05-09-1978 Regular Meeting
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REGULAR MEETING
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held in the Council Chambers
on Tuesday, May 9, 1978. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Mayor Claude E.
Smoak, Jr., with the following members present: Councilmen Schroedel, Cole, and Byrd. Other
officials present were: City Manager Tiffany, City Attorney Baird, City Clerk Carroll, Finance
Director Sanchez, and Chief of Police Tyndal. Others present were: Ms. Caplan; Mesdames
Merryweather and Weber; Mr. & Mrs. R. W. Markland, and the Messrs. Benham, Grose, Collins,
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 on April 25, 1978 were approved as written.
PUBLIC HEARING: STREET CLOSING
Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Markland petitioned Council to abandon and permanently close
that portion of 10th Street running north from Montrose Street to its ending at West
Lake, advising that they were the abutting property owners on each side and had main-
tained this unopened portion of 10th Street for the past 27 years; That they desired
to construct an additional residence on their property, and two buildable lots would
be created if the street were to be closed; and, That they had recently granted a 7'5"
easement to the City for storm sewer drainage along the far western side of their
property from Montrose Street to West Lake. Mr. Ernest Collins appeared before Council
in opposition to the street closing, stating he felt it would be an asset to officially
open and construct the street in order to have an additional thru street from Highway
50 to Minneola Avenue as none now exists between West Avenue and Twelfth Street, how-
ever, City Attorney Baird opined that such opening and construction would be questionable
due to the streets ending into West Lake and not at Minneola Avenue. City Manager
Tiffany advised of staff opinion as to no forseeable use of the street by the city.
Motion was thereupon made by Councilman Byrd, seconded by Councilman Cole and carried
that the request be accepted and the City Attorney be requested to prepare the
necessary Ordinance for closing of the street. "
BUDGET PREPARATION
City Manager Tiffany advised of preliminary preparation of the 78-79 fiscal year budget,
and inquired of a possible work meeting in the very near future in order to establish
priorities and projects for the new fiscal year. It was the suggestion of Mayor Smoak,
and Council was in agreement, that in lieu of a work meeting at this time each
individual Council member submit to writing his suggested priority areas to be contained
in the budget for fiscal year 78-79 and present them to the City Manager no later than
the next regularly scheduled Council meeting on May 23rd in order that he might compile
the information and submit his recommendations back to Council.
MARSHLAND STUDY
City Manager Tiffany advised that William.H. Dailey had completed a study of the results
of the first year marshland study by the reasearch group from the University of
Florida; That he felt the report very strongly supports the city's position, and the
project worthy of another year of study. In conjunction with the financial assistance
commitments from the Lake County Commission and the Lake County Water Authority, motion
was made by Mayor Smoak. seconded by Councilman Byrd and carried that authorization
be forwarded to Dr. Zoltek of the University Staff to proceed with a second year of
the marshland study.
FINANCE REPORT
Mayor Smoak expressed appreciation to Finance Director Sanchez for the recent concise
and easily identifiable financial report of the city at the fiscal year's sixth month
ending.
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COUNTYWIDE LIBRARY SYSTEM
Councilman Schroedel reported it had been determined in the recent Library Task Force
Committee meeting in Tavares that the countywide library system as proposed was not
acceptable, but in lieu of dropping the matter permanently, the Task Force Committee
would, be meeting in the future in an attempt to create a more acceptable concept.
COOPER MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Councilman Schroedel reported on his recent attendance of the local library board
meeting wherein it was reported the library's summer schedule would begin on June 1st
with the opening hours to be 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.; That a concentrated effort would
be made soon to recoup an excessive number of books that are delinquent; That the library
had been the recent recepient of 700 book donations by various individuals and organ-
izations; That there was a book circulation of 2600 during the month of April; and,
That the Board again planned to sponsor a summer reading program for children, which
had been extremely popular last year.
Councilman Schroedel further advised of an inquiry from the library board as to the
possible inclusion of the library's air conditioning unit in the city's regular main-
tenance ~rogram, and this matter was referred to City Manager Tiffany.
STREET LIGHTING RELOCATION PROGRAM
Mayor Smoak advised of complaints received regarding the recent street lighting relocation
wherein certain lights were relocated and others were removed entirely, and he desired
to advise that the objective of the program is to equalize the lighting within the
city as much as possible, leaving equal protection in all areas of the city, and which
would be a considerable savings in energy costs and equipment rental to the city. He
further advised that all complaints would be thoroughly reviewed regarding possible
revisions.
