Community Redevelopment Board - Regular Meeting

Okay, let's start. Welcome to the CAA meeting in Panama City on August 4th. Thank you for coming. We begin with a opening prayer that is led by Reverend Braden Friday, pastor of the Living Waters Ministry. Followed by the faithfulness that is led by our new head of construction, Inspector Trent Massey. A surprise. Thank you. Let's pray. Father God, we thank you for the opportunity to step in front of you, just as we step in front of each other in this church to achieve the things that have to be achieved in this church. Father, I invite you to enter the realm of the thoughts of God, to give us the direction we need to come together and achieve everything that has to be achieved as a church. Father, give us the divine insight. Give us correction if we need it. God, so that you will be glorified in the midst of all this, so that your will be done. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Nice to meet you. Name and address, please.

Not today. I praise the flag of the United States of America and the Republic, for which it stands, a nation under God, indivisible, with freedom and justice for all. Thank you. This is my moment.

I told him not to do it, but he didn't want to hear it, so... You're dismissed.

Member of the Board Lukas. Member of the Board Street. Member of the Board Granger. Present. Chair Bransch.

Present.

All present.

You have received the meeting protocol from 2 June. I will make an application for admission. For two. Two. There is a discussion. Please read out the attendance list.

Member of the Board Hughes. Lukas. Yes.

Member of the board, Street? Yes.

Member of the board, Ranger? Chairman Brench? Yes. The vote is 5 to 0.

Are there additions, amendments or changes to today's agenda? None from the staff, Mr. Chairman. There is something on the board. Since we don't see any, we move on and move on to the participation of the audience. If you would like to speak to a point in connection with the CAA, please contact us. Emma? Excuse me, how can I help you?

Guten Abend, Michelle Bryant, 400 East 9th Street. Ist es okay, wenn ich Ihnen etwas weiterreiche? Ich hatte keine Gelegenheit, es per E-Mail zu schicken. Mein Leben ist super.

Yes, you could also give something to the lawyer.

Yes.

Thank you, Michelle.

Thank you. So again, good evening. Michelle Bryant, 409 East Lime Street. What you have in front of you is just a short excerpt from what we want to have on the agenda today. First of all, on behalf of the city commission, I would like to thank you for passing this on to the CAA board. This is a request to the CAA board that we use the SPARC program to determine the final costs for the assessed real estate that the American Legion would like to buy on MLK Boulevard 1342. Just for background information, the declaration of intent was already issued in July and put in the agenda in August. The completion of the evaluation by the city administration was completed with € 61,000. We have passed the tender with a deadline of 30 days and of course there were no further submissions. The American Legion would absolutely like to promote the project 1342 MLK Boulevard. The special thing about it is not only that this property belonged to a previously experienced local business owner, but also that we are closely related to this property.

Our commander is a family member of the previous owner of Lee's Motel. It is actually his nephew. It is actually his nephew.

We are not only supported by our local district American Legion, but also by our state American Legion. One of the reasons why we believe that our organization is perfect for the activation and renovation of small business real estate is that it will be a local company that will definitely contribute to the rehabilitation of the community. First, jobs are created. A cultural space is created and contributed to the rehabilitation of the MLK corridor. This is also an organization owned by veterans. This organization is nationwide known for working together with local schools, churches and organizations to proudly donate to both the Americans and the local urban society. We ask that the SPARC program be used and that the taxation matrix and with the SPARC program. In addition, the market value of the Bay County evaluation should be used, which is slightly different from the one that was evaluated by the city. So we are looking forward to your questions and thoughts and looking forward to this great partnership. I would also like to add that I am very happy that our investors have given us green light. We are now ready to move forward and have already begun to build and develop relationships with members of the neighboring communities. Thank you very much.

Sharon, why do you want to hire the accountant for the real estate instead of the accountant?

Well, the value determined by the accountant's work was about $20,000 lower. So the city administrator has set a estimated price of 68. The estimated value of the urban property was at 417.

