12-20-1977 Regular Meeting
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MINUTES
NQ1461
REGULAR MEETI NG
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held in the Council
Chambers on Tuesday, December 20, 1977. 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 Honey. Other officials present were: City Manager Tiffany,
City Clerk Carroll, Finance Director Sanchez, Public Works Director Smythe, Building
Official Nagel, and Chief of Police Tyndal. Others present were: Ms. Maureen Hurd,
Ms. Doretha Range, Mr. & Mrs. Reg. Cook, Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Young, and the Messrs.
Law, Sargent, Matthews, Meginley, Jones, Borst, Cole, Marshall, Abel, Ritchie, and
Ogden.
The invocation was offered by Councilman Byrd, followed by repeating of the Pledge of
Allegiance in unison by those present.
The Minutes of the Regular Meeting and of the Special Meeting held on December 13, 1977,
were approved as written.
VARIANCE REQUEST
With regards action taken by Council in their December 13th meeting on the
request by Mr. H. A. Ross for a Variance to the Zoning Ordinance in order to
construct a screened porch on his property described as Lot 11, Block B of
Edgewood Place Subdivision, such action being their denial of the request,
action was inadvertenly omitted as to the existing patio which he desired to
enclose. Inasmuch as the patio in question would be allowable without benefit
of variance in the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance as Council had
agreed upon, motion was made by Councilman Blackburn, seconded by Councilman
Honey and carried that the necessary variance to the existing rear yard setbacks
to allow for the patio, be granted.
PUBLIC HEARING: RATE INCREASE
Mayor Smoak announced the next order of business to be a Public Hearing to
consider the request of Teleprompter Southeast, Inc. for rate increase
approval on their cable TV services offered in the City, as provided in the
existing franchise to operate and maintain a broadband communications system.
There was no one present who voiced objection to the request, whereupon motion
was made by Councilman Blackburn, seconded by Councilman Honey and carried that
the request be granted.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
Motion was made by Councilman Blackburn, seconded by Councilman Honey and carried
that the bills be paid. A copy is attached hereto.
PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
Mayor Smoak advised of a previous request by him that information be obtained
as to the alternatives available to the City for the inclusion of those city
elected officials that might be brought for civil action for official action
taken within the City, under the cityls personal liability policy, and that
City Manager Tiffany had made inquiries regarding the matter, which he would
reduce to writing and submit for Councills consideration in the near future.
FORMER EXCHANGE BANK BUILDING
With regards the Offer of Purchase as submitted to the City for the former
Exchange Bank Building, it was consensus of Council that an option be sought
for the necessary length of time that would enable them to consider, in-depth,
more concrete figures that needed to be obtained for the expansion of the
existing City Hall as opposed to the purchase and accompanying costs of
renovation of the former bank building. Motion was thereupon made by Councilman
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MINUTES
NQ 1462
Blackburn that the necessary documents be prepared to include the following:
Submit to the Exchange National Bank in consideration of
$1000, paid to the Exchange National Bank, an option
exercised in favor of the City for a 60 day period on the
existing property known as the former Citizens Bank Building
including all the property contiguous with the building, but
excluding the 69 foot section running from Minneola Avenue
to Montrose Street, for a purchase price up to $100,000;
That the option price be applicable to the purchase price,
in the event that the City exercises the option;
That the City have possession of the property upon execution
of the option, possession being defined as the right to survey
the building in-depth as far as construction and all those
commensurate parts of construction;
That the bank would furnish to the City, either an abstract
or title insurance (whichever the City requires);
That the closing costs be pro-rated in a normal manner
including ad valorem taxes and any other pro-ratable portions;
and,
That the City not be held liable in any manner for any
adverse action that might take place on that property while
the option is in effect, and the bank continue to carry
adequate insurance toward liability and hold the City harm-
less for any action taking place during the option period.
The motion was seconded by Councilman Honey and unanimously carried. Mayor
Smoak requested that the completed document be considered by Council at their
regular meeting to be held on January 10, 1978 for possible presentation to
the Bank's Board of Directors meeting to be held on January 11, 1978.
