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09-14-2000 Special Meeting CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 2000 Page 1 A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held Thursday, September 14, 2000 at Jenkins Auditorium. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Turville with the following Council Members present: Council Member Biddle, Council Member Mullins, and Council Member MacLauchlin. Council Member Lamb was not present. Other officials present were City Manager Saunders, Finance Director Van Zile and City Accountant Lisa Strickland. Mayor Turville welcomed those citizens present and explained the budget hearing process to the audience. PUBLIC HEARING 2000-2001 Ad Valorem Millage Rate - Tentative Resolution No. 1138 Mayor Turville stated that Florida Statutes require that the first substantive issue discussed at this meeting be the percentage increase in the millage over the rolled-back rate necessary to fund the proposed budget and the specific purposes for which ad valorem tax revenues are being increased. Mayor Turville stated that the proposed millage rate of 3.729 represents a 22.42% increase over the rolled-back rate. Mayor Turville explained how a millage rate is determined and stated that any questions or comments regarding this proposed millage rate increase from the citizens were invited. Mayor Turville explained that the City's budget did not deal with any taxes other than those in our City's budget and other information or questions a citizen may have regarding their tax bill should be obtained from the Property Appraiser's office in Tavares. Addane Ringling, a resident of Kings Ridge, asked if there would be a tax increase every time Clermont grows and Mayor Turville explained that this increase was to pay for full time Fire Fighters for the Fire Station being built at Kings Ridge and that is why the .25% was added to our City's budget. Mayor Turville stated that the only cities in Lake County with lower taxes than Clermont were Montverde, Minneola and Lady Lake and those cities do not have full time fire fighters or other services that our City has. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 2000 Page 2 City Manager Saunders stated that this is only the 2nd increase the City of Clermont has proposed in the past six years and both of those increases were directly related to new services that the City was going to provide, such as a full time Fire Department rather than a Volunteer Fire Department. Mayor Turville stated that 70% of the calls received by our Fire Department were medical calls and their response time has averaged less than three minutes. Robert Rolly, a resident of Kings Ridge questioned regarding the expansion of the East Plant and City Manager Saunders stated it currently holds 750,000 gallons and will be expanded to hold 2 million gallons. Mr. Saunders stated that the process is also being changed to include odor control. Mr. Rolly stated his appreciation of the Mayor's explanation regarding the roll-back. Council Member Biddle stated that the City is paying for 3 additional Fire Fighters, 2 additional Police Officers and 4 Public Works employees through the normal growth of our taxes, and the increase was because of the 3 Fire Fighters added to the Kings Ridge new Fire Station, so once the City had caught up with our full time Fire Department's needs, there should not be a tax increase every year. John Hurberger asked for a comparison of last year's budget to this year's budget and Finance Director Van Zile stated that last year's total budget for all funds was twenty one million, nine hundred seven thousand dollars and this year it is twenty eight million forty one thousand dollars. City Manager Saunders stated that our general fund was actually less than last year's. Mr. Saunders stated there will be a revenue bond for the sewer plant expansion. Nancy Nurenberger asked for an explanation of the hearing dates on her tax bill and City Manager Saunders explained that each taxing agency had their own hearing date, including the date for the City of Clermont's public heating. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 2000 Page 3 Bruce Gooseman stated that we seem to be paying more taxes and asked why impact fees are not paying for more services being used. Mayor Turville explained that this Council increased impact fees last year and included in that is an automatic increase each year. John Mastriani stated that estimated taxes are difficult to understand and suggested a Learning Seminar to help citizens understand taxes in Florida and Mayor Turville stated that he can explain our City's taxes however the tax assessor in Lake County has brochures available and will explain how the County's taxes are assessed. Mayor Turville offered that he and Staff members would be happy to stay after this meeting and answer any questions about citizens' tax bills. Council Member Biddle explained to the citizens that there have been workshops and the Council has gone through this budget and debated it extensively item by item, so if it seems like they are going through it quickly now, that is because they already worked on it in detail for the last few months. Mayor Turville stated that the final public hearing will be held September 22, 2000, at 7:30 p.m. at Jenkins Auditorium. Mayor Turville stated that the following Resolutions will adopt tentative budgets for all City funds for Fiscal Year 2000-2001 authorizing funding for operation and maintenance, capital outlay, personnel and compensation adjustments and other financial commitments. Mayor Turville read Tentative Resolution No. 1138 in its entirety and opened the Public Hearing. Council Member Biddle stated that he had questions about whether the City had exhausted all resources for funds before having a tax increase and stated he did not support an increase at this time but would research it further before the September 21, 2000 public hearing. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 2000 Page 4 There was a discussion regarding the City's desire for good emergency response time for its citizens and it was consensus that the Council did not want to lower the level of services, so an increase was necessary. Robert Rolly stated that the increase was for all of the citizens of Clermont, not just Kings Ridge and the new station is serving mostly the Kings Ridge area and Council Member Mullins pointed out that the new station will also handle the other areas around Hartwood Marsh Road. Mayor Turville stated that the City's budgets are not full of fluff and that is why our budgets are low and stated that it is a mistake to believe there should never be a tax increase if we want the level of services to be good for our citizens. A motion was made bP Council Member MacLauchlin, seconded by Council Member Mullins, and carried 3 to 1 bP roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1138 setting a millage rate qf 3. 729_for fiscal year 2000- 2001. Council Member Biddle opposed. 2000-2001 General Fund Budget - Tentative Resolution No. 1139 Mayor Turville read Resolution No. 1139 by title only and opened the Public Hearing stating that Resolution No. 1139 will adopt the fiscal year 2000-2001 budget for the General Fund. No questions were received and Mayor Turville closed the Public Hearing. City Manager Saunders gave an explanation of each fund. A motion was made bP Council Member MacLauchlin, seconded by Council Member Mullins, and carried 3 to 1 by roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1139. Council Member Biddle opposed. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 2000 Page 5 2000-2001 Infrastructure Fund Budget, Tentative Resolution No. 1140 Mayor Turville read Resolution 1140 by title only and opened the Public Hearing. No questions were received and Mayor Turville closed the Public Hearing. A motion was made by Council Member Biddle, seconded by Council Member Mullins, and carried unanimously bp roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1140. 2000-2001 Recreation Impact Fee Fund Budget, Tentative Resolution 1141 Mayor Turville read Resolution 1141 by title only and opened the Public Hearing. No questions were received and Mayor Turville closed the Public Hearing. A motion was made bY Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member Biddle, and carried unanimously bP roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution 1141. 2000-2001 Police Impact Fee Fund Budget, Tentative Resolution No. 1142 Mayor Turville read Resolution 1142 by title only and opened the Public Hearing. No questions were received and Mayor Turville closed the Public Hearing. A motion was made by Council Member Biddle, seconded by Council Member Mullins, and carried unanimously by roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1142. John Mastrioni asked if the City's Police Department patrolled the City of Minneola and was told they do not. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 2000 Page 6 2000-2001 Fire Impact Fee Fund Budget, Tentative Resolution No. 1143 Mayor Turville read Resolution 1143 by title only and opened the Public Hearing. No questions were received and Mayor Turville closed the Public Hearing. A motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member Biddle, and carried unanimously by roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1143. Robert Rolling inquired whether there was enough money budgeted for equipment and it was explained to him that the equipment had already been purchased by the City over the past two years. 2000-2001 1989 Sales Tax Bond Fund Budget, Tentative Resolution No. 1144 Mayor Turville read Resolution No. 1144 by title only and opened the Public Hearing. No questions were asked and the Public Heating was closed. A motion was made by Council Member MacLauchlin, seconded by Council Member Biddle, and carried unanimously by roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1144. 