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Resolution No. 2025-007RCITY OF CLERMONT Cda. RESOLUTION NO.2025-007R A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA URGING THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION FOR MUNICIPAL CLERKS AND EMPLOYEES WHO PERFORM MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WORK OR HAVE ANY PART IN CODE ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS OF A CITY, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT, SEVERABILITY, ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVENERS ERROR, PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, many municipal staff who perform duties that include, or result in, investigations into complaints regarding election fraud, legal enforcement of hearings that could lead to a criminal prosecution or code enforcement actions are exposed to threats and other acts of violence; and WHEREAS, municipal clerks often administer elections and some election workers have been targeted for threats and violence due to the nature of materials they are responsible for WHEREAS, municipal clerks are often involved in legal enforcement proceedings in actions related to violations of codes and ordinances and, occasionally, these proceedings have led to retaliation and threats by defendants; and WHEREAS, currently public records exemptions in Florida include those for local personnel who either investigate, enforce or otherwise provide a service that can result in contentious interactions when action is taken and municipal clerks and their staffs fall within the need for a window for greater protection; and WHEREAS, the Florida Association of City Clerks is very concerned for the safety and well-being of the municipal clerks and their staffs who serve the public on a daily basis and are, oftentimes, the first contact of citizens with cities; and WHEREAS, the City of Clermont has complied with all requirements and procedures of Florida law in processing and adopting this Resolution. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Clermont, Lake County, Florida as follows: (1). The Council of the City of Clermont, Lake County, Florida hereby adopts the recitals set forth in this Resolution (whereas clauses) as the legislative findings of the City Council. (2). The Mayor and Council of the City of Clermont, Lake County, Florida, hereby urges and encourages the Florida State Legislature to enact legislation to provide a public records exemption for municipal clerks and employees who perform municipal elections work or have any part in code enforcement functions of a municipality. d� CITY OF CLERMONT d RESOLUTION NO.2025-007R (3). The City Clerk is hereby directed and authorized to send a certified copy of this Resolution to Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Truenow and Representative Taylor Yarkosky, the Lake County League of Cities, and the Florida League of Cities (FLC). SECTION 1: CONFLICT All resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with any of the provisions of this Resolution are hereby repealed. SECTION 2: SEVERABILITY If any portion of this Resolution is declared invalid, the invalidated portion shall be severed from the remainder of the Resolution, and the remainder of the Resolution shall continue in full force and effect as if enacted without the invalidated portion, except in cases where such continued validity of the remainder would clearly and without doubt contradict or frustrate the intent of the Resolution as a whole. SECTION 3: ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION This Resolution may be re -numbered or re -lettered, and/or corrected for typographical and/or scrivener's errors which do not affect the intent of said resolution, as authorized by the City Manager or designee, without need of public hearing, by filing a corrected copy of same with the City Clerk. SECTION 4: PUBLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. CLER ' M, CITY OF CLERMONT Q.�« RESOLUTION NO.2025-007R DONE AND RESOLVED by the Mayor of the City Council of the City of Clennont, Lake County, Florida, this I Ith day of February 2025. CITY OF CLERMONT H Tim Murry, Ma or ATT"Egr- Tracy Ackroyd Howe, MMC City Clerk Approved as to Form and Legality: