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04-27-1982 Regular Meeting . CITY OF CLERMONT - MINUTES REGULAR AND TOWN HALL MEETINGS April 27, 1982 A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held on April 27, 1982 in Jenkins Auditorium. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Hoskinson, with the following Council- men in attendance: Michael Conley, Robert Pool, Dennis Thomas, and Hal Turville. Other City officials present were: City Manager Forbes, City Attorney Baird, Finance Director Saunders, and City Clerk Rozar. The Invocation was offered by Councilman Thomas, followed by repeating of the Pledge of Allegiance by all present. MINUTES A motion was made by Councilman Pool, seconded by Councilman Thomas, and unanimously carried that the Minutes of the April 14, 1982 meeting be approved as presented. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT SURPLUS VEHICLES City Manager Forbes recommended that the following two vehicles be' ,declared surplus in order to be sold at the auto auction to be held in Leesburg on May 15, 1982: 1966 IHC Tractor ( a replacement was purchased this year), and a 1974 GMC Truck with a clamshell trash loader (a flatbed truck no longer in use for trash collection). 82-62 ~ MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN CONLEY, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN THOMAS AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT THE 1966 IHC TRACTOR AND 1974 GMC TRUCK WITH CLAMSHELL TRASH LOADER BE DECLARED SURPLUS EQUIPMENT AND SOLD AT THE LEESBURG AUCTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 15, 1982. HIGHLAND AVENUE WATER TANK City Manager Forbes reported that the City's Consulting Engineer has recommended painting of the entire interior and exterior of the tank. He stated that, with no Council objections the City Engineer will prepare bid specifications for this work.' WELL ABANDONMENT City Manager Forbes reported that the State has required the City to properly abandon four water wells that are no longer in use by the City. These are the Lake Avenue wells, North and South, the Highland Avenue, and Bloxam Avenue wells. These wells no longer meet the State's safe drinking water standards. Before a price can be obtained on the cost of sealing the wells, we must first pull all the pumps and motors from the wells and have the,wells logged. The City water contractors, Mechanical and Chemical Co. has stated that they will remove the pumps and related equipment for a cost of $80 per hour. After they are removed and the logging completed, a report will be brought back to the Council with a cost estimate for the completion of the proper sealing of the wells. 82-63 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN TURVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL- MAN THOMAS AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL COMPANY BE AUTHORIZED TO PULL THE PUMPS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT FROM THE LAKE AVENUE WELLS, NORTH AND SOUTH, THE HIGHLAND AVE- NUE AND BLOXAM AVENUE WELLS AT A PRICE OF $80 PER HOUR. . CITY OF CLERMONT . MINUTES April 27, 1982 Page 2 PROPERTY PURCHASE City Manager Forbes reported that he has discussed the pos- sibility of purchasing Lots 9 and 10, Block 76 with Mrs. McCarthy. She informed him that her price for the lots is a firm $60,000. Mr. Forbes recommended that we offer her $25,000 for the property and if it is ~ accepted, that negotiations be discontinued. 82-64 After discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN POOL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN THOMAS AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT $25,000 BE OFFERED TO MRS. MC CARTHY FOR THE PURCHASE OF LOTS 9 AND 10, BLOCK 76 AND IF IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, THAT NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PROPERTY CEASE. MAYOR'S REPORT TRAFFIC LIGHTS ON HIGHWAY 50 Mayor Hoskinson stated that there have been numerous inquiries why the turn signals do not work on the traffic lights on Highway 50. He reported that the Department of Transportation has not installed the sensory loops that control the turn signals, and the lights are on manual time controls until the loops are installed. COUNCILMAN CONLEY'S REPORT BISHOP FIELD Councilman Conley commented on the painting of the bleachers at Bishop Field and inquired if the building is scheduled to be painted. City Manager Forbes stated that the building is to be painted. COUNCILMAN POOL'S REPORT JAYCEE BEACH Councilman Pool reported that residents are inquiring if the weeds at Jaycee Beach can be removed from the beach area. City Manager Forbes stated he will contact the Lake County Pollution Control Board for suggestions and possibilities of controlling the aquatic weeds. UTILITY RATES: Ordinance No. 144-M Ordinance No. 144-M was read by title only. City Manager Forbes explained that the conditions of the FmHA requires the City to establish a rate schedule with a $5 min- imum charge for the first 3,000 gallons, and $1 per thousand gallons for all usage over 3,000 gallons. The reason for these rates is the FmHA agency philosophy that a rate schedule should be established which will allow the system to operate for five years or more without another increase. Since