09/13/19 RISE Special Call Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the Special Call Meeting of the Board of Directors of RISE Development Corporation
September 13, 2019
Director LaSister called the meeting to order at 8:34 am. Upon roll call, the following were in attendance:
Present at Roll:
- Director C. Knox LaSister III
- Director Roxanne Amoroso
- Director James Dates
- Director Sharlene Gambrell-Davis
- Director Terri Lipsey Scott
- Director Stephanie Owens
Absent at Roll:
- Director Jerrilyn Evans
Staff Present:
- LaShunda Battle, Interim Chief Executive Officer
- Larry Butler, Social Services Officer
- Danielle Carevic, Executive Office Manager
- Larry Gonzalez, Housing Choice Voucher Officer
- Pamela Hobbs, Procurement Officer
- Andrea Joyal, Accountant
- Dennis Lohr, Chief Financial Officer
- Jacquelyn Roberson, Human Resource
Others Present:
- Attorney Ricardo Gilmore, Saxon & Gilmore
- Attorney Dee Menzer, Trenam Law
- Attorney Jeff Butt, Squire Patton & Boggs
- Kevin Bessolo, Bessolo Design Group LLC
- Marianne Edmonds, Public Resources Advisory Group
- Brian Evjen, Norstar Development USA, LP
SUBJECT: Public Forum
Dr. Basha Jordan & Maria Scruggs individually came before the Board to discuss their concerns regarding the redevelopment of Jordan Park Apartments.
SUBJECT: Commissioner Owens proposed before the meeting went any further to operate the RISE Development Corporation meeting under small Board rules. There were no objections and the meeting continued in this manner.
SUBJECT: Aligning the leadership of the Board of Directors of RISE Development Corporation with the Board of Commissioners of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority.
BOARD ACTION: Director Owens made a motion to align the leadership of the Board of Directors RISE Development Corporation with the Board of Commissioners of St. Petersburg Housing Authority. A vote was called:
- Director C. Knox LaSister III YES
- Director Roxanne Amoroso YES
- Director James Dates YES
- Director Sharlene Gambrell-Davis YES
- Director Terri Lipsey Scott YES
- Director Stephanie Owens YES
The Board approved the motion.
SUBJECT: Removal of Officer
BOARD ACTION: Director Owens made a motion to approve the removal of Tony L. Love as President and Secretary of RISE Development Corporation. A vote was called:
- Director C. Knox LaSister III YES
- Director Roxanne Amoroso YES
- Director James Dates YES
- Director Sharlene Gambrell-Davis YES
- Director Terri Lipsey Scott YES
- Director Stephanie Owens YES
The Board approved the motion.
SUBJECT: Election of Officer
BOARD ACTION: Director Owens made a motion to elect LaShunda Battle, Interim CEO as the President, Secretary and Treasurer of RISE Development Corporation. There was an extensive discussion by Board members, Attorney Jeff Butt, Attorney Dee Menzer and Attorney Ricardo Gilmore.
A vote was called:
- Director C. Knox LaSister III YES
- Director Roxanne Amoroso YES
- Director James Dates YES
- Director Sharlene Gambrell-Davis YES
- Director Terri Lipsey Scott YES
- Director Stephanie Owens YES
The Board approved LaShunda Battle as President/Secretary/Treasurer.
SUBJECT: Email Request for SPHA to waive any conflict that might exist as a result of Squire Patton Boggs serving as SPHA's and Borrower's Counsel in connection with Jordan Park transaction and as Bond Counsel to the Corporation on Water's Edge transaction.
BOARD ACTION: Director Owens made a motion to authorize LaShunda Battle, Interim CEO sign the waiver for Squire Patton & Boggs regarding Jordan Park LLC conflict of interest.
A vote was called:
- Director C. Knox LaSister III YES
- Director Roxanne Amoroso YES
- Director James Dates YES
- Director Sharlene Gambrell-Davis YES
- Director Terri Lipsey Scott YES
- Director Stephanie Owens YES
The Board approved the motion.
SUBJECT: Tax Exempt Status for RISE Development Corporation
BOARD ACTION: Director LaSister made a motion to authorize Squire Patton & Boggs to complete and submit the appropriate IRS forms on behalf of RISE Development Corporation and Attorney Jeff Butt, Squire Patton Boggs.
A vote was called:
- Director C. Knox LaSister III YES
- Director Roxanne Amoroso YES
- Director James Dates YES
- Director Sharlene Gambrell-Davis YES
- Director Terri Lipsey Scott YES
- Director Stephanie Owens YES
The Board approved the motion.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:21 am.
Approved and Adopted this 24th day of October 2019.
C. Knox LaSister III, Chairperson
LaShunda Battle, Interim CEO