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07.23.2024 - CRA MinutesCity of Clermont MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) MEETING MINUTES July 23, 2024 CALL TO ORDER The Community Redevelopment Agency met on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 in the Clermont City Council Chambers. Chair Murry called the meeting to order at 6:00pm with the following Board Members present: Board Members Merrick, Gonzalez, Pines, and Howard. Other City officials present were City Manager Bulthuis and City Clerk Howe. Board Members Myers and Crawford were absent. AGENDAITEMS Item No. 1— Meeting Minutes Board Member Pines moved to approve the meeting minutes from April 23. 2024. Seconded by Board Member Gonzalez. Passed unanimouslv 5-0 with all members present voicing ave. Item No. 2 — Grant Extension Request Development Services Director Henschel presented the item. The applicant, Mr. Evans, had applied for a $15,000.00 Building Code Assistance Grant in September 2023 for a building at 792 West Montrose Street. The grant stipulates that the project must be complete within 120 days. The project is to reconstruct the dilapidated upstairs living quarters and turn them into updated and code -compliant apartments. Mr. Evans signed the grant agreement on September 13, 2023. In the agreement, the project completion date was January 11, 2024. Mr. Evans did not meet the completion date and received two extensions from staff with a completion date of June 11, 2024. City staff received a formal request for an additional extension on July 18, 2024. Staff does not have the authority to approve another extension. The applicant is requesting the Community Redevelopment Agency Board grant an additional extension. The granting of an extension of this magnitude may set a precedent for future applicants to exceed the grant guidelines they agreed to when they applied. In that case, the timelines of the grant program become null. Staff suggested extending the Building Code Assistance Grant to 180 days. The magnitude of work done with these grants makes it harder to complete in the 120-day timeframe. The applicant, Mr. Evans, stated that he has had issues with his contractor. The project is near completion and they are working on the alarm system. Chair Murry opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Chair Murry closed the public hearing. Board Member Pines stated the applicants should receive a longer period with the work they are doing for the grant. Board Member Gonzalez inquired when the project would be fully complete. Mr. Evans stated that a 30-day extension would be enough time to finish and get final inspections. 0 City of Clermont MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) MEETING MINUTES July 23, 2024 City Manager Bulthuis stated that staff needs direction on how they would like to move forward with the timeframe for this grant. Staff recommends completion in 180 days with staff allowed to grant one 90-day extension. Chair Murry would like to see the extension be more than 90 days. Board Member Howard moved to extend the grant to August 23.2024. Seconded by Board Member Gonzalez. Passed unanimouslv 5-0 with all members present voicing ave. Discussion ensued on the length of the grant; how long staff can grant an extension. Board Member Howard moved to extend the grant length to 180 with a single extension by staff of 120 days. Seconded by Board Member Gonzalez. Passed unanimously 5-0 with all members present voicing ave. Item No. 3 — Contract Approval Deputy City Manager Davidoff presented this item. In order for staff to release money to Main Street, the Community Redevelopment Agency Board must approve a contract. This contract provides annual budgeted funding to Main Street to provide projects, initiatives, marketing and special events that promote downtown Clermont within the Community Redevelopment Agency District. The timeframe in item number two of the contract is not clear and staff spoke with Main Street regarding the timeframe. Staff recommends amending the language of item number two to state the following. "All funds provided by the CRA shall be obligated to be expended by Main Street by the end of the fiscal year. No later than six (6) months following the end of the fiscal year, Main Street shall provide to the CRA an audit review of the Main Street Program, year-end financial reports, detailed budget, and annual work plans." Board Member Gonzalez inquired to Main Street providing their strategic plan for next fiscal year. Deputy City Manager Davidoff stated that Main Street would be at the upcoming Community Redevelopment Agency workshop on Thursday to present their plan for the coming fiscal year. City Manager Bulthuis informed the board regarding a new law that goes into effect October 1, 2024. Each special district shall establish goals and objectives for each program and activity undertaken by the district, as well as performance measures and standards to determine whether the goals and objectives achieved. Moving forward the Community Redevelopment Agency Board will have to incorporate this language if they want to provide funds to Main Street. Chair Murry opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Chair Murry closed the public hearing. Chair Murry questioned receiving an audit from Main Street. The removal of the requirement of an audit from the contract for this year was a one-time removal. The requirement is in next year's contract. Board Member Gonzalez moved to approve the contract as amended. Seconded by Board Member Howard. Passed unanimouslv 5-0 with all members present voicing ave. City of Clermont MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) MEETING MINUTES July 23, 2024 Item No. 4 - Community Redevelopment Agency Budget Reallocation & Approval to Construct Parking Lot. City Manager Bulthuis stated that the Community Redevelopment Agency receives funds from the City of Clermont and Lake County and operates on 10 mills. The estimate for the current fiscal year is $784,000.00. The Community Redevelopment Agency Board approved a budget in October; staff is requesting to reallocate some of the funds. The board has $600,000.00 in reserves this fiscal year. Staff is recommending allocating these funds to Capital Outlay to construct a parking lot on Desoto, which is City property. There is space for 46 parking spots. Board Member Howard would like to table the item to be able to discuss the options for that land and look at other places for parking. City Manager Bulthuis stated that it is a half -acre property and it is the board's decision on how to move forward. There are funds to construct a parking lot if that is the decision. Board Member Merrick inquired if Main Street is in support of the parking lot. City Manager Bulthuis explained that the Community Redevelopment Agency Board is in complete control and determines the purpose and allocation of funds. Main Street is a separate legal entity; they can make recommendations. City Manager Bulthuis told the Board that staff is seeking approval of the amended budget with a hold on the $600,000.00 for the parking lot. Board Member Pines moved to approve the amended budget and table the parking decision until the workshop on Thursday. City Manager Bulthuis informed the board that the City Council has the decision on how to move forward with the property; the Community Redevelopment Agency Board decides on funding. Chair Murry inquired what happens to the reserves if not utilized this fiscal year. The funds will move to the next fiscal year. Board Member Howard would like to have a more in depth conversation regarding the different uses of the property along with the possibility of selling. City Manager Bulthuis explained that if the property is sold the funds would go to the City's budget and not the Community Redevelopment Agency. The motion failed for a lack of a second to the motion. Board Member Howard moved to table Item No. 4 until the next meetine_ . Seconded by Board Member Gonzalez Discussion ensued on when the next Community Redevelopment Agency will take place. The next meeting would be in October to set the budget for the next fiscal year. Discussion of this item will be at the next workshop. Passed unanimously 5-0 with all members present voicing ave. City of Clermont MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) MEETING MINUTES July 23, 2024 City Manager Bulthuis informed the board that the consultant that performed the downtown parking study would attend the workshop and present the findings. City of Clermont MINUTES COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) MEETING MINUTES July 23, 2024 ADJOURN: With no further comments, this meeting adjourned at 6:36 pm. APPROVED: Tim Murry, Chair ATTES Tracy Ackroyd Howe, MMC City Clerk