Minutes - 04.14.2020 - City Council MeetingCity of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 14, 2020
The City Council met in a semi -virtual meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 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 Purvis.
Other City officials present were City Manager Gray, City Attorney Mantzaris, and City Clerk Howe.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
In place of an invocation, a Moment of Silence was observed followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
City Clerk Howe read aloud into the record four (4) public comments received through email.
Tom English. 1635 E. Hwy 50, Clermont. — On behalf of Project Scholars Board (Pig on the Pond), he
thanked the City Council for their past support of the Pig on the Pond festival, and thanked the City police
and firefighters for their performance during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Andres Lombana. Unknown Address. — Commended the City on its response to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Expressed concern with the amount of people gathering at Waterfront Park, and asked if the City had any
plans to close the parking lot.
Travis Turner. Unknown Address, Clermont. — Asked the City Council to reconsider the issue of backyard
chickens.
Art Padoan. 4079 Greystone Drive, Clermont. — Asked the City Council about local schools reopening and
whether the schools could cancel summer break and have the area children attend school over summer.
With regards to Mr. Lombana's email, City Manager Gray stated that the City had no plans to close the
parking lot.
With regards to Mr. Padoan's email, City Manager Gray informed Mr. Padoan that his questions are best
answered by the school district.
REPORTS
Due to a technological error, the audio forpart of the reports section was not captured, the minutes reflect
the notes that were taken by the City Clerkfor the agenda section.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Gray provided the City Council with updates on Covid-19. He informed them that Clermont
has over fifty (50) cases, but most are thought to be out of the city limits and in the unincorporated Clermont
area. He further noted that Lake County has 160 cases, and that there have been four (4) deaths in Lake
County. City Manager Gray continued saying city staff has been working hard to keep services running
smoothly while operating primarily remotely.
City Manager Gray informed the Council that the City continues to place updates on the city website,
Facebook and NextDoor. The Police Department continues to patrol the streets, and has seen an increase
in domestic violence calls. He provided an overview of other departments and the services they continue to
provide.
With regards to the algae bloom that was discussed in February on Lake Minneola, City Manager Gray
stated he had spoken with the Lake County Water Authority as they have continued to do testing.
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REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 14, 2020
In their opinion the threat that was communicated to the Council in February is no longer active. However,
Lake County Water Authority was unable to locate the source of the algae blooms, and so will continue to
monitor the situation.
He concluded by telling the Council that based on the feedback staff had received at the workshop on April
7, staff is working on developing ordinances based on the recommendations of Dr. Levey and the Council.
City Manager Gray informed the Council that since the moratorium expired, they will likely see an item
extending the moratorium for another ninety (90) days in the near fixture while staff is working on drafting
the other ordinances.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Council Member Bates
• Thanked staff for all their hard work.
• Asked if City Administration had heard anything about mandatory mask wearing like Osceola
County and possibly Orange County.
With regards to the mandatory mask question, Attorney Mantzaris stated that there had been multiple
discussions in the legal community regarding the order. He informed the Council that Osceola County
had already changed it from a mandatory order due to the lack of access to masks and the difficulty in
enforcement. It is now just strongly recommended.
City Manager Gray added that he has not heard of any other county or city in Florida adopting a
mandatory mask order. For Clermont, they are still encouraging residents to follow the Center for
Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.
Council Member Purvis
• Thanked the City Administration, the IT department, and all staff for the hard work they have put
in during the pandemic.
Council Member Brishke
• Stated that she appreciates the greater sense of community that the pandemic has forced. Even
though she has colleagues on the opposite cost, they are bonding on a daily basis.
• Asked if it would be appropriate to adjust the timing of the Council's regular meetings to 6:00 PM
during the pandemic while the Council is utilizing Communication Media Technology.
With regards to the question on Council meeting time, Attorney Mantzaris stated that the Council would
be discussing rules for operating meetings later in the agenda and this might be an appropriate
conversation for that time.
Council Member Travis
• Stated she is seeing a lot of residents out and walking and enjoying the weather, and it makes her
proud in her community to see people focused on staying positive and healthy.
Mayor Ash
0 No report.
City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 14, 2020
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— Council Meeting Minutes
Item No. 2 — Surplus Request
Item No. 3 — Plat Approval
Item No. 4 — Plat Approval
Item No. 5 — Piggyback Purchase
Item No. 6 — Piggyback Contract
Item No. 7 — MOU Agreement
Item No. 8 — MOU Agreement / Budget Amendment
Item No. 9 — Event and Road Closure Request
Consider approval of Regular Council Meetings of
February 25, 2020 and March 10, 2020; and Special
Meetings of February 25, 2020 and March 17,
2020.
Consider declaring end of life inventory as surplus
from Police, Environmental Services and City
Clerk and dispose of in accordance with the
Purchasing Policy.
Consider plat approval of commercial subdivision
at Shoppes at Hammock Ridge Crossings phase 2.
Consider plat approval of Governors Lake
Commerce Center for a Commercial Subdivision
consisting of 13 lots.
Consider request to piggyback the Florida Sheriff s
Association Contract with Ring Power to purchase
three (3) C7.1 Diesel Generators in the budgeted
amount of $349,993.83.
Consider request to piggyback the Lake County
contract with Deiger Service Corporation dba
Superior Fire of Florida to provide inspection and
maintenance of fire extinguishers in the estimated
annual budgeted amount of $50,000.
Consider agreement to extend and receive mutual
aid with Groveland Police Department.
Consider the agreement for pay increases in
addition to Article 31 Wages of the current
collective bargaining agreement between the city
and the International Union of Police Associations,
AFL-CIO Clermont Police Officers Local 6013 and
Sergeants Local 6014.
Consider the Mega Food Truck Event, to be held in
Downtown Clermont, with road closures June 20,
2020 from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
City of Clermont
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REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
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Item No. 10 — Event and Road Closure Request
Item No. 11— Event and Road Closure Request
Item No. 12 — Event and Road Closure Request
Item No. 13 — Resolution No. 2020-1OR
Consider event and road closures request for the
Clermont Downtown Partnership to host their
annual "Harvest Festival" on October 31, 2020.
Consider event and road closures request for the
Clermont Downtown Partnership to host the
"Candy Cane Lane Craft and Gift Show" on
November 14, 2020.
Consider Clermont Downtown Partnership event
and road closure request for the First Friday Food
Truck events.
Consider resolution to amend the Fiscal Year 2020
budget.
City Manager Gray asked City Clerk Howe if there were any comments from the public in the Council
Chambers. City Clerk Howe responded that there were no questions under consent.
Mayor Ash asked if there was any Council Member who wished to have an item pulled for further
discussion.
Council Member Brishke asked that Agenda Item No. 8 be pulled for further discussion.
MOTION TO APPROVE the consent agenda items 1-7 and 9-13 made by Council Member Bates.
Seconded by Council Member Purvis. Passed unanimously with all members present voicing aye.
City Manager Gray stated that after being notified by the union, City staff had a review of compensation
conducted in order to stay competitive with neighboring cities; the City learned that it was behind in pay
for officers and sergeants. It was learned that officers were below by about eight (8) percent and sergeants
were below by about fifteen (15) percent.
City Manager Gray stated that there are available funds which were carried over from the last fiscal year
that can cover the wage increase cost for FY 2020 beginning April 27, 2020. He informed the Council that
the contract with the union expires September 30, 2020 and so they will begin negotiations this summer.
Council Member Purvis asked City Manager Gray to speak to the retention and recruiting issue at the police
department as he believes that issue is the real impetus for this action mid -year.
City Manager Gray responded that when he talked to Police Chief Broadway, he was informed the
department does not have a big recruiting or retention problem. However, there are people that shop around
and some of the City's officers are watching the contracts that get passed by neighboring jurisdictions, and
so the City has lost a couple officers here and there for various reasons. There is no huge vacancy problem
in the Police Department.
City Manager Gray informed the Council that he and Finance Director Brosonski are increasing their
analysis of revenue projections due to the possible impacts from Covid-19.
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City of Clermont
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REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 14, 2020
Mayor Ash thanked City Manager Gray and said that it is vital for the City to know where it is because the
last thing that should happen is for the City to start losing staff. The City of Clermont has an outstanding
staff who are committed to the city, and keeping them employed is not an `if but a `must'.
MOTION TO APPROVE the consent agenda item 8 made by Council Member Brishke.
Seconded by Council Member Bates. Passed unanimously with all members present voicing ave.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Item No.14 — FINAL — Ordinance No. 2019-14 — Wise Annexation
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR THE ANNEXATION OF A CERTAIN
PARCEL OF LAND CONTIGUOUS TO THE PRESENT CITY BOUNDARIES;
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE, SEVERABILITY, RECORDING, AND
PUBLICATION.
City Clerk Howe read the ordinance into the record by legal title only.
MOTION TO TABLE THE ITEM until the City Council meeting of August 11, 2020 at
6:30 PM made by Council Member Bates. Seconded by Council Member Purvis. Passed
unanimously with all members present voicing aye.
