06-28-2006 WorkshopCity of Clermont
MINUTES
JOINT WORKSHOP
CITY OF CLERMONT, CITY OF MINNEOLA, AND
LAKE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
• June 28, 2006
The Joint Workshop was held on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 in the City of Clermont Council Chambers at Clermont
Hall, beginning at 6:00 pm. Officials present were: Minneola Mayor Yeager, Minneola City Manager Behrens, Minr
City Attorney Gerkin, Minneola Council Members Cordova, Perrault, and Terrie, School Board Superintendent Co
School Board Chair Connor, School Board Members Elswick, Fischer, Metz, and Strong, Clermont Mayor Tur
Clermont City Manager Saunders, Clermont Asst. City Manger Gray, Clermont Council Members Goodgame, He
Mullins, and Renick.
Clermont Mayor Turville facilitated the meeting and introductions followed.
The School Board commented that school capacity is prime consideration and overcrowding is at a crisis. Many o the
current portables are close to being unsafe and the Board must also comply with class size reductions. They are
concerned that in a few years' double sessions will be a reality. The Board is putting together a committee to redistric the
school zones in the South Lake area. It is thought that in three years the growth will shift to the north part of the Co ty.
Clermont has not had a major development in six years; it is the annexations that have subdivision approvals alread in
place that the current growth is being seen. It was commented that Clermont has a growth resolution that others sh uld
adopt and the School Board mentioned the resolution they had attempted to have the municipalities adopt.
The School Board commented they have failed to communicate their financial situation. Currently, the Board is bo ded
out and their ability to borrow is limited. Some properties are now being paid for by impact fees and they do not have the
means to build more schools. They are maxed out and cannot increase the millage rate and the current impact fees are not
sufficient. There was a suggestion of possibly spreading the costs by getting developers together and have them com up
• with a plan. It was suggested that the Board lobby Tallahassee regarding the millage rate caps. Many projects are my
partially funded or completely unfunded. Construction costs increased due to Hurricane Katrina and shortage of
materials and manpower impacted the building process.
Joint use of facilities such as parks should be looked into along with developing partnerships with other organizations nd
building parks near schools. In the Clermont area, there are no tracks of land for placing parks near schools, as mos of
the schools are in the County.
The Board mentioned there are sewer and package plant needs. Development needs to slow down and the develc
should be required to build schools and gyms. It was suggested that perhaps developers be given extra credit for bui.
middle and high schools. Many times developers make verbal promises and even written agreements that turn
disputes.
Developers offering land should provide a minimum of 20 acres for elementary schools, 30 acres for middle schools,
40 acres for high schools. All the acreage should be useable and proper zoning should already be obtained. Roads
utilities should be available and potential environmental issues already researched. Concern of not being able to ex
land from the developers was expressed.
Charter schools were discussed and not only should the school be financially solvent, the school needs to be buil to
School Board specifications to prevent costly retrofitting. A good charter school is very beneficial to a School Board, but
if the school fails, the School Board suffers a capital loss. Educational Facility Benefit Districts were also discussed. f a
municipality is considering these types of options, they can bring the project information to the Board to run through he
financial aspects of the proposed project.
• There are 140 recorded subdivisions and the Board does not have information on their status or timelines and would
City of Clermont
MINUTES
JOINT WORKSHOP
CITY OF CLERMONT, CITY OF MINNEOLA, AND
LAKE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
• June 28, 2006
the municipalities to provide this information. This would assist in accounting for students that may move into the rea.
It was suggested that the municipalities provide the Board with monthly information on subdivision status. There is a
need for staff from all parties to come up with build-out statistics and come up with the real needs, work wit the
developers and present the information to the City Councils'. Other municipalities should participate in this also. here
are very few large parcels inside Clermont that have not been built-out and the need to focus on County maps and lots was
suggested.
Charles Grange, from Kings Ridge, spoke on his having taught double sessions in 1953 and they had to have doubl the
staff, double the bussing, and there were a lot of extra and increased expenses. He suggested reducing density from five
homes per acre to four homes per acre.
Jim Purvis thanked those who were present and suggested that citizens be utilized to assist by attending the School
meetings to act as a liaison. _
Cindy Barrow was present on behalf of VOICE and thanked all who were part of the workshop and was encouraged ~
the idea of data collection, communication and hoping others would come to the table.
Egor Emry did not want to see another home approved until these issues are resolved.
Richard Gonzales, Center Lake Properties, commented on Lake County looking to him to fix their problems. He di not
have a problem with assessing impact fees and would prefer this over donating land, but the County needs to com up
• with the amount that is needed, what it is needed for and spend it responsibly.
A member of VOICE was pleased with what was said and encouraged communication.
Steve Berlinsky mentioned not being able to stop growth in general, as the Country is growing and this will e a
continuous problem in states that are experiencing growth. He opinioned that the focus should be that growth does not
pay for itself and there is a need to find what laws need to be changed that will enable revenues to be raised.
APPROVED:
,~
arold . Turville, Jr., Mayor