Loading...
04-08-2008 Regular MeetingCity of Clermont MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 8, 2008 The Clermont City Council met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Mayor Hal Turville called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm with the following Council Members present: Council Members Mullins, Goodgame, Hogan and Berlinsky. Other City officials present were: City Manager Saunders, City Attorney Mantzaris, City Clerk Ackroyd and Assistant City Manager Gray. INVOCATION Council Member Mullins gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. MINUTES Council meeting minutes of March 25, 2008. Council Member Goodgame moved approval of the minutes of March 25 2008 as written; seconded by Council Member Mullins. The motion passed with all members present voting "aye". PUBLIC COMMENTS Suzie Gibson, 12310 Sunshine Drive, was present on behalf of the Clermont Woman's Club as Chairman and a Liaison to the South Lake Jr. Woman's Club. On March 20, 2008, Carrie Nguyen, Treasurer of the South Lake Jr. Woman's Club was involved in an accident at the intersection of Highway 50 and Fifth Street. She has serious injuries and is now in a rehabilitative center for recovery. Ms. Gibson expressed concern for public safety at that intersection and requested the City take a serious step to address the situation soon. The Legends is sponsoring a fundraiser on May 24 called Carrie's Day for anyone interested in participating in the event. She requested an officer be present at that intersection. Council Member Goodgame recommended the Department of Transportation (DOT) replace the yellow light with a red flashing light. Council Member Berlinsky questioned having a flashing light. Mayor Turville commented if we are not required to have it, we may need to reevaluate having the flashing light so close to the light at the intersection of Highway 50 and Fifth Street. Ms. Gibson further noted there was not a plan to handle diverting traffic when the accident occurred. City Manager Saunders clarified the City cannot do anything as the lights and signage is authorized by DOT. Kim Fielding, 511 W. Highway 50, owner of Kim's Cabbage Patch, noted there were accidents at that location before the flashing light was in place. She recommended an increase in the time delay between lights as there is only a second and a half between light changes. Suzi Basting, 511 W. Highway 50, commented on helping accident victims which has progressively worsened. .City of Clermont MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 8, 2008 Cuqui Whitehead, 837 Fifth Street, agreed with the comments made about that particular intersection. She also invited anyone interested to the Greatest Baby Shower sponsored by Kiwanis at 6:30pm on Friday at Minneola City Hall. Jim Purvis, 4206 Hammersmith Drive, spoke to Council about this intersection at the last Council meeting. He suggested the Council brainstorm to come up with a plan to be enacted at 7:OOam tomorrow. He suggested making the traffic light at the Fire Station an operational traffic light with the space between the flashing light and the Fifth Street traffic light a dead zone. Chris Wagner commented the time between the lights should be increased. Mayor Turville asked City Manager Saunders to request DOT place a time delay of a minimum of 3 seconds on all lights at Highway 50 intersections. City Manager Saunders noted the City has been dealing with traffic operations in Leesburg. The next step would be the Secretary's Office in Deland. Council Member Mullins stated the best solution would be more time on the red lights. Mayor Turville asked City Manager Saunders to place an officer at that location based on scheduling. City Manager Saunders stated he would contact the District V Secretary and let her know the concerns of the citizens. Bob Bowman, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board Member, proposed the CRA meet quarterly to discuss ideas. Mayor Turville asked him to coordinate with the City Manager to choose a date and time for a meeting. REPORTS City Manager Saunders reminded Council of the scheduled workshop for 7:OOpm tomorrow. Also, an executive session was scheduled with Council at 6:OOpm on April 22 in the 3`d floor conference room which is a closed door session for reviewing union negotiations. City Attorney Mantzaris - No Report Council Member Hogan stated the initial cost for putting the Water Alliance back together will be approximately $50,000 and would cost the City approximately $5,000. He requested a consensus from Council if interested in participating. Mayor Turville expressed reassurance that the Council is ready to participate. Council Member Goodgame reported on a meeting he attended with Lake Sumter EMT, Sheriff's Office and Emergency Services. They will be studying whether we work with Lake Sumter EMT instead of the way it is set up now. The City Manager will be looking into it. He also commented that the Tiki Hut at On the Corner Seafood was built without permits. It is now covered with a large plastic tarp. He requested having an ordinance in place for Council to approve requests in downtown and requested discussion at the next workshop. The Tourism Board reported an increase of 80 percent in revenues from February 2008 compared to 2007 and a 24 percent increase from 2006. City of Clermont MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 8, 2008 Council Member Hogan requested Council discuss a July 4"' celebration at a future workshop. Council Member Mullins reported on attending the Steering Committee of the Economic Development Council as the League of Cities designate. The next League of Cites meeting is Friday. Council Member Berlinsky suggested the Downtown Partnership help sponsor the July 4`h celebration. Mayor Turville - No Report CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Turville advised the next item on the Agenda for consideration was the Consent Agenda and requested anyone wishing to have any item pulled for discussion to please come forward at this time. Item No. 1 -Purchase Approval Request authorization to purchase office furniture for the new operations building at the East Water Reclamation Facility Item No. 2 -Purchase Approval Item No. 3 -Purchase Approval Item No. 4 -Easement Approval Item No. 5 -Short Form Consent Order Item No. 6 -Firefighter Grant Program Item No. 7 -Inter-local Agreement Amendment Request authorization to purchase. computer equipment for the new operations building at the East Water Reclamation Facility Request authorization to purchase phone system for the new operations building at the East Water Reclamation Facility Request authorization to grant an easement to SECO to provide underground power to the East Water Reclamation Facility Request approval of a Short Form Consent Order issued by Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the East Water Reclamation Facility Request approval of matching funds and budget amendment in the Fire Department amount of $16,175 fora $145,575 grant awarded by Home Land Security Request approval of an amendment to the Inter- local Agreement between Lake County and the City of Clermont providing for the second $2.5 million grant for the Inland Groves Property Council Member Goodgame requested City Engineer Richardson give an update on the East Water Reclamation Facility. City of Clermont MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 8, 2008 City Engineer Richardson stated they are in the second expansion of the East Reclamation Facility project. The anticipated completion date is March 2009 for the operations building. This facility will be the control center for all of the utilities. The project is ahead of schedule. Council Member Goodgame moved to accept items 1 - 7 of the consent a eg nda; seconded by Council Member Mullins. City Manager Saunders requested item 3 be pulled from the consent agenda. Council Member Goodgame removed item 3 from the motion; seconded by Council Member Mullins. The motion passed with all members present voting aye". NEW BUSINESS Resolution 1564 Mayor Turville read Resolution 1564 aloud by title only. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Clermont, Lake County, Florida, granting a Conditional Use Permit to allow for a business to occupy over 3,000 square feet in the Central Business District. Jim Hitt, Planning Director, reported on the request. This item is returning to the Council to clarify concerns over the content of the Conditional Use Permit (CUP), particularly items 9 - 12. These additional items were what staff was recommending and were not part of the Planning and Zoning Commission presentation. These items were brought up briefly however should have been clarified for discussion and possible inclusion in the CUP. The Elks Club did not receive these recommendations in time to comment at the previous Council meeting. Therefore, staff is recommending this rehearing of the request for a CUP. The applicant intends to expand the existing Elks Lodge in the downtown Central Business District. The Elks Lodge does not have a CUP therefore any expansion of the building would create the need for a new CUP because the building is greater than 3,000 square feet and within the Central Business District. The current building is 6,600 square feet and does not have an outdoor patio for members to use. The proposed expansion will consist of a 1,200 square foot screened porch located on the front of the building. The proposed porch will not extend past the current building setbacks. Staff recommended approval for the request for a CUP to include staffs additional recommendations outlined as items 9 through 12. The additional conditions are: 9) The Elks Lodge parking shall not be restricted to only the Elks Lodge and general public cross-over shall be allowed. 10) A lighting plan must be completed in accordance with City codes, and approved by the City Site Review Committee, within six months of the CUP approval. 11) Parking lot lighting shall be installed within one year of the CUP approval, in accordance with the approved lighting plan. Light poles to be utilized shall be the same style utilized by the city in the downtown area, and approved by the Site Review Committee. 12) In the event that the noise levels create a nuisance to the surrounding property owners, the City reserves the right to open the CUP for further review and additional conditions. The applicant was present, Leonard Baird, representing the Elks Club. He was not in agreement with item number 10 and 11 of the conditions. He requested the Council grant the CUP without those 2 items. 4 City of Clermont MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 8, 2008 Mayor Turville opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. Mayor Turville stated he was not interested in requiring the Elks Lodge to put in lighting for the parking lot. Council Member Berlinsky moved to eliminate number 10 and 11; seconded by Council Member Mullins for discussion. Mayor Turville stated they have graciously made their parking lot available to the citizens of Clermont. If there is a lighting problem, then bring it to Council. Council Member Goodgame called for the question. The motion passed with all members present voting "aye". City Manager Saunders stated clarification of the motion was to approve Resolution 1564 with the elimination of items 10 and 11. Council agreed that is the intent of the motion. Council Member Goodgame requested City Manager Saunders look into lighting that location. Variance Request -Mirror Lake Jim Hitt, Planning Director, presented the variance request to allow construction of brick paved roads within the proposed Mirror Lake Subdivision, rather than asphalt surfacing. It is located one mile west of Highway 455 on Old Highway 50, past the Greater Hills rear entrance and across from Verde Ridge. This variance request was originally approved in April 2007. Approved variances have one year to begin construction, and because construction has not yet begun, the original variance will be voided. The applicant requested the same variance request without any changes. The applicant, Bob Thompson, 1958 Brantley Circle, was present. He stated there is a possibility they may only place the brick pavers one third of the way past the main entrance and not all the way to the end of the road. He asked if he would have to return to Council for approval. City Attorney Mantzaris noted the applicant can construct less than approved for but not more. Mayor Turville opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. Council Member Goodgame moved for approval; seconded by Council Member Hogan. Council Member Berlinsky questioned extending the life of variances. City Attorney Mantzaris noted the Council would have to change the City Code. Council Member Goodgame called for the question. The motion passed with all members present voting "aye". City of Clermont MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 8, 2008 Resolution 1563 Mayor Turville read Resolution 1563 aloud by title only. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Clermont, Lake County, Florida, amending Resolution No. 1517 establishing aland-based trail system for the City of Clermont and authorizing the map to be submitted with the Florida Forever Application. Barbara Hollerand, Principal Planner, reported on the recreation trails system map. She reported on changes to include updating the alignment of the proposed trail and to show internal trails on the Inland Grove property as unpaved hiking trails. Staff is preparing submittal for the next grant application and would like to include an updated map. Mayor Turville opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. Council Member Mullins moved adoption of Resolution 1563; seconded by Council Member Goodgame. The motion passed with all members present voting"aye". ADJOURN: With no further comments, this meeting was adjourned at 8:29pm APPROVED: -~ Harold S. Turville, Mayor 6