06-13-2000 CRA Meeting CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
JUNE 13, 2000
Page 1
A Community Redevelopment Agency meeting of the City of Clermont was held Tuesday, June
13, 2000 at Jenkins Auditonum 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 Lamb, Council Member MacLauchlin, Elaine Hyatt Barton
and Gordon Halgren. Also present was City Manager Saunders, and Deputy City Clerk Maddox.
Minutes
A motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member
MacLauchlin and carried unanimously, to approve the Minutes of the CRA
Meetings held on April 11, 2000 and the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the
CRA held May 16, 2000, as amended.
Downtown Clermont Partnership-Report
Rose Biddle, President of the Downtown Clermont Partnership stated that the June First Friday
event included the theme to celebrate Father's Day and was successful. Ms. Biddle stated that
the 1st Friday Event in July was being co-sponsored with the South Lake Historical Society. Ms.
Biddle stated that the Mulberry Inn will also have the"Wing Ding Thing" as a fundraiser for the
South Lake Community Scholarship fund.
Ms. Biddle stated that skateboarders have been skating on the steps in front of some of the
downtown businesses and damaging them. City Manager Saunders stated that it is up to the
individual business owners to do whatever necessary to protect their steps and also suggested that
anytime the skaters are observed in the downtown area, the Police Department should be
contacted immediately.
Ms Biddle stated that the Municipal Parking Lot sign is hanging down and the in bad shape and
City Manager Saunders stated he would have that taken care of.
Ms. Biddle stated she would like the Downtown Clermont Partnership together with the Main
Street Program to work with the City to develop some leniency on some of the LDRs for the
CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
JUNE 13, 2000
Page 2
downtown area. Ms. Biddle stated that the Partnership would like to investigate the possibility of
allowing sidewalk cafes and other activities that would require changes in LDRs downtown.
Clermont Main Street-Report
Robert Porter stated that the Main Street application will be filed in July and there is some
information that needs to be obtained from the City to complete the application. City Manager
Saunders suggested that the City be provided with a list of the items needed for the application as
soon as possible so that the information can be gathered timely. Mr. Porter reported that
approximately$25,000 has been raised however the fund raising goal is $60,000. Mr. Porter
requested that the CRA Board make a 3-year commitment for financial assistance to Main Street
stating it was a very imperative part of being designated for Main Street. Mr. Porter also
requested that consideration be given to budget funds from the City's general fund. Mr. Porter
stated there was tremendous support from the entire community and this was a community-based
program, not a merchant based program. Mr. Porter invited everyone to the Town Meeting on
June 22, 2000 where Clermont Main Street, Inc. will present an informative slide show on the
Main Street designation and the Moonlight Players will portray characters from the past.
Mayor Turville stated that the City has always been a major supporter of the downtown area, and
asked City Manager Saunders to prepare a list of funds that reflect the City's participation in the
downtown.
City Manager Saunders stated he will prepare list of expenditures spent on the downtown area for
the past 10 years so it can be included in the Main Street application and stated he will also
provide a copy of the list to the Council for their information. Mr. Saunders stated that he feels
everyone will be surpnsed at the large amount of dollars that have gone into the downtown area
over the last several years.
Council Member Biddle stated that the CRA needs to decide its financial commitment to the
Main Street program now in order to be able to budget whatever funds are left for other possible
projects. Mr. Biddle stated that in order to get designated for Main Street, one of the
0
CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
JUNE 13, 2000
Page 3
requirements is that there is a commitment for support by the City, whether out of the general
fund or through he CRA.
City Manager Saunders explained exactly what funds the CRA has available now and
what funds are already committed. Mayor Turville asked if it was necessary for the Main
Street program to have a full-time manager and asked how critical it was considering the
amount of money it would cost and Mr. Biddle explained that having a full time program
manager is required for Main Street designation. Mr. Halgren reminded everyone how
important downtown is to the whole community and the necessity of keeping good
businesses downtown and stated he felt it was important to have a full time manager for
Main Street. Mr. Halgren stated that while many have made an investment downtown,
some of these businesses need assistance and if they cannot make a profit we will have
empty storefronts. Mr. Porter stated that no one will be able to put in the amount of time
required as a program manager on a volunteer basis, as it is a full time job. City Manager
Saunders suggested that a job description be provided to the Council Members.
A motion was made by Council Member Lamb, seconded by Council Member
MacLauchlin and carried unanimously,for the CRA to designate a minimum of
$20,000 per year for a minimum of three years to the Main Street program
CDBG
City Manager Saunders stated that the CDBG Block Grant Application was filed at the
end of May. Mr. Saunders stated that based on the self-scores, the City of Clermont came
in number six on the list which entitles us to partial funding. Mr. Saunders stated that
this is good news for a City who is applying for the Grant for the first time. Mr. Saunders
stated that Fred Fox informed him that for the past two years cities that only received
partial funding in the beginning, ended up being fully funded because other cities did not
spend all their money or did not complete all their requirements and the funds came back
into the grant program. Mr. Saunders stated that it looks as if we will get at least some of
the money and possibly we could get all of it and we will know within the next two or
nthree months.
•
CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
JUNE 13, 2000
Page 4
- Downtown Parking
City Manager Saunders stated that we are expecting the 90 percent plan from our
engineer within the next two or three weeks and the last 10 percent will be just putting
together the bid documents and specs, and therefore we are on schedule.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
Cam.
• ayo Haro d S. Turville, Jr.
Attest
seph E. Van e, City Clerk
C)