Loading...
10-22-1991 Regular Meeting CITYOF CLERMONT MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 22, 1991 A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held Tuesday, October 22, 1991 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 Norquist, Council Member Dupee and Council Member Cole. Other City Officials present were City Manager Saunders, City Attorney Baird, Finance Director Van Zile, and Deputy City Clerk Brandt. INVOCATION The Invocation was offered by Mayor Pro Tem Turville followed by the repeating of The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by all present. MINIITES The minutes of the Workshop Meeting held October 2, 1991, the Regular Council Meeting held October 8, 1991 and the Special Council Meeting held October 9, 1991 were approved as presented. REPORTS CITY MANAGER BAUNDERB' REPORT GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS CERTIFICATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN E%CELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING It was reported that the City had again received the Government Finance Officers Certificate for Achievement in Excellence in Financial Reporting Award. It was further explained that this is a very prestigious award for the City and~that Finance Director Van Zile and his Staff should be commended for their work in attaining this achievement for the third time. It was further reported that a formal presentation ceremony would be held at a later date. The Council thanked Mr. Van Zile and congratulated him for his accomplishment. COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING - INCINERATOR City Manager Saunders stated that he had attended the County Commission meeting where most of the discussion dealt with the County's controversial contract with Ogden-Martin, the operators of the garbage incinerator. It was reported that the County's consultant, hired to provide a study concerning the operation of the incinerator, had recommended to continue using the incinerator but to make all county residents pay for garbage collection in order to make it more equitable for all the citizens of Lake County. It was further reported that representatives from the League of Cities appeared before the Commission to express their displeasure with the County over garbage disposal costs and the inequities of those costs. As a result, a meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 29, 1991 to discuss the problem in depth with the elected officials of the County and hopefully to resolve those ® • CITYOF CLERMONT MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 22, 1991 PAGE -2- inequities. A meeting of the League of Cities is scheduled for the evening of the 29th, but the times of both meetings are uncertain at this time. City Manager Saunders stated that he would keep the Council informed and let them know the times and places of the meetings, if anyone wishes to attend. THE GREAT FLORIDIAN TRIATHLON It was reported that the triathlon would be held on Saturday, October 26, 1991, beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending at midnight. Over 200 have registered for the event and volunteers are needed. EMERGENCY ORDINANCE 238-M City Manager Saunders reported that six weeks ago Ordinance 234-M was passed reflecting a rate increase for sanitation service to $16.50 per month. This rate was based on the County charging $65/ton tipping fees. However, the County has decided to hold the tipping fee at the old rate of $40/ton indefinitely and Ordinance 238-M amends the effective date of the sanitation service rate schedule which will delay our scheduled increase until the County decides on a new rate. It was further explained that the emergency ordinance would automatically be repealed in sixty days. Council Member Turville commented that at the beginning it was projected that the County would be charging an $80/ton tipping fee and that it would go to $100/ton after that. He further stated that an increase would not go away and the City could expect one in the near future. The cities of Eustis, Leesburg and Clermont have been very vocal against any increase due to the inequities in tipping fee charges at the incinerator. 91-204 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLE AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED BY ROLL CALL VOTE TO ADOPT EMERGENCY ORDINANCE 238-M. THE ORDINANCE WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY BY MAYOR POOL. COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE'S REPORT FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES Council Member Dupee stated that a nice article concerning Clermont's Chief of Police, Prentice Tyndal, was published in the last issue of the League of Cities magazine, "Quality Cities." Mrs. Dupee furnished the information for the story. Mrs. Dupee, as a member of the Municipal Finance and Taxation Committee of the League, gave each Council Member a copy of a memorandum concerning the 1992 Municipal Finance and Taxation Priority Statement and Legislative Priorities and asked the Council Members to contact City Manager Saunders if they had any changes to the list. ® ~ • CITYOF CLERMONT MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 22, 1991 PAGE -3- COUNCIL MEMBER NORQUIST'S REPORT RECYCLING PROGRAMB FOR CONDOMINIUMS AND APARTMENT COMPLEBES Council Member Norquist stated that he had been approached by a Condo Association member regarding a recycling program for their complex and stated that he believed that the City should take the initiative in encouraging recycling programs for condominiums and apartment complexes who do not have city sanitation service. MAYOR POOL'S REPORT SOUTH LAKE COUNCIL FOR THE ARTB GALA BALL It was reported that the annual Gala Ball would be held Saturday, October 26, 1991 at the Orange Lake Country Club. PARR PALS It was announced that an all you can eat pancake breakfast would be held on November 3, 1991 with all proceeds going to Park Pals. HALLOWEEN PARADE Those present were reminded that the Halloween Parade and Costume Contest, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Mayor and Mrs. Pool, would be held Saturday, October 26, 1991 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Montrose Street. RED RIBBON WEER Mayor Pool stated that Red Ribbon Week would be held October 19 - 27. This is a national anti-drug and drug awareness program and he encouraged participation in the week long activities promoting Red Ribbon Week. VISITORS AITH BUSINESS JOHN GARZIA OF SOUTH LAKE PLAZA - DISCUSSION OF IMPACT OF PROPOSED SHOPPING CENTER Mr. Garzia, owner of Marie's Hallmark Shop in the South Lake Plaza and spokesperson for other merchants in the plaza, appeared before the Council to express their concerns with the proposed shopping center and its effect on their businesses. Mr. Garzia began the discussion with questioning the viability of a shopping center that would use Publix and K Mart as its anchor stores because the stores already exist at South Lake Plaza. He further stated that new stores would be welcomed to the area, but he felt it unfair to take existing stores, who have substantial time left in their leases at South Lake Plaza, and relocate them. Mr. Garzia also stated that the site for the new shopping center was not a great site, the backs of the buildings would be facing east which made them very visible upon entering Clermont and the businesses would be accessed from and face Grand Highway. He then ® • CITYOF CLERMONT 1VIINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 22, 1991 PAGE -4- questioned what would happen to South Lake Plaza, particularly in light of the fact that Publix had been very evasive in answering any questions regarding its intentions to the smaller businesses in South Lake Plaza which rely on them to bring business to the shopping center. He pointed out that Publix stores have been known to keep paying on the leases of vacated stores in order to prevent any competitive businesses from leasing the site. Mayor Pool then stated that he understood Mr. Garzia's concerns, but that the City could not do anything regarding the leases. Mayor Pool then deferred the question to City Attorney Baird who stated that the City Council could not ethically exert any political influence on a business or developer and that it had no ability or authority to do such a thing. At this point in the meeting, Council Member Turville stated that the economic impact of the new shopping center would not be good for everyone and he believed that the Council needed to make sure in whatever way it could that it would be good for everyone. He further stated that it would have a great impact on Clermont and that several items, such as the traffic problems it will cause, needed to be carefully considered. City Manager Saunders stated that the City received the plans a week ago and concern for South Lake Plaza was mentioned at that time. Mr. Garzia thanked the Council for their time and left the meeting, as did several other merchants from South Lake Plaza. UNFINISHED BUSINESS FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE 235-M - REQUEST FOR STREET CLOSING City Manager Saunders asked that the final reading of Ordinance 235-M be tabled because the City has not received the documents required for the dedication of the new 15' of right-of-way along the Highway 50 frontage from Grand Highway to the jog in the Highway 50 right-of-way and the 15' easement across the entire parcel. 91-205 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED TO TABLE THE FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE 235-M UNTIL THE NOVEMBER 12 1991 COUNCIL MEETING. FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE 236-M It was explained that this ordinance will annex approximately 9.4 acres located on the north side of Mohawk Road into the city limits. The property is located at the corner where Mohawk Road turns to the north, is approximately 3/4 of a mile east of Highway 27, and is directly across from OHM and the existing truss plant. City Manager Saunders located the property for those present on the aerial photograph. Mayor Pool called for comments from those present. Rick McCoy stated that he was the Project Engineer and would be happy to CITYOF CLERMONT MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 22, 1991 PAGE -5- C~ answer any questions concerning the proposed project. Howard Barry questioned why annex it at all. He stated that he was opposed to any annexation because more tax dollars would go out than come into the City because of the annexation. Council Member Dupee stated that a car restoration business would be located on five acres of the parcel and the remaining property would be platted into four one acre parcels to be sold for other businesses. 91-206 There being no further comments or discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DIIPEE. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOROUIST AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED BY ROLL CALL VOTE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 236-M. THE ORDINANCE WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY BY MAYOR POOL. FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE 237-M It was explained that this ordinance will rezone the property annexed in Ordinance 236-M from R-R Rural Residential to M-1 Industrial. Mayor Pool called for comments and there were none. 91-207 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED BY ROLL CALL VOTE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 237-M REZONING THE PROPERTY ANNEXED IN ORDINANCE 236-M FROM R-R RURAL RESIDENTIAL TO M-1 INDUSTRIAL. THE ORDINANCE WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY BY MAYOR POOL. NEW BUSINESS NATIONAL FITNESS CAMPAIGN - GRANT APPROVAL City Manager Saunders explained that the City had been approved for a grant from the National Fitness Campaign, a company promoting physical fitness located in California, for a Game Court. The Game Court is a new concept, similar to the old fitness trails many cities have had in the past. It differs in that the Game Court has all of the fitness stations in one area which takes up the space of one-half of a tennis court. It was further explained that this was a matching grant and the amount of money the City would have to provide in order to participate in the grant, would be $1,650, plus an additional $843 for shipping and handling for a total expenditure of $2,493. In addition to the Game Court, the City also receives a five year commitment from the National Fitness Campaign to provide fitness literature and a curriculum for individual cardiovascular fitness programs to be distributed communitywide. City Manager Saunders stated that he was not comfortable with this grant and could not recommend participation in the program for the following reasons: 1. The value of the continuing educational part of the program over the next five years cannot be determined at this time. This is a new program with no track record on the value of that information. 2. The Game Court fitness stations could probably be purchased outright through a recreational supply ® • CITYOF CLERMONT 1ViINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 22, 1991 PAGE -6- company for somewhere in the neighborhood of $5,000, and 3. The City already has the fitness stations around Center Lake and we are developing a biking and fitness trail at the Palatlakaha Recreation Area, we need to consider the value of this new fitness center, particularly in light of the economic conditions we are now being faced with. In looking over photographs of the proposed Game Court, Council Member Norquist commented that it appeared that the National Fitness Program was making money on the matching grant. Council Member Turville commented that the Council should focus on what it is committed to now, and believed the City would be better served if the $2,500 were used for Park Pals should their fund raising efforts for the All Children's Playground fall short in the end. 91-208 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TIIRVILLE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER NOROUIST AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED FOR CITY MANAGER SAUNDERS TO WRITE THE NATIONAL FITNESS CAMPAIGN A LETTER DECLINING TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AND THANRING THEM FOR THEIR OFFER. LAKE-BUNTER MENTAL HEALTH - APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT FOR SERVICES City Manager Saunders explained that the Drug-Free Workplace Plan which was adopted as part of our Personnel Policy includes providing a source of treatment for any substance abuse cases we may be confronted with, and Lake-Sumter Mental Health, which has an office in our community, provides both out-patient and in- patient services for substance abuse. It was further explained that the City will not be paying the fees listed in the attached fee schedule, but the fees will be charged to any employee who is required to enter into a treatment program and are covered under the Employee Health Insurance Plan. Council Member Dupee questioned the date on the Agreement and City Manager Saunders explained that the City used the services at that time and that was why the August date was put on the document. 91-209 There being no further discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE HY COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE. SECONDED BY COIINCIL MEMBER COLE AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED TO ENTER INTO A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH LAKE/BUNTER MENTAL HEALTH FOR SERVICES AS LISTED IN THE FEE SCHEDULE ATTACHED TO THE AGREEMENT. ELECTION BOARD - APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL ELECTION BOARD It was explained that the City was required to appoint an Election Board for the upcoming General Election to be held on November 5, 1991, and it was recommended that the Election Board as provided by the Supervisor of Elections, Emogene Stegall, be appointed. 91-210 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED TO APPOINT THE ELECTION BOARD PROVIDED BY THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE. ® . CITYOF CLERMONT MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 22, 1991 PAGE -7- PDBLIC COMMENTB FLIIORIDE IN CITY WATER Goldie Vessels stated that she had been reading articles in the newspaper concerning the addition of fluoride to municipal water systems and asked if there was fluoride in Clermont's water. Mayor Pool stated that there was no fluoride in the water. Several years ago the City considered placing fluoride in the water when offered a grant by the State of Florida for the fluoridation equipment. After several meetings and listening to all of the data presented, the Council decided not to place fluoride in the water because it was a very expensive program and other sources for fluoride were available that were inexpensive and as effective. Mrs. Vessels stated that she would like to see the information from those hearings and she was told to contact City Hall. There being no further adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Attest: business or discussion, the meeting Robert A. Pool, Mayor