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Presenter:
Sean H. Mclendon, Strategic Initiatives Manager, 352 548 3765
Description:
Request to use Community Redevelopment Funds for the Gainesville Metropolitan Area for a cooperative economic redevelopment “Gateway” study in East Gainesville centered around Waldo Road and 39th Avenue.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Direct staff to coordinate with the Gateway Team to develop a scope of work to study the economic redevelopment potential of the Waldo Road Corridor within the bounds of the Gainesville Metropolitan Area and bring back to an appropriate County meeting for approval and:
Option 1: Approve the use of up to $100,000 as contributed by Alachua County to the 2019 City of Gainesville-Alachua County Community Redevelopment Agreement as a 50% match with the City of Gainesville
Option 2: Approve the use of up to $100,000 as contributed by Alachua County Gainesville Community Redevelopment Step-Down Fund as a 50% match with the City of Gainesville
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Prior Board Motions:
On September 22, 2020 the Board adopted the revised Community Redevelopment Funds for the Gainesville Metropolitan Area process as part of their consent agenda.
On 23, June 2020, Commissioner Byerly moved to approve a $50,000 award to Working Food and a $50,000 award to Rebuilding Together North Central Florida from the County’s Community Redevelopment Grant for the Gainesville Metropolitan Area. In Fiscal Year 2021, the requirement of $100,000 of the total supplemental CRA contribution for professional services will be removed to allow the Board the option to utilize the total amount at their discretion. Staff was directed to prepare capital projects sufficient to expend the full year’s proceeds for Board consideration. The motion carried 5-0.
At the Board’s May 12 consent agenda, the Board approved the finalized grant criteria and application. Directed staff to solicit and bring back ranked applications to the earliest possible County Commission meeting for review and award. Authorized the County Manager to sign agreements with non-profits after the Board’s award.
At the Board’s February 11, regular meeting Commissioner Cornell moved to direct staff to return with finalized criteria for community redevelopment grants within the Gainesville Metropolitan Area and create a final application process for professional services grants for FY20 and develop a list of infrastructure projects for FY21. The motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Chestnut absent. 2nd Wheeler
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
If the Board selects option 2 from the motion, Account 001.17.1770.552.46.00 which represents the GCRA step-down funds to meet parity in TIF allocations.
If the Board allocated $100,000 from this fund to the redevelopment study, $100,000 will remain for other projects in FY21. The resources for these efforts will be funded from a portion of financial contributions committed by the County to the Gainesville Community Revitalization Area agreement (GCRA). In 2020 the first year, the increment available for economic development projects will be $100,000 growing by $100,000 per year over ten years per Section 3 of the GCRA agreement. Alachua County's total commitment to the GCRA starting in 2020 is $4,191,460 with an increment draw down of $100,000 annually for 10 years to reach equity between the City and County's commitment. At year ten of the agreement, the City and County will contribute an equal amount of $3,325,657 per year.
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Background:
At the September 30, joint meeting of the City of Gainesville and Alachua County, City Commissioner Simmons reported on her efforts with the Chamber, Airport Authority, City and County staff to look at the area of Waldo Road and 39th Avenue as an economic gateway. She requested that both Board’s consider a jointly funded study that would inform the redevelopment of this area. City Manager Feldman outlined the need to create a plan that will look at the needed infrastructure through a jointly funded masterplan similar to what is going on with the Downtown area. The estimated total cost is approximately $200,000 to conduct this study.
The County Commission discussed the need to have the Gateway Team meet again to begin to work on the scope of work and size of the study area.
Commissioner Simmons moved to have City and County staff to come back to the next joint meeting with the framework of a plan along with funding sources to develop a strategic economic redevelopment plan request for proposals. The motion passed unanimously by the City.
If the Board desires to use of Community Redevelopment Funds (CRF) as a funding source, they will need to authorize staff to do so.
As per the Board’s June 2020 direction, staff were directed to use all available funding, $200,000 for FY21, coming from the equalization of payments related to the GCRA agreement with the City of Gainesville to go towards County directed capital projects.
Utilizing the CRF funds for redevelopment study is alignment with the Board’s adopted framework to as the proposal fit within a “economic analysis, planning studies or designs in support of capital project investments”.
From the adopted guidance document fundable projects were defined as:
Community Redevelopment Agencies address the issues of slum and blight with capital investments that promote community redevelopment. On an annual basis the Board of County Commissioners will allocate a portion of the GCRA funds to project types including but not limited to: architecture, engineering, economic analysis, planning studies or designs in support of capital project investments; sidewalks; trail networks; parks; eco-tourism support infrastructure (signage, way-finding, kiosks etc.); streetscapes; façade improvements; utility connection assistance; pop-up retail pilot projects; high-speed internet connectivity; property acquisition; community gardens; green roofs; edible landscapes; or the further development of Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ)/Resource Recovery Industrial Park (Eco-Industrial Park) related facilities.