08-26-1975 Regular Meeting
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REGULAR MEET! NG
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held in the
Council Chambers on Tuesday, August 26, 1975. The meeting was called to order at
7:30 P. M. by Mayor Claude E. Smoak, Jr. with the following members present:
Councilmen Byrd, Schroedel~ Blackburn, and Oswalt. Other officials present were:
City Manager Hopkins, City Attorney Baird, City Clerk Carroll, City Controller
Fleming, Director of Community Services Smythe, Building Official Nagel~ and Chief
of Police Tyndal. Others present were: Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Perry and the Messrs.
Spalding, Britt, Prunier, Sargent and Evans.
The Invocation was given by Councilman Byrd, followed by repeating of the Pledge
of Allegiance in unison by those present.
The Minutes of the Meeting held August 19, 1975 were approved as written.
Dump All, Inc., container waste service company holding a franchise contract with
the city since OctOber 1, 1973, previously submitted a written request to Council
for a 10% rate increase to become effective on the second anniversary of the
franchise contract, advising that terrific operating expense increases over the
past two years had made this request necessary. Mr. Bernard Prunier appeared before
Council in behalf of this request. Though provided for in the franchise contract,
no negogiations for rate increases were requested on the first anniversary, and
Council was in agreement that a nominal rate increase would be justified at this
time due to the ever increasing costs, whereupon motion was made by Councilman Blackburn,
seconded by Councilman Schroedel and carried that this request be granted and the
necessary amendment to Ordinance No. 57-M be made to reflect the rate lncrease.
Mr. Bill Britt of Florida Power Corporation, appeared before Council to apprise them
of changes made in their franchise agreements, effective immediately, as prescribed
by the Public Service Commission. Mr. Britt advised that whereas previously the
franchise fees had been included as an operation expense item of the total system
and base rates concluded from that, with the municipalities being the recipients
of the franchise fees, those customers outside the urban areas would no longer
be included nor contribute inasmuch as they were not receiving the benefits and
therefore there would be an increase to the customers within the municipalities.
He further advised that the customer's cost for the franchise fee would now be
designated as such on the billings and a separate item from the energy charge. He
still further advised that the franchise fee cost for the City of Clermont customers
would be 5.329% of the total billing charge as opposed to a 3+ percentage in the
past which was included in the total billing charge. With regards the increased cost
to the city for energy anf fixture rentals, effective August 22nd, Mr. Britt advised
the largest increase was in the street lighting area. In view of such a considerable
increase, Mayor Smoak inquired of Mr. Britt if he would analyze the city.s street
lighting with regards possible elimination of some and/or reduction in the size
of some, etc. and formulate any alternatives which the city might have in order
to offset at least a portion of the increase, and Mr. Britt replied he would be glad
to. Mayor Smoak reported he had received complaints regarding the lights being left
on all night at the tennis courts, and inquired if Mr. Britt would also submit
any recommendations which he might have as to an automatic control/timer switch, etc.
for these lights and an estimated cost for same, and he replied that he would.
City Manager Hopkins reported as follows: That he and Mr. Crowson, the city's
consulting engineer, were to meet with officials of FHA in Gainesville on Thursday,
August 28th; and, That Dr. Russell Fogler, the city's pension plan fund consultant,
was scheduled to meet with Mr. Carle, the pension plan trust fund officer, in
Leesburg on that same date.
The specifications for bidding of the city's insurance needs as devised in 1972,
restricted ~'pr.ospective bidders to those ma"irita"ining offices within Lake Count.v. It
was consensus of Council that in order to receive more competitive bidding and
possible greater savings, that this restriction should be lifted, whereupon motion
was made by Councilman Blackburn, seconded by Councilman Schroedel and carried
that the city seek bids on insurance requirements from firms established in Lake
County ~nd any adjacent county.
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Inasmuch as this was the last meeting to serve in the official capacity as city
controller for John W. Fleming, Mayor Smoak once again expressed his appreciation
to Mr. Fleming for his dedicated interest in city affairs and excellent performance
of duties while serving as controller, and thereupon presented him with his name-
plate. City Manager Hopkins commended Mr. Fleming for the excellent cooperation
which he had estended and his erstwhile efforts afforded while serving as controller.
In view of the considerable increase in electrical energy costs to the city,
Councilman Byrd asked that Council consider the possibility of limiting the use of
Bishop Field for ba11games to daytime use only and charging the energy cost of the
Little League and Softball Fields to the participants using those facilities at
night.
Motion was made by Councilman Schroede1, seconded by Councilman Blackburn and
carried that the bills be paid. -
Councilman Blackburn advised that in view of the report just received from Mr.
Britt as to increased energy costs, and the possibility of reinc1uding items in
the proposed budget which had been deleted prior to receiving certification of
the city's tax millage from the County Tax Assessor, he would thereby move that
the tax millage be set @ 5.12 mills. The motion was seconded by Councilman
Schroede1. Upon vote of the motion, the result was: Ayes: Blackburn and Schroede1.
Nayes: Byrd, Oswalt, and Smoak. The motion failed to carry.
Councilman Byrd opined that taxation in every conceivable way possible was becoming
greater, and if there was any chance of reducing taxes he would be for it, whereupon
he moved that the tax millage be set @ 5.00 mills. The motion was seconded by
Councilman Oswalt. Upon vote of the motion, the result was: Ayes: Byrd, Oswalt,
and Smoak. Nayes: Schroede1 and Blackburn. The motion carried.
Councilman Oswalt offered and moved the adoption of a RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE AD VALOREM TAX RATE
OF 5.00 MILLS FOR LEVY AND ASSESSMENT AGAINST REAL PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CITY OF
CLERMONT FOR THE YEAR 1975 and the motion was seconded by Councilman Byrd. The
RESOLUTION was read by City Clerk Carroll, by title only, and upon vote on passage
of the motion, the result was: Ayes: Oswalt, Byrd, and Smoak. Nayes: Blackburn
and Schroede1. The RESOLUTION was adopted and the Number 260 assigned to it.
Councilman Oswalt introducted AN ORDINANCE UNDER THE CODE OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 76-M, ADOPTING THE WATER
AND SEWER DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF CLERMONT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1975-76;
AUTHORIZING RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS CONTAINED THEREIN: REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES
IN CONFLICT HEREWITH: PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY: PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE: AND
PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION and the ORDINANCE was read by City Clerk Carroll for a
first reading, by title only.
Councilman Byrd introduced AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING A BUDGET OF EXPENSES FOR THE
GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
OF 1975-76 AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS THEREFORE: PROVIDING A TAX LEVEY ON ALL
PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA FOR THE YEAR 1975 FOR THE GENERAL
OPERATION EXPENSE OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA and the ORDINANCE
was read by City Clerk Carroll for a first reading, by title only.
Mr. Hugh Spalding, owner of a Used Furniture Store at 792 Montrose Street, urged
that Council reconsider their decision to eliminate the traffic signal at 8th and
Montrose Streets. He opined that this was a step in the wrong direction due to
the continued growth in the city, and would also necessitate the removal of existing
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parking places which were badly needed in that area. He suggested the possibility
of making the intersection a 4-way stop instead of the present thruway on Montrose
Street and Stop on 8th Street. Mayor Smoak thanked Mr. Spalding for his suggestions,
and advised the existing situation was on a trial basis for a thirty day period.
The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Smoak at 8:50 P. M.
Cl~~or
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Dolores . Carroll, Clty Clerk