07-29-1987 Regular Meeting
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WORKSHOP MEETING
July 29, 1987
A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont
was held Wednesday, July 29, 1987, in the City Hall Conference
Room. The meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m. by Mayor
Pool with the following Council Members in attendance: Council
Member Dupee, and Mayor Pro Tem Turville. Also in attendance
were the following members of the Cooper Memorial Library Board
of Directors: Honey Jean Smoak, Chris Williams, Don Wickham,
and Betty Clay. Librarian Bonnie Homan was also present, as
were City Manager Saunders and Finance Director Van Zile.
COOPER MEMORIAL LIBRARY BUDGET
Honey Jean Smoak gave those present a Five Year Budget Summary
for Cooper Memorial Library and a proposed budget for the next
fiscal year. She explained that the Library was again having
to budget some of their reserves in order to meet the required
budget for next year, which includes a proposed contribution
from the City of $41,500. This is the same amount contributed
during the current budget year, except she stated that they
were requesting that this be a straight donation instead of
last year's contribution of $38,500 with an additional $3,000
matching for fund raisers the Library Board might hold. City
Manager Saunders explained that the proposed City Budget now
includes $41,500 for the library.
The proposed budget was discussed in detail. Mayor Pool suggested
different types of fund raisers the City might help to stage with
the library. He also explained that the City was looking for
places to cut its proposed budget because presently it was showing
a deficit.
Instead of using the City's cash reserve~, Council Member Turville
stated that he thought the County's involvement should be much more
than it presently is. He further stated that he felt the County
was not funding its fair share for the number of non-City residents
the library currently serves.
Also disucssed was the proposition made by the City last year,
which was to sell the building to the library so they could pay
for it from the Arnett Trust Fund which would give them an
immediate $10,000 increase to their operating budget if the City
kept the same contribution level.
After much discussion, the Library Board thanked the Council
for any consideration or ideas they may have. The City Manager
stated that he would meet with Mrs. Homan to see if there were
some service contracts that could be combined in order to save
the library some money.
The Library Board Members left the meeting at 9:10 p.m.
PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE
Finance Director Van Zile then explained that the millage rate
form had to be returned to the County by August 5, 1987, with the
City's proposed rate and time and date for the public hearing.
City Manager Saunders explained that the City was proposing to
keep the same millage rate of 2.429 and that the public hearing
was tentatively scheduled for the first regular meeting in Sep-
tember. There were no objections to the proposed meeting, and
Finance Director Van Zile stated that he would submit the required
form to the Property Appraiser.
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WORKSHOP MEETING
July 29, 1987
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UTILITY TAX
City Manager Saunders explained that the City was still looking at
approximately an $80,000 deficit in the proposed budget and as
discussed this time last year, the utility service tax would
probably be the best source for raising additional revenue, as
opposed to increasing the ad valorem rate.
Finance Director Van Zile explained how much additional revenue
could be raised using different increments of increase in the
utility service tax.
PROPOSED ONE CENT SALES TAX
The one cent sales tax, which is proposed to be on the fall ballot,
was also discussed. It was the consensus of Council that an increase
in the utility service tax should not be proposed until it is known
whether the one cent sales tax will pass or not. Finance Director
Van Zile explained that the one cent sales tax may only be used for
specific items.
Council Member Dupee stated that the City should find out when the
wording for the ballot must be in for the proposition. City Manager
Saunders stated that he would contact Jeff Book, Executive Director
of the League of Cities, to see what the procedure and deadline for
submitting the wording for the ballot would be.
It was the consensus of Council that the probable use for the taxes
would be purchase of recreational property, since the City is
contemplating purchase of the Oswalt property.
POLICE AND FIRE PENSION FUND
City Manager Saunders explained that the State was withholding
the insurance premium tax funds because of certain problems with
the City's pension fund.
The State has indicated that the City must include in its fund a
benefit for disability for police officers and firemen in order
to continue receiving the premium tax from insurance.
This additional benefit will cost approximately $9,000 per year,
but the monies generated from the premium tax is in excess of
$20,000 per year. It was the consensus of Council that the
City go ahead and make the required change. Finance Director
Van Zile stated that he would obtain the details and bring this
matter before Council at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Mayor Pool stated that during a recent Pension Board Meeting,
some concern was expressed by other cities about the fees that
were be paid to ECS, and asked that we review those we were
being charged, as compared those paid in the past to see if
there were any discrepencies.
JOB CLASSIFICATIONS AND PAY GRADE SCHEDULE FOR PROPOSED BUDGET
City Manager Saunders explained that he had reviewed Clermont's
Job Classifications and Pay Grades with the League of Cities'
publication for other cities of our size, and that there were two
changes he would like to propose to make in Clermont's Job Classi-
. fications and Pay Grades: (1) Moving the Planning and Zoning
Technician from a Grade 8 to a Grade 10, and (2) Moving the
Administrative Assistant/Secretary from a Grade 9 to a Grade 12.
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The next item discussed was proposed additional benefits for
City employees. Mr. Van Zile explained the costs involved.
Currently included is $16,000 which was spread between an
annual physical for all employees and a dental coverage for
all employees. It was the consensus of Council that it would
be a better benefit for the employees to pick up a portion of
the family coverage on the Major Medical Insurance.
Mr. Van Zile explained the different costs involved with
picking up 25 or 30% of the dependent coverage and the number
of employees that could be funded with the $16,000 in the
proposed budget. It was the consensus of Council that this
benefit would be better at this time.
KEHLOR PARK SHUFFLEBOARD COURTS
City Manager Saunders explained that he had received a firm
proposal for resurfacing the courts from the Nidy Corporation
in the amount of $3,240. Mr. Saunders further explained that
the Recreation Club had maintained the courts and done extensive
landscaping to the area, and it was the consensus of Council to
include funds in the budget to resurface the lower eight shuffle-
board courts.
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HIGHLANDER HUT
The next item discussed was possible improvements to the Highlander
Hut. The City had received a quote of $7,500 for the air condition-
ing and approximately $3,500 for the improvements to the building,
which include blocking up part of the existing jalousie windows re-
placing the others with standard windows. After a lengthy discussion,
this matter was tabled until the next workshop.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
City Manager Saunders informed the Council that representatives of
the Chamber of Commerce would be scheduled to be present at the
next workshop~ He also stated that Mr. Van Zile and he would cal-
culate the approximate worth of the office space and the services
the City now provides for the Chamber, and obtain information on how
much other cities in the area contribute to their respective Chambers
of Commerce.
The meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
Attest:
~ Cfi(ity
Clerk