01-22-08 Minutes SpecSPECIAL MEETING
JANUARY za, zoos
A Special Meeting of the City Commission of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, was called to order
by Mayor Rita Ellis in the First Floor Conference Room at City Hall at 6:00 p.m., on Tuesday,
January 22, 2008.
Roll call showed:
Present - Commissioner Gaxy P. Eliopoulos
Commissioner Fxed B. Fetzer
Commissioner Woodie McDuffie
Commissioner Brenda B. Montague
Mayor Rita Ellis
Also present were - David T. Harden, City Manager
Susan A. Ruby, City Attorney
Chevelle D. Nubin, Ciry Clerk
Mayor Ellis called the special meeting to order and announced that it had been called fox the
purpose of considering the following item:
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
1. COMMUNITY WORKFORCE HOUSING INNOVATION PROGRAM {CWHIP)
AGREEMENT FOR VILLAGES AT DELRAY: Consider approval of the Community
Workforce Housing Innovation Program (CWHIP) Agreement for Villages at Delray.
Joseph Safford, Director of Finance, introduced Rebecca O'Connor, Treasurer, and presented
this item. He discussed the present pxopexry use handout distributed to Commission. As part of
the Community Workforce Housing Innovation Program (CWHIP) agreement the developer
asked that the City forgive $1.5 million dollars of the Urban Development Action Grant
(UDAG) loan. Staff was asked to evaluate the projects to determine if it is recommended to
support forgiving the loan. He explained the UDAG loan has a balance of $4.2 million dollars.
Based on the proposed property use, three project developments would take place. The three
project developments would be the Village at Delray, which would include two hundred sixry-
four rental units; Village at the Lakes, which would be three hundred sixty townhomes and
condominium units; and Village Square. Mr. Safford stated the collateral for the loan would be
thirty-one (31) acres and two hundred fifty-six units that axe currently on the Auburn Trace
property. The Village Square project would be built first with projected completion in 2010. The
Village of Dekay would be built next followed by the Village at the Lakes. The projected
completion time is 2012 for the Village at the Lakes.
Mxs. Montague asked when the Village at Dekay Lakes would be completed.
Mx. Safford stated Village at Dekay Lakes would be completed in 2010.
Mr. McDuffie asked when the Village Square project would begin
Mr. Safford explained the contributions and the financial projections fox all three projects. He
also discussed several questions included in the back-up material. Mr. Safford pointed out that
the City would be losing eleven (11) acres and ninety-six (96) units of collateral for the loan,
however; the City would not receive a portion of the $6.5 million. He presented several focal
points that he asked be clarified by the Developer. Mx. Safford advised Commission that the
$1.5 million dollar loan if forgiven as an account receivable would be no different than a bad
debt write-off. Staff recommended the loan not be forgiven; a portion of the UDAG loan
should be repaid when Auburn Trace sells the land and demolish the units that provide the
current collateral. Mr. Safford says that the remainder of the loan should be repaid upon the
completion of the other two projects.
David T. Harden, City Manager, discussed the handout he gave to Commission on the amount
of money the City has spent in the area which is about $5 million.
Mxs. Montague asked if a breakdown of where the money is coming from can be specified.
Mayor Ellis questioned if particular areas that required replacements such as water mains, sewet
pipes and stormwater treatment would be an expense of the City and must it coincide with the
development of the property.
Mr. Harden advised that some utilities would part of the project cost; supporting pipes to get
everything to the area would be the expense of the City.
Cito Berguixistan, First Vice President of Auburn Trace Development, gave a PowexPoint
presentation on behalf of Auburn Development, LLC. Mr. Berguiristan advised that Auburn
Development, LLC would like to have the $1.5 million dollar loan forgiven after the balance of
the loan is paid. Based on the current agreement, Auburn Development LLC. would pay
approximately $150,000 to the City annually with an expected payoff in 2022, however, Mr.
Berguixistan would like to pay approximately $3 million dollars before 2012 in exchange fox
forgiveness of a portion of the loan. In addition, the City would get affordable rent and income
restricted units for fifty (50) years. He discussed the City's goals for affordable workforce
housing and its Ordinances. He clarified some of the previous statements made by Staff that the
Delray Beach Housing Authority (DBHA) did not make a substantial contribution.
Mr. McDuffie advised Mx. Bexguiristan that his numbers axe incorrect; he stated the County
contribution number is an error in the PowexPoint; however, the percentages axe correct.
Mr. Berguiristan discussed cash flow benefits and distributed a handout to Commission. He
talked about the Return on Investment (ROI). He discussed the Developer Faix Profit Analysis
conducted by Economic Research Associates (ERA) which analyzed different facets of the real
estate market. ERA was employed by nine cities in the tri-county area including Boynton Beach,
to determine that the pricing was reasonable based on an analysis of the different communities
and marketing surveys. Mr. Bexguiristan advised that the rental deal would not be a 50%
partnership with the DBHA as stated by staff. He discussed tentatively being awarded the $20
million dollar HOPE VI Grant and what he would like to accomplish.
2 January 22, 2008
Mr. Bexguiristan addressed earlier statements and questions presented by staff. He also showed
Commission an animated presentation of the new projects.
Mx. Fetzer advised Mx. Bexguiristan that he gave an impassioned presentation and asked staff to
respond to the Benefit Present Value number given by Mx. Berguiristan.
Ms. O'Connor advised that staff did not look at the Benefit Present Value because the monies
would go duectiy to Lula Butler, Director of Community Improvement's budget.
Mr. Safford explained why the money would be distributed to Mrs. Butler's budget and not
towards the General Fund in further detail. He explained certain government restrictions would
not allow the City certain expenditures with the grant such as salaries.
Mx. Eliopoulos concurs that Mr. Berguiristan gave a phenomenal presentation; however, he does
not want to see anything deferred. He expressed several concerns such as where this type of
agreement has been done before for any development. He is concerned with the type of
precedence the City would set. He questioned how Mx. Berguiristan arrived at the $1.5 million
loan amount to forgive. He asked what amount the Developer wanted from CWHIP and what
contribution amount from the City.
Mr. Berguiristan advised that Auburn would like to have $5 million dollars.
Mr. McDuffie advised this was a large amount of information to digest from the presentation
and packets that were distributed to Commission. The project is something he felt the City had
been looking fox a long time. Mx. McDuffie explained there could be an enormous risk or
reward to the City and the Developer which is critical at this time. He would like staff to meet
with the Developer to understand how this project could be accomplished.
Mx. Harden advised the deadline for the CWHIP application is the end of January 2008.
Mrs. Butler stated the proposal presented tonight is little different from what was previously
reviewed.
Mxs. Montague questioned the $149,000 yearly payment and when would the $10,000 per unit
commence. She requested clarification as to how this would affect Mxs. Butler's budget. She
questioned where did the $1.5 million come from and what if the Developer does not get the
CWHIP Grant.
Susan Ruby, City Attorney, clarified that the City is not actually getting a lump sum.
Mx. Bexguiristan stated that the $1.5 million is needed whether the City gets the CWHIP grant or
not.
Mr. Harden stated that the $1.5 million is integral to the CWHIP Grant.
Mayor Ellis stated that the neighborhood has waited patiently for years for this development and
the City will not renege on its promise to the SW and NW 13`" Avenue residents.
3 January 22, 2008
Commission concurred they would have another Special Meeting if necessary to make sure that
the project is handled coxxecdy.
Mx. Bexguiristan made two (2) suggestions since the Developer is under time constraints. The
first is to have a signed agreement from the City. He also requested another Special Meeting held
the same week.
Mts. Butler stated she received an a-mail that the City has satisfied obligations with UDAG and
is free to negotiate this particular loan.
It was the Consensus of the Commission to have a Special Meeting on January 23, 2008 at 6:30
p.m. in the First Floor Conference Room to further discuss the Community Workforce Housing
Innovation Pxogxam (CWHIP) Agreement for Villages at Dekay.
Mayor Ellis adjourned the Special Meeting at 8:28 p.m.
~I~l ~~11~aN
Ciry Clerk
ATTEST:
~~~ ~~
MAYOR
The undersigned is the Ciry Clerk of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, and the information
provided herein is the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the City Commission held on Tuesday,
January 22, 2008, which Minutes were formally approved and adopted by the Ciry Commission on
February 5.2008.
City Clerk
NOTE TO READER: If the Minutes you have received are not completed as indicated above,
this means they axe not the official Minutes of the City Commission. They will become the official
Minutes only after review and approval, which may involve amendments, additions ox deletions to
the Minutes as set forth above.
January 22, 2008