02.15.2022 - City Council MinutesCity of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
February 15, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council met in a workshop on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 in the Clermont City Council
Chambers. Mayor Murry called the workshop to order at 6:30 pm with the following Council Members
present: Council Members Pines, Entsuah, Bates, and Purvis.
Other City officials present were City Manager Bulthuis, City Attorney Mantzaris, and City Clerk Howe.
OPENING COMMENTS
Chief Ezell spoke about an accident on Highway 50 earlier in the day. A tractor trailer was parked off of
Highway 50 by East Avenue, the driver got out and somehow the tractor trailer rolled back into traffic on
Highway 50 and struck one of the Fire engines that was passing at that time. The driver did his best to avoid
the collision but the engine was struck toward the back of vehicle and the axle was torn loose from the body
of the engine. There were no injuries to the public or firefighters.
The engine has been towed and it will be several weeks to determine if it is repairable. Currently there are
two other engines out for repair but one should come back on Wednesday so they will be working with one
reserve engine while this one is down. We do have an engine on order which is about eighteen to twenty
four months out.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Comprehensive Plan Review
Curt Henschel, Development Services Director, stated that everyone is here to discuss the desire and
requirement to update our Comprehensive Plan and Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR). It is required
by the state that we have to review this every seven years. Mr. Henschel introduced Tara McCue, Deputy
Director of East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC) to discuss the topic further.
Brian Bulthuis, City Manager, explained that the city is looking for a proposal from ECFRPC for us to
engage them to update the Comprehensive Plan and Evaluation and Appraisal Report rather than going out
to find a consultant.
Tara McCue spoke about what a Comprehensive Plan is. She reviewed the nine elements of the
Comprehensive Plan and went over common contents of the Comprehensive Plan Elements.
Ms. McCue reviewed understanding the role of the Comprehensive Plan as well as the timeline to submit
to the state which is October 2022, and what that process looks like. The City of Clermont's last
Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2009 and there are things that have changed since then and need to be
updated.
Discussion ensued between City Council, Planning and Zoning Board members and staff regarding what
belongs in a Comprehensive Plan versus the Land Development Code. They discussed the timeline to
submit the EAR to the state and was informed that staff has a goal to get it approved by Planning and
Zoning in August, City Council in September and submit to the state before the October deadline.
City of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
February 15, 2022
Brian Bulthuis, City Manager, stated that there are two phases to this process. Phase one is to get the EAR
submitted to the state by October 2022. Phase two is to work on and update our Comprehensive Plan. Mr.
Bulthuis asked for a consensus from Council to put on the March 8, 2022 agenda a proposal from East
Central Florida Regional Planning Council to work on the EAR and Council agreed.
Tara McCue stated that as soon as the proposal is approved, they would start working on the EAR.
Development Services Director Henschel explained that if the City does not get the EAR submitted by the
deadline in October 2022, then the city cannot process any applications for any new development.
City Manager Bulthuis previously talked about starting the Comprehensive Plan now but he was not aware
of the EAR requirement. As soon as the EAR is completed, we will work on the Comprehensive Plan since
there is a need to amend the current Comprehensive Plan to include the Wellness Way area.
Mr. Bulthuis, stated that currently the proposal from East Central Florida Regional Planning Council is just
for the EAR and they will return with a proposal for the Comprehensive Plan when we are in the budget
process.
Wellness Wa
City Manager Bulthuis introduced Richard Levey who is a consultant with the City regarding Wellness
Way.
Richard Levey spoke about the Comprehensive Plan and the amendment for Wellness Way. This project
started as a collaboration between the City of Clermont and Lake County. Lake County has adopted goals,
objectives and policies for Wellness Way within their Comprehensive Plan which were outdated. Two years
ago, the City of Clermont and Lake County agreed to jointly pursue and create an implementation plan to
identify things which needed to change within their Comprehensive Plan regarding Wellness Way. This
proposal is what is being considered by Lake County. Mr. Levey walked through each section of the
proposed Wellness Way Comprehensive Plan amendment.
City Manager Bulthuis reviewed a map explaining all the parts of Wellness Way and the conserve property
on the north part which will not be developed. He also spoke about the Lake/Orange connector going
through at the bottom and is scheduled to open in 2025.
City Manager Bulthuis spoke about the city limits and annexing property into the City. There was discussion
about part of Olympus being in the City utility area. We will have to run water and sewer down Hancock
to Hartwood Marsh this summer in order for development to start. Once utilities are in, developers can start
building.
Richard Levey talked about building the roads in Wellness Way and which ones will be renamed so that
they flow through the area. The developers are paying for the roads to be built instead of paying the County
to build them.
Richard Levey commented about thirty percent of a neighborhood having park and open space standards.
The government is now requiring dog parks, gardens, small playgrounds interconnected in neighborhoods
so everyone is connected to greenspace.
