CEDAR KEY
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
WORKSHOP MEETING
WORKSHOP MEETING
2024 November 21
The Cedar Key Community Redevelopment Agency met in a workshop first and then a meeting, two separate proceedings, on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 5 pm in City Hall. This article reflects the workshop contents.
All commissioners were in attendance: Chair Jim Wortham, Vice-Chair Sue Colson, Nancy Sera, Jeff Webb, and Jolie Davis. CRA Member John Meeks was not in attendance.
WORKSHOP PREFACE
Chair Wortham announced the workshop’s intention: to hear from business owners how, after Hurricane Helene, the Community Redevelopment Agency, could help them. He expressed his concern that should businesses not succeed, Cedar Key may go the way of Suwannee or Yankeetown.
Chair Wortham announced the workshop’s intention: to hear from business owners how, after Hurricane Helene, the Community Redevelopment Agency, could help them. He expressed his concern that should businesses not succeed, Cedar Key may go the way of Suwannee or Yankeetown.
INVITED PANEL
Specifically invited to this “panel” were business individuals, for whom ten seats were reserved immediately before the commission dais. Of the city business community, five Cedar Key businesses representatives, Ronnie Taylor, Dell Weible, Denis Gull, Pat Bonish, and Caryn Stephenson, attended.
Specifically invited to this “panel” were business individuals, for whom ten seats were reserved immediately before the commission dais. Of the city business community, five Cedar Key businesses representatives, Ronnie Taylor, Dell Weible, Denis Gull, Pat Bonish, and Caryn Stephenson, attended.
Wortham abbreviated the CRA’s history, some of its accomplishments, budgeting logic , some specifics it could legally and not legally do, and tax increment funding expectations to come.
RESPONSES
Responses from the invited panel were varied and often contradictory. To cite a few: easing land code regulations regarding building height as well as building on ground level, fully dredging the marina as well as filling in part of the marina to make a parking lot, installing moorings in the channel for large boats, placing marine gas facilities dockside or have a gas truck available to supply gas to boat people touring the coast, and gas available at the airport, adding more parking, adding more floating docks and, returning the post office truck to its previously rented property, businesses in residential areas, replaing some of the County housing with city buildings and businesses, fixing the pier, paying businesses’ permitting fees, and more.
Responses from the invited panel were varied and often contradictory. To cite a few: easing land code regulations regarding building height as well as building on ground level, fully dredging the marina as well as filling in part of the marina to make a parking lot, installing moorings in the channel for large boats, placing marine gas facilities dockside or have a gas truck available to supply gas to boat people touring the coast, and gas available at the airport, adding more parking, adding more floating docks and, returning the post office truck to its previously rented property, businesses in residential areas, replaing some of the County housing with city buildings and businesses, fixing the pier, paying businesses’ permitting fees, and more.
Many of the ideas had been discussed at previous city workshops and shown to be unworkable and environmentally unsafe.
Many comments were regarding parking. Some saw it as a problem of people having to walk two or more blocks to a particular business.
Repeatedly, Wortham, Webb, and Davis implied that Community Redevelopment Agency dollars, for the businesses, were there for the asking, should the asking be within the legal limits of the agency. You need to “guide us, not vice versa,” articulated Wortham. Webb suggested the CRA give matching grants, not to be repaid, to help businesses rebuild.
Repeatedly, Wortham, Webb, and Davis implied that Community Redevelopment Agency dollars, for the businesses, were there for the asking, should the asking be within the legal limits of the agency. You need to “guide us, not vice versa,” articulated Wortham. Webb suggested the CRA give matching grants, not to be repaid, to help businesses rebuild.
IN ATTENDANCE
Staff in attendance included: City of Cedar Key Attorney Norm Fugate and Interim City Clerk/Building Clerk Jennifer Sylvester.
Staff in attendance included: City of Cedar Key Attorney Norm Fugate and Interim City Clerk/Building Clerk Jennifer Sylvester.
Among those in the audience were: Ronnie Taylor, Dennis Gill, Dell Weible, Pat Bonish, Caryn Stephenson, Maureen Magee, ,Doug and Sandy Lindhout, Andrea and Scott Dennison, and the Cedar Key News’ Mandy and Frank Offerle.
The workshop adjourned at 6:40 pm.
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