05-08-2018 Regular Council City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
May 08,2018
The City Council met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 in the Clermont City Council
Chambers.Mayor Ash called the meeting to order at 6:30pm with the following Council Members present:
Council Members Brishke,Travis, Bates,and Goodgame. Other City officials present were City Manager
Gray,City Attorney Mantzaris,and City Clerk Howe.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pastor Chris Walker gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
PROCLAMATIONS
City Clerk Howe read the Women's Lung Health Week proclamation aloud. Mayor Ash presented the
proclamation to Nellie Singh as representative of the American Lung Association.
City Clerk Howe read the Motorcycle Safety proclamation aloud. Mayor Ash presented the proclamation
to Bruce Suther.
City Clerk Howe read the Water Reuse Week proclamation aloud. Mayor Ash presented the proclamation
to Environmental Services Director Westrick.
City Clerk Howe read the National Bicycle Month proclamation aloud. Mayor Ash presented the
proclamation to Roman Brana.
PRESENTATIONS
Quilts to Books
The students of Ms.Starr Olson from Cypress Ridge Elementary School read a presentation on their project
and presented examples of the quilts they made.
Legislative Update
Chris Carmody, Attorney with Gray Robinson, provided an update of the legislative session that ended
March 11, 2018. The Senate met on a Saturday to pass a bill to raise the age limit of purchasing of all
firearms and mandate a 3-day waiting period for purchase of all firearms due to the Parkland tragedy.The
Coach Guardian program also passed which will allow certain school personnel, if the school board and
Sheriff allows and after excessive training,to carry a firearm.Mr.Carmody presented the approved budget.
The wi-fi budget was vetoed by the Governor this year,but will try again next year.
City Manager Gray thanked Mr.Carmody and stated Representatives Metz and Stargel put our wi-fi Master
Plan project in the budget in both the House and Senate.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Pat Caracciolo,9112 Laws Road,thanked Council and staff for their help with Pig on the Pond.Pig on the
Pond was able to award four more$10,000 scholarships to local students.Two students from South Lake
High School and two students from Lake Mineola High School were award the scholarships.Police Chief
Broadway helped narrow the recipients from 60 to 14.Now,there are 18 students receiving scholarships.
City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
May 08,2018
Stuart Wilson, President of Caribbean American Association of Lake County,stated on May 19,2018 the
7th Annual Clermont Caribbean Jerk Festival will take place.The organization is about giving back to the
community through scholarships and sponsoring the Lake Steal Orchestra which teaches kids how to play
instruments from Trinidad. Also, the organization helps students with their back to school backpacks
program.
REPORTS
City Manager Gray reported the Workshop will take place on May 15 at 6:30pm. The new heavy rescue
truck purchased for the fire department is in the parking lot this evening.Also,at the last council meeting,
Dr.Olson mentioned Lake Hiawatha clean up with concern regarding the dock. The City had to leave the
dock alone until receiving the ok to remove it from FEMA. FEMA has given approval to remove the dock
and it has been removed.The Victory Pointe ribbon cutting will be on July 27.The Great Fondo Race will
be happening on that day.Nancy Stuparich resigned from the CRA board and Patrick Bianchi requested to
take her place on the board.
Council Member Goodgame moved to appoint Patrick Bianchi to the end of December,
2018 seconded by Council Member Travis. This motion passed with all members present
voting aye.
City Attorney Mantzaris— No report.
Council Member Bates congratulated Chief Broadway on his new position as President of Florida Criminal
Justice Executive Institute.
Council Member Goodgame- No report.
Council Member Brishke reported attending her first Lake County Arts and Cultural Alliance meeting
wherein they worked on a mission statement.
Council Member Travis reported throwing the first pitch last week for the girl's Sun Conference. She also
rode the first trolley ride in downtown Clermont. She reminded everyone of the Ride of Silence occurring
on May 16 at 6:00pm.
Mayor Ash reported on April 26,she attended a forum at the City Center to identify issues on homelessness.
Also on April 26, she attended the Employee Academy at Environmental Services. On April 28, she
attended the Wounded Officers Initiative dinner at the Performing Arts Center. On April 30, she attended
the Employee Academy at City Hall.On May 4,with Council Member Travis and City Manager Gray,she
attended the ribbon cutting of the trolley and then took a ride on the trolley around the City.After the trolley
ride,she went to Fire Station 1 for the Employee Academy.Then,later that day,she was at the Performing
Arts Center for Lake Sumter State College's commencement ceremony making it the first time it was held
in the City of Clermont. On May 5, she welcomed citizens to the Waterfront Festival at the pavilion on
Lake Minneola for the 5k run and a dragon boat race. The Waterfront Festival helped to raise money for
New Beginnings.
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City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
May 08,2018
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—Surplus Request Consider declaring end of life inventory as
surplus from various departments and dispose of
in accordance with the Purchasing Policy.
Item No. 2—Contract Award Consider approval to piggyback the Volusia
County B.C.C. contract with Ferguson
Enterprises,Inc.to provide water and sewer pipes
and related materials in the estimated annual
budgeted amount of$750,000.
Item No.3—Resolution No. 2018-06 Consider approval of Fiscal Year 2018 Quarterly
Budget Amendment.
Item No.4—Resolution No.2018-13R Consider agreement approval regarding
easements, improvements, maintenance and cost
sharing for the Future Public Works Property
with Clermont Commerce Park,LLC.
Council Member Goodgame requested to pull item 3 of the Consent Agenda.
Council Member Bates moved to approve items 1, 2, and 4 of the Consent Agenda;
seconded by Council Member Brishke.The motion passed with all members present voting
aye.
