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02-13-2001 CRA Meeting c) CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING February 13, 2001 Page 1 A Community Redevelopment Agency meeting of the City of Clermont was held Tuesday, February 13, 2001 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, and Gordon Halgren. Also present were City Manager Saunders and Deputy City Clerk Studdard. Minutes A motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member Biddle and carried unanimously, to approve the Minutes of the CRA Meeting held on December 12, 2000 Downtown Clermont Partnership-Report Debbie Carlucci gave a report of the Downtown Clermont Partnership. She began by thanking City Manager Saunders and Council Members for allowing the closing of streets for the events. She stated that it was instrumental in obtaining liability insurance, which required stricter guidelines. Ms Carlucci stated that the Downtown Clermont Partnership has also applied for Articles of Incorporation and will soon be incorporated Main Street-Report Rose Biddle gave the Main Street report. She stated that Main Street submits a quarterly report to the State. She stated that the Newsleader's edition of South Lake -Then&Now shows that the Main Street Program is working as a community effort. Ms. Biddle reported that there have been 533 volunteer hours contributed to the program, 6 new businesses have started in downtown and 6 area businesses have relocated to downtown, while 56 new jobs have been created in the area and approximately$549,000.00 spent in private rehabilitation in the downtown area. She stated that the they were very excited with these numbers since they show that there is progress and the program is working. n CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING February 13, 2001 - Page 2 Ms. Biddle reported that next Wednesday and Thursday, February 21 and 22, 2001, the Florida Main Street Program Resource Team will be interviewing merchants and key public officials locally. Ms. Biddle stated that she would talk later with the Council regarding these interviews and that on Thursday, February 22, 2001, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Jenkins Auditorium, the Resource Team will be presenting their recommendations based on their findings as to what they believe our needs are as a Main Street organization. She stated that the public is welcome to attend this meeting. Ms. Biddle then reported that the efforts of the Design Committee for the Main Street Program to repaint the sign at 8th Street and State Road 50 has been a success thanks to the donations and the efforts of the Brush Brothers. She stated that they had some merchants trim back some crepe myrtle trees and move others in order to make the signage more visible from both directions. They are also looking at alternatives in regard to signage, Jeff Barrett has looked into lighting and found that it would be too expensive to go over the road. The Sign Committee is also working with the Board of Directors on Monday, February 19, 2001 to do some landscape work and planting at the sign at 8th Street and State Road 50 and at Montrose Street. They are also working toward the continuing development of the Downtown Historic Ordinance that they will present to the Board of Directors and then the City Council in the near future. The Promotions Committee is working on a project called `Quarters for Clermont'. This program will be all around the Clermont area in efforts to develop and raise funds for some projects such as a fountain at Center Lake, landscaping and trees and other projects to help beautify downtown. On Saturday, March 17, 2001 the Clermont Main Street Program will have its first major fundraiser, called `Sharing of the Greens' to be held at The Legends Golf Course. She welcomed all participation. Following the tournament will be the community St. Patrick's Day party at The Pier House restaurant, from 3:00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. C) CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING February 13, 2001 Page 3 On Wednesday, February 28, 2001, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., there will be approximately 100 Model T cars coming into downtown on their cruise. The Main Street Program hopes to secure some special parking near the restaurants downtown because they want to eat and shop here. She encourages the public to come down to take photos and be a part of this event. CDBG-Update City Manager Saunders gave his report He stated that we have received approval from DCA to utilize Fred Fox Enterprises as our Administrator for the Block Grant. Mr. Fox has already started on some of the paperwork. We are continuing with the groundwork for the Block Grant at this time. Mr. Saunders reported that we have also received approval to extend the Hartman& Associates contract if we wish in order to do the design work for the Streetscape. Hartman is the group that did the preliminary plan for the Streetscape that we submitted with the Grant proposal to DCA. City Manager Saunders recommended continuing with Hartman since Hartman already has this work in their system, otherwise we must go back through the process. He stated that he would be talking with the Council later on the subject, but that the good news is that we do not have to start over if we stay with Hartman. If we do go with Hartman, the first thing to do would be set up a meeting with representatives of the Main Street Program and the Downtown Clermont Partnership (particularly the design committee) in order to get input on some of the specifics. We must stay close to the preliminary design that was submitted,but there are a lot of details to be decided We could be ready to go under construction by November, but it would be best after the winter to be the least disruption to the merchants of downtown. Mayor Turville asked if the fact that Hartman&Associates had done other work for us as well would enhance our position in negotiations on this addition to their services. City Manager Saunders stated that he believed it would. C) fl CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARING February 13, 2001 Page 4 Rose Biddle asked when the construction was scheduled to commence on the new City Hall and what the projected time frame was for completion. City Manager Saunders stated that construction should begin at the end of this summer and the duration of construction is 12 to 14 months. City Manager Saunders stated that he has received a letter from South lake Hospital Y g p 7th donating the old lighted sign from the corner of 7 Street and State Road 50. He stated g g t� that he would like to meet with the Downtown Clermont Partnership and the Main Street Program to get ideas on how best to utilize this donation. � J Mr. Halgren asked if the CRA meeting time would be changed due to the regular City Council meeting time changing to 7:00 p.m. City Manager Saunders stated that the time could be changed from meeting to meeting to suit the agenda. Mr. Halgren stated that he would like a workshop meeting to discuss CRA issues regarding policies and procedures at length without the time constriction. City Manager Saunders stated that he would try to set that up. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. ayor Harold S. Turville, Jr. Attest: Jo ph E. Van Zi , City Clerk