Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.08.2025 - City Council MeetingCity of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP July 8, 2025 CALL TO ORDER The City Council met in a budget workshop session on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in the Clermont City Council Chambers. Mayor Murry called the workshop to order at 9:00 am with the following Council Members present: Council Members Howard, Strange, Myers and Petersen. Other City officials present were Interim City Manager Van Wagner, Deputy City Manager Matthys, and City Clerk Howe. Mayor Murry gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. AGENDA ITEMS Proposed Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Discussion Council Member Strange requested that Council discuss their perspectives on the city's vision and policies to help inform staff on how Council will approach the budget for the upcoming year. Council Member Petersen reiterated his position from his campaign, emphasizing his commitment to maintaining the rolled -back rate and developing a budget that aligns with that rate. He noted that Council will need to think creatively and explore alternative approaches to achieve this goal Council Member Strange discussed the previous millage rate increase, lowering the millage rate and how to spend the reserve funds. Council Member Howard stated that the current conversation would not have an impact on the existing budget presentations. He expressed the need for dedicated workshops to discuss vision and policy, noting that these discussions should take place overtime to provide staff with a clear understanding of the Council's long-term direction. He also stated that lowering the millage rate too quickly could limit the City's ability to address critical issues, such as infrastructure needs. He spoke about the importance of allocating funds annually to support infrastructure projects. Council Member Myers said she agrees the millage rate needs to be reasonable but does not want it to be lowered so much that there are not enough funds to cover unexpected costs. With price increases, she believes the rate should be reduced slowly and steadily to avoid a deficit that could require an increase. She also mentioned the importance of attracting more businesses that pay living wages to help young adults afford homeownership. Mayor Murry said the cost of living has gone up in Clermont but noted that it's rising everywhere. To keep providing the level of service residents expect, he said the City's budget will need to grow as well. He also mentioned new businesses coming to the Wellness Way area and the idea of creating an industrial park to help support economic growth. The council discussed ways to help lower the cost of living for residents, what kind of community Clermont wants to be, and how development should move forward. City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP July 8, 2025 Interim City Manager Van Wagner stated that the budget to be presented to the Council represents input from staff, Council, and the community. Directors were encouraged to communicate openly and approach the process with transparency. Finance Director Borror reviewed the budget calendar and requested the council to provide direction on the proposed millage rate to advertise by the July 29 Council meeting. He provided an overview of the major changes as well as the proposed additions to next year's budget. He stated that the current millage rate is 4.88, the highest millage rate Council can set next year with a simple majority vote is 4.8291 and the rolled back rate would be 4.6143. He spoke about the general and reserve funds. The council discussed the use of the reserve funds as well as the amount of reserves the city must have. Proposed personnel additions were discussed along with the possibility of providing ambulance service in the city. Mayor Murry requested a workshop for Council to discuss the service and speak with Lake County regarding their involvement. Finance Director Borror reviewed the reserve policy; project highlights included in the budget and discussed the tree fund. Mayor Murry recessed the workshop at 10:46am; Mayor Murry reconvened the workshop at 10:55am. Public Works Public Services Director Brunson provided an overview of the purposes for which the infrastructure funds are allocated. His goal would be to use infrastructure funds to fund all road projects. Finance Director Borror provided insight into how his department separates funding for projects. Public Services Director Brunson explained the challenges with funding from the infrastructure fund and that prior administrations were conservative with funding projects. The council expressed interest in moving forward with projects. Discussion ensued on streets and sidewalks throughout the city that needed work. They spoke about East Avenue, Lake Avenue and 12a' Street, being possibilities to bridge the downtown area with the community across State Road 50. They talked about the possibility of building a bridge across or creating a tunnel underneath State Road 50 for residents to get across. Public Services Director Brunson stated that his department will work with the Florida Department of Transportation on different options and bring the findings back to the council. Finance Director Borror explained the different funding options for street projects, enterprise versus general funds, impact fee funds as well as borrowing against future tax. The council discussed complete streets and the East Avenue project. Council Member Strange inquired about a bike path on East Avenue. City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP July 8, 2025 Council Member Howard stated that he would like to see funds put aside each year towards the East Avenue project. The council agreed that East Avenue needs to be done. Public Services Director Brunson will provide the council with the previously approved conceptual plans for East Avenue to review and provide directions on moving forward. Public Services Assistant Director Maiworm