Bradenton CRA advances Brownfield cleanup and streetscape planning; discusses lighting, logo and potential state limits

The Bradenton Community Redevelopment Agency board on Thursday moved forward on plans to clean up a Fourteenth Street property and advance a multiblock streetscape that agency staff said could be funded with a mix of state revolving loan funds and federal and local partners.

At the meeting the board approved the consent agenda unanimously. Board members and staff then discussed a pending Brownfield designation for the Fourteenth Street parcel and a contract with GeoCentek to remove a kerosene tank at the site, an action staff said is intended to clear environmental obstacles so the property can close and the proposed development — already pre-financed, staff said — may proceed.

The Brownfield matter matters to downtown redevelopment because it removes contamination that must be remediated before sale and construction, agency members said. "We had to clean it up anyway, so we're in the process to do that," CRA board member Minnie Lee Rogers said. Rogers added that GeoCentek will handle the tank removal and that staff member Scott had already processed the related contract documents.

Nut graf: Agency staff described a coordinated push this year to finish design and permit work for several downtown projects so the CRA can leverage low-interest state loans and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) funding for construction. The board discussed branding and place-making work intended to support those projects, including a planned streetscape with stormwater treatment components and expanded decorative tree lighting.

The largest project discussed is a streetscaping and Low Impact Development (LID) program that Applied Sciences will begin designing under a contract staff said the CRA can now assign work to. Todd Campbell, CRA coordinator, told the board that Applied Sciences has been retained and staff have budgeted for design work in the current fiscal year. "They've committed to providing shuttles for both sides of the river," Campbell said about event logistics; staff said they want the streetscape design finished this calendar year so they can pursue construction financing next year.

Staff described the streetscape as a multiblock effort linking LECOM to downtown and connecting east to west along MLK, with features including bioswales, surface infiltration basins and permeable storm pavers that will collect and pretreat stormwater on-site rather than sending it through the city's system to the river. "It will collect stormwater and pretreat it on-site, versus having it run through the system into the river," Rogers said. Staff also said the LID elements would make the project eligible for state revolving loan funds; Rogers characterized the financing as a "20 year 1 percent" loan product.

Agency staff said the MPO draft five-year plan includes slightly more than $14,000,000 for a corridor project on Ninth Street, money the CRA hopes to layer with its own design and LID measures. Board members noted that some corridors such as Fourteenth are FDOT roads with additional requirements; Ninth is city-owned, which the board said gives local control over design.

Love Park and affordable housing updates: Applied Sciences project manager Brian Cook, via an email update placed on board desks, told the CRA that Love Park plans are about 60% complete and staff expect to go to bid once plans reach 80% design. The board also discussed a small affordable-housing pilot that staff said includes discussions with SELF, a nonprofit that Rogers said is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and can finance shared, ground-mounted solar arrays for affordable houses. City Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) staff have begun talks about possible partnership on the housing work, Rogers said.

Branding and lighting: Members debated a proposed CRA logo, with some saying the current proposal communicates mission more clearly than the existing mark and others urging a professional designer. Rogers said the logo should "say something about you" rather than be merely decorative. The board did not adopt a final logo but directed staff to seek design input and bring options back.

The board also discussed expanding downtown tree lighting as a low-cost placemaking measure and whether the CRA could fund or include lighting in redevelopment grants. Board members argued for larger, programmable fixtures that can change color for holidays and events. Staff said public-right-of-way installations would be evaluated under the CRA plan and, if appropriate, incorporated into grant or redevelopment programs for public and private property. Rogers asked staff to return with a plan and cost estimate at the next meeting.

Private contribution and logistics: During discussion, Marshall Gabutti was reported to have offered a $1,000,000 donation toward new downtown lights, a pledge the board acknowledged on the record. Todd Campbell also confirmed Freebie (as named at the meeting) had committed to provide shuttle service for parade-day logistics tied to a planned ribbon-cutting and downtown event.

State legislation and advocacy: Agency staff recapped a recent meeting with lobbyist Ryan Matthews and representatives of the Florida Redevelopment Association and the Florida League of Cities about legislation in Tallahassee that board members described as potentially restrictive of CRAs. Rogers summarized the lobbyist briefing: "There's a bill that obviously shuts down CRAs for the most part. Any new projects, it will shut you down." She said the House bill had passed and that in the Senate the measure had been amended in subcommittees; the board said they expect additional changes before final floor consideration and that the city and statewide associations are providing information to legislators.

Votes at a glance: The board approved the consent agenda. Motion: "Move to approve the Consent Agenda as presented." Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Outcome: approved unanimously; specific individual vote tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript.

What’s next: Staff said they will return to the board with a lighting plan and costs, proceed with Applied Sciences' design work and advance the Fourteenth Street Brownfield cleanup under the GeoCentek contract. They also said Love Park design will move toward bidding at 80% plans and that staff will continue monitoring the state legislation affecting CRAs.

Ending: With no further business, the chair adjourned the meeting.