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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.19.2026 - City Council Minutes 1 City of Cles nsonr MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP May 19,2026 CALL TO ORDER The City Council met in a workshop session on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in the Clenmont City Center.Mayor Pro Ten"Myers called the workshop to order at 3:01 pm with the following Council Members present: Council Mc l:bCrs Strange, Bain, Myers and Petersen_ Other City ofF"cials present were City Manager Van Wagner, Deputy City Manager Matthys,City Attorney Waugh and City Clerk Howe. Mayor Murry was not present. AGENDA ITEMS Budget Discussion Deputy City Manager Matthys explained that staff had compiled and organized the priorities previously identified and ranked by Council during their strategic planning exercise_ He presented the priorities for Council's review and noted that this would be an opportunity to determine whether any priorities should be added,removed,reordered,or otherwise revised. He then opened the discussion For Council's consideration_ Council Member Strange stated that many of the listed priorities are encompassed within the Comprehensive Plan and should be considered within that broader framework. She identified completing the Comprehensive Plan and reducing the millage rate as her top priorities,noting that initiatives such as walkability, golf cart connectivity, and affordable housing support the City's long-ter"ii vision of maintaining a safe, family-oriented community. She also emphasized the importance of providing stafF with clear policy direction and budget priorities before the budget process begins to help guide future planning and decision-making_ In response to an inquiry From Council Member Petersen,Economic Development Director Norris stated that the Comprehensive Plan is expected to be completed by November. Council discussed and refined its budget priorities,identifying transportation,public safety,health- related services, water and sewer infrastructure, and parks and recreation as key Focus areas_ Members emphasized the importance of protecting the City's water resources, considering reclaimed water initiatives, and providing staff with clear policy direction before budget development_ Council also noted the need to balance infrastructure investments with fiscal goals while recognizing that these core services already represent a significant portion of the City's budget. Council discussed its expectations for the upcoming budget process and expressed interest in reviewing budget scenarios at different millage rates, including the current rate and rollback rate, to better understand the impact on city services and priorities. Council Member Bain emphasized the importance of reviewing budget proposals at a higher level, focusing on staffing, major expenditures, departmental goals, and alignment with Council 1 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP May 19,2026 priorities rather than line-item details.Council also discussed balancing service levels,growth,and fiscal responsibility while providing staff with guidance for developing budget recommendations. Council discussed opportunities to leverage technology and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and customer service while managing future staffing needs. Members also identified employee healthcare costs as a significant budget consideration, reviewed recent health plan changes that generated savings, and expressed support for exploring innovative solutions that could improve care and control long-term costs while maintaining employee involvement in the process. Council discussed transportation priorities with a focus on enhancing walkability, sidewalks, Complete Streets principles, and multimodal connectivity, including bicycle and golf cart infrastructure. There was support on integrating these elements into future roadway and capital improvement planning, while acknowledging that implementation will require phased, area- specific planning guided by the Comprehensive Plan. Public Services Director Brunson emphasized the need for clear policy direction on connectivity, priority corridors, and desired destinations to effectively design and implement improvements. Council generally agreed on the importance of developing a long-term, coordinated strategy to improve safe and accessible r r � � �y r transportation options throughout the city. Mayor Murry arrived at 3:59pm. Council inquired about major long-term utility and infrastructure projects.Public Services Director Brunson reported that the city recently acquired property north of town near former Highway 50Nerde Ridge using a $1 million legislative appropriation to support expanded reclaimed water storage. He also noted ongoing coordination with the City of Orlando to evaluate additional land in the Wellness Way corridor for future utility needs. Public Services Director Brunson advised that the water system expansion is complete, the consumptive use permit is being updated, and a utility rate study and master planning process is underway, with results expected in November. He added that potential changes to utility rates are still under review and will be further evaluated with City leadership once additional analysis is complete. Council discussed the potential implementation of a city-operated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) transport program and emphasized the importance of reviewing complete operational, financial, and legal information before making any decisions. Assistant Fire Chief Casler and Division Chief Luginbuhl reported that the data requested during the April workshop had been compiled into a comprehensive presentation addressing service delivery, staffing, facilities, costs, revenues, and long-term projections. Council requested that City Attorney Waugh review the materials and expressed interest in evaluating the program within a five-year planning horizon, including future growth areas. 