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08-25-2015 Regular Meeting City of Clermont MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING August 25, 2015 The Clermont City Council met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 in the Clermont City Center. Mayor Ash called the meeting to order at 6 30pm with the following Council Members present Council Members Mullins, Bates, Goodgame, and Travis Other City officials present were City Manager Gray, City Attorney Mantzans, and City Clerk Ackroyd INVOCATION Pastor David Jean gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. REPORTS City Manager Gray—No report City Attorney Mantzans—No report. Council Member Bates reported the Office of Greenways and Trails will conduct open forums seeking comments from the public for new opportunity maps for a new trail system. The closest meeting to Clermont will be held in Winter Garden on September 17, 2015 at 4pm. Council Member Goodgame commented the Metropolitan Planning Organization will meet in Leesburg on August 26, 2015 to discuss upcoming roads,transportation needs,and funding Council Member Mullins—No report Council Member Travis—No report Mayor Ash reported she attended the Central Florida Leadership meeting consisting of a Mayor and County Commissioner from each county. She represented the Lake County cities and Lake County Commissioner Campione represented Lake County The purpose of the meeting was to work together and plan the growth for the Central Florida area. The group will meet bi-monthly CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Ash advised the next item on the Agenda for consideration was the Consent Agenda and requested anyone wishing to have any item pulled for discussion to please come forward at this time Item No. 1 —Meeting Minutes Consider request to approve minutes of the May 12, 2015 and May 26,2015 Regular Council meeting. 1 City of Clermont MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING August 25, 2015 Item No. 2—Surplus Request Consider approval to declare end of life inventory as surplus from Environmental Services Department and Fire Department and dispose of in accordance with the Purchasing Policy. Surplus property is anticipated to be sold for approximately$45,000. Item No.3—Assignment of Interlocal Agreement Consider approval of agreement with Lake County Shenff department to provide Animal Control Services Item No.4—Event Request Consider event and open container request to continue the First Fnday Food Truck/Music on Montrose on the First Fnday of each month Council Member Goodgame moved for approval of the Consent Agenda, seconded by Council Member Mullins.'The motion passed with all members present voting aye. Mayor Ash read a statement addressing the meeting procedures UNFINISHED BUSINESS City Clerk Ackroyd read Ordinance 2015-73 and Resolution 2015-26 aloud by title only Item No. 5—Ordinance No. 2015-73 An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Clermont, Lake County, Flonda providing for the establishment of a fire service non-ad valorem assessment; providing for severability; providing for repeal of ordinances in conflict, and providing for codification and an effective date. Item No. 6—Resolution No.2015-26 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Clermont, Lake County, Flonda, providing for the approval of the levy of non-ad valorem assessments on certam benefitted properties within the City of Clermont for the purpose of providing high quality Fire Rescue and Basic Life Support Services to the benefitted properties; providing for consideration of certain technical reports and data recommending a method of levying said assessments'and determining benefits are in proportion to each property's assessment; providing for legislative findings; providing for adoption of an assessment roll; providing for a public heanng to be held on August 25, 2015; providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. Mayor Ash read a statement aloud addressing the City's population growth, expansion of City provided services, mcreased staffing needs, and a histoncal account of the deficit 2 City of Clermont MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING August 25,2015 City Manager Gray noted the Fire Assessment Fee process began in September 2014 when the General Fund budget was approved with a deficit of approximately $1 2 million The deficit was expected to continue and staff began researching other revenue alternatives. The Fire Rescue Services Assessment Fee was the only additional revenue source the City could implement. The City Council authonzed the consulting firm Tindale Oliver to perform a study to determine the methodology and rate schedule for an annual Fire Rescue Services Assessment. The firm presented the study at the Council meeting on June 23, 2015 and the Council workshop on July 23, 2015 The City Council approved a preliminary Fire Rescue Services Assessment Rate Schedule on July 28, 2015, which served as the basis for the assessment notices sent to residents over the past several weeks Finance Director Van Zile provided a report on the proposed Fire Rescue Services Assessment He reviewed the General Fund history since 2010 Mr. Van Zile reported on the proposed Fiscal Year 2016 budget, deficit analysis, revenue, reserves, and expenditures The options presented to balance the deficit included using reserves, mcreasing the property tax millage rate, or adopting a Fire Rescue Services Assessment The City's millage rate of 3.729 is the lowest in Lake County for a full service City The Fire Assessment would be charged to all property owners in the City in a manner that fairly and reasonably distnbutes the cost of Fire Rescue Services among all properties The Fire Assessment Rate was calculated based on a combination of call data within land use categories, duration of calls, and the size of the assessable property. Fire assessments provide a more