08.15.2022 - City Council MinutesCity of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP
August 15, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council met in a budget workshop on Monday, August 15, 2022 in the Clermont City
Council Chambers. Mayor Murry called the workshop to order at 12:30 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.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Proposed Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget Discussion
City Manager Bulthuis stated that on September 7, the city will have the First Budget Public
Hearing at 6:30pm. At that meeting, the Council has to adopt a preliminary budget and preliminary
millage rate. Then, on September 20, that is the Final Budget Public Hearing to adopt the final
millage rate and budget. Staff is requesting Council direction.
Mr. Bulthuis reminded Council about the budget. We are a service industry, most of the city's
assets are people. He reviewed the General Fund expenditures, union agreements and non -union
state mandates for the $15 per hour minimum wage. There are vacancies due to low starting
salaries. The current millage rate is 4.2 mills which has not been adjusted in seven years. Mr.
Bulthuis reviewed the millage rate effect on large, medium and small size business. Also, he
reviewed the millage rate to residential.
Discussion ensued regarding Fire Stations and Impact Fees. In order to increase the millage rate
to 4.6 mills, it requires three votes by the City Council; 5.06 mills requires four votes by the City
Council and any millage rate increase above that amount requires a unanimous vote of the City
Council. Council shared their concerns regarding different millage rates.
Fire Chief Ezell presented a PowerPoint with details of each Fire Station. Council discussed the
needs of each station along with staffing issues facing the department and the millage rate needed
in order to maintain staff.
City Manager Bulthuis commented the City applied for a grant for an emergency generator for
City Hall. The cost is $300,000 and the grant is for $185,000. Mr. Bulthuis asked Council if they
would like to accept the grant and will have to spend $115,000 to cover the expense. Council does
not want to move forward with generator at City Hall.
The workshop recessed at 2:14pm; the workshop reconvened at 2:25pm.
Public Works Director Brunson provided history regarding the budget process for his department.
Staffing is a large concern and the city is competing with surrounding cities, some that are already
offering minimum wage of $15 per hour, and the private sector. The City has been utilizing
temporary help that can hopefully become full time employees.
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City of Clermont
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP
August 15, 2022
Council discussed different strategies to assist with the starting pay and the licenses these positions
require.
City Manager Bulthuis informed council that HB 7055 Cybersecurity was passed. Mr. Bulthuis
provided an explanation of the bill and suggested the City have a plan to meet the requirements
for Cybersecurity.
Police Chief Broadway reviewed areas of his budget that would cause a hardship if it were cut or
had funding reduced which included the School Resource Officer program, mobile crisis team and
community relations/policing.
Discussion ensued regarding different millage rates and the need to make budget reductions at
each millage rate. The discussion continued regarding the Lake County Sheriffs substation in
Clermont and the number of officers needed with the growth of the city.
Mayor Murry opened the workshop for public comments.
Otis Taylor, 3686 Caladesi Road, spoke about rising costs everywhere.
Tod Howard, 1986 Brantley Circle, expressed concern over an increase to the millage rate.
Dani Page, Tuscany Ridge, expressed concern over an increase to the millage rate.
Mayor Murry closed the public comments.
City Manager Bulthuis requested a consensus from Council on the millage rate to prepare the
budget for the hearings. Finance Director Brosonski explained they could set the millage at the
First Budget Public Hearing on September 7, 2022. At the Final Budget Public Hearing on
September 20, 2022, the Council can go lower the millage rate, just not higher than the millage
rate set at the First Budget Public Hearing.
Mr. Bulthuis stated the infrastructure fund has to be submitted to Lake County by August 22, 2022.
This includes police vehicles, street maintenance, and the roofs for the Arts and Recreation Center
and City Hall. The budget can be amended, if needed.
ADJOURN: With no further comments, this workshop adjourned at 3:57 pm.
.a! S
APPROVED:
i
t +- Tim Murry, Mayxor
Tracy Ackroyd Howe, MMC
City Clerk
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