Item No.15 — FINAL — Ordinance No. 2019-15 — Wise Large -Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendmentl
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE LARGE SCALE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AMENDMENT FOR THE CITY OF CLERMONT, FLORIDA, PURSUANT TO THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING ACT, CHAPTER 163,
PART II, FLORIDA STATUTES; SETTING FORTH THE AUTHORITY FOR
ADOPTION OF THE LARGE SCALE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT;
SETTING FORTH THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THE LARGE SCALE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF
THE LARGE SCALE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT; ESTABLISHING
THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE LARGE SCALE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
AMENDMENT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Clerk Howe read the ordinance into the record by legal title only.
MOTION TO TABLE THE ITEM until the City Council meeting of August 11, 2020 at
6:30 PM made by Council Member Bates. Seconded by Council Member Brishke. Passed
unanimously with all members present voicing ave.
City of Clermont
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REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 14, 2020
Item No. 16 — FINAL — Ordinance No. 2019-16 — Wise PUD Rezoning
AN ORDINANCE UNDER THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING
MAP OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT REFERRED TO IN CHAPTER 122 OF
ORDINANCE NO. 289-C, CODE OF ORDINANCES; REZONING THE REAL
PROPERTIES DESCRIBED HEREIN AS SHOWN BELOW; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY, EFFECTIVE DATE, RECORDING, AND PUBLICATION.
City Clerk Howe read the ordinance into the record by legal title only.
MOTION TO TABLE THE ITEM until the City Council meeting of August 11, 2020 at
6:30 PM made by Council Member Bates. Seconded by Council Member Travis. Passed
unanimously with all members present voicing aye.
Item No.17 — Resolution No. 2020-14R — Authorizing Use of Communication Media Technology
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT,
FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE USE OF COMMUNICATION MEDIA
TECHNOLOGY TO CONDUCT PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF
THE CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT DURING THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) STATE OF EMERGENCY AND AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ANY AND ALL MEASURES REASONABLE AND
NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THIS PURPOSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Clerk Howe read the resolution into the record by title only. City Attorney Mantzaris presented the
Resolution.
Attorney Mantzaris stated that the purpose of the resolution is revise the Council's rules and procedures to
accommodate the temporary use of Communication Media Technology (CMT). He informed them that the
resolution basically formalizes the way the meeting went this evening, and formally adopts three (3)
avenues for the public to address the Council on any item that would normally be required for public
hearing.
Attorney Mantzaris continued that the situation is fluid, especially considering the reliance on technology,
so the resolution allows for the City Council to adjust the meeting format in the moment if parts of the
technology should fail. This will prevent an entity later deeming that an action of the Council is invalid due
to the meeting structure. It also grants the City Manager the authority to ensure that the City's business
continues by implanting CMT in day-to-day operational activities.
Attorney Mantzaris concluded by referring back to the issue raised by Council Member Brishke regarding
meeting times informing the Council that they could amend the resolution to include an adjustment to the
meeting start time if they so desired.
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REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 14, 2020
Council Member Brishke requested that the Council meetings utilizing CMT be allowed to start at 6:00 PM
instead of 6:30 PM. She felt that since residents are not traveling and are at home anyway, it might be more
convenient.
Council Member Travis stated she supported the change to 6:00 PM.
Council Member Purvis stated that while he understands Council Member Brishke's position, he thinks that
6:00 PM would interfere with families more now than ever, and countered that the meeting start time should
be pushed back until 7:00 PM.
Council Member Bates stated that he does not have a preference one way or the other. He asked City
Manager Gray how a change in start time would affect staff. City Manager Gray stated that it does not
matter as staff will be responsive to the Council no matter what time is chosen.
Mayor Ash stated that she has a preference for 6:00 PM.
Attorney Mantzaris reminded the Council that the resolution they are considering is only effective for the
duration of the State of Emergency and after that it will lose its authority.
Council Member Travis responded to Council Member Purvis's position by stating she does not believe
that families will be eating very late since everyone is home much earlier.
City Manager Gray interrupted the discussion on behalf of the Development Services staff to inform the
Council that items for the April 28 meeting have been legally advertised for the meeting to begin at 6:30
PM. He suggested that the Council could have this discussion at the next meeting.
City Manager Gray asked City Clerk Howe if there were any members of the public who wished to speak
on the item. City Clerk Howe responded that no member of the public wished to speak on the item.
MOTION TO APPROVE and adopt Resolution No 2020-14R authoriziniz the use of
Communication Media Technology during the State of Emergency made by Council Member
Bates. Seconded by Council Member Travis. Passed unanimously with all members present voicing
City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 14, 2020
ADJOURN: With no further comments, Mayor Ash adjourned the meeting at 7:14pm.
ATTEST:
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Tracy Ackroyd Howe, City Clerk
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APPROVED:
Gail L. Ash, Mayor