As many of you may know, Stuart is looking to expand the CRA (Community Redevelopment Area) to other neighborhoods. When the idea was first mentioned I was in favor, if the expansion resulted in infrastructure projects moving forward in the new incorporated areas. I further wanted to see the operation of the CRA treated as a fund and not as an independent department or division within city government. This is not a reflection on the city staff, but in a city of our geographical and population size, I don’t believe that we need to have a government within a government.
In order to have an effective CRA (or for that matter a city), the citizens who reside within those boundaries need community outreach and resident input. The time has come to have the city focus on more than a few blocks of historic downtown. The many neighborhoods that make up Stuart should have more attention paid to them. Plans and goals are fine, but without a dedicated funding source and a desire of the residents to move forward, nothing will happen.
The CRA fund or TIF is created by keeping the increased taxes that result from increased value on a property. Those funds do not come from any additional tax being levied as another taxing unit. That increase amount collected would have gone to the county and city general funds. Not one more penny is collected from property owners who are in a CRA. However, the increased taxes generated because of an increased property value must be spent within the CRA. The fund is a catalyst for infrastructure improvements and economic development within the district.
It has been my observation that change is inevitable. Ideas blossom, technology improves, the economy develops and societal norms become different. Whether any individual desires changes or not is immaterial to whether change occurs. It is government’s role to guide those changes to produce outcomes that benefit their constituents. As a commissioner and a member of the board of the Community Redevelopment Agency, it is my responsibility to provide the city staff with the tools and direction to implement the changes.
Therefore, for greater citizen involvement with the proposed expansion, the Community Redevelopment Board should now consist of 9 members from the present 7 with at least 6 members (including the chair) being city residents and no more than 3 members being non-resident business owners within the CRA. The two non-commission members of the Community Redevelopment Agency Board would be appointed by the Community Redevelopment Board from their board members who are residents of the city.
The city staff must also be reorganized to best carry out the CRA objectives. I would like to see a Department of Community, Tourism and Economic Development. In a city our size, no tourist or economic initiative undertaken doesn’t impact the entire community. This department must know what the residents of the city want in order to attract those businesses and tourist dollars that are desired by the citizens. The Community Development division would be charged with holding workshops within the different neighborhoods. This process will ascertain what the residents needs are within their neighborhoods and then to incorporate those needs within the CRA plan as a whole.
Once the priorities of the projects are set by the boards, the implementation is done by the city departments in place to best execute the projects. For example putting in a side walk is the responsibility of Public Works whether it is in the CRA or not. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel or add a layer of bureaucracy to accomplish it. If we can simplify the lines of communication, responsibility and make the entire city government as transparent as possible, then our residents can see where Stuart is headed. We will then not only have a successful CRA, but also a prosperous and growing city.