03-21-2017 Council Workshop City of Clermont
MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
March 21,201.7
The Clermont City Council met at a workshop on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, in the Council Chambers at
City Hall. Mayor Ash called the workshop to order at 6:30pm with the following Council Members
present: Council Members Mullins, Goodgame, Travis and Bates. Other City officials present were:
City Manager Gray and Acting City Clerk Noak.
Master Plan Update
City Manager Gray stated the Master Plan was the road map for the future design of the City for the next
5, 10, and possibly 20 years. The first project is the Victory Pointe stormwater project with$3.3 million
grant money provided to date. The financing plan will be presented in April 2017. The boat ramp will be
relocated adjacent to Lake Hiawatha Preserve and will allow room for expansion.
Capital Planning, Grants, and Projects Director Kinzler provided an update on the boat ramp, 8th Street
Entryway with signage and lighting, city limit signs, downtown restrooms, Legacy Loop, the Montrose
and Minneola Streetscaping project, and Meet Us in the Middle.
City Manager Gray noted the City is working on additional signage and monument signs on the trail near
the Orange County line. Staff is working on a parking plan for the Downtown area.
Community Theater
City Manager Gray commented Nick Jones requested to approach the City Council on a Community
Theater.
_ Nick Jones; Architect,presented a plan for a community theater on the waterfront through the use of grant
funds and project owners, with the City being the landlord. The theater would operate on Friday and
Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoons. The theater would have an open air stage and the facade would
face West Avenue.
Council consensus was to have the theater remain at the current location on Montrose Street and assist
with finding grants and partnership arrangements for building improvement funding.
Clermont Downtown Partnership -
City Manager Gray commented a meeting had been held with the downtown merchants regarding the
Clermont Downtown Partnership events such as the Farmers Market and Food Truck Friday. Ron Smart
and Dave Guess; Clermont Downtown Partnership,are present.
Mayor Ash noted the downtown business owners felt they were being excluded from these events due to
the location of the events and the placement of the barricades. The majority of the events are on
Montrose Street only and the same business owners benefit from every event. Mayor Ash suggested
changing the location closer to the waterfront and asked for improvement suggestions to be sent to the
City Council.
Ron Smart stated the Clermont Downtown Partnership has taken steps to improve and expand the events
since becoming aware of the concerns.- The events need to attract more vendors to extend the event.area
and they are working on developing a plan.
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City of Clermont
MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
March 21,2017
Downtown business owners, vendors, and the public presented comments, suggestions, and concerns of
the Farmers Market and First Friday events:
The ability to have a booth if you are a Clermont Downtown Partnership member.
Attendees not wanting to walk far in the heat.
Having to close the business during the Farmers Market.
Moving the food trucks to Minneola Avenue.
The culture created by the Clermont Downtown Partnership.
Lack of acceptance of improvement suggestions.
Placing the barricades where there are no business store fronts.
City Council commented on the confusion of city and non-city events, suggested providing a list of all the
store locations at the barricades, and suggested providing a map of the downtown stores.
Ron Smart commented the Clermont Downtown Partnership was open to suggestions. The Clermont
Downtown Partnership Board is dedicated to solving the concerns. Funds for the event is limited.
Public Works/Police Department Update
There was no discussion.
The workshop adjourned at 8:38pm.
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