And I mean, with the building for which you are recording this, you are usually wrong. It's getting less and less. It's getting less and less. Yes, it's getting less and less.

The estimated value. Yes. And since this project is expected to cost between 500 and almost 1 million dollars, we ask for this reduction. Are there any more questions?

Yes.

Nobody? Come down here. I would actually like to know if you believe it or not.

Good day. Hello.

Good day.

I would like to ask Brenda Lewis-Williams, 2000-1040, Oakhaven Drive, to... My concern concerns... Point 8. I belong to the people who vehemently oppose the financing of non-profit organizations. Is the St. Andrew's Waterfront not a non-profit or profit-oriented organization?

That's number 9.

That's number 9. I thought I would have said it. I thought it was just number 9. And I am vehement against it. For years they have received money, money, money. I don't see any results. The only thing that is halfway decent is the museum down there. And I like it when they make filling spring holders, because I like filling spring holders. But apart from that. I don't see anything you have done to improve the community. If I'm wrong, I'm happy to correct myself. But not in the extent as it happened the last time with $35,000. Where does this money go? What do you do with this money? I can see that it is a matching agent. If you have provided matching agents worth $8,700, then look for matching agents somewhere else and then take them. It is time for our city to stop giving money to organizations that run their own organizations and can receive money from the US. The last time you wanted money, it was for Gouverneur Stone, who beat me up. But it is time for us to start acting very cautiously and to look at what these self-sufficient organizations do or don't do. What benefits do they have from the money we give them? What use does the city have? I don't see any. And the ASAP aside. ASAP is not that they do not receive urban money in the same extent as they receive it from CBD subsidies in the US. So they do not rob the city of money that could be used elsewhere. And these are my thoughts. I think we have to take a closer look at this. and do not allow it. Thank you.

Thank you. Does anyone else want to say something about it? Since I don't see anyone, I'll close the public comment. We come to point 7.

Point 7 is the acceptance and cancellation of Sankofa's resignation for the development agreement for the Glenwood Town Center. As background information, on the C.R.A. board meeting on April 15, 2025, the Sankofa Group proposed a new development of C.R.A. 's own properties on MLK Boulevard and 15th Street, which are known as Glenwood Town Center. This is a mixed-use project that includes a grocery store and residential units. After the required public announcement deadline, the C.R.A. Board of Directors encouraged negotiations with the Sankofa Group on a possible purchase or public-private partnership, which led to the approved development agreement, which was signed on July 29, 2025. During the due diligence phase of the contractor, additional technical analysis provided considerable restrictions regarding the rainwater in connection with the requirements of the Florida Ministry of Transport. On the request of the contractor, the CAA Board approved a five-month extension of the due diligence period in order to allow an additional technical review and evaluation of other possible solutions. On July 14, 2026, the Sankofa Group issued a written statement on the cancellation of the development contract and introduced problems with the rainwater drainage, which made the property for the planned construction unsuitable. The statement states that the cancellation with the maintenance by the city will be effective and both parties will be exempt from all other obligations from the contract. The employees recommend to the city council to accept the resignation letter for the development contract and to give the employees instructions for future efforts to renovate this property, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I request to accept this resignation letter. It is a project that the community has been demanding for over 20 years in the form of a food store and unfortunately this project was not successful. However, it was something that taught us a few things and we know what we have to do in the future. In this sense, I appreciate the efforts of the Sankofa Group and apply to accept the petition. I agree.

The chairman would like to say that We definitely have to deal with the topic of rainwater.

I know that our planning department is working on a regulation to create relief in this regard. I was contacted by two different groups that are interested in doing something in this area. So there is already interest in these properties for residential purposes and retail.

That's right. Moving on to point 9.

Point 8 is the examination and approval of the application for a tax relief program for Panama City, which was approved by KVP Properties Florida LLC for the property on 41-01 West 19th Street with the address ID 288-1000000, as well as the approval for the completion of a performance agreement. Background information. On June 9, this year, Kevin Wynne, in the name of KBP Properties Florida LLC, submitted an application in the framework of the program for the renovation of five single-family homes in 44111 West 9th Street, more precisely in West 19th Street, with the floor plan ID mentioned above, in the St. Andrews district of the CRA. The employees have checked the application for completion and after the examination, I have concluded my assessment and given my recommendation. I have come to the conclusion that the project meets the criteria set in the guidelines of the Tax Increment Rebate Program for funding, which was set at 70% of the funding-able project costs, based on the revitalization of a demolished building to create commercial offices that cannot exceed 149,000 of 72.7017 cents and cannot exceed a period of 15 years. The recommendation of the employees is that Kevin Wynne, in the name of KBP Properties Florida LSC, submit a C.R.A. application for the five single-family houses in Fort 101 West 19th Street.

Mr. Chairman, I accept the application. Please ask for it.

This project does not include residential buildings, does it?

I don't see that crossed here, only single-family houses. That's right, Gül. Yes, that's right. No, I didn't look for it, Mr. Agui. I don't think the consent requires it. But I didn't look for it either, to be honest. Excuse me. Do you have any further questions or discussions?

Please read the following.

Member of the board Hughes.

Yes. Member of the board Dukas. Yes. Member of the board Street. Member of the board Granger. Chairman Brunsch.

Yes.

The application is accepted at 5 to 0.

Punkt 9 ist die Prüfung und Genehmigung der Historic St. Augustine Waterfront Partnership, eine entsprechende Spende in Höhe von 8.050, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh.

This was an initiative that we specifically asked for at Waterfront Partnership to collect donations. We will support you to make the community organization a more sustainable company. This should be something that we take into account with every community organization we work with. If you are willing to make donations, we would be happy to be a part of it. Sie bieten an für diejenigen, die es nicht wissen, wie es sich anhörte, dass sie jedes Jahr hunderte von Grundkindern unterrichten. Sie organisieren Schulausflüge. Sie sind verantwortlich für alle ehrenamtlichen Stunden, die für die Weihnachtsbeleuchtung in St. Andrews aufgewendet werden. They supervise the farmer's market. They are actively involved in practically all aspects that we carry out in community planning and programming. Just to add a few things that they do. They do a lot more than that, including the museum, but there are many things in which they are quite active.

Yes, and I would like to add that the chairman agrees with the board member. I see it as something like a sort of government. I mean, this is our building from which they work, just like the Bay Arts Alliance and the Center for the Arts in the city center of Panama City. Very similar to the Downtown Improvement Board. Because these are groups that we support financially and they do things directly on behalf of the city by often using our capital resources.

They use and program our facilities and as a result, Waterfront is one of the few that actually implements their own means. I think the Center for the Arts does that, but it is not dependent on this agreement.

The difference is that the Center for the Arts and the historic St. Andrews Waterfront are both buildings that belong to the city CAA, but the way in which their contracts are written is different. And that's a new experience. But for me, that's an example of what I preach about community organizations, that if we as a city or CAA have a business need, then the community organization that is a company can cover it, then it is a business exchange. And that is the difference with this special request, that it is only an agreement compared to what we have with you about the administration contract for the building.

Oh, I'll go on, sir. Very briefly. So, the art center held a donation campaign a few weeks ago.

You have to do that because we have no agreement with you.

No, we give you a check. Yes, we give you money.

But in exchange for services.

Exactly like the Waterfront Partnership, which manages the museum. They manage the entire inventory, they offer the courses, they do all the related things. The same goes for the art center, they do the same for us. Basically, it is a contractually bound service provider that manages these special historical assets. Oh, that's almost a welcome center for the city. Yes, that's it. And I would say the same for the city center.

And I think that our agreements should be based on these services in the future and not just on a mere agreement. They collect money and we pay the same amount, but it is not exactly determined what the money is used for.

It is as if our building exists, but the agreement probably does not take an appropriate amount. Why does St. Andrews differ so much in relation to the administration of the building from the city center?

Well, you have a unique situation compared to the Center for the Arts. But I think that, especially with the CAA financing, it is about the fact that, with contractually agreed services, it could act as part of this contract for a corresponding amount. But we are not just doing this to help you get more money, but as a reaction to or as a counter-performance for certain services that are set in the contract.

I am very much in favor of standardizing these two contracts.

I mean, I think you know that you essentially carry out the same services, even if you differ in the services offered. You have a historical property that you maintain and program on behalf of the city.

And that has a value that we should hold in a contract.

And you're getting this consultant?

Yes, and I would like to add that the board is aware of this, but only for the benefit of the public. I meet every month with the chairman of the DEB and the employees. In addition, I meet every month with the chairman of the St. Augustine Waterfront Partnership and their employees and I ask you to be a kind of eyes and ears or our ears to receive feedback from the community. I know that our employees also participate in their monthly meetings. Is there an application?

No, an application with a second vote. I really want to say that I believe that there is a consensus regarding the standardization of these contracts. So if we need a follow-up application, I would welcome it if we... What do you have to say about the application? Well, we have an application and a second application on the table to take this into account. Please read out the answers.

Member of the Board Hughes?

Yes.

Member of the Board Lukas? Member of the Board Street? Member of the Board Ranger? Member of the Board Chairman Brand? The application has been accepted.

I would like to follow the instructions of the employees to standardize the contracts between them, which are managed by us, Panama City the Arts and Waterfront Partnership.

Do you want to say that the Waterfront Partnership wants to be the Center for the Arts again or the other way around?

I think it's the other way around. I don't know if we can make this distinction now.

I think you have to address that. Standardize. Okay, understood.

I support that. There is still a discussion. Please read it.

Member of the Board Hughes? Yes. Member of the Board. Lukasz. Yes. Vice-Chancellor McDee-Street? Vice-Chancellor McDee-Granger? Vice-Chancellor Branche? Yes. The vote is 5-0.

For the session of the CRA Board of Directors and the virtual workshops in the Business Set 2000, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, is it the CMA, After approval of the proposed timetable, the employees will prepare the official announcement of the public CAA session 2027, which will be submitted to the Board of Directors for review in September in accordance with the requirements of the Florida Statute 159,015. The proposal would include the meeting of the CAA Board of Directors at 4.30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each grade month and the virtual CAA workshop at 4.30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each grade month. The employees recommend the CAA Board to approve the proposed meeting plan for the business year 2027 as shown in the table in their package. Sessions and workshops would change monthly and take place on the first Tuesday of the respective month at 4.30 pm local time. Mr. Chairman, I would like to make the application for approval.

Application for approval. Report. Please read it.

Board Member Lukas? Yes. Board Member Hughes? Yes. Board Member Street? Board Member Granger? Chair Branch? Application is on.

Point 11 is the examination and approval of the exposition of CAA property on Imoca Boulevard 1342 with the floor number Sibsmann 200 1000 1000 in the northern district of the city center to the American Legion Post number 424. Relevant background information. Relevant background information is included in your documents. The employees recommend the approval for the sale of the CAA property on Emoka Boulevard 1340 with the floor number 17000000 to the American Legion Post 424 for 10% of the comparable market price, in advance of the entry of the stamped and approved construction plans and the fulfillment of all relevant participation conditions of the SPARC program, as well as all additional requirements that the board could make to this special transaction. Sir. I would accept the application.

I hereby approve the final legal review of the SPARC program and all the parameters associated with it.

This is being used.

I support this question. You are not asking for the report, but to use the report on real estate. I just asked the auditor whether there will be any changes from last year to this year and he says that this is not the case. There are 61,000. This is the report. So we have to take that into account.

The recommendation is at 10% of the comparable market price, which corresponds to 6%.