Finance Director Van Zile presented the quarterly amendment to the budget wherein the City carries
forward the reserves from last year.
Council Member Goodgame inquired if there are sufficient funds to complete the City's projects. City
Manager Gray explained if a capital project needs additional funds,the project would be brought back to
the City Council and a separate budget amendment would be presented. With this budget amendment,the
City is rolling over funds from last year to this year.
Council Member Bates moved to approve item 3 of the consent agenda; seconded by
Council Member Goodgame.The motion passed with all members present voting aye.
NEW BUSINESS
Item No.5—Variance Request,Mazda
Planning Director Henschel presented the variance request to allow a ground sign to exceed the maximum
10 feet height requirement. The proposed sign exceeds the height requirement by 25 feet. The applicant
referenced other auto dealerships which have ground signs that exceed the 10 feet height requirement.These
signs were constructed in Lake County and are considered nonconforming to the City of Clermont Sign
Code.Staff recommended denial of the variance request.
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City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
May 08,2018
Jimmy Crawford, Esq., representative of the applicant, requested a sign variance with additional height.
The copy area will comply with the City's code but the applicant wishes to raise the height of the sign.
Headquarter Honda,Toyota, and Nissan were annexed in with signs which exceed what is allowed under
City code. The applicant has offered to eliminate the billboard located on their property at the end of the
lease. The applicant is requesting the same size for their sign as the sign constructed at the Toyota
dealership. Attorney Crawford noted a safety issue due to a shared driveway as people often miss the
entrance,drive by the driveway,and are then forced to turn around where visibility is limited.
Jeronimo Esteve,the applicant,stated the dealership was built in 2008 as the first dealership.The dealership
has been involved in the community since it was built in 2008 and would be willing to give up income by
removing the billboard in order to acquire the bigger sign.
Attorney Crawford stated staff did not believe it was appropriate to consider the removal of the billboard
as a condition however,the Council may take the removal of the billboard into consideration when making
the decision.
Mayor Ash opened the public hearing.
Jim Purvis, 4206 Hammersmith Drive, urged Council to consider a compromise of a 25-foot sign in
exchange for the removal of the billboard.
Mayor Ash closed the public hearing.
Council Member Bates inquired of the reason for the height requested for the sign. Mr. Esteve stated he
hired a consultant to compare similar signs in the City and 35 feet is what Toyota and Nissan has for their
signs.Mazda would like to have a similar size sign as it would be more visible.
Council Member Brishke inquired as to the status of the billboard when the lease is up. City Attorney
Mantzaris clarified the billboard is non-conforming,but the applicant can renew when the lease is up.
City Attorney Mantzaris stated the applicant is authorized to have a ground sign that is below 10 feet.The
sign issue came up previously and the applicant decided to hold off on putting up the smaller sign in order
to come back to the Council at a later date for a variance request to construct a larger sign.
Council Member Brishke expressed concern with setting a precedence for future variance requests.
Attorney Crawford clarified variances are fact specific and variances are not legally precedential.
Council Member Travis expressed disbelief of a larger sign making a difference for the dealership.
Mayor Ash inquired if the 10-foot sign can be adjusted like the Council did with the Honda dealership to
alleviate the issue of people missing the entrance to the dealership. City Attorney Mantzaris clarified the
Council is dealing with a variance and to only address the criteria in the code for this request.
Council Member Goodgame proposed, as an alternative, to consider a 25-foot sign rather than a 35-foot
sign. Attorney Crawford stated the applicant finds it acceptable to change the request from 35 feet to 25
feet.
Council Member Goodgame moved to grant a variance of 25 feet conditioned upon the
billboard being removed before the 25-foot sign:seconded by Council Member Bates.The
motion was denied 3 to 2 with Council Member Travis, Council Member Brishke, and
Mayor Ash voting nay.
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City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
May 08,2018
Council Member Goodgame moved to deny the variance request as submitted; seconded
by Council Member Bates.This motion passed with all members present voting aye.
Item No. 6—Ordinance 2018-20,Introduction, Special Events
City Clerk Howe read Ordinance No.2018-20 aloud by title only.
An Ordinance of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Clermont, Lake County, Florida,
amending Chapter 54, Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places, Section 54-101,
"Definitions"and Section 54-102"Permit Required/Exemptions",creating Section 54-107
"Distribution of Materials on City Property",repealing all Ordinances in conflict herewith,
providing for severability,codification and effective date.
Council Member Bates moved to introduce Ordinance 2018-20; seconded by Council
Member Goodgame.The motion passed with all members present voting aye.
Item No.7—Youth Council
City Clerk Ackroyd Howe provided an update on the City's Youth Council.Staff has reached out to acquire
points of contact from South Lake High School,Lake Minneola High School,East Ridge High School,and
Montverde Academy. The current drafted outline for the Youth Council differs from the Resolution
previously passed as the current drafted outline dictates the Youth Council will be a 6-month program with
2-3 students from each high school. Each City department will provide a mini presentation,similar to the
Citizens Academy, where the Youth Council will be able to ask questions to the directors after each
presentation.Once all of the departments have given their presentations,the Youth Council will brainstorm
to come up with a project to benefit the City and present said project to the City Council for approval and
implementation. Applications are scheduled to go out this coming school year with a deadline for submittal
being in September.
Mayor Ash conveyed support of the new format of the Youth Council which will help the youth become
more involved in the City.
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City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
May 08,2018
ADJOURN: With no further comments,this meeting adjourned at 8:04 pm.
APPROVED:
Gail L. Ash, Mayor
ATTEST:
Tracy Ackroyd Howe,City Clerk
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