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06-28-1984 Workshop Meeting e e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING June 28, 1984 A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held on Thursday, June 28, 1984 in the City Hall Conference Room. The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Beals at 7:10 p.m. with the following Council Members in attendance: Council Members Turville, Cole, and Henry. Mayor Pro Tem Pool was absent. City Manager Forbes was also present. REZONING The City Manager explained that there was now a 10' strip of property between Postal Colony's land on Minneola Avenue and the lots directly west. The 10' strip is zoned R-3 and the properties on both sides are zoned commercial. The City has requested that Postal Colony rezone this property. The City Manager explained that the City would not charge the company any fee for this rezoning, since it was requested by the City and is therefore technically a City request. There were no Council objections. The City Manager also informed the Council that County Commissioner Claude Smoak would be in attendance at the next Council Meeting to discuss the two cent gas tax. 1984 - 1985 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET The City Manager explained that the 84 - 85 Fiscal Year Budget was almost complete. The City is waiting for the report from the property appraiser which is due by July 1, 1984, and is budgeting items as efficiently as possible. Mr. Forbes further stated that he needed to know what type of salary increase should be placed in the proposed budget. Most reports have stated that the inflation rate for next year will be five percent or just under five percent. After much discussion, it was the con- sensus of the Council to place a cost of living increase of four percent in the budget and two percent of total salaries for merit increases. It was also discussed that the ranges in the City's pay plan would all be increased four percent. RETIREMENT OPTIONS It was explained that Building Official Harvey Nagel who had recently retired had asked that his pension be given to him in a lump sum amount. The City's Pension Ordinance gives employees three options for their pension. The third option states that the City Council may approve any pension distribution plan, as long as it is actuarily sound. Council Members reviewed a letter from Krause, O'Connor and Ling, the City's consultants and actuaries on this matter who strongly recommended that the City abstain from approving lump sum distributions from the pension fund. Council Member Turville stated that basically the City had three options on this matter. (1) Yes, the City will allow this request and any other employee the same option. (2) No, we will not do it, and (3) We could ask Mr. Nagel to consider another option. All Council Members agreed that Mr. Nagel had a good idea in taking the money in a lump sum, but this was not the intent of the plan. Council Members discussed that Clermont is a small city, and with the small number of employees in the system, the impact of allowing all employees to do this could be cause for future problems. It was also discussed that the type of plan we have is totally funded by the City without employee contributions, and that the first priority of the City is the soundness of our entire pension plan. Council Members commended Mr. Nagel for the work he did while with the City, and directed the City Manager to tell Mr. Nagel that it was the consensus of the Council not to allow this request. e e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING June 28, 1984 Page -2- UTILITY ORDINANCE AND RATES The City Manager explained that the City would be required to submit to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency a new rate ordinance for sewer service. He explained that the rate ordinance would have to be based, at least in part, on water consumption and that a draft was now being prepared by the City Staff. The rate ordinance would not have to go into effect until sometime in late 1986. Mr. Forbes further stated that he would discuss this matter in greater detail with the Council at a later date. COMPLAINTS BY WILLIE MONTGOMERY Mr. Montgomery's complaint on lack of police protection and nothing being done about the burglaries which have occurred at his store (Bill's Grocery) were discussed in great detail. It was explained that the City had thoroughly investigated all three burglaries, and also had suspects in each of the three cases. However, the City could not obtain enough evidence for an arrest in these cases. The City Manager stated that he had directed the Chief to insure that his men were adequately patrolling the Lincoln Park area. The Chief stated that this was being done. He also asked the Chief to check Bill's Grocery each night by the police department. It was explained that the department does not have the time to personally check every store in town, but that every effort was being made to keep the community safe. Council Member Cole stated that he thought the police department did a pretty good job in patrolling all areas of the City. When you only have so many officers, you cannot cover every area at once. However, the City should insure that all areas are being adequately patrolled. He further stated that from his experience riding with officers and being a Clermont police officer, he felt it was being done to the best of the ability of the department. The City Manager also explained that he had requested that Detective Steve Moss find Mr. Montgomery and explain the status of his investi- gations to him. The complaints against Mr. Smythe were also discussed. A letter from Mr. Smythe dated June 28, 1984 was read. Mr. Montgomery had complained about Mr. Smythe's use of the City's bucket truck to trim trees in his yard. It was explained that for many years, the City has allowed private individuals who can operate the truck to rent it. Mr. Smythe had a copy of his receipt for rental fees which proved he paid for use of the truck. Mr. Forbes stated that approximately $350 worth of rental fees for use of the bucket truck had been received by the City during the past year. Mr. Smythe's letter explained that the complaint about shrubbery goes back about three years. At that time, it was requested that trees and shrubbery be removed from the parkway across the street from Mr. Mont- gomery's DeSoto Street residence. He stated that a minimum amount of trimming was performed at a later date, as permitted by the Parks Department workload. Much discussion ensued as to whether the City should rent the bucket truck to private individuals. The major concern was the City's liability if someone should get hurt while using the truck. The City Manager stated that he would check with the City's insurance company and report back to the Council. . e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES WORKHSHOP MEETING June 28, 1984 Page -3- FUTURE WORKSHOPS Council Members discussed the next three Budget Workshops, and the City Manager explained that the entire proposed budget would be presented to the Council at the next workshop. The Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. 13. J3~ Charles B. Beals, Mayor Attest: