10-24-1978 Regular Meeting
e
e
e
.
CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
REGULAR ME'e:TING
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held in the Council Chambers
on Tuesday, October 24, 1978. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Mayor Claude E.
Smoak, Jr., with the following members present: Councilmen Byrd, Cole, Schroedel, and Honey.
Other officials present were: City Manager Tiffany, City Attorney Baird, City Clerk Carroll,
Finance Director Sanchez, Building Official Nagel, and Chief of Police Tyndal. Others present
were: Master Chris Honey; Mesdames Dority and Tumbling; Messrs. Czech, Springstead, Griner,
Thomas, Jackson, Searles, Sargent, Duncan, and Cook.
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 held on October 10, 1978 were approved as written.
Mayor Smoak extended a welcome to all present, and reminded them of the "Meet the Candidates
Forum" which was being held in Jenkins Auditorium following the Council meeting this evening
to which all were invited to stop by and acquaint themselves with the various candidates from
the local level to the national level.
ICMA ANNUAL MEETING
City Manager Tiffany advised of his recent attendance of the annual International City
Managers Association held in Cincinnati, Ohio, and he would submit a written report to
Council in the near future on the various seminars he attended which would be of parti-
cular interest to city council members.
FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES ANNUAL CONVENTION
Mayor Smoak reported on his and the City Managerls recent attendance at the annual Florida
League of Cities Convention held in Hollywood at which time they were addressed by the
gubernatorial candidates, the Speaker of the House and many other politicians whom, with-
out exception, emphatically stated that they recognized the fact that State government
and Local governments were not cooperating, and they pledged to do something about it.
They addressed such questions as, "No state mandated programs without total funding sources
and, "No state mandated programs without substantial local input," such questions being
of critical interest to municipal officials. Mayor Smoak advised he had been re-elected as
a Director of the State League of Cities, and re-appointed as one of five state directors
of the Municipal Self Insurors Fund.
MUNICIPAL SELF INSUROR'S FUND
It was the suggestion of Mayor Smoak, that Council at their next Regular Meeting, consider
and review the Florida Municipal Self Insuror's Fund. He advised the Fund presently
carries only Workmans Compensation premiums, but is investigating the possibility of self
liability, and he felt there was great potential for the program to progress which he
felt could result in a substantial savings to the City of Clermont and other municipalitipc
City Manager Tiffany was requested to furnish all material available for Council's perusal,
and Mayor Smoak would answer all questions possible.
WATER/SEWER SYSTEM EVALUATION
City Engineer Springstead appeared before Council to advise that he had reviewed the
Dawkins & Associates Engineering Report of the city's water system of 1973, and he there-
upon submitted, and orally reviewed, a revision of the proposed purpose and scope of work
for the Water and Sewerage Systems Investigation. He further advised that the Dawkins
Report would be used as a base in the Water Supply and Treatment Work, and city forces
would be utilized to assist in obtaining the necessary clerical and field data at a cost
not to exceed $7,700 and $3,800 for the Water and Sewerage Studies respectively. Motion
was made by Councilman Schroedel seconded by Councilman Cole and carried that the revised
proposal as submitted by Springstead and Associates, Inc. be accepted.
.
e
e
e
CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
ECFRPC COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMENTS
City Manager Tiffany submitted a "draft" letter in answer to comments on the City's
proposed first four elements of the Comprehensive Plan by the East Central Florida Regional
Planning Council, wherein he advised that the various specifics of the four elements that
were recommended by the Council to be included in the plan documents, were available in
the master plan at City Hall which is part of the public record. Motion was made by
Mayor Smoak that City Manager Tiffany be authorized to transmit this Letter under signa-
tureof the City Council in final form to the review agency. The motion was seconded
by Councilman Byrd and carried.
STATE ROAD 50 WIDENING PROJECT
City Manager Tiffany submitted standard forms for necessary utility relocations as required
by the DOT in the SRSO project from Twelfth Street west to the city limits, and recommended
that they be accepted and authorized. Motion was made by Councilman Honey, seconded by
Councilman Byrd and carried that the utility relocation agreement at municipal expense, as
required by DOT in the SR50 project No. 6504, and its accompanying Resolution No. 318
for its indemnification, be accepted and executed by the proper City Officials.
CLERMONT/MINNEOLA MERGER
Mayor Smoak reported on a communication from the local Chamber of Commerce pertaining to
a potential study committee from the City of Minneola and the City of Clermont to determine
if there are areas of joint interest ultimately leading up to investigating the possibility
of merging the two communities. He advised that Minneola has taken action in the appoint-
ment of such a committee, and he inquired of Council's desire to take like action. Council
concurred that this be a worthwhile endeavor, and Mayor Smoak thereupon requested that
all persons interested in serving on such a committee to please contact him prior to the
next Regular Meeting at which time he would make the appointments.