FmHA will be purchasing revenue bonds for this project, they must also be assured that the funds pledged toward the bonds can pay for the cost of operating our sewer and water services. The City proposed a rate ordinance with the position that it may be better to adopt a lower schedule that would be adequate for a few years. With a lower rate schedule, the City would be operating at a loss after the first year and be required to draw on our utility fund balance to operate the utility services. The FmHA will not accept a lower rate schedule and finance the City's water and sewer improvements. . CITY OF CLERMONT . MINUTES April 27, 1982 Page 3 UTILITY RATES CONT'D. 82-65 After discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN THOMAS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN CONLEY AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED TO TABLE THE MATTER UNTIL THE REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 11 SO FURTHER CONSLDERATION MAY BE GIVEN. Ordinance No. 144-M will be presented at the May 11 meeting with the rates recommended by the FmHA. There being no further business or reports, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. into the Town Hall Meeting. INTRODUCTION OF DEPARTMENT HEADS AND COUNCIL Mayor Hoskinson introduced the Council and City staff present. Department Head in attendance were: Preston Davis, Utilities Director; Harvey Nagel, Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer; Bob Smythe, Public Works Director; and Prentice Tyndal, Police Chief. PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REPORT: Barrie Rakow Barrie Rakow, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Board, reported on the function and activities of the Parks and Recreation Board. Ms. Rakow reported that the committee worked in the Parks aspect by helping develop the landscaping project at the Cooper Memorial Library along with the Kiwanis Club and City workers, as wells as other areas of the City. Seedlings were distributed in con- junction with the Arbor Day celebration and brochures distributed giving instructions for the care of them. She reported that the Summer Recreation Program has been broadened. The results of last year's questionnaires and the program's success stimulated new ideas and activities for this year's program. The Fit Trail was a major project the Board worked on in conjunction with the South Lake Memorial Hospital. Ms. Rakow related some of the Board's projected short and long range plans for parks and recreation. JAYCEE BEACH FEES Mayor Hoskinson explained that since the City is accepting State funds for the Jaycee Beach Boat Ramp renovations, we can not discriminate between resident and nonresident users of the beach and boat ramp facilities. The City can charge fees for the use of these facilities, however, everyone must be charged the same. Beach fees are earmarked to go into the City's Parks and Recreation account for beayh improvements. In the past, fees have been on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Citizen input is requested in order to determine whether to charge fees and if so, recommend- ations for amounts to charge. Some suggestions by citizens in attendance were as follows: 1) Charge $2 for the Boat Ramp; $1 adults, ~50 children for the beach. 2) Charge $2 for the Boat Ramp only. 3) Do not accept the State money because of the regulations that are stipulated with it and do not improve the areas if the money is not available within the City budget. 4) Do not improve the Boat Ramp due to possible damage to the lake. Mayor Hoskinson stated that the City will evaluate the question- naires that have been distributed and will consider the suggesuions of the citizens before a final decision is made on the matter. . CITY OF CLERMONT . MINUTES April 27, 1982 Page 4 WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS REPORT: Preston Davis Utilities Director, Preston Davis explained why the City's water improvements are needed and what is being done. Improvements are needed to the City's water system to provide an adequate supply of safe drinking water, increase fire protection, and improve the entire water distribution system. A new 500,000 gallon storage tank has been installed and has been in operation approximately two months. During dry periods of the year, the water supply has reached emergency lows, since the storage tanks are emptied. When the water is used faster than it is pumped, it creates a very dangerous situation, especially if a fire should occur. New transmission line are being installed in order to have mains large enough to properly distribute the water to all users. The City has two pressure systems that are interconnected, yet act independently of one antother. In order to maintain proper water pressure ranges it is necessary to connect the two systems. With a single system, all wells throughout the City would be pumping into the same system, providing the flexibility needed in the event of a well breakdown or natural disaster. The new mains will improve the taste ~f the water and eliminate a large portion of the rusty water problem. The new well on Minnehaha Avenue was required due td the mandated abandonment of four of the City's wells. Citizens were given an opportunity to inquire and express their views on water improvement matters. There were expressions of concern by some that the restoration of lawns have not been done adequately. City Manager Forbes explained that approximately 60 areas have problems and will be rectified before the project is finsihed, which will take a few months. SEWER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS City Manager Forbes gave a synopsis of the history of the City's sewer system stating why improvements are needed and the methods that have been studied to ensure that the City will be utilizing the most cost effective and safe methoQ of disposing of the City's treated effluent. The present waste treatment plant was placed in operation in 1972. It is efficiently operated and provides a high quality secondary effluent. The original plant construction used a six (6) acre percolation pond, constructed in an adjacent marsh, for disposal of the effluent. Within months after the plant was placed in operation, it became apparent that the percolation pond would not handle the effluent. In 1973, the City bega~_ spraying the effluent on several adjacent small parcels of land at an extremely high rate. This procedure was approved by the regulatory agencies as an emergency and temporary method of disposal. As the plant flow increased, it became necessary for the City to obtain land for additional spray area. In 1974, the City obtained the use of an abandoned borrow pit approximately ~ mile South of the plant for use as a percolation/evaporation pond for a port~on of the effluent. In late 1974 the Lake County Pollution Control Board notified the City that it would be required to apply for a variance to their "No Discharge" rule. During 1975 and 1976, the regulatory agencies continued pressuring the City to resolve this problem. The City made grant applications for full scale, low rate landspreading facilities, but was un- successful. . CITY OF CLERMONT . MINUTES April 27, 1982 Page 5 SEWER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS CONT'D. In 1977, the City and the University of Florida entered into an innovative program and the University of Florida commenced a ; ',study of the plant to determine the effects of applying secondarily treated domestic effluent to a fresh water marsh. This study was supported by the City, County, and regulatory agencies. The study was completed and its results indicated the ability of the marsh to treat the effluent without adverse impact on the marsh. Based on the report from the University of Florida, the City and its Engineers attempted to gain approval for many methods of using surrounding wetlands for disposal of the treated effluent, but were unsuccessful. In the fall of 1980, the people of the City of Clermont, in a straw vote, rejected the wetland disposal concept and the City Council voted to proceed with a landspreading concept. The waste treatment plant is operating under temporary operat- ing permits from the State, DER and variances from the Lake County Pollution Control Board. The area surrounding the City is unique in that the only land that is not inhabited is citrus groves, wetlands, or lakes. There is no usable upland such as scrub or pasture land. This makes land acquisition very costly since the only land suitable for land spreading is in producing citrus grove. A review of several potential sites, including a private gol~ course, resulted in the site selection which the City has optioned containing 65 acres. This parcel- is approximately three miles West of the City on Hook's Road. It is proposed to retain the existing percolation pond as a polishing pond and emergency retention area. The pond does reduce the nutrient concentration in the effluent. A pumping station will be constructed at the Southeast corner of the pond and the effluent will be pumped to the landspreading site. After extensive study and testing of several landspreading methods, a slow rate irrigation system will be used, utilizing a forage crop as a marketable crop. Citizens were given an opportunity to ask questions and express thier views. Mr. Don Smith opined that the minimum water rates should be raised high enough that the overage gallons would not be charged at a higher rate. There was also the suggestion that the proposed improvements be included in the City's operating budget as a capital item and funded through ad valorem taxation, and user charges be charged in relation to the cost of operating the systems and relaying the services. QUESTIONNAIRE Mayor Hoskinson urged all citizens to complete the provided questionnaire evaluating City services and encourage others to obtain one to complete and return to City Hall. These question- naires give the City guidance as to the needs of its citizens and their eveluation of our performance. Citizens were again encouraged to express their views on City services. Persons spoke in reference to Animal Control, Zoning Variances, the Clermont Hotel and the current method of garbage pick-up. All citizens' input was acknowledged and appreciated, and assurance 'given that all matters will be considered individually. There being no further business or discussion, the meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m. ~~ f) <R~i San ra O. Rozar, y Clerk ~~-~~ names M. oskinson, Mayor