Clermont City Council Transcript 11-18-25

0:12:48 Tonight's invocation will be given by Bishop Mark Shirona of the Church of the
0:12:53 Living Edge. Please rise and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.
0:13:03 Mayor, members of the city council, thank you for the trust you steward on behalf of the people of this city. It's
0:13:09 a privilege to stand with you today as you continue to do the work of serving this great and growing community. Let's
0:13:16 pray. Yes. eternal God's source of wisdom, justice, and compassion.
0:13:23 We pause at the beginning of this meeting to acknowledge our shared dependence on something greater than
0:13:28 ourselves. We thank you for the city of Clermont, for its people, its neighborhoods, its schools, its
0:13:35 businesses, and the many communities of conviction and conscience that call this home. We honor today the trust that the
0:13:43 citizens have placed in these leaders. Grant to the members of this city council clarity of mind, steadiness of
0:13:48 heart, and courage to do that which is right, especially when it's not easy or popular. Help them to listen well, to
0:13:55 weigh matters fairly, and to seek the common good above personal interest or partisanship.
0:14:01 We give thanks for all those who serve in the city in hidden and public ways.
0:14:06 Watch over our police officers, firefighters, first responders, and all emergency service personnel. Guard those
0:14:13 who serve in the armed forces both near and far. Surround their families with strength and peace. As Shandra Myers
0:14:20 begins this season of services and each city council member fulfills his and her responsibility, grant that their work
0:14:26 will promote justice, peace, and the flourishing of every resident, regardless of background, belief, or
0:14:32 non-belief. Teach us all to treat one another with respect. Yes. To speak with civility even in
0:14:38 disagreement. and to remember that we are neighbors before we are opponents. Bless the proceedings of this meeting.
0:14:44 May what is decided here today help this city to be a place of safety, equity, and hope for all.
0:14:50 Amen. Amen. To the flag of the United States of
0:14:58 America and to the stands one nation
0:15:06 for all. Amen. Please be seated.
0:15:12 Uh before we move on, uh Mr. Van Wagner, are there any changes to the agenda? We
0:15:18 have two things, Mr. Mayor. Uh first of all, public comments will take place after the administration of the oath of
0:15:25 office. And item 18 will be removed from the agenda and brought back to the city
0:15:30 council at a later date. Item 18,
0:15:36 it would be removed. We don't do not it's not asked to be table. So there's nothing we need to do for that, right?
0:15:41 No, mayor. Just completely removed. Okay. It it will be brought back. Okay. Thank you.
0:15:50 All right. We have uh received the certified official results for the city of Clermont municipal general election.
0:15:57 The official election results of the Clermont municipal election held on November 4th, 2025 for city council seat
0:16:03 2 are as follows. Brian Elbane received 2,888 votes and Todd Howard received 2,476
0:16:11 votes. All right.
0:16:17 Is there a motion? Motion to accept the election results. Second. I have a motion and a second to accept
0:16:23 the election results as presented. Any further discussion? No. Hearing none. All in favor, let it be
0:16:28 known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote I as well. Motion passes 5.
0:16:35 All right. The city of Clout would like to present council member Todd Howard with a plaque in recognition of his
0:16:40 commitment and dedication to the citizens of the city of Clout as a council member from 2024 to 2025. Thank
0:16:47 you. And if you'll join me down front, please. Sir.
0:17:12 We're all good.
0:17:58 So, I told him I wasn't big on participation trophies, but I got one anyway. So,
0:18:04 um, first and foremost, I want to thank the Clermont city staff. A lot of the way
0:18:11 that I look at the job we do up here is based on them. And uh as a business
0:18:18 owner, I think our staff is probably the most important thing that we have for
0:18:24 the city governance. And so I just wanted to let them know I appreciate them and that a lot of the changes and
0:18:30 the the direction that I went was with concern for them.
0:18:36 Um I'd like to thank our city leadership they have changed the
0:18:42 they have changed the tenor of of the city government. Uh so I'm super happy
0:18:48 with the direction it's going. Uh you know for a long time there we I'd ask
0:18:53 city staff and I'd get the answer that came from the third floor and that was never okay. I really wanted to know what
0:18:59 their professional opinion was and it took a long time to get there. But I do appreciate, you know, all of those
0:19:05 twists and turns to get there and I appreciate the leadership for giving them the opportunity to be able to speak
0:19:11 to council members directly and give us their professional opinions. So, thank you guys for that. I appreciate that.
0:19:16 Um, for my fellow council members, I enjoyed being up here. Um, I'm not super sad to get my life back.
0:19:23 So, for the for the audience who doesn't know, being a council member is a huge time suck. I mean, it just turns into
0:19:30 hours and hours and hours. And uh so I'm happy to get those hours back and to go do other things. I want to congratulate
0:19:37 Brian Bane. Um he and his team put together an impressive campaign. Um for my
0:19:45 supporters, I'd like to tell you that I failed you and that's that's on me. Um,
0:19:53 I didn't put the campaign together that we needed. Um, but as we move forward, I ask for grace. Um, I have already spoke
0:20:00 with Brian on several occasions and, um, I'm going to work with him and and try
0:20:05 to get the city to continue to move forward. And so I ask my supporters to do the same thing and to show that
0:20:11 grace. Um, and I appreciate everybody being here and I wish this council good luck. And,
0:20:18 uh, if you have anything, I can now talk to you guys. So, I'm super excited. Um, you know, you you forged these
0:20:24 friendships and uh you can't talk to each other, so we uh we're always hiding and and trying not to talk to each
0:20:30 other, but um I've known Allison for the better part of 15 years. So, um I'll be
0:20:36 super excited to be able to have those conversations with her again and and again, appreciate everybody for doing it. So, thank you guys.
0:20:43 Thank you. Thank you.
0:21:05 Are you ready? At this time, the city clerk will administer the oath of office. Uh,
0:21:11 council member Mer, please come forward with your family, please.
0:21:52 Tell me when you're ready.
0:22:00 Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. Say I and state your name. Shandra L.
0:22:06 do solemnly swear or affirm I solemn solemnly swear that I will support
0:22:11 I will support protect obey and uphold protect obey and uphold the laws of the city of Clermont
0:22:17 the laws of the city of Clermont the county of Lake the county of Lake the state of Florida the state of Florida
0:22:22 the United States of America the United States of America that I am qualified I am qualified to fill the office
0:22:28 to fill the office of seat number four of seat number four of the city of Clermont the city of Clermont
0:22:33 that I take this obligation freely I take this obligation freely that I will perform the duties
0:22:38 that I will perform the duties of the office of the office upon which I'm about to enter upon which I'm about to enter
0:22:44 to the best of my ability to the best of my ability and understanding and understanding. Congratulations.
0:22:49 Thank you.
0:23:15 There you go, sis.
0:23:29 Wow.
0:23:40 Mr. Bane, would you please come forward with your family?
0:23:52 Let me know when you're ready. Please raise your right hand and repeat
0:23:57 after me. Say I and state your name. I, Brian, do solemnly swear or affirm
0:24:02 do so do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support that I will support protect obey and uphold
0:24:09 protect obey and uphold the laws of the city of Clermont the laws of the city of Clermont the county of Lake
0:24:15 the county of Lake the state of Florida the state of Florida the United States of America the United States of America
0:24:20 that I am qualified that I am qualified to fill the office to fill the office of seat number two
0:24:25 of seat number two of the city of Clermont of the city of Clermont that I take this obligation ation freely that I take this obligation freely
0:24:32 that I will perform the duties that I will perform the duties of the office of the office upon which I'm about to enter
0:24:37 of which I'm about to enter to the best of my ability to the best of my ability and understanding and understanding
0:24:43 congratulations
0:25:03 Uh oh. Changing of regard.
0:25:19 You ready? Congratulations. First of all, congratulations to both of you. I would like to just take just one minute
0:25:25 to say wow yesterday six years ago I took my first word oath of office and
0:25:30 all. So I'm heading into my six years the mayor of the great city of Clmont and I find it amazing that um every year
0:25:37 I've been sitting on this diet since being mayor of Clmont. I've had a new council to have to work with. So welcome
0:25:44 aboard and everything and just be patient with us. I know it's a lot to learn. I didn't realize so much had to
0:25:50 be learned when I first took over, but um I'm quite sure you're capable of handling everything and look forward to
0:25:56 working with you. You want any other be either one of you have time to say so if you want?
0:26:03 I would like to. First of all, I want to say good afternoon to everyone. I first want to
0:26:08 give honor and glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because he is the only reason why I'm here today. I want
0:26:14 to recognize a few special guests here. My mother and my brother, they flew in from the east coast to be here. That's
0:26:19 who you saw sitting up here.
0:26:26 And the bishop is the one who did the prayer is my bishop from my church. He had to leave, but I want to thank him
0:26:32 for taking the time to travel here. And my husband and my and our two daughters and my friends that are family and my
0:26:39 neighbors and the citizens. Thank you. Sitting here today, I am humbled and I
0:26:45 am honored. I'm filled with gratitude. Gratitude for the people of Clermont who have once again placed their trust
0:26:52 in me to serve. Being reelected unopposed is a tremendous honor and I do not take that lightly. Thank you for
0:26:59 believing in me and what we can what we can continue to accomplish together.
0:27:05 When I was first elected, I became the first African-American woman to hold a seat on this council. That moment was
0:27:11 not just about breaking barriers. It was about opening doors. And today, as I begin my second term, I do so knowing
0:27:17 that every door we open makes it easier for the next generation to come. In the past two years, we have made meaningful
0:27:24 progress together. We lowered taxes to ease the burden on families. We gave residents more time to pay their utility
0:27:30 bills without penalty. We honored our veterans who have given so much to our nation. And we have encouraged our
0:27:36 citizens, especially our women, to take care of their health by getting those lifesaving mammograms. These are the
0:27:43 kinds of actions that make Clermont not just a city, but a community. As I look forward to the future, my promise
0:27:50 remains the same. To lead with integrity, to listen with compassion, and to make decisions that lift us up
0:27:56 higher. Clermont's story is one of history, of progress, and hope, and I
0:28:02 truly believe the best is yet to come. Thank you. And may God bless the city of
0:28:07 Clermont and God bless our troops. Thank you. Thank you.
0:28:18 Yes, sir. Thank you, Mayor. I first want to thank my family, many of
0:28:23 whom are watching online. Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad. My son, Elliot, my dear friends, and
0:28:31 especially Tim. Their unwavering love and encouragement
0:28:36 and support means the world to me. To everyone who volunteered during the
0:28:41 campaign and helped knock on doors, make calls, wave signs, write letters, my
0:28:46 sincere appreciation to you. I would not be up here if it weren't for your hard
0:28:52 work. Today belongs to you as much as it does to me or anyone else.
0:28:58 I'd also like to thank Mr. Howard. He knows as well as anyone that it is not
0:29:03 easy sitting up here. He has been helpful during this transition and offering advice and assistance. I
0:29:10 appreciate that and his service to Clermont. And to the voters and residents of
0:29:16 Clermont, thank you. Thank you for your faith and
0:29:22 your trust in me to represent you and for this opportunity to serve our
0:29:27 community in this capacity. I am both humbled and honored to be on this
0:29:33 council. Now that the campaign is over, it's time to govern. It's time to bring people
0:29:40 together to work together collaboratively and cooperatively to
0:29:45 seek ways to positive to find positive solutions for our city.
0:29:52 This is an exciting time for Clermont, but I also recognize that for some it's
0:29:57 also challenging and frustrating. We all saw the results of the election.
0:30:04 Not everyone voted for me and or anyone else who won Tuesday night
0:30:09 or sorry, two weeks ago. I will, however, as the oath indicated,
0:30:14 to the best of my ability, strive to include and represent all of you.
0:30:22 So, I ask that you give me that chance. Give me a chance to work with you and
0:30:27 for you. I ask that we seek ways to work together to improve our city, celebrate
0:30:33 when we agree, listen with open hearts and open minds when we don't, and yes,
0:30:40 hold me. hold all of us accountable. Maya Angelou said, "My mission in life
0:30:46 is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some
0:30:53 compassion, some humor, and some style. I will seek
0:30:58 to serve with grace, empathy, humility,
0:31:04 and humor. And it's my hope that we can work together in a civil and
0:31:09 constructive manner along the way to help move our city forward.
0:31:15 Thank you. Thank you.
0:31:26 I know it's not on the agenda, but we going to take 10 minutes here in case you all want to have some uh hand
0:31:32 shaking u more pictures and everything. Okay, before we move on and after this 10-minute break, well, it's 3 3:30 we
0:31:40 will resume. Okay, 3:30 according to the clock here, we will resume with the uh public comments. Okay, thank you. Give
0:31:47 you opportunity to go down and thank some of your supporters and all.
0:32:02 Thank you, sir.
0:32:28 Banana
0:32:43 congratulations.
0:32:49 Fire.
0:33:23 You know, like
0:33:37 Sure.
0:34:16 Sorry. Oh, yeah.
0:35:30 I'm trying to figure picture with you.
0:35:37 I don't like
0:36:04 Hi, I'm Tracy. Nice to meet you.
0:36:19 Are you still doing
0:36:32 the bed?
0:37:10 She's like second floor.
0:37:19 All right. Looks like I'm sleeping, too.
0:38:43 What the
0:41:06 testing. One, two. So you got that icon over there, right?
0:41:12 I don't know how
0:41:40 Test one, two.
0:41:46 Test one, two.
0:42:19 So, so you signed your oath, right? Now you're official.
0:42:25 All right. Huh? Yeah. One more.
0:42:31 I thank you all again. So, we will resume at public comment. The next item
0:42:37 uh is public comment beginning with the me at this point in the meeting. Um
0:42:43 and we will be allowing virtual comments today as well. If you wish to address
0:42:49 the council in person, please come to the microphone and state your name and address. Uh once in once in person
0:42:55 comments have concluded we will move on to we we are having trouble with your microphone. I don't know if
0:43:02 can you not hear me? It's not very loud. Can the audience Can you hear me now?
0:43:09 Okay. You can hear us. So it's just that we can't hear him. So we have a little Yeah, it's all the way up.
0:43:14 We have a little button. Okay. Let's try this again. Uh public comment. Uh and we will be
0:43:21 allowing virtual comments today for the first time. So you all bear with us as we work through this trial period. If
0:43:27 you wish to address the council in person, please come to the microphone and state your name and address. Once in-person comments have concluded, we
0:43:33 will move on to virtual comment. If you are participating online on Microsoft Teams and wish to provide comments,
0:43:41 please raise your hand and you will be called on to unmute your microphone when
0:43:46 it is time for you to speak. If you are participating by phone, you will press star five on your phone to raise your
0:43:52 hand. When called upon, you will press star six to unmute your microphone. For all
0:43:59 virtual participant, if you wish to comment on other items on the agenda, please stay on Microsoft Teams or on
0:44:05 your telephone and raise your hand when the item comes up. This portion of the
0:44:12 agenda is only for items that's not on the on the agenda.
0:44:17 In the interest of time, efficiency and ensuring that everyone wishes to address the council is given
0:44:22 the opportunity to do so. Each be speaker will be permitted three minutes to address the council to avoid
0:44:28 disruption of the meeting. Speakers should avoid inappropriate language, personal attacks, and derogatory
0:44:34 statements and direct comments to the city council. Everyone requested to be respectful even when we disagree.
0:44:40 Yes, sir.
0:44:48 Good afternoon, Mayor Murray, Clermont City Council. I want to extend to the
0:44:55 city of Clermont and the city council a big well done for Saturday's veteran
0:45:01 celebration. The police department, the fire department were outstanding there to
0:45:07 support uh all the traffic and medical needs that we need. And I want to big uh
0:45:14 uh throw out a big shout to the parks and recreation department,
0:45:21 Brian Foreman, Corey Cody, and Heather New. Without them, the veteran
0:45:28 celebration on Saturday uh would uh had
0:45:34 uh been just ordinary, but they made a big and turn it into a very special day
0:45:41 for the veterans. Again, I wanted to uh just say thank you to the city of
0:45:46 Clermont and all their departments that supported it. Thank you. Thank you.
0:45:58 Anthony Grove, 11:05 Sadi Ridge Road in Clermont,
0:46:13 Mayor, City Council, and citizens of Clermont. One year ago, I came to the mic
0:46:19 microphone and declared, "The reign of hostility, intimidation, violence, retaliation, and incompetence is over."
0:46:26 With that opening, I described the events leading up to the election of new council members.
0:46:31 The people had spoken and new council representation was installed. Yes, we the people do run the city. With the
0:46:38 recent election, I want to recognize Todd Howard's commit Todd Howard's commitment to service in the city. Todd
0:46:45 took the lead with disposing of a toxic city mismanager, several toxic and
0:46:50 hateful employees, as well as well as rolling back taxes. Todd knows the meaning of accountability and getting
0:46:56 things done. With Todd and other city council members, my tax bill this year is within less than 1% of the prior
0:47:04 year. Thank you for stopping the never-ending quest for more tax revenue.
0:47:09 Your service to this city is recognized and deeply appreciated. To our incoming council member, take
0:47:15 note. Last year, I read this to our then city council.
0:47:20 I've had the opportunity to meet many of our city employees to whom I have great respect. We have topshelf police and
0:47:27 fire departments. We also have people who go above and beyond for the city as they call Clermont home. Then we have a
0:47:35 few who are hateful, incompetent, aggressive towards citizens, and woefully overpaid. We have too we have
0:47:43 too much administrative bloat in this city where relatively few have created quite the little nest for themselves.
0:47:49 Those nests are about to be knocked out of the tree. Some already have. If you believe that you can be employed by the
0:47:55 city and be disrespectful to citizens, mock them in the public meetings and otherwise undermine their right of free
0:48:02 expression, you're in the wrong job. We'll show you the way out. This fine city does not need to be
0:48:08 shadowed in political toxicity. Neither does it need to continue to pay employees who fail to respect citizens
0:48:14 or fundamental decency. And finally, we do not want our taxes
0:48:20 raised. Let me again remind our city council, including our incoming council member,
0:48:25 you're here to represent the wishes of the people. Your own wishes are not what we elected you to do. You serve the
0:48:32 people. Thank you. Thank you.
0:48:40 Yes, ma'am. Julia Dearts. I'm 12916 Delago. I am
0:48:49 founder of nonprofit. I am a safe place. And I started our nonprofit after my
0:48:54 daughter at age 19 was intentionally run over by a car by her ex-boyfriend when she was trying to leave. Today, I stand
0:49:02 here before you on behalf of domestic violence survivors. We want to remember Thanksgiving.
0:49:10 The following is an adaptation of a true story told by a woman who attended a community training, domestic violence
0:49:17 training. After the training, the woman approached the trainer to tell her she finally had
0:49:24 a name and a way to think about what she had been experiencing for the past 10 years. The week leading up to
0:49:31 Thanksgiving had been a busy one for Sue. It was full of shopping, decorating, cooking, and preparing for
0:49:37 Thanksgiving Day when her parents and new in-laws were coming to celebrate Thanksgiving with her and her husband
0:49:44 Bob. Sue and Bob had been only married for three months, and Sue was excited to be hosting this first family ever
0:49:51 Thanksgiving holiday event. At 10:00 a.m., Sue had completed the table setting by placing the centerpiece in
0:49:58 its proper space and setting the bottles of wine she had selected on the buffet.
0:50:03 Bob was helping Sue with some of the preparations. He was timing the turkey
0:50:08 and seeing that all the appropriate serving dishes were ready for use. As Bob placed the carving pieces on the
0:50:14 buffet, he noticed that the wine for dinner was neither the brand nor the kind that Sue that she told Sue to
0:50:21 purchase. Becoming infuriated, he called her into the dining room and placed his hands on her throat while demanding to
0:50:28 know why she did not purchase the wine that he told her to. Not accepting the fact that she could not find what she
0:50:34 had what he had told her to purchase, Bob threw her against the dining room, slapped her to the floor, and kicked her
0:50:40 mercilessly. As she lay bleeding from the wounds with a fractured ribs, Bob ordered her to call her and her parents
0:50:47 and tell them Thanksgiving dinner was cancelled because she had her period and
0:50:52 was not feeling well. As he left the room, he spit on her and turned over the
0:50:57 dining room table, breaking all of their wedding china. Sue told the trainer about this incident and added that in 10
0:51:04 years since then, Bob had not laid a hand on her. Sue told the training
0:51:12 trainer that the only thing that Bob did to her when he did become dissatisfied with something that she had done was to
0:51:19 clench his fist a few inches to her face, give her that look, and say,
0:51:24 "Remember Thanksgiving. I am a safe place um here and we really
0:51:31 wish and look forward to collaborating with city of Clermont. Thank you. Thank you.
0:51:42 Joe Famasi 2693 jumping jackway. I'm here to speak about a well that is a
0:51:48 major nuisance. I made contact with the CDD of Wellness Ridge and they were told
0:51:56 me that they referred me to Lenar that Lenar owns the well. I was supposed to have contact by Mr. Lane Register which
0:52:03 never happened. I brought this video today to show you this annoying and annoyance of a situation that the
0:52:10 neighbors have to. I ask anybody that has hearing issues with these kind of things, please plug your ears for a
0:52:16 minute. Hold on. Hold on, sir. Hold on for a second before you do that.
0:52:23 Mr. Mr. W, that's on the phone. I know anything you present to the council, you have to give a copy. How do how do you
0:52:30 handle this phone? I can email it to you, sir. Well, I we always prefer that obviously.
0:52:35 If it's just the audio itself, um it's being recorded. Um I'm okay. I don't
0:52:41 have a legal objection. Okay. Thank you. Are you ready? Yes. All right.
0:52:49 You can hear that three blocks away. You can hear that from three blocks away.
0:52:55 There's two homeowners that are located on each side of that well. Imagine that. You're in your home and you hear that
0:53:01 noise. Every time I hear it, it makes me think of a fire alarm.
0:53:07 It definitely calling for some kind of intervention. Can we get some help from the city? I
0:53:13 know that several folks have written you already about this situation
0:53:19 and I'm hoping that we can get some help down here in the neighborhood for it. I've already contacted St. John's Water
0:53:25 for the amount of water that's being spilled out of this because you do have an ordinance that you do enforce on us
0:53:32 for irrigation purposes. Well, it should apply to corporations that run big wells like that, too.
0:53:40 So, not rules for some, rules for all. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Mr. Van Wagner, can you get his
0:53:48 contact information and make sure uh we'll find out what's going on with that, please, sir? I think if I'm
0:53:56 mistaken, I think that well is on by a developer down there. So, we have to
0:54:02 Okay. But let let's see what we can get done, please, sir. Yes, ma'am.
0:54:08 All right. Uh Natalie Kaylor, executive director of Brooksville Main Street. I um have to leave for a design committee
0:54:14 meeting, but I just wanted to first of all congratulate uh the new and returning council members. Um as a
0:54:21 former elected official myself, I understand um the pressures and the
0:54:28 sometimes thanklessness and also the excitement when you finally get something pushed through. So, um, thank
0:54:34 you so much for your service and, um, I know the community appreciates it, even on the days when maybe you don't feel
0:54:41 like they do. Um, I wanted to just briefly let you know that we're in the middle of our Small Business November
0:54:47 initiative. Um, we expanded Small Business Saturday to the full month and so people can earn prizes all month long
0:54:55 by going into our downtown restaurants and retails. Um, you're going to see little QR codes like this around the
0:55:02 community, but every retail and restaurant has a QR code that is individual to their store that is hidden
0:55:08 in there. And if people scan it, um, they can earn points depending how many places they go to. So, they don't have
0:55:14 to make purchases, but they can earn cool stuff like this cute little duck
0:55:19 pin that I'm wearing. Um, we have duck feed, so people can go over to Center Hill and feed the ducks. Um, we have a
0:55:26 custom Clermont coffee blend uh with citrus notes as well as a tea blend for
0:55:32 people that don't drink coffee. Also citrusy. And then for kids, we have these little shoe thingies that they put
0:55:38 on their shoelaces. I don't My kids are too big for them, but apparently it's a thing. I don't really know. But, um,
0:55:44 we're just really encouraging people to get out there. We're hoping that by expanding the event that people actually
0:55:49 have time to shop instead of racing around like lunatics trying to hit all the stores so they can get back to get
0:55:55 their prizes. So this time you earn points the whole time and then you can come on small business Saturday and
0:56:00 collect all your free stuff and uh the ultimate prize if you end up going to all of the spaces which is over 60 is uh
0:56:08 we'll give you two tickets to our W next wine stroll. So that is it. So thank you so much again. Thank you.
0:56:20 Yes, sir. Good afternoon, uh, city council. My name is Vincim, Regency Hills. Uh, I
0:56:28 just have one really quick question with Hancock coming from Wellness Way. Uh,
0:56:33 what is the delay? Did they verb that to any of the city council? Because I'm
0:56:40 getting no answers when I go to the Lake County level. All right. Uh, we all know
0:56:45 that, you know, Lenar pretty much is in charge of building it for $14 million and we're talking about less than a
0:56:51 mile. I'd like to know what the delay is on that one. And uh we finally actually
0:56:56 thank you to our city manager and the entire city council for helping me
0:57:02 project my voice to Lake County city Lake County commissioners for getting
0:57:08 Hartwood Marsh starting the expansion no later than March of or May, I'm sorry,
0:57:14 May, I'm sorry, May of next year. So your honor, we won on that one. All right. Uh I'd also like to congratulate
0:57:23 uh Mr. Brian Bane for two years. I sat by his left hand side as his vice. It is
0:57:30 very weird to hear me sit back there and you talk on that microphone, but I know
0:57:36 you will do a good job. I have faith in you. Okay. Uh I also want to thank Mr.
0:57:41 Todd Howard for projecting my voice on Hartwood Marsh as well. All right. I'm
0:57:47 going to keep it short. So, God bless you guys and make good decisions today. Thank you.
0:57:56 Good afternoon, mayor, members of the council. Paula Hoisington, 564 East Dninnesota Street. Um, first I want to
0:58:02 wish everyone a very happy, safe, and blessed Thanksgiving. Um, congratulations to our new members for
0:58:10 stepping up to the plate. Congratulations to Brian. I've enjoyed working you with working with you on
0:58:16 PNZ. I'm going to miss your words of wisdom. I look forward to the
0:58:22 opportunity to see you do your work to do the work of the people for the people that decisions are made
0:58:29 as Councilwoman Meyer says to continue to lift up the people of Clermont that
0:58:34 they're not selfserving. My mother has this thing where she often says, "We can show you better than we
0:58:41 can tell you." We can show you better than we can tell you. Elections are important. I thank
0:58:49 everyone who voted whether it was absentee mail in or in person because
0:58:54 your vote does matter. Your vote counted. Your vote brought in a change.
0:59:01 A change that the people of Clermont saw that was necessary. Had it not been necessary and the
0:59:08 majority of the people who turned out to vote, Brian, you wouldn't be sitting here.
0:59:14 And I thank the people for exercising their vote. And those who continue to do
0:59:20 things that are self- serving, that are not for the people,
0:59:25 that don't understand how to make compromise, we can show you better than we can tell
0:59:31 you. Thank you. Thank you.
0:59:36 Yes, sir. My name is William Francis Xavier
0:59:42 Delaney Jr., but you can call me Bill. Okay, Bill.
0:59:47 I live at 10312 Lake Minola Shores. I would like to humbly suggest that you
0:59:53 move these meetings back to 6 or 6:30 so the working people who live in this area
0:59:59 can come to the meetings particularly when they have things that refer to them
1:00:04 or their neighborhoods or their areas. I would also like to suggest that the
1:00:10 there is a time limit on our speaking. I would like to suggest that
1:00:17 maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to do the same thing for the council because sometimes people run away with the
1:00:24 clock. I know that the meetings were moved to three in the afternoon because there was fear that the 6:30 meetings
1:00:31 wouldn't end until 11 or 12:00 at night. Well, that can be alleviated, too. And I
1:00:36 do have a suggestion, Tracy. I have an air horn that you can have that you can sound off rather than the gong show. We
1:00:43 could use an air horn, but uh just you can get your point across a lot quicker,
1:00:51 uh a lot more succinctly if we all think about it in advance. I appreciate your
1:00:56 time. I was sworn to not tell any Irish jokes by my wife, so I have to go home now.
1:01:02 Thank you. Thank you, sir.
1:01:08 Yes, sir. Good afternoon, council. I really appreciate the moment to get up here and
1:01:13 talk for just a second. I want to thank Todd Howard for the hard work he put in. Todd was a great voice on this council.
1:01:20 He really pushed things. He pushed hard and I appreciate that. I love the dialogue. I love when people don't come
1:01:26 together because better ideas sometimes come out of that. So, Brian, I hope I'm sorry, Mr. Bane, I will treat you with
1:01:32 the respect you deserve. Mr. Bane, I hope you know you have big shoes to fill and we're depending on you and the rest
1:01:38 of this council. You guys are all up for election next year. Mr. Bane showing what can happen when a few people are
1:01:45 disappointed in in their government. So to all of you, I really appreciate what
1:01:50 you do. I really appreciate everything. I don't think people really truly realize how hard you guys work. What
1:01:56 little time I put in on planning and zoning and I worked with Mr. Bane on that. I I I I came to have great respect
1:02:02 for him. He was unflapable. He kept me calm and he led with confidence. And I know
1:02:08 that he's going to do the same here. We're in good hands, Clermont. We're in very good hands. We have an excellent
1:02:14 council, a very good balance of people that agree and disagree on things. And I like that. We're going to get some
1:02:19 really great decisions. And I know that Mr. Bane, you have big shoes to fill, but you're up to the job. So, thank you.
1:02:26 Thank you. Anyone else in the house would like to speak at
1:02:34 public comment? Anyone else? Seeing no one else, I'm going close down
1:02:41 public comment for in house. But
1:02:48 is there anyone? Yes. Anyone online? I'm going to put the first person
1:02:55 through now. Okay.
1:03:00 Go ahead, Anna. You may speak and please state your name and address for the council.
1:03:07 Oh, hello. My name is Anna Sinclair, 575 West Miniola Avenue. Can you hear me?
1:03:13 Yes. Great. Really excited. Um, I have many things I would like to talk about, but I
1:03:20 only have three minutes, so let's go. First of all, uh, thank you very much to, uh, Mr. Howard. many of the positive
1:03:27 changes that I see in the council in the staff in the city, they were pushed uh by him. So, I would like to thank him
1:03:33 for his service and welcome uh Councilman Bane. Um I am excited to see
1:03:41 uh I am excited to see your work at the council. Um second of all, thank you
1:03:47 very much for having this um option for people like me who work until 5:30,
1:03:54 sometimes 6. uh to jump in and give us your opin give us your give you our
1:04:00 opinion on the city. Um this is a perfectly fine solution to an issue that
1:04:05 we were having. Now I feel much more confident that I can participate in the city building process. And third of all
1:04:14 and this is not going to be uh happy news unfortunately I just heard that Crawford laid off uh is going to close
1:04:22 its fulfillment locations. um throughout Florida and of course many
1:04:28 other uh states but as you know we had a large fulfillment center uh in Portland
1:04:34 with uh 1,200 employees I believe so I would like to ask the city to please
1:04:39 coordinate uh with the county to help uh these employees find new jobs that is a
1:04:45 tragedy for the whole community for the whole city um and just to kind of jump
1:04:53 um to add a little into that. Um, this is one of the risks that we run when we
1:04:58 rely on these big employers to come and save us that they can just leave. So,
1:05:05 please as you lead uh lead us into the future, please try to see what things we
1:05:11 can do to help people start their own businesses, to help people employ other
1:05:17 residents because this has to we cannot just rely on large corporations. We need
1:05:22 diversity. We need diversity when we invest. In fact, we have there's a saying in English, don't put all of your
1:05:28 eggs in one basket. So, let's take that into consideration. And please, let's help these employees uh find new jobs as
1:05:35 soon as possible. And uh that will be all. Thank you. Thank you.
1:05:45 Next Benjamin, please state your name and
1:05:51 your mic can be unmuted now. Hello, my name is Benjamin Mayard and I
1:05:57 live at 6080 Shabbasana Road in Clermont, Florida. Um, first of all, welcome to the new
1:06:03 council member and uh, congratulations all of you have been doing a phenomenal job. Um, I also live in the Wellness
1:06:11 Ridge community. I am three houses down from the well that the gentleman spoke
1:06:17 about earlier. Um I want to preface the amount of effort we have put into trying
1:06:24 to reach out to the community director and the developer to get this issue
1:06:31 fixed. It has been a month now that I have been trying to get answers on this
1:06:36 and I I live right next to it. like you cannot be outside and enjoy anything.
1:06:42 But also, I can't open my windows. I I had a guest staying here a few weeks ago
1:06:48 and unfortunately that kept them up all night because the bedroom is is uh the
1:06:53 far right of the house that faces the well. Um and it's it's just it it's very
1:06:59 frustrating and disheartening that I called the city and they're like, "We don't own it and there's not much that we can do." So there is a noise
1:07:06 ordinance like he said and as a resident I I hold up to it as well. So I'm asking
1:07:13 that somebody please look into this issue. We are all desperate back here to
1:07:19 get somebody to look at this well and stop the the buzzing. It's it's non-stop
1:07:24 all day long all night. And it it's it's taken an emotional toll on a lot of us
1:07:30 back here because we feel like we're helpless. These are our homes. We live in these. we we have family, we have,
1:07:37 you know, jobs and and meetings and stuff that happen in our homes. So, it's it's exhausting to have to try and and
1:07:43 get through this. So, I know that somebody spoke on it earlier, so I thank you for hearing me on it again, but I'm
1:07:49 just asking that somebody please please reach out to the developer and get some
1:07:54 headway on this. Thank you. Thank you, sir.
1:08:02 Anyone else online?
1:08:09 I don't believe so. That's it. Yeah, Mr. Mayor, we we'll have somebody
1:08:14 go tomorrow and look at that on the on the on the Let me Let me close Go ahead and close. There's no one else
1:08:20 online, Mr. Administrator. Okay, good. So, we're going to go ahead and close public comment at this time. Thank you.
1:08:28 Uh Mr. Mr. Van Wagner, as I said, go ahead and please, sir, if you get with
1:08:34 them. I know it's owned by the developers down there, but I think we can we can do them if we have to send
1:08:40 some of our experts down there to give them some ideas or whatever. I think Okay. Um,
1:08:48 see now, give me a second here because we moving around on this agenda today.
1:08:54 Uh, so next we have a pre have presentation. Um,
1:09:01 Mr. Scott Borrower, would you please come forward? We have a budgeted uh quarterly budget report from my finance
1:09:07 director. Thank you. And I think we'll be back on schedule.
1:09:19 Think I'm good. Thank you. Thank you, mayor and city council members. And uh on behalf Scott Bore,
1:09:27 finance director, and on behalf of the department, let me congratulate uh council member Myers and Bane on their
1:09:33 elections. We look forward to working with you. Uh thanks for this opportunity to present to you the uh fourth quarter
1:09:39 budget report for fiscal year 202425. Uh a couple quick disclaimers before I
1:09:45 get into the data. Um first off, this report is available on the city's website through almost any link
1:09:51 associated with finance department. you'll be able to find this very same report that I'm uh going to scroll through during this presentation. Uh a
1:09:58 couple quick disclaimers about the data within the report itself. One, while this is a fiscal year-end report, keep
1:10:05 in mind that we are in our audit preparation preparation season. Um when we present, so that means what we're
1:10:12 doing is we're transitioning our reporting from a cash basis reporting, which is this style of report to a
1:10:17 modified acrruel reporting that'll be in the audit that is released in the spring. So the figures that you see
1:10:22 within this report will alter slightly by the time the all the audit comes out in the spring. And secondly, there is a
1:10:29 budget amendment on uh on the agenda tonight for consideration by city council. Please note that those figures
1:10:35 within the proposed amendment are not within this report, but I will speak to what impact th those proposed amendments
1:10:41 will have on this data as I go through. So with that being said, I'm going to start with the very first table within
1:10:47 the report. This is a summary of all revenues and expenditures citywide across all funds, across all operations.
1:10:54 And if you look at the far right two columns, starting at the top, you'll see that our budgeted revenues were at 146.8
1:11:03 million. And at this point in fiscal year end, we're at 150.7 million. So
1:11:08 citywide, our revenues have exceeded our projected uh budgeted revenues for the
1:11:14 fiscal year. And down in the bottom half, those same two columns, you'll see that our budgeted expenses citywide
1:11:20 again across all operations were $149.5 million. And we are at $1326
1:11:28 million below budget. Our total, which is obviously below budget. And as we go
1:11:34 through this, I'll speak a little bit more at a high level as to why those variances exist.
1:11:41 Next data table and graph is the same presentation. It's citywide across all
1:11:46 operations, across all funds, but it's specific to just those aforementioned revenues. Um you'll see again on the far
1:11:53 right hand side those same budget actual totals. Um and what this is displays is
1:11:58 the percentage. So we are at 103% of our budgeted revenues across the city about
1:12:04 $3.9 million. Uh what I wanted to point out on this data table though is in comparison the actuals from 2024 in
1:12:12 comparison to 2025. If you look over to the second to uh column to from the left
1:12:18 you'll see in 24 our actuals were $168 million. And if you go over then to the
1:12:23 right to the far right our actuals at this point for 2025 was $150.7 million.
1:12:29 So on the surface it appears that our revenues for the year decreased by over 10%. But a reminder to everyone that in
1:12:37 2024 we did have a loan issuance, a debt issuance of $28 million. So if you
1:12:42 adjust for that issuance, our citywide revenues for the year actually increased by over 7%.
1:12:52 Last table on a citywide basis is specific to expenditures. Um
1:12:58 and uh similar layout as the revenue ones. you've got those same budget to actual figures that I mentioned at the
1:13:04 beginning. So we are at 89% of our budgeted um expenses year-to date uh on
1:13:11 a citywide basis led by the uh finite or excuse me the general fund we're currently at 93% of budget so under
1:13:18 budget that's good news and in the uh enterprise fund 73%.
1:13:23 Now, I'll speak more specifically to the general fund here in a moment, but in the case of the enterprise funds, uh a
1:13:30 big reason why we are so far under budget is the wastewater treatment plant project. Um now, while that project was
1:13:36 completed in an operational context in the early summer, a lot of invoicing and
1:13:41 billing specific to that uh project is still ongoing. We're pushing the vendor to wrap that up. Staff is working
1:13:48 through the punch list. Uh we have so we're working through retainage and things like that. Um, but there's over
1:13:53 $8 million in budgeted expenses specific to that project still showing unspent at
1:13:59 this point.
1:14:05 All right, I'm going to transition now specifically to the general fund. And similarly, this first table on a general
1:14:11 fund shows you um this the presentation is a little bit different. Now, if you look in the blue column, we're looking
1:14:18 at groupings uh by by revenue types and expenditure uh departments. And if you
1:14:24 go back over to the far right, you'll see that our budgeted uh revenues within the general fund, $55.9 million. And
1:14:31 we've actually received more, $60 million in budgeted revenues. Um so $4
1:14:38 million more received than what was budgeted within your proposed amendments. this fis this budget
1:14:44 amendment can really be characterized as a reconciliation for the fiscal year. So
1:14:50 what we're proposing within there is to increase our budgeted numbers for the revenues to more closely align with what
1:14:56 these actuals are. And then down below uh as I've mentioned
1:15:01 earlier actual expenditures at this point $4 million below budget.
1:15:07 I have more detail on that here in a second.
1:15:14 revenues general fund specific only characterized by uh grouped by uh different types of revenue types. Uh
1:15:21 again we're are at 108% of collections at this point. U if the
1:15:27 budget amendment is um adopted as I said we're reconciling those numbers to
1:15:33 closer to the actuals that percentage will actually drop down closer to 102%.
1:15:38 Um what I wanted to show within this table though take a minute. Um this will
1:15:44 also show remind the users of the capability of this report. I'm going to drill down into this report because
1:15:49 there is an item I would like to bring to the city council's attention. Bear with me just a moment.
1:16:00 So the intergovernmental revenues category um this as it shows on here in this in this when I drill down federal
1:16:06 grants, state grants, state shared revenues. The state shared revenues makes up the bulk of this category. Uh
1:16:12 this is various types of sales tax that we receive. I'm going to open it up as well so you can see specifics. And and
1:16:18 my point and what I'm trying to bring to the city council's attention is our sales tax distributions from the state
1:16:24 are stagnant. They are not adjusting much from year to year and this only shows you two years
1:16:30 of history but I can present more data going forward and the reason that I wanted to bring it to the city council
1:16:36 agend attention is because there's obviously a lot of discussion at the state level about the long-term uh plans
1:16:42 with property taxes and and none of us have any insight as this point in time
1:16:48 what that backup plan might be. This is purely opinion, but I can't imagine any
1:16:53 type of replacement program doesn't include something to do with sales tax. That doesn't mean sales tax would rates
1:17:00 would increase, but I would assume that some type of backup plan would include that. So, if this gains momentum, my
1:17:08 professional advice to the city council is keep sales tax in mind and focus on how those uh distribution allocations to
1:17:15 local governments are done at the state level.
1:17:21 Okay, I'm going to go back now to the report
1:17:27 and slide and uh scroll down to the last table within this report and that is again general fund but specific to the
1:17:34 expenditures as you see on the far right and as I mentioned earlier 93% of our
1:17:40 budgeted expenditures have been utilized this year to date um with a uh $4
1:17:45 million variance. $2 million of that is specific to a couple items. One being
1:17:51 the uh fire station 2 renovation project which ultimately was talked about
1:17:56 throughout the year and ultimately deferred into 2026. So we won't be using those funds. And then second item you
1:18:03 actually see there on the last line in blue is $990,000.
1:18:09 That is the use of uh of the projected use of fund balance to balance the
1:18:14 budget. But we know now at this point given the performance of our revenues, we will not need that. So both of those
1:18:19 items will go back into the fund balance um at the time of the audit.
1:18:25 Uh once those items are done um and assuming passage of the budget
1:18:31 amendments that are proposed tonight, that variance will be reduced down to about 4%
1:18:37 by estimation at this point in time. So those are the comments I had prepared for you. I'd be glad to answer any
1:18:43 questions that you may have. Okay.
1:18:50 I just one really with the fund balance with all that uh going back into the fund balance. What is the actual fund
1:18:56 balance at this point? Well, it's a fluid situation.
1:19:01 There's been some commitments made by council here recently. Um but off the top of my head, um the amount in excess
1:19:08 of our requirement, uh after the commitment for the faux check, um excuse
1:19:13 me, not faux check property, the property in downtown, we're in the neighborhood of 8 to9 million.
1:19:19 That's after the purchase with the property down what we authorize the purchase and balance. Well, we you just
1:19:25 said we no longer need fund balance to balance the budget. So for 2425, correct? 2425. So we okay with that? All right.
1:19:33 So we still with all that being said, we're still sitting like eight over eight million in fund balance and that's
1:19:39 still sitting at 25% of requirement. Uh the required that's above and beyond that requirement. Yes, sir.
1:19:44 Yeah. Okay. And I think u there was quite a bit of extra revenue
1:19:51 coming in, but I I think you explained that to me. Uh you said that we didn't we push pushed off a couple of projects
1:19:56 that we had budgeted for. Uh like the fire station number two, we moved that to 26. Yeah, that was the most
1:20:02 significant one. There were a couple other smaller ones as well, and you add them all together, you get close to $4 million.
1:20:08 $4 million. And uh so that mainly extra revenue basically come from from the uh
1:20:15 projects that we did not go ahead and fund it last year and we moved them. So they
1:20:20 unused expenditures. Yes, sir. Okay. Keep in mind that on the revenue side, um by design and as a best practice, we
1:20:27 are purposely conservative with our estimates. So um with us being at year
1:20:32 end now and and the reason I like a year in reconciliation as a budget amendment is we can adjust those budget numbers up
1:20:39 to closer what the actuals are. And last question I have on this this is the final quarter for 25 budgets uh 25
1:20:47 right are are we about ready for audit still waiting on something some
1:20:52 we are the uh state statutes allow local governments to amend their budget up to 60 days beyond the end of the fiscal
1:20:59 year. Um, our team is definitely in auditing mode as we speak.
1:21:04 Okay. And I anticipate that being completed in the spring. Okay. So, so 60 days be end of November.
1:21:10 We'll be ready. It has to stop all adjustments at that point, right? Correct.
1:21:16 Okay. Okay. Thank you. So, we still can have some some adjustments up to the end of November.
1:21:22 Yeah. And that's driven, as I said on the outset, by the two different styles
1:21:27 of reporting. Um budgets by and large are managed on a what's known as a cash
1:21:33 basis. Reporting as money comes in and out the door whereas uh auditing
1:21:38 standards uh require us to report within the audit on what's called a modified acral basis. Um so it will lead to some
1:21:46 adjustments in the figures. Well good. Long as we're ready to go to audit and we get it done by June we'll
1:21:53 be okay. It's required to be done by March. That is that is our goal.
1:21:59 You putting them on March. You look shooting for That is our goal. Yes, sir. Okay. I can support that. It's better
1:22:05 than Well, I know the deadline is June, but if you can get it done by March, that's great. Okay. Anybody else have
1:22:11 any questions? Yeah. You know, there can't be a budget without me having a comment. So, um,
1:22:17 Scott, I just want to remind anyone who's watching or listening, um, it's poignant for me to look back on the last
1:22:24 year because I stood at that podium on September 30th, 2024, and the council
1:22:30 here did not have an updated budget for the prior year, let alone the current
1:22:36 year. And so what your team has done in a year is remarkable and you deserve the
1:22:42 utmost credit for it because this is hard work and it's good work and I appreciate you and your team more than
1:22:48 you can possibly imagine. As a citizen, it is extraordinarily meaningful to me. So I want to say that
1:22:54 to you. Um do we have any feeling for the GFOA
1:23:00 award? Are we do we have any indication of whether we'll be able to qualify for that again? you referred to the audit
1:23:07 report. Yes. So, we did apply as as before the deadline. It is currently in review
1:23:13 status. Um when we applied for that early July, we I was told there's a six-month
1:23:20 backlog. Okay. So, I'm just waiting like everybody else at this point.
1:23:26 Um there was three million in other revenues,
1:23:32 more or less three millions. Um, and I was wondering what that was. It was under other and miscellaneous revenue.
1:23:39 That was where a large part of our overage was. Taxes were pretty much on point.
1:23:44 On which table? On the uh revenue table for the general fund. Sorry,
1:23:55 I'd be glad to drill down into it. So, I Yeah, I was just curious where that would have come from because it looked like you did a good job of projecting
1:24:00 the taxes.
1:24:07 I should know off the top of my head, but I will. I'm sorry I'm putting you on the spot.
1:24:20 I like showing off the tools. So, this is not a problem. I mean, we had to get paper a year ago,
1:24:26 so this is pretty cool. Okay. So, uh what's two things are
1:24:31 driving this one and and there's reference to this within the budget amendments. One is a new GASBY which
1:24:37 which stands for governmental accounting standards boards um related to capital leases. Um we are now required as all
1:24:45 local governments are to report the projected um benefit or revenue from
1:24:50 capital leases in year one of a 5 10 15 year agreement whatever it might be. So
1:24:58 that $944,000 is tied to that uh pronouncement and
1:25:03 when the auditor was here presenting the fiscal year 2324 audit uh she alluded to
1:25:08 that new standard. The second part of it and more significant one numbers wise is
1:25:14 related to our um enterprise interfund transfers from water sewer funds into
1:25:20 the general fund. Uh statutoily we are allowed to uh transfer certain dollar
1:25:25 amounts um based off of calculations into the general fund to cover uh administrative overhead. And um because
1:25:32 our sales in those areas were higher than anticipated, our interfund transfers were higher as well. Um and
1:25:40 again, there are references to that within the proposed budget amendment. Okay. Thank you. Um the $8 million for
1:25:47 the weightwater wastewater treatment plant. Um two questions related to that. One is did we anticipate that in the
1:25:54 current fiscal year 26 budget and would that come from general fund or enterprise fund when it does need to
1:26:00 come out? We did not include anything in the uh excise
1:26:11 funds for that. It was less than a half a million dollars I believe. Um but in
1:26:17 retrospect that the timing of those invoices and processing those payments are taking longer than we anticipated.
1:26:24 Um, so there's a very good chance we'll need to clean up those uh figures in the
1:26:29 budget towards the end of the first quarter. And administratively, is that a function that that staff is going to be delayed
1:26:37 for a budget amendment for us or is that something they can go ahead and do because it was previously approved, then
1:26:42 we do the amendment midyear like we did this year? What administratively are you expecting? Well, I'd very much like to get that
1:26:48 wrapped up in the first quarter. Um, but the degree to which I can do that is
1:26:54 dependent on both the vendor and staff's approval of the punch list items. Um, my
1:27:00 understanding is they're they're working through those retainage issues as we speak. And will they need us to approve it
1:27:06 before they can pay it or can they go ahead and pay it and then we do the amendment later? What are you going to need?
1:27:12 Um, we only have like one meeting between now and January, so I'm trying to
1:27:18 I'm happy to discuss it. Yeah. So if if I'm just trying to get an idea of what might be on the agenda. So
1:27:24 that's all. So if you need to put on the next agenda, I you have my support for that so that we can clean that up for
1:27:29 staff. I will get with uh the public services team and and we will um put together a game plan for that.
1:27:35 Okay. And thank you for bringing that sales tax to our attention. That's good kind of policy stuff for us to have on our radar. So I appreciate that.
1:27:41 Of course. Okay. Uh just you mentioned the transfer
1:27:46 um funds. What what did we do 10% this year? What the percentage was
1:27:52 transferred? I know we used to be at 15% and we had a goal of trying to reduce that. I would have to double check that,
1:27:58 Mayor. Off top of my head, I do not know. Okay. And uh Mr. Mr. W, if you don't mind, I know up in Tallahass they was
1:28:04 trying to control that transfer, the amount we can transfer and everything. I don't know if it's coming back to uh be
1:28:10 put on the on the agenda this year, but can you I've heard it is. I've heard it is, mayor, but I will keep an eye on it.
1:28:16 Okay. because you know if they passed that bill up there that that Ken put us in a little bit of trouble with that
1:28:21 transfer. I know we was at 15% at one point when I first came in we've been trying to work it down the percentage
1:28:26 down. I thought we got it down to about 10% or so at least. I'm not sure where we are. So let's continue to work on
1:28:32 that please sir. And far as the sale tax go, uh I would say this. My
1:28:37 understanding is uh there's no if they do away property tax right now,
1:28:42 they really have no plans or what they're going to replace it with. And I've been told that if they uh come to
1:28:48 the uh the governor with sales tax, he going to be to it. Anything that increase the sales tax, he basically
1:28:54 said he's going to veto it. Okay. So, uh just another one of them things we need to keep our eye on. Um, I was going to
1:29:01 talk about those those uh mention them in my report later. So, uh about the different bills that's up there that uh
1:29:08 we need to be watching because it's it can affect us tremendously far as property taxes go. Okay. Yes, sir.
1:29:15 Thank you. But thank you, Scott. I appreciate everything. And again, as Miss Miss uh Strange was saying, you did
1:29:23 fantastic job. I know we bought the new software two a couple years ago and you all been doing a fantastic job
1:29:28 implementing the new software to try to get this budget up to date where we can really understand it a little bit better. So your team have done a
1:29:35 fantastic job and over the last year a couple of years implementing the new software integrating new software and it
1:29:42 makes things a lot easier for me anyway. So thank you on behalf of the department. Thank you very much. Yeah, thank you.
1:29:50 All right, I think we're back on schedule. Uh next item is the uh portion is the consent agenda which contains
1:29:57 items that have been determined to be routine and non-controversial. If anyone in a wish to address a particular item
1:30:03 on the consent agenda, now is the opportunity for do so. Additionally, if staff members
1:30:10 uh members of the city council wish to address item on the consent agenda, they have the same opportunity. The consent
1:30:15 agenda items for tonight is items one through 16.
1:30:22 I'm sorry. 1 through 15. I got Oh, 1 through 15. Okay. I'm sorry.
1:30:31 Anything on the consent agenda? Anybody wish to have removed?
1:30:39 I You pulling. You want something pulled, sir? Yes, sir. I'd like item number two, please.
1:30:44 Item number two. Okay.
1:30:50 Anyone else? Yes, Mr. Mayor. Um, for discussion, item seven and then also
1:30:56 item nine. Okay. I was going to pull item nine myself.
1:31:02 Uh, and just to make people aware, uh, item 14 as well.
1:31:10 Okay.
1:31:16 Any other? So, I got item two, seven, nine, and 14.
1:31:24 That being said, I entertain a motion on items 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8,
1:31:31 10, 11, 12, 13, 15. Move to approve items number 1, 3
1:31:38 through 6, 8, 10 through 13, and 15. Second. I have a motion and a second uh
1:31:44 for approving consent items as presented. Items one, three, four, five, six, 8,
1:31:53 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15. Any further discussion?
1:31:59 Hear none. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. I. All oppose. Chair vote I as well. Motion passes 40.
1:32:07 Uh let it be noted that we're missing one council member. Um before I go into
1:32:12 the rest of the consent agenda item, um Miss Maras had to leave and everything,
1:32:18 get some family back to the airport, everything. And Kirk, with that being said, we have anything on the agenda
1:32:24 that may be controversial with four with with four council members instead of five. We're
1:32:29 good. So, we're good. We don't need to notify anybody. Okay. Thank you. Want to just make sure we let them know opportunity
1:32:36 that we only have four and a two two vote committee uh denial. Okay. So item
1:32:42 number two. Yes sir.
