09-07-1983 Special Meeting• CITY OF CLERMONT .
SPECIAL COUNC ES MEETING
September 7, 1983
A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held
Wednesday, September 7, 1983 in the City Council Chambers. The meeting
was called to order by Mayor Beals at 7:30 p.m. with the following-
Council Members in attendance: Council Member Dupee, Mayor Pro Tem
Pool, Council Member Cole, and Council Member Turville. Other City
Officials present were City Manager Forbes, City Attorney Baird, Finance
Director Saunders, and Deputy City Clerk Brandt.
The Invocation was offered by City Manager Forbes, followed by the
repeating of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by all present.
ADOPTION OF TENTATIVE MILEAGE RATE OF 2.595
Mayor Beals explained that the City is not proposing. to increase our
millage levy, but to lower the millage from 2.793 to 2.595 mills for
Fiscal Year 1983-1984. Due to the increase in assessed value, the
lower millage rate will generate the same amount of tax dollars for
this fiscal year, and there is. no increase over the roll back rate.
Mayor Beals then called for comments from those present in .the audience.
It was asked why taxes in Clermont are going up, even with the lower
millage rate. It was explained that the increase in assessed value
plus a school millage increase had caused the larger tax bill. There
;:83"-.~fieing no further questions, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER~POOL,
144 SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED TO ADOPT
A TENTATIVE MILEAGE RATE OF 2.595 FOR FISCAL YEAR 1983-1984.
RESOLUTION NO. 447 - TENTATIVE GENERAL AND REVENUE SHARING FUND BUDGET
Mayor Beals explained that this Resolution would adopt. the tentative
budgets for the General and Revenue Sharing Funds of the City; and that
the General Fund Budget provides for the basic tax supported services
and maintenance of existing services of the City, and the Revenue Sharing
Budget provides funds for Capital Outlays. It was also explained that
the current Revenue Sharing Law expires on September 30, 1983, and if it
was not reenacted, the budgeted funds will not be spent.
Mayor Beals then opened the floor to public discussion of the proposed
budget, and asked for comments or questions from those present in the
audience.
Shirley Ann Ritch, President of the Chamber of Commerce, asked why the
Chamber's requested funds had been cut from $10,000 to~$2,000.
Mayor Beals stated that he did not want to become involved in a one on
one dialogue with Mrs. Ritch at this time, but would rather allow all
those present to speak first; and then he would answer any questions
regarding the proposed budget.
Mrs. Ritch stated that the $2,.000 would not. even cover the. Chamber's
expenses for services rendered to the City, which conservatively come
to $11,300; and include: (1) answering 900 letters of inquiry, (2)
answering telephone inquiries for information, (3) providing maps,
brochures, etc. of the area, (4) sponsoring Orange Blossom Breakfasts,
and (5) 'spbnsoring~the annual Labor Day_,Race.
Mrs. Ritch further stated that she felt the City was not aware of the
extent of the services, and asked who would take them over if' they were
not provided by the Chamber, since the City had not budgeted extra money
to do so.
Chamber Members Betty Kimball, Joe Washuta, Marino Thomas, Dennis Horton,
Don Tracy, and others spoke in favor of the Chamber, citing its many
positive activities with regards to the business and residential
community, and asked the Council to reconsider its proposed funding.
Don Smith, Ed Klimas, A.W. Schultz, and others spoke in favor of reducing
funds for the Chamber, stating that the Chamber did very little for the
City and citizens who are not business owners to justify the $10,000
funding with taxpayer's money.
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CITY OF CLERMONT .
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SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
September 7, 1983
Page 2
Council Member Turville reiterated his feelings that the Chamber can
be anything it wants to be. However, he expressed his concern for
spending taxpayer's money to support an organiaztion which appears to
have become politically active in nature. Such a function should not
be funded with tax dollars.
Much discussion ensued from both sides regarding services provided by
the Chamber, the Chamber's proposed budget, the cancellation of the
Labor Day Activities, the involvement of the Chamber in politics
during the last election, and personality conflicts between Chamber
Officials and Council Members.
Council Member Dupee stated that she felt the present Chamber was not
active enough. In the past, the Chamber had sponsored a Christmas Parade,
Little Miss Orange Bud Contest, an All States Picnic, and other activities
which were well received by the general public.
Mrs. Ritch responded that the Chamber's budget did not allow them to
sponsor all of the activities for the general public that they would
like to, and the state of the economy with back to back freezes the past
two years had made it difficult to raise extra funds for such endeavors.
There being no further comments from those present, Mayor Beals stated
that he would now like to respond as to why the Chamber's budget request
had been cut from $10,000 to $2,000. Mayor Beals stated that Clermont is
ideally situated in Central Florida, and like the rest of the State, is
growing in spite of the supposed negativism toward the Chamber. He stated
that historically it had been questionable to use taxpayer's money to fund
a Chamber of Commerce, and he felt they should be a totally self-sustaining
organization, and should not be involved in politics as evidenced by the
last City Election. Mayor Beals stated that although Mr. Searles, Executive
Director of the Chamber, and he had had their differences, the budget was
not being cut because of this. The services being provided by the Chamber
simply did not merit $10,000 from the City.
Mrs. Ritch asked if the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce removed
Mr. Searles from his position as Director, would the City put the requested
$10,000 back in the budget. Mayor Beals stated that he felt they would not.
Mayor Beals also expressed his consternation for the last minute cancellation
of the annual Labor Day Festivities and stated that the money had been pro-
vided in last year's budget with the understanding that the program would
be presented.
Council Member Pool agreed that the Chamber of Commerce should be self-
sustaining. However, he felt that this should be done gradually over a
period of time.
After much discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL, AND SECONDED
BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLE TO AMEND RESOLUTION NO. 447 TO REFLECT $8,000 TO BE
;BUDGETED FOR THE CLERMONT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR FY 1983-1984 WITH THE
CHAMBER'S UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WOULD BE A YEARLY REDUCTION IN THE
AMOUNT BUDGETED TO THE CHAMBER UNTIL THE CHAMBER WOULD BECOME TOTALLY
SELF-SUSTAINING. THIS MOTION WAS DEFEATED BY A THREE TO TWO ROLL CALL
VOTE: VOTING WAS AS FOLLOWS: COUNCIL MEMBERS COLE AND POOL, AYE; AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS DUPEE AND TURVILLE, AND MAYOR BEALS, NAY.
After some further discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE
AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN.
AT THIS POINT, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT RITCH DECLINED THE PROPOSED
$2,000 AND COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE WITHDREW HER SECOND TO THE MOTION. THE
MOTION DIED FOR A LACK OF A SECOND.
g3- A MOTION WAS THEN MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL
145 MEMBER DUPEE, AND CARRIED BY A THREE TO TWO ROLL CALL VOTE TO ADOPT
R O ION N0. 47 AS AMENDED BY DELETING THE 2,000 BUDGETED FOR THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THE VOTING WAS AS FOLLOWS: COUNCIL MEMBERS DUPEE,
AND TURVILLE, AND MAYOR BEALS, AYE: AND COUNCIL MEMBERS POOL AND COLE, NAY.
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CITY OF CLERMONT .
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SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
September 7, 1983
Page 3
Council Member Cole stated that he felt there had been a lack of communi-
cation between the City and Chamber of Commerce, and now that the City had
severed its ties with the Chamber, he asked the Council to consider this
his official resignation as liaison to the Chamber of Commerce.
RESOLUTION NO. 447 - TENTATIVE SANITATION FUND BUDGET
Mayor Beals explained that the Tentative Sanitation Fund Budget included
$237,059 in expenditures and provides money for garbage and trash col-
lection, and the fees for this service will not increase this year.
Mayor Beals called for comments regarding the proposed Sanitation Fund
Budget, and no one spoke for or against it. After some discussion,
g3_ A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
146 POOL, AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED BY ROLL CALL VOTE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
N0. 447- TENTATIVE SANITATION FUND BUDGET. VOTING WAS AS FOLLOWS:
COUNCIL MEMBER DUPEE, POOL, TURVILLE, AND COLE, AYE; AND MAYOR BEALS,
AYE. THE RESOLUTION WAS READ BY TITLE ONLY.
RESOLUTION NO. 445 - TENTATIVE UTILITIES FUND BUDGET
Mayor Beals explained that the Tentative Utilities Fund Budget includes
expenditures of $791,649 for water and sewer services of the City, and
that there would be no increase in water or sewer rates to support this
budget. Mayor Beals called for comments on the Tentative Utilities Fund
Budget from those present, and no one spoke for or against the proposed
83- budget. After some discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER
147 TURVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLE , AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED BY
ROLL CALL VOTE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 445 - TENTATIVE UTILITIES FUND
BUDGET. VOTING WAS AS FOLLOWS: COUNCIL MEMBERS DUPEE, POOL, TURVILLE,
AND COLE, AYE; AND MAYOR BEALS , AYE. THE RESOLUTION WAS READ BY TITLE
ONLY.
RESOLUTION NO. 444 - MATCHING FUNDS FOR COOPER MEMORIAL LIBRARY
-Mayor Beals explained that this Resolution, if adopted, would allow the
Cooper Memorial Library to obtain matching funds from the Library Services
Construction Act to expand the existing building. City Manager Forbes
explained that there was a wording error in the second paragraph of the
Resolution and the words "City Council of" should be removed to correct
83- the error. After some discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER
148 COLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POOL,AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED BY ROLL
CALL VOTE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 444 AS AMENDED BY THE REMOVAL OF THE
WORDS "CITY COUNCIL OF" IN THE SECOND PARAGRAPH, WHICH CERTIFIES THAT
THE COOPER MEMORIAL LIBRARY HAS THE REQUIRED MATCHING FUNDS AVAILABLE
FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING BUILDING UNDER THE LIBRARY SERVICES
CONSTRUCTION ACT. VOTING WAS AS FOLLOWS: COUNCIL MEMBERS TURVILLE,
COLE, DUPEE, AND POOL, AYE; AND MAYOR BEALS, AYE. THE RESOLUTION WAS
READ BY TITLE ONLY.
There being no further business, the m 'ng adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
CHARLE B . BEA S , MpiYOR
ATTEST:
A E SAUNDERS, CITY CLERK