Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.04.2025 - City Council Meeting (2)City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP February 4, 2025 CALL TO ORDER The City Council met in a workshop session on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at the Clermont City Center. Mayor Murry called the workshop to order at 5:17 pm with the following Council Members present: Council Members Howard, Strange, and Myers Other City officials present were Interim City Manager Van Wagner, Interim City Attorney Waugh, and City Clerk Howe. Absent — Council Member Petersen AGENDA ITEMS Item No. 1— Boathouse Agreement Council Member Strange said she would like to start with high level policy. Council needs to discuss the vision for the community. The City endures the most of the cost of recreation in south Lake County, which benefits the residents in the surrounding Cities, or the County. Recreation programs are always subsidized but Council needs to establish the level of subsidizing. Mayor Murry stated that the first item is the boathouse agreement which needs to be discussed. Council Member Strange said that Council granted a six-month extension on their contract. There are two directions in which she feels Council can move forward with the Boathouse, an economic development driver or Parks and Recreation. Lake County Rowing is a club and should have the same contract terms as other clubs within the City and be managed through Parks and Recreation. If Lake County Rowing is an economic development, then that is a bigger discussion and Lake County perceives that the City owes them money that was provided from the Tourism Development Council when Lake County Rowing went into the Boathouse. She has heard from two wakeboarding associations, sailing association, and approached to do a nature study program at Victory Point so there is interest from others. Council needs to have a discussion about the highest and best use of the property for the citizens of Clermont. Mayor Murry explained that to him this contract was routine. Lake County Rowing is a club and has been since they first came to the City. The prior City Manager was having conversations regarding the contract. The terms they spoke about were $1,000 a month and three percent automatic increase per year, the rest of the contract was basic. He would like to see a ten-year contract at $1,000.00 per month since the boathouse was built for the Rowing Club. Discussion ensued on the funds received from the Tourism Development Council and sending out a request for proposal to explore the opportunities at the Lakefront. Make it easier to attract people to this area and help facilitate a Water Sports Park in that area. 1 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP February 4, 2025 Council Member Howard said he had a conversation with the President of the Rowing Club and Parks and Recreation Director Forman. His concern is if we will have to return the funds to Lake County for the funds received from the Tourism Development Council when the Boathouse was built for the Rowing Club. He prefers to have the Rowing Club stay in the Boathouse, and suggested creating a small group to work through this contract and return to Council. Lake County Commissioner Smith, Chairman of the Tourism Development Council stated that the atmosphere of the Tourism Development Council has changed over the last few years. The current board thinks differently than the previous board. The Tourism Development Council is focused on active tourism and rowing is an up and coming sport in the State of Florida. They have a meeting with SRA to promote Lake County for regional and national rowing competitions and would love it to be here in Clermont. $20 million in economic impact. Commissioner Smith hopes an agreement can be made regarding the Boathouse, there needs to be a long venture with whoever will take that over. The boathouse can be a huge economic driver for the City and County. Clermont is helping the community and kids; it is not all about the money. Mark Vantrease, Lake County Rowing Association, reviewed the partnership of the Rowing Club, Lake County and the City. He provided a timeline from the creation of the Boathouse to current along with the funding program and the impact the Rowing Association has had on Clermont and Lake County. He spoke about youth and adult rowing and bringing different groups to the area. Discussion ensued on the docks by the Boathouse and if they are public accessed docks, which they are, along with the timeframe of the year when the Rowing Association is not able to utilize the Boathouse because of water conditions. There was discussion regarding tourism and the desire and vision of the Lake County Rowing Association for the future. Council spoke about the small group to review the contract and next steps along with what success looks like and how that translates to a financial function of the City. Mayor Murry left the workshop at 6:50pm and passed the gavel to Mayor Pro Tern Myers. Mayor Pro Tern Myers opened public comment. Dani Page, Tuscany Ridge — spoke about the contract with Lake County Rowing Association. Mayor Pro Tern Myers closed public comment. Item No. 2 —1146 Lake Minneola Drive / Clermont Multihull Association Adam Atherton, Clermont Multihull Association stated that their request is to move to a new space down the Lakefront. They have looked at the space between the fence and the Boathouse previously and have held Regattas in that space. Council Member Howard stated that their current space has a lot of debris and all they are doing is moving to a new space that is better suited for their needs. N City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP February 4, 2025 Mr. Atherton informed Council of all the association does and that there is a Sailing Regatta coming February 21-23, 2025 and invited everyone to attend. Council Member Howard explained that this was a brief overview and the item will return before Council. Item No. 3 — Parks and Recreation Discussion No further comments. Item No. 4 — Other No further comments. ADJOURN: With no further comments, this workshop adjourned at 7:03pm. ATTEST: �:z Tracy Ackroyd Howe, MMC City Clerk 4 i Y° N #x APPROVED: r Tim Murry, Mayo 3