Right. You think I got it? Yes. Just to be sure. So it's 10% of 61,000. So 6,100, that's the amount that was previously mentioned in the letter. But it's in the threshold value. So that's the difference between 6,000 and 4,000. Is that the difference between the value of 0%?

Both are to be paid 8,23,40. And what you just gave us. What did you just give us?

I saw the letter in the letter. Yes, okay. Something to the 6,000 that changes this amount. Is that right? Does the SPARC program change this amount that is given here? I don't think so. Or is it just an incentive to build?

I think it's an incentive to build.

The intention of Sparke is to lower the price, but also to make sure that there are guidelines that the person builds something and does not sell real estate and all these strange guidelines as well.

So I want to make sure that this is taken into account.

As for the tax-related value compared to the estimated value, my only concern is that this may force us to make a decision at another time. If we create a precedent and Joy can answer that in particular, if we move in the direction in which we are going here, this then leads to the fact that we cannot change this path later.

I think it is a controversial question whether the application consists of approving what is recommended, namely the percentage of the comparable market price, which is less than they demanded.

I mean, the CAA board follows the purchase guidelines of the city, which requires value investigations and in this process. However, the board can determine any depreciated value or something else. They really have a lot of room for play when it comes to the CAA property.

I think I said the same thing. For me, the purchase price is rather secondary compared to what is actually being built. So the goal is that...

So your proposal is to accept the recommendation of the Ministry? If so, then that's 10% of the comparable market price, which is worth a total of 6,000, which is actually less than you are willing to pay.

So it's in your favor.

I think we're on the right track. But we add SPARC, which not only gives the incentive, but also gives the answer. What do you mean?

And that's what you said you wanted to do?

Yes, that's what you said you wanted to do. But his application says, if the legal permits are in place... Yes. And you said to him, investors are ready to finance the investors. Are you there to finance the construction? No. If I may add something or have a question, including the SPARC program, would that delay the process or... Could you give me the protocol again?

Excuse me, yes. Michelle Bryant, 94 S Street.

So my question is, if we just follow the recommendation of the 6100, i.e. without the SPARC program and then with the SPARC program that I have just submitted, would we, I don't want to use the word, we would call it back. We would rather continue with the 6100 and proceed without the SPARC program. My only concern is then what impact it has. Do you differ from the SPARC program when it comes to the tree with the SPARC program? It gives us an expression of three years. It covers the project on the basis of a very strict time frame.

I thought the 6100 was a product of the SPARC matrix that provides us with this price. Yes, I thought so too. So not that the 6100 then goes to SPARC optionally.

That's our duty.

Yes, I'm confused too. 10% of the comparable market price and the fulfillment of all applicable SPARC program regulations.

So they answered my question. So SPARC is already integrated into what you have recommended.

Yes, and don't follow the 8,000.

Yes, you can just put that aside. But that means that I have to change my application to simply accept the recommendation of the staff. Right. And I want to clarify what you demand. Right. But something has to be built within three years. I change my recommendation. Change my application so that it fits the recommendation of the employees. That's true.

I agree. But if we stick to the recommendations of the employees, we can say that there is no SPARC in it, right?

Yes, yes. It's in there. Do you think you will build within three years?

That's our goal. I think that's a prerequisite.

It is a prerequisite and if we don't make it, we have to come back and go a completely different way.

I would say that you should basically or completely finish it within three years.

I think it's the completion in the SPARC program.

And then no, you know, it won't sell or continue to sell. Right.

Thank you. We have a request for a second vote on the table to accept the recommendation of the employees. Is there anything else? Please read it.

Member of the board Hughes. Member of the board Lukas. Member of the board Street. Member of the board Grant. Chairman of the branch. The request has been accepted with 5 to 0 votes.

And a request will be distributed. Right, a second vote. Please read it.

Wait a minute, I haven't entered my page yet. To these gentlemen. Member of the board Hughes.

Yes.

Member of the board Dukas. Yes. Member of the board Street. Member of the board Granger. Chairman of the branch.

The motion is agreed with a 5-0 vote.