Loading...
03.16.2021 - City Council MinutesCity of Clermont MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 16, 2021 The Clermont City Council met at a workshop on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in the Clermont Community Center. Mayor Murry opened the workshop at 6:30pm with the following Council Members present: Pines, Entsuah, Purvis, and Bates. Other City officials present were Interim City Manager Dauderis, City Attorney Mantzaris and Deputy City Clerk Lueth. OPENING STATEMENTS Interim City Manager Dauderis stated that there was a change to the agenda and a revised agenda had been provided to the Council and the Public. The discussion on multi -family housing was being tabled until a later date. 1. Wellness Way Sean Parks, Lake County BOCC Chair — Chairman Parks provided encouraging and positive sentiments for the Council as they are addressing growth management which is a difficult process to manager. He said that approach taken for Wellness Way veers away from the current development pattern in Clermont and Central Florida. He feels that the current development plan is unsustainable as developers will take the path of least resistance and carve out little pieces of land at a time. This method is dangerous because twenty (20) years from now all of the little pieces will result in a big problem. Wellness Way is planned in such a way as to garner the most value per acre. It is being designed for Gen Z and Millennials where it will be based on experience and interactivity. He continued that Wellness Way will have a density cap of 16,000 to 18,000 units. The development will have a high standard with regards to design, walkability, landscaping and other things. He informed the Council that developers will be required to pay for all the roads. Chairman Parks admitted that the plan is not perfect and the County is always open to suggestion. Brandon Matulka, Agency for Economic Prosperity, Lake County — Mr. Matulka presented a PowerPoint presentation. The Wellness Way area is 15,500 acres in size with 12,000 net buildable acres and 3,000 acres of Consery II acres. Mr. Matulka highlighted the background and need for Wellness Way. He gave an overview of the goals and objectives such as: - Coordinated development - Job generation - Environmental protection - Balancing land owner rights with planned growth strategies - Recreational opportunities Mr. Matulka stated that the City of Clermont and Lake County developed an agreement for a cost shared consultant which is Levey Consulting, LLC. Richard Levey, Levey Consulting, LLC — Presented the Wellness Way Implementation Plan via PowerPoint presentation. Mr. Levey gave a review of the process used to develop the plan thus far including: City of Clermont MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 16, 2021 1. Stakeholder Process 2. Deliverables: Implementation, Design Guidelines, Comprehensive Plan Amendment 3. Next Steps Regarding implementation, Mr. Levey highlighted the following areas: 1. Schools — The area will have at least two schools. The planning team has worked with the school district to deliver schools in a timely fashion. This means that the schools will be developed not after things are built, but while things are being built. 2. Water/Wastewater and Reclaimed Water Utility Extensions. 3. Public Safety Framework — Opportunities exist to partner with the County based on a site in the Olympus development. 4. Technology/Telecom — the ability to deliver high speed consistent internet will make or break this plan. 5. Economic Development Strategy — development needs to focus on home based employment. The demand for office space in the suburban space is changing rapidly. A lot of jobs that used to require onsite attendance, are not the same anymore. 6. Transportation — the Lake/Orange connector is an important key to the success of the development plan. Brokers who attended sessions with the plan creators stated that if Wellness Way can deliver the interchange at the time of the expressway opening, it will be the premium destination hub for logistics in Florida. Regarding design standards, Mr. Levey highlighted the following points: 1. Form and Design 2. Connectivity 3. Lot Development Standards 4. Road Networks — Local government cannot push traffic out to US27 to travel. People living in the Wellness Way area need a way to get east and west. 5. Robust Trail Network — Embedded in the neighborhoods will be paths. They are working from a philosophical ideal that the trails need to start at the garage, inside the neighborhood. 6. Preservation of the Clay Road. 7. Open Space and Parks — No changes to adopted open space standards, but substantial increase to parks design and standards. These would be Community Development District or Home Owner Association parks. S. Landscape and Natural Resources — No changes. 9. Public Facilities and Utilities — No changes. Regarding a comprehensive plan amendment, Mr. Levey highlighted the following points: 1. Asking that the county plan amendment be revised for the City so that there will be parallel land use guidelines. Council Member Bates thanked Mr. Levey for his work. He asked what the time frame for the County was for adoption. Mr. Levey said that the County Planning & Zoning Board would be hearing it for approval in about 60 to 90 days. Council Member Purvis asked about annexation to the south. Mr. Levey said that there is an ISBA agreement in place to allow for non-contiguous annexation. 2 City of Clermont MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 16, 2021 City Attorney Mantzaris reminded the Council that any annexation is tied to ability to serve an area with utilities. Council Member Purvis is concerned about an entity moving in like Utilities Inc. did in the Legends area. Council Member Entsuah thanked Mr. Levey. He stated that he is impressed with the presentation, and that it is a mammoth of a project. He is cautiously optimistic. 2. Parking Interim City Manager Dauderis informed Council this item is being brought forward to talk about the parking garage future project and also the more immediate needs for parking downtown. James Maiworm, Public Services Assistant Director — Mr. Maiworm gave an update on the parking garage project based on the direction received from the Council over time, especially from the prior month workshop. He provided an overview of their post -workshop progress. They contacted a consulting firm to create a hypothetical site plan, garage layout and to provide construction estimates. He reviewed the prospective locations including the post office. He concluded by asking the Council for direction about which site the Council would like to see studied. Council Member Purvis asked about the number of spots at the old Elks Lodge. Mr. Maiworm said that area has about 100 spots. Council Member Purvis suggested the City should not look at a property that yields less than 100 spots. Mr. Maiworm informed the Council that it would cost about $8,000 per site to do a review. Council Member Bates asked if Mr. Maiworm had spoken to other municipalities that have garages. Mr. Maiworm said he came from a community where he oversaw five (5) parking garages and has a lot of experience in this area. Mr. Maiworm informed the Council that each garage is unique with their own management, challenges and conditions. Interim City Manager Dauderis asked if the Council is still looking at the four (4) sites and the post office. Council Member Purvis said that staff should have conversations with the post office after the property changes hands. Mayor Murry asked about the residential parcel adjoining the post office. Mr. Maiworm said that staff always envisioned the two parcels working in tandem. Interim City Manager Dauderis restated that the cost is $8,000 per site, so this is the time for the Council to narrow their selections, if they so desire. Council Member Purvis stated that he feels that they should only spend the money on the post office site, if the whole block is available. The Council concurred. The Council discussed the possibility of studying City Hall. Council Members Pines and Entsuah supported studying the City Hall site. Council Members Purvis and Mayor Murry were opposed. 3 City of Clermont MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 16, 2021 Development Services Director Curt Henschel informed Council that the space where the old library was located could be used for the garage at City Hall. Councilmember Bates asked what the scope of work for the consultant would be. Mr. Maiworm said that for the $8,000 review, the consultant would design and analyze each site. They would then provide estimated construction costs and a spot yield study to the Council. The Mayor opened the floor to the public. Lee Harvey, 790 W. Minneola, Clermont — Representing Suncreek Brewery. Encouraged more parking downtown. Recommended temporary improvements to Dehoyas property. Angie Langley, PO Box 12544, Clermont — Asked which three properties the Council was considering. Recommend keeping the City Hall site on the review list. Vincent Niemiec, Regency Hills, Clermont — Asked questions about the City Hall site. Council Member Purvis asked about the dimensions of the garage on the City Hall site. Mr. Maiworm stated the site is 2.5 acres, but City Hall is part of that. It would have to be a more narrow building, but that is why the City can have the consultant examine the site. Seeing no further comments, the floor was closed. The Council reconfirmed that it would like the consultant to review the following site locations: 7th and Minneola, 71h and Osceola, 81h and Minneola and City Hall. Switching topics, the Mr. Maiworm talked about the City's proposed actions due to the 7th & Minneola parking lot lease termination which will be effective April 26. The restoration cost is $3,500. To make up the parking, there is an opportunity to enhance the parking at 71h & Osceola. The estimated cost is $40,000 - $80,000 for the temporary improvements. Council Member Pines asked if the property owner is willing to allow improvements. Mr. Maiworm was unsure, but the owner had been okay with some minor improvements in the past. Interim City Manager Dauderis informed the Council that the lease contract specifies that the City is allowed to make adjustments to comply with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). City Attorney Mantzaris reminded the Council that there is only a 180 termination provision, so he cautioned them about contributing resources to a property the City could lose after only six (6) months. Interim City Manager Dauderis informed the Council that a late afternoon conversation that day with the owner of the 71h & Mineola may present an opportunity where the lease agreement is not terminated. 4 City of Clermont MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 16, 2021 Mayor Murry said he spent all day Saturday downtown and said that the parking lot at 7th and Osceola had a few cars, but the 7th and Minneola was packed. Mr. Maiworm told the Council that an opportunity had come up to sign an agreement for space at 8th and Minneola. Councilmember Pines felt that the City should also move forward with pursuing a lease agreement at 81h and Minneola. The Council opened the floor for Jayson Stringfellow to address the Council. Jayson Stringfellow, West Lakeshore Drive — Mr. Stringfellow stated that a dialog was started late that day, but there are some significant things that need to be discussed. There a lot of unanswered questions. The Council closed the floor. Councilmember Bates asked how long the shutdown for streetscaping would affect the parking. Mr. Maiworm stated that there is another option to open the 7th and Minneola parking lot, if the termination is delayed. The Council asked Interim City Manager Dauderis to work with Jayson Stringfellow for 7th and Minneola solution. The Council asked Interim City Manager Dauderis to work to acquire a lease agreement for 8th and Minneola. Council asked staff to look at further improving the Dehoyas property, especially concerning signage. Council Member Purvis asked if they should look at authorizing the $40,000 - $80,000. City Attorney Mantzaris reminded the Council that the agreement is only a six (6) month lease. Mr. Maiworm said that that cost estimate is a bigger picture, and Public Works could do some piece meal items that would cost less. Council Member Purvis asked if the City made improvements, would that activate ADA requirements. Mr. Maiworm said it could and that the issue would need to be researched. 3. Other Lake Minneola Waterfront Property Barbara Hollerand, City Business Liaison, presented the staff analysis via a PowerPoint presentation on acquiring the lakefront property. She highlighted reasons why it is important to purchase additional properties along the lake shore. Ms. Hollerand explained that grants could be used to offset the cost. 5 City of Clermont MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 16, 2021 The Council discussed that it was important to not offer more than appraised value, but it is important to acquire property along the lake shore. City Attorney Mantzaris added that paying more than appraised value could jeopardize a grant application. VP Development City Attorney Mantzaris provided an update on the issue with VP Development. He informed the Council that the City is moving forward with an agreement that would preserve the status quo for six (6) months with a possible extension. The City will allow VP Development to use the building as they are, and VP Development would in turn hold the City harmless, if something was to occur. He added that the City is still participating in discussions that would allow for an agreement with all parties involved. The Council thanked staff for their work on this issue, but stated that at the end of the six (6) months they would like this to come to the Council for a decision. Follow-ui� Barbed Wire Interim City Manager Dauderis provided additional information to the Council on a public comment received at the last City Council meeting. Council Member Entsuah stated that he feels the code needs to be clarified overall in order for better understanding. Council Member Pines asked if the Council is willing to change the code for every individual. She believes that it should not be done. She does not believe this is a code issue, but more a law enforcement issue. Council Member Purvis and Mayor Murry agreed. Council gave a consensus that this does not need to come up at a workshop. Council Member Entsuah restated that he wants to see a workshop on recodification of the entire code. Closing Comments Mayor Murry got a complaint about trash along 561 over by 121h Street and graffiti under the bridge. There is also complaints of underage drinking. He also received a complaint about trash on US27 by Kings Ridge, but when he drove by he could not find any. Mayor Murry asked that the City Manager investigate the placement of a fountain on East Lake. Council Member Purvis asked to reactivate the charter committee to address term limits. Council also discussed districts, but most members were against it. City Attorney Mantzaris clarified that the Council can change the charter without a charter committee. 6 City of Clermont MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 16, 2021 Adjourn: The workshop concluded at 8:00 pm with no further comments. APPROVED: Tim Murry, Mayor ATTEST: 1 Tracy Ackroyd Howe, ity Clerk "X