1:33:04 Joe Famasi 2693. Uh I have a I'm waiting for an information request back from the
1:33:10 county on this particular item. I'd like to find out where they're getting this revenue stream to refund this. So I'd
1:33:17 like an opportunity to at least let them respond to me before you take any action on this. I think it's fair that we the
1:33:25 pack taxpayers should know where this money is coming from and who this is actually going to.
1:33:32 Okay. Um Mr.
1:33:37 Ven Wagner, this is a county. This is a contract with the county, right? Okay. And we we just supplemented uh 30 we
1:33:44 give 35,000 per year. Okay. And we've been doing this for what 10 years now?
1:33:50 Is it six years? It's six years. I've been doing it for about six years. Okay.
1:33:56 Can we uh do it have to be approved tonight or do
1:34:02 we have any time limit? It it's I think it can wait another
1:34:08 meeting if we need to. I don't think I don't believe it's time sensitive because it was retroactive back to
1:34:13 October anyway. Yeah. So, it's already passed today. Motion to table item number two until
1:34:20 the next meeting. Second. Okay. Have a motion and a second to table item
1:34:25 number two until the next meeting. Um and we can get an understanding and where the money coming from. I know our
1:34:31 30 the 35,000 they referring here is coming from us being contributed to the county. The contract is through the
1:34:37 county. Okay. Now where they getting the rest of the money I don't know. And it's just a consultant. Uh we've been using
1:34:44 this company for consulting for years now and everything. So we we just contribute 35,000 to the contract each
1:34:50 year. Okay. But have a motion and a second the table item number two until next meeting.
1:34:58 Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote I as well. Motion
1:35:05 carries for all. Item number seven.
1:35:18 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I did ask for this to be pulled for discussion. This is an item related to uh billing and a senior
1:35:25 discount, a 4% discount on the total utility bill for uh any resident who um
1:35:33 is 65 years of older um and is a uh
1:35:38 utility account holder that them and living in the house is themselves and no
1:35:43 more than one additional person. Um, my question I guess just for and I know I brought this up with with staff and and
1:35:49 it would present an additional qualification mechanism, but uh I I I
1:35:56 would like to entertain a conversation about whether or not this should be for all or for homesteaded folks who um who
1:36:04 are here year round rather than um giving discounts to folks who may be visiting here uh a couple months out of
1:36:11 the year um and qualify for this. So, um, I just wanted to pull that so that
1:36:18 we could have that conversation. Okay. Well, we can have it go, but but I'm going to let open this one up to the
1:36:24 public real quick. Okay. Uh, anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have
1:36:30 three minutes. And Mr. Administrator, uh, I don't know if we're going to have anybody on online or anything on
1:36:37 virtual, but if so, please get ready to queue them up if this is a public public
1:36:43 meeting. Anybody want to address item number seven which is resolution number 2025-043
1:36:49 or may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
1:36:54 Seeing no one here inside the facility. Uh Mr. Administrator, anybody online?
1:37:06 What you say? No sir. No sir. Okay. Well, we're going to close
1:37:11 public comment and bring it back to council. Um,
1:37:18 is building in here? Is utilities here? Yes, ma'am. I'm going ask her to come explain that. But Mr. While she's
1:37:23 coming, I can say what one of the things led to this. We were looking the previous council was looking at way to
1:37:29 um eliminate the charge on charge cards and everything. And when we started looking
1:37:35 at things, it got a little expensive. So, we still trying to find ways to uh help residents out a little bit. Yes,
1:37:42 ma'am. Hi. Good afternoon. Is it on?
1:37:49 Yes. Hi. How's that? Does that matter? I'm Jenny Cassie, assistant finance
1:37:54 director, and I'm here to answer any questions that you have. But first of all, I think we wanted to pose a
1:38:00 question to you if that could be another qualifier added to our form to somehow
1:38:06 qualify whether they are a homestead resident. Yes.
1:38:13 Yes.
1:38:20 Mind if I jump in? Yes. Go ahead. I had I had questions as well about this but ultimately wasn't
1:38:26 going to bring them up but since it was pulled we'll bring them up. Um I actually fully support the restriction of homestead. I think that's a wonderful
1:38:34 addition and I share the concerns and I think it's appropriate. My question related when I had my meeting with staff
1:38:39 on this was for me this was an extension of some conversation that we've had but
1:38:45 I did not feel that we had had in-depth conversation and I was questioning the
1:38:51 um the purpose of doing this particular discount. I think that we all have
1:38:58 welcome to the council. Um so I can't speak for you but in prior discussions there was you know conversation about
1:39:04 how can we bring down that utility cost because it had been raised and what can we do for the public in general and so I
1:39:10 think this is related to that but um one of the fears was why this particular
1:39:16 group are there other groups is this going to become a one-off thing um my
1:39:22 suggestion had been that perhaps we need to workshop this to figure out what policy is it that we're wanting to
1:39:27 execute here is this about affordability Is it about honoring the elderly? Is it that we want to encourage more people
1:39:35 who are senior citizens to move here? Like what what is the purpose of this so that we can we can design it in a way
1:39:42 that is consistent with that. As it is, I was willing to let it pass. I love passing it with the homestead if that's what we want to do. Um but I'd still
1:39:48 would like to start looking at some policies as we move forward on and I think we're going to anyway through the
1:39:54 comp plan process. So my point is I'll take the homestead or if we're if we
1:39:59 want to have a conversation about a workshop, I'd be happy to do that too to figure out what are we trying to really achieve with this. So that was those are
1:40:05 my thoughts. Okay. Um this the conversation originated because
1:40:12 we I starting to get complaints about people that comes on and try to play their bill with credit cards
1:40:19 and we charge them a service fee if they use the credit card. And so what we was trying to do is look at we talked about
1:40:26 trying to eliminate that service charge and let the city eat the cost of the service charge. However, when we started
1:40:32 looking at everything um not realizing so many people were utilizing their
1:40:37 credit card and the service fee, I can't remember exactly how much it was, but I think it was something over $300,000.
1:40:44 And we said, we can't we can't eat that much. So we started looking at other ways to try to help the residents out
1:40:50 and everything. And I'm I'm curious. I was curious myself is how we come up with 65 and over, you know, and just
1:40:56 just 4%. But, um, anything else we can we can try to do to help them, um, I
1:41:02 would we can they would appreciate, I'm quite sure. Um, but I, as I said to Mr.
1:41:08 Van Wagner and Mr. Mats the other day, I think the biggest thing for us is just start trying to encourage the residents
1:41:15 to stop using credit cards. and know they wanted the awards points and all this, but if they use the bill pay like
1:41:21 I use through my through my bank, it doesn't cost me anything, right? Okay. Uh e checks doesn't cost anything.
1:41:28 But I uh at the beginning when we started this and I was getting the complaints, didn't realize so many people using credit cards. So we we
1:41:36 workshop it and throw around other ideas if you would. Uh I don't know with the homestead, we don't have any idea how
1:41:42 much that would cost if we go to Homestead, right? Well, I I would assume it'd be less than what it is currently
1:41:48 listed there. Um, which right now we're estimating is 120,000. So, if we know that that includes some non-hunt
1:41:54 homesteaded properties, that number's got to be less than that, I would think. Correct. And I and I did ask these
1:42:01 questions too um in in my meeting with with staff uh and it sounds like they
1:42:08 did some research in uh I believe Tampa was the community where um they looked
1:42:13 at demographic information, age, uh percentage and using some best practices
1:42:20 that have already exist or current practices that already exist um that have been for a while. implemented that
1:42:28 and and brought that here. And I have no problem. Uh I asked the same question as as council member Strange in that same
1:42:34 line of, you know, will this lead to additional conversations uh about other
1:42:40 categories that we might need to look at? And and if we get to a point where
1:42:45 70% of our community is at a 4% discount, then why not just decrease our
1:42:52 utility bill by 4% for everybody and make that a lot easier administrative wise and save some money there. Um, so I
1:42:58 I think there's a rate study that is started or going to be started and perhaps we have some ability to
1:43:05 influence um some suggestions to prompt them to look at those things for us and
1:43:10 be able to present that back to us of what if we did some additional categories and or what if we did a
1:43:16 reduction cart blanch and what would that look like so that we have some options available to us. Um, but I do think that
1:43:25 any kind of category that we select, it ought to be someone who is a homesteaded
1:43:31 property, meaning that this is their primary residence. This is where they live, work, uh, play, spend their
1:43:37 dollars, vote, etc. Um, and and not vacation homes and and other uh uh
1:43:44 additional properties that might qualify for that. I support that. Yes, I do. And uh well
1:43:52 and actually I actually for the workshop too because in addition to this that I also been talking to Mr. Villian Wagner
1:43:58 about the fact that uh we need to look at our policy other policies down there in the utility department for far as
1:44:04 notification of people. I'm getting tremend a lot of calls where we got leaks coming in systems and everything
1:44:12 and they're not being notified uh for a specific set amount of time. However, we need to try to fix that. Uh, for
1:44:18 example, I just had to deal with one that had a $995 water bill. Uh, I think
1:44:24 Mr. Van Wagner been dealing with one that over $5,000 water bill due to leaks and stuff like this. So, uh, we need to
1:44:31 and one of the questions there was not so much as uh I guess my biggest question there is can we uh have joint
1:44:38 responsibility when these things happen when they uh have a broken service line or something even though it's on their
1:44:44 side and everything. We don't notify our policy. I think it's 10 days and this thing leaking thousands of gallons of
1:44:50 water today. Why are we taking 10 days to notify and everything? So, uh I think we need to take some responsibility. So,
1:44:56 if we go to a workshop and try to work out all these things and come up with better policies, uh I I can support that
1:45:01 as well. So, whichever way you all decide you want to go, that'd be great. Yeah. Do we know I I this effective date
1:45:08 is February 1st. Uh do we know when we'll have um the rate study
1:45:14 information? I don't know if that would be by then or if that's a that would be something that would happen later in 26.
1:45:21 Six months. June. Six months. Six months. Yeah. Okay. And it started October 1st
1:45:27 or November 1st. Remember the rate study is one of the things that's somewhat required every is
1:45:32 it three to five years or four to five years. We required to do it. We just did. And that's one of the problem where
1:45:38 we at now because the last rate study we did, we started implementing these fees and people saw some drastic increases in
1:45:44 in their fees and everything. Um, but we right now we basically working off on the off the old study
1:45:50 that we did a couple years ago on this new one is take about six months. That's a requirement every three to four years,
1:45:56 three to five years, I can't remember. So that's what they're doing now. So I mean, Bill, you you're kind of the senior
1:46:02 citizen voice. Senior citizen, the over 65 community. I think you know we are Florida is a state
1:46:08 that everybody comes to that are senior citizens and I think you know we have an obligation to the seniors to you know
1:46:14 people living on a fixed income even if they have multiple homes they still could be living on a fixed income either
1:46:19 you give the discount or you don't give the discount I think if we start making you know restrictions on well if you
1:46:25 have two homes or you're not a homesteader I think it's it's a nice thing to do I think it's something that
1:46:31 you know you want to give back sometimes too we can't be taking taking and taking and I think it's a good thing to give to
1:46:36 the scenes and I would that you know I I would be 100% for it unrestricted just
1:46:41 give 4% discount if you're over 65 something I'd like to contribute if I
1:46:47 could is in your first of all from a legal perspective the city attorney will
1:46:52 always have less heartburn when there's no discrimination right but but when you do and you do choose a category you have
1:46:59 to think u the US constitution does get involved and so when it comes to age and
1:47:06 um like senior status. That's something that is the least level of scrutiny, but
1:47:11 you still have to have a reason for it. And um so someone I think it was you council member Strange, you do have to
1:47:17 have a reason for it. So actually I like the idea of a workshop so that the council might be able to articulate
1:47:22 whatever its policy objectives are with whatever categories it chooses. Um veterans also are for example the lowest
1:47:30 level of scrutiny. You just need a reason and it's not going to get unless it goes to Chief Justice Roberts,
1:47:36 it won't get fact checked. Okay. Um, now it's a Voting Rights Act issue, but at
1:47:43 any rate, um, but gender, for example, sex, that's intermediate scrutiny. You, it's not something you have to have very
1:47:49 compelling reasons for why you would do that. So, I just want to point that out there as you do consider your categories.
1:47:54 Okay. Well, with that, then since I asked for it to be pulled and based off this conversation, I'll make a motion.
1:48:01 uh to table this item to the first meeting in and I'll look to staff uh
1:48:08 would the first meeting in July work for us to have rate study back and be able to workshop this and tie that all in
1:48:15 together. Okay. So I'll move to table this to the
1:48:21 first meeting in July. I second and m Okay. We have a motion to second to table item number seven to the first
1:48:28 meeting in July. But in the meantime, Mr. Van Wagner in our workshop say somewhere around February or March. Can
1:48:34 we schedule a workshop to do a workshop on this? Yeah. Okay.
1:48:40 I I've got the July one. And what I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor, what did you want? No, we say we ting the item until July,
1:48:45 our first meeting in July, but we need to workshop it. Okay. This particular item. Okay. So, if we can get a workshop
1:48:51 date somewhere in uh February, March would be great. Okay. Now, I have a motion and a second for table item
1:48:58 number seven. Um any further discussion hearing? None. All in favor let it be known by saying I. I.
1:49:04 All oppose. Chair vote I as well. Motion carries for I'm sorry. Item number nine.
1:49:12 Yes sir. Yes. I had this uh I requested this to be pulled as well and I I brought this
1:49:17 up in my meeting with staff. Um and so what this item for the public is doing
1:49:23 is it was a request uh for proposal for uh public communication, social media,
1:49:29 brand management. um basically helping us create that that brand management
1:49:35 initiative and thinking of that as the as the larger top of the umbrella and
1:49:40 then everything we do underneath there with how our website looks and flows, how our social media and other print
1:49:47 materials uh are published and and the look and feel of those to uh color
1:49:52 schemes everything goes into that logos etc. And what it was being presented
1:49:58 here was uh there were I think there were multiple 20some I believe um applicants uh who 22 uh who responded
1:50:08 and a committee uh evaluated them and ranked them and we're being asked to uh
1:50:15 award this to the top five. And my concern there is that unlike a situation
1:50:23 where perhaps police department has multiple towing companies on file and
1:50:30 they just go through the list and say, "All right, tow company A is up this week, then B, then C, then D, and they
1:50:36 just keep rotating." I don't I I have some reservations about us doing that as
1:50:41 a as a community and as a city for um for public communication, social media,
1:50:48 brand brand management. I I have some concerns about having that be a rotational basis of who's ever
1:50:53 available. And I think either we need to award it to uh one category or uh
1:51:03 make a commitment to bringing this in-house completely and having all of this done inhouse. And so that's why I
1:51:08 wanted it to be pulled to have that conversation. Okay. Before I uh come back, uh I think
1:51:15 you summed it up. That's why I was going to have it pulled the same same reason as myself, but we're going to open this up to the public. Okay. Okay. And anyone
1:51:22 in the public wish to address this item may come to microphone, state your name and address and have 5 minutes. Okay. Valerie Shuitt, 931 West Montro
1:51:30 Street. Um, thank you for pulling this item. I have some of the same concerns. I'm a communication strategist. I did
1:51:36 not apply for this RFP, so it's not about that. Um, I'm thrilled we're doing this. I do think this is something that
1:51:42 our city really needs when it comes to big picture brand, uh, communication strategy, storytelling, uh, and even the
1:51:49 RFP. It's public communication, brand management. Um, I think and the goal is
1:51:54 for it to be recognizable, consistent, and cohesive brand identity. I don't know how you're going to get that.
1:52:00 Treating five companies like a buffet where you kind of pick and choose um based on maybe specialties or whatever.
1:52:07 Um, I think I would just caution against that. I've seen similar things with clients I've worked with that can create
1:52:13 a very chaotic environment. And it also we're saying we need expert help. We're
1:52:19 essentially saying we need an expert general contractor. But if we do this,
1:52:24 we are diminishing the experts ability to help. We will be watering it down. And we are again placing our city the
1:52:32 city representatives in-house staff as kind of that general contractor. But the very nature of this is we're saying,
1:52:38 "Hey, we need help with this." So then they're going to be in the middle of everything. That's a lot of coordination. Um, and I just don't know.
1:52:46 I think the most important thing here and even the way the RFP is worded a lot
1:52:51 of times in communications we let the tactical tail wag the dog. So the fact that social media social media is a
1:52:58 tactic. We're talking about branding. We're talking um about story. We're
1:53:03 talking about PR that is high level. It flows down into the tactics and it should flow down with consistency of of
1:53:11 story and values and vibe and heartbeat. That will be very difficult if we're kind of controlling and picking and
1:53:17 choosing the the city. In this scenario, what often works is we hire that expert general contractor.
1:53:24 Mind you, these are five PR firms, so none of them are super uber specialized
1:53:29 into like we just do social media or we just do video. They also have subcontractors. They white label. they
1:53:34 have partners. This is a very broad scope. So, the way I see this and the
1:53:40 way I've seen it work is the city is hiring an expert general contractor, acknowledging this is an area that they
1:53:45 need help. That general contractor is pulling in some contractors, uh,
1:53:51 partners, things like that to help. The city is the homeowner, so it's still a very important voice. This cannot be a
1:53:57 runaway train. You've got the vision, you've got the budget, you know, you're you're dictating a lot, you are
1:54:02 collaborating. That is extremely important because we know who we are. We know where we're headed. So, this being
1:54:08 very collaborative and a good company will pull and excavate that out of the city and out of the citizens. Um, but I
1:54:17 just think this approach would be um chaotic. A buffet approach will get you buffet results, but I think we want fine
1:54:24 dining results. So, that's just my that's my word of caution with that. Uh,
1:54:29 I think you've got some great companies in the top five. But I do agree with um who is ranked as number one as well. So
1:54:36 with who? Thank uh your number one ranking in the RFP. True north.
1:54:41 Okay. Thank you. Yes ma'am.
1:54:48 Good afternoon uh honorable mayor, city council members, ladies and gentlemen.
1:54:53 My name is Doris Bloodsworth. I'm president of Crosswords Communications Company and I live at 13119 Anderson
1:55:00 Hill Road in Clermont, Florida. The city chose a very bold brand and I
1:55:07 happened to be here on the evening. In fact, it was my responsibility to present the logo and tagline. And just
1:55:14 that morning, one of the council members had said, "I will never vote for a change." So, you can imagine my nerves
1:55:20 on that evening. We had a mother come forward and say though how exciting it would be to have a community where
1:55:26 children grew up with such an aspirational brand. And in fact, council member Strange spoke for it that evening
1:55:33 as a private citizen. Uh she understood the value, the marketing potential, but
1:55:39 she ended with this warning. If you do vote for it, you better mean it. because
1:55:44 she realized it would take effort even this many years with any brand. We've seen in recent months with some large
1:55:50 corporations how a brand can go astray and uh what can happen as a result. I
1:55:56 think that the the very talented people in the top uh some of them I know some
1:56:02 of them I don't know yet but I think the advantage of our particular company I
1:56:08 agree with what she said about consistency. Uh, I just think about how I received a
1:56:14 call when I was working for the city at 11:30 p.m. on a Sunday night from Good Morning America because The Rock's
1:56:20 mother had been in a car accident in Clermont. Uh, crisis communications, all these things working with the media.
1:56:27 It's very timesensitive. And so I just wonder about that as well. I mean, it's
1:56:33 an intriguing an intriguing idea. And I just wanted to let you know that the I
1:56:38 have 10 members on my team and we're all really passionate about the city, about the brand, and uh we look forward, we
1:56:46 hope that uh we'll have that opportunity to work with you. Thank you. Thank you.
1:56:51 Yes, ma'am. Hi. Good morning or good afternoon, I
1:56:58 guess, mayor, council members. Um, I'm my name is Lori Shabban and I live at 19151 Bridges Glenn Lane in Clermont.
1:57:06 Um, I am also the president of True North Marketing and Public Relations. So, it's very nice to be here with you.
1:57:12 I'm not going to belabor um, this. I think that there was a lot of work that went into the proposals. Um, and I would
1:57:19 really encourage um, if you haven't read through the proposals, I would encourage you to do so because I think when you
1:57:26 look at um, approach, that's where you're going to find the strategy first.
1:57:32 And I I couldn't agree more with um, my colleague um, who spoke first here. Um,
1:57:37 it is about strategy first. It is about discovery um, and then strategy and then
1:57:43 activation. And also don't forget about metrics at the back end because if we don't know what we are doing and how
1:57:50 we're doing it and how well we're doing it, we're just throwing money away. So um so I appreciate um the the work of
1:57:58 the committee and I appreciate all of you um and I too would be very happy um
1:58:04 if you all decided to go with one firm. So thank you all. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.
1:58:13 Good afternoon. Jenny May, 4062 Greystone Drive. I have not looked at the proposals, but I just wanted to have
1:58:20 some consideration. We do have a growing number of Hispanics moving into um our
1:58:25 city. So, if me being Hispanic as as well. So, if we can also look at um once
1:58:31 we look into the branding as well as adding the Spanish side of of Clermont. Yeah,
1:58:38 because we do have a growing population. That's all I wanted to say. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else inside the
1:58:46 chamber wish to speak on this matter? Anyone else?
1:58:52 Anyone else? Seeing no one else, Mr. Administrator, do we have anyone online?
1:59:02 Okay. Thank you. In that case, we'll close public comment and bring you back to council. Um,
1:59:10 Mr. Mr. Bane, I agree with everything you said. That one of my main concern why we need five. Um this we sent out
1:59:17 RFP when I asked council I meant staff about uh why we go trying to go with
1:59:23 five. Um when we sent out a Pacific RFP
1:59:28 requiring certain requirements and everything why we need five
1:59:33 the reply was given to me that because each one of the co company doesn't do everything that's in the RFP. So then to
1:59:40 me none of them qualify if they can't meet our qualification in RFP. So why why are we gonna try to you know take
1:59:47 this one to do this part this one do this part this one do that part and personally uh I always felt like it's
1:59:53 best to do it inhouse. I have a concern uh if we hire our own in-house personnel, which we already have one I
2 hours think is doing a fantastic job so far. Uh does need some help. Uh but I would like to see it stay in-house myself. Um
2:00:07 and I think it'll be a lot cost a lot cheaper to do it in-house uh
2:00:13 because I think in the present we had two people. We had just hired a second person uh a few months ago which we uh
2:00:20 we had one for a couple years and then we hired the second one uh together. I think they pay was less than 150,000 of
2:00:27 each together their income. Uh pay and I think right now we looking at less than
2:00:34 150,000. One other thing concerned me here is the fact that we talking about $40,000 but also in that proposal you're
2:00:39 talking about we may need to make budget adjustment later. What kind of budget adjustment? We just seem like we going
2:00:45 to do a open checkbook here and whatever they charge they charge and everything. I did not I looked at some of the
2:00:51 charges in some of the proposals, tried to go through and look read through some of some of the proposals and everything that they seem pretty uh reasonable.
2:00:58 However, if we start using each one of them, how much is this going to end up costing? You know, we can I for I'm
2:01:05 sitting here saying we can be out of two $300,000 real easy by doing this. And here's my other concern about having a
2:01:11 company. What happened? For example, on Saturday evening, I'm sitting at home uh at home Saturday. I hear all the sirens
2:01:17 going off in Clermont in the city. I can hear Highway 27, Highway 50 busy with sirene. Uh and of course, some
2:01:24 reason I had a thought, oh, I guess they'll be in my neighborhood next, you know, and sure enough, I look up 5
2:01:30 minutes later, I have uh police uh coordinating off streets in my neighborhood. Now, I'm starting to get
2:01:37 phone calls from everybody, you know, what's going on and everything else. And we don't have that person. We didn't have that person on board that we can
2:01:43 just call and say, "Hey, put this uh this blob out. What's happening in the neighborhood?" But I'm getting calls
2:01:48 from every everybody. People are living on the other side of Highway 50. They see this people that coming in going to Wind Dixie. They see all this going on
2:01:55 and next thing you know, my phone ring off the hook and I'm trying to explain to them basically what happened is we had a robbery at at uh O'Reillies and
2:02:03 suspect took off on feet coming through the neighborhood. But yes, and still everybody some people is safe for me to
2:02:08 go out of my home. Uh whatever. So what happened in those cases when we have a media, we don't have that local person,
2:02:14 that person that we can just pick up the phone real quick and give a uh blast to and say, "Hey, make sure this get out to
2:02:20 the residents." Uh uh same thing with a broken water man. Okay. When in 3:00 in the morning, you have a broken water
2:02:26 man. How long it's going to take a media company to get that information out and compare it to a person in house? So it
2:02:33 was be my I still suggest that hey we we we pull the RFP and we go back and look
2:02:38 and and do it in-house hire a second person in house and get it done through inhouse. I think we can get some
2:02:44 qualified people out there we can hire and get this thing done with in house and it cost us a I think it'll be a
2:02:49 little bit cheaper than than going with the media. Okay.
2:02:55 I can I appreciate all the comments and I think there's wisdom in each one of them. Um, the way I look at this is this
2:03:02 is not the hiring of a landscaper or a pipe fixer. And I don't mean to minimize
2:03:09 those. What I mean is this is about the vision and the branding of the city. And
2:03:15 as council, our role is policy, vision, and budget. And that's pretty much where
2:03:21 our interests end. And it's also where they start. Um so my concern is I have
2:03:28 not seen the true north application. I have seen the other applications. I also
2:03:34 looked at the applications from the city um businesses who applied. There were two Clermont businesses that applied
2:03:41 that did not make the top five. Uh I expressed during the workshop when we talked about this that I would like to
2:03:46 see if possible this money to stay in the city with people who are passionate in the city. uh if we're going to spend
2:03:52 this money, why not do it in house in the city? I like the idea of an outside firm because everyone who stood up
2:03:59 tonight has seven ten people that they can call on for their skills. If we hire one more person in house, that's you're
2:04:06 limited to the skills of that one person versus being able to get the benefit of a full team. So, I do like outsourcing
2:04:12 this. My suggestion would be that we allow the the top five and the two
2:04:17 Clermont firms that didn't make the top five if they wish to do so to come before this council and make
2:04:24 presentations on what they see because this isn't just about the function of
2:04:29 the budget for me. This is about how we communicate with the public, with the country, with the world on who is
2:04:36 Clermont. And I think that is really for us as the council to determine more
2:04:42 than it is for staff. Because if we just rely on staff in this case, we're effectively abdicating our
2:04:48 responsibility for the vision of this city to staff, which is not within their
2:04:54 scope and I don't think it puts them in a good place if it doesn't work out versus us having a chance to review the
2:05:00 applications and see the presentation and feel how those people might react. And we could ask those questions, Mr.
