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Resident urges CRA to prioritize stormwater and housing over private-business grants
Summary
During public comment Karen Francis said CRA funds should be directed toward stormwater, flood mitigation and affordable housing rather than grants to already successful private businesses; staff and commissioners explained statutory limits and program eligibility.
Karen Francis, a resident of Menorca Beachway, used the public comment period to press the Community Redevelopment Agency to prioritize stormwater, flooding mitigation and affordable housing over grants to private businesses. "CRA's were established under Florida statute as local tools to ... improve quality of life," she said, then asked the board to consider residents' priorities when awarding grants to businesses.
Sam Bergeron, the city's economic development director, replied that the facade grant program is limited to commercial properties inside the CRA district and reviewed statutory constraints and program guidelines. Commissioners also explained that stormwater and capital projects are budgeted separately within the CRA trust fund and that residential properties are not eligible for the facade programs discussed that evening.
