08-08-2000 Regular Meeting CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 8, 2000
Page 1
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held Tuesday, August 8, 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. Other City officials present were City Manager Saunders, City
Attorney Guthrie, Finance Director Van Zile, Planning Director Brown and Deputy City Clerk
Maddox. Council Member Lamb was not present.
INVOCATION
The Invocation was offered by Council Member Biddle followed by the repeating of the Pledge
of Allegiance to the Flag by all present.
MINUTES
A motion was made by Council Member MacLauchlin, seconded by Council
Member Mullins, and carried unanimously to approve the minutes o_f the regular'
Council Meeting held Ju!¥ 25, 2000.
CITY MANAGER SAUNDERS' REPORT
Workshop
City Manager Saunders scheduled a Council Workshop for Monday, August 28, 2000, at 6:00
p.m. at the Police Department Community Room.
Mayor Turville confirmed with City Manager Saunders that a letter was sent to the Mayor and
Council Members of the City of Groveland indicating our City's objection to them annexing the
area east of Max Hooks Road on Highway 50 and the area east of 561-A and suggesting the
benefits of joint planning and further requesting that our City's letter be read into the record at
their Council Meeting.
CITY ATTORNEY GUTHRIE
No report.
COUNCIL MEMBER BIDDLE
Council Member Biddle reminded Council that the Chamber of Commerce and Kings Ridge are
co-sponsoring a Hob Nob to meet the State and County Candidates on Tuesday, August 22, 2000
CITY OF CLERMONT
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REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 8, 2000
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at the Kings Ridge Club House and that tickets are available for $5.00. Council Member Biddle
stated that he received a letter from Sue Whittle and Lake County has a Lake County Citizen's
Academy and he has applications available. Mayor Turville stated that he had attended the
Citizen's Academy and it was an excellent program and very informative. Council Member
Biddle also thanked City Manager Saunders for having the downtown spruced up for the First
Friday event. Mr. Biddle stated he spoke with Dr. John Gay from Troy State University and they
are bringing a Master of Public Administration to Lake Sumter Community College and stated he
felt this one-year accelerated program was an asset to our community.
COUNCIL MEMBER MULLINS
No report.
COUNCIL MEMBER MACLAUCHLIN
No report.
MAYOR TURVILLE'S REPORT
Mayor Turville stated that a Special Council Meeting was held on August 2, 2000
regarding Ordinance No. 400-M pertaining to the City of Clermont choosing whether or
not it wished to be included in the M.S.T.U. for funding of the ambulance service. Mayor
Turville stated that the City needed to let the County know whether it was or was not
going to participate in the M.S.T.U., which is a not-for-profit program. Mayor Turville
stated that if the City of Clermont chose not to participate, the M.S.T.U. would not be
possible, as the program requires all cities in the County participate. Mayor Turville
stated that Ordinance No. 400-M was adopted as an emergency ordinance, which is good
for 60 days, and now we will introduce the ordinance at the next Council meeting with
the public hearing at the first Council meeting in September for final adoption.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Turville read the items listed on the Consent Agenda and asked that if anyone wished any
item to be pulled for discussion.
CITY OF CLERMONT
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REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 8, 2000
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Item No. 1
Plat Approval
Highlander Estates located south of
Grand Highway, east of East Avenue
Item No. 2
Clermont Main Fire Station
Change Order #1
Item No. 3
Hartman & Associates
Additional services in the preparation of
the Financial Feasibility Report for the
issuance of utility system revenue bonds
Item No. 4
Underwriter Selection
Appointing selection committee for Bond
Underwriter Proposals
Item No. 5
Florida Freewheelers
Request from Florida Freewheelers to
stage the 21st annual "Horrible Hundred"
bike ride on November 19, 2000 at
Waterfront Park and request that the
parking fees be waived for the event
Item No. 6
Bid Award
Cemetery irrigation well pump and
station
A motion was made by Council Member Biddle, seconded by Council Member
Mullins, and carried unanimously to approve Items one through 6 on the Consent
Agenda.
VISITORS WITH BUSINESS
Hunter's Trace Investment, Inc.-Bob Wade
Mayor Turville stated that the following issue requires a Quasi-Judicial Hearing be held and that
anyone wishing to speak in favor of or in opposition to the request should be sworn in.
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Planning Director Brown stated that the applicant is requesting a variance to allow an
existing non-conforming sign to be utilized as an off-site sign. Mr. Brown stated that the
sign is the old Drive-in Theater sign, located on Highway 50 between McDonalds and
Speedway Gas Station. Mr. Brown stated that the applicant would like to use the sign to
advertise the businesses that are located on the property that was previously the Drive-In
Theater. Planning Director Brown stated that since the sign does not meet the City's
criteria, the minimum lot size or the set-back requirements, and no hardship has been
demonstrated by the applicant, Staff recommends denial of the request.
City Clerk Van Zile swore in the following:
Bob Wade, 1363 West Lakeshore Drive, Clermont, F1
Bob Wade stated that when he purchased the property where the sign is located he was
told by the owners it could be used for advertising and it had been used for civic and non-
civic advertising in the past. Mr. Wade stated that the theater sign is a historical sign that
has been a landmark in Clermont for 50 or 60 years. Mr. Wade stated that the sign size,
height and shape will not change, but would be used to advertise and direct the public to
those businesses, such as the Holiday Inn Express and others that are located offHighway
50 and 27. Mr. Wade passed out photographs of the sign as well as other signs in the area
for comparison and for the Council's review. Mr. Wade stated that at the time he
developed the property where the Holiday Inn Express and other businesses are located,
he contributed to the improvements at the intersection and where the sign is located is a
non-conforming piece of property so there isn't any way to utilize it except for a sign.
Mr. Wade reiterated that the sign was going to look better and would just be an
information and directional sign.
Mayor Turville closed the public hearing.
Mayor Turville asked City Manager Saunders whether there were other signs on Highway
50 that were off-site signs and Mr. Saunders stated that he is not familiar with the
circumstances of other signs, however the old theater sign became non-conforming when
our sign ordinance went into effect and stated this request for a variance should be
decided on its own merit, not based on other signs.
Council Member Biddle stated that a variance request should show a hardship in order to
be considered but he sees both sides and knows that sometimes the hardship is what the
City is left with if they don't grant a variance. Mr. Biddle stated that the businesses that
are not located on Highway 50 are not entitled to have signage on Highway 50, but he
also sees that this is an unattractive sign on a non-conforming piece of property and he is
concerned with what will happen to the property if a sign is not allowed.
CITY OF CLERMONT
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City Manager Saunders stated that since the sign is non-conforming the City could
require that it be taken down. Mr. Saunders stated the previous owners had committed
that they would only use the sign to announce community events.
Mayor Turville stated that if this is granted we will have an off-site sign, which is against
our sign ordinance.
Council Member MacLauchlin stated that she felt that the theater sign was a piece of
Clermont history, however she did not feel variances should be granted when there is no
hardship.
Council Member Mullins stated he hates to see the sign tom down but his problem is it
the land is not contiguous and we are not talking about a single business but two or three
businesses that will be advertising on the sign.
City Manager Saunders suggested that this issue be tabled since the Council Members
have mixed feelings regarding the sign and that would give he and Mr. Wade an
opportunity to review the matter to see if anything can be done.
,4 motion was made by Council Member Biddle, seconded by Council
Member MacLauchlin, and carried unanimously to table the variance
request to a time certain at the August 22, 2000 Council meeting.
UNFINSIHED BUSINESS
Resolution No. l136-Lake-Sumter Community College
City Manager Saunders stated that the applicants have requested this be tabled until the August
22, 2000 Council Meeting.
A motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council
Member Biddle, and carried unanimously to table Resolution No. 1136 to
a time certain at the August 22, 2000 Council meeting.
Ordinance No. 400-M
Mayor Turville stated that this ordinance is withdrawn.
CITY OF CLERMONT
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NEW BUSINESS
Introduction of Ordinance No. 401-M
Mayor Turville read Ordinance No. 401-M by title only.
Planning Director Brown stated this ordinance amends our Comprehensive Plan changing
the land use of approximately 6.7 acres at the southwest comer of Bloxam Avenue and
Hunt Street from UD-4 to UD-3 allowing multifamily development. Mr. Brown stated
that currently the land use district does not allow for densities greater than 4 units per acre
and applicants would request this change so they can built a town-home project.
A motion was made by Council Member Biddle, seconded by Council ~9(9"
Member Mullins, and carried unanimously to approve the introduction of "'1 ~
Ordinance 401-M.
Introduction of Ordinance No. 402-M
Mayor Turville read Ordinance No. 402-M by title only.
Mayor Turville stated that this ordinance will rezone property located at the southwest comer of
Bloxam Avenue and Hunt Street from R-1 to R-3 Residential.
A motion was made by Council Member Biddle, seconded by Council C~ ~)"
Member Mullins and carried unanimously to approve the introduction o_f
Ordinance 402-M.
Bid Award-Waterfront Park Dock
City Manager Saunders stated this is the final piece of the Phase 11 of the Waterfront Park project
and stated that the City received a grant from the Department of Environmental Protection
Recreation Assistance Program and the grant included this dock. Mr. Saunders stated that our
grant budget for this part of the overall project was $75,000 and we received a bid from Hodgldn
Outdoor Living in the amount of $84,250 and one fi'om U.S. Docks, Inc. for $60,818. Mr.
Saunders stated that our engineers reviewed the bid and found it to be in compliance with our
contract documents and Staff recommends the bid be.awarded to U.S. Docks, Inc. in the amount
of $60,818.00.
Mayor Turville reviewed the details of the drawing of the dock and City Manager Saunders
explained the elevations of the dock and the design with Mayor Turville and the Council
Members.
CITY OF CLERMONT
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REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
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A motion was made by Council Member Biddle, seconded by Council
Member Mullins, and carried unanimously to award the bidfor the ~(~) -
Waterfront Park Dock to U.S. Docks, Inc. in the amount of $60,818.00.
CITIZENS COMMENTS
Mayor Turville invited any citizens to address the Council and none came forward.
There being no further business or discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
"ft~o~d S. Turville, Jr. Mayor