08-13-1999 Minutes Clermont Main Street
Meeting Minutes for August 13, 1999
The Mulberry Inn
Board members present:Robert Porter,Jeff Biddle,Donna Covert,Sandy Lawson,Chris
Giachetti,Mary Jackson,Jim Simon,Louise Stockton,Bill Thompson and Wayne Turner.
Others present: Barbara Hollerand and Russell Lawson.
Jeff Biddle opened the meeting at 8:35 a.m. and asked for approval of the July 7, 1999 meeting
minutes. The motion was made by Chris Giachetti and seconded by Jim Simon. Motion passed.
Mr. Biddle gave a recap of the August 10 Community Redevelopment Agency meeting in which
the CRA voted to give Clermont Main Street$10,000 out of its current budget of$15,000. Mr.
Biddle said the CRA expects about$35,000 in increment for the next year— as opposed to just
$15,000 this year— and that Clermont Main Street could ask for an additional$10,000 when the
new funding is in place,sometime after January. Mr. Biddle said Clermont Main Street also has a
grant request in with South Lake County Community Foundation for$20,000. Successful appli-
cants in that program will be notified September 30.
Sandy Lawson, treasurer of Clermont Main Street,asked whether a bank account had been set
up for the organization. Mr.Biddle said he and Wayne Turner had spoken about setting up an
account with Peoples State Bank. Mr. Turner had agreed to furnish an account for the organiza-
tion at no charge.
Mr. Biddle said the articles of incorporation for Clermont Main Street had been filed with the
state. Mr. Biddle also informed the board that a joint CRA/Downtown Clermont Partnership
workshop on the streetscape status was scheduled for Tuesday,Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. Mr. Biddle said
the construction drawings for the streetscape would be between$30,000-$40,000,with about
$20,000 to come from the infrastructure fund. The remainder of the infrastructure fund—
$60,000— is slated for parking improvements. Mr. Biddle said he would have preferred that the
public contribution to Clermont Main Street come from the city's general fund, and not the CRA,
since the streetscape drawings would also need to be paid for out of this next year's increment.
The board next discussed the sponsorship levels for Clermont Main Street. Mr. Biddle reported
that when the board's Executive Committee met Aug. 3, members had discussed modeling
Clermont's sponsorship levels after those in Leesburg,but with a few modifications. A platinum
level was set at$2,500; gold at$1,000; silver at$500;business at$250;family at$100; and indi-
vidual at$50.
Mary Jackson recommended that Clermont Main Street have a$100 minimum. Mr. Giachetti
recommended that there be a diamond-level sponsorship of$5,000 for a supporter that wanted
to stand out.
Mr. Simon moved approval on the executive committee's recommendation of sponsorship levels,
with the inclusion of the diamond-level sponsorship at$5,000. Ms. Lawson seconded, and the
motion passed.
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Ms. Lawson said the next step would be to create a brochure highlighting the sponsorship op-
portunities. The board agreed to grant a$25 discount to any Downtown Clermont Partnership
member on any sponsorship level. Ms.Jackson asked about a chamber member discount,but
after some discussion, the board decided that too many discounts would add confusion. Mr.
Simon moved approval that only the Downtown Clermont Partnership members receive a$25
discount, and Ms.Jackson seconded the motion. Motion approved.
Mr. Giachetti suggested Clermont Main Street could boost the number of sponsors right away by
having board members speak at the meetings of local groups and organizations. Mr. Biddle said
a few groups— including Kiwanis,Lions and Rotary — had already been reached,but that it was
a good idea to continue that approach. Louise Stockton said it would be a good idea to send a
general reminder each year to all sponsors,reminding them of their commitment.
Mr. Giachetti said he would reach the Elks;Howard Stockton could be asked to talk to the Lions;
Mr. Biddle could be the contact for the morning Kiwanis group;Robert Porter could reach the
noon Kiwanis;and Mr. Simon could contact Rotary.
Barbara Hollerand and Mr. Porter agreed to work on a brochure. Mr.Porter said he would con-
tact Richard at Appletree Ink. Mr. Biddle said he would find out if South Lake Hospital's graph-
ics department might be willing to design a Clermont Main Street logo. Drafts of both the bro-
chure and logo might be possible for the next meeting.
Mr.Porter mentioned Clermont Main Street Minute,the newsletter that debuted in August.His
office is picking up the postage until the organization is in a position to take over.
Mr. Biddle said The Mulberry Inn could be the location of a Clermont Main Street fundraiser,like
a$25/plate fish fry.
Mr. Porter will check with attorney Julia Law on the timing of not-for-profit status and whether
supporters can take advantage of the tax-exempt status right away on their donations.
The board then discussed having Clermont Main Street sponsor the Friday portion of Light Up
Clermont in December (the chamber of commerce would be responsible for the rest). Ms.Jackson
explained the types of activities that have been part of this event in the past. Mr. Turner moved
approval of the sponsorship, and Bill Thompson seconded. Motion approved.
Mr. Biddle told the board that Clermont Main Street might be able to get the old chamber photo-
copier. The chamber is asking the city for help in purchasing a reconditioned unit,and should
that go through, it could pass its old one on to Clermont Main Street. Mr. Porter said he could
house the photocopier at his office, should it become available.
The board then discussed subsequent meeting times and dates. Those in attendance indicated
that the first Friday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at The Mulberry Inn was acceptable.The next
meeting was then set for Friday,Sept. 3 at 8:30 a.m. at the inn.
Mr.Giachetti mentioned that the Elks were interested in making their building downtown more
accessible to the community. Community organizations, if sponsored by an Elk,could make use
of the 150-seat meeting space and its commercial kitchen. It would be a good place for a
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fundraiser. Ms.Jackson said it might be a good place for a general Main Street meeting.
/', Ms. Lawson said the board needs to identify what you get in return for your sponsorship. The
board talked about getting a"Main Street Corner" in the chamber's newsletter. Mr. Thompson
suggested that Clermont Main Street join the chamber. Mr.Porter moved approval of this sug-
gestion, and Mr. Thompson seconded. Mr. Porter said he would front the$50 membership dues.
Mr. Giachetti suggested that all new members of Clermont Main Street be mentioned in the
newsletter. He also suggested creating a prominent sign featuring members' names and placing it
somewhere downtown. This would create peer pressure and would result in more memberships.
Ms.Jackson said that there also was a need to redo the downtown sign located on Highway 50
and Eighth Street.
Ms.Jackson moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 a.m. Mr. Porter seconded and motion passed.