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02-25-1986 Regular Meeting e e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING February 25, 1986 The Regular Meeting of ' the City Council of the City of Clermont was held on Tuesday, February 25, 1986. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pool at 7:30 p.m. with the following Council Members in attendance: Mayor Pro Tern Turville, Council Member Cole, Council Member Dupee and Council Member Huff. Other City Officials present were City Man~ger Saunders, City Attorney Baird, Finance Director Van Zile and Deputy City Clerk Brandt. INVOCATION The Invocation was offered by Mrs. Nilsa Whitehead followed by the repeating of The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by all present. MINUTES The Minutes of the Workshop Meeting held February 5, 1986, and the Regular Meeting held February 11, 1986 were ,approved as presented.' REPORTS CITY MANAGER'S REPORT PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD City Manager Saunders reported that he had attended the February 25, 1986, meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board. April 12, 1986 has been set for the City's "Spring Fun Fest". There will be activities for the entire family, including booths sponsored by local service clubs and businesses, games, crafts, cooking and much more. This activity will act as a "kick off" for the Clean Up Clermont campaign being planned in conjunction with the Garden Club District Flower Show the following weekend. SHUFFLEBOARD COURTS It was reported that the Parks and Recreation Board had recommended sheltering the remaining three shuffleboard courts at Kehlor Park with funds for the project coming from Reserves. It was reported that the cost would be between $2,500 and $3,000 for the project with materials costing approximately $1,200. 86-39After a brief discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED TO COVER THE THREE SHUFFLEBOARD COURTS AT KEHLOR PARK AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $ 3, 000,. FUNDS ,FOR THI,S PROJECT WILL COME FROM GENERAL FUND RESERVES AND BE TRANSFERRED TO PARKS AND RECREATION CAPITAL OUTLAY. LANDSCAPING DOWNTOWN AREA It was also mentioned that the Parks and Recreation Board was still working on plans for landscaping the downtown business area. The business owners and Parks and Recreation Board have determined that the existing planters should be removed. Council Member Huff suggested that the planters be removed after the final landscaping plans have been approved, thus completing everything at one time. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT City Attorney Baird stated that the City needed to obtain a survey of property located at Broome and Fourth Streets. The owner of the property in question has had his property surveyed, and he believes the City has located its storm drain on his property. To e e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING February 25, 1986 Page -2- compensate for this alleged error, the owner wishes to have the un- improved street right-of-way located along the lake and adjacent to his property closed. Public Works Director Smythe, who was present in the audience, stated that he believed the City had located the storm drain correctly, because measurements had been taken by the City using existing permanent corner markers. 36-40 After a brief discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED TO OBTAIN A SURVEY ON THE PROPERTY ,IN QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE~S REPORT EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL Council Member Dupee reported that she had attended the regular meeting of the Council and that Jeff Jones of the ECFRPC staff had informed her that review of the City's Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map had been completed, and these documents had met the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council's requirements. Mrs. Dupee was also informed that this information had been forwarded to Tallahassee. EAST - WEST EXPRESSWAY Regarding the proposed extension of the East - West Expressway, Mrs. Dupee stated that if the Expressway Authority was able to borrow $800,000 from Orange County, it would continue the right-of-way study for the project. NOISE ORDINANCE Mrs. Dupee reported that due to 'a recent complaint which had been made to her concerning loud music, she felt that the Council should consider improving the noise ordinance. COOPER MEMORIAL LIBRARY It was also reported that the number of books being loaned out by the library had increased greatly. T?e following figures were cited: 1984 1985 Adult Books in Circulation: Juvenile Books in Circulation: 43,200 6,900 48,730 10,000 COUNCIL MEMBER COLE'S REPORT BASKETBALL COURT Council Member Cole asked about the status of the basketball court at the Elementary School. City Manager Saunders stated that he would be working with the school concerning this matter because the courts are located on school property. It was mentioned that the basketball nets were also missing at the Jaycee Beach basketball court. Council Member Turville expressed his concern that children were climbing the poles to put up their own nets. It was the consensus of Council that City Manager Saunders' continue working with the school to find a solution to the problem at the school courts. e e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES .REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING February 25, 1986 Page -3- MAYOR POOL'S REPORT CIRCUS SIGNS Mayor Pool stated that he had seen signs advertising a circus nailed on light poles allover town and would like something done to remove them as they are in violation of the City's Sign Ordinance. City Manager Saunders stated that the City had contacted the Mascotte Fire Department, sponsors of the circus, and they would remove the signs. Mayor Pool also mentioned that he would like something done regarding the traffic flow in front of the High School. It seemed that the only place to pick up students was in an area marked by yellow lines, and the police department was not allowing parents to wait in the area. City Manager Saunders stated that he would look into this matter. OLD BUSINESS SEABOARD SYSTEM RAILROAD City Manager Saunders reported that The Trust for Public Land had notified him that their negotiations with the Seaboard System Rail- road for the purchase of the entire corridor of right-of-way from Winter Garden to Mascotte were failing. As an alternative, the Trust had made offers to the