REGULAR BOARD MEETING Downtown Development Authority Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 8:30 AM 300 Clematis Street, Suite 200 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86119888466 Dial: +1 301 715 8592 Webinar ID 858 7689 3756 CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT PRESENTATIONS • • •
Boat Show Rena Blades Event Services Professionals Association Update Tiffany Faublas Public Realm Raphael Clemente
CONSENT CALENDAR (Action Required) •
Minutes of Regular Board Meeting January 18, 2022
•
Financial Statements of January 31, 2022
OLD BUSINESS (Action Required) •
Mobility Coalition Raphael Clemente
NEW BUSINESS (Action Required) ANNOUNCEMENTS ADJOURNMENT
300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873|Fax: 561.833.5870| www.downtownwpb.com
REGULAR BOARD MEETING Downtown Development Authority Tuesday, January 18, 2022 @ 8:30 AM 300 Clematis Street, Suite 200 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85876893756 Dial: +1 301 715 8592 Webinar ID 858 7689 3756 In attendance Chair Rick Reikenis, Vice Chair Bill Jacobson, Board Members Mary Lane Hurley, Robert Sanders, Cynthia Nally. Executive Director Raphael Clemente, Associate Director Teneka James, DDA staff, Tiffany Faublas, Mila Romero, Sherryl Muriente (via Zoon), Sabrina Lolo, Catherine Ast (via Zoom) and Vivian Ryland. Max Lohman, DDA Attorney. CALL TO ORDER – Chairman Reikenis called the meeting to order at 8:35 am. There was a quorum present. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS - There was no public comment. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT Executive Director Clemente welcomed Mila Romero as the new Placemaking Coordinator. Executive Director Clemente announced that Associate Director Teneka Feaman has been appointed to the International Downtown Association (IDA) Board. Staff member Tiffany Faublas noted that DDA staff have been speakers at IDA conferences in the past. The 2022 IDA Annual conference will be held in Vancouver, Canada. PRESENTATIONS • City of West Palm Beach Capital Projects City staff member Vladimir Jeandot attended the meeting remotely and shared several downtown roadway projects including Datura and Evernia Streets, and Quadrille Boulevard. Project cost is estimated at $3.5 million. Jeandot stated that plans have not been finalized, and once plans are more complete, the City will come back to the DDA for additional feedback. Chairman Reikenis asked if infrastructure supporting street trees will be included in the project. Board member Nally requested a meeting with the Downtown Neighborhood Association. Executive Director Clemente stated that businesses and residents want more outdoor dining on streets like Datura and Evernia. Board member Nalley asked if the City is requesting funding from the DDA. Vice Chairman Jacobson asked several questions about the scope and design of the project. City staff responded that Banyan is being redesigned with narrower drive aisles, bike lanes and wider sidewalks. Jacobson said that 300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873|Fax: 561.833.5870| www.downtownwpb.com
streetscapes should be consistent. Jacobson also said that alleyways were important and asked if grant funds be used for those as well. City staff responded that alleyways would be funded from City budgetary reserves. City staff said that the public engagement portion of the project is just starting. They are seeking letters of support from the DDA and the DNA for the FDOT grant application. Vice Chairman Jacobson said that Quadrille was intended to serve as a bypass through downtown. The proposed plan for Quadrille seems like a departure from the original intent. Jacobson stated that Quadrille needs to remain a bypass. Board member Nalley agreed with the Jacobson, adding that residents must cross Quadrille and it is not pedestrian friendly. Executive Director Clemente asked if the City could fund the projects now and be reimbursed by FDOT at a later date. Jeandot responded that would not be possible. Clemente stated that designing for pedestrians is a priority. Currently the design of Quadrille is not consistent with the urban environment. Chairman Reikenis pointed out that when Quadrilled was designed there were only about 1,000 residents in downtown. Now there are about 10,000. Chairman Reikenis called the question; should the DDA provide a letter of support for the proposed projects. Board Member Lane moved the motion. Board Member Nalley seconded. Vice Chairman Jacobson asked for clarification of contents of the letter of support. Executive Director Clemente stated that he could draft a general letter of support. Jacobson said he would rather the letter be in support of the grant application. The motion passed unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR (Action Required) – Chairman Reikenis called the question for approval for the two consent items. Board member Sanders made a motion to approve the consent items. Board member Hurley Lane seconded he motion. Under discussion, Vice Chairman Jacobson requested a revision to the December 21st minutes to include his comment regarding adjoining property owners and maintenance of street trees. Motion passed unanimously. • •
Minutes of Regular Board Meeting December 21, 2021 Financial Statements of December 31, 2021
OLD BUSINESS (Action Required) •
First Amendment to Piggyback Agreement for Circuit Transit
Executive Director Clemente presented the first amendment to the piggy-back agreement with the City of Pompano Beach extending the contract for services to September 30, 2022. Board member Sanders made a motion to approve the amendment. Vice Chairman Jacobson seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Director Clemente said that he would like to survey the riders of Circuit to determine where they are boarding the service, how much money they spent in Downtown, and how long they stayed in the area. Board member Nalley asked if the trolley could go to the Norton Museum. Executive Director Clemente said that proposed changes to the trolley routes could more effectively connect areas north and south of downtown. 300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873|Fax: 561.833.5870| www.downtownwpb.com
NEW BUSINESS (Action Required) • Executive Director Performance Evaluation Chairman Reikenis announced that Executive Director Clemente’s review cumulative overall score was 4.3 of a possible 5, qualifying Clemente for a three percent increase in salary effective January 1, 2022. Board member Sanders motioned to accept the review results and salary increase. Board member Hurley Lane seconded the motion. The motioned passed unanimously. • Resolution 02-2022 - Budget Amendment As directed by the Board at the January 18, 2022, meeting, Executive Director Clemente presented a budget amendment moving $125,00 from Reserves to Transportation to cover the cost of the extension of the contract with Circuit and moving $80,000 from Capital Projects to Public Space Programs to cover the cost of street trees. A motion was made by Board member Sanders to approve Resolution 02-2022 and was seconded by Board member Hurley Lane. The motion passed unanimously. • Interlocal Agreement Amendment Executive Director Clemente explained that the current interlocal agreement between the DDA, the City, and the CRA increased funding from the DDA for homeless outreach from $75,000 to $150,000. The amendment increased funding to the DDA for public realm maintenance based on added areas. Board member Nalley asked about the $65,000 allocated to additional trash cans. Clemente said that they are backordered due to supply chain issues. Vice Chairman Jacobson asked if the homeless outreach staff were identifiable. Clemente said that they are City employees and have a City badge and shirt. Clemente also said that the City shares statistics on the outreach program with DDA staff. Board member Nalley asked for an update on the visitor center. Executive Director Clemente said that the staff is working on possible designs and will present them to the City for consideration. Board member Nalley made a motion that Executive Director Clemente share the statistics on the homeless outreach on Executive Director Clemente’s Report section of the agenda. Board member Hurley Lane seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Board member Hurley Lane asked for an update on alleys particularly the alley on the north side of Clematis Street. Executive Director Clemente said that Brand Atlantic is working on getting approval from the City and the CRA and plans on redoing the entire alleyway. Chairman Reikenis said that they are planning on undergrounding the overhead utilities. However, the transformer boxes will need to be on private property. Executive Director Clemente said that the grease traps continue to be a problem in that alley and throughout the downtown area. ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements.
300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873|Fax: 561.833.5870| www.downtownwpb.com
ADJOURNMENT Chairman Reikenis asked for a motion to adjourn. The motion was moved by Board member Sanders and seconded by Board member Hurley Lane to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting was adjourned at 10:15 am.
300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873|Fax: 561.833.5870| www.downtownwpb.com
MEMO TO:
DDA Board Rick Reikenis, Chairman Bill Jacobson, Vice Chairman Bob Sanders Mary Hurley Lane Cynthia Nalley Varisa Lall Dass
FROM: Raphael Clemente, Executive Director RE:
Presentation: Boat Show 2022
DATE: February 15, 2022 _________________________________________________________________________________________
Rena Blades, Director of Community and Government Affairs for the Palm Beach International Boat Show, will present an overview of new plans and programs that will be part of the 2022 show, now in its 40th year.
300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873 Fax: 561.833.5870 DowntownWPB.com
MEMO TO:
DDA Board Rick Reikenis, Chairman Bill Jacobson, Vice Chairman Bob Sanders Mary Hurley Lane Cynthia Nalley Varisa Lall Dass
FROM: Raphael Clemente, Executive Director RE:
Placemaking and the evolution of the public realm in Downtown
DATE: February 15, 2022 _________________________________________________________________________________________
Starting in the early 1990s, the Downtown Development Authority has played an increasingly active role in shaping policy and supporting projects that have improved public spaces within our district. The impact this work has had cannot be understated, as quality of place has become one of the primary factors in the economic and social growth of cities, including West Palm Beach. In the past two years, the DDA has focused more resources on public realm programs that ever before, with over 30% of the current fiscal year budget allocated to projects or programs that have been developed to improve the quality of the built environment and how residents, business owners, and visitors to our place experience the Downtown district. Staff will present a summary of these programs, and an update on coming plans that will allow the DDA to continue to enhance our district by improving the quality of public spaces.
300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873 Fax: 561.833.5870 DowntownWPB.com
MEMO TO:
DDA Board Rick Reikenis, Chairman Bill Jacobson, Vice Chairman Bob Sanders Mary Hurley Lane Cynthia Nalley Varisa Lall Dass
FROM: Raphael Clemente, Executive Director RE:
West Palm Beach Mobility Coalition
DATE: February 15, 2022 _________________________________________________________________________________________
In September of 2021, the DDA Board approved Resolution 05-2021, supporting the supporting the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, private sector partners, and others to improve and enhance multimodal transportation options in the Downtown West Palm Beach area. The West Palm Beach Mobility Coalition, a proposed public / private partnership led by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches and Downtown Development Authority to address mobility and transportation issues in the West Palm Beach downtown core has moved forward and is nearing the point of being formalized as a non-profit entity. The vision the Coalition will build upon recent studies and leverages past community engagement of the city, including the Gehl Public Realm Action Plan, Mobility Plan, Okeechobee Corridor Study, Dixie Highway Lane Elimination and Parking and Transportation Demand Management Study while looking to the future. The Coalition will focus on: 1.) Providing professional services to assist in prioritized mobility initiatives. 2.) Leveraging county, state and regional grants and funding opportunities. 3.) Creating and mobilizing a coalition of advocates and community members to provide support for downtown mobility initiatives. The Coalition will be formed with a five-person board consisting of mobility and transportation allies to shepherd the organization and oversee goals and objectives. In addition, part of the success of the organization will require an advisory board made up of City, County, and regional partners to ensure decision makers have a seat at the table and can be involved in long-term 300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873 Fax: 561.833.5870 DowntownWPB.com
objectives. The advisory board is necessary to ensure participation from stakeholders throughout the process. The Coalition has received initial private sector seed capital of $150,000 and new private sector commitments of $100,000 to $150,000 in additional funding upon formalization and launch. This does not include any public funding requests. To date, initial conversations have been had with the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches Board of Directors, WPB Downtown Development Authority Board, West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James and West Palm Beach Traffic Engineer Xavier Falconi, WPB CRA Director Chris Roog, County Vice Mayor Gregg Weiss, County Commissioner Mack Bernard, former Transportation Planning Agency Executive Director Nick Uhren, and Brightline VP of Mobility Jonathan Hopkins. New meetings have been scheduled with County Mayor Robert Weinroth and TPA Interim Executive Director Valerie Neilson. Most recently, Mayor Keith James has been advised of the formation of this Coalition and has expressed his full support and cooperation. Staff recommends an allocation of $50,000 to contribute the Mobility Coalition during the current fiscal year.