2:05:06 mayor about how do we handle a 2 a.m., you know, five alarm? Are you going to be there or are you not? And let them
2:05:12 answer it honestly in a public forum. So, I would suggest that we instruct staff, my request is that the top five
2:05:18 plus the two Clermont businesses that did not make the cut that they be invited to give us a presentation as
2:05:24 soon as as soon as this council can be available so that we can see it. And if the council would entertain that, that's
2:05:30 I would make a motion if if I felt like I had support for it.
2:05:38 So the way I understand it is we're this proposal is for hiring five companies to
2:05:43 do multiple parts of a social media program, right? Instead of But I like
2:05:49 what the mayor said also. I think it's really good to have in-house people because then we have much more control
2:05:54 than we have of outs, you know, because we, you know, they're on our payroll. they're under our scrutiny and you know
2:06:01 you can call them and like you said if there's there's a bunch of ambulances over there what was it all about because
2:06:07 we're going to get the calls what is it so this way we can get information and now today you know you don't need to
2:06:13 call us anymore put it on Facebook put it on Instagram everybody sees it so I
2:06:19 think I I really would I feel com more comfortable would have people inhouse doing this as opposed to having this
2:06:25 outsourced because I think we would have more control granted I understand what you're saying. You hired there's people
2:06:30 he have seven people that are covering, but you know, maybe those seven are as good as the one we might hire or the two
2:06:36 we might hire because some of these people are really good at what they're doing. I know Melinda's phenomenal what she's doing right now and imagine if we
2:06:42 had more of them working on different aspects of that puzzle. Um, but I think we have a motion to
2:06:51 I think I had a motion, but I didn't get a second. I didn't hear a second on Well, I don't I was say I don't think there was a motion. Okay. Um, and if I
2:06:58 may, I I I'd like to just maybe ask a couple of things or say a couple things before a motion's made. um with with
2:07:05 regard to um there's obviously some strategy
2:07:10 conversation or bigger picture conversation and I I'm
2:07:16 I hear the comments about specific incidents but I think we're looking at
2:07:22 the the lower level kinds of things and not bigger picture a and my
2:07:28 understanding of this process was to create a bigger picture process
2:07:33 of brand and strategy and marketing and media. And of that would be protocols
2:07:42 and and processes and ways to handle
2:07:48 um PIO responsibilities for say PD or FD
2:07:54 to handle PIO kinds of public information officer kinds of responsibilities for a utility issue.
2:08:01 Um, you know, I I think maybe I heard at one point in time Mr. Bor mention
2:08:07 something about in the utility process or the utility billing software and one of the softwares having an ability to do
2:08:12 like a reverse 911. Uh, maybe it wasn't him, maybe I'm making this up. Um, but
2:08:19 uh I'm new. Um, so, uh, but there are other strategies that we could implement
2:08:26 that would perhaps deal with some of the immediacy of
2:08:31 alerting public to a specific incident, but I don't want to get bogged down in
2:08:37 that necessarily. I'd like to make sure that we're talking about the bigger picture of what is our strategy, what is
2:08:43 our brand, what is our our our overarching so uh uh media and and marketing
2:08:51 presence, what do we want that to be and how do we want that to look rather than
2:08:57 how do we deal with every incident that comes up. I think we'll get that through the process. Um, I'm also cognizant of
2:09:05 I don't want to be a a facilitator of the yo-yo and and like ask staff to go
2:09:12 do RFP and then we change that after the RFP is done and the evaluators are have reviewed. Um, and I know that's
2:09:20 completely our purview to do that. Um, but I I want to respect the process and
2:09:25 respect the people who are applying. I want to respect the evaluators times and efforts. I think you know I was looking
2:09:31 I was saying like okay how many how many companies if we went with everyone's top three well we're talking now about you
2:09:38 know eight or so uh companies and now it's like a whole another RFP process um
2:09:43 and I think to respect what was done my I guess my preference would be if we
2:09:49 want to bring in the top two or three uh in this case if we looked at everybody's top two that would be the top three on
2:09:57 the list true north crossroads and Appleton Creative. Um um no, I take that
2:10:04 back. We also would have uh if we did top one, it would be those three. If we
2:10:09 went top two, then we're adding in three three more. So, I would say if we just took everybody's top one and if we want
2:10:16 to have them do some sort of additional presentation, I think but we have if we do that, we have to be specific as what
2:10:22 it is that we're asking them to do and what is it that we want to see. Um, I don't want to just have them ask them to
2:10:29 present their RFP verbally, uh, because then we're kind of again discounting
2:10:34 what we asked the evaluators to do, which was to re review that, read that, and and give us feedback on it. Um, so
2:10:42 if we're going to do it externally, I'd either say go with the top one or
2:10:47 potentially uh have um the top uh two on the list come in and do a presentation
2:10:53 and select one of those two. Okay. Um
2:10:59 May Mayor, may I Yeah, I don't know if Okay, go ahead. Okay. Just a couple things. I mean, normally we we have a detailed
2:11:06 procurement policy that governs how we deal with this. And part of the point from Florida statutes and our code is
2:11:12 that when we publish these criteria, we're setting out the objective criteria by which people respond. We're very very
2:11:19 limited in terms of what we can award for the local benefit. Now though, that
2:11:25 is factored in already in your factors. Um I think some of the top ones may be
2:11:31 local, by the way. I I'm not I'm not sure. two of them. But the the council's
2:11:38 discretion on jumbling up who makes the top despite your rankings is I think
2:11:44 limited. And I and I I think you can reject all responses. I think you can take the top. I don't think you can take
2:11:52 someone that's eight and nine and invite them without some cataclysmic reason.
2:11:57 Right. Thank you, sir. I'm glad you cleared that up because that was actually where I was going. That's one of the problem I have with here. uh the
2:12:03 five. We have a RFP process, okay? And we put the qualification of the requirements in, but now we're gonna
2:12:10 take all five. I mean, why even do the RFP if we just going to say, "Okay, we're just going to go out here and hire anybody we want uh without going through
2:12:18 after we've gone through the process." Um, I can understand we want to make sure
2:12:24 the city is is promoted in a great way and that's what, as I said earlier, that's one of the reason we hired the
2:12:30 second position up there in the uh public information office a year or so ago. And of course, we're down to one
2:12:36 person now. And I I want to give a shout out to Miss Melinda because since she moved up into the head position up
2:12:42 there, she's been doing a fantastic job. And I think if we uh with a little bit of additional person up there and fill
2:12:48 that second office, she can do um we can meet our own requirements here and
2:12:53 promote the city. Um like we want want to be promoted and we have as we said we
2:12:59 have better control of the person because they'll be working directly on city city manager and for the council go
2:13:06 we lay out the policies as you said Mr. D. We lay out policies and guidelines and everything handing over to the city
2:13:11 manager for them to implement. So, uh, if they not meeting them, we we can always do something about it, okay? Or
2:13:18 hire them, somebody else, relief them, and get the person we need. But I think the more we control the people, uh, our
2:13:25 own people, the better better chance we have of promoting and getting what we want. Okay. Um, I don't know, Mr. Mr.
2:13:31 Van Wagner, I'mma put you on the spot. I know what your preference would.
2:13:41 Oh, boy. I I can see the wisdom in both sides of it. In all honesty, I think
2:13:46 there is something to be said about working with employees that are accountable, but I also I mean I see
2:13:54 someone like Doris, she's a hero to me, Mr. Mayor. How can I say anything other than put good things and then this these
2:14:01 others? These are some quality companies here. So, I don't think you go wrong
2:14:07 with either way in all honesty. I think there's some wins that you could take in both sides.
2:14:14 I'm going to make a motion that we invite the top firm from each evaluator,
2:14:19 which would be True North and Crosswords Communications to make a presentation to this council so that we can see if their
2:14:26 vision for the city aligns with our vision for the city and if we need to
2:14:32 workshop that or words smmith it, you know, to your point, Mr. Bane, I'm happy to do that. But I I'll start with the
2:14:38 motion that we invite those two firms to come and do a presentation. Can I interject there? Appleton Creative
2:14:44 is also a number one. Oh, I'm sorry. I I made that same mistake. So I just I was going to bring that up. So yeah,
2:14:50 there would be three there three to those three. Yep. True North, Crosswords, and Appleton Creative.
2:14:56 So we're making a motion now not to award. Is that correct? Well, to invite those firms to come and
2:15:02 do a presentation. The agenda item is is for the award. So we're making a motion not not to award. So so basically uh when we
2:15:10 have them come before us will we be looking to award it to one? I would think so. Company
2:15:17 I think we could say that's the directive. I mean you heard two professionals say that that makes sense. Um, where I hesitate on this is I think
2:15:25 that when we just my anecdotal experience in business is when you start
2:15:30 talking about the vision and the process versus the execution, a lot of times you
2:15:36 do work with different people. um you might need someone who has kind of a a
2:15:42 skill, a really high level skill on figuring out what you should do and what you're looking for versus the firm who
2:15:49 might be really good at the ground, you know, gorilla tactical work. And
2:15:55 I don't know, again, I have not seen the true north proposal and that's part of my frustration with this process as a
2:16:01 council member is that this is a visioning piece. this is a policy piece
2:16:07 and I don't have all the information and I don't feel like I've done my duty to the citizens. I but I do think that
2:16:13 inviting those three firms whose staff has said hey these are the top three firms to see if they want to come in share their vision what do they see if
2:16:20 see if there's something we really fall in love with and it might be the third firm it might be the second firm um we
2:16:26 might find that they work well together and they come up with a I don't know what they'll come up with we're talking about creative people so I don't
2:16:32 necessarily want to box them in as much as I want to say I'd love to hear what they have to say and right now I've only
2:16:38 seen something on paper so if if it if the will of the council goal is to
2:16:43 support the motion. It's to invite the top three, thank you, Mr. Bane, for the correction, to come in and do a
2:16:48 presentation as soon as they are ready to do it. I'm willing to make myself ready to do it. Okay. But I mean, as far as this item,
2:16:55 we voting no right now on this award. I'm I'm making a motion to invite them
2:17:01 to provide us with additional information um so that we would not be awarding tonight, but that we would have to bring
2:17:07 it back after seeing their presentations. I would say. Okay. Thank you.
2:17:13 Okay. I got a motion in a second. You said second, right? That we uh
2:17:19 invite the top three which was uh True North, uh Bloodsworth, Weather, and Appleton.
2:17:25 Yes, sir. In a workshop environment or Yeah. How does that Can we do a special meeting or how do we want to do that so
2:17:31 that we could make a decision that night or what do you recommend? Yeah, I mean you you can do it as a
2:17:37 public meeting. Special meeting. I mean, it has to be a public meeting, but it has to be Yeah. Yeah. You can do a special.
2:17:42 Yeah. And that would give the public a chance to weigh in, too, right? In that situation,
2:17:48 do it. You can do it in a workshop environment, right? Well, if we do a special meeting, then
2:17:53 they could do their presentations. The public could also comment and then we could make a decision that night if we
2:17:59 wanted to. If we workshop, we have to do another meeting, which could be immediately after the workshop, or we
2:18:04 could do it in December if we could get it done that fast. I'm open to whichever process works for everybody. I don't
2:18:10 want to blay belabor it. I want to get it done soon. I think we need it. Yeah. Well,
2:18:16 okay. Um but right now I have a motion and a second on the floor to go ahead
2:18:21 and invite the top three. I think I named them off right. Right. North, True
2:18:27 North, uh Crossroads Communication, and Appeton.
2:18:32 And may I ask a question relative to before I've decided how to vote on this? Um, can I ask Mr. Suarez just do we have
2:18:41 do you have does procurement have enough to be able to go back to
2:18:48 convey the will of the council here on this presentation that we're asking to
2:18:54 be done? I would just need guidance as to what questions you want to ask them or what
2:18:59 what you want to present to the council so they can be prepared for that meeting. Okay. So, we need to get that to you in
2:19:04 order for you to convey that to those three, make that request of them, make sure that they want to do that, and then
2:19:11 we have it scheduled and go from there. Correct. Okay. I'll only interject to say, I mean, it
2:19:17 could be that y'all also just say, look, this is an opportunity to make presentations.
2:19:23 Sometimes this happens in RFPs. Um, I know I've had to do it as an attorney. Actually, in fact, you guys did it, you
2:19:28 know, with us. So, some sometimes you can do that specific based upon upon what we had in
2:19:34 RFP to begin with, right? The requirements. Well, yes. I mean, it's up to I'll let
2:19:40 Freddy speak. No. Yeah. I mean, they can definitely do presentations is up to, you know, normally the committee will either have
2:19:46 them shortly to stop three or five for presentations. In this case, they didn't do that. Council's doing that instead of
2:19:51 the committee, which is fine, too. Okay. So, yeah, it's part of the process. Okay. Well, like I say, uh well, we do
2:19:58 have a motion and everything on the on the floor. So is there any further discussion
2:20:04 hearing? None. All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote. I as well. Now
2:20:09 we need to just um determine a date that we going we're going to have these presentations.
2:20:16 And I'll move to make it a special meeting. Let's let's deal with the process and then we can talk about the
2:20:21 date. I'll I'll move that we make it a special meeting so that we can make a decision that night. Well, well, um,
2:20:29 what's this? November. We won't we probably won't have one more, but I would think that why can't we just do it
2:20:35 at the first meeting in January? Well, that's two months that we don't come to five minute presentation. Five
2:20:42 uh well, I don't know how many minutes you want to limited to it, but we can do it and go ahead and make a
2:20:48 decision. The the only thing to keep in mind, Mr. Mayor is there's a number of you that want to go to Tallahassee that first
2:20:54 week for the first meeting the second week. Right. Right. Which is the first meeting
2:21:00 in January. The first meeting in January should be somewhere the 12th.
2:21:05 The 12th, excuse me, the 13th. Right. The 13th. So I have to decide with you all what
2:21:10 you want to do if you want to be here or somewhere else that day. What uh when
2:21:16 for January 13th? That's our typical city council meeting. Uh-huh. And a number of you don't want to be
2:21:22 here that day. What's happening on the 13th? Sorry, Mr.
2:21:29 That's actually the second meeting in January. That's January 27th. We won't be here. I apologize humbly.
2:21:36 Yes. The 27th we won't be here. I apologize humbly. Would the council be open to doing it at
2:21:41 as the last item on the agenda on the December meeting? That way we have time after we do the
2:21:48 business of the business and then it also gives the public a chance to participate because we'll probably be
2:21:53 into five o'clock 5:30 before we get to Well, I wanted I wanted to try to give them a little time to prepare because
2:21:59 the next meeting is what uh in December is about three weeks away. I think they're ready. I think they were ready three weeks ago.
2:22:05 Huh. I'm getting headshakes. Yeah, they're ready. They want to do this work. They don't want to wait two months. I don't want to make anything more
2:22:12 complicated. All I'm going to tell you is there is Florida statute 286.0113
2:22:17 which allows you it's your favorite um which allows you as the city to exempt
2:22:24 the presentation portion in other words so that other presenters are not able to sit and watch
2:22:30 and game it. Does that make sense? So now you may have to kick out the public.
2:22:35 Um it has to be recorded but that is something you have the option. You don't have to. Well, let's start one step at a
2:22:41 You got to eat this elephant one bite at a time. Are we comfortable with adding it to the December agenda at the end? Is
2:22:46 that something that the council I'm going to move to add this to the December agenda at the end? If they if they think they can be ready
2:22:52 in three weeks, I wanted to make sure they had enough time to prepare. I'll second the motion. Thank you.
2:22:59 Yeah, the new motion is added onto the agenda uh in December 12th agenda.
2:23:05 Okay. Any further discussion? December 9th. December 9th.
2:23:10 December 8th, I'm sorry. 9th. 9th. December 9th. We'll get it right sooner later. December 9th at the end of the agenda on
2:23:17 December 9th for their presentation, the three presentations. Okay. Um, any further discussion?
2:23:24 Hear none. All in favor, let be known by saying I. I. I. All oppose. Chair vote I as well. Okay.
2:23:30 And do we want it to be opened or closed? That's the next question. I like the public participating. I would really
2:23:37 like your all take on that. I look at it this way. At that point, if they coming in with their presentation at that time, I don't think they're
2:23:43 going to have time. We're watching one presentation and then going back and changing theirs before they have to present. But the third person would have the
2:23:49 advantage. Well, is there a way for us to ask the others to step out? Is that something we
2:23:55 can do? I don't know how the You may always ask. You can ask that. Yeah. Yes. If I jump in here.
2:24:00 Um, yes. During presentations, it's open to the public. Uh we always ask that the presenter once they done presenting to
2:24:06 exit so to allow the next one come in. So it's more like a one-on-one. Okay. But it's you can block it out from the
2:24:12 public. Yes, you can. The statute was amended this year. Oh yeah, it's it's new. It's new. Okay. Okay.
2:24:17 And regarding the time, if I may, normally when I do presentations is 20 minutes presentation per firm and
2:24:24 10-minute Q&A and then five minute break and then following. So So you're for the three you're
2:24:29 looking at hour and 20 minutes or so more or less. hour and a half and then we're going to talk. So, it'll be
2:24:34 pretty, you know, close to two hours at the end of the meeting. Okay. All right. That's I'm willing to do that.
2:24:40 Are we all good with that? I don't think we need presentation. You say 20-minute presentation and a 10 minute 10-minute Q&A. 30 minutes and five
2:24:47 minutes in between. 35 minutes for each so that we can prepare the public too. Would we be This might be a question. I
2:24:54 don't know who it's for. Do we would the public be commenting after each presentation or can we hold public
2:24:59 comment until the end once all the presentations have been done? It's up to you. I mean, at the end of each presentation, since they going to only
2:25:05 be in the room and other ones will be out of the room. So, we we wouldn't I normally hold the comments to the very
2:25:10 end once the committee has heard the presentations and then they can deliberate between each other and ask
2:25:16 the public questions or public can come in and and talk, but you should hold the tours. Okay.
2:25:21 Are we all okay with that? I just want to be able to prepare the public for Yeah. I think we should follow the procurements process here. Yeah.
2:25:28 Feeling strongly to deviate from that. Okay. All right. I don't think we need a motion since that's the process.
2:25:33 Okay. All right. Item number four. Thank you. Item number 14, uh, events and road
2:25:39 closures request. Um, really I really report this for one main reason and everything. Uh, because uh, they talking
2:25:47 about Saturday food trucks event, okay, on Saturdays now. And as I discussed
2:25:53 with staff yesterday, my concern here is the fact that uh the first Saturday in
2:25:58 June, we have the jerk festival. Okay. So, we got all this event going on at the waterfront on the first Saturday,
2:26:05 all the food trucks and everything down at waterfront. Do we want to still have this event trying to happen downtown as
2:26:11 well? Okay. So, to me, that was a that was one of the problem. And I think I asked them to go through the schedule,
2:26:17 make sure we don't have any other events, food truck events that's happening at waterfront and anything that's on the first on the first
2:26:22 Saturday of the month. So, uh, you know, Main Street moved there first Friday to
2:26:27 s first Saturday. So, that's the one area I saw and I think they confirmed with me that pig on the pond is no
2:26:33 problem, right? They later in month. That's correct. That's mid month. So, we should that's the only one that's the main reason I pull this. Okay. See
2:26:39 what Main Street want to do uh how we want to handle that. Okay. You want to hear from the public?
2:26:45 Yes, please. Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
2:26:51 Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and their address and have three minutes.
2:26:58 Seeing no one, I close public comment. Do we have anything anyone online, Mr.
2:27:03 Administrator? No, sir. Okay. So, I close public comment and
2:27:08 bring it back to council. So, uh, like I say, that's the main reason is, uh,
2:27:15 do we want to allow Main Street to continue to do their their their event downtown and the one at Waterfront
2:27:22 because, uh, Jerk Festival, you have thousands and thousands of people there. Yeah. in in the event space, you know,
2:27:29 uh working in the event space, I actually generally love when there's another event going on at the same time,
2:27:36 so long as we don't have in in my business, we look at how many hotels do you have? Are you crossing over hotels?
2:27:42 Is it increasing the cost for the participants? But generally speaking, if there's something else going on, like
2:27:47 we're in March for the spring games and when Pig on the Pond is happening, it's actually wonderful because we like to
2:27:53 promote it and then people have something to do and it gives them another reason to come to town. So, I
2:27:59 think that the policy question um I mean I think I would be more interested in
2:28:04 hearing from Main Street or uh the Jerk Festival folks on this one because for
2:28:09 me I could see it both ways, but I didn't have a a reaction that I I didn't like it. I actually thought it would my
2:28:16 assumption was it would be good for the events. But if they didn't express are
2:28:22 both parties aware that this is on the agenda tonight? We we did talk to Main Street and they said that they're going
2:28:28 to take it to their board and discuss it. Find out. So they might just say we don't want to do it that way. They may say we're just going to cancel
2:28:33 that one or move it or we don't know yet until they their board discusses it. Here's my concern with that with Jerk
2:28:39 Festival. I think they're in their 12th 13th year doing this jerk festival and uh they have tens of thousands of
2:28:45 people. We closed the boat ramp for parking and parking is at a premium already. So we shutting down downtown as
2:28:50 well. Okay. for for the Saturday food trucks and we got all the food trucks there. It's almost in competition with
2:28:57 one another. So, do we want that? I can understand what you're saying about spring games. Of course, we got the pick
2:29:03 on the pond going on on this side of town where spring games on the other side of town. They're not button head, but you talking about two events trying
2:29:10 to compete for each other right in the downtown area where we already have a problem with parking and everything. Um,
2:29:16 that's one of the biggest problem. Uh cuz uh the jerk festival I know last year they had about 12,000 people here.
2:29:22 Parking was a real serious problem last year doing it. Uh and it just keep getting bigger and bigger every year.
2:29:28 I see. So that your concern is related to the parking not. Well, you got the parking plus if you they have a lot of food trucks and all
2:29:34 this different activity going on there. The same thing you will be trying to do at at f first Saturday food trucks and
2:29:39 everything. A lot of the guys that participate on first Saturdays or used to be Friday night they already at George Festival. So, you know, I don't
2:29:47 know. One one going to be uh shortsided one way or the other is the way I'm see
2:29:53 I think. Okay. Yeah. I just feel like we're um
2:29:58 as a government deciding which event we're going to kind of allow. Um it it's
2:30:09 understanding the parking issue. If it's about the parking, I think that what we do is instruct staff and and to work
2:30:14 together to find parking solutions. And I think that those issues, again, from an event standpoint, I look at it and
2:30:20 say it's actually nice because again, I would be interested in knowing what the Jerk Festival folks felt. Um, it's nice
2:30:27 for me to know, hey, I might be pulling from another market for my event. That's always from an event standpoint.
2:30:33 Generally speaking, you like that when there's something else going on nearby because people can walk, they can bike, they might come, you might pull from a
2:30:39 different market. Parking, logistics concerned. Um, I'm known for saying, "Don't worry about parking. The the
2:30:46 public will figure it out." And I mean it. Um, because that's what I see in event space. You see people will rent
2:30:51 buses or trolleys or trucks or they'll Uber. They'll figure it out. It's good to have the people. I think the policy
2:30:56 question that you're potentially speaking to on this as well is what is our vision for events in downtown. Um
2:31:06 what is what kind of concerns do we have? How does it affect the community? I think those kinds of questions we
2:31:11 haven't fully vetted and addressed, but we're making a decision tonight on this. And so it has a feel that if we say no
2:31:19 because there's another event taking place, like we've picked an event as kind of the winner, if you will. And I
2:31:26 just worry about how that could be perceived versus saying, "Hey, we want to let Main Street and the Jerkfest kind
2:31:33 of work it out together." But Main Street is in discussion with this
2:31:38 now. Yeah. So they're going to get back to us. So why don't we table this until the next meeting when Main Street gets
2:31:43 back to us? Yeah. Make a motion to table it till the December meeting.
2:31:50 I'll second that. Yeah. Okay. Um
2:31:56 on the motion, uh I don't see why we can't approve everything except June.
2:32:01 Uh and just leave leave June out for now and give give the Main Street folks their farmers market Sundays and their
2:32:07 food truck Saturdays with the exception of June, July, and December because they're already asking for excluding July, and December.
2:32:14 um and with no prejudice uh and and have jerkfest Main Street. I I would like to
2:32:20 hear from PD and parks of two largecale events like this what this means for our resources with our staff and our
2:32:27 resource capacity. Um so regardless of which event takes priority, I don't want
2:32:33 to decide that necessarily, but I want to know from our staffing perspective, can we effectively do two events like
2:32:39 this within that proximity? um uh of this scale. Um so uh as as currently
2:32:47 proposed, I'm I'm not going to uh support tableabling it completely. I just would prefer to get this off of our
2:32:53 docket and get this on the calendar for folks and the community and just say let's add June to the exclusion list for
2:32:59 now and give them their dates. Yeah. You want to amend your motion? I'll make a motion and to accept it.
2:33:05 Except we're going to exclude June until uh Main Street gets back with us. I'll
2:33:11 support the second. All right. Have a motion and a second to approve item number 14 with the
2:33:16 exception of June 2026. Any further discussion?
2:33:22 Hearing none. All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote I as well. Thank
2:33:27 you. That's the consent agenda. That's everything right. Mhm. Uh item number 17, citizen request.
2:33:34 16. I'm sorry. I item number 16,
2:33:40 vinyl police pension plan. Ordinance number 2025043, an ordinance of the city council of the
2:33:46 city of Clermont, Lake County, Florida, amending the city of Clermont police officers retirement plan at chapter 28,
2:33:53 article 3, amending section 2863, disability, providing for conflict, severability, codification, the
2:34:01 administrative correction of scrivener's error, publication, and an effective date.
2:34:08 Good afternoon, mayor and council members. Naen Olinger, human resources director.
2:34:16 This is regarding ordinance 2025-043 and it's being proposed in order to
2:34:22 amend the police officer's retirement plan. The added language of 25% of the
2:34:28 member's average final compensation is a minimum mandatory benefit as required by
2:34:33 Florida statutes chapter 185.18 for non-service disability. The amendment is
2:34:39 administrative in nature as this is an existing benefit. The plan's current benefit exceeds the minimum, but the
2:34:45 auditor requests that the minimum be explicitly stated in the plan. The ordinance will have no impact on the
2:34:51 plan according to the plan's actuary because the benefit has already been included in the calculation of the
2:34:57 minimum required contribution.
2:35:03 Staff recommends approval of ordinance number 2025-043.
2:35:10 Okay. Thank you. This is a public hear. Anyone in the public wish to address this item
2:35:15 may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes. This is a public hearing. Anyone in the
2:35:21 public want to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
2:35:26 Seeing no one in the chamber. Um, Mr. Administrator, do we have anyone online?
2:35:38 Not at this time. Okay. No one online. We will close public comment and bring it back to council. What say council?
2:35:44 Motion to approve item number 16, ordinance 2025-43. A second.
