CRA staff gave a multi-part update on capital projects and the city center selection process and told the board they expect to present a written report in February to begin developer negotiations.

On Jan. 15, 2025 Executive Director David reviewed current projects: Murray Boulevard improvement bid documents are out, a bidders’ meeting was held Jan. 7 and the bid opening is scheduled for Feb. 20, 2025. Staff said construction is not expected to start until after July 4, 2025 so city events can proceed; staff said they expect project completion before July 4, 2026.

Southgate Boulevard median improvements are underway, including replacement of damaged curbs, irrigation, LED up-lighting for new trees and new paver inserts; staff reported landscaping and tree plantings are already in place. Staff said they are still developing plans and cost estimates to underground utilities along State Road 441 between Atlantic and Parkway and have a meeting scheduled with Florida Power & Light this month.

A purchase order is out for an engineering consultant to prepare design-bid documents for converting sports-complex fields to turf. Coral Gate Park improvements under design include LED lighting retrofits, resodding, parking-lot resurfacing and a new park-entry sign.

City center: staff said selecting a developer and negotiating a development agreement are priorities. David and a colleague told the board they expect to deliver a written report for the Feb. meeting to start discussions with one of the short-listed developers. “It is…our goal to have a written report for you for our meeting in February, so we can have discussions on how we want to move forward with 1 of the short list of developers and to negotiate a developer’s agreement,” David said.

Staff also addressed a staffing change at Colliers, the firm representing the CRA in developer outreach. Board members and staff said Ken Krasnow, who previously served as the lead Colliers representative, notified the CRA in November or early December that he was no longer with the firm. Brooke Mosier has taken the lead on the local Colliers team; staff said the core team (Mosier, Mark and Bastian) remains in place and work is continuing. “Ken was just the lead face in here talking…we're still moving along just fine,” David said.

Tenant matters and leases: staff discussed tenant payment lists and lease terms. The board reiterated the CRA will continue offering leases with a 12‑month termination clause; staff said longer nominal lease terms (for example five years) can still include the 12‑month out provision to allow redevelopment flexibility. A board member asked that staff be explicit about lease terms when prospective tenants negotiate buildouts so tenants are not surprised by redevelopment plans.

Wayfinding signs and neighborhood names: board members discussed the naming convention for neighborhood wayfinding signs (for example, Winfield vs. Margate Shores). Staff said many older subdivision names remain in use and recommended using subdivision names unless the board takes formal action to adopt alternate community-identification names.

The board also asked whether the CRA board membership can be expanded. David said a 2019 attorney general opinion prevents changing the CRA board composition when the commission designated the CRA as a five‑member board composed of city commissioners; he said that opinion precludes expanding membership or converting to a citizen board without reversing that prior designation.