railroad for certain segments of right-of-way, including the Clermont segment. However, no agree- ment can be reached for this parcel either. Because of the stalemate, City Manager Saunders recommended that the City enter into direct negotiations with the railroad for the property. The Trust for Public land will make available all information and appraisals available to the City. Council Member Huff stated that the City needed the property for the new sewer line and asked City Attorney Baird if it would be better to file a condemnation suit. City Attorney Baird stated that it could take eight or more months of litigation if the City chose to go this route, and the City would have to pay a,ll fees and court costs. Council Member Huff stated that even if it took eight months, it would be worth it if the City could save $50,000 to $100,000 in the process. Council Member Dupee asked if there was any of the property the City might sell to recoup part of the purchase price. City Manager Saunders stated that there might be one or two parcels the City could sell. After some further discussion, it was the consensus of Council that City Manager Saunders meet with representatives of The Trust for Public Land in order to obtain pertinent information for fur- ther negotiations with the railroad. Mr. Saunders will report his findings to Council at the next regularly scheduled meeting. RECONSTRUCTION OF LAKESHORE DRIVE - JOHN SPRINGSTEAD, CITY'ENGINEER City Engineer John Springstead appeared before Council to explain and discuss the proposed reconstruction of Lakeshore Drive from Johnson Drive to Fourth Street. _....._1 e e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING February 25, 1986 Page -4- Mr. Springstead explained that the preliminary construction estimate had been prepared using as-built sewer drawings and other maps. The total length of road considered is approximately 4,000 feet which includes the approach to the Lake Winona Bridge. The project will need to be permitted through the Saint Johns River Water Management District and the State of Florida Department of Environmental Regu- lation because during reconstruction, street drainage presently discharging directly into Lakes Minnehaha and Winona will be termi- nated. The improved drainage will result in elimination of the puddles that form on Lakeshore Drive causing deterioration of the asphalt. Mr. Springstead then explained how the estimated costs for the pro- posed work were arrived at using 20' and 24' wide pavement. It would cost approximately $342,000 (not including engineering and survey fees) to complete the project with 24' wide pavement and $326,000 for 20' wide pavement. (See attached document for detailed figures). He also stated that it would make a more attractive package for bidders if the City included the Winona Bridge improvements with the road construction. City Manager Saunders stated that only $100,000 was available in this year's budget for, the project. Different methods of budgeting for the project were discussed, including bidding the project so that work would carryover from one budget to another. 86-41 After some further discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLE AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED TO PROCEED WITH THE ENGINEERING AND SURVEY WORK FOR A 24 FOOT WIDE STREET. SPRAYFIELD LEASE AGREEMENT City Manager Saunders stated that he had recived notification from Mr. Charles Kuharske that he wished to exercise his last option and renew the lease for the sprayfield site hay farming operation at a rental fee of $100 per month. 36-42 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED TO RENEW MR. KUHARSKE'S LEASE FOR ONE YEAR FOR THE SPRAYFIELD HAY FARMING OPERATION WITH PAYMENT OF $100 PER MONTH RENTAL FEE. JAYCEE BEACH HOUSE CONCESSION City Manager Saunders reported that Troy Jones, Lessee of the Beach House, had not contacted him regarding exercising his option to continue leasing the Beach House, and suggested that the city advertise for a new lease agreement. Mayor Pool stated that he would like the City to run the Beach House ~or one year to see what could be done with the building. Council Member Huff stated that the City needed to have someone on the premises to control what goes on. Much discussion ensued concerning vandalism of the building and the surrounding beach area. Mr. Smy~he suggested that the City consider building separate, vandalproof restrooms. Mr. Smythe agreed with Mr. Huff that someone should be located at the beach twenty-four hours a day to control the area. e e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING February 25, 1986 Page -5- After much discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to get costs for building a new separate public restroom, to advertise the availability of the building and consider the concession being operated by the City. PUBLIC DISCUSSION DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT Cecil Smart, who was present in the audience, suggested that the City place signs advertising the downtown area. He stated that numerous people had told him they did not know that the area even existed. Some discussion ensued concerning the present sign on Highway 50 which directs people to the downtown area and the placement of a billboard on Highway 27 to direct potential customers to'the district. It was the consensus of Council that Mr. Smart meet with City Manager Saunders to discuss any ideas the Downtown Merchants Association might have concerning promoting the district. ,Mayor Pool stated that he believed the Council would be receptive to any reasonable suggestions. WEST BEACH Council Member Dupee asked about the status of the property which is for'sale adjacent to West Beach. She further stated that from the survey, it appeared that the property line of the property for sale is very close to an existing home, and she would rather spend money on improvements to the existing beach area than on the purchase of the additional property. Mr. Smythe suggested that the City might wish to purchase the property and then negotiate an exchange of property with the home owners to straighten out existing property lines which would be very beneficial to both the City and the home owner. City Manager Saunders stated that he had received a counter proposal for the property, but it was too late to put on this week's agenda. The matter will be placed on the next Council Agenda. There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. ~ ,~~~ Robert A. Pool, Mayor Attest: Clerk "