2:35:49 Have a motion and a second for approval of um item number 16,
2:35:55 ordinance number 2025-043, uh final police pension plan. Any
2:36:02 further discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Council member Strange. I.
2:36:08 Council member Bane. I Myers not here. Council member Peterson
2:36:14 I. And chair vote I as well. Motion passes 40.
2:36:20 Thank you, ma'am. Item number 17 is a citizen request made
2:36:25 by Mr. Anthony Grove. Yes, sir. 1724.
2:36:36 Do we still have the projection over here? Do we still project there? Yes. Uh,
2:36:43 it's been a year since I've been here, so you've changed. Just lay it up there, sir. Please
2:36:49 see where clear mounted. Clear out mounted at right there. Let me move this. Okay.
2:36:58 Can we zoom out a little bit? All right.
2:37:06 All right. To to just get started, I'm going to explain to you where this where this
2:37:12 intersection is. If you travel down old Highway 50 off Hancock Road, which would be this direction, you go down Old
2:37:19 Highway 50 and back here. And this is an this is an aerial view of the map, but
2:37:26 this is where I live back here at Canyons and Highland Ranch. And what you notice here on the aerial view is you
2:37:32 have this walking path that crosses a very busy
2:37:38 intersection. And it's used by pedestrians for walking. and it's also
2:37:43 used by cyclists. So to get perspective of what I want city council to look at,
2:37:50 I've got something I want to read and then we can talk about whatever else is appropriate.
2:38:04 Mayor, city council, and citizens of Clermont, we live in a community that is known for athletic pursuits. We
2:38:10 recognize Clermont as being the choice of champions. As we go about our daily lives, we must
2:38:16 respect those who choose to use cycling as our outdoor activity. While traveling our roadways, being courteous to those
2:38:23 cyclists as part of living in Clermont. I celebrate those who choose to utilize
2:38:28 the roadways safely in their pursuits of health. Also note in Florida, a cyclist
2:38:33 must also follow the same rules of the road that a motor vehicle must adhere.
2:38:39 There is also a responsibility of our city's government to asssure that roadways and infrastructure remain safe
2:38:44 for our cyclists. I have been witness to a traffic intersection that is to be
2:38:50 candid a trap for death and serious injury. The traffic intersection is old
2:38:55 highway 50 and Blackstone Lake Road. The bicycle and pedestrian trail that runs along Old Highway 50 known as South
2:39:02 Lake Trail crosses a very busy intersection entering Canyons at Highland Ranch. It is the same
2:39:09 intersection that others use to travel to residential areas further down that same road. There is significant traffic
2:39:16 that crosses this intersection and that same traffic poses a death and
2:39:22 serious poses a death and serious injury risk to our cyclists.
2:39:27 The bicycle and pedestrian trail came along long before we had 710 homes built
2:39:32 in canyons and Highland Ranch, plus the other areas that have been built concurrently.
2:39:38 The result is thousands of vehicles crossing that intersection daily while drivers await a light change.
2:39:45 The event occurs as a cyclist crosses the intersection, often ignoring the traffic signals. The raw materials of
2:39:52 death and serious injury are no more foreseeable than at this intersection.
2:39:57 A further complication of this intersection is that the cyclist shares the same trail as the pedestrian. The
2:40:03 cyclist becomes lured into a sense of sovereign right ofway believing that they have the primary use of the
2:40:10 intersection that the motor vehicle must yield their path. Of course, in traffic, a bicycle is considered a vehicle and
2:40:16 must follow the same rules rules of the road. The cyclist does not have the absolute and sovereign rightaway.
2:40:23 I will ask our city council to initiate immediate action to relocate the section
2:40:29 of this bike path that crosses this dangerous intersection. Living at Canyons and Highland Ranch, I've
2:40:35 witnessed more than a few very close calls that would have resulted in the death or serious injury of a cyclist if
2:40:42 only a few more feet were traveled by a motor vehicle. A typical motor vehicle,
2:40:47 a 5,000lb SUV or construction vehicle, is no match to a cyclist.
2:40:52 This bicycle and pedestrian path intersection is long overdue to be re relocated around this busy intersection.
2:40:59 I've asked our Clermont police to do what they can, but the end result is that the intersection remains dangerous.
2:41:05 Let's work to make the area safe for our cyclist. I do not want to be the person that runs into a cyclist, nor do I want
2:41:12 a cyclist to run into me. Thank you for your consideration.
2:41:17 I will say that both Chief Broadway and Chief Gray have done what they can
2:41:23 living there since 2019 when I built my home there. I would I can chalk up about
2:41:29 a dozen close calls that I've witnessed myself. And it's simply because the bike the
2:41:36 bike path crosses that busy road and the cyclist is lured into this sense of sovereign rightway and there will be
2:41:44 death and serious injury. So I want the city because it's in the
2:41:49 city limits to take the lead and relocate that section of the bike trail.
2:41:54 I didn't come with a plan. That's why we have city council to look to see what can be done.
2:42:01 I also talked to the county about that traffic signal. If you are heading, I
2:42:06 guess it's east on Old 50, they have what they call a passive yellow. It's a
2:42:12 flashing yellow, which means hurry up and turn when you can. So, if you
2:42:17 consider a a cyclist that's crossing the intersection who isn't paying attention to the traffic signal, as I have a
2:42:23 yellow flashing, I'm looking at oncoming traffic looking for an opening.
2:42:29 Correct. As I go to turn, here comes a cyclist. I almost ran somebody over. If
2:42:34 it wasn't for the other car pointing at me, I would have turned left. They didn't stop. So now I'm considering do I
2:42:42 even want to use that intersection go go up through Hancock Road. But I've worked
2:42:47 I've taken the taken the lead to work with the senior engineer
2:42:54 as a citizen at Lake County and I have three traffic signals in Clermont that
2:42:59 got fixed. I did it myself. I told the the senior engineer what was happening
2:43:05 and there's three traffic signals between my home and South Lake Hospital
2:43:11 that were not set properly or had malfunctioning equipment
2:43:17 and I had to ride them to get it done and I got it done. This intersection they won't touch. They're afraid if they
2:43:25 take away the passive yellow it's just going to back traffic up on 50. So, I
2:43:30 tried that, too. But I think what the city's going to have to do is just take the lead and say, "This thing needs to
2:43:35 move somewhere else so that the cyclist can be safe. I can't have 360 degree vision." And
2:43:42 neither can anyone else driving a car. So, that section of it has to get relocated.
2:43:52 Any questions? Thank you. Not at this time, sir. We have some question if you're finished. If you have
2:43:57 a question, we will call you back up. Okay. But I'm open. I want to I want to thank Dan and Rick for making this agenda item really easy
2:44:05 to get done. Good. I sent in the paperwork, did a followup, and I'm on the agenda. So, thank you for
2:44:12 that. Yes, this is a public form. Anyone in the public wish to address this item may
2:44:18 come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
2:44:25 Valerie Shuitt, 931 West Montra Street. I feel like I just saw something um in a
2:44:31 Facebook group or something like that for Clermont that could potentially be an easy solution for this and it's with
2:44:36 dealing with forcing the cyclist to stop. Uh I think it was like a staggered
2:44:42 gate system. So when the trail is coming up on the intersection, you're literally
2:44:48 staggering gates. So pedestrians would walk like this. You're still walking the trail and you're walking around, but
2:44:53 cyclists cannot maneuver that. So, they have to get off and walk their bikes,
2:44:59 which would then be forcing them to slow down and stop. That could be a lowcost solution.
2:45:05 Thank you. Anyone else? Anyone else? This is a public for anyone
2:45:12 in the public wish to address may come to the microphone, state your name, address, and have three minutes. Seeing
2:45:17 no one else at closed comment for in the chamber. Uh Mr. Administrator, anyone
2:45:23 online? Yes, sir. We do. Okay.
2:45:31 Anna, please go ahead. Uh sure. Anna Sinclair, 575 West Mola
2:45:36 Avenue. Um I have not been at this intersection. I have not cycled it. I
2:45:42 have not walked on it. But based on the satellite image, it does have the makings of a death trap. Like the
2:45:48 gentleman said, um, one of the primary uh, problems when you're walking on
2:45:54 these intersections is that a lot of times vehicles on the right lane wanting to make a right stop do not stop before
2:46:00 the pedestrian crossing. Instead, they just drive over it um, to have better
2:46:06 visibility of the lane. And in this particular intersection, you'll notice that the pedestrian crossing is even
2:46:11 further behind. There's not really a space for a vehicle to just be there, I think, without covering the the
2:46:16 crossing. Um, I don't really have a solution for this, unfortunately. Um, I
2:46:24 heard the suggestion made by Valerie Shu, something like a stagger gate. Perhaps this road could be accommodated
2:46:30 for a roundabout or something like that. But this is something that I would encourage the city to bring to
2:46:35 professionals because yes, I think this is a concerning intersection based on this. Thank you.
2:46:41 Thank you. Anyone else?
2:46:49 No sir, not this time. Okay. And no one else in virtual. We will close public comment and bring back
2:46:55 the council. Let me say this. Um I agree with Mr. Gro. It is a very dangerous intersection. I was just out there a
2:47:01 couple times last week. Um, what I found disturbing though when I when I stopped
2:47:06 at the uh line there behind the at the stop sign and light and line I had
2:47:12 people behind me blowing the blowing blowing the horn at me want me to run over people you know and I'm like wait a
2:47:17 minute I can't I'm looking at cyclist coming down the road okay and the light is still red so I I'm I'm sorry but it
2:47:25 is a very dangerous situation out there. Uh I don't know where they can move it to. Uh that's been a question for some
2:47:31 time. I um what it's been about 2, three years now, chief, that they put the red
2:47:36 light out there, hoping the turn signal uh the signal would would help out. Uh but that just seemed to me it helped
2:47:44 create a little bit more of a pro problem out there. But the only thing I can think of is you either do a fly over
2:47:50 for the pedestrians or you do a tunnel. Okay? Now, is the county going to pay that kind of money? I do not know. Uh I
2:47:57 do know that the county was out there. I can say this, the county was out there doing uh surveying and looking at the
2:48:02 situation today uh yesterday rather and everything. So uh um we will continue to
2:48:08 work with them up there at the county because it is the county situation. The the trail itself belongs to the county
2:48:15 and they will have to move it. I don't know whether we whether they can relocate it to if they you want it coming through your neighborhood. I
2:48:21 don't know. Okay. Because they get it off that intersection. And I I just when you go out there and look at things, I
2:48:26 just don't know where else it can go. I mean, we've been looking at this for a couple years now. Uh because it is very
2:48:31 dangerous. I'm in total agreement something need to be done. Um and it's I
2:48:37 find it very very alarming that the people is very impatient out there and
2:48:42 want to run over people and don't want to stop at the light. Um you know um we went out there, we marked all the
2:48:48 intersections like they should be marked. They're trying to create a pro uh make it better, but they're not
2:48:53 paying attention to that. Chief, have we had any accidents out there lately?
2:48:59 I know we had a couple before we put the signals up.
2:49:10 Good evening, Mayor, Council, Chief Gracie, Clermont Police Department. To my knowledge, we have not had any
2:49:15 serious injury or uh traffic homicide crashes out in that area. Uh I would not
2:49:22 be surprised if we've had rear end collisions or other fender benders in that area. Is common throughout the
2:49:28 city. Common throughout the city. Are we still kind of monitoring that for speed? I know we watching speeders out there at
2:49:33 one point. Are we still doing that? Correct. We do speed enforcement out there. Uh when Mr. Grove had contacted
2:49:38 us, we went out there. We had the message board out for a while. We do education and enforcement activities out there from time to time. It's just one
2:49:45 of those areas that we go back to periodically. We're aware of the the issues. Um the cyclist should be coming
2:49:52 to a stop prior to passing through and that signal is there. The signal has the uh the red hand
2:49:58 the red hand or the lights up white for the pedestrian light for on the on the trail on the path itself.
2:50:05 They they have the stop signs. I know we put the stop signs and everything. They should be stopping. Period. Correct. There's
2:50:13 if there are stop signs there or signals they should be stopping if the signal suggests that they stop sign. Yeah.
2:50:19 Now like what we did at East Avenue, right, which is similar the trail cross is another major thoroughfare. We we
2:50:25 enhanced the uh stop signs there. We made them illuminated. It flashes. We have the stop for pedestrians crossing
2:50:32 all of that stuff there. That's an option that we can look into there. I don't know if it's viable since we've
2:50:37 already put some electronic sign boards out there. The staggered gate uh option is is interesting to look at and it
2:50:44 seems like that's a fairly quick one. I think a tunnel is probably more of a longterm. Can we take a look and see that we like
2:50:51 we did on East Avenue, we can put the the flashing stop sign up on the trail side, not on the uh car side.
2:50:58 Yes, I can speak with public works because I think it's stop signs there, but I don't I'm not think I don't think they uh
2:51:04 I don't think they're illuminated or nothing. So, um, but I I mean it's something we need to work with and Mr.
2:51:10 Ben Wagner, we need to work with the county on that. Like I said, I do know the county was out there yesterday doing some surveys because we also have a
2:51:16 problem out there with sidewalks um further up uh what's that Espanard area and everything having issues up there.
2:51:23 So, they uh I think they doing surveys for all that area out there yesterday. So you're getting requests for sidewalks
2:51:29 and up there along the Black Seal Lake Road because coming around the curb I guess it's kind of dangerous coming out Espanard as well. So
2:51:35 correct. Quick question is I mean bicycles have to obey the the rules of the road.
2:51:40 Correct. Correct. They don't. So if what what jurisdiction or what power do you have? You put a stop sign there and
2:51:46 somebody just blows right through it and and you have somebody waiting. You have can they give them a ticket? Can they
2:51:52 give them a citation? Yeah, there's different civil uh penalties that we can enforce. There are bicycle uh citations that we can hand
2:51:58 out for not for failing failure to yield or not stopping when they're supposed to stop there. Those are options that we
2:52:03 can exercise. Um but you're correct. We'd have to put somebody out there whether it's a car,
2:52:09 plane closed, uniformed and do that. So along with the other traffic complaints
2:52:14 or concerns that we receive throughout the city, we are aware of this and we try to periodically make it our make our way
2:52:20 around the entire city. Okay. And if you haven't been out there in the area, if you have time, go out
2:52:27 there and take a look at it. I mean, it was it's been a problem ever since uh um they started building the subdivision
2:52:33 out there, Espanard and uh and Highland Highland Ranch, started creating a big
2:52:38 problem. And now with all these silos out there, I know he said 700, but between Verdie Ridge and Espanard and
2:52:44 Highland Ranch, I think it's more like 1500 homes out there and everything. So, that's a lot of traffic. And with all
2:52:50 the new development along Black Steel Road going into Mount Verde, you know, that even extra added traffic out there.
2:52:57 So, it's it's pretty it's pretty tough. And I don't think I I was hoping the county would look at even widening
2:53:03 Highway 50, making it a four lane, but uh I don't think they have the funds to do that with. I kind of talked to them
2:53:08 about that as well, maybe help eliminate that. But we do all Let's see what we
2:53:14 can do to try to try to make it a little bit safer, Chief, if we can. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you. Um, Chief, do we have a bike
2:53:21 patrol? Currently, we do not have a bike patrol. Um, are you aware? Are there any grant
2:53:28 funding opportunities that you're aware of or maybe if you wouldn't mind if could have staff look at to see if
2:53:35 there's an opportunity for us as a community given our our location and given our trail system to uh implement a
2:53:43 a bicycle uh program uh within CPD that you you could have a dedicated officer
2:53:49 officers uh to not just this area but all of our uh trails to enforce just
2:53:57 like we do with uh traffic enforcement uh on the on the roads. Um so that we
2:54:04 can help educate our our our bicyclists um of the rules of the road because I do
2:54:10 think not an excusing but I do think that there are as Mr. Grove mentioned a lot of bicyclists who who view
2:54:17 themselves as a pedestrian rather than a a non-pedestrian. Uh and and maybe those
2:54:25 rules don't apply to to bicyclists. Yeah, understood. Yeah. And um when I say we don't have a bike patrol right
2:54:31 now, we do have bicycles. We have the opportunity. It's just waiting on manpower to catch up. So we have the uh
2:54:36 the ability to do it and we just need to train some additional people on the mountain bike. I just think that and that could benefit
2:54:43 us in a lot of ways, not just with trails, but also with community events and and downtown area and community
2:54:49 oriented policing. all kinds of benefits for a a bicycle program. Um, and also
2:54:54 too, just with regard to I don't know if this is for necessarily for the chief, but just clarification with the city
2:54:59 manager or someone else on staff to even if we wanted to relocate this, do we
2:55:05 have the authority to do that? And and who is the actual is it a is it the county or is it the state that has that
2:55:12 has the authority to do that? County. So, this is a county trail that that really ultimately we can but we can
2:55:19 enforce rules and regulations on. Correct. But we can't actually
2:55:27 move it move it if we wanted to move it. Would would non-ownership, if you will,
2:55:32 prohibit us from putting in things like the staggered gates system?
2:55:39 Would we be able to do that without ownership or control? We we'd have to get the county's approval to do that.
2:55:45 Okay. Right. But we could we could put some friendly request pressure on that if that's one
2:55:52 we wanted to do and maybe get some ideas on what those things cost. Correct. Correct. Staff's happy to work
2:55:58 with the county. Try to get some solutions. I know there's certain companies out there that study intersections just for reasons
2:56:04 like this. Yeah. Bicycle, pedestrian safety. um they're relatively inexpensive and do
2:56:10 quick studies, but we'll work with the county and see if we can get some options out there. Yeah. Recommendations.
2:56:16 Yeah. I I just think and this goes to a point of uh relevant but not necessarily
2:56:22 pertinent to the particular item voting here is just the maybe the need for us to do something more inclusive in our
2:56:29 community with a parks, trails, Rex type of board or commission of citizens or or
2:56:34 transportation mobility committee uh board that that could provide and look at these things on an ongoing basis to
2:56:41 to be able to provide feedback and and give perspective. Um because I certainly
2:56:46 I you know I don't bike that area. Um so I don't know I obviously if you just drive there once you'll know it's a pro
2:56:53 potential issue. Um but you don't if you don't live there or use it frequently you don't always know the severity. Um
2:57:00 and I think this would be a good example of where we could potentially involve our residents in a way that that they
2:57:05 could inform us in in a in a um in a better way. And I say it's it's been a it's been a
2:57:11 problem and he's not first person come in and complain. So, I have other residents out there complaining about it. And of course, like I say, when I go
2:57:17 out there, I'm very very careful. I mean, it's a scary intersection when I'm when I'm coming up. I'm driving extra
2:57:24 slow and trying to watch all kind of ways cuz it used to be before we put the stop signs up there. I mean, bikers used
2:57:30 to come across there like crazy. Okay. It have slowing down a little bit now, but you still have to watch. Um, but I
2:57:36 do know I was told that the county was out there surveying and one of the residents actually called me today uh
2:57:42 this morning and told me they they actually saw the county and talked to the county out there yesterday um
2:57:47 surveying and about sidewalks in that intersection again. So, what they're going to do, but we need to still
2:57:52 communicate with them and see what what's going on. Yep. We'll call them and then I'll work with public works also for some
2:57:58 solutions. So, uh, and, um,
2:58:03 I had this on. I We're going to do this in my reports, but Mr. W, while I got Chief here, I mean, I think you need to
2:58:09 probably get with him and see what's going on with now we talking about bikes. Um, I think there's a proposal up
2:58:15 in going up to Tallahassee on ebikes and everything. Uh, if I'm not
2:58:21 mistaken, in that proposal they talk talking about um bicycles, ebikes and all this not going to be able to ride
2:58:27 trails and and sidewalks. They have to be in the streets. Correct. Want to take a look at that that bill
2:58:33 and everything. I didn't get the number on the bill, but I heard the proposal. They looking for that to be uh going up to Tallahassee doing this year for
2:58:41 enforcement and all. So, because one of the problems we're having and I think I've been briefing people on this and I
2:58:46 think chief's been doing it as well. You guys on the ebikes and the bicycles just think they on the roads and they not
2:58:53 abiding by the law and believe it or not. But when they on on the ebikes and they on the trail, they have to buy
2:58:59 propos to provide by the law rules of the road. And if I'm not mistaken, some of them supposed to have license as
2:59:04 well. That's in the new proposal that's going to go before the legislature. It's going to be any bikes going over 28 miles per
2:59:10 hour. I believe they're going to have to be registered and the the riders going to have to have a permit or a license.
2:59:16 But yeah, that was on my my uh list to talk about in my report, but since you was here and talk about it, Mr. W, if
2:59:22 y'all can run that bill down and see what's going on with that building because I think that's going to be uh
2:59:27 with our trail trail coming through here. It's going to be pretty pretty significant what what I'm hearing and
2:59:33 everything because I know we've talked about it already. How we going to control the speed of these bikes that's riding the trail right now that's
2:59:39 creating a lot of havoc on our trail down like down near the waterfront and everything. So, so please check into
2:59:45 that one. Thank you. Okay. Uh, if I may, I might have a question
2:59:52 from Mr. Norris. Giving you a heads up. I like to do that when I can. Um, in my
2:59:58 conversations with residents about the trail coming from basically Winter
3:00:03 Garden to downtown Clermont on the trail. This location, interestingly enough, is a location that has come up
3:00:10 as a potential location of interest for some sort of park. And um some of this
3:00:17 is just information for us to be aware of and some of it maybe Mr. Van Wagner can chime in on. There was some
3:00:23 conversation at some point in the recent past that the county and the state were
3:00:28 having conversations about the acreage to the south of Old 50, basically across the street from this intersection for a
3:00:35 park space, which what I'm hearing from the users is a great location for a park
3:00:41 space for a number of reasons we can talk about another meeting. But my concern is this exact issue. And I do
3:00:47 want to thank you, Mr. Grove for your work for the citizens, for the city, for getting being the eyes on the ground and
3:00:53 helping. I didn't even know you were doing that. And so I I thank you for that time. I know what it takes. Um,
3:00:59 so I had noticed this intersection thinking, how is this going to work if there's a park across the street? Of
3:01:05 course, people are going to want to be on the trail and then go to the park. That's what makes it appealing. But the only all the residents are on the north
3:01:11 side and then you got the park on the south side and that massive intersection. So the reason Mr. Norris,
3:01:16 why I said I might ask for your help is because the request from the public is for immediate action to relocate. I'm
3:01:23 going to take out the rest of it. I'm going to say immediate action because I think what we're asking I think what the
3:01:30 public is request here and I think what we can anticipate is that this is not necessarily your run-of-the-mill
3:01:37 intersection mobility. This is on the Coast to Coast Trail potentially. We're talking about a
3:01:43 10acre park across the street. This is potentially a big project and what I'm
3:01:49 interested in is one, what actions can we take quickly and I think to your
3:01:55 point, Mr. Bane, and I'll expand on Mr. Matthysse, my gut is if the city approaches the county and says, "Hey,
3:02:01 we'll pay for these amenities if we can just put them on your land." I would
3:02:06 imagine we're going to get support for that. And so what that request might be is how much what strategy do we wish
3:02:14 what tactic do we wish to employ and what does it cost? I'm certain it's not in the budget. Ask me how I know. Um so
3:02:23 you're going to need some sort of approval. The county the city manager is going to need some sort of approval. So
3:02:29 my question towards Mr. Norris with your connections with designers and and engineers and and things like people who
3:02:35 are in the mobility space is what type of resource do we need to potentially give to Mr. Van Wagner in the way of
3:02:43 initial approval for funding or what is the direction what direction should we be giving Mr. Van Wagner so that you can
3:02:50 call the people you need to call and we can get professionals in here who have unique abilities in this space including
3:02:58 the ABA who we already have on retainer um to help us address the immediate and
3:03:03 the long-term visionary issues. Can you give us guidance on that because candidly I'm not an engineer and
3:03:10 don't know the first thing of how to address this situation but this public has asked for immediate action. No, I I
3:03:15 think it's a a great question, but I need to go look at it myself and become familiar with it. As soon as I do, I'll
3:03:21 be able to assess if there's other issues that haven't been discussed tonight, and then I can get uh back with
3:03:26 the uh Mr. Van Wagner uh and discuss the
3:03:32 different uh ways that it might be addressed from my perspective. So, thank you. I I just need I need to go look at it. Is
3:03:38 the council comfortable as staff works through what is the request that they need from us for us to get this ready
3:03:45 for the next agenda and maybe even put it on consent because now we're talking almost another month. I don't know if
3:03:50 that's immediate enough for you, Mr. Grove, but you know, I think staff I don't think any of us up here should be
3:03:56 making a decision about engineering or what tactic to employ. As I said earlier, uh I think staff need
3:04:03 to be working with county and go out there. I don't know what all the surveying came out today, but get in touch with them and see. And whatever
3:04:09 recommendation we can come up with. If you go out and look and give a recommendation, I think the council here be willing to go ahead and try to fund
3:04:16 some of it or whatever the cost is. But I can't give direction to Mr. Mr. Van
3:04:22 Wagner when I don't know what's needed out there. I'm not expert. Like I say, I look at it and I'm like,
3:04:27 "What can you do?" I know we've taken a lot of steps in the past to try to make the situation better, but I'm still not
3:04:33 feeling comfortable with it out there when I go. So, so we do need to have county come in and if they will allow us
3:04:38 to put gates there or whatever, you know, we we can do that. You know, is it reasonable in time if I would ask
3:04:45 for input from the county, from the American Bicycle Association, and then from some outside designer to get an
3:04:52 idea of what strategy staff needs. So, I'm not looking for the answer, but I am looking for the strategy. And if there
3:04:58 are costs, what what are we talking about? Is that something you could get to us by the December 9th meeting, do
3:05:04 you think? Well, well, before that, I mean, we've got American Bicycle Association in town
3:05:09 this week. Are they able to look at it? Okay, great. Yeah, that'd be awesome. They'll be around this week and I can go
3:05:15 out this week and look at it and then between them and me, we can make some recommendations and we'll get in touch
3:05:21 with you. And what are the city managers spending limits if there are costs? It's
3:05:27 15,000, right? Do we have is Scott still here? No. The Okay, we'll see what you
3:05:33 can do and if it needs to be on the agenda, let us know. Mr. Grove, have you met Mr. Norris?
3:05:39 No, I have not. I'd like you to meet him. And the American Bicycle Association is in town this week, he says. So, would you be
3:05:46 willing to be our liazison for your community for the time being? I I will. Most people know that Some
3:05:51 people know that I've taken an interest in this, but you asked me a question earlier. You asked me a question earlier
3:05:57 if that's immediate enough. It was never my vision that the city
3:06:04 stop everything and the city go do it. I know it's something you have to do through the county.
