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10-12-1999 CRA Minutes T CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING October 12, 1999 A Community Redevelopment Agency meeting of the City of Clermont was held Tuesday, October 12, 1999 at Jenkins Auditorium at 691 Montrose Street and was called to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following Members in attendance: Mayor Turville, Council Member Biddle, Council Member Brown, Council Member Lamb, Council Member Wolfe, Gordon Hallgren and Elaine Hyatt Barton, Also present was City Manager Saunders, and Deputy City Clerk Maddox. Minutes Approval of Minutes from the meetings held June 8,1999 and August 10, 1999 was tabled to the next CRA meeting as all Board Members had not had an opportunity to review them. Roll of CRA Board Joe Shipes-Guest Speaker Joe Shipes from the Leesburg Downtown Partnership stated that he was a charter member of both the main CRA in Mt. Dora and the Northeast District CRA in that city. Mr. Shipes stated he was also instrumental in developing the CRA District in Leesburg. Mr. Shipes stated that in Mt. Dora the CRA Board consists of appointees from the District. The CRA Board can concentrate on redevelopment, whereas the Council must deal with all of the other issues of the City. Mr. Shipes stated that in the early years when there was not a lot of money for big projects but they starting doing the little things like retro-fitting the street lights using the same electrical power that had always been there. Mr. Shipes stated that many of the "temporary" things they did are things that they decided to keep. Mr. Shipes stated that a CRA enables the District to get financing that is otherwise unavailable and stated that the City Council cannot go out and get financing but the CRA can. Mr. Shipes stated that the Mt. Dora City Commissioners allowed the CRA Board to make expenditures up to $5,000 without coming before the Council for approval. Mr. Shipes stated that in Leesburg the District includes approximately 500 acres and the Board consists of 5 City Commissioners and 2 l C CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING October 12, 1999 Page 2 representatives from the District. Mr. Shipes stated that because of an NAACP lawsuit, the City of Leesburg is required to have City Commissioners on that Board. Mr. Shipes stated that Leesburg had a strong Main Street program that did much of the planning and work, therefore the Commissioners did not have to deal with all of the details of choosing every fixture and making every detailed decision. Mr. Shipes stated that the City Council Members received the Minutes of the meetings and had Veto power. After further discussion the CRA Board stated they would like to see the future Board made up of appointees from the CRA District, Downtown Clermont Partnership and Main Street group which would allow many people from the community to be involved and have input. The CRA Board also agreed they would like to see a Staff member on the Board and allow the Board limited authority to spend funds without approval from the City Council. Clermont Main Street-Report Robert Porter passed out a Clermont Main Street brochure which stated the slogan "Clermont Main Street. Protecting the past. Promoting the future". Mr. Porter explained that Clermont Main Street will rely on public and private support, including corporate and individual sponsorships and stated that they have applied for 501(c)(3) status as a tax-exempt organization. Mr. Porter named several businesses and members of the community who were already volunteering time and services to help the Clermont Main Street program. Mr. Porter stated that they were going to be the Ambassadors for Light- Up Clermont this year and would be passing out literature regarding the Clermont Main Street Program along with candy canes along the parade route. Mr. Porter stated they have also been speaking at community events and clubs explaining their mission and getting volunteers. Downtown Clermont Partnership-Report Jeff Biddle gave the report for the President, Rose Biddle. Mr. Biddle stated that the Downtown Clermont Partnership was up to 60 members. Mr. Biddle stated that the r CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES CO MMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING October 12, 1999 Page 3 "First Fridays" have been a great success and have done a lot in promoting the downtown businesses. Mr. Biddle stated that a survey was done at the last "First Friday" event and 80 people responded. Mr. Biddle stated that the number one response to asking what citizens liked best about the event was "a great sense of community, small town feeling and meeting friends downtown". Mr. Biddle stated that keeping our downtown atmosphere was a goal of the Partnership. Mr. Biddle stated that Chief Story asked the Partnership for suggestions for downtown locations of commercial loading zones. The Partnership suggests that there be three commercial loading zones and that they be located as follows: one in front of Jenkins Auditorium, one at 8th Street and Montrose and one at 10th Street and Montrose. Mr. Biddle stated that this would allow deliveries to the merchants who do not have alleys in back of their businesses, and these zones will only displace two parking spaces. A motion was made by CRA Board Member Turville, seconded by CRA Board Member Biddle and carried unanimously to recommend to the City Council that they have three commercial loading zones downtown; one in front of Jenkins Auditorium, one at 8th and Montrose Street and one at 10th and Montrose Street. Mr. Biddle stated that the Downtown Clermont Partnership Board would like to see better enforcement of codes and the two-hour parking enforced downtown. Mr. Biddle stated that the downtown merchants were getting complaints regarding children skateboarding on the picnic tables and walkways at the new Trail Head. Mr. Biddle stated another concern was the need for better lighting downtown, especially when the time-change comes and many events will be taking place in the dark. Mr. Biddle'stated the Partnership could possibly assist in electric fees in order to get better fllighting downtown. Mr. Biddle stated that it had been suggested that the trees be trimmed and the Christmas lights be put up before the Great Floridian. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING October 12, 1999 Page 4 City Manager Saunders stated that the City's bucket-truck is not in service now and the City is looking into leasing a truck to use for the next few weeks. Mr. Saunders stated that Lake County has agreed to put up the banners for the Triathlon and maybe they would assist in getting the lights up also. CRA Board Member Wolfe suggested that the City go ahead and look into leasing a bucket truck to get these projects done until the City's new equipment gets in. City Manager Saunders asked for direction regarding the CRA Board's $10,000 that was ■•■ allocated for the Main Street program and wondered if it was to be paid immediately or whether it was to be paid after the official "Main Street" designation. There was a discussion held and it was agreed by the CRA Board that the purpose of the CRA is to help fund downtown projects and what is important now is to get the Main Street Program off the ground and the $10,000 should be paid to Clermont Main Street, Inc. in order that they may begin the application process to be designated as a Main Street City. A motion was made by CRA Board Member Biddle, seconded by CRA Board Member Lamb, and carried unanimously that the CRA Board direct a check be made payable to the Clermont Main Street, Inc., in the amount of$10,000 for assistance in the Main Street program. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned. 0--7.-x-------4--) Mayor Harold S. Turville, Jr. Attest: 'oseph E. Va ' e, ity Clerk