Agenda 07/08/2025 Item #16L 2 (2025 FRA Annual Conference)7/8/2025
Item # 16.L.2
ID# 2025-2189
Executive Summary
Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency
(CRA), authorize four members of the Bayshore Gateway Triangle Local Redevelopment Advisory Board, one member
of the Bayshore Beautification Municipal Service Taxing Unit Advisory Committee, and four members of the
Immokalee Community Redevelopment Advisory Board to attend the Florida Redevelopment Association 2025 Annual
Conference; authorize payment of the associated registration, lodging, travel and per diem costs from the CRA Trust
Funds (Funds 1020/1025); and declare the training received by the Board members as serving a valid public purpose.
OBJECTIVE: To provide training for members of the Bayshore Gateway Triangle Local Redevelopment Advisory
Board, the Bayshore Beautification Municipal Service Taxing Unit Advisory Committee, and the Immokalee
Community Redevelopment Advisory Board.
CONSIDERATIONS: On March 14, 2000, the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County (the “BCC”)
adopted Resolution No. 2000-82, finding conditions of blight in two separate areas of the County, one commonly known
as the “Bayshore Gateway Triangle” and the other known as “Immokalee,” finding the redevelopment of these areas
necessary in the interest of public health, safety, morals or welfare of the residents of Collier County, and finding that
these areas constitute community redevelopment areas under Florida Statutes.
On March 14, 2000, after the adoption of Resolution No. 2000-82, the BCC adopted Resolution No. 2000-83, declaring
the Board of County Commissioners to be the Collier County Community Redevelopment Agency and resolving that the
members constitute the head of a legal entity, separate, distinct, and independent from the BCC.
On June 13, 2000, the BCC adopted Resolution No. 2000-181, adopting the Community Redevelopment Plan and
authorizing and directing the Agency to proceed with implementation of the Plan.
On June 13, 2000, after the adoption of Resolution No. 2000-181, the BCC adopted Ordinance No. 2000-42,
establishing a Redevelopment Trust Fund, providing for the funding of the Redevelopment Trust Fund for community
redevelopment within the community redevelopment areas, and determining the tax increment to be deposited into the
Redevelopment Trust Fund.
On March 27, 2001, the CRA Board approved CRA Resolution No. 2001-98, adopting the Bylaws of the CRA, creating
the “Bayshore/Gateway Triangle Local Redevelopment Advisory Board” and the “Immokalee Local Redevelopment
Advisory Board.”
The Bylaws of the Local Redevelopment Advisory Boards have been subsequently amended, as more particularly set
forth by CRA Resolution No. 2016-198 (Immokalee) and CRA Resolution No. 2009-149 (Bayshore).
On May 27, 2025, the CRA Board approved CRA Resolution No. 2025-113, adopting the Creation and Bylaws of the
Immokalee Community Redevelopment (CRA) Advisory Board, partially repealing CRA Resolution No. 2001-98, to
replace the Immokalee Local Redevelopment Advisory Board and the Immokalee Beautification Advisory Committee;
and approve the creation of the Immokalee Community Redevelopment Advisory Board by the BCC.
The Florida Redevelopment Association is to community redevelopment agencies as the Florida Association of Counties
is to counties. As set forth in FRA’s own words:
Founded in 1974, FRA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting Florida professionals and volunteers in
community revitalization efforts. With its mission of “transforming spaces, revitalizing places,” FRA is committed to
providing a forum for its more than 300 members to share knowledge and common experiences regarding revitalization
opportunities and issues throughout Florida. FRA encourages adoption of legal and financial tools and programs
favorable to community growth and serves as a statewide clearinghouse for redevelopment information.
The FRA Annual Conference is FRA’s biggest annual event and also the biggest and best statewide redevelopment-
related event of the year, providing attendees with opportunities to enhance leadership skills, learn from experts, share
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7/8/2025
Item # 16.L.2
ID# 2025-2189
ideas with peers, tour notable projects, and network with industry professionals and service providers.
As more particularly set forth by the Bylaws of the CRA and the Local Redevelopment Advisory Boards, the purpose of
the Advisory Boards is “to be the primary vehicle for community input… to the CRA relating to the Redevelopment
Area…” and the Advisory Boards will make recommendations to the CRA concerning the Redevelopment Plan, the
Redevelopment Area work program, and any redevelopment or other public projects proposed for the Redevelopment
Area. Providing the members of the Advisory Boards with relevant training serves this purpose and supports our
collective efforts to bring the Community Redevelopment Plans to life.
Last year, the CRA authorized four CRA members from each Area to attend and one member from each MSTU to
attend allowing them to further develop the CRA best practices.
This request is also consistent with Florida Statutes. Please note that Section 163.356(3)(e), Florida Statutes, authorizes
the appropriation of funds for the administrative expenses and overhead of the CRA, and Section 163.387(6), Florida
Statutes, authorizes the use of redevelopment trust fund revenue for same.
The Florida Redevelopment Association 2025 Annual Conference will be held October 14-15, 2025, in West Palm
Beach, Florida, at the Hilton West Palm Beach Hotel. After conferring with the Advisory Boards, staff recommends 5
members from Bayshore Area and 4 members from Immokalee Area to attend (for a total of 9 Board members). The
cost per person is approximately $1,780 plus per diem, which consists of: registration ($395/person); mobile tour or
board training ($50); $1,050 for lodging ($350/night/room); and $95 for daily parking/resort fee.
To better implement the Community Redevelopment Plans by further developing the talents, abilities, and knowledge of
our Advisory Board members through education, training, lectures, tours, and networking made available at the FRA
Annual Conference.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for the request is available within the Bayshore Gateway Triangle CRA Fund (Fund 1020)
and Immokalee CRA Fund (Fund 1025). The estimated expense is $8,900 for the Bayshore fund and $7,120 for the
Immokalee fund, plus per diem.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: None.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as to form and
legality and requires a majority vote for approval. -JAK
RECOMMENDATIONS: Recommendation that the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), acting as the
Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), authorize four members of the Bayshore Gateway Triangle Local
Redevelopment Advisory Board, one member of the Bayshore Beautification Municipal Service Taxing Unit Advisory
Committee, and four members of the Immokalee Community Redevelopment Advisory Board to attend the Florida
Redevelopment Association 2025 Annual Conference; authorize payment of the associated registration, lodging, travel
and per diem costs from the CRA Trust Funds (Funds 1020/1025); and declare the training received by the Board
members as serving a valid public purpose.
PREPARED BY: Christie Betancourt, CRA Assistant Director
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2025 FRA Annual Conference Announcement
2. 2025 FRA Expense Breakdown Estimate
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