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Minutes - 09.17.2020 - City Council Final Budget Public HearingCih• of Clermont MINUTES FINAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 The City Council met in a special meeting on Thursday; September 17, 2020 in the Clermont City Center. Mayor Ash called the meeting to order at 6:30pm with the following Council Members present: Council Members Bates, Travis and Purvis. Other City officials present were: City Manager Gray, City Attorney Mantzaris and City Clerk Howe. OPENING COMMENTS City Manager Gray reviewed the outline of the meeting. In addition to the budget public hearing, two items were added regarding event requests. The meeting has been advertised as a special meeting, so they are able to vote on the items. City Manager Gray stated that this is the final budget public hearing for FY 2020/2021. The purpose of this meeting is to present the final city budget including the final ad valorem millage rate and the change from rolled back rate. By definition the roll back rate is the rate when applied to the current years taxable value that funds city operations at the same level as the prior year. The notice of the proposed tax increase has been done in accordance with Florida Statutes. City Manager Gray explained that even though the millage rate is the same as the prior years, they are required to advertise it as an increase due to the increase in the City's taxable value. He reemphasized for the Council and public in attendance that the City is not raising taxes. This will be the sixth consecutive year with the same millage rate of 4.2061. The millage rate will generate an additional S 1.3 million in ad valorem tax revenues for Fiscal Year 2020/21. The general fund will partially be funded from reserves as was approved by the Council at the first budget public hearing. The budget includes no new positions. The City's enterprise funds are sound as are the funds for the maintenance of facilities and infrastructure. Priorities for the City remain the implementation of the City's master plan. Additionally, they have included the construction of the new public services facility on Hancock Road. City Manager Gray stated that though they are presenting a balanced budget. The City had to use reserve dollars to balance the budget this year. The goal is to keep reserves at 25% and there is a plan to return to that level next year. City Manager Gray also discussed reviewing the budget in January after the fiscal year ends to review the true damage caused by Covid-19 and reevaluate the budgets unfunded items. He commended senior staff on finding S700,000 to cut out of the FY 2019,120 budget to continue to fund services and applauded all city staff for continuing to provide exceptional services. City Clerk Howe read Resolution 2020-59R into the record in its entirety. City Clerk Howe read Resolution 2020-60R into the record by title only. Finance Director Pamela Brosonski presented the budget and millage rate to the Council via a PowerPoint presentation. She reviewed the General Fund Budget total of S40.6 million. which is $729,000 or 2% less than the current year's budget. General Fund Reserves for Fiscal Year 2020/21 will be at 19%. The dip below the required 25% is allowed by Resolution No. 2020-53R which states that the Council, in times of unforeseen circumstances, may deviate from the 25% target. Finance Director Brosonski concluded her presentation by informing the Council that City property tax collections is projected to be S 14.2 million or S 1.3 million higher than last year. She also displayed what the figures would be under an adopted roll back rate. Mayor Ash opened the public hearing for comments of the public; seeing no public come forth Mayor Ash closed the floor. City of Clermont MINUTES FINAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 City Manager Gray commented prior to the vote that while the General Fund is made up of several revenue sources, those revenues that are going down. These include sales tax dollars, state shared dollars, recreation dollars and all of those goes into the General Fund. The other consideration is that residents may have a homesteaded property, or a homestead exemption that bring their assessed value down. Council Member Purvis complimented staff and commended the Council and staff leadership. The City have not laid off one (1) person or reduced the salary of any staff. He stated that that is his intention going forward and it speaks volumes to the character of this city. He thanked all involved. Council Member Travis pointed out that when looking at TRIM Notice, other taxing authorities have increased and Clermont did not. Item No. 1— Resolution No. 2020-59R — Final FY 2021 Ad Valorem Millage Rate A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE FINAL AD VALOREM MILLAGE RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2020 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2021; PROVIDING FOR COLLECTION OF TAXES; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MOTION TO APPROVE the ad valorem tax rate of 4.2061 for Fiscal Year 2020/21 contained in Resolution No. 2020-59R made by Council Member Bates. Seconded by Council Member Travis. Passed unanimousIN- R 4/0 i with all members .present voicing* aye. Item No. 2- Resolution No. 2020-60R — Final FY2021 Budget A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE FINAL BUDGET FOR THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MOTION TO APPROVE the budget contained in Resolution No. 2020-60R for Fiscal Year 2020/21 made by Council Member Bates. Seconded by Council Member Purvis. Passed unani- mously 4/0 with all members present voicing ave. Item No. 3 — Sommei- Sports Event Request Parks and Recreation Director Scott Davidoff made the staff presentation. The applicant's request is for The Great Floridian Triathlon set to occur on October 24, 2020 while the City is still in Phase 2 or reopening. Under the current plan, there shall be no special events to occur during Phase 2 due to social distancing requirements. In observance of social distancing requirements, the applicant is planning to utilize both Waterfront Park and Victory Pointe. The applicant is also requesting approvals for events on October 17, 31 and December 19. The Council previously had approved these events prior to the Covid pandemic. Fred Sommer, Sommer Sports. Clermont —.Applicant. In regards to the boat ramp closure request, swimmers go out to the middle of Lake Mineola, and there is a danger even though they hire Lake County Marine Patrol. Mr. Sommer stated that he has conducted two events in June and July and they followed social distancing successfully with no participants contracting