Community Redevelopment Agency

Description

The purpose of the Community Redevelopment Agency Board (CRA) is to provide leadership and inspiration for the improvement of our CRA District by using and leveraging of tax increment financing (TIF) and other available funds to assist and support community and economic redevelopment and revitalization in order to eliminate slum and blight, with every consideration given to actively seeking community input, in order to build community investment and pride for residential business.

In keeping with its purpose, the Board has developed the Application for CRA/Historic Preservation Grant Facade Renovations.  Historic Preservation Grant Application Interested person(s) should complete the application and submit to the Community Development Department for submission to the Board.

Establishment and Appointment

The City of Dunnellon’s Community Redevelopment Agency or CRA was previously established by resolution of the city. Membership shall be the city council pursuant to F.S. § 163.357(1), and such other members as the city shall determine.

At any time in the future, the city council has the power, by resolution, to appoint seven commissioners to serve as the Community Redevelopment Agency. The terms of office of the commissioners shall be for four years, except that three of the members first appointed shall be designated to serve terms of one, two and three years, respectively, from the date of their appointments, and all other members shall be designated to serve for terms of four years from the date of their appointments. A vacancy occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term.

Any person may be appointed as commissioner of the Community Redevelopment Agency if he 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 city, and is otherwise eligible for such appointment under this article.

A commissioner of the Community Redevelopment Agency shall receive no compensation for his services, but is entitled to the necessary expenses, including traveling expenses, incurred in the discharge of these duties. 

Each commissioner of the Community Redevelopment Agency shall hold office until his successor has been appointed and has qualified. A certificate of the appointment or reappointment of any commissioner shall be filed with the city clerk, and such certificate is conclusive evidence of the due and proper appointment of such commissioner.

The city may remove a commissioner of the Community Redevelopment Agency for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office only after a hearing and only if he has been given a copy of the charges at least ten days prior to such hearing and has had an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel.

The powers of the Community Development 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. Any 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.

The city shall designate a chair and vice-chair of the Community Redevelopment Agency from among the commissioners. Upon approval of the city council, the agency may employ an executive director, technical experts, and such other agents and employees, permanent and temporary, as it requires, and determine their qualifications, duties and compensation. For such legal service as it requires, the agency, upon approval of the city council, may employ or retain its own council and legal staff.

The agency which is authorized to transact business and exercise powers under this article shall file with the city and with the auditor general of the state, on or before March 31 of each year, a report of its activities for the preceding fiscal year, which report shall include a complete financial statement setting forth its assets, liabilities, income and operating expenses as of the end of such fiscal year. At the time of filing the report, the agency shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the community a notice to the effect that such report has been filed with the city and that the report is available for inspection during business hours in the office of the city clerk and in the office of the agency.

The city shall make available to the Community Redevelopment Agency all staff personnel deemed necessary by the city needed to administer its duties, including, but not limited to, the city auditor, attorney, finance director, engineer, surveyor, architect and clerk.

The city council shall approve an annual budget for the Community Redevelopment Agency. The agency shall not expend any funds unless in accordance with such approved budget and as authorized by the city council.

Disclosure: All board and commission meetings are open to the public and are subject to the terms of the Sunshine Law.