02-08-2000 CRA Meeting 0
CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
February 8, 2000
Page 1
A Community Redevelopment Agency meeting of the City of Clermont was held Tuesday,
February 8, 2000 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 Mullins, Council Member MacLauchlin, and Elaine Hyatt Barton. Also present
was City Manager Saunders, and Deputy City Clerk Maddox. Council Member Lamb and
Gordon Hallgren were not present. -
Minutes
A motion was made by Council Member Biddle seconded by Council Member
Mullins and carried unanimously, to approve the Minutes of the CRA Meetings =
held on December 14, 1999
Downtown Clermont Partnership-Report
Rose Biddle, President of the Downtown Clermont Partnership stated First Friday's downtown
are getting bigger. Ms. Biddle stated that the on February 4, 2000 the Partnership sponsored
"Heart Of The Community"and had representatives from 30 different non-profit, community
service and volunteer organizations present to share with the citizens what was going on in the
community and how they could become part of an organization and give back to the community.
Ms. Biddle stated that in March the Partnership will sponsor"Taste Of Downtown"which will
be a fundraiser for the Partnership and in April they will have Marti Gras with a parade.
President Biddle stated that February 16, 2000, at 6:30 p.m. at Jenkins Auditorium the
Downtown Clermont Partnership, Chamber of Commerce and Clermont Mainstreet will host a
visioning session for downtown and all citizens in the City of Clermont are invited to attend.
Ms. Biddle stated they would welcome and appreciate it if at least one representative from the
CRA Board would attend. Ms. Biddle stated part of the purpose will be to differentiate the
identities of the Downtown Clermont Partnership, the CRA Board and Mainstreet and how the
three groups can work effectively together for common goals.
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CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
February 8, 2000
Page 2
A motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Elaine Barton and
carried unanimously, to appoint Council Member Biddle to represent the CRA
Board at the visioning session on February 16, 2000
Ms. Biddle stated that on Saturday, March 25, 2000 from 10:00 a.m.-to 5:00 p.m. the Partnership
will sponsor"Springfest"which will include fine arts on the grassy area on the Waterfront Park
at the end of 8`h Street as well as fine crafts,theatre, dance and children's art throughout the
downtown area. The fine art will be juried and artists must submit slides of their work for review
before acceptance into the show.
President Biddle stated that the CRA Board had requested that the Downtown-Clermont
Partnership do a traffic study of the downtown and make recommendations to the Board and to
the City Council for parking in that area. Ms. Biddle stated that the Partnership Board did not
feel comfortable doing the study as they felt it would be a"merchant against merchant" situation.
City Manager Saunders stated that he felt it was important that the merchants and residents of the
downtown district have some input as to what changes they would like to see now and in the
future.
Elaine Barton stated that whatever the decision is for parking downtown, it needs to be
consistently enforced.
Mayor Turville suggested that the Partnership prepare a Questionnaire and provide it to all of the
businesses in the downtown area requesting that they respond by a certain time. Mr. Turville
stated that this would allow all of those who have suggestions regarding parking downtown and
wish to participate in the solution, an opportunity to do so.
Jeff Biddle stated he received a certified letter from Dr. Ballesteros requesting a handicap
parking space be put on Desoto Street near 8th Avenue for use by his office as well as Dr.
Gonzales' office.
CCity Manager Saunders stated that the City cannot meet the requirements of size for a handicap
parking space and it is not common practice for a City to put handicap spaces as street parking.
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CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
February 8, 2000
Page 3
Mr. Saunders stated that it could be dangerous, as the space would require parallel parking in an
undersized space for getting persons in and out in wheelchairs.
Mayor Turville requested that the site be reviewed and that the matter be put on a future City
Council Agenda for discussion.
Clermont Main Street-Report
Barbara Hollerand stated that the Main Street Board has been meeting monthly. Ms. Hollerand
stated they had put up a sign on Montrose Street and the sponsors for the Main Street program
will be added to the sign. Ms. Hollerand stated that Main Street will be involved in the visioning-
session on February 16th and on March 17, 2000 at 5:00 p.m. they will have a fundraiser event
called"Sharing Of The Dream".
Community Development Block Grant
City Manager Saunders referred to the"point system"he provided to the CRA Board Members
and stated that the City can get up to $600,000 if we make a commitment. Mr. Saunders stated
that Mr. Fox advised that most of the cities that receive funding go ahead and commit the
maximum amount, which gives them the maximum number of points. City Manager Saunders
stated a lot of the items on the list have already been accomplished.
Council Member Biddle reviewed each item on the list with the CRA Board and advised which
of the items we already have completed.
City Manager Saunders stated that he would suggest to the City Council that Fred Fox be
appointed to apply for the grant on behalf of the City and that Mr. Fox represent the City at the
DCA workshop in Tallahassee.
City Manager Saunders asked if the CRA Board wanted to discuss the possibility of obtaining the
old hospital site for either the new City Hall or possibly some other use.
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CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
February 8, 2000
Page 4
After discussion there was consensus that a discussion regarding the old hospital site be
advertised so that citizens can be advised that the discussion will take place.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
ayor Harold S. Turville, Jr.
0 Attest:
l
seph E. Van , City C erk
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