03-11-2003 Regular Meeting City of Clermont.
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
March 11, 2003
Page 1
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held Tuesday, March 11, 2003 at Jenkins
Auditorium. Mayor Hal Turville called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the following Council Members
present: Council Members Ash, Caputo, Mullins and Renick. Other City officials present were City Manager
Saunders and Finance Director Van Zile.
INVOCATION
Council Member Caputo gave the invocation, followed by the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by all
present.
MINUTES
~I motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member Renick,
and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held
February25, 2003, and the December 16, 2002, December 19, 2002, Januar~ 21, 2003
and Februa~ 5, 2003 Council Workshop Meeting minutes.
REPORTS
City Manager Saunders
City Manager Saunders stated that Elaine Tharpe has resigned from the Code Enforcement Board due to illness
in her family. He stated that the City will be seeking a replacement soon.
City Manager Saunders stated that the Clermont Main Street has requested that Montrose Street be closed on
Saturday, March 22, 2003 for the Annual Peddler's Market to be held downtown.
motion was made by Council Member Caputo, seconded by Council Member
Renick, and carried unanimously to close Montrose Street for the event, as requested.
City Manager Saunders then stated that the City Council had previously approved the hiring ofNabors, Giblin
& Nickerson, P.A. to represent the City regarding the Lake Utilities application for expansion. He stated that
the City Council had included in the motion a cap of $10,000 with the requirement that this would come back
to the City Council for further funding approval. He stated that the firm has made significant progress in the
case and it is very important that the Council approve further funds in order to continue to prepare for this case.
Discussion followed regarding the progress made and the funds needed.
City Manager Saunders stated that the research and discovery aspect recently completed was very time
consuming. He stated that it is very important to keep the case moving at this point.
Council Member Renick stated her concem regarding how costly this could be for the City.
A tnotion was ~nade by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member
Caputo, and carried unanitnousl¥ to approve att additional $10,000 for legal representation
by Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson.
City Manager Saunders then scheduled a Workshop meeting with the City Council for Monday, March 24,
2003 at 6:00 p.m. at the Police Department Community Services Room.
City of Clermont.
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
March 11, 2003
Page 2
Council Member Ash
Council Member Ash stated she had attended her first meeting of the Board of the Lake Community Action
Agency and stated she would be attending her first training session on Friday.
Council Member Caputo
Council Member Caputo stated that he has attended the Lake County School Board meetings and that progress
is being made.
Discussion followed regarding Council representation at the meetings on this important issue.
Council Member Mullins
Council Member Mullins stated that the Pig on the Pond event was a success and that the City has received a
wall plaque in appreciation of its support of the event.
Mayor Turville
Mayor Turville stated that various representatives of the City and Clermont Main Street had recently met
regarding the First Friday events and asked Rose Biddle of Clermont Main Street if this most recent event had
been better.
Ms. Biddle stated there was still an excess of children attending the event but it was somewhat better.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Turvill6 asked if anyone wished to pull any item of the Consent Agenda for discussion.
Item 1 - Bid Award
Item 2 - Contract Approval
Item 3 - Final Change Order
Item 4 - Event Approval
Item 5 - Citrus Tower Boulevard
Item 6 - Equipment Purchase
Item 7 - Demolition Approval
Council Member Ash pulled Items 2 and 3 for discussion.
Sunburst Lane (East System)
Lakeview Hills (West System)
Security System for New City Hall
Gomez Construction - Downtown Streetscape
South Lake Junior Women's Club Easter Egg
Hunt at Palatlakaha Recreation Area Playground
and Pavilion on April 19, 2003
Right of WayWarranty Deed and Temporary
Construction/Perpetual Grading Easement for
Citrus Tower Boulevard
Sludge Trailer
635 West Montrose Street
City of Clermont.
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
March 11, 2003
Page 3
,4 motion was made by Council Member Caputo, seconded by Council Member Mullins,
and carried unan#nousl¥ to approve Items 1, 4, 5, 6 & 7 of the Consent ~lgenda.
Item 2 - Contract Approval - Security System for New City Hall
Council Member Ash asked if the lease option mentioned in the documentation was a part of the approval
process.
City Manager Saunders stated that the amount of $23,485 includes the equipment purchase and installation fee,
and that the monthly maintenance fee of $355 is also included in this contract approval.
Item 3 - Final Change Order - Gomez Construction
Council Member Ash stated it was her understanding that final payment had been made for the Downtown
Streetscape project.
City Manager Saunders spoke regarding the necessary concrete removal and repair work done for this amount
Discussion followed regarding the history of the project and past pay requests.
City Manager Saunders stated there is some additional work being done downtown associated with the
Streetscape project, primarily drainage design, as previously approved by the City Council.
~1 motion was made by Council Member ~4sh, seconded by Council Member Mullins,
and carried unanimously to approve Items 2 & 3 of the Consent ~4genda.
NEW BUSINESS
Request for Release of Lien - 490 West Highway 50
City Manager Saunders stated this property is located at the comer of S.R. 50 and Fiftah Street and gave the
history of the violations issued for the vacant parcel and the occupied portion of the property. He stated that a
good faith effort has been made by Mr. Bacon, who rents the property from the owner, and stated that Staff is
recommending that the request for release of lien and waiver of associated fines be granted.
James Johnson spoke representing the property owners regarding the violations and asked that the request be
granted.
Nick Bacon, business owner at 490 West Highway 50, spoke regarding the actions taken by the Code
Enforcement Board and his subsequent efforts to bring the property into compliance.
Council Member Renick referred to the minutes of the Code Enforcement Board and asked Mr. Bacon for
clarification as to his actions.
Council Member Caputo asked Mr. Bacon if he had attended the Code Enforcement Board hearing where the
fines and lien were imposed.
City Manager Saunders stated that there were two separate issues on this property, which lends confusion as to
what was expected of each one.
City of Clermont.
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
March 11, 2003
Page 4
Council Member Caputo stated his belief that the City should not waive all fees but should at least collect
sufficient funds to cover its costs for filing, etc. He stated an example should be set for the future.
Mayor Turville stated that when an effort is made to bring a property into compliance then the City should
work with the property owner.
Council Member Caputo asked City Manager Saunders if the renter of the property is served notice of
violation and Code Enforcement action.
City Manager Saunders stated the property owner is notified.
Council Member Renick stated this situation is unique and therefore some leniency is required.
~1 motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member
,dsh, and carried unanimously to grant the release of lien and waive the
_fines associated.
Mayor Turville stated that the City Council had reached the end of the meeting agenda and asked if anyone
wished to speak on any other issue.
Wally Herda spoke to the City Council regarding the soccer field on Highland Avenue and stated that the
parking on the street is creating a traffic hazard. He stated that No Parking signs are posted on the street and
that citations were issued recently for those parked illegally. He stated that the signs were removed recently on
the school side and asked why and how to get them put back.
Heather Dugan spoke regarding the traffic and parking problems Mr. Herda complained about. She provided
photographs of some of the problems they are dealing with.
The City Council directed City Manager Saunders to work to resolve this problem.
Jerry Turner spoke to the City Council regarding the potential Wal-Mart store on U.S. 27.
Mayor Turville stated that this issue would be discussed at a later City Council meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Attest: