Eustis CRA forwards downtown master plan to city commission and approves consultant funding after heated public debate

The City of Eustis Community Redevelopment Agency voted to forward a final downtown master plan to the City Commission and approved funds to engage a real-estate development consultant after an extended public and commissioner debate over the selection process and transparency.

Economic Development Director Al Latimer told the CRA that the plan, produced by MIG with a three‑firm consultant team, was intended to guide future development and redevelopment of the downtown area and that the planning effort took about 18 months to complete rather than the originally estimated nine months. “If approved, the master plan will guide the future development, and redevelopment of the downtown area,” Latimer said.

The question of whether the commission had been sufficiently involved in selecting a recommended consultant dominated the meeting. City Manager Tom explained the selection process: the city issued a request for qualifications (RFQ), received five responses, and a five‑member staff committee scored and unanimously ranked Goman and York first. “We arrived at a unanimous number 1,” Tom said, describing staff scoring and a public meeting where the committee compared rankings.

Several commissioners and members of the public raised concerns about the process. One commissioner said the commission had agreed in prior minutes to hold a workshop and to interview finalists; that commissioner objected to what they described as the commission being excluded from the review committee and urged a workshop so all five commissioners could review proposals and interview firms. Multiple public speakers and downtown business owners told the CRA they wanted more time and a more open review before the city moved forward. Pam Rivas urged a “transparent process” for both the commission and the public, and business owner Kevin Genes asked the commission to phase redevelopment and address parking, deliveries and the impacts to existing businesses.

On the consultant engagement and budget, staff recommended hiring Goman and York as a development and redevelopment real‑estate consultant and requested a total annual authorization of $80,000 (of which $15,000 was already budgeted in professional services). Staff requested a transfer of $65,000 from the CRA reserve for future projects into the professional services line to cover the remainder. Latimer said the city could terminate the engagement “for convenience” with 15 days’ notice under the RFQ terms. Staff also said initial meetings with the consultant had started but no payment had been made yet.

The CRA approved the budget transfer and resolution authorizing the finance director to amend the fiscal year 2024‑25 CRA budget for the consultant engagement. Roll call on that resolution recorded Commissioner Adebayati/Asvadi voting no and Commissioners Holland, Vice Chair Ashcraft and Chairman Hawkins voting aye; the motion passed 3–1. The agency also voted to recommend the downtown master plan be forwarded to the City Commission for consideration; the transcript records votes by Commissioner Asvadi (no), Vice Chair Ashcraft (aye) and Chairman Hawkins (aye). The item will be considered by the full City Commission at a later meeting.

Several commissioners emphasized that adopting the master plan would allow CRA funds to be used on downtown development projects because the plan must be part of the CRA redevelopment plan for CRA funding to apply. Latimer noted the plan will be amended into the CRA redevelopment plan to enable use of CRA funds for implementation.

Members of the public and several commission members also flagged an ongoing state legislative effort that could limit or sunset CRAs in Florida; one commissioner urged the board to monitor bills in Tallahassee as that could affect the agency’s authority and use of funds.

The CRA chair and staff committed to scheduling a workshop to allow further commissioner review and public engagement prior to final City Commission action. The adoption by the City Commission, and any contract performance, will be subject to the RFQ terms, the eventual contract, and future commission approval steps.

Votes at a glance

- Recommendation to City Commission: Adopt downtown master plan (agenda item 2.1) — recorded votes in transcript: Commissioner Asvadi: no; Vice Chair Ashcraft: aye; Chairman Hawkins: aye. The recommendation will be considered by the full City Commission (final action not yet taken by the City Commission). - Resolution 2.25.01: Authorize transfer of $65,000 from CRA reserve to professional services to fund engagement of Goman and York (agenda item 2.2) — vote recorded: Asvadi: no; Holland: aye; Vice Chair Ashcraft: aye; Chairman Hawkins: aye. Motion passed 3–1.

What’s next

The CRA’s recommendation and the master plan will return to the City Commission for a final decision; the consultant engagement has been authorized by the CRA budget action and services have begun in the form of meetings, but payments will be made only as services are rendered under the RFQ/contract terms. Commissioners and members of the public asked that the city hold additional workshops to review consultant proposals, the draft plan’s details, and implementation steps before final City Commission action.