Affordable Housing Advisory Committee - Regular Meeting

Go ahead and get started and call this Southwest Deltona Community Redevelopment Agency meeting to order if I can please have the city clerk call the roll.

Commissioner Villasquez? Present. Caldwell? Here. Commissioner Howington?

Point of order. It's we're not using commissioner.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Yeah. Every time.

This it's fine. No worries. Let's for the regular, let's start again.

Yep. Member Villavasquez?

Still

here. Member Caldwell?

Still with her.

Member Howington? Here. Member Lilley? Present via teams. Member Santiago? Here. Member Harriet? Present. Member Avila? Here.

This time we're gonna go ahead and go with public forum. No? Alright. Action item request for approval resolution number 2025Dash61 requesting board consideration approval of matching grant proposal which could potentially benefit businesses with CRA boundaries and because this is a little different than what we regularly do, we're going to go ahead and go directly to Mr. Don Cox for his presentation. Your microphone is off.

Mr. Chairman, members of the CRA Board, I'm John Cox, your CRA Director. Good evening. I had the opportunity to send you a proposal with respect to creating a grant for commercial entities within the boundaries of the CRA. The Florida statutes allows CRAs to offer these types of grants to businesses, in particular to eliminate blight and slum like conditions throughout the district.

So as we have been working in our DRC and their businesses who are actually renovate or renovating or coming to the CRA, In those meetings, I've said, I need to let you know that because you're in the CRA, there may be something to your benefit in the form of a grant. Well, when I drilled down, I discovered that we haven't had a grant program. We've not issued a grant through the CRA. So I'm requesting that as many communities throughout the state of Florida do, we offer a grant to businesses that can help them in a number of ways. For example, maybe they have a paving issue, painting issue, landscaping.

It could be a facade grant. Anything that will improve the look of the business. How are these grants funded? They're funded by the CRA trust fund. So each year, communities that offer grants just allocate part of their trust fund for these grants. They're also matching grants, which means that, the proposal that you have had that is before you tonight is a grant that is a matching grant in fifth in the 50%. So if the project is a $10,000 grant, the city would match it at 50%, which would be $5,000 in each of these different areas. Now painting is a little bit different. That only goes to 5,000. But it is a simple process.

It's one that can benefit businesses in the CRA and so recommend it to you based on the information that you've received.

I'm going to go to Commissioner Villa Vasquez first then Vice Mayor Haria because the majority of the CRA is in your commissioner Villavascos please.

Thank you, Mayor. So, for the grants, is it per business? Will you be offering this to every single business or is it for the whole entire CRA section?

It's for the it's businesses within the CRA boundaries. Yes, ma'am. Thank you.

Each business.

That's correct.

So, I have, I think it's 12 restaurants on Deltona Boulevard. So, each restaurant will be able well, not restaurants but food,

you know.

Sure. Businesses that sell food or whatever.

Yes, ma'am. If they're in the district, they qualify in the CRA for matching grant. For example, one of them may have a sign that has been broken or vandalized. They can apply for a sign grant and we can partner with them and see a new sign put up.

And we will be responsible for the 50%?

That's correct. The CRA trust fund, that's where the funds come from. So it doesn't come from the city's general fund. The funds are already available.

What about things that the city has to implement on the city side? Are we also able to apply for these grants on a fifty-fifty? Or is it just for businesses?

It would be just for businesses. That's correct.

Okay. Have you done a sweep of areas that you think might be candidates?

Well, Because I know I Deltona Boulevard might be a good place to start. In fact, we've looked at the Plaza there, 1200 Deltona. We've talked with the owner and his leasing agents. In fact, they're one of the businesses that we told probably two months ago in the DRC meeting that we are in the process of potentially establishing a grant that could benefit your business. So yes, we've looked.

Good. Thank you. Because there are other plazas that really need some TLC. But thank you. I like this idea. Thank Thank you very

you for the questions. Sir?

Member Harriet.

Director Cox, you know ballpark off the top of your head the annual amount earned by the CRA? Does anybody? So it's going to

be a million plus. Our balance today is about $2,000,000.