MUNICIPAL GENERAL ELECTION
Mayor Smoak reminded all present of the General Election to be held on December 5th to
fill the offices of Groups I, III, and V, and he announced his candidacy at this time for
re-election to Group III as Mayor/Councilman.
VACANCY IN GROUP NO. V.
Mayor Smoak announced he had resigned his present position on June 30th to become effective
on November 7th, at which time the position shall be filled by Councilman Carlisle Byrd,
Mayor Pro-Tem. He thereupon expressed a desire to Council that he be considered in their
appointment to fill the vacancy which shall then exist in Group V until the normal
expiration date in December.
ORDINANCES
A proposed Regular Ordinance providing for citizen initiative to be placed on General
Election Ballots was submitted to Council for consideration. Councilman Byrd inquired of
the advisability of adopting such an Ordinance as an emergency measure inasmuch as a
previous request had been made for Council action to place on this years ballot the
Question of relocating the City Hall to the downtown area which had been denied, and the
time frame of a Regular Ordinance would not provide for such citizen initiative this year.
Councilman Schroedel thereupon moved that the proposed Ordinance be considered as an
Emergency Ordinance, and the motion was seconded by Councilman Cole. Councilman Byrd
inquired of City Attorney Baird's opinion regarding the matter who advised that, "If
Council makes a fact finding determination that there exists an emergency in the community
that needs to be addressed immediately, then Council may pass the proposed Ordinance as
an Emergency Ordinance." A voice vote was thereupon requested on passage of the motion,
and it failed to carry by a three to two vote, with Councilman Honey, Cole and Mayor
Smoak voting in the negative.
e
e
e
.
CITY OF CLERMONT
MINUTES
Councilman Byrd thereupon introduced AN ORDINANCE UNDER THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, OF THE
CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR INITIATIVE; PROVIDING FOR PROCEDURES
FOR SAME; PROVIDING FOR STRAW BALLOT STATUS; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HERE-
WITH; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FORAN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND PROVIDING FOR
PUBLICATION, and the Ordinance was read for a first reading by City Clerk Carroll, by
title only.
Councilman Honey offered and moved the adoption of AN ORDINANCE UNDER THE CODE OF 0~~~~~~~~:
OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 20 OF THE CODE OF 0~~~~~~(~:
PERTAINING TO SUBDIVISIONS; PROVIDING A CODE OF THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS FOR THE CITY
OF CLERMONT, and the motion was seconded by Councilman Cole. The Ordinance was read for
a second and final reading by City Clerk Carroll, by title only, and upon roll call vote
on passage of the motion the result was: Ayes: Honey, Byrd, Schroedel, Cole, and Smoak.
Total Ayes: Five. Nayes: None. So the Ordinance was adopted and the Number 186-C
assigned to it.
CITY CONDEMNED BUILDING
Mrs. Ester Lou Dority, proprietor of the "Kozy Kastle", appeared before Council to advise
of improvements made at her business location following the last Council meeting, and
inquired if the condemnation restriction on the building would be lifted in order that
she might resume her business. Councilman Cole advised of an inspection of the premises
by himself, City Manager Tiffany, and Building Official Nagel, which revealed that some
improvements had been made. Mrs. Dority was advised however that she could not resume
her business pending approval of the improvements by the Lake County Health Department,
The State of Florida Hotel and Restaurant Commission, and, contingent upon the landlord's
appeal to the Building Code Board of Appeals for a determination of the Building Officialls
decision that the entire building be condemned, if he so desires.
Mr. Amos Thomas, owner of the property in question, appeared before Council to make a
formal request to appeal. City Manager Tiffany was requested to call a meeting of the
Building Code Board of Appeals to consider Mr. Thomas' request on Monday, October 30,
1978 at 5:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers.
It was further suggested by Mayor Smoak that City Manager Tiffany submit written guidelines
used in the granting of extensions following initial proceedings by the City in condemna-
tions, as well as procedures to be followed in keeping Council aware of condemnation suits
status.
DOWNTOWN MUZAK SYSTEM
Mr. Bob Duncan, downtown area merchant, advised Council of a Muzak System being installed
in the downtown area, which in some locations in error, it was being installed on electric
and telephone poles, but since being brought to their attention the installation would
be corrected and confined solely to private properties.
There being no further business to be brought before Council at this time, the meeting was
adjourned by Mayor Smoak at 8:45 P.M.
JQLL'AL I./. ;;AA,tI~
DOLORES W. CARROLL - City Clerk