COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING OCTOBER 22,2025

CALL TO ORDER

The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fort Myers, Florida met in regular session at Oscar M. Corbin, Jr. City Hall, 2200 Second Street, in Council Chambers on Wednesday October 22, 2025 at 9:03 a.m. Present were Teresa Watkins Brown, Chairperson, Liston Bochette III, Vice-Chair, Diana Giraldo, Kevin Anderson, Terolyn Watson, and Fred Burson Commissioners. Also present were Michele Hylton-Terry, Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency and Clifford Shepard, Esq., Shepard, Smith, Hand, & Brackins, P.A., counsel representing the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Absent: Commissioner Bonk.

Commissioner Watson arrived at 9:06 a.m.

Vice-Chair Bochette left the meeting at 9:59 a.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/OPENING PRAYER

The meeting was opened with prayer by Chair Watkins Brown, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

1. PROCLAMATIONS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

None.

2. APPROVAL OF WALK-ON AGENDA ITEMS

MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Giraldo, and unanimously carried to approve the walk-on agenda items.

2.1 DISCUSS PROTOCOL AND PROCEDURES.

Clifford Shepard, Esq., Shepard, Smith, Hand, & Brackins, P.A., counsel representing the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), discussed the importance of keeping CRA business separate from Council business. Attorney Shepard stated that discussing CRA business at a Council meeting could violate the Sunshine Law. Attorney Shepard stated that unless the meeting was jointly noticed, they would need to stick to each meeting individually.

A motion was not required.

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MINUTES

Michele Hylton-Terry, Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), stated that this Resolution CRA 2025-09 was for the donation from Deb Gillen to continue the ongoing planter programs on First Street and around the Luminary Basin.

MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Giraldo, and unanimously carried to adopt Resolution Number CRA 2025-09 amending the budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 increasing the Downtown redevelopment area trust fund by $78,000.

2.3 RECLASSIFICATION AND PAY GRADE ADJUSTMENT - CRA LEGAL ADVISOR POSITION.

Michele Hylton-Terry, Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), stated that this item was to reclassify the legal advisor position to keep competitive in its field. Ms. Hylton-Terry stated that at the February 2025 workshop that the board agreed to continue to have Attorney Shepard as legal counsel and that the legal advisor would be in-house that would perform daily duties and be proactive working at the CRA. Commissioner Burson stated that to have good legal representation they need a better range of salary. Commissioner Giraldo clarified that this position was exclusively funded by the CRA.

MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Burson, seconded by Commissioner Giraldo, and voted 4/2 to approve the reclassification of the CRA Legal Advisor position from Pay Grade 218 to Pay Grade 220, as recommended by the CRA Executive Director, to allow a competitive salary commensurate with municipal government experience.

PUBLIC INPUT - AGENDA ITEMS

Speakers that wish to speak must submit a Request to Speak Form to the CRA Clerk prior to the beginning of the meeting for items on the Agenda. Public comments are limited to three (3) minutes per person. Public input on non-agenda items will appear at the end of the meeting.

3. CONSENT AGENDA

3.1

MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 17. 2025.

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MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Giraldo, and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Agenda.

4. REGULAR AGENDA

4.1 CROOKED HALOS DOWNTOWN BUSINESS STORM MITIGATION AND RESILIENCY GRANT APPLICATION FOR 75% OF ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURES IN THE NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $15,000.00.

Removed at the request of applicant.

4.2 CONSIDERATION OF INCREMENT REBATE REQUEST FROM TOWLES GARDEN LENDER ASSET SPV FOR TOWLES GARDEN PROJECT, 141- UNIT AFFORDABLE SINGLE-FAMILY CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPMENT IN THE NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $5,662,906 PENDING LEE COUNTY AWARD THE PROJECT OF A $19,500,000.00 HURRICANE IAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY (CDBG-DR) GRANT.

Michele Hylton-Terry, Executive Director, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), reviewed the item title. Jennifer Fisher, attorney for the developer, introduced the development team and continued with her presentation for the increment rebate request. Attorney Fisher gave a history of the development and how the lender for the original developer came to want to continue with the development and keep the promises made to the community. Attorney Fisher stated that the increment rebate request was for $5,662,906.00 provided in the form of a 95% rebate. Attorney Fisher stated that according to Florida Statute 163, the request meets the requirements, uses, and was in the Plan. Attorney Fisher stated that the request was contingent on Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding from Lee County. Dr. Stylianos Vayanos, Vice President for Fuse Group Investment Companies, stated that the CDBG-DR grant was the bulk of the funds needed and after months of working with Lee County, a few weeks ago, the commissioners directed staff to work with them to get the funding approved. Dr. Vayanos stated that they kept all of the permits active

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4.3 TASK ORDER FORMS PURSUANT TO INTER-LOCAL FOR PROVISION OF MATERIALS AND SERVICES BY THE CITY OF FORT MYERS, FLORIDA TO THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF FORT MYERS.

Lorraine Bailey-Hayden, Fiscal Manager, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), introduced the four Task Orders that were to be executed by the City and CRA.

MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Watson, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, and unanimously carried to approve the Task Order forms pursuant to Inter-local agreement for Provision of Materials and Services by the City of Fort Myers, Florida to the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fort Myers for the following: #2026-01 Fixed Costs for $706,500,#2026-02 Repairs and Maintenance for $470,722,#2026-03 Contractual Services for $244,800,#2026 04 FY2026 Trolley for $268,130.

4.4 INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT PROVIDING TRANSIT BUS SHELTERS BETWEEN LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AND THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF FORT MYERS (CRA) FOR THE PERIOD OF NOVEMBER 1,2025,TO SEPTEMBER 30,2026.

Dr. Mellone F. Long, Assistant Director, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), stated that it was in the CRA's budget to contribute to the installation of new bus shelters and the CRA had been working with Lee County. Dr. Long stated that there would be three new shelters in the Cleveland area, one in the East Fort Myers area, and five in the MLK area. Dr. Long stated that the Interlude Arch design was chosen and was a new design, sleek and curved with solar power and benches, with ability for advertising boxes. Dr. Long stated that dark blue was the color template chosen. Dr. Long stated that the CRA would be contributing $25,000 per bus shelter. Dr. Long stated that the CRA would work in conjunction with Lee County regarding advertising rotating in the shelters. Dr. Long stated that in the next fiscal year, the CRA will request other shelters to be added including the Edison Avenue area.