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06-29-1995 Workshop Meeting CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING JUNE 29, 1995 A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held Thursday June 29, 1995 in the City Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pool at 6:00 p.m. with the following Council Members in attendance: Council Member Sargent, Council Member Norquist, Council Member Dupee, and Council Member Cole. Also present was City Manager Saunders and Finance Director Van Zile. Budget Discussions City Manager Saunders told the Council that the purpose of the meeting was to start the discussions of the proposed budget. Employee Salaries and Benefits He started with the discussion of salary and benefits and additional positions. Finance Director Van Zile distributed a hand-out to everyone which outlined the proposal for this year. He explained that the preliminary budget includes a 2 % cost of living increase for all employees that would be effective October 1. This is in keeping with what the Council has approved in prior years which adopts a cost of living increase approximately 1% less than the Consumer Price Index for the current year,~, It was proposed the same merit system be kept where an employee could receive anywhere from zero to four percent merit increase. Any other merit increase would require specific approval by the City Manager. Additional Positions and Re-classifications Finance Director Van Ziie explained that the budget also included one additional Police Department position of which 75 % is being funded by a grant that the City received this year. Also proposed is a Maintenance Worker I in the Sewer Department and three re-classifications, as follows: Water Treatment Specialist from Pay Grade 11 to Pay Grade 13 Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator from Pay Grade 11 to Pay Grade 13 Water/Waste Water Treatment Specialist from Pay Grade 12 to Pay Grade 15 CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING JUNE 29, 199~ Page 2 City Manager Saunders explained that these adjustments are necessary in order for the City to be competitive and able to attract the technically skilled people that are needed in these positions. Pension Plan City Manager Saunders explained that new employees are under a Defined Contribu- tion Plan while our Police Department is under a Defined Benefit Plan. He discussed the differences in those plans and he explained that at the time we converted general employees to the Defined Contribution Plan the average contribution the City was making to the old plans was approximately 7%, therefore, we established a 7% contribution to the new plan. This contribution rate can be set by the City Council whereas the Defined Benefit Plan contribution is tied to an actuarial valuation. Finance Director Van Zile distributed a hand-out that showed the percentages under the Defined Benefit Plan for the past several years which were considerable higher than the 7%. Council discussed the need of increasing the 7% to be more in line with what is being contributed for employees under the Defined Benefit Plan. Also discussed was the possibility of some kind of matching contribution based on an amount that employees contribute to their own pension on a voluntary basis. Staff agreed to get additional information and report back to the Council on this issue. After further discussion there were no proposed changes to the salary and benefit schedules that were discussed. City Manager Saunders told the Council that there were other items he would like to discuss besides the budget and a continuation of the budget discussions would be held at the next workshop. Interim Services Tax The idea of an interim services tax was discussed which would be assessed at the time a building receives a Certificate of Occupancy. City Manager Saunders explained that this would be a pro rata amount based on the number of months until the improved property would go on the tax rolls. After discussion, City Manager Saunders was directed to draft an ordinance for the City Council's consideration. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING JUNE 29, 1995 Page 3 Finance Director Van Zile left the meeting at approximately 7:00 p.m. Osceola Street Construction City Manager Saunders discussed the construction of Osceola Street from West Avenue to Osceola Street and explained that the Rails to Trails would be constructed along the north side of the right of way. It was the consensus that we would not need an additional sidewalk on the south side of the street, but we should include parking on the north side of the street. It was also discussed that this would be a special assessment project where the City would pay one-third and the property owners on each side would pay one-third, however, it was the consensus that the parking area should not be assessed to the property owners. Lake Minneola Waterfront Park City Manager Saunders then reviewed with the City Council the proposed plans for the Lake Minneola Waterfront Park project including the re-alignment of East Avenue and the new entrance road on Palm Lane. An aerial map was displayed showing the proposed improvements along with the parking lot additions at the JayCee Beach area. City Manager Saunders stated that they are attempting to get the County to install traffic counters on Lake Minneola Drive, East Avenue and Osceola Street so that we can compare the traffic in these areas as it is today and then for a week with a temporary closing of Lake Minneola Drive. He stated that if Lake County could not provide this service, that GAI Engineering could provide the equipment for approximately $1,000. After discussion there was no opposition to moving ahead with GAI if the County could not provide the counters. Workshop Set A tentative date for the next workshop was scheduled for July 13. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING JUNE 29, 199~ Page 4 Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Attest: JOseph E. Van 7~, City Clerk