City of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
February 15, 2022
Richard Levey went over the mapping of conservation land. Council Member Pines raised concerns over
the minimum length of the buffer from wetlands being fifteen feet in some instances, she does not feel that
is a big enough space between the wetlands and development. Mr. Levey stated that the Water Management
District sets buffer lines to protect the habitat of wetlands. The buffer will be fifty feet in most areas which
is an increase from the City's current twenty five foot buffer.
Discussion ensued regarding what will be done when land development proposals come in. There was
discussion regarding reclaimed water. Public Services Director Brunson stated there is no reclaimed water
in that however there are wells onsite and staff is working with the land owners to get access to those.
City Manager Bulthuis asked Council to look over the document for anything that they want changed, the
document will go before Council for the final reading at the February 22, 2022 City Council Meeting and
then we still have to get concurrence with Lake County.
Council Member Purvis stated that he shares concerns about the buffer. He stated he would not support the
document with that minimum buffer length and suggested a compromise with a minimum of 35 foot buffer.
Mr. Levey explained that the current buffer the city has in place is 25 feet.
City Manager Bulthuis explained that Council can table this final hearing again if they need more time to
review. Council Member Purvis stated that this is the first time they have had a complete package to review.
This was a big help and overall, it is good. Mr. Bulthuis said at this time, the goal is to table the item at the
City Council Meeting next Tuesday; if Council has comments, email them to Development Services
Director Henschel so he can get them to Richard Levey within the next two weeks. Mr. Levey will then go
over and address all comments.
Mr. Bulthuis introduced Kelly Randall, Supervisor of Growth Planning for Lake County School Board. Mr.
Bulthuis asked her to help explain how Lake County School Board plans out building schools.
Kelly Randall, Supervisor of Growth Planning for Lake County School Board, stated that the Lake County
School Board has been present in the discussions about Wellness Way. Most recently attending stakeholder
meetings and meetings with the City. She explained that she has been consistent with expressing the needs
of the school district in all of the meetings.
Ms. Randall reviewed the school capacity needs analysis for Wellness Way and what constitutes a need for
a school. The analysis is based on a total maximum value of 1,900 units. The build out time for that amount
is 25 to 30 and only one-third of the area is in the City. Every three years as part of the impact fee update,
they conduct a student generation rate which is .35 for single family homes and .282 for multifamily houses.
Out of 100 houses built, we only expect 35 students going into traditional schools in K-12.
Ms. Randall stated that the School Board builds schools for the entire district and not any one entity
therefore schools outside of Wellness Way will serve the children that live there. The City of Clermont and
Lake County joined to adopt an Interlocal Agreement in 2007. The agreement ensures the district is fully
aware of any development coming in and the City agrees not to approve any development unless the school
capacity is either available or have projects to make sure capacity is there at the time the school system is
impacted.
Ms. Randall explained that it costs a lot to build and run schools. At this time, there is capacity available
at the elementary school and middle school level and will continue to monitor growth. The high school
that would serve Wellness Way is over their permanent capacity and has been for years.
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City of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
February 15, 2022
The Lake County School Board sees Wellness Way as an opportunity to address the overcrowding and find
a high school site.
City Council Members discussed how impact fees are used regarding schools and keeping the funds for a
specific school rather than going to the whole district. Ms. Randall explained the difference between when
funds go district wide and when funds stay in one area. Council Member Pines thanked Ms. Randall for
clarifying how the process works and what the School Board is looking to do in the future for the growth
that is coming.
City Manager Bulthuis said the goal is to find a high school and elementary school site in March or April.
Once we get utilities to that area, we will have a better schedule to see commercial development.
Mayor Murry thanked Mr. Bulthuis for bringing everyone together for this project.
CLOSING COMMENTS
City Attorney Mantzaris presented Council with a draft letter in opposition to the pending bill to restructure
Lake County Water Authority. The bill would restructure and eliminate the board of elected officials and
make them appointed officials of the County Commission. Mr. Mantzaris stated that Council cannot take
official action tonight. City Manager Bulthuis stated this item will be on the agenda for February 22, 2022
and they will be asking for Council to take action.
City Manager Bulthuis handed out a map of the Downtown Streetscape Phase 3 which will be on the March
8, 2022 agenda. This project will be done in phases and is estimated to take a year to complete. They will
start the first phase on March 21, 2022 which will take eight weeks, each phase will take 4 to 8 weeks to
complete.
All businesses will be notified of the plans and street closures as well as First Friday events and the
Christmas Parade.
City Manager Bulthuis announced that the City will be submitting for a grant to build Pickle ball Courts at
the Arts and Recreation Center. The Live Well Foundation gives out grant funds up to $1 million and there
is no match required as long as it is health related.
Council Member Purvis asked about a Skateboard Park and if they have found anywhere to build one.
Deputy City Manager Davidoff stated the City has been looking for a place to build one and staff has gone
to other cities to see that they have.
ADJOURN: With no further comments, this workshop adjourned at 9:22 pm
APPROVED:
Tim Murry, Mayor
ATTEST;g
Tracy Ackroyd Howe, City Cie