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12-12-2000 CRA Meeting oonft CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING - DECEMBER 12, 2000 Page 1 A Community Redevelopment Agency meeting of the City of Clermont was held Tuesday, December 12, 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 Renick, 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 Biddle, seconded by Council Member MacLauchlin and carried unanimously, to approve the Minutes of the CRA Meeting held on October 10, 2000. Downtown Clermont Partnership-Report Sherry Halgren,President of the Downtown Clermont Partnership thanked the City for its support for the Light-Up-Clermont event, sponsored by the Downtown Partnership, The Chamber of Commerce and Main Street. Ms. Halgren stated there were many citizens in attendance and there were a lot of positive comments regarding the parade, the craft show and the tree lighting ceremony. Ms. Halgren stated that the City Council gave the Partnership permission to close Montrose Street for 3 months for the First Friday events for safety reasons and since there have been no objections from any of the downtown merchants, they are requesting that Montrose Street be closed for the First Friday event until further notice. The Partnership requests that this be put on a City Council Agenda Ms. Halgren asked if-there was a plan for Center Lake. Mayor Turville stated that if the pond is given an opportunity to dry out a lot of the muck will evaporate and oxidize so that when we get rain the lake will come back in an approved condition. Ms. Halgren stated that if there was anything that the Partnership could do to help they will volunteer to do that. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING DECEMBER 12, 2000 Page 2 Ms. Halgren presented a copy of the Partnership's Brochure promoting the downtown area and asked everyone to take one. Main Street-Report Rose Biddle reiterated that the Light Up Clermont event was wonderful. Ms. Biddle stated that she met with City Manager Saunders and Chamber Director Stockton and they are already making plans for next year, including the incorporation of the Waterfront Park area in the activities. Ms. Biddle stated that the Main Street program has set up committees, including a Design Committee,Reconstruction Committee, and Promotion Committee. Ms. Biddle stated that they filed their quarterly report and since,May, 2000 $225,000 has been spent in - building, rehab and improvements, there have been 29 jobs created and 9 new businesses started downtown. Ms. Biddle stated there will be a Business After Hours on January 11, 2001, hosted by the Main Street program and she requested that they be allowed to use the Trail Head for the event. Ms. Biddle passed out the SWOT Analysis for the Main Street program pointing out the program's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges. Robert Porter, President of Main Street, discussed concerns the Main Street Program had regarding the use of the old hospital on 8th Street. Mr. Porter provided a copy of a letter directed to the CRA Members from Clermont Main Street, Inc. strongly opposing the use of the old hospital for non-profit offices and organizations. Mr. Porter stated that using the old hospital building for that purpose will not benefit the community or in any way meet the goals and objectives of the redevelopment plan approved by the CRA. Mr. Porter said the 3 '/z acre property across from Center Lake is the entrance into Historic Downtown Clermont and that use of the old hospital site would not be an appropriate gateway to our downtown, nor would it generate tax dollars to the District. Mr. Porter stated that Main Street supports non-profit organizations and community services, n CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING DECEMBER 12, 2000 Page 3 however they feel there are other locations better suited to house those organizations than downtown Clermont. Mr. Porter requested that the CRA Board express the concerns to the Directors of South Lake Hospital and more suitable options for the property be explored. Mayor Turville stated that while this is a CRA meeting,the matter of the use of the old hospital property is not on the agenda and since there are no representatives present from South Lake Hospital or the Methodist Church, he did not feel this matter should be discussed. Mr. Halgren stated that the Methodist Church spoke at a workshop, that it was not on the agenda that the matter would be discussed at that time, and no one from the CRA was invited to be present. Mr. Halgren stated that discussing this matter is appropriate because this is CRA property and if the CRA is to have a strong role in accomplishing its mission in the CRA District, then these issues need to be brought directly to the CRA Board. Mayor Turville stated that the CRA Board has a predicament because the City Council Members compose all but two members of the Board and they cannot discuss land use issues without violating the Sunshine Laws. Ms. Halgren stated that they want to express their concern because they are not clear as to what the plans for the property are and would request that a workshop be held so that everyone can participate and be informed. Mr. Porter stated that the CRA Board should be looking out for the tax dollars and redevelopment of downtown and would ask that there be an open forum so that their views can be expressed. Mayor Turville stated that what was proposed at the workshop is that the Methodist Church would like the property so that they can expand and possibly build a gymnasium on the property in the future and that until they are ready and can afford to build, they would lease out the building to non-profit organizations. Mayor Turville stated that the fl CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING DECEMBER 12, 2000 Page 4 Hospital Board feels that since they were tax supported all those years,perhaps the best way to mitigate the equity issues with taxpayers is to upfront a significant amount of dollars and deed the hospital to the church in the future. Mayor Turville stated he understood that the church would then set up a 501 C-3-Not for Profit and would provide space to groups such as the Y.M.C.A., South Lake Community Foundation, the United Way and several others that were mentioned. Mayor Turville suggested that there be a workshop. Mr. Porter stated that the Main Street Program is taking a pro-active approach and stated that there is potential for revenue to come into the City. Mr. Porter stated that tax dollars paid for this property and there may be an issue with it being sold to the Church. Mr. Porter stated that the Hospital does not have the money to maintain the property, and the Methodist Church does not have the money to buy the property outright, so for a 5 to 7 year period, during which time the Church is going to allow the old building to be used for non-profits, who is going to maintain the property is an issue. Mr. Halgren stated that he had an issue with the hospital passing the benefit they have received from taxpayers off to a church,which does not serve the entire community and he felt it does a discredit to the taxpayers of our community. Council Member Biddle stated that no one doubts the value of the use that the Hospital and Methodist Church are proposing for the next five to seven years and most people in the community would like to see a free health clinic and office space for the non-profits, but does not believe that in the middle of a revitalization project and in the middle of downtown is the place for this use. Mr. Biddle stated that this property offers an opportunity to add to the revitalization of the downtown and increase the tax base for it, which is the appropriate use for the area. Even the church's proposed future use of the property for a gymnasium offers no economic benefit for downtown and is not an appropriate use for the entrance to downtown. Mr. Biddle stated that the problem now is the fact that the CRA does not meet for another 2 months and the Hospital Board meets in January. 