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
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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.
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MINUTES
COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING
JUNE 29, 1995
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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.
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COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING
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Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Attest:
JOseph E. Van 7~, City Clerk