CITY OF TALLAHASSEE
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED ON: March 25, 2009
SUBJECT/TITLE: Acceptance of Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency’s FY 2008 Annual Report
TARGET ISSUE: Economic Development/Community Redevelopment

STATEMENT OF ISSUE
In accordance with Chapter 163.356(3)(c), Florida Statutes (FS), the Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is required to file an annual report with the governing body by March 31 of each year. The report is required to contain a description of major accomplishments for the fiscal year; as well as a complete financial statement, including all assets, liabilities, income and operating expenses as of the end of the fiscal year. The attached Tallahassee CRA FY 2008 Annual Report was prepared in coordination with the City’s Department of Management and Administration (DMA), Accounting Services Division. Both the Director of DMA and the Executive Director of the Tallahassee CRA approved the report.

The Statutes also require the Agency, at the time of filing, to publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the community a notice that the annual report was filed with the City and that the report is available for inspection during business hours in the office of the City Treasurer-Clerk and in the office of the CRA. A display ad meeting the Statutory requirements was placed in the State and Local News section of the Tallahassee Democrat on March 24, 2009. Copies of the annual report will be provided to the Florida Auditor General, the Leon County Administrator and the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Commission. Finally, a copy of the report will be filed with the City Treasurer-Clerk.

RECOMMENDED ACTION
Approve Option 1 – Accept the CRA’s FY 2008 Annual Report for filing.

FISCAL IMPACT
None. The attached annual report has been reviewed and approved by the Accounting Services Division.

Thomas H. Lewis, Economic & Community Development

Anita Favors Thompson, City Manager

For information, please contact: Rick McCraw, Economic Development, (891-8685).

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES
In FY 2008, the CRA received $3,279,926 in tax increment payments. Of this amount, $2,279,125 was for the Greater Frenchtown/Southside Community Redevelopment Area and $1,000,801 was for the Downtown District Community Redevelopment Area. As outlined in the interlocal agreement, the Downtown District also has access to one-cent of the tourist development tax collected by the County for projects directly related to the proposed Performing Arts Center. In 2008, the Agency provided the Florida Center for Performing Arts and Education, Inc., a nonprofit organization created in 2006 to promote and develop the Performing Arts Center, with $562,500 to cover staffing and operational expenses from January 2008 through September 2009. In addition, the Agency committed up to $796,000 for the demolition of the Johns and Clemons buildings, which are located on the site of the proposed Performing arts center.

Chapter 163.356(3)(c), FS, requires the CRA to file an annual report of its activities for the preceding fiscal year with the City Commission on or before March 31 of each year, including a complete financial statement, including all assets, liabilities, income and operating expenses as of the end of the fiscal year. The attached report meets these requirements. The report was prepared in coordination with the City’s Department of Management and Administration (DMA), Accounting Services Division. Both the Director of the DMA and the Executive Director of the Tallahassee CRA have approved the report.

The statutes also require the Agency, at the time of filing, to publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the community a notice that the annual report has been filed with the City and that the report is available for inspection during business hours in the office of the City Treasurer-Clerk and in the office of the CRA. A display ad meeting the Statutory requirements was placed in the State and Local News section of the Tallahassee Democrat on Tuesday, March 24, 2009. Copies of the annual report will be provided to the Florida Auditor General, the Leon County Administrator and the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Commission. Finally, a copy of the report will be filed with the City Treasurer-Clerk.

OPTIONS

1. Accept the CRA’s FY 2008 Annual Report for filing.
2. Do not accept the FY 2008 Annual Report for filing; provide alternative direction to staff.

ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES

Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency FY 2008 Annual Report