CRA ADVISORY BOARD

MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ADVISORY BOARD APRIL 9, 2025

**CALL TO ORDER**

The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Advisory Board of the City of Fort Myers, Florida, met in regular session at Oscar M. Corbin Jr. City Hall, 2200 Second Street, in Council Chambers, its regular meeting place on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 5:01 p.m. Present were Jarrett Eady, Chairperson, James Holloway, Vice-Chair, Geraldine Ware, and Mike Doyle, Board Members. Also present was Michele Hylton-Terry, Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency.

Absent: Rachel Smith and C. Joe Coleman, Board Members. Attended via Zoom: Blake Bartholomew, Board Member and CRA Attorney Ryan Knight.

**PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE**

The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Chairperson Eady.

**1. PROCLAMATIONS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS**

1.1 MS. RACHEL SMITH WAS REAPPOINTED TO SERVE ON THE FORT MYERS COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) ADVISORY BOARD FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2025, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2028 - THE OATH OF OFFICE WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

Moved to next meeting.

1.2 INNOVATION WALK UPDATE.

LaShaun Middlebrooks Collier, Deputy Director of Communications, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), provided the latest update of the Innovation Walk. Ms. Collier stated that the guiding criteria were bold and expansive, attracting public engagement, support community building, and evoke curiosity. Ms. Collier stated functionality and long-term stability as the project moved forward. Ms. Collier stated that the idea of this program was planted in November, 2023. Ms. Collier reviewed the timeline report. Ms. Collier spoke of the two projects, *Blue Light* by Adrian Burrell and *Take Off* by Marisa Jahn and Rafi Segal. Ms. Collier stated that a Request for Proposal (RFP) would be issued for a master plan for the Innovation Walk and Centennial Park. Ms. Hylton-Terry, Executive Director, CRA, stated that the innovators would work with their contractors for permitting for the installations. Ms. Collier stated that the west side of Centennial was not in the Historical Preservation Commission’s jurisdiction. Ms. Collier stated that Phase 1 consisted of the two discussed artists and Phase 2 would put out another RFP to look for new innovators, which will happen after the master plan had been completed.

Chair Eady moved Attorney Items 4.1 and 4.2 after the Public Input without objections.

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**MINUTES** CRA Advisory Board April 9, 2025

**PUBLIC INPUT - AGENDA ITEM(S)**

Jerry Miller, a Fort Myers resident spoke on Senate Bill 1242 and the negative effects it would have on Community Redevelopment Agencies and existing Increment Rebate projects.

**4. ATTORNEY ITEMS**

4.1 UPDATE ON HB 991 / SB 1242 WOULD ELIMINATE ALL COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES (CRAS) BY 2045 AND PROHIBIT BY 2045 AND PROHIBIT NEW PROJECTS STARTING IN 2025.

Ryan Knight, Esq., Shepard, Smith, Kohlmyer & Hand, P.A., counsel representing the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), stated that what these Bills sought to do was to establish a sunset date for existing CRA’s, prohibit new CRA’s, and to effectively eliminate CRA’s. Attorney Knight stated that there would be changes to the Bills, but it was not known what the changes would be. Attorney Knight stated that for HB 991, it would prohibit a CRA from initiating a new project or issuing a new debt on or after October 1, 2025 and provides for a provision that if a CRA had outstanding bonds that would not mature until after September 30, 2045, the CRA will remain in existence until the bonds matured. Attorney Knight stated that the Florida League of Cities and their counsel had been in communication with lobbyist in Tallahassee with suggested changes to the Bills. Michele Hylton-Terry, Executive Director, CRA, stated that during her trip to Tallahassee two weeks ago, that they spoke with several representatives and Senator Passidomo, and that they were receiving a lot of input from the public of the good that CRA’s do and that an amendment would be brought forward.

Chair Eady moved 5.1 Informational Item after 4.2 without objections.

4.2 OVERVIEW OF INCREMENT REBATE PROGRAM GUIDELINES AS AMENDED APRIL 2024.

Ryan Knight, Esq., Shepard, Smith, Kohlmyer & Hand, P.A., counsel representing the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) gave an overview of the guidelines to the Increment Rebate program as amended April, 2024.