3:06:10 It was it's my request that the city own this and see that it gets done
3:06:17 rather than actually take your resources and and do it. when you you can it's county property. So, I just want the
3:06:25 cyclist to be safe. Like I said, I don't want to run over anyone. I don't want anyone running into me. It's long
3:06:31 overdue. You know, everything I said in the record is is the way I I see it. I also
3:06:37 have concerns with any type of barriers you're going to put up. You're going to have people bypassing them, running out
3:06:43 on 50, going back into the other areas. No one's going to stop
3:06:49 the weather. The way I see it is it has to be moved. Otherwise, you're never
3:06:55 going to get anyone to adhere to that to that stopping. So, I wouldn't if if it's
3:07:02 if it's my question asked to me, I wouldn't recommend spending money on barriers and and gates and all that
3:07:08 because I can just visualize bikes going right around them and now the the purpose is defeated. It's it's just got
3:07:14 to go. It was fine when there was no homes back there and I'm as guilty as anybody. I
3:07:20 built a home back there. So, you know, now that I'm crossing that area and so we're another 2,000 cars from Highland
3:07:27 Ranch alone, it's dangerous, right, Mr. Grove? Yes. It's it's action. It's action
3:07:34 appropriate. You're comfortable with this action that I've suggested. Okay, Mr. Grove, if if we're where to move it,
3:07:40 where would you suggest it being moved to? And that's that's the problem I have
3:07:45 when I look at it. I mean, we don't want to shift it across the on the other side of the street cuz then
3:07:51 you're crossing got the people still crossing another busy road. Well, actually, if it was on the other
3:07:56 side of the road, you would avoid crossing it further down 50, which is
3:08:01 another dangerous intersection. Nothing like what what I listed up here,
3:08:07 but it would avoid crossing it through that intersection. The other
3:08:13 idea I had, I didn't really pull an aerial map out, but as you as you zoom
3:08:18 up, is it possible to go up around behind canyons at Highland Ranch?
3:08:24 There's nothing between you've got the turnpike and then you've got canyons at Highland Ranch. There's no traffic back
3:08:31 there. Oh, you're saying uh go up Black Steel Lake Road? I'm saying go up behind perhaps behind
3:08:38 canyons at Highland Ranch and still put it out down further on Old 50,
3:08:45 but not crossing that intersection. Yeah. For what it's worth, Mr. Norris has access to the American Bicycle
3:08:50 Association and the Urban Guild, which is the the best of the best traditional neighborhood designers and engineers in
3:08:57 the country. So, if anybody knows how to do it, I'm confident he's got resources to help get it done. to be clear to the
3:09:04 council and staff because I appreciate you you're clarifying your concern. I'm looking for potentially the solutions
3:09:11 might be tactics, but I'm probably saying we might need to hire someone to do a drawing to help fix this so that we
3:09:18 can give that to the county. That's but I I don't know until I see it. But I'm more interested in how than the what
3:09:24 right now and who might need to be involved in this. That's where I'm coming from. Well, the county out there surveying it
3:09:30 is because I challenged their senior engineer to a live debate. Well, thank you for that. That sounds
3:09:36 like fun. And I can tell you they're sick of the traffic problems down here. They they are sick of it. Nobody up there wants to
3:09:41 hear it, right? So, it it was quite the envelope to press to get them to move forward on all this. That's why you really need city
3:09:48 council to get behind it to see it through. Yeah. Are you comfortable with the actions
3:09:53 we've taken today? Yes. Great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
3:10:00 All right. There's a gentleman who's
3:10:05 approached the mic. Lawson Henry at 4021 Foxhound Drive. Um
3:10:11 my suggestion is kind of to most bikes a stop sign is only a
3:10:16 suggestion. I would say if we could do like a low tech
3:10:22 thing to um is to put up a sign says tickets will be issued
3:10:27 before the stop sign so that they can get their attention say hey if I don't if I if I don't stop or dismount at the
3:10:34 stop sign you know the stop sign there might be a cop around the corner waiting for me. Yeah and then possibly we might save one life
3:10:42 or you be careful sir I'm going to ask you for run for counsel in my seat next year. Oh,
3:10:47 well. Well, practical solutions like that. Thank you. What's your name?
3:10:52 Yeah, it's it's Lawson Henry. Thank you. Yes. And Lawson is my first name. Thank you.
3:10:58 Yes. Thank you. Lawson Henry. Yes. Uh I think he was in transportation in New York, right?
3:11:04 Yes. Okay. Transportation in New York. But uh thank you. But Mr. Mr. Mr. Van
3:11:10 Wagon, you understand what uh everything Miss Miss Strange said and what we after to try to get with the county.
3:11:16 Yeah, we'll work and see what we can do and everything. So, uh I mean I don't have any if they
3:11:22 can figure out a way to move that but I I just sit here when I vision and I don't care where you uh think me I'm
3:11:29 thinking whenever we move it, wherever we move it, you're going to have to cross the streets and everything out there. So, so but uh we need to do
3:11:35 something about that intersection because it is scary. It was scary even even before the a lot of homes came out
3:11:40 there. Item number 18 has been removed. Number 19, ordinance number 2025-039.
3:11:49 Introduction is transmitt. So I guess we need a report. An ordinance of the city council of the city of Clermont, Lake
3:11:54 County, Florida, adopting the largescale comprehensive plan amendment for the city of Clermont, Florida, pursuant to
3:12:00 the local government comprehensive planning act, chapter 163, part two, Florida statutes, setting forth the
3:12:07 authority for adoption of the largescale comprehensive plan amendment, setting forth the purpose and intent of the
3:12:13 large-scale comprehensive plan amendment, establishing the legal status of the comprehensive plan amendment,
3:12:19 providing for conflict, severability, administrative ative correction of scrier's error publication and an
3:12:24 effective date. Thank you. Yes, sir. Good evening, mayor, city council
3:12:30 members and guests. John Cruz. Um, this is a transmitt hearing for Ivy Ridge
3:12:35 larges scale comprehensive plan amendment. The city as the applicant is requesting a large-scale comprehensive
3:12:40 plan amendment and reszoning of the subject property as a follow-up to the staff initiated
3:12:46 annexation request. The property is located southeast of Lake Louisa Road and Hammock Ridge Road
3:12:53 intersection and is approximately 58 acres and outlined on yellow in display
3:12:58 is the property in question. The property is currently moving forward and construction activity is starting.
3:13:05 The property was annexed by city council on June 10th in order to capture approximately $1.8 million worth of
3:13:11 impact fees. This is a follow-up to complete the process of the annexation.
3:13:17 The current zoning of the property within Lake County is plan unit development with the urban low density future land use category. The compatible
3:13:25 zoning within the city would be plan unit development with a future land use designation of low density residential.
3:13:33 The budding future land use adjacent to the east within the city is low density residential with is which is the
3:13:40 established Fox Chase subdivision.
3:13:45 The change in the future land use to the city's lowdensity residential does not propose a conflict between the existing
3:13:51 uses and land uses within the area. Proposed future land use is consistent with the city's comprehensive plan due
3:13:57 to the use being consistent with the remainder of the plan and its goals, objectives, and policies. The planning
3:14:04 and zoning commission recommended approval 50 for uh transmitt staff
3:14:10 recommends transmitt of the large scale comprehensive plan amendment. Sorry about that. There we go.
3:14:16 Okay. You ready for the resoning portion? And resoning is just an introduction, but Tracy has to read it into the record.
3:14:23 Okay. Do we want to vote on the other one first or do you want me to go ahead and read you both of them? We vote on
3:14:30 them separate. Yes. Okay. If you want to I'll go ahead and read it then. That's fine. Ordinance 2025040,
3:14:36 an ordinance under the code of ordinances of the city of Clermont, Lake County, Florida, amending the official zoning map of the city of
3:14:43 Clermont, referred to in chapter 122 of ordinance number 289C, code of ordinances, reszoning the real
3:14:49 properties described herein as shown below, providing for conflict, severability, administrative correction
3:14:55 of scrivener's error, recording, publication, and an effective date. Okay, thank you. Um again this is the
3:15:03 resoning portion. It's just the introduction. Normally when we do these we we bring the whole package to you
3:15:08 with the annexation comp plan and resoning all as one package. However, in order to to expedite the annexation and
3:15:16 the capture the the impact fees prior to the building permits being uh issued. Uh the annexation was done in June of uh
3:15:23 June 10th of this year. So this is just again the follow through of the large scale comp plan and resoning. uh with
3:15:30 the resoning uh they do have a PUD ordinance in place with Lake County.
3:15:35 It's PUD ordinance 2020-03. We are bringing that over into the
3:15:41 city's format. Uh a like for a like with small adjustments
3:15:47 made to code references from county to city. Uh the planning and zoning uh did
3:15:53 recommend approval. Uh they did uh request one condition added but it was
3:15:58 already uh in the ordinance to address I believe it was the landscaping. Uh staff
3:16:04 does recommend uh uh recommend approval of the introduction
3:16:11 for this ordinance. Okay. Thank you sir. This is a public
3:16:16 hearing. Anyone in the public wish to address either one of these items may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
3:16:24 Anyone in the public wish to address either one of these item, item 19 and 20, please come to the microphone, state
3:16:29 your name and address and have three minutes.
3:16:40 Good afternoon or good evening actually. Wow. Uh Jenny May, 4062 Greystone Drive.
3:16:46 Um I'm here speaking I guess as a planning and zoning as well as a resident. Um so in regards to this I
3:16:54 mean there was a lot of uh going back and forth in regards to um this particular item. Our understanding is
3:17:01 that um on the first one which is the large scale comprehensive plan amendment
3:17:06 it didn't really matter what we voted if it was yes or no because since it was already um annexed and um approved that
3:17:14 the developer would go ahead and develop it anyways. Um so that was item number
3:17:19 one. Now, item two, you know, my my particular issue with this one was and the addition was of the landscaping. I I
3:17:27 live and drive this every day. Um it's just a shame that we continue to get
3:17:34 these projects brought to us from the county to the city before
3:17:41 before any of this has been looked at. I mean, if you drive by it is completely
3:17:47 bulldozed down. We had trees there. Bulldoze down. Roads are already in. Um
3:17:53 I mean there's really What do we do? Do we put the trees back in? I just It's one of those where you put the cart
3:18:00 before the horse. Um I just don't know how this is going to continue because it
3:18:05 is going to continue because the next item um is the same thing. And that one, you know, we're getting at 660 homes and
3:18:12 that's completely bulldozed over as well. you know, with the roads, at least with that one, that developer has put a
3:18:19 lot of conditions that would benefit our city. Let's stick with eight 19 and 20. I understand that. Sorry. So, going back
3:18:25 to item two, uh my my issue here is that there could have been more uh conditions
3:18:31 added to this one. Um you know, there was our packages were very limited
3:18:36 because as they said, the information is at the county coming to the city. Um,
3:18:43 so what conditions would you want to see? Uh, well, I mean, the trees are gone, so I I want some infor some more
3:18:51 landscaping. You know, I added I was the one that added the condition for the landscaping to make sure that um we can
3:18:58 get some more buffers and some more green. I mean, it's just completely destroyed. Um, sorry, that's just my
3:19:05 opinion as a resident. Um the uh you know there was issues as well
3:19:11 with traffic. Um this is going to add more traffic. It is a four-lane road. We
3:19:17 have tons of traffic. I know uh one of the gentlemen on our commission, John, is adamant about traffic studies. We
3:19:24 weren't really provided a traffic study on this one. Um you know, we have the issue with this
3:19:30 one. There's we're going on a four-lane road off of Hammock Ridge Road. However,
3:19:36 there is also an exit onto um Lakeshore Drive, I believe is that one, and that's a two-lane road. Um is
3:19:43 that Yeah. Yeah. So, um those were some of the concerns. Thank you.
3:19:49 Anyone else? Anyone else? Mr. Administrator, do we
3:19:56 have any anyone on um line?
3:20:01 No, sir. Okay. Okay. Well, I'm going close public comment and bring back the council. Let
3:20:06 me say this, Miss G. Um, this act this project, it did come to to the city to
3:20:12 the council. Um, we actually rejected this this project when they first came
3:20:17 up with it. They tried to get us to approve it and we didn't like a lot of the things that was in it and all. So,
3:20:22 they we rejected, but they took it to the county, okay? And the county went
3:20:27 ahead and approved everything. So all we trying to do now that the county approved it and drop it in the lap like they do a lot of things. Uh we trying to
3:20:36 do the best we can to make it work for us and that's why we annex it so fast so we can capture the the dollars and
3:20:42 everything instead of uh waiting to after all this go through and then we end up not getting the dollars the
3:20:47 impact fees and everything for everything. See since the county hit it. Okay. So it's a matter of uh I can
3:20:53 understand the frustration because I was very frustrated with the project when they came to us to begin with. I didn't like like any of the project period. And
3:21:01 um it's all rental out there. These supposed to be all rentals if I'm not mistaken. And the other thing I see
3:21:07 about 10 years down the road, they'll be coming permanent homes. Okay. Which
3:21:12 going to really create a lot of problem for us out there uh infrastructure wise. I
3:21:17 What does that mean? They're long-term rentals. Well, I've never heard such a thing.
3:21:22 Well, I I call it a new new apartments is what I'm calling it. Basically, you seeing these kind of uh areas pop up all
3:21:29 over the country where they building small homes on these small lots and things like that and they're mainly
3:21:34 rentals. Okay. And I'm like, uh, it's getting away from the high-rise apartments and everything and they
3:21:40 putting home, single family homes, but I do anticipating, like I said, within about 10 years, uh, they were probably
3:21:47 start turning around sell selling them for permanent homes and everything, not rentals anymore. That's one of the
3:21:52 reason I didn't like the small lots and the way they were squeezing everything in. Are you saying the issue is that the
3:21:59 developer is planning to keep the title and then rent or I didn't see anything
3:22:05 in the paperwork that was a special zoning for rentals? These are all rental rental
3:22:10 property. They're they're single I'm sorry. They're going to be single family residences each with an individual
3:22:17 parcel ID. However, the they will they're not going to be
3:22:24 sold or or the intent from what I understand is they're not going to be sold like a traditional developer
3:22:31 developing a neighborhood would do them where they'd have a model home and they'd have a sales agent and they'd
3:22:36 sell these lots to individual folks. I think this is usually in my experience
3:22:42 working in residential real estate. These are companies that hold on to the
3:22:47 deeds for these properties even though they are all individually parcled single family residences and they rent them as
3:22:57 rentals as homes to rent versus homes to buy. Think of it of that way. It's being
3:23:03 developed as a homes to rent versus homes to buy for and they market it as a way for people to get into a home rather
3:23:10 than an apartment but not have to take on a mortgage etc. That's not my language. That's how it was just
3:23:16 marketed. Sure. If Sorry, Mr. Cruz, I didn't mean to I didn't realize you had some
3:23:22 No, that is correct. Each parcel will have its own alternate key number will be taxed just like a single family home,
3:23:29 but it'll be owned by one company or corporation and then we'll lease them out for long-term rentals.
3:23:36 But for clarification, we're not approving or we're not
3:23:42 it's already been approved. It's already been approved. That's just what the developer plan is. That is the developer plan. That is
3:23:48 correct. Okay. There's nothing in our ordinance that says it must be used for rentals or there's no special exception
3:23:53 that we're making for rentals. That's just the way the developer developed the the uh the property. He
3:23:59 developed it that way. And like I said, when it came to us, we we kind of turned it down a couple years ago, but they
3:24:04 took it to the county and the county went ahead and approved it. Okay. Mr. Norris, I'm going to ask you to come up again. Sorry. Get used to it. Um you
3:24:13 and Scott can have coffee. What I would like to do is
3:24:21 figure out because this is the first reading. So there's a second reading. So if we want to make changes to anything, we have to do it now and so on. So what
3:24:29 I'm interested in is how can we plant any seeds so that this project even if
3:24:36 not with this developer but in the future can maybe be something better
3:24:42 than what it is. what what tools are in our toolbox that we can leverage at this
3:24:47 point in the process? It's been annexed, but it hasn't been reszoned.
3:24:52 What can we do, if anything? Um, the first thing that I would do, because this really impacts the
3:24:58 long-term economic development opportunities for the city more than anything else, you know, I heard the mayor say a few weeks ago that the
3:25:04 number one complaint in this town is traffic. Yep. All right. this development right here is going to do nothing but create more
3:25:10 traffic and create no amenity for anybody around them. So, this is this is bad news for the city and it's because
3:25:17 of the county and other things. So, what I would uh suggest that we do is um give
3:25:22 us a week or so to sort of study all the the the negative things that keep
3:25:28 happening as the county allows development around us and and things like that and sort of look at that list.
3:25:35 that I need to get with the city attorney and have a discussion about what what are the different tools that we can do to prevent these. Some things
3:25:42 will be as simple as asking questions uh ahead of time, but there's also potentially creative ways we can come up
3:25:49 with uh putting conditions on how we do this or how we do that. So, it's really just a matter of sort of studying this
3:25:55 because you're right, this isn't the only place where this is going to arise. It's not the only place where it's risen
3:26:01 in the past and we need to uh do our best to protect the future of our town
3:26:06 because otherwise this is just a this reduces the quality of life for everybody. So we annexed this property in June.
3:26:12 It's now November. Is there any harm in us tableabling this and giving Mr. Norris and his team a chance to see if
3:26:18 they can bring us something better than what this is? Well, well, at this point it's I don't think there's too much we can do at this
3:26:24 point. Okay. It's just it's just going through the motion now. Like I say, they came to us. We wasn't happy with what
3:26:31 they were proposing and we we flat out rejected it. Okay? And they took it to the county. Of
3:26:37 course, once it got to the county, the county looked at it and gave them everything they wanted. The problem we having is the county not respecting our
3:26:45 wishes and our desires. Okay. When I first became mayor, one of the things I did was ask the county to, hey, when you
3:26:52 have a project that's coming up in the Climat area and it's in the count, it's in the county and you have work on it
3:26:58 before you make any decision, send it to us and let us take a look at it. They were doing that at one point and that's
3:27:04 what happened with this one. They actually senate it let us look at it first but the developer wasn't happy with when we told him no we didn't like
3:27:11 actually what we told them is okay we will allow you to build this subdivision but here's the stipulation you have to go by you know we laid down some of our
3:27:18 rules and our ordinance and they wasn't happy with it so they took it to the county well Mr. And that's what happened quite
3:27:24 a bit. What what is the legal result if we weren't to approve this for
3:27:29 example? What what happens in the short run? Nothing. Um in the long run uh we could be
3:27:37 compelled to apply a zoning azoning. Correct. So at this point in time we can apply
3:27:44 any zoning. No I mean this is where what I the Bert
3:27:50 Harris act comes in. So there's this thing called the Bert Harris Act which says we as a local government cannot
3:27:57 inordinately burden a property owner's rights. Now what does that mean? Well the statute talks about this idea of
3:28:04 equitable estoppel. Now we've talked a little bit about that but what it means is that if someone already has a vested
3:28:09 right we can't get in the way of that. We can be stopped from doing that. So if you
3:28:16 put conditions in you we we are allowed to put conditions. you are allowed to put conditions but it have I mean it
3:28:23 can't be something that disrupts the investmentbacked expectations of the owner and if they already have vested
3:28:29 rights that's why the PUD is being presented to you essentially as is if you added a condition that said I want
3:28:36 you know landscape the the names of the streets named after the city attorney that seems like a
3:28:41 humble reasonable request um that wouldn't disrupt it wouldn't disrupt their expectations if you wanted bells
3:28:47 on the fences that's not going to be the kind of expense that disrupts the investmentbacked expectations. However,
3:28:54 if you impose landscaping obligations that are substantial now, I don't know where to draw that line. No one does.
3:29:00 It's a factspecific thing. But that's why it's being presented to you as is because that's gets into a dangerous
3:29:06 game. Are we taking away the vested rights? Mr. Mr. W, let me ask you this. Will SB
3:29:12 180 come into play here?
3:29:19 Yes. Okay. I mean, not that it's being I mean, look, we've already violated it at will,
3:29:26 you know. I mean, and nothing's happened and we haven't been challenged. And by the way,
3:29:31 a lot of municipalities are challenged is exactly. Um, however, so yes, as a
3:29:37 technical matter, I think you're the answer to your question, mayor, is we could do something that violates SP 180.
3:29:43 We're not right now. Right. Right. Okay. Well, here here's my concern and then I'll I'll end it, I
3:29:49 think, is when you look at this 60 acres and you add the Hammock Ridge Lake
3:29:55 Louisa Road property, what you have is 80 acres of residences and the new
3:30:02 urbanists community says that 80 acres is a town. It should be a town. It
3:30:08 should be a walkable, bikable town. And what do you need in a town? You need maybe a post office. That's the old one.
3:30:14 I say a grocery store, some sort of way for people to educate, some sort of way for people to recreate. You need a way
3:30:20 for people to live, work, and play in an 80acre section of the community. And as
3:30:26 we sit here today, we're looking at potentially just rubber stamping.
3:30:31 Other mun other uh jurisdictions, some might say bad planning, and you
3:30:38 know how I feel about rubber stamping. So I I would like to at least give notice to the developer that there are
3:30:44 some sort of restrictions as we read this introduction. If we don't feel like we're prepared to
3:30:51 put any sort of restrictions on it today, then my request would be that we table it. If we're not prepared to table
3:30:56 it, then I say I'm going to vote against it. Not because I don't want to work with the developer, but because I think
3:31:01 that this is not a good project as designed. And so I'd like to find what tools we could use to make it as good as
3:31:09 it can be under the circumstances. And I'm looking for something some sort of
3:31:14 direction from somebody. Otherwise, my vote is going to be no. And I don't know if that's the message that we want to send to the developer or what we want to
3:31:21 do. So that's where I'm at. But my understanding is we it's already been approved. Lake County Lake County has approved it.
3:31:28 Correct. So we can't stop the project. There's also about approximately two
3:31:33 years ago when this came through the city. This was approved with a utility agreement based on this plan as well. So
3:31:39 that holds weight I believe you tell me that's it does. Yeah. So just FYI there's a
3:31:45 utility agreement that was approved based on this plan approximately two years ago. And because of the utility agreement is
3:31:51 the reason we was able to go in and annex it in. Correct. If you remember, mayor, you you hel up for larger lots. They came in
3:31:56 with a higher density. Right. And we kicked it back to the county. You're right. Right. And they came back with larger lots and that's when the council was
3:32:02 Yeah. Yeah. They they wanted they wanted a lot more dense density and everything
3:32:08 and I just we just didn't want to allow that. It was just too much strain on our infrastructure and everything. So they
3:32:14 end up going to the county. So um in far sight uh I kind of wish we had it in had
3:32:21 annexed it into the city long if we could have annexed it into the city then we could have kept it out of the county
3:32:27 and and had more restrictions on it but unfortunately they could go to the
3:32:33 county and same thing u with a lot of the properties around here that's what that's what happens all it's been
3:32:38 happening quite a bit and like I said we were working pretty good with the county there for one point uh when I first came
3:32:44 in we were they was actually sending a lot of the projects to us to take a look at and if we said we didn't like certain
3:32:50 things they they would make the adjustments but somehow we stopped getting that cooperation somewhere in
3:32:56 the last year or two. So I don't know and right now as I say I don't I hear
3:33:02 what you're saying strange but I don't really see what what we can do or what we can impose on the developer right now
3:33:07 because he has the right uh Mr. mind is even if we say no and everything, we
3:33:12 just going to end up probably in a court battle or anything and come well probably go to a magistrate first and
3:33:18 the mag come back and tell us what we have to do pretty much. So, um at this
3:33:24 point I think our hands are tied,
3:33:29 you know, so it's up to you or what whatever. May I ask question to staff? Um this the
3:33:39 council in June annexed this 50-0.
3:33:45 Correct. Um so we essentially did did we essentially
3:33:51 send a as a as a council. Um and I I'm now part of that council even though I
3:33:57 didn't vote on that. I I'm now part of that council that essentially represents the city that said we we we are annexing
3:34:05 you. So that means you're now going to have a zoning with us and you're going to have a future land use with us. And
3:34:12 that's what these resolution or ordinances are. Correct. We are bringing it into our
3:34:18 format and framework. Yeah. For example, future land use is
3:34:24 low density residential and then the county has their own low or urban low.
3:34:30 Right? So what we're doing is bringing them into alignment so that way if someone calls and says what's my
3:34:36 zoning and future land use in the city, we're we can say well you don't have one
3:34:42 in the city, you have one in the county. So, we're just trying to get it to align
3:34:47 what the the city has in in place for the framework, right? Um
3:34:53 and and and with our
3:34:58 approval of the annexation and and potentially with a
3:35:05 reszone and future land use. Um we are we are we are approving the
3:35:16 proposals that were put through this the county.
3:35:22 And if there are items that don't meet our code for
3:35:28 the zoning or future land use that we have put it that we're bringing them in under
3:35:36 would there be conditions in here that would state that in terms of the future land use um Lake
3:35:43 County's lowest density is four dwelling units per acre. Yeah. And we're bringing in as three dwelling
3:35:49 units per acre or less. Yeah. So there's no conflict there. Okay. As for the zoning, it's PUD. Yeah. So
3:35:56 it's a light for like we like we write PUDs. Um and we're able to put certain
3:36:01 conditions in there. The only thing we did any reference to the county, we changed it to the city.
3:36:08 So that way when you read it, it didn't say Lake County, Lake County, Lake County. So So really I I get the concernation
3:36:13 about like I was just doing the math. It's 800, if you talk about both, 815
3:36:20 single family residences at 414.34 acres of development. Um, and we could
3:36:28 have said, "We're not going to annex you." But if we didn't do that back in June,
3:36:33 if this council would have turned that down, the $10 million of impact fees
3:36:38 would have gone to the county rather than stay in the city. That is correct. So I I mean I'm
3:36:45 frustrated by it all too because I think we would have the expectation that our our our governance partners when we turn
3:36:53 something down because of legitimate reasons a and state those reasons that
3:36:59 they wouldn't go and turn, you know, do the opposite. It's like good cop, bad
3:37:04 cop. Uh I'm sorry I mom said no, so now I'm going to go to dad. Uh and dad says
3:37:10 yes. it creates that conflict and that's kind of what has happened and so it is frustrating but at the same time if this
3:37:19 development is going to occur and it sounds like it would have because
3:37:24 they we just wouldn't have annexed it and they would have stayed in the county. I would much rather have the
3:37:30 impact fees from that in order for us to to get those funds today. And I say
3:37:35 today in a relative term, but then also be able to for future with the with our
3:37:41 zoning and our future land use to be able to control what happens in those
3:37:46 areas should 50 years from now when this gets uh
3:37:52 looked at for something else. Um cuz I'm sure 50 years ago some folks thought
3:37:58 orange groves would never have houses on them. Um and here we are. And so this could
3:38:04 change in in the future. It would have our zoning, our future land use, and would be included in any comprehensive
3:38:10 plan revisions that we do that would also uh indicate what's happening in that area um and and so forth. Is that
3:38:18 correct? That is correct. Um, also if you remember at the end of October, the city
3:38:24 annexed two existing subdivisions in this gen in this area. One is adjacent to this and then the
3:38:29 other one's directly north of Hammock Ridge Road. So if that was done prior to
3:38:35 the building permit process, the impact fees could have been collected to the city, but instead they've been existing.
