CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
Memo Date: April 14, 2020
Agenda Date: April 22, 2020
Prepared By: Carie Shealy, City Clerk
Through: Tammy Gemmati, Administrative Services Director
Requested Action:
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Pursuant to the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Cocoa and Brevard County regarding the Diamond Square CRA, recognize and approve Mr. Larry J. Brown as the Board of County Commissioner’s designee and authorized representative to serve on the reconstituted Diamond Square CRA.End
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BACKGROUND:
On January 30, 2020, the Diamond Square CRA was reconstituted with six new members. In the Interlocal Agreement between Brevard County, the City of Cocoa, and the Diamond Square CRA that was approved on September 25, 2019 and recorded in the Official Records of Brevard County Book 8617 Page 1078, page 2, Section 4 (b) speaks about the board composition. One member of the board of commissioners for the Agency will be the Brevard County Commissioner in whose district the Agency is located. If that Commissioner desires to appoint a designee to take his/her place as the representative of the taxing authority, the designee must be approved by the County board as its representative and the designee must otherwise meet the qualifications of section 163.356(3)(b) Florida Statutes. That Statute is as follows:
(b)The powers of a community redevelopment agency shall be exercised by the commissioners thereof. A majority of the commissioners constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting business and exercising the powers of the agency and for all other purposes. Action may be taken by the agency upon a vote of a majority of the commissioners present, unless in any case the bylaws require a larger number. Any person may be appointed as commissioner if he or she resides or is engaged in business, which means owning a business, practicing a profession, or performing a service for compensation, or serving as an officer or director of a corporation or other business entity so engaged, within the area of operation of the agency, which shall be coterminous with the area of operation of the county or municipality, and is otherwise eligible for such appointment under this part.
On March 25, 2020, Ms. Charlene Neuterman, Community Services Deputy Director, received an email from the District 2 Commissioners office noting that the Board of County Commissioners had approved the appointment of Mr. Larry Brown to the Diamond Square CRA on March 24, 2020.
Ms. Neuterman notified the City Clerk and his application information was received back in the Clerk’s office on April 14, 2020. Although Mr. Brown is a resident of the city of Rockledge, it is the City’s understanding from information provided by the County Attorney’s Office that the County believes that Mr. Brown is eligible to serve on the CRA because he is a trustee of the Stone Street Church of God which is located within the Diamond Square CRA area and provides religious and other services within the City of Cocoa. The City Clerk has requested from Mr. Brown written confirmation that he currently serves as a trustee of the Stone Street Church of God.
His application, email from the County, and the Interlocal Agreement are all attached for your review.
STRATEGIC PLAN CONNECTION:
NA
BUDGETARY IMPACT:
NA
PREVIOUS ACTION:
City Council approved the Interlocal Agreement with the County last year, and appoints and reappointments members to City boards and committees as vacancies exist.
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Recommendation
Pursuant to the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Cocoa and Brevard County regarding the Diamond Square CRA, recognize and approve Mr. Larry J. Brown as the Board of County Commissioner’s designee and authorized representative to serve on the reconstituted Diamond Square CRA.