Okay. What would the would this program run-in perpetuity until the funds ran out?

That would be up to the board and keep in mind and great question, thank you, that the CRA expires in 2036. So just 10 Perfect. More

And then looking have we looked at and I know that this is you guys have done a lot of research on this, but are there any examples of CRAs where the cost share is increased on the support side so that the city would cover maybe 75% or 60% would cover more than 50%?

So there are not Florida statutes that regulate what the percentage is. So the CRA board could establish whatever percentages they want. I thought since we're instituting it for the very first time, this might be a good barometer of how effective it could be. There are some cities that offer grants but nobody applies for the grant. So I thought well let's see if people will apply.

Yeah I just I know that my commissioner Villa Vasquez has brought this up. Sorry member of Villa Vasquez has brought this up many really championed improvements within the CRA. So I think we'd like to look at doing anything we can to help out the business partners within the CRA. So what I mean by all that is if we have an opportunity to help with more than 50% of the funding and it sounds like we have a $2,000,000 available balance. So that's if we're talking 20 businesses we can give each of the 20 businesses the maximum amount and still have plenty of funds available.

The other thing that I'd like to ask if we've considered is kind of like a street scaping program in that area as well to a member of yield at this point improve the city infrastructure, not specifically sewer, but the sidewalks, the street lights, the curbing, you know, signage, all that kind of stuff.

Yes. Good question. I've reviewed all the enabling ordinances that establish the CRA. I've read the plans, and there are many places throughout the plans that talk about streetscaping, linear parks, on and on and on. That's the bigger work of the CRA.

Now your CRA decided in the very beginning that it wanted to accumulate a large amount of money before it undertook projects. It also decided that it wanted to pay as it goes. So both of those things probably have prevented you from doing significant work in your community on those two areas. There's gonna be a a point at which, as an example, you're nine years old and you've spent less than a $150,000. And that's because you wanna pay as you go and you wanna accumulate a larger fund balance so that you can do bigger projects. But that is those ideas are great ideas and certainly part of what a CRA does. It's just not part of

the grant proposal. And thank you for pointing that out at the end. These questions are a little bit outside of the grant proposal. They're a little bit the CRA larger picture. Would this Board need to change policy in order to leverage the funding opportunities of the CRA to complete those larger

projects? Thank you for the question. And I have thought about that. But again, you only have ten years left. You've only got $2,000,000 in the bank and significant community change projects take a lot of money. So I know you're fond of this for work might pay us to have a work session of the CRA board at some time to discuss how we want to move through these next ten years. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, sir.

Mister chair. Mister chair, if I may just to piggyback off of mister Cox's point, there is nothing in your current plan that would preclude you from issuing debt or issuing bonds if that's the will of the board. However, you may also want to consider an extension or expansion of the CRA if you're looking to make more long term investments or increase your TIF by bringing in additional areas that may be eligible to be incorporated into the CRA.

Thank you.

Member Caldwell, then I'll go and then we'll go to Member of Villa Vasquez a second time.

Thank you. On a grant program, are we limited to one grant or can we apply from can I apply for multiple?

So one grant per year per property.

Okay. Thank you.

And if you got a signed grant this year, we wouldn't expect you back for five more years to get another signed grant.

Right. So I got three questions. One, piggybacking off of Member Caldwell. 1200 Deltona Boulevard has multiple businesses on that property. Are each of them eligible for a grant?

Yes. In fact, there's a line in the application, which is the bulk of the paperwork that you have for the owner to sign and the tenant or the applicant. So, yeah, you could have 10 businesses along the front of that and working with the owner of the plaza, they could improve the facade along those 10 businesses, which would be excellent.

Would that also include a possibility of, let's say, at the Deltona Boulevard Plaza or even there's another Plaza a little bit further down with where Big Ole Kings at. They want to do like an outparcel. Would that also apply for them to let's say they want to build an outparcel and they would like the grant for $10,000 I mean it's a drop in the bucket.

So the issue on an outparcel is generally speaking there's nothing there. So there's nothing to improve.

Got it. Last question I guess is would any septic to SOAR or SOAR expansion be allowed to be considered for any of those grants? Of course Let me just use an example. Cigar Hustler has been wanting SOAR to come to their area for I don't know how long. Every time I see them they tell me if they put in whatever request for a grant, I know $10,000 is not going to go anywhere to get in that SOAR connection. But with that SOAR connection, could they apply those $10,000 or a grant to help bring that SOAR line over?

Thank you for the question. Of course, I would have to rely on counsel from our esteemed legal, charter officers, because our the Deltona CRA is very restrictive. Okay. Especially in the area of water and sewer and septic. So I wouldn't think so, but of course, I would rely on legal for assistance.

Mister chair, we'll we'll review the CRA plan to give you an answer, and we can tell Mr. Cox, Director Cox and he can transmit it to you all or we can send it to you all. But I will say this, the city manager made an excellent suggestion that for a case like that, let's say the business comes to the CRA, they apply for a grant to improve something that is under the eligible expenses already outlined. The city could offer a grant that has no restrictions to them for that conversion. And then the upside of doing something like that is we're already then in privity of contract with them.

We've ensured that there's insurance and they've met all the other requirements to be part of this grant program. They're not just billy nilly doing construction in their business. So that could be an opportunity to have in that case they would come before you all as the CRA for their CRA grant and then we could put a companion item on the city meeting that same day or the next meeting for that portion. So if the city wanted to contribute, there would be no restriction on city funds.

Thank you. Member of Villa Vasquez and then Member Harriet.

Thank you, mayor. So I mean, I'm just going to say that from my knowledge, SUR cannot be included with the CRA funds. Supposed to be for beautification is what I was told at one time. Does this grant, is it also can it also be used for inside these businesses? It has to be only visible outside?

Thank you. No. It's exterior only.

Exterior only. You know where I'm getting at?

Yes.

Paris? Yes. The restaurant?

Been there.

Right. So just to let you guys into this, we had a conversation about the hotel that we have on Deltona Boulevard. And believe it or not, when I speak about this, some people say, we have a hotel on Deltona Boulevard. Yes. It's across the street from McDonald's. And they had a restaurant called Harry's. And this restaurant was a sit down restaurant where family used to go eat. And it was a line from the registration table all the way out. That was my favorite restaurant when I moved here twenty five years ago. So something like this and I know the place is still there but the restaurant is not. So I don't know. I know. I think you said you did reach out to them and they never got back to you.

That's correct.

I mean and it's under Wenham I don't understand why they won't even want to do something like that but I don't think we should give up on it. Thank you.

Thank you.

Member Harriet and then we'll entertain you need a motion right? The

last thing the only thing I have to say is that I'd love to see a motion include the ability for businesses to receive multiple grants per year so that a business can receive a grant for signage and for, facade within the same year. That way they can actually achieve the completion, some real significant beautification while they're doing while they're undertaking a project. So, that's all that's all only thing I'd I'd like to see. I

think it'd be appropriate if. Member of Villa Vasquez and Singer District, would you like to make the motion?

Just a question before I make the motion. Is that allowed?

Well, as the board, you can allow anything.

So at this from the grant requirements and rules of the grant, is that allowed? And as far as the grant is

We would have to modify some language. As I said a a moment ago, one grant per property per year. That's what the language of this grant says. You're the board and you can change it.

Okay. Mr. Chair, if I may. It is certainly legal. It is permissible. We would need to modify the grant. But if you give direction, we could affect your intent and make it so that a grantee could get a signed grant every five years and a facade grant that same year and presumably every year if they would like. You also can increase the percent. It's always best practice for the business to put some skin in the game, but you could fund it 90 percent or 95% and just they have to contribute a portion. So they have some skin in the game.

But I will say some of businesses that we have seen in other CRAs that have had the most success come back every year, right. So one year they'll put a brick facade in their building and then the next year they'll upgrade their windows and the next year they'll do a new door. So and by the end, they I mean the businesses look beautiful. So these types of programs certainly are effective, but you can cut it, slice it up however you want. You could fund 100%, you could fund 90%, 95% or keep it fifty-fifty whatever you all want do. You have a ton of latitude.