SUNNYSIDE DRIVE MARKINGS
Councilman Schroedel reported on the increasing use of the Sunnyside Lake Circular
Drive for pedestrian walking, jogging, cycling, etc., and in an effort to encourage
its still further use for such exercising location, queried as to possible distance
markings of some sort be installed. The matter was referred to City Manager Tiffany.
LOT REQUIREMENTS
Motion was made by Councilman Schroedel that the lot requirement revisions in all zones
as recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission be accepted with the one exception
of their proposed revision of the front setback requirement in RIA zones from the
existing 35' setback requirement to 25' setback requirement. The motion was seconded
by Councilman Byrd. Upon roll call vote on passage of the motion the result was: Ayes:
Schroedel and Byrd. Total Ayes: Two. Nayes: Cole and Smoak. Total Nayes: Two.
Absent: Honey. The motion failed to carry.
Motion was made by Mayor Smoak and seconded by Councilman Byrd that the Planning and
Zoning Commission's recommendations be accepted in their entirety, and City Attorney
Baird be requested to prepare the necessary amending Ordinance. Upon roll call vote
on passage of the motion the result was: Ayes: Cole. Byrd, and Smoak. Total Ayes:
Three. Nayes: Schroedel. Total Nayes: One. Absent:Honey. The motion carried.
BOND REFUNDING
Mr. Ben Benham, representative of Southeastern Municipal Bonds, Inc., appeared before
Council to advise of recent U.S. Treasury regulations wherein utilizing invested
sinking funds in a refunding to save interest costs will no longer be allowed after
May 16th; That following the announcement of this mandate, there had been a change
in the bond market and his firm therefore had changed the projection figure of savings
to the city in a refunding issue to $175,000; That his firm would be prepared to
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submit a concrete proposal for Council consideration on Monday, May 15th; and, in
order to make the deadline date, inquired if Council would hold a special meeting
on that date in order to pass the necessary Resolution if the proposal is accepted.
Mayor Smoak thereupon called a Special Meeting of the City Council to he held in
the office of the City Manager on Monday, May 15, 1978 to review and consider a
bond refunding proposal.
CITY HALL REMODELING
City Manager Tiffany submitted specifications for remodeling of the City Hall as
prepared by Architect Brandon Wald, and recommended that they be placed for public
bid, and, inquired of authorization to solicit proposals for replacement of the large
roof sign on the building. Motion was made by Councilman Byrd, seconded by Councilman
Cole and carried that authorization to get proposals on the sign replacement be
granted; and, That specifications as prepared by Wald be advertised for bid and
alternate bids be requested also.
POLICE RADAR
Following the consideration of several available radar units, City Manager Tiffany
advised it was the recommendation of he and Chief Tyndal that a unit from Kustom
Signals, Inc. of Mount Dora at a cost of $1350 be authorized for purchase. Motion
was made by Mayor Smoak. seconded by Councilman Cole and carried that the recommendation
be accepted.
AUDITING AGREEMENT
A proposed audit agreement from Greenlee, Paul, Furnas, & Kurras, Certified Public
Accounts, was submitted to Council for consideration. It was the consensus of Council
that several areas of the proposed agreement were in need of more specifics. It was
the suggestion of Mayor Smoak, and Council was in agreement, that the proposal be
deferred until the next regular meeting to be held on May 23rd, and that a representative
of the firm be invited to be present at that time in order to answer any queries by
Council.
ORDINANCES
Mayor Smoak offered and moved the adoption of AN ORDINANCE UNDER THE CODE OF ORDINANCES
OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, REPEALING ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 4 OF
THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CREATING THE CLERMONT ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINAi~CE, and the motion
was seconded by Councilman Byrd. 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: Cole. Schroedel, Byrd, and Smoak. Total Ayes: Four. Nayes:
None. Absent: Honey. So the Ordinance was adopted and the numder 171-C assigned to it.
Councilman Byrd offered and moved the adoption of AN ORDINANCE UNDER THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING ARTICLE II OF
CHAPTER 25; PROVIDING FOR EXTENSION OF WATER AND SEWER LINES, 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: Byrd. Cole. Schroedel. and Smoak. Total Ayes: Four.
Nayes: None. Absent: Honey. So the Ordinance was adopted and the number 174-C
assigned to it.
There being no further business to be brought before the Council at this time, the meeting
was adjourned by Mayor Smoak at 8:50 P.M.
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DOLORES W. CARROLL - CITY CLERK
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CLAUDE E.f SMOAK, JR., - MAYOR