02-21-1984 Workshop Meeting
e
CITY OF CLERMONT
e
MINUTES
WORKSHOP MEETING
February 21, 1984
A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was
held Tuesday, February 21, 1984 in the City Hall Conference Room.
The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Beals at 7:00 p.m. with
the following Council Members in attendance: Mayor Pro Tem Pool,
Council Member Cole, Council Member Henry, and Council Member
Turville. City Manager Forbes was also present.
REPORTS
KEHLOR PARK SIGN
City Manager Forbes stated that he was very pleased with the Kehlor
Park sign which was made by an inmate at Lake Correctional Institution.
He further stated that he would like to try to have other such signs
made for the Cemetery and Bishop Field.
The Clermont Little League Field was also discussed as to whether a
a formal name should be given to the site. The Council stated that
if a sign was placed at this location, it should just state "Clermont
Little League Field", or a similar type name of how the facility is
used. They did not want the field to be named after someone.
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION SCHEDULE
The City Manager gave each Council Member a copy of the proposed
schedule for expansion of the treatment plant. He explained that
the schedule was broken into three parts. The first part of the
schedule was the renovation of Lift Station #6; second, the expan-
sion of the plant; and third, the building of the sprayfield. He
requested that all Council Members to review the schedule, and if
they had any questions to contact him. It was stressed that this
was only a preliminary schedule, and it had not been approved by
the State Department of Environmental Regulation.
SUMMER SWIM PROGRAM
It was reported that the City would again be using Swimmers' Aides
to assist the Swim Instructor in the Summer Program. The Council
Members stated that they would have no problems with using Special
Activities Funds from the Budget for the swimmers' aides, as was
done last year.
UTILITY BENEFIT FEES
The City's Utility Benefit Fees were also discussed, and the' City
Attorney's letter and previous rulings on how this fee would apply to'
existing buildings were discussed. It was explained that there had been
two homes on property at Seventh and Chestnut which is presently being
built into a multi-family complex. The City Manager explained that i~
the past the Council had ruled that if a building or structure existed
at a site, credit should be given for those structures, and the utility
benefit fee charged on any new additions. For instance, if an existipg
building of 1,000 square feet was at a location and then torn down, apd
a new building of 2,000 square feet was put in its place; a utility ,
benefit fee for only 1,000 square feet would be charged. The Council
agreed that the condominimum project at Seventh and Chestnut should
be given credit for the two homes which were on this property.
A similar instance on Juniata Street was also discussed. A single family
home was being converted into a duplex, and credit should be given to1 the
existing single family home. Therefore, only one utility benefit fee
should be charged for converting the home into a duplex, as approved by
the City Council. The Council also agreed with this interpretation.
SUNNYSIDE TERRACE SUBDIVISION
Council Members discussed the Sunnyside Terrace Subdivision where the
owner had agreed to reimburse the City for fifty percent of the costs
e
CITY OF CLERMONT
e
MINUTES
WORKSHOP MEETING
February 21, 1984
Page -2-
of relocating a storm sewer on the property. It was explained that
the owner had neither complied by paying fifty percent of the costs, nor
had he found his own contractor to do the work. The Council stated that
they would have no objections if the City Attorney were to write Mr.
Arnone a letter stating that he had thirty days to pay his share of the
costs to relocate the line or to begin the project with his own contrac-
tor. They also agreed that until this is resolved, the City should not
issue any buiding permits for Sunnyside Terrace Subdivision; and Mr.
Arnone should be made aware of this fact.
UTILITY DEPARTMENT ICE MACHINE
City Manager Forbes reported that the ice machine in this year's budget
for the Utility Department had not been purchased since the Council had
previously stated they did not want the machine purchased without their
permission.
It was explained that the ice machine had been broken for several months,
and during the past few years over $400 had been spent on repairs. He
stated that he believed it would be more cost effective to purchase a
new machine. It was the consensus of the Council to allow the purchase
of a new ice machine for the Utility Department.
COUNTY REZONING REQUEST
The City Manager explained that he reviews the Planning and Zoning
Agendas from Lake County for any projects which might fall within
the City's "area of interest" and the City might wish to comment on.
He stated that there was a rezoning request in the Citrus Tower area.
It is located three quarters of a mile east from Grand Highway on the
south side of Mowhawk Road. The owners of the property wish to rezone
it from M-P (Plannned Industrial) to M-l (Heavy Industrial) for
office use by engineers and consultants.
Council Members discussed that there was a metal building in this
area which could be used for an office. Mr. Forbes stated that he
had many reservations about this property being rezoned Heavy Indus-
trial and he believed that if action was not taken now, sometime in
the future we would have problems like those which presently exist
within the City of Clermont. Namely, Residential type developments
were allowed to grow and gradually interfere with Industrial develop-
ment. He also stated that he could not see how such an area could be
zoned Heavy Industrial when there were no paved roads, sewer and watet
systems, or other public facilities necessary to serve the site. He
also stated that he did not think the request for this area to be
Heavy Industrial would meet the City's Comprehensive Plan.
After much discussion, it was the consensus of the Council that they
were uncomfortable with the idea of this property being rezoned Heavy
Industrial, although they had no objections to an office for engineers
and consultants being built in this area. They could not understand
why the property would have to be rezoned Heavy Industrial to have an
office. After further discussion, it was the consensus of the Council
to have the Mayor send a letter to the Lake County Planning and Zoning
Commission stating the City's concerns on this rezoning request.
PENSION TRUST FUND WORKSHOP
The Council stated that they would like to change the Pension Trust
Fund Workshop to March 6, 1984 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference
Room. The reason for this time change was so it would not interefere
with the City's Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting held on the same
night.
e
CITY OF CLERMONT
.
MINUTES
WORKSHOP MEETING
February 21, 1984
Page -3-
CABLE TELEVISION
Council Members reviewed Ordinance 25-M, the franchise agreement which
is in effect until March 24, 1985 for cable television. They noted
that this agreement was a non exclusive franchise, required a 6%
percent of gross revenues franchise fee, ambiguous language regarding
connections of new users.
The section on connecting new subscribers states that service shall
be rendered by the company to all inhabitants of the city along
reasonably extended pole routes of the company. What defines reasonably
is not in the agreement. The Council reviewed a letter from Group W
Cable on proposed language, and Council Member Turville stated he was
not happy with the language suggested by Group W Cable.
A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the franchise agreement and
what should be included in the new agreement. City Manager Forbes
recommended that the City hire its own cable television consultant
to review the present agreement. He suggested that CTIC Associates
of Arlington, Virginia be retained to review the agreement between
Group Wand the City. The Council Members had no problems with looking
into the qualifications of this company, and possibly sending them a
copy of our franchise agreement.
Mayor Beals stated that he believed the new franchise agreement should
state that no X rated type films would be allowed to be shown. Other
alternatives to cable television were discussed, along with the number
of channels available, quality of service, privacy provisions, and
other items the City would want to review. It was the consensus of
the Council that they would not want to renegotiate the present fran-
chise agreement until it was carefully reviewed by themselves and a
a consultant of their choice.
The Council reviewed several documents provided by Cablevision,
including the company's prospectus which contained information
on the various areas in the United States where they currently
hold franchise agreements. Mr. Forbes stated that he had sent
the company a letter listing the areas within the City from which
we had received the greatest number of complaints about not being
able to be connected to the cable even though they want to.
City Manager Forbes stated that he felt Cablevision was a capable
company, and he had no problems with transferring the present agree-
ment to Cablevision, Inc. However, he would not recommend a quick
renegotiation of the present franchise.
Council Member Turville stated that he believed the City should
withhold judgment on Cablevision until they responded to the City's
letter on connecting new customers.
The Council Members agreed to review the documents provided by Cable-
vision, Inc. and the existing franchise agreement.
There being no further business,
the ?jnq :dj;n~~~5 p.m.
CH~~ALS' MAYOR
ATTEST:
~~~y CLERK