01.24.2023 - City Council MinutesCity of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
January 24, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 in the Clermont City Council
Chambers. Mayor Murry called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm with the following Council Members
present: Council Members Gonzalez, Pines, Entsuah, and Purvis.
Other City officials present were City Manager Bulthuis, City Attorney Mantzaris, and City Clerk Howe.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The invocation was given by Police Chaplain Michael Saxe followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATIONS
Clermont Sea Cadets Battalion Lt Gary Schindele presented updates on the program.
Battalion Lt Gary Schindele officially stepped down and a formal change of command ceremony took place.
LTJG Michael Steidley presented the promotion appointment of Chief Petty Officer to Rachel Van de Riet.
Police Chief Broadway presented Chaplain Jeff Barnes with a retirement plaque for 10 years of service
with the Clermont Police Department.
Chaplain Victor Lopez was sworn in by Police Chief Broadway and received a Chaplain badge.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Charlene Forth, 939 W. Desoto Street - spoke on transparency of Council.
Banks Helfrich, 9100 Sands Lake Road — spoke about sustainable living.
Rebecca Thomas, 982 Nathan Ridge Road — asked Council to reconsider the denial of her variance request
from the previous meeting.
Mayor Murry stated that he received her email and has staff looking into her request. City Manager Bulthuis
stated that staff is drafting an amendment to the ordinance ,which prompted her to have to file for a variance,
to change the setback minimums which would allow her to build her screen enclosure as requested. The
goal is to take the amendment to the Planning Commission in March then to Council in March and April.
AGENDA CHANGES
City Manager Bulthuis informed the Council of the following agenda change:
Item No. 18 — Resolution No. 2023-003R. Micro -Hospital Conditional Use Permit
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, GRANTING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW FOR
A MICRO -HOSPITAL USE GREATER THAN 5,000 SQUARE FEET IN THE
TUSCANY VILLAGE PUD, RESOLUTION 1532; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT,
SEVERABILITY, ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENERS ERROR,
PUBLICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Clerk Howe read the title aloud.
City Manager Bulthuis informed the Council this is a request to table the item to February 28, 2023
City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
January 24, 2023
Council Member Entsuah moved to table Resolution No. 2023-003R to February 28 2023•
Seconded by Council Member Pines. Passed unanimously 5-0 with all members present
voicing ate.
REPORTS
CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Bulthuis —
Lake County tabled the discussion regarding raising Transportation Impact Fees to February 14,
2023. Council passed a resolution in support of raising impact fees on new development for
transportation.
Great Clermont Campout will be February 4-5 at Waterfront Park. Jennifer Stills, Parks &
Recreation Manager, introduced Mark Wright- Ahern who is the new Coordinator for the events
division.
• Laurie Windham, PIO provided an update on the Citizens Academy.
The program will be open to 25 citizens and will run March 23 through May 4 with weekly classes on
Thursdays from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The Citizen's Academy will hear from key departments in the city to
have an understanding of city operations.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
City Attorney Mantzaris — no report.
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
Council Member Gonzalez —
• Attended the Lake County Florida League of Cities meeting.
• Attended the Martin Luther King Jr. parade.
• Attended the Strong Town Initiative.
• Attended the Institute for Elected Municipal Officials in St. Augustine.
Council Member Purvis —
• Praised the Arts and Recreation staff.
• Inquired about Council rights to rebut citizen comments.
City Attorney Mantzaris stated that he can look into the matter and provide a response.
Council Member Entsuah —
• Great celebration at the Martin Luther King, Jr. parade.
Council Member Pines —
• Thanked staff for Martin Luther King, Jr. events.
• Happy Birthday to Mr. Bulthuis.
Mayor Murry —
• Great turnout for the 4' annual Martin Luther King, Jr. parade. City Manager Bulthuis and Deputy
City Manager Davidoff walked the parade.
City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
January 24, 2023
• Presented a Proclamation to Clermont citizen Frank Klum M honor of his 100" birthday celebration.
