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Committee weighs advocacy and demolition grants as state bills threaten CRA powers
Summary
Members debated responses to state legislation that would limit redevelopment authorities, including asking the Florida Redevelopment Association for a public‑education campaign, and discussed a demolition grant program and code‑enforcement jurisdiction limits to address long‑standing blight.
The advisory committee spent a significant portion of the meeting discussing how to respond to state bills that would restrict redevelopment authorities and their ability to take on new debt. Staff warned of pending house and senate proposals that could curtail CRA activities; committee members urged a defensive advocacy strategy and public education campaign to explain how CRA funds have been used for bricks‑and‑mortar projects and community benefits.
"There's a house and there's a senate bill... talking about abolishing CRAs that you couldn't take on new debt," a staff member said, summarizing the legislative threat. One committee member proposed asking the Florida Redevelopment Association (FPRA) board to allocate money immediately for a marketing effort to explain what CRAs do locally. "I think it recommended you... get a consensus here about asking the FPRA board... to consider immediately allocating some money towards marketing the benefits of the CRA to our local community," the member said.
Separately, members reviewed a recent presentation they made to the FPRA urging expanded enforcement authority to address derelict properties and discussed the limits of local code enforcement, building and fire jurisdictions. The Chair recounted that the advisory group had asked the redevelopment body to consider expanding enforcement tools and vet contractors for modular construction projects to speed remediation. Committee members explored a demolition grant model (citing an Avon Park program as an example) and discussed whether CRA funds could be earmarked to remove long‑standing ghost properties rather than leaving them to languish.
Next steps: members asked staff to research demolition grant models, interagency jurisdictional constraints and options to coordinate with lobbyists and FPRA for an education and advocacy campaign; the topic will be revisited at the next meeting.
