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03.19.2024 - City Council MinutesCity of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 19, 2024 CALL TO ORDER The City Council met in a workshop session on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in the Clermont City Council Chambers. The workshop was called to order at 6:30 pm with the following Council Members present: Mayor Murry, Council Members Pines and Gonzalez. Absent: Council Member Myers Other City officials present were City Manager Bulthuis, City Attorney Mantzaris, and Deputy City Clerk Wisniewski. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Budget Process City Manager Bulthuis informed Council that he will be reviewing the budget timeline. Staff receives the tax roll assessment from the Lake County Tax Collector the last week of June. The budget is then presented to Council the first week of July. Staff is proposing two budget workshops held on July 10 and 11 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm where the Directors will present their budget to Council. At that time, Council has the ability to add or subtract from a departments budget. There is a workshop scheduled for July 16 where the budget can be discussed if needed. In moving the workshops to the evenings, it provides the public more of an opportunity to see the process and provide input. July 23 is when Council has to adopt the proposed millage rate. There are no budget meetings scheduled for August. Based on the July workshops, there can be another public budget workshop scheduled for August if the need arises. The budget public hearings are held in September where the budget and millage rate are adopted. The proposed dates for those hearings are September 12 and September 26. City Manager Bulthuis commented that evening workshops provides a chance for the public to be involved in the budget process. Mayor Murry asked how long after the workshops the proposed budget be available. City Manager Bulthuis stated that what is presented at the workshops are public record and will be available immediately. We have a new software we are using this year and are hopeful that it will be available immediately. Council Member Pines asked if two four hour evening sessions are sufficient to go through all the information. City manager Bulthuis stated that there is a workshop planned for July 16 and that can be regarding the budget if more time is needed. Council Member Pines asked for the workshop on July 16 to also be from 5:00pm to 9:00pm instead of the normal 6:30pm start time. City Manager Bulthuis stated that can be arranged. 1 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 19, 2024 2. Nuisance Abatement Board City Manager Bulthuis stated that enacting a Nuisance Abatement Board would be a tool for the Police Department to utilize within the community. City Attorney Mantzaris informed Council that he provided them with a copy of the proposed ordinance that sets out the purpose of the board. The City has a Code Enforcement Board that deals with traditional code violation issues such as land use, zoning, accessory structures and building without permits. A Nuisance Abatement Board addresses specific criminal behaviors on properties. If a property has been used for certain criminal activity, it can be declared a nuisance by this established board. The criminal activity is limited to locations where they have prostitution activities, gang activity, manufacture, sale or possession of controlled substances activity, criminal activity related to dealing in stolen property and others relating to misbranding of drugs or cosmetics. There is a specific section that deals with illegal activities associated with Pain Management Clinics. A Nuisance Abatement Board would be appointed, city staff would present their case and if a nuisance is found, the board can address that nuisance. There are multiple ways the board can address the nuisance, setting requirements for the property up to and including the property being torn down. Furthermore, the board can order that property to be torn down. Staff is proposing appointing the Code Enforcement Board to serve as the Nuisance Abatement Board. This would require no new people to volunteer, we would use the same attorney and no additional staff. Police Chief Broadway reiterated that this would be a tool to address property owners that allow criminal activity. The Police Department would appoint a coordinator who will handle the cases and will work with the owners prior to bringing them to a Nuisance Abatement Board. Mayor Murry asked if the Nuisance Abatement Board overrides the Code Enforcement Board. City Attorney Mantzaris stated that they would be separate boards and City Manager Bulthuis explained the difference in the scope of both boards. City Attorney Mantzaris said that the goal is to motivate owners to correct the issue and not collect fines. Some code cases can go hand in hand with nuisance cases. Council Member Pines asked if the Code Enforcement Board is knowledgeable and trained enough to sit as the Nuisance Abatement Board. City Manager Bulthuis informed Council that the Nuisance Abatement Board has to be made up of citizens. There could be a whole new board appointed however there is a process. Staff does not anticipate a lot of cases and would not meet on a regular basis therefore staff recommended appointing the Code Enforcement Board. City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 19, 2024 Mayor Murry inquired about whether staff has spoken to the Code Enforcement Board in regards to sitting as the Nuisance Abatement Board as well. They have not been asked, City Attorney Mantzaris will speak to them at their next meeting on April 15. If the Code Enforcement Board is in agreement, the Ordinance will go to Council for the first reading on April 23. 3. Lakeshore Boat Parking Development Services Director Henschel stated that one year ago, the city approved an Ordinance to allow boat parking. Part of the approval was that we would bring it back before Council in one year. In the last year, there have been no issues, this will move forward and only be brought back in front of Council if there is an issue or amendment needed. 4. Other City Manager Bulthuis informed Council that one of the issues the city has with growth is where we provide water and sewer. When a development approaches the city regarding water and sewer, the Council will now be made aware and not wait until later in the process to be informed. There are currently two projects in the County requesting water and sewer services from the City. The decision that needs to be made is if the City annexes the properties, only provide utilities or decline the request and they can put in wells. The first project is Green Mountain which is off of Old Hwy 50. When they initially requested utilities, the project was for 534 units, they have since changed their plan and the new plan is for 130 units with 75 foot lots. Police and Fire are good with annexing the property and can provide full services. Mayor Murry and Council Member Gonzalez are okay with annexing the property. Council Member Pines expressed that she is glad they will build to Clermont standards, but needs to think about annexing. The next project is a spa and hotel on Hammock Ridge and Lakeshore which is in the County but contiguous to the City limits. Development Services Director Henschel gave an overview of the project, Sundara Spa, which is a 55 room resort facility with upscale spa services. City Manager Bulthuis explained that the land is approved for 35 homes in the County. Again, the City needs to decide whether to annex or only provide services. This would be a great asset to provide the community. Mayor Murry stated that if we are going to provide utilities, then we should annex the property. City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 19, 2024 City Manager Bulthuis informed Council that the County is looking to adopt language for a question on the ballot this November. Twenty years ago the County had a ballot question regarding acquiring properties. The language was approved for .0918 mills of tax bills to fund the purchases. County Commissioners are wanting to extend this, they are currently determining the millage and revenue this would bring to purchase properties. The funds have been previously used for trails and the City to purchase Hiawatha Park. City Manager Bulthuis spoke about the upgrades to the Sewer Treatment Plant. The upgrades will be funded with impact fees and a bond. The process has been started, can take 60 days, the City is requesting a direct loan to a bank. Labor negotiations with Police and Fire will be starting and meetings will be scheduled in the next couple weeks. Staff has reviewed the language in the contracts. Within the next 30 days, there will be a closed session scheduled to review the specifics. The goal of the negotiations is an open discussion that leads to resolution. City Manager Bulthuis told Council that the Interlocal Service Boundary Agreement (ISBA) we have with the County, Minneola, Montverde and Pine Island CDD is up for renewal and they want an extension. We are okay with extending, Montverde and Minneola have some issues to resolve and once that is done, staff will bring to Council for approval. City Attorney Mantzaris explained that in 2010, the City of Montverde and the County entered into an ISBA negotiation. The statute reads that all of the local governments and community development districts have to participate. The issues were between Montverde, Minneola and the County but as we are a part of the ISBA, we have to be present. City Manager Bulthuis informed Council of the new television in Council Chambers and stated that staff is looking at replacing the current projector. 4 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 19, 2024 ADJOURN: With no further comments, this workshop adjourned at 7:52pm. APPROVED: n n Tim Murry, ayorA ATTEST: c Tracy AckroydHowe, MMC City Clerk