And one more question before I make the motion. We have I always say there is probably 70% businesses on Deltona Boulevard and the other 30% is residential. They don't qualify for these grants, residential?

This grant is written for commercial business. Commercial business. Correct. I think that's a fair place to start. You can be literally out of money in a hurry if you're not careful.

Okay.

And the good changes you've made or you want to make, that's awesome. You may want to also then up the amount from $100,000 to the grant program shall not exceed $200,000 your choice.

Okay. I just wanted that answer because we will be they'll be reaching out to us, our residential homes about this grant. It's very clear now that it's just for commercial.

That's correct.

Okay. So I move to approve resolution number 2025Dash61 adopting the proposed grant program for the Southwest Deltona Community Redevelopment Agency located within the city of Deltona up to $200,000 grant in addition to what board member Davidson mentioned in our legal department. Sign

and facade in the same year is permitted.

Yeah. Multiple grants per year.

I always look at our clerk to see her reactions.

Multiple grants as in

Got it.

More than one per year or a sign and a facade in the same year?

Sides. You can have multiple categories. Painting, landscaping. Yeah.

So that they could do a facade and a sign or a sign and a painting. Landscaping and facade. Oh, thank you. The Oz.

You got this. Right?

Mic is on. Am I off? Yes. If the light's not green, it's off.

As an example, if you do a landscaping grant and they put in $5,000 worth of landscaping and it's a terribly cold or terribly hot or terribly adverse environment for that landscaping and it dies, can they come back and get another $5,000 for another landscaping grant? That's one of the things the same kind of thing with painting. They don't paint it right in the first place. That's gonna be a problem. And we can figure these things out as we go if you like.

Mister chair, if I may, we would recommend that with respect to that that staff have to approve the work before the applicant receives their final payment. So for example, you're going to put in landscaping, you have to put in irrigation, right? And the landscaping has to be in compliance with the the rest of our city code. If you're going to paint you have to meet our architectural design guidelines. If you're to put in paving it has to again meet all of our codes.

So we would recommend that be included in this program. To your point though, I understand multiple grants a year if it's fifty-fifty. That okay, that's reasonable because then they're putting 50% of the money in. You could also or instead just they get one grant a year for a larger amount. You know, so they don't have to do this and come to to you multiple times. They could come back and so I'll just put that on the table. That's an option as well. They could instead of you're conceiving of multiple grants.

You will come up with the what would be required of them before it gets approved, right? Just like when we approve fixing a home and stuff like that under the ship and housing requirements.

So yes, the answer is yes. This grant does not anticipate coming back before the board every time somebody applies for a grant. It's all done at the staff level with a sign off by the city manager.

As long as all the requirements are?

Absolutely. Thank you. All right. I'm going go to so there's a motion on the floor. Is there a second before I go to additional? Second. Second by Member Harriet. Member Lully, do you want to say something because I know I haven't asked you and I wanted to give you an opportunity.

No, I'm good at this time. Thank you.

Okay. Member Caldwell, you were on the board earlier and then you came off and then we'll go to Member Howington. Some of

the questions were answered. My question is on the $200,000 is a limit, an annual limit?

If you establish a limit it needs to be annual. Okay. And you should establish a limit.

That's where I was going with that. Thank you. With all those businesses we could run out of funds within eleven years. Absolutely.

Member Howington?

I would like to see the motion amended to maybe one per category per year. That might be a way to prevent them from coming back for multiple for the same category within a year. I'm good with that.

That was the intent. Sorry that was the

intent. Yeah. Thank you.

City Clerk, did you want me to have them do the motion again?

No please.

She say no herself.

Mr. Chairman quickly before you vote, I just want to show you this little PowerPoint. It's been

We have literally so we have no time. They need five minutes.

I withdraw my suggestion. Okay.

All right. Ken, can you please, sorry. And then before you release the member of Lully, would you please tell us how you would like to vote before they release the final tally? Yes. It's past the seven to zero.

John, could tell you that Jerry Mays is a very happy person right now.

All

right. Thank you.

So the CRA, if there's no other comments, the CRA meeting is adjourned.