03-01-2004 Workshop Meeting City of Cler~nont
MINUTES
WORKSHOP MEETING
March 1, 2004
Page 1
A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday,
March 1, 2004, at City Hall in the City Council Chambers. Mayor Turville, Council Members Ash,
Caputo, Mullins and Renick were present. Also present was City Manager Saunders.
Mayor Turville called the meeting to order and welcomed those present and explained the purpose of
the meeting was to interview two law firms that had presented proposals for providing legal services to
the City.
City Manager Saunders introduced Mr. Skip Fowler and Mary Sneed with the law firm of Fowler and
O'Quinn, P.A.
Mr. Fowler and Ms. Sneed reviewed their qualifications with the City Council Members. Council
Members and City Manager Saundcrs were then allowed an opportunity to ask questions.
Mayor Turville thanked Mr. Fowler and Ms. Sneed for their interest in the City of Clermont and they
left the meeting at approximately 7:15 p.m.
The City Council took a short break and reconvened at 7:30 p.m.
City Manager Saunders introduced Dan Mantzaris and Ivette Brown of the firm DeBeaubien, Knight,
Simmon, Mantzaris & Neal, LLP. Mr. Mantzaris and Ms. Brown reviewed their qualifications and
proposal for services with the City Council. City Council Members and City Manager Saunders were
given an opportunity to ask questions of Mr. Mantzaris and Ms. Brown.
Mayor Turville thanked Mr. Mantzaris and Ms. Brown for their interest in providing services for the
City. Mr. Mantzaris and Ms. Brown left the meeting at approximately 8:20 p.m.
City Manager Saunders then stated that earlier in the day he had received two additional applications
and asked if the Council would like to schedule further interviews. It was the consensus of Council
that the two firms be scheduled for another workshop meeting on March 8, 2004 at 6:00 p.m.
Mayor Turville asked if there was any other business to be discussed. City Manager Saunders stated
that the water clarity at Waterfront Park has not improved since last year and that the City will not be
able to obtain a permit for the swim area without a variance. City Managers Saunders stated that the
requirement for visibility is 48" and the current readings are typically around 20". After a discussion it
was the consensus of Council not to pursue a variance at this time.
City Manager Saunders then informed the City Council that the City of Leesburg has entered into an
agreement with Lake County School System to provide fiber optic service to some of the schools in the
City of Clermont, which would require them to install fiber optic lines along some of their right-of-
ways. City Manager Saunders stated that he has spoken with Leesburg representative several months
ago about the City of Clermont possibly partnering with the City of Leesburg in providing fiber optic
service in our City. After the discussion it was the consensus of Council to contact the City of Leesburg
for further discussions about fiber optic opportunity in the City of Clermont.
City of Clermont
MINUTES
WORKSHOP MEETING
March 1, 2004
Page 2
City Manager Saunders then stated that Council Member Caputo has requested that access for Council
Member to City Hall be discussed. He explained that historically elected and appointed officials have
not been provided keys to City Hall however, key fabs could be programed for Council Members to
have access to the building after business hours and on weekends if that was the desire of the City
Council. Council Member Caputo explained his position regarding this issue; the other Council
Members did not support providing access to City Hall after hours.
Council Member Caputo reminded the Council Members that the Police Consultant issue will be back
on the agenda the first meeting in March for the ranking of the Consultant Firms.
Mayor Turville recognized Mr. Joe Terri, a City of Minneola Council Member, who was in the audience
and stated that Mr. Terri's interest and purpose for being at the meeting was to acquire a copy of the
outline for fire service that the City Council had previously discussed.
Council Member Caputo stated he was somewhat surprised to see the article in a newspaper regarding
the issue. City Manager Saunders explained to Mr. Caputo that this was discussed at a previous
workshop that Mr. Caputo was not able to attend.
It was the consensus of Council to provide the City of Minneola a copy of the proposal that City
Manager Saunders had reviewed with the City Council at a previous workshop.
City Manager Saunders stated that the City should move ahead and advertise for an advisory
committee for the newly proposed Community Center. He also provided the Council with a tentative
schedule for the planning and construction of the new Community Center.
Mayor Turville then stated that a member of the Veterans Administration (VA) had discussed with him
the possibility of utilizing an office in the new City Hall for walk-in traffic for people needing to sign up
for various VA benefits. He stated that he had discussed this with City Manager Saunders and they did
not feel we could provide an appropriate place for such activity in the new building.
Council Member Caputo then updated the City Council Members on the Cooper Library condition.
Mr. Caputo stated that he attended a meeting a few days earlier and had been told that the library
would need to close in order for the necessary repairs to be made. City Manager Saunders stated that
he had met earlier in the week with some of the Lake County staff and that a new report is to be
generated regarding the necessary repairs along with the additional air quality report.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Tra~y Ackroyd~,~ity Clerk~
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