• Attended Strong Towns Initiative.
• Happy Birthday to Mr. Bulthuis.
• Thanked Mr. Purvis for donating funds to feed the homeless in our area.
City Manager Bulthuis stated there will be a CRA meeting on February 14, 2023 at 6:00pm. The Beatles
will be at the Arts and Recreation Center on February 14, 2023 at 7:OOpm.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Murry advised the next item on the Agenda for consideration was the Consent Agenda and requested
anyone wishing to have any item pulled for discussion to please come forward at this time.
Item No. 1 — Surplus Request
Item No. 2 - Bid Award and Budget Amendment
Sunburst WTP Improvements
Item No. 3 - Piggyback Purchase
Residential Recycling and Trash Containers
Item No. 4 - Piggyback Omnia Contract
Item No. 5 - Utility Agreement
Federico Rosado
Item No. 6 - Agreement Termination
Item No. 7 - Road Closure Request
Honor the Fallen 5k
Item No. 8 - Event and Road Closure Request
Advent Health/FloDash
Consider surplus from the departments
of: Parks and Recreation, Finance,
Public Services, and Building Services
and dispose of in accordance with the
Purchasing Policy.
Consider awarding to L7 Construction,
Inc. to provide water treatment plant
improvements at Sunburst Lane in the
budgeted amount of $6,946,700.
Consider piggybacking of HGACBuy
Cooperative contract with Duramax
Holdings LLC DBA Otto
Environmental Systems for the
budgeted amount of $115,574.40.
Consider piggyback contract with Herc
Rentals Inc. to provide equipment
rentals, related products and services.
Consider the utility agreement request
for water only at an existing home
located at 12029 S. Hancock Road.
Consider agreement termination
between the City of Clermont and
Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc. in
the original amount of $311,662 for the
design of Fire Station No. 2.
Consider Road Closure request for
"Honor the Fallen 5K" on March 4,
2023.
Consider Event and Road Closure
request for "Freedom 5K" on July 4,
2023.
City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
January 24, 2023
Item No. 9 - Event and Boat Ramp Closure
Request
Horrible Hundred 2023
Item No. 10 - Event, Fireworks, and Open
Container Request
4th of July Red, White & Boom
Item No. 11 - Event and Open Container Request
Sips and Salsa
Item No. 12 - Event, Road Closure and Boat
Ramp Closure Request
Light Up, Parade, and Cookies & Cocoa
Consider the Florida Free Wheelers
Bicycle Club's annual event at
Waterfront Park on Nov. 18 and 19,
2023, and Boat Ramp Closure on
Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Consider City Event request and Open
Container area at Waterfront Park
between 3rd Street and 4th Street on
July 4, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM.
Consider Event and Open Container
request for the City of Clermont's Sips
& Salsa cultural event co -hosted by the
South Lake Chamber of Council in
downtown Clermont on Sept. 23, 2023.
Consider allowing the Clermont Parks
& Recreation Department to host the
annual holiday events in downtown
Clermont with Street Closures for
"Light Up Clermont" on Dec. 1,
"Holiday Hometown Parade" on Dec. 2
with Boat Ramp Closure and "Cookies
& Cocoa" on Dec. 8.
Charlene Forth pulled items 8 and 9 from the consent agenda.
Council Member Purvis moved to approve the consent agenda with the exception of
items 8 and 9. Seconded by Council Member Pines. Passed unanimously 5-0 with all
members present voicing aye.
Item No. 8 — Event and Road Closure Request Advent Health/FloDash
Charlene Forth, 939 W Desoto St — complimented the event and how it is run.
Item No. 9 — Event and Boat Ramp Closure Request Horrible Hundred 2023
Charlene Forth, 939 W Desoto St — spoke on the behavior of the attendees in the past.