**5. INFORMATIONAL**

Michele Hylton-Terry, Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), gave a brief summary of items and areas approved and adopted in January 2025 of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan. Ms. Hylton-Terry stated the goals and key themes of the plan. Ms. Hylton-Terry stated the types of recommended actions of the plan and areas of emphasis. Ms. Hylton-Terry stated that this plan would be the guide for the next five years, as redevelopment plans were updated approximately every five years.

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**MINUTES** CRA Advisory Board April 9, 2025

**2. CONSENT AGENDA**

2.1 MINUTES OF COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD JANUARY 8, 2025.

2.2 FUNDING REQUEST FOR CENTENNIAL PARK SHADE STRUCTURE AT CENTENNIAL PARK.

Michele Hylton-Terry, Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), stated that the Parks division was overseeing this project and the fabric structure would need to be removed if winds exceeded 75 miles per hour.

**MOTION** - Chairman Eady stated that there were no objections to the Consent Agenda, the Item passed with unanimous consent.

**3. REGULAR AGENDA**

3.1 INCREMENT REBATE REQUEST FROM FTM DOWNTOWN HOTEL, LLC (DEVELOPER) TO DEVELOP A HILTON TEMPO HOTEL LOCATED AT FIRST AND JACKSON STREET.

Michele Hylton-Terry, Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), stated that the developer would present their request for the rebate and Steven Beal would present his analysis. Terry Kramer, Attorney, Wilbur Smith Law LLC, representing the developer, stated that this project was presented previously, however, this was a new development and design since last presented. Attorney Kramer stated that a new Planned Unit Development (PUD) would be submitted to make the hotel 11 stories with 175 rooms. Harley Sisler, Developer, FTM Downtown Hotel, LLC, stated that the economic impact would be substantial to the city. Mr. Sisler stated that without a rebate a 9.7% return would go to investors, and with the rebate, the return to investors would be 16.87%, which the investors and lenders were good with. Ms. Hylton-Terry stated that in the past recommendations were made pending Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) approval. Steven Beal, Owner, Housing & Community Development Consulting Firm, consultant for the CRA, stated that the developer’s request of $14.3 million would be a 95% increment rebate paid over an 18-year period. Mr. Beal concluded that his findings at a 95% increment rebate would be $13.5 million, providing the CRA with revenue of approximately $700,000. Mr. Beal stated that the rebate would be paid out over a 17-year period, one year less than reflected in the developer’s numbers. Mr. Beal stated that his findings were one percent (1%) less than the developer’s, thus finding their numbers to be reasonable and in line with the current market. Ms. Hylton-Terry stated that if the Bills should be voted to cease new projects, the way it reads was that if a new project was not in next year’s budget, it would not be funded. Attorney Kramer stated that the $13,599,839 rebate at 17 years would be acceptable. Vice-Chair Holloway requested that the developers seek local contractors and laborers to help stimulate our local economy.

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**MOTION:** It was moved by Mr. Doyle, seconded by Vice-Chair. Holloway, and unanimously carried to recommend the Community Redevelopment Agency Board of Commissioners award an increment rebate in an amount not-to-exceed $13,599,839 to FTM Downtown Hotel LLC for the development of the Hilton by Tempo hotel, to be located at the intersection of Jackson Street and First Street within the Downtown redevelopment area.

3.2 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT MATCHING GRANT REQUEST FROM DYLAN HISSAM & ASSOCIATES FOR 75% OF ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURES IN THE NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $12,675 (CLEVELAND AVE).

Xavier Colon, Redevelopment Manager, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), stated that the property was located at 1937 Grace Avenue and the businesses on site were Dylan Hissam & Associates, and Hissam Realty. Mr. Colon stated that the owners were applying for a Tier I, 75/25 matching grant, with a maximum grant of $50,000. Mr. Colon stated the improvements to be completed and the lowest estimate was $16,900 and the 75% match would be $12,675. Mr. Colon stated that they scored 24 out of 50 of the grading scale. Owner, Dylan Hissam was available for questions.