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06-13-1978 Regular Meeting e e e . CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES REGULAR MEETING A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, June 13, 1978. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Mayor Claude E. Smoak,Jr., with the following members present: Councilmen Cole, Schroedel, Byrd, and Honey. Other officials pre- sent were: City Manager Tiffany, City Attorney Baird, City Clerk Carroll, Finance Director Sanchez, and Chief of Police Tyndal. Others present were: Mrs. Honey Jean Smoak, Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Wood, Mr. & Mrs. Bob Wilkes, Mr. & Mrs. George Smith, and the Messrs. Linscott, Benham, Czech, Evans, and Sargent. 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 May 23, 1978 were approved as written. PUBLIC HEARINGS Council, sitting as a Board of Adjustment, considered the request of George o. Smith for a Variance to Section 26-20 (E)(2) (RIA URBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT-SIDE YARD SETBACKS) of the Zoning Ordinance in order to construct a carport on his property des- cribed as Lots 261 & 262 in Indian Hills Subdivision (lOSS West Minnehaha Avenue) that would penetrate into the required side yard setback by 4'6". Mr. Smith appeared before Council in support of his request, advising that he could construct a carport within the required setback by extending from his roof line, but in order to have a free standing structure that he felt would be more en- hancing, it would be necessary to penetrate the side yard setback. Mrs. Betsy Wilkes, the abutting property owner of Mr. Smith to the west, appeared before Council in opposition to his request, opining that the rules and regulations in the City's RIA zoning districts should be strictly adhered to in order to preserve the neighborhood values as intended for RIA areas, and because of the close proximity of Ner residence and that of the proposed construction, she felt it would be detrimental to her property. Motion was made by Councilman Byrd. seconded by Councilman Schroedel and carried that the request hp- np-n;p-n May~~ Smoak voted in the negative on passage of the motion, advising he did so inasmuch as a carport extended from the roof line would be allowed as previously mentioned by Mr.Smith, and if a variance would allow for a more desirable appearing structure that that which is presently allowed, he was in favor of the request bei~g:granted. A Variance to the side yard requirements for corner lots had been requested by Mr. Gerald Wood in order to construct a residence on h~s property located on the corner of Third Street and Minneola Avenue, however, upon being advised by Mr. Wood that the proposed construction would face Minneola Avenue and the abutting property to the rear would also be a rear yard, City Manager Tiffany advised that this would be allowed as provided in Ordinance l67-C and a variance would not be necessary. Motion was made by Mayor SmoakL seconded by Councilman Honey and carried that the reauired filin2 fee as posted by Mr. Wood for the variance request, be refunded. SEMINOLE WELL City Manager Tiffany advised of several problems which had arisen when the Seminole Well was connected to the City's water distribution system, and that they had been turned over to the Project Engineer, Dawkins & Associates, for their analysis and recommendations. City Attorney Baird was requested to research the contractual agreement with Dawkins & Associates regarding the liability of the project engineers in the matter. CITY HALL/POLICE STATION WORK City Manager Tiffany advised that no bids had been received for the proposed conversion of jail space to offices at the Police . e e . CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES Station, and the City Hall exterior repairs, and he would thereby recommend that separate quotations be sought for the panel sealing and exterior painting at City Hall, and that the staff be authorized to contact qualified contractors and attempt to negotiate for the Police Station work. Motion b Mayor Smoak, seconded b Councilman Honey and carrie Manager s recommen at10ns e accepted. COUNTY WIDE LIBRARY SYSTEM Councilman Schroedel, liaison representative to the Library Board, advised of a communication received from Mr. Mike Willet, County Planning Director, wherein a meeting would be called the latter part of June to further discuss a possible county wide library system. SEWAGE PRETREATMENT Mayor Smoak advised that the City was urged by the Lake County Pollution Control Board to initiate advanced treatment of phos- phorous removal from the City's effluent, and following considerable study by the city staff, City Engineer Springstead, and Pollution Control Director Wicks, it was their recommendation that the chemical FeS be used in the sanitary sewer collection system for phosphorous treatment and also for hydrogen sulfide control, which is presently being treated by hydrogen peroxide. City Manager Tiffany submitted a proposal from Davis Meter & Supply to install the necessary tanks, on a rental basis or direct purchase, and to supply the FeS chemical, commercially sold as Odophos, as follows: Install 2 - 2,500 gallon tanks to remain the property of Davis Chemical Company for sole use of Odophos storage @ $1500; Sell direct and install 2 - 3000 gallon tanks @ $3,000 each It was the suggestion of Mayor Smoak, and Council was in agreement, that City Manager Tiffany seek further proposals from other suppliers in order that a competitive cost might be obtained, before any action is taken. ALARMS City Manager Tiffany inquired of Council approval to advertise for proposals from alarm service companies to install and maintain a central alarm monitor console for the Police Station to replace the complex arrangement of 13 alarms and variety of electronic gear now existing and terminating at the Police dispatch desk. He further advised such installation and maintenance would be at the alarm system owner's expense, and all would be previously notified of the proposed change. Motion was made by Councilman. B rd, seconded b Councilman Hone and carried that the necessar approval e 2rante . LABOR DAY FIREWORKS DISPLAY Mayor Smoak reported on a communication from the Chamber of Commerce wherein they advised they had voted to drop the sponsorship of the annual fireworks display on Labor Day, and inquired if the City would desire to take over the project. They further advised that the cost for last year'~_display had been $700. Motion was made by Councilman Schroedel~ seconded by Councilman Cole and carried that the City not participate in funding a fireworks display, Councilman Honey voted in the negative on passage