Council Member Purvis moved to approve consent agenda items 8 and 9• Seconded by
Council member Pines. Passed unanimously 5-0 with all members present voicing aye
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City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
January 24, 2023
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Item No. 13 — Ordinance No. 2023-002, MSTU Final
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT,
LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 125.01(1)(q),
FLORIDA STATUTES (1999), CONSENTING TO THE INCLUSION OF THE CITY
OF CLERMONT, FLORIDA, WITHIN THE COUNTY -WIDE MUNICIPAL SERVICE
TAXING UNIT FOR THE PROVISION OF AMBULANCE AND EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES, AS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR THE CITY TO
BE INCLUDED WITHIN SAID MUNICIPAL SERVICE TAXING UNIT FOR A
SPECIFIED TERM OF YEARS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT, SEVERABILITY,
ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENERS ERROR, PUBLICATION AND
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Clerk Howe read the title aloud.
City Manager Bulthuis explained the City is currently on a one year contract with the county for services.
The county adds a millage rate to city residents for the service of ambulance and emergency medical
services. Lake County is asking for a contract with no end date, staff is proposing a 5 year contract with a
1 year out, if the city decides they would no longer want to utilize the county's services.
Mayor Murry opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Murry closed the public hearing.
Council Member Purvis moved to approve Ordinance No. 2023-002• Seconded by Council
Member Entsuah. The motion passed by roll call vote 5-0.
Items No. 14 and 15 were heard concurrently and voted on separately.
City Clerk Howe read the following two ordinances aloud by title only.
Item No. 14 - Ordinance No. 2023-003, Firefighter Pension Plan Revisions Final
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY OF CLERMONT FIREFIGHTERS'
PENSION TRUST FUND, AS ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE NO. 304-C; PROVIDING
PLAN BENEFIT REVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT, SEVERABILITY,
CODIFICATION, ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENERS ERROR,
PUBLICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Item No. 15 - Ordinance No. 2023-004, Police Officers Pension Plan Revisions Final
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY OF CLERMONT POLICE OFFICERS'
RETIREMENT PLAN, AMENDING CHAPTER 46; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT,
SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF
SCRIVENERS ERROR, PUBLICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
January 24, 2023
City Manager Bulthuis explained when the contracts were signed with the Police and Fire Unions, there
were amendments to the pension agreements. The amendments take time to get through the processes. Staff
has been working with the pension boards to make the necessary changes.
Mayor Murry opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Murry closed the public hearing.
Council Member Purvis moved to approve Ordinance No. 2023-003: Seconded by Council
Member Pines. The motion passed by roll call vote 5-0.
Council Member Gonzalez moved to approve Ordinance No. 2023-004, Seconded by
Council Member Purvis. The motion passed by roll call vote 5-0.
NEW BUSINESS
Item No. 16 — Variance Request, Wallace Property/DWW Square
Development Services Director Henschel presented the item. The applicant is requesting the following two
variances: (1): To allow for a reduced rear yard setback to be 14 feet instead of 25 feet as required by the
code, Section 122-206 and (2): To allow for a landscape buffer width between adjacent properties to be 5-
foot wide instead of the minimum 10-foot width requirements for the Land Development Codes, Section
118-37. The vacant 0.216 +/- acre parcel is located on the south side of State Road 50 and west of 2nd
Street. The parcel zoning is C-1 Light Commercial and the designated Future Land Use is Commercial.
The applicant is proposing development of a 1,650 square foot retail building onsite. The applicant indicates
the size of the property along with compliance with the Land Development Regulations provides
development challenges that justify the requested variances needed to allow for reasonable use of the land.
The proposed project design layout provides a floor area ratio (FAR) of 0.175, which is less than the 0.25
(FAR) maximum allowed by the Comprehensive Plan for Commercial Development. The site as designed
will require a minimum of five (5) onsite parking spaces, which is calculated at one space per 333 square
feet of floor area. The adjacent property boundaries have C-1 Light Commercial zoning. The proposed retail
use is permitted in the C-1 Light Commercial zoning district and will not be out of character with the
existing development patterns for the area.
City staff finds the proposed development is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan goals, objectives and
policies for commercial land use. The proposed development, as designed, would allow the applicant to use
the property on a parcel that is very constricted. The applicant originally proposed a 2,000 square foot
building, which required five variances to be considered. The applicant redesigned the site and reduced the
building size to make the maximum use of the property with the minimal number of variance requests. The
requested variances seem to be the minimum required in order to develop the site. Section 86-174 of the
Land Development Code requires a positive finding on the review criteria in order to grant a variance. Staff
has reviewed the application as submitted and finds the application does meet a positive finding on all of
the five review criteria. Therefore, staff recommends approval of the requested variances.
One additional recommendation that staff is making for this site is to place a fence along the western and
southern borders of the property.
Jimmy Crawford was present on behalf of the applicant. They are okay with the fence for security and
privacy. The Project Engineer is also present and available for questions.
City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
January 24, 2023
Mayor Murry opened the public comments. There were no comments. Mayor Murry closed the public
comments.
Discussion was had regarding the retention pond and where the trash will be placed outside of the building.
The owner, Mr. Wallace stated that it will be done by a private company and they can keep it on the east
side of the building.
Council Member Purvis moved to approve the variance request as presented with the
inclusion of the trash cans to be kept on the east side of building and vinyl fence on west and
south; Seconded by Council Member Gonzalez. Passed unanimously 5-0 with all members
present voicing aye.
Item No. 17 — Event, Open Container Request and Fee Reduction, THE Spring Games
Parks and Recreation Director Brian Forman presented the request. In 2017, THE Spring Games was
classified by the City Council as a "Community Partner Event" along with Pig on the Pond and The Sommer
Sports Triathlon Series. Each year, college softball teams from around the country compete in Lake County
and other locations. This year, THE Spring Games will be held at seven (7) locations throughout Florida
with three (3) of those locations being in Lake County; Hancock Park, Legends Way, and Sleepy Hollow
Softball Complex in Leesburg. Previous to being named a "Community Partner Event", the City Council
had annually waived 50% off field rental fees.
For the 2022 tournament, the City Council waived 100% of field usage fees, the cost of the daily porters,
and the cost of the recreational softball league (CGFP) annual banquet, total fees waived were $16,475. As
in past years, staff is requesting field usage fees, the cost of the daily porters, and the cost of the CGFP
banquet to be waived. The total requested fee waiver would be an estimates $18,300.
THE Spring Games have also submitted an Open Container request in order to sell alcohol at Hancock
Park. This is the first time that alcohol will be available for an event at Hancock Park. Staff is requesting
approval of their Open Container request. Lake Catherine Farms will be the licensed and insured
vendor. Off -duty officers are required to be present while alcohol is available, identical to other events that
sell alcohol and have an open container area. Based on the area requested and number of attendees, the
Police Department has determined that 2 officers are required while sales are occurring.
City Manager Bulthuis stated that last year Council asked staff to review the issue of alcohol during THE
Spring Games. Staff reviewed their plan and staff supports the request.
J. R. Rozier, Operations Director of THE Spring Games introduced himself and stated that he is available
for any questions.
Mayor Murry opened the public hearing.
Charlene Forth, 939 W. Desoto Street — expressed concern on reducing fees for events.
Mayor Murry closed the public hearing.
Council Members discussed waiving fees for events and what events bring in to the city in return. City
Manager Bulthuis clarified that the applicant will be paying for their own security for the event.
City of Clermont
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
January 24, 2023
Council Member Purvis moved to approve item 17 as presented with the provision the event
coordinators provide required police enforcement personnel at their expense: Seconded by
Council Member Pines. Passed unanimously 5-0 with all members present voicing ave
Item No. 18 — This item was addressed earlier in the meeting and tabled to the February 28, 2023
meeting.
ADJOURN: With no further comments, this meeting adjourned at 7:57 pm.
Tracy Ackr d Howe, MMC
City Clerk
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APPROVED: