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Minutes - 11.21.2021 - CRA MeetingCity of Clermont MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 9, 2021 CALL TO ORDER The Community Redevelopment Agency met on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 in the Clermont City Council Chambers. Chair Murry called the meeting to order at 6:00pm with the following Board Members present: Board Members Pines, Entsuah, Bates, Purvis, Grogan and Powell. Other City officials present were Acting City Manager Davidoff, City Attorney Mantzaris, and City Clerk Howe. AGENDAITEMS Item No. 1— Meeting Minutes MOTION TO APPROVE the minutes of the meeting held on Se tember 28 2021 made by Board Member Purvis, Seconded by Board Member Bates. Passed unanimously with all members present voicing aye. Item No. 2 — Clermont Downtown Partnership Request Development Services Director Curt Henschel stated that he called the board together to consider a request from the Clermont Downtown Partnership (CDP) related to parking in the CRA district. He introduced Barbara Hollerand who is serving as the Executive Director of the Downtown Partnership. Barbara Hollerand, 13430 Rainbow Lane — Ms. Hollerand introduced herself to the Board as the Executive Director of the CDP and the newly reorganized Clermont Main Street Program. She informed the Council that the CDP's funding request is to help facilitate parking in the downtown area. The parking lot in question is located at the intersection of 7' Street and Minneola Ave. She informed the Board that when the lot was under a lease agreement with the City Council, it was the most utilized lot in the business district due to its central location. She reminded the Board that when the Council was presented with parking study done by Kittleson and Associates, the lot was one of the highest ranking as a good location for a parking garage. Ms. Hollerand informed the Board that the CDP board voted to enter into a lease agreement with the property owner that were according to the same terms that the city had. She told the Board that the CDP feels that this is a critical move as downtown businesses will be adversely affected when the streetscape of Montrose begins in January. This is the primary lot utilized by customers of businesses on Montrose Street. She informed the Board that the lot currently has sixty-four (64) paved and two (2) handicapped spaces, and the CDP believes that this will be enough for daily customer use. She further explained that the grass area of the lot would only be opened for use during special events and will not be made available for daily parking. Ms. Hollerand concluded her presentation and restated that that the CDP is requesting that the CRA Board vote to reimburse the CDP $1,000 per month for the costs associated with the lease. Chairman Murry opened the floor for comments from the public; seeing none, the floor was again closed. Board Member Bates asked how the CDP planned to handle maintenance of the lot. Ms. Hollerand responded that according to the lease agreement, they have to return the lot in the same condition that it was received. This is one reason why they are not opening the grass lot for daily use and reserving it for pedestrian type traffic. 1 City of Clermont MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 9, 2021 Board Member Purvis expressed concerns about spending $1,000 per month for 66 spaces. He was not sure if that is comparable. Board Member Bates agreed with Board Member Purvis stating that when the City had the lease, they were utilizing the grass area for additional parking. Ms. Hollerand pointed out that this is an opportunity to reclaim 64 spaces for the downtown area and that is valuable. Board Member Purvis stated that while the funds for the CRA are generated by downtown businesses, their allocation is controlled by the CRA Board. Ms. Hollerand reminded the Board that when the CRA was formed in 1997, the intent was that the funds generated by the CRA would go back into the CRA. With the amount of private investment in the downtown, the funds gave grown substantially, and the downtown businesses feel that this is an appropriate use of their funds. Board Member Purvis asked if the City assumes any liability for the property by approving this request. City Attorney Mantzaris stated that the City is excluded from the relationship between the CDP and the property owner, so no liability is assumed. Board Member Powell asked if the lease is for only the paved parking or the grass as well. Ms. Hollerand confirmed that the lease is for the entire lot, both paved and grass. The intent is to use the paved for daily use and reserve the grass for special event use. MOTION TO APPROVE the reimbursement request of 1,000 per month from the CRA fund to the CDP made by Board Member Bates,• Seconded by Board Member Pines. Passed unanimously with all members present voicing aye. 2 City of Clermont MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 9, 2021 ADJOURN: With no further comments, this meeting adjourned at 6:1 1pm. APPROVED: Tim Murry, &air ATTEST: Tracy Ackroyd Howe, MMC City Clerk