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Paul “Andy” Stewart
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Tab 11
Ledger, The (Lakeland, FL)
May 23, 2005
CRA BUDGET TO FUND CORE PROJECTS
Author: MERISSA GREEN
AUBURNDALE -- The Community Redevelopment Agency's $802,500 budget for the 2005-06
fiscal year will continue last year's effort to increase downtown parking and beautification
projects.
"The purpose of the CRA is to eliminate blight in the downtown and hopefully it will move us
closer to reaching that goal," said Assistant to the City Manager Andy Stewart.
The CRA board, which is comprised of the City Commission and two appointed members,
approved the proposed budget last week. The City Commission will give final approval in
September when it adopts the city's annual budget. Both budgets will be effective Oct. 1 when
the new fiscal year begins.
Some of the projects are:
$70,000 for landscaping of medians on Havendale Boulevard.
$150,000 for the construction of the Polk Street parking lot.
$20,000 contribution to Auburndale Chamber-Mainstreet.
$3,000 for marketing.
$10,000 for special events.
$75,000 for a wrought iron fence around the cemetery on U.S. 92.
Chairman Larry Walker said he would like the board to consider increasing the special events
and chamber donation in the future. He said as the landscaping projects increased, so will the
need for more staff to maintain them. The CRA currently reimburses the city $22,000 for the
salary of a city employee to maintain landscaping in the CRA district.
Commissioner Randy Spears said he would like the CRA to focus more on marketing the
downtown area."I like to make a challenge to come up with what Auburndale can promote," he
said. A signature event would draw people from outside the city, Spears said.
Stewart said the CRA spent money to advertise on local radio for the annual Touch A Truck
event that is held downtown in the city's park. Because of it, the event had a higher attendance,
he said.
Commissioner Bill Sterling said he doesn't want to waste overtime money on police protection
and street crews for a special event if there's no advantage. "I'm kind of for special events, but
then I'm not if it doesn't benefit the city of Auburndale," he said.
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