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08-08-2001 Workshop Meeting CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING AUGUST 8, 2001 Page 1 A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held Wednesday, August 8, 2001, at the Police Department. Mayor Turville called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Council Members Biddle, MacLauchlin, Mullins and Renick were present, also present were City Manager Saunders, Finance Director Van Zile and City Accountant Lisa Strickland. Mayor Turville welcomed those present. Mayor Turville stated that some retirees had asked him to review and explain changes proposed to the Retiree Benefits in the upcoming year. Mayor Turville also asked Mr. Van Zile for an explanation of the last adjustment that was made in 1993, which apparently had not been provided to all retirees. Mr. Van Zile explained that only those that had retired prior to 1986 were provided with an adjustment at that time. City Manager Saunders then discussed with the City Council the Library's request for additional funding. Mr. Van Zile stated that the Library representatives were scheduled to be at tonight's meeting. Mayor Turville stated that they should continue with other discussion until the arrival of the Library representatives. Mayor Turville updated the City Council on the Historical Society and the site lease extension, explaining that the Historical Society is asking for an extension of time and would agree to switching sites to the property adjacent to the depot. City Manager Saunders referred the City Council to the proposed budget document and reviewed the Water Fund section. Finance Director Van Zile explained the bond coverage requirements included in this fund. City Manager Saunders then reviewed all of the Capital Outlay requests in the Water Fund, no changes were proposed to these sections. Representatives of the Library arrived at approximately 7:00 p.m. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING AUGUST 8, 2001 Page 2 Mayor Turville welcomed those present. Vicky Cook, President of the Library Board, presented the Council with their request for additional funding, stating that the main purpose was for additional employee benefits. Council Members then discussed with the Library Board the need for the Board to be more involved in fundraising. Mayor Turville proposed that a possible increase in the City's funding could be on a dollar for dollar match for anything over $10,000.00 raised by the Board. Finance Director Van Zile explained that an additional $15,000.00 had been included in the proposed budget. No changes were recommended. It was the consensus of the Council that the City would provide this challenge to the Library. The Library representatives left the meeting at approximately 7:45 p.m. City Manager Saunders referred the City Council to the Sewer Fund section of the proposed budget and reviewed all areas of the proposed funding for the upcoming year. Finance Director Van Zile explained that the original study presented by Hartman & Associates proposed an approximate 7% increase in sewer fees for this past year. This increase had not been implemented, but we may be looking at a need to implement this rate increase sometime over the next year, not only to meet future needs but to meet the bonding requirements. No changes to this section of the budget were proposed. City Manager Saunders then directed the Council's attention to the Stormwater Fund section of the proposed budget, specifically the projects being proposed for the upcoming year. The City Council then reviewed the Sanitation section of the proposed budget. City Manager Saunders stated that we are breaking even for now but this fund is in a difficult situation and that our need for new equipment will require some type of adjustment in the fund in the near future. City Manager Saunders discussed private versus public collection on the east side. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING AUGUST 8, 2001 Page 3 Sanitation waivers were discussed. Finance Director Van Zile explained that this is a situation where we discontinue billing customers for sanitation when they are out of town. It was the consensus of the Council to do away with the waivers and continue at least a minimum charge for the sanitation service. The City Council then discussed the Community Redevelopment Agency section of the proposed budget, followed by the Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund with no proposed changes. City Manager Saunders then stated that we had received a request fi.om Clermont Main Street for $20,000 to help during the Streetscape project. He explained that other cities, such as Kissimmee, had contributed dollars for additional advertising and providing help to the businesses while the streets and sidewalks were under construction. It was the consensus of the City Council that this should be discussed at a later date, once additional information could be obtained. City Manager Saunders then reviewed with the Council other letters of request for funding that he had received for Lake Community Action Agency, Hospice and Sunrise ARC. After discussion it was the consensus of the City Council that the City continue its annual contribution to the Lake Community Action Agency but that is should be reduced to $1,000, and that they should be notified that the City may not be able to continue this funding in the future. City Manager Saunders also reviewed a letter that he had received fi.om the Beautification Committee requesting $7,000 for several projects being planned for the upcoming year. It was agreed that this should be included in the proposed budget with the first being allocated fi.om the Tree Vitalization Fund, City Manager Saunders then reviewed a request fi.om City Attorney Guthrie for a 10% increase in the monthly fee paid for legal services. Mr. Saunders explained that the City has been paying $2,500 per month since Mr. Guthrie started with the City and this would increase the monthly fee to $2,750. It was the consensus to include this in the new budget. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING AUGUST 8, 2001 Page 4 City Manager Saunders then provided the City Council with a schedule of proposed salaries for department heads and the City Manager that would be effective Octoberl, 2001 and explained the proposed changes. He further explained that these dollars are included in the proposed budget and would be effective upon adoption of the budget. It was the consensus of the City Council that these adjustments be included. The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m. Attest: