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08-03-1983 Workshop Meeting e CITY OF CLERMONT - MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING August 3, 1983 A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held Wednesday, August 3, 1983 in the City Hall Conference Room. The Meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by Mayor Beals with the following Council Members in attendance: Mayor Pro Tern Pool, Council Member Cole, Council Member Turville, and Council Member Dupee. Other City Officials present were: City Manager Forbes and Finance Director Saunders. CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE Dick Stokes and Bonnie Homan were present to explain the Committee's $10,000 budget request. They distributed a letter to the Council dated August 4, 1983 which explained the request in detail. Many questions were asked about the income producing events, non income producing costs, and the total revenues and expenditures projected by the Committee. Mr. Stokes explained that the single biggest cost was a book being printed on the History of Clermont which was being financed by private funds. Mayor Beals informed the Council that he is involved in the ad specialities business, but that he will not be supplying any of the materials for the Centennial. The Committee Members also explained that while many individual organizations would be involved with the Centennial, all profits from the Centennial would be returned to the City and donated for recreational purposes. Bonnie Homan explained that the Centennial would be held from March 31 through April 6th, and she gave a run down of all of the planned events. She also invited the Council Members to attend the Centennial Committee Meetings which are held on the fourth Thursday of every month. The finances of the Committee were discussed and it was explained that there would be a drawdown of City monies and that the Treasurer of the Centennial Committee should meet with the City Finance Director to learn how City monies would be obtained. Basically a bill must be submitted for all disbursements and the Finance Director will maintain a separate account for this event. The Council Members thanked the Centennial Committee for their extra effort in pro- viding a detailed budget. They believed that the new budget was much more enlightening, and even if their projected revenues fell short, the City should still do well with the Centennial Committee events. It was the consensus of the Council to place $10,000 in the proposed budget for the Centennial Committee. Finance Director Saunders was instructed to meet with Frances Oswalt of the Centen- nial Committee regarding the budget. REPORTS Council Member Turville asked many questions regarding the City's water system. The City Manager was directed to get in contact with the State and insure that none of the City's wells were being subjected to degradation as evidenced in the paper by some abutting communities. The City Manager was also directed to contact the school system and determine the outcome of the lights the City requested for the ele- mentary school. The Council briefly discussed a letter from the Harry-Anna Crippled Children's Hospital asking that benches with outdoor advertising on them be placed in the City, the proceeds from the advertising would go to the hospital. It was the consensus of the Council that the Children's Hospital is a fine and greatly needed facility, how- ever, this action would set a bad precedent for the City. City Manager Forbes was directed to send a letter informing the hospital "- that it would not be possible for the City to participate in this project. It was suggested that the hospital might contact the golf courses in the area to see if they might be interested in obtaining benches. - CITY OF CLERMONT - MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING August 3, 1983 Page 2 The City Manager passed out a letter from the City Attorney regarding an easement the City needs on Hooks Road and the Langley property on Hook Street and Lakeshore Drive. He stated that he would discuss this matter with the Council at next Tuesday's Council Meeting. The City Manager explained the status of the City's water tank. Uni- versal Tank and Ironworks has not yet completed work on the tank since the one year warranty inspection revealed deficiencies, mainly flaking paint on the interior of the tank. The City Engineer has been in con- tact with this company which has now filed a Chapter 13 refinancing. To protect the City, a letter had been filed with the bonding company explaining that if an agreement is not worked out soon, the City will be obtaining funds from the bonding company to complete the work. REPLACEMENT FIRE TRUCK The City Council reviewed a request from the Fire Department for a re- placement fire truck at an estimated cost of $125,000 to $300,000. The City Manager explained that the purpose of this truck was to re- place the 1952 Seagraves Ladder Truck with a newer vehicle having better fire supression capabilities; including an aerial ladder, snorkel or telesquirt. He explained that even if a new truck was purchased, the City would probably keep the ladders and trade- in the 1952 Seagraves Truck. Much discussion ensued regarding the age and condition of the City's four fire vehicles. The City Manager explained that the most cost effective way to replace a fire vehicle might be to purchase a used truck from a larger fire department. He reminded the Council Members that about one year ago, at a Council Meeting, there was much discussion regarding bidding on a used fire truck. The needs of the Fire Department were discussed in great detail, and the consensus of the Council was that $50,000 be trans- ferred to the Capital Replacement Fund to assist in financing depre- ciation. The City would again review the status of its fire vehicles at the budget sessions for the next fiscal year, but no new fire truck would be purchased this fiscal year. STREET SWEEPER The purchase of a new street sweeper was discussed in great detail by the Council. The City Manager explained that basically the City had three options on this matter: (1) Not purchase a street sweeper at all, (2) Purchase a mechanical sweeper, and (3) Purchase a vacuum type sweeper. Different types of street sweepers were discussed, as was the public's response to the questionnaire. All Council Members agreed that the public's response was for the City to obtain a new street sweeper. It was the consensus of the Council that while a vacuum sweeper might do a sightly better job in the City; it would be more cost effective to purchase a mechanical sweeper. It was requested that $50,000 for the replacement mechanical street sweeper be placed in this year's budget. RELOCATION OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT City Manager Forbes informed the Council of his request to spend a few thousand dollars at the end of the next fiscal year to look into the possibility of relocating the City's Public Works Facility. He ex- plained that the best place for a new facility might be the present Utility Department site once the sprayfield was relocated. The con- sensus of the Council was that it would be up to the discretion of the City Manager to use funds in the budget for such a study, and keep the Council posted on this matter. PARKS AND RECREATION PROJECTS The Council discussed in detail Parks and Recreation projects. The Finance Director explained that a bill had just come in today for - CITY OF CLERMONT - MINUTES Workshop Meeting August 3, 1983 Page 3 the City to pay its share of the boat ramp improvements at Jaycee Beach in the amount of about $3,313. The City Manager informed the Council that the Recreation Club also requested that ten of their shuffleboard courts be repainted and restriped at a cost of approximately $3,000. He explained that the $7,000 in Capital Improvements for Parks and Recreation was originally budgeted for handball courts. It was the consensus of the Council that since handball courts were being built in the City, new courts would not be necessary. The Council Members stated that they had no problem if the City would spend the $3,000 in its existing account to paint the Recreation Club's shuffleboard courts. Funds for a new car for the Building Department would come from the City's cash reserves. Council Member Pool stated that he felt it was disgraceful that the City did not have a swimming pool. All of the cities in the north half of the county have pools, and that Clermont should have one. A fund drive should begin to assist the City or schools in build- a swimming pool. He believed that swimming lessons and swim teams should be taught from a swimming pool. Mr. Pool also brought up the possibility of adding lawn bowling to our facilities at Kehlor Parks. The City Manager explained that horseshoe courts had recently been added at Kehlor Park, and there was not much room for additional improvements. He further stated that Council Members could assist with Senior Citizen activities by finding citizens wishing to serve on an advisory committee for the Senior Citizens Center. The Meeting adjourned at 9,00 p.m. __~~~~ .r3.~ Charles B. Beals, Mayor Attest: f.d1Jsai~y Clerk