07-24-1984 Regular Meeting
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CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
July 24, 1984
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was
held July 24, 1984 in the Council Chambers. The Meeting was called
to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Beals with the following Council
Members in attendance: Mayor Pro Tem Pool, Council Member Cole, and
Council Member Turville. Council Member Henry was absent. Other
City Officials present were City Manager Forbes and Finance Director
Saunders.
INVOCATION
The Invocation was offered by Mayor Pro Tem Pool followed by the Pledge
of Allegiance to the Flag by all present.
MINUTES
The Minutes of the Regular Meeting held July 10, 1984, the Workshop
Meeting held July 11, 1984 and the Workshop Meeting held July 17, 1984
were approved as presented.
REPORTS
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
LEAGUE OF CITIES CONVENTION
The City Manager explained that the State League of Cities Convention
would be held in Tampa on October 11-13, 1984. He asked that Council
Members wishing to attend the meeting contact Julie Brandt for regis-
tration information.
FIREWORKS DISPLAY
The City Manager stated that he would recommend that the City contract
with Vic Vickers of Orlando for a fireworks display for the Labor Day
Celebration. Council Members reviewed a price sheet for package dis-
plays with prices ranging from $1,250 to $3,500. After some discussion,
84-ll2A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
COLE AND UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED TO CONTRACT WITH VIC VICKERS TO FURNISH THE
FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR THE LABOR DAY CELEBRATION WITH A BUDGET OF $2,000
WITH FUNDS FOR THE DISPLAY COMING FROM GENERAL FUND RESERVES.
BUDGET WORKSHOPS
It was discussed that the next Budget Workshop would be held on Wednesday,
August 1, 1984 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room.
The Council Members agreed that the Meeting would continue until 10:00 p.m.,
if it appeared that all matters pertaining to the budget could be completed.
If all business was completed earlier, the meeting would adjourn at that
time.
FISHING TOURNAMENT
It was reported that several months ago the City gave Wimpy Burdette per-
mission to use City facilities at Jaycee Beach for a fishing tournament.
It will be a very large tournament, and Mr. Burdette would like to make a
promotional film on fishing in the Clermont Chain of Lakes. It would be
shown in different states to draw participants to the tournament. Toward
this effort, he asked the City to contribute $2,500. The City would be
able to keep the film in cassette form for future promotions of the area.
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July 24, 1984
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The City Manager explained that Mr. Burdette had requested the Council's
opinion of this matter, and if necessary, Mr. Burdette would be glad to
meet with Council Members. After a brief discussion, it was the consensus
of all Council Members that City funds should not be used for such a venture.
COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE'S REPORT
COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING AGENDA
Council Member Turville reported that he was interested in two items
which were on the County Planning and Zoning Agenda for July 25, 1984.
He discussed the fact that Mr. Bob Wade had requested a Conditional
Use Permit to construct a clay extraction and portable soil mixing
facility on land just outside the City Limits.
He stated that he was concerned because the legal decription for this
facility which was printed in the newspaper included property within
the City Limits. He also stated that he would like to insure that
if the CUP was granted, the deepest the extraction would take place
would be to the grade level of the highway. This would insure an
easier reclamation of the site.
The City Manager stated that he had already contacted the County
Planning Staff on this matter, and that they were well aware that
no property within the City Limits could be granted a CUP by the
County. He stated that it was often the County's policy to ad-
vertise a larger area.
It was the consensus of the Council to have the City Manager call
the County Planning and Zoning Staff and suggest that a condition
of the CUP be that the deepest the soil could be extracted from
the site would be to the grade level of the highway.
Mr. Turville also asked if the County Officials were aware that a
rezoning request by Inland Groves to rezone property from Agricultural
to Rural Residential adjoined the City's sprayfield site.
The City Manager stated that he had spoken to the County Staff about
this, and they were aware of the fact.
OLD BUSINESS
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE l65-M, STREET CLOSING CRYSTAL LAKE DRIVE
Mayor Beals explained that Ordinance l65-M would close a portion of
Crystal Lake Drive between Montrose and DeSoto Streets. This request
was made by Mr. Gerald Norris of 180 West DeSoto and Mr. Carlisle
84-ll3Byrd of 143 Montrose Street. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER
POOL TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE l65-M. MAYOR BEALS TURNED OVER THE
GAVEL TO MAYOR PRO TEM POOL, AND SECONDED THE MOTION. THE ORDINANCE
WAS INTRODUCED BY TITLE ONLY.
Council Member Cole questioned that this requested had come before
various Councils before, and that one such request occurred when
Mr. Byrd was on the Council.
Mr. Byrd was present to explain the request and stated that this had
been a problem for several years, and that he had a property line
problem with a previous neighbor.
Mayor Beals explained that this Ordinance would come up for a second
reading, public hearing and final adoption during the second Council
Meeting in August.
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VARIANCE REQUEST 954 WEST MONTROSE STREET
Mr. David Cosson was present to explain his request for a variance
to enclose an existing parking slab for a carport. The slab is only
six inches from the side property line, whereas, a side yard of seven
and one-half feet is required.
Council Member Pool asked Mr. Cosson if what he wanted was just a car-
port. Mr. Cosson stated that the foundation was already there, and he
just wanted to put up four posts and a roof.
Council Member Turville asked if it would be possible to place the car-
port behind the house. Mr. Cosson said that it would not be practical
due to the topographic conditions.
Council Member Turville further stated that the problem is that we
don't grant variances to people, but to property. He stated that he
had reviewed a letter from a neighbor which stated that the last
time the variance request was made and denied, the decision was based
on the fact that the applicant had not appeared before Council. Mr.
Turville continued that this was not his recollection of events. The
request was not granted because there was no proven hardship based
on the property, as required by law.
Mayor Beals stated that if the variance request was only six inches, it
might be okay, but the requested seven foot variance would leave no side
yard.
Mrs. Cosson stated that she felt the fact that her husband was in a wheel
chair was a valid reason for the hardship. The request was made becuause
it was very difficult for him to get out of the rain.
84-114 After much discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE,
SECONDED BY MAYOR BEALS AND CARRIED BY A THREE TO ONE VOTE TO DENY THE
VARIANCE REQUEST. COUNCIL MEMBER POOL VOTED NAY.
CITY ENGINEER
Council Member Turville asked the City Manager for a status report on
the Lake Winona Bridge and Fluoride Program. He stated that he knew
the City Engineer had some problems due to the illness of Bud Sampson.
Mr. Forbes stated that he had discussed these problems with the City
Engineer, and it appears that the City will have to contract with another
engineer for an analysis of the Lake Winona Bridge. He further stated
that things were moving ahead on the Fluoride Program which was being
delayed until the City could get a well housing for and change out the
pumps at the Seminole Well. The City has already saved a considerable
amount of money, because it appears that to increase the pumping ca-
pacity of the Seminole Well from 1,200 to 1,500 gpm we would have only
to change the impellars, instead of the entire pump. Once the pumps
were changed and the well housing built, the City would proceed with
the project. The City Manager concluded by stating that he hoped to
have the project well in hand by the end of the calendar year.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
There being no further business, Mayor Beals asked if anyone in the
audience wished to speak.
Jack Sargent requested permission to speak, and stated that the City
should lend its support to get Highway 50 completed from Clermont to
Groveland.
He also stated that he would like to know the status of the Clermont
Hotel, and that he realized the legal process was often a slow one.
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CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
July 24, 1984
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Thirdly, he stated that he would like to see Council compensation
reviewed because that he felt with the various pressures placed on
Council Members, they should receive adequate compensation.
Mr. Sargent further stated that he would like to see "NO SMOKING"
signs placed in the Council Chambers, and that no smoking be allowed
at public meetings.
Lastly, he stated that he had an accident at Fifth Street and Highway
50, and would like to commend and extend his thanks to the ambulance
crew and the Police Department (especially Officer Cecil Wright who
conducted himself in a highly professional manner).
Mayor Beals responded to these comments as follows: (1) The Mayor
stated that he had spoken with Mr. Benedict of the DOT and is doing
his best to get the matter resolved, (2) The status of the Clermont
Hotel is that it is still in bankruptcy court. Council Member Pool
stated that the Weber Trust was in the process of trying to get the
hotel back, and he was confident that they would do so in the near
future, (3) Mayor Beals explained that it had been 10-12 years since
the Council pay had been increased. He further stated that if he
thought increasing the salaries of Council Members would attract
better people, he would vote for it, although he didn't think this
was the case. Council Member Turville stated that this was difficult
because many times the pay doesn't cover expenses. However, he stated
that even if there was no compensation, he would still run for Council,
and (4) Mayor Beals stated that he had no problems with no smoking at
Council Meetings, and Council Members Pool and Turville agreed. City
Manager Forbes stated that he had received some about smoking in the
Council Chambers, and even his own staff had problems when the room
filled with smoke. Council Member Pool stated that he felt they should
not vote at this time because Coucil Member Henry should be allowed to
give her input on this matter. It was the consensus of the Council to
place this matter on the agenda for the next meeting.
There being no further business
8:15 p.m.
or CO?);' t: ~t;:rned at
~LS' MAYOR
ATTEST:
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WAY SAUNDERS, CITY CLERK