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12-09-1969 Regular Meeting . . MINUTES N~ ~~~ 63~ REGULAR MEETING A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, December 9, 1969. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P. M. by Mayor Smith with the following Councilmen present: Messrs. VanderMeer, Bratton and Cochran. Other City Officials present were: City Manager Johnson, City Controller Fleming, City Attorney Langley and Chief of Police Tyndal. Others present were: The Messrs. Henry Czech, E. L. Schumann, J. McDonald, Charles Beals, and Mr. and Mrs. George Smith. Representa- tives of the Press were also present. The meeting was recorded by Mrs. Mildred Dollar. The Invocation was given by City Attorney Langley. The Minutes of the Regular Meeting held November 25th, and the Special Meetings held December 1st and 5th, were approved as written. Mayor Smith announced that the Council would now sit as a Board of Adjustment to consider the petition of Mr. George Smith that in order to construct a residence on Lots 261 and 262, Indian Hills (Zoned R-1A Residential) and eliminate the necessity of removing two large oak shade trees, a variance be granted to reduce the front yard set back from thirty five feet to~enty six feet, which is an exception to the requi:rements. Moti on was made by Counci lman Cochran, seconded by Councilman VanderMeer, and carried, that the variance be granted. Mr. Charles Beals, Clermont's representative to the Lake Apopka Natural Gas District gave a presentation on the Gas District's financial condition and continued growth. He extended an invitation to City Officials to visit the Gas District's office at any time to become acquainted with the personnel and operations. The Mayor thanked Mr. Beals for his presentation and complimented the Gas District on the fine job they are doing. Mr. Oswalt arrived at the meeting at this time. In behalf of Chief Police Tyndal and the Police Department, the City Manager extended an invitation to all City Officials to attend a Christmas Dinner on Monday evening, December 15th, at 8:00 P. M. at the Police Station. City Manager Johnson submitted his report both orally and written, pointing out that he wished it to be a matter of record that he recommends that the traffic signal at Montrose and Seventh Streets be fully activated and that it remain that way. The Mayor stated that, whether or not the Council takes action on the City Manager's recommendation, he also wished it to be made a matter of record that he concurs with the Manager's recommendation that this traffic signal be activated permanently. Considerable discussion followed concerning the operation of the traffic signal, but no action was taken by the Council on the recommendations. City Controller Fleming reported that tax collections were being invested in U. S. Government bills at an approximate interest rate of 7.9% and that as time deposits with First Federal banks mature, he was also investing these IlDnies:. in treasury bills; that the new utility billing machine is now in operation for water and sanitation billings and will ultimately be used for all billings and collections. . . MINUTES N~ ~8~ 631 City Attorney Langley reported that he had, with Mayor Smith and Councilman Bratton, attended the Hearing on December 5th, on the injunction against the city by Mr. Gus Reis, and that he is now awaiting a temporary order from the Judge to determine whether or not the case will go to a final hearing. Upon inquiry of Councilman VanderMeer as to whether or not the operation of the air conditioning system in the Jenkins Auditorium had been checked, the Manager advised that he has been in touch with Hanks Electric Company, but as yet had no report from them. Councilman Cochran stated that some comments had come up on the downtown tot lot, and that he is of the opinion that if this project is properly pursued that the area can be an asset to the city, and that if at any time should the city chose to discontinue this tot lot that he would be willing to take the playground equipment from the city at whatever costs the city has invested in the equipment. Councilman Bratton inquired what the next move was for the Council on the Dog Control Law passed at the December 2nd election. The Mayor advised that he felt a work session was in order, to be held after the holidays, to decide the specific regulations of this law. A RESOLUTION pertaining to a Federal Grant for construction of an addition to and remodeling the present Cooper Memorial Library structure was presented and read in full by the City Attorney. Motion was made by Councilman Oswalt, seconded by Councilman Cochran that the RESOLUTION be adopted. Upon roll call vote on the adoption of the RESOLUTION the result was as follows: Ayes: Bratton, Cochran, Oswalt and VanderMeer. Total Ayes: Four. Nayes: None. The RESOLUTION was adopted and Number 156 assigned to it. A RESOLUTION EQUALIZAING THE ASSESSMENTS, LEVYING THE SAME AS ASSESSMENTS AGAINST THE RESPECTIVE PROPERTIES, DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO RECORD ASSESSMENTS IN THE IMPROVEMENT LIEN BOOK, AND ESTABLISHING PRIORITY OF LIEN AND PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST was presented and read in full by the City Attorney. Motion was made by Councilman Oswalt, seconded by Councilman Cochran that the RESOLUTION be adopted. Upon roll call vote on the adoption of the RESOLUTION the result was as follows: Ayes: VanderMeer, Cochran, Oswalt and Bratton. Total Ayes: Four. Nayes: None. The RESOLUTION was adopted and Number 157 assigned to it. Councilman Oswalt introduced AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SEWER SYSTEM FOR THE CITY OF CLERMONT, FLORIDA: PROVIDING FOR THEIISSURANCE OF NOT EXOEEDING $1,400,000 WATER AND SEWER REVENUE BONDS OF SUCH CITY TO PAY THE COST OF SUCH PROJECT: PROVIDING FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE HOLDERS OF SUCH BONDS: PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT THEREOF: AND MAKING CERTAIN OTHER COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH BONDS, and the Ordinance was read in full for a First Reading. The Clerk read a communication from the Clermont High School Art Council wherein they requested permission to hold a Christmas Dance at the Jenkins Auditorium on the evening of December 20, 1969, that clean-up and set-up committees and chaperones would be provided. Motion was made by Councilman VanderMeer, seconded by Councilman Oswalt and carried that the request be granted subject to the regulations and deposit required for use of the auditorium. . . MINUTES N~ xi~ 636 Motion was made by Councilman Oswalt, seconded by Councilman Cochran, and carried, that the bills be paid. Motion was made by Councilman VanderMeer, seconded by Councilman Bratton, and carried, that the necessary transfer of funds from the Contingency Fund be authorized for the purchase of radar equipment fro the Police Department. It was suggested by Councilman VanderMeer that consideration be given to posting signs at the city limits advising that speed within the city is radar controlled. Councilman Cochran mentioned various intersections throughout the City which presented hazards due to obstruction from shrubbery and asked that consideration be given to the elimination of these conditions. The City Manager advised that many similar hazards had already been eliminated with the cooperation of property owners. Councilman VanderMeer inquired the status of the possibility of purchasing a parcel of 5 acres in the Lincoln Park area for a park area. The Manager advised that the owner has advised that the property was not on the market for sale, but that he would consider an offer from the city. The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Smith. ~f~ DON E. SMITH, MAYOR /); d-cl v-A/ E:~.<-vJ MIL6RED DOLLAR, RECORDING CLERK