3:38:43 One development I think was 20 years maybe. Okay. So I don't think it's been that
3:38:49 long years. I So I I mean I I guess I say all that just to say I I'm frustrated too. I
3:38:56 do get that in all honesty. And I think the reality is is that this is a this is a larger problem that we have with
3:39:03 developments that this city council or a previous city council uh because
3:39:09 sometimes whether we like it or not uh us sitting up here, we're still the city council in the eyes of the law whether
3:39:15 we were on the dis when the v vote occurred or not. um we would expect that
3:39:21 our county in this case partner would work collaboratively with us and and and
3:39:27 respect the decisions that we're making and unfortunately in this situation it didn't. So now we have to we we have to
3:39:33 deal with this and it sounds like we have two options to deal with this. uh we either
3:39:39 annex it, which the council voted to do, and then change the zone, give it a zoning, and give it a future land use,
3:39:44 or we um we we don't. And I I I I think
3:39:50 that throws into some legal jeopardy what the the annexation was because now we have a big giant two giant acreage of
3:39:58 parcels that that don't have a a zoning and a future land use within the city.
3:40:04 uh and we're not getting potentially the the impact fees for that and these homes still get built and that's I think a
3:40:09 frustration for for for me to see that happen and to to tell residents that um
3:40:15 you know we're not trying to get something out of this even though we didn't have control up front. Well, that's why if there's anything
3:40:21 that we can do to make it better for the city, that's that's what I'm looking for. And now I I believe is the time
3:40:28 because this is an ordinance that will run with the land forever. So rather than just saying, "Oh, well, county, you
3:40:34 won." For lack of perhaps a better expression in the moment, is saying, "Okay, well, yeah, we agree." And I
3:40:41 don't necessarily mind small homes. I think small homes can create an opportunity for starter homes for families and retirees, even if not this
3:40:48 developer in the future. But I do care that there's 80 acres here that is not its own space for people to live, work,
3:40:54 and play. And I think if there's anything we can do to create work and play opportunities here, even in
3:41:02 collaboration with the developer, I'm not trying to I I don't want to have conflict. I don't want to have the
3:41:07 lawsuits, but I have we have a great lawyer here and you had some sort of epiphany. I'd love for you to share it.
3:41:14 No, I'm just going to amend. I I told you that in the long run, we might be able to be sued compelled. I actually
3:41:20 don't think that's true. So, if you look at chapter 171, the annexation statute, all it says is that until we amend our
3:41:26 comp plan and apply zoning, the county still applies. So, if we don't do anything, it's just going to stay the
3:41:33 way it is forever.
3:41:39 Did they apply for this? Did the did the property owner apply for the reasoning? I think we are the petitioner.
3:41:45 No. Um, the the city is the applicant. And again, normally the way it works is annexations go handinhand with the comp
3:41:52 plan and resoning, but since we were looking at annexing getting that in for the building permit uh impact fees, that
3:42:00 was done first because this process since it's a large-scale comp plan, we
3:42:06 have to transmit to state agencies for review and feedback. So that is
3:42:11 something that normally takes a 60-day window in terms of transmitt responses
3:42:17 come back and the largescale comp plan will come back to you for final adoption
3:42:23 along with the final PUD reszoning. But if we don't transmit then as Mr.
3:42:30 Wall said it could sit there based on the annexation statute with county zoning and and county future land use.
3:42:37 and um we just reference their PUD document, but it won't it won't stop the project.
3:42:43 No, it it won't stop the project, but it it could give us control. Here's here's how I feel. If we move forward with this,
3:42:50 what we're doing is we're committing that this bad project will never change. My suggestion, my motion is that we
3:42:56 table this until the December meeting, giving staff time to sit down with the developer and see if they can come up
3:43:03 with a plan that works with the developer that might include work and play components in their existing plan
3:43:10 so that we can come back with maybe something a little bit better than what we have. So my motion is to table this
3:43:15 until the December meeting.
3:43:25 Well, we we can table this and you can try to force the developer to come up and work in play, but I'm going to tell
3:43:31 you on this piece of property, I don't think it's going to happen. It's going to be a waste of time. Um, and he
3:43:37 basically got approved already to build what he's going to be do what he's going to do. Yeah. But the market is softening.
3:43:42 Why would I worry about going back and and wasting my money now? And I've already, if I'm not mistaken, they've already started work out there, right?
3:43:49 Yeah. Infrastructure, everything else. So, at this point, I don't I don't see them in
3:43:54 even entertaining anything different than what they've already got. Yeah, it's already started. I'll second the motion so that I can ask
3:44:01 the question about uh what it means so that we can have a vote um if that
3:44:07 works. Um so, I'll second the motion. And my question is by tableabling it,
3:44:13 what effect does that have on the project's
3:44:18 advancement and does it affect or potentially affect
3:44:24 our ability to get the impact fees? My understanding is um it wouldn't
3:44:30 affect the project and it wouldn't uh affect the impact fees because they're annexed. Because they're annexed. Okay. So again,
3:44:37 if someone calls and says, "What's the city zoning for this?" We're going to say, "It's a county PUB ordinance 2020-
3:44:44 then I'll second it for uh I keep my second." Of course, of course, at this point, let's say you got that vacant piece next
3:44:51 to it, to the south of it, and to the east of it, if they decide to redevelop and we keep it under the under the
3:44:57 county um zoning, they can still put in more density than what we have by us
3:45:03 putting some restriction in there. And I would I think it'd be my hope that we would uh we would deal with this before that
3:45:10 would happen. Yes. All I want to do is give staff a little more time so that we don't have an ordinance.
3:45:15 But are we are we like just spinning our wheels by pushing this forward or is it you know let's say it's the next
3:45:20 meeting? I mean is this the way I understand it? It's already approved. We approved the annex. Correct.
3:45:26 Yeah. And we're just trying to get in now so we get impact fees. No, we already got this.
3:45:32 We can't stop this project at all, can we? No, I'm seeing head shake. So, if we
3:45:37 can't stop it, then what are we tableabling? I'm just trying to understand why you want to table it. So, the rationale is that an ordinance
3:45:44 lives forever until it's until it's changed. And it's a much longer process than a resolution or a policy. And so,
3:45:50 this ordinance will run with the land and it will give rights to the property owner that they can rely on forever and
3:45:56 ever. Right now, their rights are with the county. And there is they have a a they're a part of the city, but their
3:46:02 rights are with the county. Once we approve the county's design, unapproving that or doing something different is
3:46:09 extremely difficult. This is already a tough road to hoe. However, we currently have some sort of seat at
3:46:17 the table. It might be rickety and it might only have three legs, but we have a seat. Once we approve this, we don't
3:46:24 have a seat anymore. So all I'm trying to do is give us the time because if we take action now, what we're doing is
3:46:31 we're accepting defeat. There's no hope. And since this was approved in June, we
3:46:36 have hired DPZ, the American Bicycle Association, and Mr. Norris and his team. And so now that this is on the
3:46:43 radar of staff, I'd like to just give them a little more opportunity. I don't think it hurts us because the project is
3:46:50 what it is. But if if it comes back and they say there's nothing we can do, then they say there's nothing we can do. call
3:46:55 for a vote then. Okay, great. We uh
3:47:00 by tableabling it and not voting on it and just letting it go like it is. Basically, what's happening is you still
3:47:06 giving the county permission to to control the density and everything by
3:47:12 voting and taking the only way to take it away from the county. What happened in the future is by us approving this.
3:47:18 Okay? If we don't approve it, the county still has control. Okay? But we have a
3:47:23 motion to table um and second. Is there a date for the table? This is for the comp plan only. Correct.
3:47:30 Transmitt, right? I'm going to ask for all of it. I mean, we might as well do it all. We're doing item number 19, ordinance
3:47:36 number 2025-035. We have to do it separately. Move to table item number 19, ordinance
3:47:42 2025-39 to December 9th. To December 9th. Second. bill.
3:47:47 Have a motion and a second to the table item number 19, ordinance number 2025-039,
3:47:53 introduction for transmitt until December 9th. Is it December 9th or December? Okay, December 9th.
3:47:59 December 9th. Okay, December 9th. Any further discussion?
3:48:05 All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose and share vote I as well.
3:48:11 Motion carries 40. Item number 20, ordinance number 20225-040.
3:48:17 Introduction IV amendment reject reszoning. You've already read it, right? Motion to
3:48:24 table item number 20, ordinance 2025-040. I second it. I have a motion and second to table item
3:48:30 number 20, ordinance number 2025-040. Any further discussion? Hear none. All
3:48:36 in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. I. All oppose. Chair vote I as well. Motion
3:48:42 carry for item number 21, ordinance number 2025-041.
3:48:48 I'll read the next two. And and item uh number 22, ordinance number 2025-043.
3:48:55 Same thing. We read both of them and uh vote on separate. An ordinance of the city council of the city of Clermont,
3:49:01 Lake County, Florida, adopting the large-scale comprehensive plan amendment for the city of Clermont, Florida,
3:49:06 pursuant to the local government comprehensive planning act, chapter 163, part two, Florida statutes, setting
3:49:12 forth the authority for adoption of the large-scale comprehensive plan amendment. Setting forth the purpose and intent of the large-scale comprehensive
3:49:20 plan amendment establishing the legal status of the comprehensive plan amendment providing for conflict
3:49:25 severability the administrative correction of scrivener's error publication and an effective date ordinance 202542 an ordinance under the
3:49:33 code of ordinances of the city of Clermont Lake County Florida amending the official zoning map of the city of
3:49:38 Clermont referred to in chapter 122 of ordinance number 289C code of ordinances
3:49:44 reszoning the properties described herein as shown below providing for conflict severability administrative
3:49:50 correction of scrivener's error recording publication and an effective date.
3:49:56 Yes sir. Good evening again. John Cruz development services. Um this is for Mckennon Grove's large scale comp plan
3:50:03 amendment and resoning and it's um very similar to what you just heard the previous two applications.
3:50:10 Um, the city as the applicant is requesting a large-scale comprehensive plan amendment reszoning of the subject
3:50:15 property as a followup to staff initiated annexation request. Outlined
3:50:20 in yellow is the property in question. The property is located south of Hardwood Marsh Road and West Lake Orange
3:50:27 County line is approximately 357 acres. The property was approved under PUD
3:50:32 ordinance number 2021-36 in Lake County for up to 660 single
3:50:38 family dwelling units along with 520,000 square feet of non-residential use. The
3:50:45 project is currently moving forward and construction activity is starting. The property was annexed by city council on
3:50:52 June 10th prior to building permit issue issuance to capture approximately $8.3
3:50:57 million worth of impact fees on the residential portion of the development. No com commercial construction has
3:51:04 started at the moment. The current zoning of the property within Lake County is plan unit development with the
3:51:09 wellness way north future land use category. The compatible zoning within the city would be plan unit development
3:51:16 as well with the concurrent entitlements captured within the PUD. The zoning designation abides by the wellness way
3:51:23 community guidelines regarding implementation. The future land use within the city
3:51:28 would be identical to the future land the future land use in the county which
3:51:33 is wellness way north. The future land use designations aligns with the master
3:51:38 plan for the wellness way area and is consistent with the city's future land use map and figure 2.1.5 wellness way
3:51:46 north district location. The change in the future land use to the existing wellness way north does not
3:51:52 propose a conflict between the existing uses and land uses within the area. The
3:51:57 proposed future land use is consistent with the city's comprehensive plan and its goals, objectives, and policies.
3:52:04 The PUD zoning does not propose a conflict to the existing uses and land
3:52:09 uses in the area. The planning and zoning commission recommended approval 3 to two for the comprehensive plan
3:52:15 amendment. The planning and zoning commission recommended approval 4 to one for the resoning with the added
3:52:22 condition that the developer and property owner provide advanced burn notification.
3:52:27 Staff recommends transmitt of the large square large scale comprehensive plan amendment and uh introduction to
3:52:34 reszoning. That concludes staff's presentation. Thank you sir. This is a public forum.
3:52:40 Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
3:52:55 Joe Famasi 2693 jumping jack way wellness way. So after I heard about
3:53:01 this development coming in, I went to the PNZ and I spoke about the issue of
3:53:06 lack of water down in this situation. I know that the city has uh some land set
3:53:13 aside over there and I was asking that maybe you could work with the developer to help bring a water system for the
3:53:21 whole wellness way area. Uh I know that the department uh of works put forward
3:53:27 idea of a holding tank. This situation is perfect. That's open land. the
3:53:34 construction's just started and you could run pipelines all the way down to Parkside Trail with minimal issues.
3:53:40 You're not going to be cutting through a whole bunch of uh neighborhoods to have to do it. So, I hope you consider
3:53:47 something. Also, the burn notice. I don't know who in their right mind would think that control burning near an
3:53:54 area that's going to become a city is a great idea. I had a discussion out here with that
3:54:00 individual and I uh totally against that. If you're going to bring this into the city, that whole burning situation
3:54:07 needs to stop cuz anybody who thinks that a control burn near residential area, you
3:54:14 obviously not visited Paradise, California in 2018 when 95% of the town
3:54:20 was burned to the ground. So, I hope that you uh reconsider the whole burning issue. Thank you.
3:54:29 Thank you. Anyone else?
3:54:40 Jenny May 4062 Greystone Drive. Um just wanted to add on to the uh burn
3:54:47 notification. So we had uh the uh native uh tree society come. So I just wanted
3:54:53 to provide you that information. the native tree society uh came and had talked about uh the portion of the I
3:55:00 guess it's the eastern side is where they do the control burns um and so that
3:55:06 is something that uh he had brought up. So, um, we wanted to make sure that that was
3:55:12 in the developers, I guess, ear, uh, that that was happening or
3:55:18 what's happening there. in regards to uh them uh they would like to ask the
3:55:24 developer and I'm just trying to put it on record that before they clear the southern part of the property which is
3:55:30 all trees they would like to um if possible work with the staff and
3:55:35 developer uh to be able to uh remove those trees and replace them in other
3:55:41 places. So and that's it. Thank you.
3:55:46 Thank you. Anyone else? This is a public public forum. Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the
3:55:52 microphone, state your name and address and have three minutes. Anyone else? Seeing no one else that
3:55:58 close public forum in the chamber. Uh Mr. Administrator, anyone on virtual?
3:56:08 Okay. Close out virtual public comment and bring it back to council. What say council?
3:56:13 I have a question for staff regarding the burn. Um, is that something we
3:56:19 typically allow in this city or is that is something that the county allowed because the county allows it?
3:56:25 No, actually for control burns, for example, Lake Louisa will do a control burn and it's just a notification the
3:56:31 developer has to put either in their homeowner document docs or covenants
3:56:36 letting them know, hey, there's a control burn in the area is my understanding. Wellness Way, LAR swap
3:56:42 has language in there that talks about controlled burning, you live near a mining operation, you're living near
3:56:49 schools, it just puts them on notice that, hey, if they're going to be burning in the area, it's just a a
3:56:56 advanced warning that hey, there's potential burning in the area due due to your location and existing uses.
3:57:03 So, we have current communities within city limits that have this exact type of
3:57:10 language. There are two PUDs that I can think of and they're both down in the wellness way because you have the larger tracks
3:57:16 of land that that's one thing they do is go in and they do burning to so we just put it in there but it's more
3:57:23 of a notice notification from the the developer to each property owner that
3:57:30 this could occur. Okay, it's in the PUB. We did add it. We did add it to this ordinance and my
3:57:36 understanding that the applicant's uh representative was there and that they were agreeable to that that condition to
3:57:42 be added and and it has to go if they just can't go out and start burning. It has to be
3:57:48 approved through the Florida uh wildlife and everything. They have to put in a permit. They have to get a burn and they they check the weather
3:57:54 conditions and wind and all this before they actually allow them to burn. Okay. So, it it's it has to be permitted. It's
3:58:00 not just something they can just go out and start burning. That was going to be my question is what's the process for a
3:58:06 burn? My understanding it's been a while they have to contact the department of forestry say hey I want to burn they'll
3:58:13 ask how much cubic yards they want to burn they'll give look at the weather they look at humidity and based and also
3:58:20 equipment and there's a lot of requirements but ultimately it's going to be granted by the division of
3:58:26 forestry because it is more of like an agricultural use. Okay. So um and and sorry final question then. Do
3:58:33 they require city approval in order to
3:58:38 do a controlled burn or is that out of our jurisdiction altogether and we just added this requirement of notification?
3:58:45 It's it's out of our jurisdiction. So if we didn't approve this notification then it they could still do
3:58:51 it but just without the additional notification. That is correct. Okay. That's what I want to make sure
3:58:57 that that we're clear on on on that piece. Okay. Thank you.
3:59:04 All righty. Any other question? Council, what say council? Yeah, there were a couple things I
3:59:10 wanted to run by Christian on this ordinance. Um,
3:59:15 so on page 420 of the book, section six, landscaping requirements,
3:59:23 section A, 6A, references the comprehensive plan and land development
3:59:28 regulations as amended. I believe that should say Clermont. I don't know if it matters.
3:59:33 I I I don't think it matters. It it is going it has to comply with the Clermont. Okay. Yeah. Um, and does this effectively in I
3:59:41 mean I imagine so it effectively incorporates the new yard pattern book that we've already adopted. Got it.
3:59:47 Um, page 424 section 8 subsection B C
3:59:55 and E both have may in their language. The wellness corridor may include the
4:00:01 following elements. um the bicycle networks um blah blah blah may include.
4:00:09 Is it beyond our scope to say they must include a certain number of those
4:00:15 elements? What are you looking at? Um on my book it's page 424. It's section 8 subsection C
4:00:22 and E. So C and E both have may I don't see. Can we make those mandatory?
4:00:28 Oh, I see. Hold on. icle the wellness quarter may include the following
4:00:34 and I'm thinking like for C must include at least four of the elements and for E must include at least two of the
4:00:40 elements. I think you know may means they could not do it. The the issue there is um I'm not sure
4:00:49 that you get to where you want to be because of the andor. So looking at C the wellness corridor may include the
4:00:55 following elements. one little eye, two little eye, all the way down to six little i. Um, it says and or. So, it's like shall,
4:01:03 one or. So, you still only get one necessarily, but if that's what your intention, then yes.
4:01:09 Um, well, I was thinking, can we put a number on those? Yeah, I mean, you can. Well,
4:01:16 uh, depending on Oh, you're saying everything you read it
4:01:22 as subsection C, little I through little six. and or subsection seven. So they have to
4:01:29 have storm water management facilities. In other words, you have to have a a ditch, but you don't have to have open
4:01:37 space, park, recreation, trails, viewsheds, wetland community. That's correct.
4:01:42 I mean, do we want to say they must have something in little I through little wording then it has to be must have all.
4:01:49 Well, I'm thinking at least one of the items in I through six and then down under E, the same thing. at least one of
4:01:55 the items in I through, you know, little one through three and four and or four.
4:02:02 I mean, the answer to that depends. Is there a site plan approved for the wellness corridor already? Well,
4:02:09 yeah, there is. Well, if that's the case, then we can do it. I don't think so. Um, because they
4:02:16 already have it's a vested right under the equitable estoppel doctrine. Okay.
4:02:23 Are they acting in good faith under that? Do we think we're going to see these kinds of improvements? I do not know. I do not know. Or is this blue sky for us?
4:02:29 Trails out there. There's trails in the McKinnon. Yeah. They have trails. Okay. Um, subsection 17 or section 17,
4:02:38 excuse me. Um, I think I'm going to get these out of you. One of them is a typo,
4:02:44 so I feel like we can get that corrected. Um, there's a reference to providing
4:02:50 fire and emergency medical services. I'm certain that's supposed to be and so
4:02:55 there's a D missing from the one, two, three, four, fifth line. There. A few minor typos there. Yes.
4:03:03 Yeah. So, let's correct those. And then the 10 years from the effective date of this ordinance. Again, this one's
4:03:09 underway, so maybe it's not an issue, but I would rather see it say 10 years from the date of delivery of the deed.
4:03:18 because if they wait nine years to give us the property and then we have one year to build a fire station, we just
4:03:23 can't move that fast. So you're proposing uh changing let's
4:03:30 see I'm just looking at this closer to Harvard
4:03:36 private however if the city has not constructed a public safety facility on the donated property within 10 years
4:03:43 then the city shall convey so that you're limiting the time that the city
4:03:48 has to build. Well, they've limited the time. If the city has not constructed a public
4:03:55 safety facility on the donated property within 10 years, then the city shall convey it back. But I'm saying 10 years
4:04:01 of the effective date of this ordinance versus 10 years of delivery of the deed. So, we have 10 years to build from once
4:04:07 they give us the deed. I see. Rather than the effective date of the ordinance. Okay.
4:04:13 Are we comfortable with that? It gives us because we don't necessarily have control over when they give us the deed.
4:04:18 Have they given us the deed? Yeah. I I'm not aware of it being donated. Yeah. Are we comfortable with the change?
4:04:24 Sorry. I thought you were changing it to five years. No, no. 10. I see. But from the delivery of the deed, not the date of the ordinance.
4:04:30 I have no legal objection to that. Can I get that one from everybody? Are
4:04:36 we good? Okay. I got one out of six. Pretty good.
4:04:41 I'll take it. It's all I got. So, what do we change that language in
4:04:46 that particular sentence? Yeah, I had to go through the drill with him to be told no a bunch of times. So, we're not
4:04:52 But I got one of them. So, the if you're comfortable with it, changing the language of we this developer is
4:04:58 donating three acres of land for a fire station to us and the language of the current ordinance says that we have 10 years to
4:05:04 build the fire station from the date of the ordinance. My request is that we make it 10 years from the date they
4:05:10 deliver the deed. Right. But I think it's right. It'll be a little later than that, but I think we
4:05:15 should have that within 10 years, within five years. No, it it could be 20 years before we get the final deeds.
4:05:21 Well, yeah, we can't necessarily well compel the delivery of the deed or or it
4:05:26 gets more complicated. I think the easier thing to say is, yeah, when we get the deed,
4:05:32 can we make that change? Yes, we're going to we have to do it now on the intro.
4:05:37 I mean, is that is that change going to not be acceptable? No. No, it's legally fine. I'm not I
4:05:43 have no objection to it. So, I make a motion to approve ordinance number 2025-041
4:05:50 with those stipulations in section 17 that were after mention
4:06:00 before mention. There you go. I wasn't going to do it, but yeah, I'll second that. Okay.
4:06:05 But I'd like to hear other discussion if there is any. He made the motion for 2025-041.
4:06:12 That's the large scale, which is the It's the I think the motion he made was for It should have been for 42.
4:06:23 I was looking at both of them together. Hold that motion. Yeah, that should have been for 42. I didn't have a problem with the other
4:06:28 one. All right. Thanks, Bill. I got you on the next one.
4:06:33 So, we're looking for a motion for 41. Move to approve item number 21, ordinance 2025-41.
4:06:39 Second. Okay. I have a mo motion and approval for ordinance number 2025-041,
4:06:45 introduction and transmitt. Any further discussion? Is there an opportunity for us to to
4:06:53 include a holding tank or work through the water system with this developer in this area?
4:06:59 And now would now be that time to do that.
4:07:06 Great question. My understanding this they they they did wells or something down there.
4:07:12 Yes, they got all all whales. They allowed wells and everything and something else. Well, we kind of objected to it, but
4:07:19 that's what the county approved wells and everything. And we we
4:07:28 so we can't use this as a as utilize this opportunity as part of Wellness Way on the on the
4:07:35 north end to help service all of Wellness Way to the south to do
4:07:41 something with the with the holding tank on this on this property or uh
4:07:47 that that's more of a public services question. Yeah. Related to that though, I I shared
4:07:53 your concern. I I dismissed myself, but since you brought it up, we'll go ahead and do it. I am under the impression of
4:07:59 this property because it's so much farther along that I don't think there is more acreage. I thought about
4:08:05 bringing that up as well. I like the idea that or maybe what we could do is
4:08:10 in that section 17,
4:08:15 I don't know if they'll go for it, but not limit. So, we could consider not limiting the public safety, limiting the
4:08:22 land for public safety. Perhaps it, although one could make an argument that water treatment is public safety, but it
4:08:28 specifically says fire and emergency medical, they probably want the fire and emergency medical for good reason. Um,
4:08:35 but in the presentation of from staff, they really wanted 10 acres, I think,
4:08:40 for what they really need for Wellness Way. I don't think they can do it with three, but they really need 10. Um, so
4:08:48 my first thought was I'm not sure this is one we're really going to have any leverage with. I think that this is this
4:08:55 this one's pretty far along. I my suspicion is that the developer would say, "Okay, well, you can do wastewater
4:09:01 if you'd rather instead of fire, but they might like the emergency medical there." So, they might push back on that. But even if they said yes, I don't
4:09:08 know that the three acres really satisfies what we need. What we need is more like 10.
4:09:13 And I will also say I'm not necessarily
4:09:18 Maybe I'm putting my junk on it, but it feels like this isn't really Wellness Way. This is more the Hartwood Marsh
4:09:24 community. This these are the people who live on Hartwood Marsh Road. And for me, I would like to see more of
4:09:30 a solution for water in Wellness Way. U but I I get the impression from what I've heard from staff that if we were to
4:09:36 come to this developer and say we'd rather use that that I think we'd get cooperation with them to the extent they
4:09:41 can at this point with the three acres with the three acres. So, it's fair. I just that's why I ask.
4:09:47 Yeah. I think that the it's it's a a great question and I think that the
4:09:53 water plan that we're working on, the comprehensive plan that we're working on, my hope is that we come up with a
4:09:59 solution in the true wellness way area for the wellness way water issues. That
4:10:05 that's where I'm coming from. But if you want to remember, we're at the intro. So, if there's something we want to
4:10:11 include, we can always peel back at the final. we can't add at the final. So, if
4:10:16 there's something you wanted to add here and give staff a chance to talk to the developer and potentially draw it back,
4:10:22 we could I'd entertain that because I know it's important for Wellness Way. Well, and I I don't want to create a
4:10:28 situation where it's water or fire and now we've got this Sophie's choice, right?
