02-29-2016 Council Retreat City of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL RETREAT
February 29, 2016—8 OOam
The following were present Mayor Ash, Council Members Travis, Mullins, Goodgame and Bates Other
officials present were City Manager Gray and City Clerk Ackroyd Howe
Mayor Ash noted the meeting was informal and no action would be taken
City Manager Gray provided an overview of the meeting agenda
Master Plan
City Manager Gray noted the process began three years ago with a senes of three visioning sessions The
City was re-branded and a new logo was designed GAI Consultants presented Council with a Master
Plan which included improvements to the Downtown Entryway, signage,way-finding signage, a wetlands
project,a green street project,and a switchback project
Victory Pointe
Environmental Services Director Roy provided information on Victory Pointe, formerly known as the
West Lake Wetlands Project Victory Pointe will link to Downtown Clermont and the other waterfront
venues,provide stormwater support,boost tounsm, and will be located in the center of the Coast-to-Coast
Connector
The Promenade
Parks and Recreation Director Davidoff presented the flagship project which will be called The
Promenade The Promenade will be terraced in a natural setting and will connect Downtown Clermont
with the waterfront, re-onent and diversify waterfront activities, provide outdoor dining opportunities,
and provide additional locations for special events, in a natural setting
Council suggested relocating trees opposed to removing them, consider installing water features which
can serve as additional seating space, consider traffic impact on West Avenue, and use 12`' Street as the
main entrance
The Green Street Project
Public Works Director Brunson provided information on The Green Street Project, formerly known as
Minneola Green Street, which will be located between Lake Avenue to the east and Victory Pointe to the
west The Project will improve stormwater management on Minneola Avenue, improve water quality,
improve roadway surface, curbing, lighting, and power lines, improve pedestrian safety, and connect the
waterfront to downtown Clermont The project is a companion project of the Promenade and the
Switchbacks
Council suggested renaming Minneola Street to Green Street,bnnging the trail through the shopping area,
piping music through an outdoor speaker system, and redirect water from the swale near County Road
561 for additional parking
1
City of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL RETREAT
February 29,2016—8 OOam
The Switchbacks Project
Communications Director Bloodsworth presented an overview of the Switchbacks Project The main
purpose is to draw cyclists and pedestnans from the trail and waterfront area into downtown Clermont
The project will branch off the South Lake Trail into downtown and back to the trail via 8`h Street or West
Avenue
Council suggested widening the trail, creating two-way traffic on the trail, and creating separate
pedestnan and cyclist traffic sections
Council consensus was for completion of the Switchbacks project in 2016
Downtown Gateway
Development Services Director Hollerand provided information on the Downtown Gateway Project,
ect
formally known as the Front Door Improvements Project The purpose is to attract Highway 50
commuters using a gateway feature, delineate the entranceway into Downtown, advertise upcoming
Downtown events, enhance the approaches to Downtown, and make improvements to Center Lake
Council suggested addressing the closed businesses on Highway 50, enhancing all entrances from East
Avenue to 12`h Street, lowering the 8`11 Street Gateway to fund enhancements at other entrances, and
enhance 5th Street to West Avenue first
Compass Project
Economic Development Director Hitt presented an overview of the Compass Project, also known as
Signage and Wayfinding The purpose is to provide signed directions to various destinations, improve
location identification of the Downtown and waterfront amenities, promote the Coast-to-Coast Trail, and
boost the Clermont "Choice of Champions" brand The signage on U S Highway 27 and Highway 50
will be a lengthy process with the Florida Department of Transportation
Council suggested increasing handicap parking, include parking spaces for expectant mothers and
mothers with children, extra signage on the trail,and removing remainder of old signs
City Manager Gray thanked Rick Corbin and Nancy Clutts with The Corbin Group for facilitating the
Visioning sessions
The retreat recessed at 9 39am and reconvened at 9 59am
Density Study
Development Services Director Hollerand presented the density study completed for the purpose of
determining the current density in the downtown area The Master Plan density study is 25 to 40 units per
acre and the City's current overall density is 12 units per acre
The Master Plan study covered a 19 block area in the core of 8th Street and 7th Street City staff studied
12`h Street to 5th Street, and from Lake Street to Highway 50 The study revealed the density is only 2 5
units per acre The Comprehensive Plan sets the density for the City and there is a need for an increase in
the core residential density to support the downtown businesses
2
City of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL RETREAT
February 29, 2016—8 OOam
The study examined in-fill sites, primary redevelopment sites, and explained what the vanous increased
densities would look like on the sites Multi-family developments were reviewed and vanous two-, three-
and four- story residential/retail housing developments were presented The goal is to reach a density of
25 units per acre
Economic Development Director Hitt commented increasing the density will create the need for
additional parking, and water, sewer, and stormwater needs would increase The Comprehensive Plan
and Land Development Code would require amendments for any density changes
Council suggested vaned building heights based on their distance from the waterfront, and establishing a
joint venture with the Elks Lodge for additional parking
Body Worn Cameras
Police Chief Broadway provided information_from an Orlando Police Department and University of
South Florida study regarding body worn cameras The study results showed a reduction in resistance
incidents, a reduction in senous external complaints, an improvement in officer and citizen behavior, an
improvement in evidence collection, report writing,p post incident review and training, and improved
community relations and increased transparency with the use of body worn cameras
The most popular body worn camera position is on the chest Data storage options include cloud storage
and server based storage Cloud based storage is more secure, has greater flexibility, greater data storage
capacity, lower cost, and no repairs on the part of the City
The pros of body worn cameras include strengthening police accountability, preventing confrontational
situations, more accurate record of officer-involved incidents and complaints, and improved agency
transparency The pros of using the Evidence corn storage system include no server costs, no Information
Technology staff costs, limited overtime costs, accessibility of video data, and the ability to store
additional digital evidence
The cons`of body worn cameras include pnvacy concerns, initial costs, annual data storage fees and
licensing, equipment upgrading,and redaction expenses
The Clermont Police Department tested and evaluated two body camera systems, Echo Body Camera by
Coban Technologies, and Axon Body 2 by Taser International The Echo Body Camera would include
fifty body cameras,two servers, shipping, technical support,two days of training,redaction software, and
a five-year contract of $85,538 The Axon Body 2 Camera would include fifty body cameras,
Evidence corn data storage, five-year contract pncing of$74,108 for the first year and $49,200 for the
remainder of the four-year contract, and redaction software The unlimited five-year contract option for
the Axon Body 2 Camera is $270,908 and includes all fees, equipment, and free upgrades every two
years Grant funding may be available to offset the costs for body worn cameras
Mayor Ash read a statement and provided information on a meeting with the Orlando Police Department
regarding body worn cameras The Orlando Police Department received a matching grant in the amount
of$497,000 for one year of information storage The cameras cost $1,200 each and included a docking
station for downloading videos Funds would need to be allocated for maintenance and replacement of
body worn cameras,and additional staffing would be required
3
City of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL RETREAT
February 29, 2016—8 OOam
Mayor Ash provided information on Clermont crime statistics reported in the Orlando Sentinel The
average was eight cnmes per week with only one excessive force complaint filed in 2015
Council consensus was for annually assessing the need for body worn cameras
The Retreat recessed at 11 04am and reconvened at 11 11 am
Code Enforcement
Development Services Director Hollerand reviewed the Code Enforcement process The City's Code
Enforcement Officers' issue violation notices with a compliance date In cases where the violation
continues beyond the set date, the violation is heard by the Code Enforcement Board and a fine amount is
ordered
In calendar year 2015 there were 3,000 complaints, 48 went to the Code Enforcement Board and many
met compliance before the fine began Cases which do not come into compliance can be brought back to
the Code Enforcement Board for a lien to be imposed Ms Hollerand reviewed the current outstanding
hens
Council Member Mullins asked of the guidelines for accessing a lien amount
City Attorney Mantzans stated staff provides a fine recommendation based on three factors, gravity of the
violation,cooperation of the owner,and prior violations The fines range from$100 to $250 per day
Council Member Travis inquired of using a Special Magistrate process
City Attorney Mantzans commented a Special Magistrate process is one which cities are moving towards
as the process is more cost effective The procedure is the same except instead of a Code Enforcement
Board making the decision, an attorney serves as the Special Magistrate and makes the decision The
pros are the Special Magistrate process is more efficient, meetings are scheduled on an as needed basis,
the meetings are shorter,and the meetings can be held during the day, reducing staff overtime The con is
the perception of an outsider making the decision
The current City Code allows for the appointment of a Special Magistrate and can be established at any
time i
Council Member Mullins inquired of additional boards or committees for citizens to actively serve
City Attorney Mantzans stated Clermont does not have a Board of Adjustments, the City Council serves
as the Board of Adjustments A Citizen Board of Adjustments makes decisions regarding vanance issues
such as setbacks and parking The decision is final and appeals would be heard by the City Council
City Manager Gray noted additional committees requires additional staff time
Council consensus was for placing the Special Magistrate and Citizen Board of Adjustments on a future
agenda
4
City of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL RETREAT
February 29, 2016—8 OOam
Role of City Council
City Attorney Mantzans reminded Council of completing the required Ethics Training before July
Mr Mantzans provided an overview of the role of the City Council, citing a Mount Dora situation
Mount Dora is a City Council/City Manager form of government, as is the City of Clermont The City
Manager runs the day-to-day operations of the City and the City Council sets policy There are
prohibitions in a City's Charter which state the Council shall not interfere in the day-to-day business
operations of the City The Charter also states the Council shall not demand the hinng or finng of staff
Staff works for the City Manager, and only the City Manager and the City Attorney report directly to the
City Council
Staff works for the Council as a whole and must move forward with the decisions made by the City
Council, and not at the direction of a single Council Member The Mount Dora situation became
problematic for the City, it became an ethics issue and a potential Charter violation
City Manager Gray stated the City Council does a good job of funneling requests and questions through
the City Manager's office
ADJOURN: With no further comments,the retreat adjourned at 12 OOpm
5