1 I { CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING DECEMBER 12, 2000 Page 5 Mr. Biddle asked if this proposed use would require a Conditional Use Permit and City Manager Saunders stated that it would because of the square footage and because of the change from a hospital use to any other use. Mr. Mullins stated it is his understanding that whether the hospital or the church owns the property, if they are not using it for a hospital or church and are renting out offices, that money will come on the tax rolls. Mayor Turville stated that if they had a 501C3 it might not. Juanita Beckius stated that it is the opinion of the Main Street"members and Downtown Partnership, that at this meeting, the Board should be acting as a CRA Board,not a City Council. Mayor Turville stated that since this is a land use question, they must be very careful. Ms. Beckius asked how the CRA Board can act on issues and Mayor Turville stated it was a complicated arrangement. Mr. Halgren stated that a violation may have already occurred, as there was not any advertisement or notice of this matter being on the workshop agenda. City Manager Saunders stated that there is no action taken at a workshop and there is no requirement to publicize an agenda. City Manager Saunders stated that the CRA Board can take action on the request from - Main Street to write a letter and ask that this matter be put on an Agenda. City Manager - Saunders stated that this would allow this issue to be publicly noticed and some form of action by the CRA Board could take place. Mr. Saunders stated that would give everyone an opportunity to attend and give their input. Mr. Biddle asked if another CRA meeting could be scheduled on January 9,2001 so that action could be taken before the Hospital Board meets again. Ms. Halgren stated that they would like some clarification as to what the duties are of a CRA Board and since this property is in the CRA District they assumed the issue should go through this Board. • fl CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING DECEMBER 12, 2000 Page 6 City Manager Saunders stated that the CRA Board does not listen to land use questions, but if the issue comes before the CRA Board for a recommendation to the City Council, that is appropriate. Mr. Biddle stated that the Resolution states that the members of the City Council shall be the members of the CRA Board,but such members constitute the head of a legal entity, separate, distinct and independent from the governing body of the City Council of the City of Clermont. Mr. Biddle stated that Council Members need to remember that they are sitting on this CRA Board and it is separate from the City Council. Mr. Biddle stated that when this issue is noticed, regardless of how Council Members individually feel about the issue, if they are going to enforce the redevelopment plan, they should be looking for things that will add to the tax base and create funding for the CRA. Mr. Biddle stated that Kissimmee's and Mt. Dora's CRA Boards accomplish great things, and this Board needs to be an acting body, not just meet twice a month and listen to reports. Mr. Halgren stated it was time for the Board to make some policy and not just spend money. Mr. Porter stated that the church owns their property and has expanded their property several times in the past few years. Mr. Porter stated that some of the property in the CDBG District should go to development. Mr. Porter stated that he supports many not for profit organizations and they all have important roles in the community, but should be placed in areas that are easily accessible to those citizens who need those support organizations, and that the downtown area is not the best area. Ms. Renick stated that she, as well as everyone else is confused as to the roll of the CRA Board and she would like to see a workshop where everyone can present their opinions and options. Mayor Turville stated that the City Council will only have input into this proposal as far as the Conditional Use Permit process is concerned, and will not be the ones deciding who the tenants will be. Mayor Turville stated he is not comfortable sending a letter to CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING DECEMBER 12, 2000 Page 7 the hospital suggesting that they not make a deal with the Church since as Council Members they will be reviewing the CUP. Mr. Porter stated that they are asking the CRA Board to send a letter to the hospital requesting they reconsider entering a deal with the Church,because that is the role of the CRA Board, and they are asking the CRA Board to do its job and protect the interests of the CRA District. Mr. Porter stated that as City Council Members they should not make recommendations to the Hospital,but as a CRA Board it is their job to make recommendations. CDBG-Report City Manager Saunders stated that the City is currently advertising for a CDBG Administrator and at the first meeting in January should have a recommendation of ranking of those firms. Mr. Saunders stated that he reviewed the contract the City has with Hartman&Associates, who did the preliminary Streetscape Plans, and it was bid in a way that allows the City to extend their contract to do the engineering plans. Mr. Saunders stated that this will save several months in time and hopefully the negotiated price proposal can be brought before the City Council in January so that we can move ahead with the detail design. A motion was made by CRA Member Halgren, seconded by Council Member Biddle, and carried unanimously to authorize City Manager Saunders to negotiate an extension of the contract with Hartman &Associates for detailed plans for the Streetscape. City Manager Saunders confirmed to Mr. Biddle that there should be a meeting with the Partnership and Main Street as soon as possible after Hartman & Associates is on board. Rose Biddle asked for the appropriate way for requests to be put on the agenda for CRA Cu.) Board meetings. Mayor Turville stated that the request should indicate if it is an action item, so that the public will be advised. A 2 p (...) CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING DECEMBER 12, 2000 Page 8 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. .--- .....A"..05...-- _..._..ar_"wr-r..41P. (1) r Haro d S. Turville`r. Attest: 4- Joseph E. Van City Clerk - C)