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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.16.26 - City Council Minutes City of Clermont MIN UTES CTTY COUNCIL WORKSHOP June 16,2026 CALL TO ORDER The City Council met in a workshop session on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in the Clermont City Center.Mayor Murry called the workshop to order at 3:00 pm with the following Council Members present: Council Members Strange, Bain, Myers and Petersen. Other City officials present were City Manager Van Wagner, Deputy City Manager Mntthys, City Attorney Waugh and City Clerk Howe. City manager Van Wagner provided the invocation. AGENDA ITEMS Item No_ 1 —ABA Ethos Shane Fernandez, President and Chairman of the American Bicycle Association provided an overview of their Visioning and Activation Plan,highlighting Clermont's opportunity to leverage its strengths in sports,recreation, trails, and quality of life to support future growth and economic development. He noted that the growth of athletes, events, and visitors is outpacing existing infrastructure and emphasized the need for intentional planning around sports tourism, parks, mobility, and connectivity while maximizing assets such as the National Training Center, parks, trails, and waterfront areas_ -rhe presentation also included an analysis o£Hancock Road and school connectivity, focusing on improving safety and access for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. He identified opportunities to enhance trail connections, activate waterfront and recreation areas, expand amenities, and create mixed-use destinations through strategic investments and partnerships to strengthen Clenaont's identity as a destination for sports, wellness, and community experiences. Mr_ Fernandez provided a draft copy of the Visioning and Activation Plan, noting that it was approximately 99 percent complete and that he would incorporate any final comments before providing the completed version to Council. Mayor Murry opened public comments. Michael Jocson, Clermont Business Owner- shared his support for expanding public access to athletic facilities, speciflcally proposing a community Olympic-size track to provide residents of all backgrounds the opportunity to train,improve health, and promote a healthier,more connected community_ Council Member Strange asked if track was the most impactful sport,and he responded that while it may not be the most impactful, it is one of the most accessible sports, providing a safe and free opportunity for residents and athletes to train and engage in the community. Aaron Blevins, resident—expressed strong support For expanding recreational and public facilities in Clermont, especially an indoor athletic and Seldhouse-style complex, emphasizing that future development should primarily serve local residents despite regional growth and tourism appeal. 1 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP June 16,2026 Anna Sinclair, 575 W. Minneola Avenue—thanked staff and council for the presentation,expressed interest in accessing the full report, and strongly supported expanding greenways and safe routes to school due to the benefits of children walking or biking to school for health and learning outcomes. Valerie Schuett, 931 W. Montrose Street - supported the Arts and Recreation Center mixed-use development, middle mile, waterfront activation, and greenway expansion, noting their potential to enhance quality of life, economic development, and creative planning for Clermont's growth. Brian Davis, Hancock Road—emphasized the need to improve and expand safe,connected bicycle and trail infrastructure in Clermont, including protected bike lanes and better-designed crossings, to increase accessibility to key destinations and support the city's growing recreational and business areas. David Santiago, Clermont Business owner — spoke about safety concerns regarding a-bikes and trails. Herman VanDenBogaert, South Lake Little League — requested faster maintenance and improvements to Little League baseball fields, noted safety concerns from field conditions, and expressed willingness to partner financially with the city to help upgrade facilities and prevent player injuries. Josh Castleman, resident—proposed creating a designated cycling training route from Waterfront Park along roads such as Hancock to support safer long-distance training for cyclists and triathletes and reduce conflicts with motorists. Bennett Curel, Clermont resident — supported the idea of a dedicated cycling training loop, emphasizing the need for safe, connected routes that can accommodate high-speed endurance training while separating recreational riders from faster athletes to improve safety for all users. Adam Narvaez, President of the Clermont Girls Fastpitch Softball league — discussed field maintenance challenges and contract limitations affecting park upkeep, concerns about scheduling and league eligibility requirements, willingness to assist with maintenance within liability constraints, and potential financial impacts from changes such as concessions affecting league revenue and participant access. Parks and Recreation Director Forman explained that the maintenance challenges were not budgetary but logistical due to the timing of The Spring Games and other scheduled activities. He also shared that the concession vendor evaluation process had not yet been completed, but the intent was to bring an option forward to Council that considers the revenue generated by the league. Mayor Murry closed public comments. Council discussed the need for additional parks, recreational fields, and amenities due to growth, including the potential use of synthetic turf to increase year-round field availability and reduce closures. 