2 i City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP May 19,2026 Consensus was reached to receive the EMS presentation at the end of the June 9 meeting, allow time for Council and public review, and consider any formal action, including authorization to send a request letter to Lake County, at the following meeting. Assistant Fire Chief Casler confirmed that the proposed budget will include an EMS transport program component. Fire staff also requested consensus to apply for FEMA SAFER and Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) grants to support staffing for Fire Station 6 and the potential purchase of a fire engine. Council supported pursuing both grant opportunities, noting that acceptance of any awarded funding would require future Council approval. Council further encouraged coordination among departments to ensure EMS planning aligns with future growth, g g p p g � public safety, and infrastructure needs. Council discussed Police Department staffing needs and budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Police Chief Graczyk reported that the department currently has four sworn officer vacancies and has received 13 applications for the Community Service Officer(CSO)program.The proposed staffing request includes two additional police officers, one additional CSO, a communications coordinator, and a records specialist to support the City's continued growth. The Chief indicated that recruitment efforts are progressing well and expressed confidence that current sworn vacancies could be filled before the start of the fiscal year. Council emphasized the importance of coordinating future police facilities and staffing plans with fire, public works, and development initiatives to ensure citywide planning efforts remain aligned. Police Chief Graczyk noted that the department has successfully secured grant funding, reducing the need for major capital requests in the upcoming budget, and highlighted future technology considerations, including a potential Drone First Responder program that could provide real-time situational awareness for emergency calls and criminal investigations. Council discussed the importance of focusing not only on responding to crime but also on identifying trends and implementing strategies to prevent crime. Additional discussion included the planned expansion of existing programs, such as bike patrols, detectives, and traffic enforcement units, once staffing levels are restored, while more advanced initiatives such as real-time intelligence capabilities remain longer-term considerations. Council discussed ways the city could support educational opportunities and access, including alternative education models, while recognizing that education is primarily the responsibility of the Lake County School Board. Members expressed interest in inviting the School Board representative and Superintendent to a future workshop to discuss educational needs, school planning, and opportunities for partnership. Council also emphasized the need for a community library, noting that existing library services have been significantly reduced. They discussed options ranging from a centralized library to smaller neighborhood-based facilities and acknowledged that the primary challenge remains identifying a suitable location and funding source. City Manager Van Wagner reported that discussions with Lake County have been ongoing and that efforts to identify potential library sites and partnership opportunities are already underway. 3 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP May 19,2026 Council discussed the potential development of a community center, including considerations related to cost, funding, staffing, location, accessibility, and long-term sustainability, while also evaluating the future needs of the Boys& Girls Club and potential facility sites. The conversation included differing perspectives on centralized versus neighborhood-based recreation facilities, concerns about preserving recreational space at McKinney Park, and opportunities for partnerships, with staff continuing to evaluate options for future Council consideration. Council also reviewed major capital projects, identifying Bishop Field and the Meet in the Middle project as budget priorities. Discussion included a suggestion to explore an alternative Meet in the Middle design that would preserve more green space and restore the historic pier;however,Council noted the project has already undergone multiple revisions and is actively progressing through engineering and permitting. Staff confirmed updated plans will return to Council for review before any bidding decisions are made. Additionally, Council received an update on efforts to implement an e-bike safety and education initiative in coordination with community partners, Parks and Recreation, and the Police Department in advance of upcoming state law changes. Council discussed several strategic priorities, including communication and citizen engagement, housing opportunities, environmental improvements, and council compensation. Deputy City Manager Matth s advised that the communications consultant, True North, is expected to return g Y P in June with recommendations that may have future budget implications. Council members discussed potential initiatives to support residents through financial literacy, homeownership assistance scholarships, and broader community development efforts while also considering the p � tY p g appropriate role of local government compared to private and nonprofit organizations in providing such services. Additional discussion focused on affordable housing strategies, accessory dwelling units, and development programs utilized by neighboring communities. Council also reviewed a request for an aeration fountain at East Lake, discussing its environmental benefits, historical significance, maintenance responsibilities, and potential funding options. Finally, Council discussed member compensation,including comparisons with other municipalities,reimbursement practices,and differing perspectives on whether compensation should be increased to attract future candidates or remain limited in recognition of council service as a public service role. Staff was directed to provide additional information on Council compensation for future consideration. Deputy City Manager Matthys spoke about a request from Lake County regarding the potential transfer of Excalibur Road maintenance responsibilities to the city. City Attorney Waugh advised that staffs review of existing agreements indicates the city is not obligated to assume ownership or maintenance at this time. Council discussed the financial and operational impacts of taking over county roads, emphasizing that any future consideration would require roads to be brought up to city standards and accompanied by an evaluation of long-term costs and benefits. 4 City of Clermont MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP May 19,2026 ADJOURN: With no further comments, this workshop adjourned at 6:1 1 pm. APPROVED: Tim Murry, Mayor ATTES m Tracy Ackroyd Howe, MMC City Clerk 5