ACTUARIAL SERVICES
Following request of Council that additional firms be contacted regarding
proposals for actuarial services, City Manager Tiffany advised of interviews
with personnel from three firms, and contacts with a municipal client of each,
and based on these and their proposals, which he had submitted to Council earlier
for their review, he would recommend retaining the firm of Kruse, OIConner, and
Ling, Inc. of Gainesville at a fee quote of $850 for routine services. Motion
was made by Councilman Byrd, seconded by Councilman $chroedel and carried that
the City Manager's recommendation be accepted.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
A standing acclamation was afforded to Ben Blackburn, retiring Council member,
upon the offer and move for adoption by Councilman Honey of A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, HONORING AND EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO
BENJAMIN P. BLACKBURN FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF
CLERMONT, and the motion was seconded by Councilman Byrd and unanimously carried,
with the number 307 being assigned to it. The RESOLUTION was read to Councilman
Blackburn in its entirety by Mayor Smoak, and a copy presented to him along with
a presentation of his name plate. A gracious response was extended by Council-
man Blackburn, following which, he vacated his Council seat.
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MINUTES
NQ 1463
OATH OF OFFICE
The Oath of Office was administered by Mayor Smoak to Councilman-elect Lester
Cole in Group No.2, and to George J. Schroedel, the unopposed incumbent to
Group No.4, and they took their places at the Council table.
SEWER PLANS
City Manager Tiffany advised of the City Engineerls recommendation that a
permanent, reproducible set of plans for the city's sewer system be purchased
due to the condition of the existing two sets of prints which the city has that
are used extensively and are non-reproducible. He further advised of an
estimated cost of such purchase @ $1,063. City Manager Tiffany concurred with
the Engineerls recommendation. Motijlon was made by Councilman Honey, seconded by
Mayor Smoak and carried that the purchase be authorized as recommended.
COMMUNITY APPEARANCE STANDARDS
Following a diligent study over the past several months by a special Committee
of the Planning & Zoning Commission regarding community appearance standards,
including landscaping, City Manager Tiffany and Mr. Jim Meginley, a member of
that committee, advised it was the recommendation of the P&Z Commission that
professional guidance be sought to assist in setting up an overall comprehensive
landscape program from Mr. Joe Knight, a landscape architect who has done con-
siderable work in Lake County, and whom was referred by the Lake County Planning
Department, at a cost not to exceed $500.00. Motion was made by Mayor Smoak,
seconded by Councilman Honey and carried that the recommendation be accepted.
INSURANCE PROPOSAL
City Manager Tiffany advised of the receipt of a proposed Subscription Agree-
ment between the City and Whiting National Management Corporation wherein the
City would be allowed to participate in a new municipal reciprocal insurance
company that is being set up, and he submitted copies of the agreement for
Council's perusal. Due to the complexity of the proposal, and the need for
in-depth study of the subject, it was the suggestion of Mayor Smoak, and
Council was in agreement, that Council study the material thoroughly, reduce
their thoughts to writing in order to discuss the matter in a work meeting the
latter part of January to which representatives of the Company would be invited
to further advise and answer any questions.
SIDEWALK RECOMMENDATIONS
City Manager Tiffany submitted the unanimous recommendations of the Planning &
Zoning Commission on sidewalks, catagorized as to IMMEDIATE - MEDIATE - and LONG
RANGE GOALS. It was the suggestion of Mayor Smoak, and Council was in agreement,
that a single priority item in the Immediate Goals be instigated as soon as
practicable, with complete cost totals being recorded for referral back to
Council in order that they might project a solid program of needed sidewalk con-
struction which the City could handle. Mayor Smoak thereupon moved that
authorization be granted for construction of the first named priority, that being,
a sidewalk on DeSoto Street between East Avenue and School Street, an approximate
length of 2600 feet, to be constructed by city crews and financed with available
city monies. The motion was seconded by Councilman Schroedel and carried.
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MINUTES
NQ 1464
ORDINANCES
Councilman Honey introduced AN ORDINANCE UNDER THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE
CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, NAMING AN UNNAMED STREET IN WINONA
BAY SUBDIVISION, TO MINNEHAHA CIRCLE, and the Ordinance was read for a first
reading by City Clerk Carroll, by title only.
There being no further business to be brought before the Council at this time, the
meeting was adjourned by Mayor Smoak at 8:55 P.M.
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CLAUDE E. SMOAK, JR. - M Y~
ATTEST:
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DOL R W. CARROLL - CITY CLERK