2 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP June 16,2026 Discussion also included the need for additional land acquisition,updated planning materials, and improvements such as parking and restroom facilities at recreational areas. Council addressed trail connectivity,walkability, and the growing use of different mobility options,including bicycles,e- bikes, and golf carts, with a focus on safety, education, and managing shared spaces. The group also discussed seasonal usage trends, the impact of weather and shade on activity levels, and the importance of better understanding the economic impact of recreational and endurance sports in the community. Council discussed the next steps for the Parks and Recreation assessment, including how the information should be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan and whether it should become a separate Parks Master Plan or serve as a supporting reference document. Staff noted that additional discussion is needed regarding the final format, but the plan is expected to help guide future projects, capital improvements, and budget decisions. Council emphasized the importance of ensuring the work moves forward and does not become a report that is not implemented,requesting timelines,priorities,and recommendations for items that could be addressed in the upcoming fiscal year. The City Manager suggested considering a continued consulting agreement with American Bicycle Association to maintain momentum, provide ongoing guidance, and ensure the recommendations continue to be evaluated and implemented. Discussion also included continuing the trail planning process, incorporating community feedback, identifying short-term and long- term initiatives, moving forward with field improvements, and exploring partnerships or funding opportunities with local sports organizations for maintenance and improvements. Council Member Myers left the meeting at 5:15pm. Mayor Murry recessed the workshop at 5:17pm. Mayor Murry reconvened the workshop at 5:30pin. Item No.2—Bishop Field Gary Kranston, Bentley Group, provided an update on the conceptual planning for improvements to Bishop Field. He explained that the project began as a potential renovation of the existing field facilities; however, after community feedback and additional discussions, the vision expanded to consider enhanced features and long-term improvements. The revised concept incorporated feedback received from the previous presentation, including larger dugouts, relocating restrooms closer to the seating area, improving the architectural appearance of the structures, adding space for a playground, and identifying areas for food trucks and potential sponsorship opportunities. 3 ler-77:;. City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP June 16,2026 Mr. Kranston noted that the current concepts focused on determining how improvements could fit within the existing site constraints, including addressing the location of the current bleachers, which extend beyond the property line. The team is preparing a construction budget that will outline base renovation costs along with additional options, such as a scoreboard, sponsorship features, and other enhancements. Artificial turf was discussed as a potential improvement, but it was identified as a significant additional cost. The next step will be developing a more detailed conceptual design based on the city's desired improvements and available budget. Council discussed the future vision for Bishop Field, including whether to preserve or replace existing structures due to safety, age, and accessibility considerations. Discussion focused on maintaining the historic character of the facility while addressing needed improvements,including the playing surface,with the consultant noting that the desired scope and vision for the project will determine future design options and costs. David Santiago, owner of Double Play in Clermont, spoke in support of revitalizing Bishop Field, describing it as a "forgotten gem" with significant potential. He shared his experience using the field for baseball and youth training programs and emphasized the benefits of converting the field to turf, noting improved playability during weather events and the opportunity to host larger events. He said that upgraded facilities could allow Clermont to attract collegiate summer baseball teams and other baseball opportunities,bringing additional visitors and activity to the area. Jorge Vazquez,head coach at Real Life,spoke in support of revitalizing Bishop Field, sharing that it has been their home field for the past five years but is currently difficult to use due to field conditions. He emphasized that improving the playing surface should be the first priority, noting that turfing the infield could be a more cost-effective option. He also expressed support for preserving the existing historic structure if possible and highlighted the potential for the facility to support high school programs, collegiate summer teams, and community use. Additional needs discussed included maintaining the clubhouse, improving storage, and involving teams in field maintenance. Potential grant opportunities and partnerships were also discussed as possible funding sources to help support future improvements and enhance the facility. Bennett Curel, Clermont resident- represented neighbors behind Bishop Field, expressed support for renovating the park but raised concerns about potential impacts on surrounding homes, including increased traffic, cut-through activity, parking changes, property values, and safety issues such as foul balls and lighting. Council acknowledged these concerns, noting past issues with stray balls and outdated or inefficient field lighting, and discussed the need for better safeguards and improved light management. 4 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP June 16,2026 Parks and Recreation Director Forman advised that field lights are controlled through a system that can be adjusted or shut off when not in use and provided a contact option for reporting lighting concerns. Valerie Schuett, 931 W. Montrose Street—spoke about Bishop Field as a key entrance to historic downtown and a valuable historic asset that should be enhanced rather than replaced. She noted that restoration may be complex and not always cheaper but could open additional grant opportunities if approached as both a community and historic redevelopment project. Discussion focused on safety and facility improvements for Bishop Field, with emphasis on reducing foul ball risks through netting and adding batting cages to improve practice conditions and player safety. Mr. Vaquez, Real Life head coach,noted the current field limitations,including unsafe ball retrieval across East Avenue and inadequate protective netting, and suggested expanding training infrastructure such as cages, bullpens, and potential technology upgrades like hit-tracking systems. Additional ideas included improving field amenities for tournaments and collegiate use, such as family viewing areas, food truck space, and enhanced spectator facilities. The discussion also referenced potential layout adjustments to accommodate these upgrades while improving safety, functionality, and overall usability of the park. Joseph Mercado, a Double Play coach and former minor league player, emphasized the need to upgrade Bishop Field to meet competitive playing standards, citing current issues with field conditions that have limited tryouts and higher-level use. He supported improvements such as better maintenance, batting cages, bullpen adjustments, and reconfigured spaces for players and families to better accommodate tournaments and collegiate-level play. Discussion focused on establishing a clear long-term vision for Bishop Field,with repeated themes around whether it should remain a community-based recreational baseball facility or be elevated into a higher-level competitive or showcase venue.Council discussed potential improvements such as upgraded dugouts, batting cages, netting, restrooms, safety enhancements, and possible field reconfiguration, while also noting ADA considerations and the financial and operational impact of such upgrades. Conversation centered on whether the city should consider a management agreement or outsourced operational model, similar to other public facilities,where a specialized group could help maintain and program the field while still preserving public access.While some supported this approach for its expertise and efficiency, others emphasized the importance of maintaining city control, ensuring equitable community use, and clearly defining contractual boundaries. Overall,there was agreement that Bishop Field has a strong historic role as a community baseball site used across youth, high school, and higher levels of play. While there is interest in both preserving that history and exploring upgrades that could bring more economic and regional impact,the main takeaway was that clearer direction is needed before moving forward with design or operational decisions. 5 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP June 16,2026 Council agreed to move forward with creating a focused ad hoc committee for Bishop Field made up of people with relevant experience in youth, high school, college, and professional baseball along with community stakeholders. The idea is for the committee to dig into the options, help refine the concepts that were discussed, and bring back clear recommendations to Council rather than trying to solve all the design and programming details at the Council level. Direction was given to staff to bring back an agenda item to formally establish the committee, including how it will be structured and how members will be selected. Staff were also asked to start the process of advertising and accept applications so appointments can be made at a future meeting. Council noted the desire to move forward quickly through upcoming agendas while still following the proper legal and procedural steps. Item No.3-Other Council discussed the two items that were tabled from the June 9 Council meeting, the proposed downtown stage and the Lake Felter turf project. On the stage, Parks and Recreation Director Forman provided updated cost information for rentals and production needs, noting ongoing annual expenses for setup and event support. Council discussed potential uses for downtown programming and event activation,but concerns were raised about safety, staging conditions, and possible conflicts with future downtown redevelopment and parking garage plans. Council expressed hesitation about moving forward with the stage at this time and ultimately agreed to table or pause the project until broader downtown decisions are made. Council showed support for moving forward with the Lake Felter turf project as a priority investment,with discussion noting high annual maintenance costs of natural fields versus upfront turf installation costs, along with potential long-term savings and increased year-round field availability.Direction was given to move the turf item forward on the next agenda for action,while the stage project will be delayed pending future review and coordination with other downtown planning efforts. 6 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP June 16,2026 ADJOURN: With no further comments, this workshop adjourned at 7:01 pm. w APPROVED: Ica N� Tim Murry, Ntayor T Tracy Ackroyd Howe, MMC City Clerk 46 7