diversified and reliable funding source for the City and stability for the residents. The fire assessment would be included on the resident's property tax bills received in November 2015 Finance Director VanZile reviewed three options of the proposed rates for residential and commercial properties. The proposed rate options included exemptions only for properties owned by Federal, State, and Local governmental agencies The Institutional category proposed rate options were based on a 50% reduction in the assessment amount for Institutional properties exempt from ad valorem taxation under Flonda law. City Manager Gray noted staff requested the City Council adopt Ordinance 2015-73 and Resolution 2015-26 to include: An assessment rate structure based on the single-family residential amount of$82.13 An exemption for property owned by Federal, State and Local governments. A reduction of 50 percent for an Institutional property owner exempt from ad valorem taxation under Flonda law. Staff also recommended the rolled back rate of 3 5 for the millage rate. The public heanngs for the budget and millage rate will be held in September The consultants from Tindale Oliver were present to answer any questions. Council Member Bates asked if the assessment for vacant land was the same regardless of parcel size Steve Tindale stated the rate was assessed to useful land parcels regardless of size Council Member Goodgame inquired if parking lots were considered vacant land. Steve Tindale commented parking lots were typically listed under the same ownership with the associated structure. 3 City of Clermont MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING August 25, 2015 Mayor Ash asked if the options presented could be split Mr Tindale responded choosing vanous options to use would take away from the proof of benefit and methodology Council Member Travis inquired how exempting the Institutional classification would affect the other classification rates. Steve Tindale stated it would not be legal to place a burden on other classifications by exempting a classification Council Member Mullins asked how the study was conducted. Mr. Tindale responded the study was conducted using five years of Clermont Fire Department call data The data showed commercial properties use more fire services than residential properties. Council Member Bates clanfied the fee was only for people living in the City City Manager Gray concurred. Mayor Ash opened the public heanng The following spoke in opposition of implementing a fire assessment fee Hope Lamb, Steven Elmore, Chris Walker, Ben Bond, Charlene Forth, Bob Peraza, Jim Hall, Greg Homan, Mark Montanaro, Jim Purvis, Alfred Outlaw, Chris Jenkins, Willie Montgomery, Ed Augustine, Dennis Horton, Joe Zagame, Tammy Hammond, Bnan Hammond, Hal Turville Jr, Louis Levine, Wayne Weatherbee, Gary Moss,Terry Pitt, Phillip Hams, Aaron Blake, Amanda Hoang, Dr Paul Sorchy, Eileen Patterson, Tom Sheenan, Brenda Walker, Tim Murry, Rick VanWagner, Ginger Martin, and Norma Tnvelli. Mayor Ash closed the public hearing. Mayor Ash recessed the meeting at 9:19pm. Mayor Ash reconvened the meeting at 9:44pm. City Manager Gray commented the budget initially began with a $4 million deficit and was cut significantly. The Institutional portion of the Fire Assessment Fee accounts for only 7% of the total assessments and Fire Assessment Fees can only be used for fire expenses The City has limited options for revenue sources and the Fire Assessment is a revenue source other municipalities have used. The property at the Arts and Recreation Center became available after the visioning sessions and was purchased for pennies on the dollar. The facility is used by the seniors and the City partnered with the Boys and Girls Club to operate youth programs. Staff is researching and determining how to fund the facility through the implementation of user fees. The Clermont Rowing Boathouse was funded through a grant and is operated by the Lake County Rowing Association City Manager Gray stated the Champions Splash Park is self supporting. Finance Director Van Zile stated 94% of the General Fund contains operating and personal services expenses, which are annual reoccurnng expenditures He stated additional cuts would involve reducmg personal services and cutting new positions Council Member Bates stated he was opposed to a Fire Assessment Fee after hearing public comments 4 City of Clermont MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING August 25, 2015 Council Member Goodgame thanked the public for attending and spoke m opposition of imposing a Fire Assessment Fee He stated he was opposed to assessing churches and commented the City should use reserve funds to balance the budget Council Member Mullins spoke in favor of using reserve funds, imposing a Fire Assessment Fee, and rolling back the millage rate to balance the budget He commented the City could no longer continue to solely use reserve funds to balance the budget Council Member Travis expressed concern regarding assessing the fee for commercial buildings based on square-footage and not on the value. She commented on pnor Council's actions over the years regarding the budget and spoke in favor of balancing the budget without a Fire Assessment Fee Mayor Ash commented on pnor Council's decisions regarding the budget, property purchases, and other amenities. She spoke in opposition of imposing a Fire Assessment Fee due to the impact on small businesses Council Member Bates moved to deny Ordinance 2015-73; seconded by Council Member Goodgame. The motion passed 4 to 1 on a roll call vote with Council Member Mullins opposing. Council Member Bates moved to deny Resolution 2015-26; seconded by Council Member Goodgame.The motion passed with all members present voting aye. ADJOURN: With no further comments,this meeting was adjourned at 10:18pm. r A, , APPROVED: r , .Adal/A4‘fat-Z9 •� Gail L. Ash,Mayor f ATTEST: /Ji Tracy Ac oy:, City Cle�,��� 5