Loading...
08-25-1987 Regular Meeting e e REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING August 25, 1987 The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held Tuesday, August 25, 1987, in the Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Pool with the following Council Members in attendance: Mayor Pro Tem Turville, Council Member Cole, Council Member Huff and Council Member Dupee. Other City Officials present were City Manager Saunders, City Attorney Baird, and Deputy City Clerk Brandt. INVOCATION The Invocation was offered by Nilsa Whitehead followed by the repeating of The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by all present. MINUTES The Minutes of the Workshop Meetings held July 29 and August 6, 1987 and the Regular Meeting held August II, 1987 were approved as presented. REPORTS CITY MANAGER SAUNDER'S REPORT LAKE COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY It was reported that the next meeting of the Lake Water Authority would be held on Wednesday, August 26, 1987, at 5:30 p.m. in their building in Tavares. MINNEOLA HARBOUR PROJECT It was reported that the Minneola Harbours project was still very much alive, and that the developers were requesting a Workshop with the Council to be held on Monday, September 14, 1987 to resolve the four main points which have not been honored yet. Mr. Saunders continued by stating that the developers had not yielded, and now seemed farther apart because they had backed up on some other points previously agreed to. Council Member Dupee asked if they had received financing for the project, and was told that the report the City had asked for had not been received yet. She further stated that she felt the City would be taking a major gamble to annex the property without financing: Mrs. Dupee also asked about the recreation concession which had been previously discussed. City Manager Saunders stated that they wished to postpone it until Phase III was completed and at that time (about five years from now) give the City a cash settlement. City Manager Saunders stated that he believed the City should send back the proposed agreements, and stand firm on asking for the four points and financial statement. Mr. Saunders continued by pointing out, as previously discussed, that the City would lose money the first four to five years of the project, and that given the scope and nature of the the problems facing the City, annexation would be a big gamble. City Attorney Baird stated that the City needed to maintain control of the project, and that the development, whether it was annexed into Clermont or not, would impact the City. He recommended that e It REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING August 25, 1987 Page -2- the City become actively involved with the County concerning the area of influence as set forth in the Joint Planning Agreement entered into with the County. 87-160 After some further discussion of the City's position on this matter, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLE AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED TO SEND A LETTER TO THE DEVELOPERS STATING THAT THE CITY IS NOT INTERESTED IN ANNEXATION OF THE PROPERTY IF THE AGREEMENT FORWARDED TO THE CITY REPRESENTS THE DEVELOPERS FINAL POSITION. COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE'S REPORT ANIMAL CONTROL INCIDENT Council Member Dupee reaccounted an unfortunate incident whereby the City's Animal Control Officer had left an injured dog in the holding pen at the Public Works Department overnight without obtaining proper treatment for the animal, even though the dog was wearing owner identification tags. Mrs. Dupee further stated that she had spoken with the owners of the animal, and they had assured her they were not vindictive, but had expressed their concern that this type of thing never happen again. City Manager Saunders stated that a new policy concerning the handling of injured animals had already been implemented. The City also has learned that the Lake County Humane Society will pick up injured animals at any time. Council Member Dupee stated that she would like the City to advertise the fact the City issues dog tags, to define its animal control policy concerning injured animals and publicize the policy, and rewrite the animal control ordinance to ensure that nothing like this will happen again. The Council was in full agreement with Mrs. Dupee. COUNCIL MEMBER COLE'S REPORT CHESTNUT STREET PARK Council Member Cole asked that the City remove the ladder to the slide at the Chestnut Street Park until such time as the whole piece of equipment was repaired and/or replaced. City Manager Saunders stated that the ladder had been roped off so no one could climb on it, but that he would have it taken down to avoid a potential safety problem. The body of the slide was rusted out and had been removed for repairs. MAYOR POOL'S REPORT ELECTION PROCLAMATION Mayor Pool read the Election Proclamation for the Election to be held November 3, 1987 for Council Seats II and IV. If more than two people qualify for a particular seat, a Primary Election will be held on October 6, 1987 to determine who will stand for election in November. The Proclamation will be published in the newspaper four consecutive weeks before the election. e e REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING August 25, 1987 Page -3- INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 50 AND FIFTH STREET Mayor Pool stated that he had received a complaint about poor visibility caused by the parked cars at Bolton's Used Car Sales, and asked City Manager Saunders to investigate the situation, and ask Mr. Bolton to move the cars back from the corner. Mr. Saunders stated that he would discuss the problem with Mr. Bolton and ask his cooperation in this matter. NEW BUSINESS PROPERTY PURCHASE AGREEMENT City Manager Saunders explained that the agreement would commit the City to purchase the northeast 2.5 acres immediately for $50,000, with a a nine month option on the remaining property for $300,000. It was further explained that the City will apply for a $150,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund Program Grant which, if awarded, would leave $150,000 to be funded locally as our matching share. City Manager Saunders gave each Council Member a revised copy of the property purchase agreement for the purchase of the Oswalt property on Twelfth Street, and indicated that Attorney George Hovis had revised the agreement prepared by Mr. Baird. Mr. Saunders then explained the differences between the two agreements, and stated that basically changes made in the agreement included: I. Changes in the sellers name, 2. elimination of the deferred payment (Item e. (1) and (2), 3. Item 6 (c) expanded the City's obligation in more detail, and 4. Item 6 (e) was changed from may to shall. City Attorney Baird advised that the wording in Item 6 (e) would have to be changed back to "may" because the City cannot have a binding agreement and obtain the grant. 87-161 After a brief discussion of the agreement changes, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED TO ENTER INTO THE AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE THE OSWALT PROPERTY WITH THE WOR.DING IN ITEM 6 (e) CHANGED FROM THE BUYER SHALL PURCHASE~~. TO THE BUYER MAY PURCHASE... City Manager Saunders then pointed out the property on a map for those present in the audience. Cecil Smart~ who was present in the audience, asked just exactly what the property would be used for. City Manager Saunders stated that the property would be used exclusively for recreation facilities. Council Member Dupee asked if a Civic Center could be considered recreation fracilities and built on the site. City Manager Saunders stated that he did not know if it would fall under the criteria set forth in the grant application, but that he would investigate the possibility. Mr. Saunders also stated that the City would need a conceptual plan to apply for the grant. e e REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING August 25, 1987 Page -4- It was then then explained that the City was proposing a Budget Amendment to fund the $50,000 initial purchase as follows: 1~ Reallocate $15,700 in the current budget from ball field construction to property purchase 2. Transfer $34~300 from Recreation Fund Reserves to the General Fund for property purchase 87-162 The reallocation of these funds will leave approximately $46,000 in the Recreation Reserve Account. City Manager Saunders explained that the grant application required that the City provide two appraisals of the property. Mr. Saunders then requested authorization to contact several state approved appraisers in the area to request proposals for the required apprai- sals~ 87-163 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED GRANTING AUTHORIZATION TO CITY MANAGER SAUNDERS TO OBTAIN PROPOSALS FOR APPRAISING THE PROPERTY. PUBLIC COMMENTS CABLEVISION INDUSTRIES OF CENTRAL FLORIDA Dave Fulton and Rick D'Louhyof Cablevision Industries appeared before Council to inform them of the positive changes being made within their organization. Among the changes discussed were a review of employee service response time resulting in more timely service, a new telephone system with more lines to better handle customer complaints and inquiries, and new personnel. The Council also was informed that as requested in the City Attorney's letter, a technical perspective of the company compiled by an independent engineer from Michigan would be forth coming. The engineer will be in Clermont early next week and will stop by City Hall before beginning the study. Much discussion ensued concerning the poor service provided by Cablevision Industries, including poor response time to cu~tomer needs, never answering the telephone, poor reception coupled with increased rates, and questionable grounding of equipment. Mr. D'Louhy assured the Council that the company was working very diligently to remedy the past problems, and asked that they be given a chance to prove that they could deliver top quality cable service. TENTH ANNUAL LABOR DAY CLASSIC ROAD RACE Fred Sommer passed out entry blanks to the Tenth Annual Labor Day Classic Road Race to each City 'Official present, and challanged them to take part in the Labor Day Classic 5K run/walk road race. He stated that a special trophy would be presented to the City Father (or Mother) who completed the race. e e REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING August 25, 1987 Page .-5- LAKESHORE DRIVE PROJECT Cecil Smart asked what part of Lakeshore Drive was closed for the street widening project and how long it would be before the project would be complete. City Manager Saunders stated that presently Lakeshore Drive was closed between Fourth Street and Penzance and that the project would be completed sometime within the next 60 to 75 days. CATCH THE WAVE Cecil Smart reported that a new achedemic support group (a booster club for achedemics) called Catch the Wave had been formed at the Clermont High School. One of the first projects undertaken to promote learning will be two minutes of every hour at school being devoted to reading, with all students and teachers taking part. There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. ~ 27'q~ Ro ert A. Poot[, Mayor '----- Attest: e, City C erk