Covid-19. He stated that he talked to US Triathlons earlier in the week and they agreed to wait until this meeting to determine if they can keep The Great Citi, of Clermont MINUTES FINAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 Floridian Triathlon as the 2020 Championship race. Mr. Sommer highlighted some of the precautions they are taking to ensure social distancing. Mayor Ash opened the floor for comments from the public. Greg Ammon, 550 East Avenue, Clermont — stated he is in full support of this request. Josh Castleman, 392 W. Osceola Street, Clermont — Supports the request. Charlene Forth, 939 IvN . Desoto Street, Clermont — Requested that the water be tested in Lake Minneola to ensure people are safe. She stated that she has heard that Victory Pointe is adding contaminants to the lakes. City Manager Gray interjected and asserted to the Council that there are no water quality issues with Victory Pointe. The City has an automatic monitoring system and they do additional testing weekly in addition to the Lake County Water Authority. Randy Everman, 2430 Woodwill Hill Court — Spoke in support of the events. Informed the Council that the events held by Sommer Sports in June and July are being held up across the country as successful examples of how to hold a race under Covid restrictions. Seeing no further comments. Mayor Ash closed the floor, and brought the issue to Council. City Manager Gray reminded the Council that these events have been approved already, and the City did allow events in June and July. When the numbers spiked in July, the City felt it best to cease having events in observance of social distancing as Phase 2 does not allow for more than 50 people. He told the Council that if they want to move forward with events, staff feels comfortable. Communications Director Kathryn Deen and Director Davidoff have talked to the Health Department and Clermont's numbers are low; 34711 is lower than all of Lake County. Council Member Bates expressed full support for the events, but has concerns about the boat ramp closure. Parks and Recreation Director Davidoff stated that the boat ramp closure is only for the Great Floridian — not for all four (4) events. City Manager Gray added that the ramp will be reopened by noon of race day. Council Member Purvis stated that since last discussion on this subject, he has done more reading on Covid- 19 and has a different outlook. He disclosed that he has spoken with Fred Sommer prior to the meeting. He added that he is hesitant to approve all the races, he would like to approve just one and then let staff decide if the rest can continue. Mayor Ash replied that would be automatic; if it is not successful, Mr. Sommer will make changes for the next one. She believes that they have a handle on what to do and that holding off on the others is unnecessary. If there are problems, they will adjust. Council Member Travis stated her full support of events. MOTION TO APPROVE the events for October 17, 20, 31 and December 19 made by Council Member Bates. Seconded by Council Member Travis. Passed unanimously with all members present voicing ave. Cihl- of Clermont MINUTES FINIAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 Item No. 4 — Event and Road Closure Request Parks and Recreation Director Davidoff provided the staff presentation. The applicant is seeking approval for a race on November 21, 2020 through Downtown Clermont. Their race is different than the previous one as it is requesting road closures as listed in the packet. Per usual practice, Clermont Police Department will recommend the correct number of officers to ensure traffic flow. Allison Strange, 700 Almond Street — :Applicant's Representative. Ms. Strange spoke to the request. The organizers have not heard any opposition to this request. She also asked the Council to consider establishing race routes/courses within the City that can be easily approved by the Council. Kim Grogan, Flo -Dash Events —Applicant, Ms. Grogan stated that they have not received any negative feedback on this course. Businesses will be able to open the morning of the races. Mayor Ash opened the public hearing for comments from the public. Charlene Forth. 939 W. Desoto Street. Clermont — Expressed concern with notifying neighborhoods of event. Dani Page, Tuscany Ridge, Clermont — Asked about a workshop that was supposed to happen. Disagreed with having this at a special meeting agenda. Keith Mullins, 640 Drew Avenue, Clermont — This route is primarily in the business district. He has no problem. Encouraged approval. J. Brian Miles, 104 Isabelle Street, Clermont — Spoke in support. Hearing no further comments, Mayor Ash closed the public hearing. Council Member Bates supported the event and expressed concerns about notification. Asked residents are on the route. Unknown Speaker —Applicant. Stated she printed 400 letters and went door to door herself. She received positive comments and residents welcomed the event. Ms. Grogan stated that she believes there are 40 to 50 residents directly on the course route. Most live on 4t` Street, Carroll and W. Osceola. A lot of the route is commercial. Council Member Bates asked why the City does not notice the event. City Manager Gray responded that the event is not a city event, so it is not noticed or promoted by the City. However, the City does have criteria that must be adhered to. One of those criteria is for the event organizers to notify businesses and residents on the route. City Manager Gray also informed the Council that a discussion was planned for the canceled August workshop.. and due to time constraints they were placed on the current agenda. Council Member Purvis stated he would like to see a larger discussion at a workshop on this topic. Council Member Travis asked where the finish line is located. Ms. Grogan stated the race Nvill finish at Victory Pointe. 4 Citr of Clermont MINUTES FINAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING SEPT-EMBER 17, 2020 City Manager Gray stated that the majority of the City's 5K runs is on the trail. However, with so many non -competitors on the trail, it is hard to have a race on the trail. City Manager Gray informed the Council that he would place this on the workshop agenda for October. We have police officers at these locations. Residents can get out safely. MOTION TO APPROVE the 'November 21 2020 event for Flo -Dash sports made b - Diane Travis. Seconded by Council Member Purvis. Passed unanimousl • with all members present voicing aye. 5 City of Cl el-111011t MINUTES FINAL BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 ADJOURN: With no further comments, this meeting adjourned at 7:32 pm. ATTEST: ��=O 1(5;11- Tracy Ackroyd Howe, City Clerk N APPROVED: