AGENDA REQUEST AGENDA ITEM NO: Unfinished Business. October 15, 2018 VI.4.

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1 AGENDA HEADING: Unfinished Business COMMISSION MEETING DATE: October 15, 2018 AGENDA ITEM NO: BY City Manager Thomas Barwin Vice-Mayor Ahearn-Koch and City Manager Barwin Originating Department SUBJECT: Department Head Presenter Discussion Re: Bayfront Master Plan Phase I and the Gulf Coast Wonder and Imagination Zone (G WIZ) Building VI.4. COMMISSION PRIORITIES: Business Requirement EXPLANATION: (see next page for additional explanation) This item is at the request of Vice-Mayor Ahearn-Koch. At the October 1, 2018 City Commission meeting, the City Commission approved the Interim Agreement between the City and the Sarasota Bay Planning Organization (SBPO). Previous action by the City Commission was approval for the SBPO to proceed with design and funding of Phase 1 of the Bayfront Master Plan which does not include the Gulf Coast Wonder and Imagination Zone (G WIZ) Building. Vice-Mayor Ahearn-Koch has requested a discussion of the G WIZ Building based on the correspondence she received from concerned individuals about the removal of the G WIZ Building. Vice-Mayor Ahearn-Koch strongly believes that insuffcient discourse about saving and the repurposing of the building did not occur nor was there outreach to specific groups about potential future uses of the building, hence her reasons for having this discussion on the agenda. ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION: City Commission discussion APPROVAL SUMMARY: Approval Department Head Approval Deputy City Manager Approval City Manager Approval Required Date Completed Completed By Status

2 ADDITIONAL EXPLANATION: The Vice-Mayor also offered to provide the SBPO with the correspondence received. Staff compiled the correspondence and was able to identify that of the many s received there were 58 unique individuals. Of the 58, 50 were in favor of saving or re-purposing the G WIZ and 8 were in favor of removal. The compilation of these s are not included with this agenda item because of the volume but are available upon request. The SBPO has indicated that their process was open and occurred over a two year period. Their surveys did not indicate a strong desire to keep the G WIZ (as compared to the desire to repurpose aspects of the current Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall). SBPO has further stated that the now approved Master Plan has been available for several months showing the removal of the G WIZ. The removal of the G WIZ opens the site for better public access, public views and public appreciation of the most important asset of the City of Sarasota; the Bay. This is the same priority placed on the entire Master Plan, as all existing vertical elements that are near the water's edge are removed or proposed to be opened up so that Sarasota Bay is visible and not obstructed. These objectives allows for better programming of the site to generate the necessary operating revenue to make the project financially feasible. Both staff and the SBPO strongly believe that to proceed with the design of Phase I and to have the site development ready, removal of the G WIZ must occur as indicated by the attached letter from the Chairman. The SBPO has committed that the design of Phase I will definitely "honor" the previous uses of the building. Staff has also included information and an agenda item relative to a budget amendment that provides funding for opening up of the new Bayfront park by the removal of the G WIZ in keeping with the direction of the City Commission to proceed with Phase I and the request from the SBPO to have the site development ready for Phase I. Lastly, the City s strong commitment to Historic Preservation is highlighted by the following actions: 1) Historic Survey of the City completed between 2003 and 2006 in Five Phases with an update to the Phase I in Results from those surveys included Database for Florida Master Site File (FMSF) Compiled 2010 a. Implementation of the Downtown National Historic District (2009), the Laurel Park National Historic District (2008), the Central Cocoanut National Historic District (2005), and the Local Bayfront Historic District (2009). b. Local Designation of almost all the City Owned Historic Buildings in 2009 Payne Park Building Not Included at the time. 2) The City Plan and the City Zoning Code were updated by 2009 with the ZTAs to the Historic Preservation Chapter Ord. No ) Tax incentive held up due to CRA bond issue. 4) A. Phase I of the Newtown Conservation Historic District Completed (2016) a. The Historic Research on the culture, traditions, and history of Newtown B. Phase II of the Newtown Conservation Historic District Completed (2018) a. The African American Heritage Trail, b. Newtown Conservation Historic District Web Site c. Newtown Conservation Historic District Cell Phone App 2

3 The four next steps for Historic Preservation per Commission Action Items: Survey of City for FMSF Started last Thursday Zoning Text Amendments 1st staff draft completed need to redraft after comments Tax Incentive approved on 2nd reading Oct 1st, working with County to draft application for COAs Newtown Historic Building Preservation Pilot Program to CRA for approval November 5th, and ready to proceed. ADDITIONAL ADMIN RECOMMENDATION: FUNDING SOURCE: AMOUNT: HOUSING IMPACT (Per House): NEW CONSTRUCTION: REHABILITATION: $ 0 $ 0 SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS: - COMMISSION ACTION: Final Action Motion: Motion By: AGENDA DISPOSITION Second By: Vote: 3

4 October 2, 2018, Deputy City Manager City Hall st Street Sarasota, FL Dear Mr. Brown: Given the approval yesterday of the Interim Agreement between the City Commission and the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization, I offer the following: 1. As agreed, the SBPO will move forward with City management and the City Attorney to finalize a final agreement to allow the implementation of The Bay s Final Master Plan. 2. Secondly, the SBPO will proceed with the design and funding of Phase 1 as presented to the City Commission, and approved by the City Commission, on September 9, We ask that the City proceed with its activities to deliver a development-ready site for Phase 1. If I can assist before Bill Waddill s return from vacation on October 5, 2018, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you. Sincerely yours, AG Lafley, as Chairman Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization, Inc. cc: Cathy Layton, Treasurer Jennifer Compton, Secretary Bill Waddill, Managing Director 655 Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL * Page 1 of 2

5 Interoffice Memorandum Date: October 15, 2018 To: Thru: From: Subject: Honorable City Commission Thomas Barwin, City Manager, Deputy City Manager Request for Budget Amendment for the General Fund The purpose of this budget amendment is to appropriate $200,000 of the proceeds from the sale of the Humane Society Building (sale price $325,000) for the removal the GWIZ building to provide a development-ready site for Phase 1. The closing for the Humane Society Building is to occur on or before November 1, In October 2016, the City issued a competitive bid (16-71DB) to demolish the GWIZ building. Three bids were received with the lowest bid totaling $134,300. Because the bid is 2 years old, the City will need to rebid the project. The approval of this budget amendment will put the funds in place to complete the project. Staff is anticipating there may be an increase in cost since the bid is two years old. Although the request is to appropriate $200,000, if the cost of the project is less, the remaining budgeted funds will fall to fund balance and be available for future appropriations. Staff is requesting the following budget amendment in the General Fund: Account Description Account Code Budget Amount Land and Building Sales $200, Demolition $200,000 Page 2 of 2