2000-2001 Water Fund Budget, Tentative Resolution No. 1145 Mayor Turville read Resolution No. 1145 by title only and opened the Public Hearing. Barbara Broley stated she felt her water bill seemed high and asked for an explanation of the rate structure of the water bill and Finance Director Van Zile explained the water rate for all residents living east of Grand Highway. Mr. Van Zile then gave the rate structure for those citizens living on the west side of Grand Highway. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 2000 Page 7 Ms. Ringling asked for an explanation regarding re-use water and City Manager Saunders explained the process and agreement between Lennar and the City for water use and the billing process. There were no more questions and Mayor Turville closed the Public Hearing. A motion was made by Council Member MacLauchlin, seconded bp Council Member Biddle and carried unanimously bY roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1145. 2000-2001 Sewer Fund Budget, Tentative Resolution No. 1146 Mayor Turville read Resolution No. 1146 by title only and opened the Public Hearing. City Manager Saunders gave an explanation of the Sewer Fund for the provision of wastewater services to the citizens of Clermont. There were no questions and Mayor Turville closed the Public Hearing. A motion was made bP Council Member Biddle, seconded bY Council Member Mullins, and carried unanimously bY roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1146 2000-2001 Stormwater Fund Budget, Tentative Resolution No. 1147 Mayor Turville read Resolution No. 1147 by title only and opened the Public Hearing. City Manager gave an explanation of the Stormwater Fund and what the fund has been used for in the City. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 2000 Page 8 /1 motion was made bY Council Member Biddle, seconded bY Council Member Mullins, and carried unanimously bY roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. ] ]47. 2000-2001 Sanitation Fund Budge, Tentative Resolution No. 1148 Mayor Turville read Resolution No. 1148 by title only and opened the Public Hearing. City Manager Saunders gave an explanation of the Sanitation Fund and provisions of services including garbage and trash collection, recycling and composting services. Mr. Saunders stated that the City will also begin recycling newspapers in November, 2000. Mr. Saunders stated that a chart comparing our City's sanitation costs and services with other cities in Lake County was available for review at City Hall. Mayor Turville explained the City's incinerator costs saying they were very high. City Manager Saunders stated that recycling helps keep costs down and asked that those citizens who contribute their old newspapers to churches or the South Lake Animal League, continue to do so. No further questions were received with regard to Resolution 1148 and Mayor Turville closed the Public Hearing. A motion was made by Council Member Biddle, seconded bY Council Member Mullins, and carried unanimously by roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1148. 2000-2001 Group Self Insurance Fund Budget, Tentative Resolution No. 1149 Mayor Turville read Resolution No. 1149 by title only and opened the Public Hearing. City Manager Saunders stated that the group self insurance fund has been established for payment of employee health and dental insurance claims and the City has been self insured for about 12 years. No further questions were received with regard to Resolution 1149 and Mayor Turville closed the Public Hearing. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 2000 Page 9 A motion was made by Council Member MacLauchlin, seconded by Council Member Mullins, and carried unanimously by roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1149. 2000-2001 Community Redevelopment Agency Fund Budget, Tentative Resolution No. 1150 Mayor Turville read Resolution No. 1150 by title only and opened the Public Hearing. No questions were received with regard to Resolution 1150 and Mayor Turville closed the Public Heating. A motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member Biddle, and carried unanimously by roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1150. 2000-2001 Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund Budget, Tentative Resolution No. 1151 Mayor Turville read Resolution No. 1151 by title only and opened the Public Hearing. No comments were received in regard to Resolution No. 1151 and Mayor Turville closed the Public Hearing. A motion was made by Council Member Biddle, seconded bp Council Member Mullins, and carried unanimously by roll call vote to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1151.. Finance Director Van Zile passed out a copy of the Comparison of Property and Casualty Insurance Proposals provided by the League of Cities and discussed the proposals concluding that the recommendation is to renew with the Florida League of Cities. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 2000 Page 10 There being no further business or discussion, the meeting adjourned at 9:38 p.m. Harold S. Turville, Mayor Attest: Clerk