of the mo~ton, opining that it was a popular traditional annual event that was looked forward to by many people in the community. . e e . CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN A step-by-step review of the proposed Comprehensive Plan Summary was made by Council whereby many amendments were introduced in order to reduce the many specifics that are proposed and create a more generalized plan that would better enable future Councils during the next twenty year period to cope with. Motion was mad~ by Mayor Smoak that City Manager Tiffany be requested to submit, back to Council at his earliest opportunity, a completed tentative City Comprehensive Plan that could be submitted to review in Tallahassee that contains all the essential elements of the Plan that gives the City the greatest degree of flexibility in every, area. The motion was seconded by Councilman Honey and unanimously carried. ADVANCE REFUNDING Mr. Ben Benham of Southeastern Municipal Bonds, Inc. and Bond Counsel, Jerry Linscott, appeared before Council to advise that the possible problem of a refunding issue because of the existing issue with Farmers Home had been resolved inasmuch as it could be defeased legally, and that in conjunction with the City Staff, the proposed Resolution had been re-drafted for Council's consideration. They advised further that time is of the essence for execution of the Resolution inasmuch as the recent U.S.Treasury mandate set a dead- line date for closing as of September 1st which requires publish- ing and appeal period time prior to that, but that the Resolution could be still further amended, if desired by Council, prior to the validation hearing. They advised the issue would present a front end present ~alue savings @ $36,000 and $120,000 at term. Finance Director Sanchez inquired if the Council could withdraw their decision for a refunding issue after the Resolution is adopted, whereupon Messrs. Benham and Linscott advised that this could be done without obligation on the part of the City up to the time that the bonds are signed. It was the request of Mayor Smoak, and Council was in agreement, that Bond Counsel furnish to Council in w~tting their legal opinion and recommendation that every area being addressed is legal and that no bond covenants of existing bond ordinances would be violated, and that such opinion and recommendation be submitted to Council prior to the validation hearing. The re- quest"was accepted by Mr. Linscott. Councilman Honey thereupon offered and moved the adoption of A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR TH~ REFUNDING OF CERTAIN OUTSTANDING WATER AND SEWER REVENUE BONDS OF 1970 AND 1975. AND. WATER AND SEWER REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS O~ 1972, AND AUTHORIZIIG THE ISSUANCE OF WATER AND SEWER REFUNDING REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 1978, OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT. The motion was seconded by Councilman Byrd and unanimously carried.. The Re- solution was read by City Clerk Carroll, by title only, and the Number 313 assigned to it. CLERMONT'S REVENUE STRUCTURE Following a suggested priority item for fiscal year 78-79 by Mayor Smoak that the City Manager and Finance Director review the city's funding structure to determine if an additional ad valorem tax reduction could be initiated, Mayor Smoak advised of a most complete and informative report of the City's current revenue structure, detailing all taxing areas within the authority of the City, as presented by them in writing for an informational guide in their 78-79 budget deliberations. In a summation of the report, Mr. Tiffany advised of suggested areas for further study and possible revisions by Council as follows: (1) Restructure Utility Tax to a flat rate, with or without a cap; (2) Increase effective Utility Tax rate and reduce ad valorem taxes pro- portionally; (3) Restructure sewer service and sanitation charges to eliminate possibel unfair ad- vantage for multiple-family and mobile home residents; . e e . CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES (4) Increase rates to cover full cost of sewer service, or alternatively place a new utility tax on water service to help reimburse the general fund for its annual subsidy; (5) Investigate grant funding, possibly with the assistance of a consultant specializing in this complicated area; and, (6) Review so-called minor revenues for possible adjustments. PARK LAND ACQUISITION With regards an important recommendation of the current Compre- hensive Plan, as it also was in the 1967 Plan, wherein the City attempt to obtain additional property adjacent to existing city owned recreational facilities, it was the City Manager's re- commendation that he be authorized to negotiate for purchase of the property, reporting his findings back to Council for action. Motion was made by Mayor Smoak, seconded by Councilman Honey and carried that his recommendation be accepted. RESOLUTIONS/ORDINANCES Councilman Honey offered and moved the adoption of A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL ACKNOWLEDGING "208" MANAGEMENT AGENCY RE-. SPONSIBILITIES AND INTENT TO PROCEED WITH OTHER GENERAL PURPOSE UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE ORLANDO METROPOLITAN "208" PLANNING AREA IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE "208" PLANNING PRO- GRAM,and the motion was seconded by Councilman Byrd and unani- mously carried. The Resolution was read by City Clerk Carroll by title only, and the Number 312 assigned to it. Councilman Schroedel introduced AN ORDINANCE UNDER THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, PROVIDING FOR FRONT YARD SETBACKS FOR DWELLINGS, AND THE ORDINANCE was read for a first reading by City Clerk Carroll, by title only. ~OAD AND BRIDGE TAX Mayor Smoak reported on a communication from the Lake County League of Cities wherein they were soliciting Resolutions from the various County municipalities as to their positions on the County Road and Bridge Tax in order to forward the results to the County Commissioners during their budget preparation hearings. They further advised that last year eight cities favored retention and six cities favored deletion. Inasmuch as it is State mandated that the County Commission levy a Road and Bridge Tax, motion was made by Councilman Bfrdr seconded by Councilman Honey and carried that a Reso utlon be adopted urli;illl',a reduction in the County Road and Bridge Millage for fiscal year 78-79. There being no further business to be brought before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned by Mayor Smoak at 9:45 P.M. c. E~~ ~'4L 0: aAA.JL Do ores W. Carroll - City Clerk "'<11 ,',II (."~ r',-",:,~~",- ,.,- /T-'