4:10:33 Uh and so, uh you know, if we're if we if we're getting at least three acres for fire at this point, I I I agree with
4:10:40 you. I think that if if for whatever reason staff has a conversation with with the
4:10:48 developer and with guidance from us as council, they are able to do something
4:10:54 different with relation to water or wastewater instead of fire and that
4:10:59 three acre parcel. I I I think that they would be amanable to that given that they've already been
4:11:06 willing to kind of work with us on three acres anyway. Uh I think if they were unwilling to work they they wouldn't
4:11:12 have given us three um in that regard. So part of our challenge is the geographic
4:11:18 location from the one station to the other. Yeah. And chief could talk to you, but we feel like that's a station we're going to
4:11:24 need at one. Oh, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I'm just thinking if if there was some scenario in which we had a different
4:11:31 parcel that was like, "Oh my gosh, this is the parcel and now we've got this three acres. maybe we could go back and
4:11:36 work with them on something related to utilities. It sounds like we have a willing partner who would be willing to
4:11:41 do that. So, I I don't want to move anything at this point. I I'm willing to vote on on transmitt at this point.
4:11:46 Okay. Mr. Peterson, your motion still stand. Yes.
4:11:52 Okay. With the added language in the what was it? Uh amending section 17. That's for the next
4:11:57 one though, right? No, that's the one we're getting ready to vote on now, right? Well, didn't we vote on uh We haven't voted on 41 yet. Oh, we
4:12:05 didn't. Oh, we had a motion. Okay. Okay. Well,
4:12:10 if there's no further discussion, do I do have a motion in a second on ordinance number 2025-041?
4:12:17 No further discussion. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote I as well. So,
4:12:25 ordinance number 2025-042. I did have a motion in the second on that with the added language in par what
4:12:32 was paragraph 17 17 10 years from the date of the deed not the date of the ordinance.
4:12:38 Okay. Any further discussion hearing? None. All in favor let it be
4:12:43 known by saying I. I. All opposed and chair vote I as well. That concludes the agenda and we move
4:12:49 into reports. Mr. Van Wagner.
4:12:56 Mr. Mr. Mayor, would it be okay if I let Mr. Matthis share before I share with you because he's got an engagement.
4:13:02 Sure. So, just a for council a real quick update on the wellness way. Well, we got
4:13:08 some further information on that. The owner has applied for a permit for a sound dampering fence around the well.
4:13:15 The permit has completed its review process and is awaiting payment to get to be issued. So, the fence is on order.
4:13:22 They're ordering a vinyl fence, which typically a vinyl fence lowers the volume levels about 20 to 30 dB. So,
4:13:28 there will be relief coming soon. Mr. Famasi, the fence is on order. It will be here. The permits ready to be issued
4:13:36 and once it's here, they can start installing it. How tall is the fence? Um, I do not have the information. Is it
4:13:43 six feet? Does it need to be taller? Um, that's Well, you have to get ordinance change.
4:13:50 Well, that's I mean I think that's what he's asking us for. Well, my question is why is they going
4:13:55 to put a wall up to try to dampen the sound? Why then can't they put better equipment in it that's not so noisy?
4:14:02 Well, that's I I can't answer that. That's what the well does. But the the vinyl fence is other than a block wall
4:14:09 is the best sound producer of any fence type. And we think
4:14:15 well we our attorney says there's other solutions that we could employ. I mean I'm not an engineer or an expert
4:14:21 or anything. It's just you know as Mr. Spock said there's always possibilities. Um just refer to Mr. Spock.
4:14:28 Well I just don't think putting up a wall to me isn't the solution but uh if
4:14:34 it'll quieten it down a little bit but I think they need to just change the equipment out. Better equipment is what
4:14:39 it sound like to me. I I do appreciate the quick action on their part. I think that that is good and that is a sign of of of of a good
4:14:47 move. But I tend to agree. I think that a fence and maybe some I think a taller
4:14:54 fence I think landscaping might be helpful to help buffer, you know, with some some trees, but at the end of the
4:15:01 day, I'm not sure that's going to mitigate the the homeowners legitimate concerns. And to me, this is a noise
4:15:09 ordinance issue. This is a a nuisance issue. I mean there's potential code
4:15:14 issues I would imagine. I think if yeah I think it's a nuisance. So I there
4:15:20 wouldn't be council support from this seat if I hear that video again from that dis on in the form of evidence. So
4:15:28 while I if they want a taller fence I mean whatever they need to do to not have that sound I'm going to support it.
4:15:36 Uh but I'm not going to support if it's 50% that's not going to cut it for me. I'm going to be on the side of the
4:15:42 residents in that. So, I like that they moved quickly, but I would like them to come up with a good solution. And um if
4:15:48 there's anything else we can do, let us know what that is. Yeah. Well, and I mean, we can always
4:15:54 ask for vegetation around the fence because that'll add another layer of sound. If it's still not enough, then we
4:15:59 can go back to the drawing board and Yeah. So, we have a new development liaison and we have economic development
4:16:05 folks who are all creative and good and I think you're all going to be very busy for the next 20 days until we have our
4:16:11 next meeting and hopefully we can get all this resolved by December 9th because then it's January. So, sooner
4:16:19 the better. I'm sure Joe will tour you around if you need help. And and of course
4:16:25 I I won't ask them questions tonight so we can move on. Of course, I got a lot of question even about the fence and I
4:16:30 don't think it's going to be the solution there. So, we'll just have to wait and see. Anything else, Mr. Uh I mean, Mr.
4:16:37 Matthews? No, sir. I was just reporting that. That's okay. Thank you. Yes, sir. Just a couple things,
4:16:43 especially in light of the Kroger's closing. There is going to be a career
4:16:48 fair tomorrow, November 19th at the Ark from 10:00 a.m. to 300 pm and there's
4:16:55 going to be 22 employers there tomorrow. So Oh, great. We host a net. We host a net right
4:17:02 in the arc. Yes, sir. So, good timing for that. What time? 10:00 a.m. to 300 p.m. tomorrow.
4:17:08 And what should people bring with them? Resumes. What else are they doing? Interviews. How does it work? notice
4:17:13 they're meeting those employers and they'll make contacts with them and go from there. Do Clermont employers have notice of
4:17:19 this. How how do who's coming I guess is my point. I don't have the name. Yes, the information was put out and
4:17:25 flyers was put out and sent out to I think over a month ago. I think I started seeing it sent out and uh
4:17:31 everything is a matter of fact it's a flyer on the door as you come into city hall uh earlier
4:17:37 yesterday when I was leaving city hall. A couple of people were sitting there writing the information uh off the fly you in and the one there at the uh city
4:17:44 hall door. Will the city have a staff member there to do? We weren't we we're doing the city. We
4:17:49 actually doing the career fair. No, I mean well we have someone doing interviews because we have open
4:17:55 positions in the city right now. Yes. And did anyone tell Manola like do we know if the other local governments are
4:18:01 going to have a presence? I'd have to ask Brian. I don't know. Yeah. Or not. That would be helpful because I can ask him.
4:18:06 Okay. And police and fire should be there, right? Yeah, I believe they are. I believe they were
4:18:12 listed on the at least PD was listed on the fire maybe as well on the flyer that was the city put out. I don't know for
4:18:19 sure. Yeah. Good. That's good to hear. Yeah, but I think I think most of our departments will always be there because
4:18:25 it's one that's handled through our HR and everything. So, Right. Okay. Great. All right. Just some important note dates. Uh, city
4:18:33 offices are going to be closed November 27th and 28th for Thanksgiving. And then
4:18:38 our next scheduled council meeting is December 9th. Okay. Okay. Light up Clermont is December 5th
4:18:46 and then we got the Christmas parade that's going to be December 6th starting at 10 a.m. till noon.
4:18:52 Okay. That's what I have. Thank you. Okay. Uh, just a comment on the light up uh clim on December 5th. Of course, I'll
4:18:59 be back in town. I think I finish up my conference about 1:00. I should be back in time for that. However, I my
4:19:05 understanding I'm not the one doing the lighting of the tree this year. Uh we're
4:19:11 going to have a special guest here this year, Mr. Laauo.
4:19:16 Uh world's fastest human is awesome. Oh yeah. I'm so excited about that. He's supposed to actually be here to
4:19:23 light uh do the flip switching this year. I will be here. But however, he's supposed to be the one on stage this year, if I'm not mistaken, is what I'm
4:19:30 being told. So, are we going to time him and see if he does it faster than everyone else in the country? Well, I guess we can do that.
4:19:35 Let's not injure him. You know, but no, he he's he's supposed to be the one doing the switches. Just a added
4:19:43 thing on the light up and everything. So, cool. Yes, sir. No problem. U
4:19:51 Mr. Mayor, we are in the midst of intense discussions with Duke Energy on the
4:19:57 renewal of the franchise here in Clermont. And today, uh, your city manager did forcefully make the case for
4:20:04 what you've been bringing up for a while about the lights. And Duke, I mean, promised and promised and promised and
4:20:11 said they will take care of it. I it remains to be seen, but they were
4:20:17 impressed by the seriousness of it today. Um, we are going back and forth on couple provisions. They've seemed to
4:20:23 give on the things that are most important to us and we're working with them on the thing that's most important to them. It will be on your agenda
4:20:29 probably it'll be ready February or March. Um, second, last night at your
4:20:35 code board, the city did not prevail on a very on a what's considered an important case and it's access to and
4:20:42 requiring access to and from the encompass property. Um the city hasn't
4:20:48 done anything wrong. What the city did is it attempted to enforce um an
4:20:53 ordinance that required encompass to build access to a neighboring property.
4:20:58 They did not do that. Uh they have sold a portion of their property to someone
4:21:03 else and now it's subject to the ordinance and the city is going to have
4:21:09 to find a way to make sure that that access gets provided. either the city is going to have to appeal it um separately
4:21:16 sue or consider revoking uh the ordinance um the zoning the p I think it's a pod. So these are these are
4:21:24 options that are being it just happened last night. Um we do believe the you know it's it's a mistake but we we may
4:21:30 have to appeal it and the reason why I think this is important and I wanted to raise it to your attention is because you asked me to look at HB 105 last
4:21:38 meeting. Yes. This is potential legislation being considered in Tallahassee that would
4:21:43 allow a property owner to sue the city if if the if a code enforcement action
4:21:50 was deemed to be uh unreasonable or arbitrary. Now, sometimes that's in the
4:21:56 eye of the beholder, but uh sometimes it's not. So, in any event, now uh the city is exposed on any code enforcement
4:22:03 case if an owner Well, it hasn't been passed. This is being talked about. has been talked about this year.
4:22:09 The idea is that if if we were guilty of it somehow um that they could obtain up
4:22:15 to $50,000 in damages as well as attorneys fees. This is serious. I mean, this is going to send a shock wave
4:22:20 through local governments throughout it. I mean, it'll make local governments really consider their code cases, right? Uh but it may dramatically expand
4:22:28 liability if if someone doesn't agree with the what the city's position is on a code case. uh this the case that we
4:22:36 lost last night in the short run may be one of those cases that maybe they think it's unreasonable. I'll tell you I had
4:22:41 conversations with the attorneys on the other side months ago about this and they thought we were crazy. We don't
4:22:47 think it's crazy. Um your staff does not think it's crazy. So these are just things that are coming up. Um and then
4:22:53 lastly, I I heard there's a jerk festival coming up and I'm shocked that I of all people wouldn't have been
4:22:58 invited to a jerk festival, but um it hasn't happened yet. You're on fire today. I don't know. I
4:23:04 had to. Council member Bane talked about humor. Now it's in my head. Well, you are welcome. I I think the
4:23:11 jerk festival every year, the 1st of June, every year they've been doing it for about 12, 13 years at Waterfront, and I think it's open to the public.
4:23:18 Okay. All jerks are invited. That's a relief, including you. So, so what I'm hearing, uh, you looked
4:23:24 into the SB HB, I guess it is 105. And if that get passed, it's it's well it my
4:23:30 understanding the same person that um presented SB 180 did the 105
4:23:36 and so it can be potentially as bad as it's very similar. Yeah. Okay. So we got to be on the on
4:23:41 the care or watch out for that. Um well, thank you sir for looking into that on the on the uh
4:23:49 I didn't listen to to the um
4:23:54 case or anything on on on encompass. It was my understanding when we approved that they they were supposed to been
4:24:01 building access to Hook Street. That that's I think that's the access
4:24:08 that could happen later. They were donating land. They donated land for access from Hope Street, but
4:24:13 they couldn't do anything until they build the next 50 beds. The case last night involved a piece of
4:24:19 it's a 100 foot strip that parallels Highway 50. So, okay, there's an access coming from
4:24:25 50 that's more or less on the encompass side. They're supposed to come in there, go down this 100 foot driveway, if you
4:24:32 will, to the neighboring property owner because they only have one access from Highway 50. Okay. So, so the entrance they have
4:24:38 right now is on the other property owners from Highway 50. That's right. It's on the encompass piece. Yes.
4:24:44 And that's where they supposed to be building all the Audi Audi Aldi is on the neighboring property that's
4:24:50 approximately 100 plus feet away. So that's the piece that's in. Okay. So in exchange for their approval, they
4:24:56 were required to give basically a frontage road to the city. Exactly. That's exactly right.
4:25:02 Okay. Got it. because that that concludes my report if you have
4:25:07 questions. No. Well, I I get with you later on that because uh you know I Well, I know we
4:25:13 had approved when they first came in approved and gave them permission. Well, they both been donating acreage off of
4:25:19 Hook Street. Uh but they uh so Hook Street Extension came. Yeah. For the main corridor of Hook
4:25:26 Street. That's a separate issue. But yes, that's okay. And but that I heard that they not
4:25:31 going to do that any longer because they're not planning on building this the next 50 beds because there's a stipulation on there. They the facility
4:25:38 now only have 50 beds and the next 50 when they got ready to build that they had to make sure that road went through.
4:25:43 You know I think the encompass piece. I'm sorry. I thought was sticking encompass. Yes.
4:25:48 Okay. So I thought that what was inferring to but if it's the other piece I I'll get with you on that. Mr. W.
4:25:54 Alrighty. Where are we? Uh Council Member Peterson.
4:25:59 I have no report this evening. C council member Strange. Yeah, with the closing of Kroger, I
4:26:05 think that the citizen who spoke on the audio made a really good point about the importance of us attracting small
4:26:11 businesses to the community, I think what um Mr. Norris and his team on the
4:26:16 economic development department are doing is going to be critically important moving forward that we I I can
4:26:22 say I've spoken with lead. They were one of my first conversations after I got this seat. And um their approach really,
4:26:29 the Lake Economic Area Development, their approach has really been big business, big business. Um and so this
4:26:37 is a tough lesson to learn for our community. But hopefully we've got the right um the right people in place with
4:26:43 DPZ and and Mr. Norris. And you know, I hope I have everyone. I think we're I'm
4:26:48 seeing headshake. I think we're on the same page that we want um to attract as small businesses as much as possible.
4:26:53 And just Mr. Bane, since I know you participated a lot this year in local government, so I feel like you probably
4:26:59 have heard me say this before, but if we want to be able to keep our taxes low for our citizens so that the cost of
4:27:06 living is affordable, we really do need to have business here. We can't be entirely a a bedroom community to
4:27:13 Orlando. We have to have those businesses. So, it's important. I think it's also important we attract the right
4:27:18 ones, right? Being small businesses bringing $150,000 a year jobs. That's
4:27:23 what we want. Um, the tourism plan was approved by the tourist development council up in Lake County and sent up to
4:27:29 the board of county commissioners for approval. Um, the capital fund will open in January for consideration. The county
4:27:37 staff, uh, Brian Richie, he's really good at what he does. He is entertaining
4:27:43 all proposals. Um, I'll, you know, get with Brian. I know well Brian's already talking to Brian Foreman's already in
4:27:49 communication with Ryan Richie um about you know what might the city's plans be. They're really looking for kind of
4:27:55 what's the long-term vision, how can we partner together. I think it's a really good conversation. I'm really pleased
4:28:00 with the end result. The number one target for the tourism plan is sports related tourism. Um sports related
4:28:06 tourism is generally proven in the industry to be um kind of recession
4:28:12 proof if there is such a thing. Um so that is their primary target but the
4:28:17 issue of the capital funds remains somewhat in flux in large part because
4:28:24 the top sports and plans haven't been presented. Um but there is a taste for
4:28:29 helping with capital projects so that we can continue to be attractive for tourism driven events. So, our
4:28:34 bicycling, our soccer, our softball, our baseball, any championship given our
4:28:40 brand, you know, we're going to get a lot of support from the county with things that go after championships, anything collegiate, anything Olympic,
4:28:47 you know, our track and field presence here. So, those are all going to be wellreceived by the county moving
4:28:52 forward. And, um, at the risk of Todd Howard accusing me of talking about the hot dog
4:28:57 festival that I went to, I did go to the CCA fundraiser last week. And the reason
4:29:02 why I bring it up is just to say that I was not aware that the local oyster bar
4:29:07 in Clermont was actually a driving force in replenishing our waterways on
4:29:13 the coast of Florida. They actually recycle the oyster shells and send them to the coastline to help restore the
4:29:20 coastline. So that was kind of a neat thing and I didn't realize that this local business was so integral in that
4:29:26 coastal project. So, I thought that was kind of neat that our little lake city is doing u making big moves on the coast
4:29:33 of Florida and helping our neighbors on the beaches. So, if you get a chance, maybe head on to the Oyster Bar and and
4:29:39 try it out and make sure you separate your shells from your trash. Apparently, that is a big deal.
4:29:45 Yep. Learn new things. Thank you. Uh Council Member Bane.
4:29:53 Thank you, Mayor. Um two things. is one I just I was actually in city hall when
4:29:59 I saw the notification about the the Kroger um situation and uh I think it
4:30:05 speaks volumes to um the new staff that we do have and and the the seriousness
4:30:12 at which they take their role because um the the way that that was responded to
4:30:19 in the sense of essentially how do we help uh even
4:30:24 though you know, it's it's Groveland, but it's our community. It's our larger community. And so I think it goes
4:30:31 without saying, but I think the expectation would be there um that we as
4:30:36 a community and as a city with our staff, with our resources, with our support, with our love, uh support our
4:30:42 neighbors and our friends because we we have to know that of the I guess what 1400 or somewhere ballpark of employees
4:30:50 that are affected by this, there are several Clermont residents that are uh in in those numbers. And not only that,
4:30:57 but how our residents are going to be affected by the delivery of their services, some of which rely on delivery
4:31:04 of those services. So, um, anything we can do to to help promote and and find,
4:31:10 um, new opportunities and just, uh, be there for our neighbors and for our friends, I I encourage folks to do. Um,
4:31:17 and with that, I just wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
4:31:23 Thank you. Uh I think I talked to you I mentioned
4:31:28 already to you Mr. War about the ebike bill. So if we can get on top of that one and find out what's going on with
4:31:34 that because I think uh with our trail and everything coming through here that's going to play a big role on us
4:31:39 and we already having problem with with bike cyclists and everything on our roadways already. So and I think that's
4:31:44 what that bill is already. Um it was mentioned earlier about property taxes whether I don't know if you all been
4:31:50 keeping up with it what's going on with in the in the state. Um it's my understanding they don't know which one
4:31:56 yet but it's a proposal out out there for the property tax to do something with the property tax
4:32:04 and the the meeting I was in on Monday basically they saying they don't know which one it's going to be but one of
4:32:10 the one of the eight go going to be on on the on the ballot next year. Um they range from a total elimination of a
4:32:16 property tax to um scaling back to uh
4:32:22 like eliminating increase in homestead each year for 10 years. I mean it's just it's like bill
4:32:29 2011 203 205 but all these bills out there and they just trying to figure out which one going to be there. Uh I have
4:32:35 been assigned to the legislative committee uh for the Florida League of Cities. So I'm assuming that u the
4:32:41 conference I'm getting ready to go to in December on December 3rd, fourth and fifth um that be one of the things that
4:32:48 we discuss in one of the meetings we we'll be discussing this. So there's no
4:32:54 right now there is no replacement for property tax whatever they decide to do
4:32:59 but anything they do with it either one of the proposals it's going to hurt the city tremendously. Okay. uh it it may
4:33:06 not feel the effect on one of them right away but over a 10-year period I think it is Mr. one of them 11213
4:33:13 uh one 213 I think it is is due to 10 year over a 10 year period they do
4:33:19 different things um and the things I find strange well I find interesting
4:33:26 about every one of the proposals each one of them exempt school taxes okay so
4:33:31 school taxes will not be touching neither one of the proposals okay you'll still have to pay all your school taxes
4:33:37 all right um so I encourage you all to try to get in in in keep up with them
4:33:43 and maybe we kind try try to get in touch with our legislators. I think last year we talked about doing a letter in
4:33:49 opposition to some of these things. So we may want to consider doing that again this year. Um like I said I just don't
4:33:54 know but usually when legislation sessions start on Monday mornings they you Florida League of City does a
4:34:01 virtual meeting. you can sit down and listen to all the proposals and bills that's going through. And I uh recommend
4:34:06 that you get with the Florida League of Cities, getting the phone number and tune in to that on Monday mornings. I think it's usually about 9:00 on Monday
4:34:12 mornings and and see what's going uh this Saturday, East Ridge High School
4:34:19 community food giveaway. Know anybody with food food
4:34:24 problems or uh shortages and everything, please send them out to East Ridge. It'll start at 10 o'clock. Of course, I
4:34:30 think I'll be out there about 8:00. We'll be out there 600 7 o'clock trying to set up, but we'll actually open the line to go through about 10:00 and uh on
4:34:38 Saturday. Um last year we served over 700 families. So, we expecting that to
4:34:44 even be more, but it's the biggest food drop uh we have in this area and we do it every year the the uh week before
4:34:51 Thanksgiving. So, this Saturday at um East Ridge High School will be in the East Ridge Park. And if you're not doing
4:34:57 anything, want to come out and volunteer, please come on out and help us. I have no problem with that. It was
4:35:02 a question earlier about Hancock Road and Wellness Way. M Oh, he left. Do we
4:35:07 have an update on that? And I know we we've been looking into that. Lane Register told me he was waiting on
4:35:14 the bond to be approved by the county and then he could move forward. Okay. And what this is extending Hancock
4:35:20 Road from uh Hartwood Marsh down to Wellness Way. Yes. is what we we've been trying to get them to get started on.
4:35:27 So, it's about a 18-month pro uh project once they get started. And supposedly the cont uh was approved months ago, but
4:35:34 we still having issue with the bundance. So, I've been having uh the city manager and everybody try to stay on top of
4:35:40 that, get that going as soon as possible because they need they need that access u out of that wellness way area. You
4:35:46 know, uh Veterans Day parade. I thank Mr. Mark for the Veterans Day parade and Veteran Day program. another great
4:35:52 turnout and interesting. I got chance to ride in a model T and everything for the foray. I was the grand marshal and
4:35:59 beautiful ve some beautiful vehicles out there, Model T and everything. So, uh we thank them for all the organizing that.
4:36:06 Uh I think this Mr. Mark say this is his last year doing it. So, we may have the city may be having to take that over uh
4:36:13 in the future and everything. I think he been in communication with some of the city staff about doing it uh the
4:36:19 Veterans Day parade and everything. Uh store next year. Um,
4:36:24 thank you everybody for coming out to my mayor's lunchon a couple weeks ago. I'm sorry about all the confusion. I had
4:36:30 mayor lunchon and they tilled up with a birthday lunch for Miss Debbie at the same time in the same place. So, so we
4:36:38 was there at the same time trying to do a lunch and a birthday celebration, but it it went off real well. But it was
4:36:43 great to celebrate Miss Debbie as well for her birthday as well. and and the lunchon was well 10 and 20 something
4:36:50 people whatever there so it was kind of noisy in uh Bazanos uh that day and
4:36:56 everything but um I appreciate everything and thank you all for the taking Miss Debbie out for lunch that
4:37:03 day she deserved it uh there's a fundraiser on Sunday at 3:00 in
4:37:09 the city center not city center but the arts and recreation center and starts at
4:37:14 3:00 a lot of different uh entertainers and things going there. The whole fundraiser is for uh proceeds will be
4:37:21 going to Jamaica. It's a fundraiser for Jamaica and we've I think if I'm not mistaken, the city have uh donated the
4:37:28 use of the facility, have worked with the uh Caribbean Association to do this and they've been doing all the
4:37:33 organizing. Um and it starts at 3, like I say, 3:00 Sunday. So, all the proceeds
4:37:38 to go to the Jamaica, help out in Jamaica. I think tickets are $30. It's a fly around here somewhere on this with
4:37:46 all the entertainment and everything and more to be coming up. So, if you're not doing anything on Sunday, please um try
4:37:52 to make your way down there and let's try to um help support the folks in Jamaica because they the storm messed
4:37:58 them up pretty bad. Um what else do I have here?
4:38:04 There's a stop new stop sign. Please let people know this new stop sign is Fifth Street in Minotaa. Okay. Uh, I had asked
4:38:10 Chief Grace to look into that because we were having a lot of different a lot of accidents down there. I know one of my
4:38:16 church member had her car total at that intersection a few months ago and then during um Harvest Fest I went to go I
4:38:23 tried to go through the intersection another accident. So I asked him to look in and then see if we can do anything
4:38:28 because there seemed to be a problem that corner he within two days he mailed me back notice saying uh there's been
4:38:34 over six accidents there in that intersection. So, they were going to make changes and within a week they had put up new stop signs and everything.
4:38:40 So, please make people aware of that and um hopefully we'll get through that intersection better. Um
4:38:49 I notic you using agenda book and you using agenda books. Um I'm I'mma ask
4:38:55 I stopped using them and everything because I got my tablet and everything. I I would kind of like ask you all if
4:39:01 you don't mind to try to go to the tablet and everything. Uh because that's a lot of work on the on the on the staff
4:39:07 up there and we've spending a lot of money on these agenda books when we can get everything on the tablets right there and a lot of a lot of ways it's
4:39:14 taken care of. Um I find it more convenient for me and a lot easier for me to carry the tablet around than the
4:39:20 book. So but if you don't want to that's fine. I've noticed I saw last council
4:39:25 meeting we had over a thousand pages, you know, uh that's like that's like two
4:39:31 rims reams of paper and the time to do all that can be very trans uh time consuming on the staff and and the thing
4:39:38 I find more convenient about the tablet is I can pull it all up and I can go and ask for a specific page and go right to
4:39:44 a lot easier and everything. So it's all there. So just consideration and you don't pay for the tablet, the city will
4:39:50 pay for it and be a lot easier to carry around and you got it with you anytime and you can use it more than just listen
4:39:55 here and everything. Uh so I I I told staff I will ask that of you all if you
4:40:01 all give that some consideration. Okay. And I think appreciate you Mr. Peterson. I think he got away from his book and
4:40:07 see he's got his tablet over there. So that's great. Other than that um
4:40:13 I think that's all I have. Um, other than the fact that let's let's keep on top of all the bills that's going on in
4:40:19 in Tallahassee and get ready for legislative days in in January and all. Um,
4:40:25 and I would just like to say happy Thanksgiving to everyone and please have a safe and happy Thanksgiving and we'll
4:40:31 see you all after the turkey day and everything. Anything else need to come before the council?
4:40:38 Hear nothing.