informed council that, while the budget presented outlines their five-year capital plan, the requested funds specifically pertain to the year 2026. The request is based on anticipated road conditions, streets that need resurfacing or micro -surfacing. Council Member Strange noted that two of the streets identified for repair are located near Lake - Sumter State College, which recently approved a master plan for development in the area. She suggested that staff check in with the college about their development timeline to avoid fixing the streets now, only to have them damaged later by construction traffic. Public Services Director Brunson reviewed the department budget which included personnel and the different divisions' responsibilities. Discussion was had on the cost of outsourcing an Engineer versus hiring an Engineer in house. He spoke about a front-end loader that was removed from the budget with a cost of $230,000.00. The sanitation division was presented which included a discussion on compactors in the downtown area. Council Member Howard spoke about Capital Outlay and the request for a clam truck. The current truck has a blown engine, he suggested repairing the engine as well to have a backup truck. He spoke about grants for the Historic Village capital buildings and the location for a transfer station. Mayor Murry recessed the workshop at 12:08pm; Mayor Murry reconvened the workshop at 1:00pm. Public Services Assistant Director Griffin discussed planning for future infrastructure projects. From there they develop their Master Plan which goes into their water, wastewater and reclaimed water plans. Public Services Director Brunson spoke about reclaimed water in the Wellness Way area; at this time there is not a possibility of reclaimed water in that area. He also spoke about the city's utility service area. The council discussed upcoming projects and the need for funds to be placed aside each year for projects. Discussion ensued on impact fees, debt service, utility rate increases and how often a sewer impact fee study can be done. Finance Director Borror spoke about the annual utility rate increases and the percentage they will increase per year. Public Services Director Brunson stated that these rates are until 2027, at that time there will be another rate study performed to see where the rates need to be. 3 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP July 8, 2025 Council Member Strange inquired about initiating the rate study process and asked if a budget adjustment was included on the July 29 agenda, the project could begin at that time. Council Member Howard suggested combining the impact fee study with the utility rate study to receive a full picture. Council Member Strange stated that she would like to update the policy to initiate a utility rate study every two and a half years. Finance Director Borror said that the current rate study goes through 2027. Interim City Manager Van Wagner summarized the budget discussion by confirming that the council agreed with the overall budget request, including the addition of funds to install a new engine in the clam truck. Police Department Police Chief Graczyk presented their budget. He spoke about additional personnel, crime statistics, calls for service, traffic crash statistics along with their projects and goals for the upcoming year. The department will be requesting an indoor drone to enhance their drone program as well as speed cameras in school zones and entering a contract for the axon officer safety program which supplies body and dash cameras as well as tasers, training and enhanced redaction software. Police Chief Graczyk also spoke about the Real Time Intelligence Center and accreditation. Council Member Howard inquired about retirement benefits and requested the city explore going into the Florida Retirement System prior to renewal of their collective bargaining agreement. Finance Director Borror informed the council that one of the, uses for the excess reserve funds could be creating a stabilized fund which would be meant to stabilize healthcare or retirement costs for the city. Council Member Howard asked if the department had ever done a workload study. Police Chief Graczyk stated that they had not but will investigate that for the future. The council spoke about the current vacancies within the department and the request for more officers. Police Chief Graczyk requested to do a budget amendment when officers are needed instead of having new positions in October. Mayor Murry and Council Member Howard expressed support. Police Captain Sayre spoke about the new hires and those that the department sponsored to go through the Police Academy. Council Member Myers inquired if the school zone speed camera program had changed since it was presented to the council last year. Police Chief Graczyk stated that it is the same program. Discussion ensued concerning the cost of the program and options for school zones besides the cameras. Councils' consensus was not to join the program. 4 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP July 8, 2025 Another request from the department was renovations at the Police Department. The council discussed pushing renovations off for a year. Police Lieutenant Bloom spoke about the request to replace 10 vehicles. Discussion ensued on funding Police vehicles from the infrastructure fund and the need for them to be moved to a different fund. Finance Director Borror explained that if the council wants to take the position that the infrastructure fund only funds streets and sidewalks then a budgeting policy should be adopted that states that. He stated Police vehicles will be moved from the infrastructure fund to the Capital Projects fund. Discussion ensued on travel and training, police asset forfeiture funds as well as marine patrol. Mayor Murry stated that the Fire Department will be the first department to present on Thursday. ADJOURN: With no further comments, this budget workshop adjourned at 3:50 pm. ATTES : Tracy Ackr yd Howe, MMC City Clerk 5 APPROVED: Tim Murry, Mayo V�J