Clermont City Council Transcript 2-10-26

0:21:07 Good afternoon. I call this meeting to order. Welcome to our council meeting for February 10, 2026.
0:21:14 In the interest of time, efficiency, and ensuring that everyone who wishes to address the council is given an
0:21:19 opportunity to do so, the following will apply to all comments made by the public
0:21:24 in person and virtually. Virtual participation in council meetings are now available on your
0:21:31 computer or smartphone via Microsoft Teams or by telephone.
0:21:36 You can learn how to participate virtually by visiting our website www.climoutfl.
0:21:42 clim.gov and search for attend council meetings
0:21:47 online. Each speaker will be permitted three minutes to address the council. In an
0:21:52 effort to be respectful during the meeting, please make sure your cell phones are silenced
0:21:59 and thank you for participating in your city government. Tonight's invitation will be given by Reverend Jordan of the
0:22:06 New Jacob Chapel Missionary Bapt Baptist Church. Okay. Please rise and remain standing for the
0:22:13 pledge of allegiance, please.
0:22:21 Can we bow our heads? Oh, heavenly and righteous father. Lord, we just give you go glory and we just
0:22:27 give you praise. Lord, we ask that you look down upon this council. Look down upon every council person that's here,
0:22:33 Lord. Lord, we ask that you would give them the wisdom of Solomon and the heart of Moses. We pray that every decision
0:22:40 that's made here would be a just decision, Father God. Lord, and we give you the honor and glory because we know that to be, Lord, we ask that you look
0:22:46 down upon our our police chief, Lord, that you would give him wisdom and look and guidance for his department. And
0:22:53 Lord, we ask that you look down upon every department that's presented here. Lord, we thank you and we give you the honor and we give you the praise. And
0:23:00 Lord, we also give honor to those that came before us, Lord. those that that uh
0:23:05 persevered and struggled through sweat and through some pain, Lord, to give us
0:23:12 an opportunity for a better tomorrow. Lord, as we give them credence for this
0:23:17 month and this month, as we honor them that came before us, Lord, we thank you
0:23:22 for that uh that ability to be able to reach out and just say thank you for giving them the mindset that we will
0:23:31 have a better tomorrow. a tomorrow that we all can cherish together, that we all
0:23:36 can walk hand in hand and be able to love one another, not by the color of
0:23:42 our skin, but by the content of our character. Father God, Lord, we thank you for this month for being able to do
0:23:48 that. Now, Lord, we ask that you look down upon everyone that's here, Lord, that you would touch them, guide them,
0:23:54 give them strength. Lord, that when they leave this place, they'll know that there was a just decision that was made.
0:23:59 And Lord, we ask that as they go home that they'll find their house as they left it. Lord, we pray for that many
0:24:05 more in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen.
0:24:11 To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it
0:24:16 stands. One nation, indivisibley
0:24:22 for all. Amen. Thank you. Please be seated.
0:24:31 Next item is public comments. Beginning with this meeting, we will now allow
0:24:38 virtual comments. If you wish to address the council in person, please come to the microphone
0:24:43 and state your name and address. One person comments have once the person
0:24:49 comments have been concluded, we will move on to a personal in-person comments have been concluded, we will move on to
0:24:55 virtual comments. If you are participating online on Microsoft Teams and wish to provide
0:25:03 comment, please raise your hand and you will be called on call on to unmute your
0:25:10 microphone when it is your turn to speak. If you are participating by phone, you will press star five on your
0:25:17 phone to raise your hand. When called upon, you will press star six to unmute
0:25:22 your microphone. For all virtual participant, if you wish to comment on other items on the agenda, please stay
0:25:29 on the m Microsoft Teams or on your phone and raise your hand when your item comes up for the agenda. This portion of
0:25:38 the meet of of the meeting is only for items that are not on the agenda. In the interest
0:25:44 of time and efficiency and ensuring that everyone who wish to address the council is given the opportunity to do so, each
0:25:50 speaker will be permitted three minutes to address the council count council. To avoid disruption of the meeting,
0:25:56 speakers should avoid inappropriate language, personal attack, and derogatory statement and direct comments
0:26:02 to the city council. Everyone is requested to be respectful of each other even when we disagree. Yes, sir.
0:26:10 Farmer Banks Hellfrick. I live in the Clay Road District, South Lake County. Farm tip of the day. Um, two weeks ago
0:26:16 it froze around here. Leave everything for a month. Most everything will come back. Do not trim it as of yet. That's
0:26:23 my advice if you want to take it. Um, mayor, council, distinguished guests.
0:26:29 Heidi, the pig farmer who lives in Green Swamp, spent thousands of dollars and
0:26:36 four years attempting to get a conditional use permit from Lake County.
0:26:42 I heard her story. I pulled her aside and I said, "Heidi, would you like to try to maneuver through the intricacies
0:26:48 of government? I'd like to give it a try." First thing we did was get on the phone with Sean Parks. 17 minutes um
0:26:56 figuring out what to do next. From there, I reached out to a friend of mine, a lawyer, works in government,
0:27:02 works in land use. He referred us to Meg at the planning and zoning department in
0:27:08 uh Taris. Heidi then took a trip up to Tavaris uh filled out the application, paid the
0:27:16 fee, and from there in July it was put on the agenda. The planning and zoning
0:27:22 board listened to her speech, her presentation. She um there was
0:27:27 opposition from some of the neighbors. I stood up in support of her um because
0:27:33 her way of farming is a regenerative type of farming. It was approved 4 to1 moved on in August of last year to the
0:27:42 board of county commissioners. Again, she presented again there was some opposition. Again, I stood up in
0:27:49 support. It was approved four to zero unanimously. She now has a conditional
0:27:55 use permit to go ahead and to raise her hogs on her farm in a regenerative style
0:28:01 in sand pits rather than mud pits. She can then humanely process that meat on
0:28:06 her property. She can cure the meat, prepare the meat and then she can have customers come and she can serve the
0:28:13 meat to the customers. This is a succeed a seed to su uh solution success story.
0:28:20 This is what I do. And this is what I do very well in South Lake County. My mom
0:28:27 always said, "Use honey, not vinegar." And by asking politely, more than
0:28:33 likely, we can work our way through government. Now, government does not have the solution for everything. Does
0:28:39 not have the answer for everything. However, the sole purpose of government
0:28:44 is to serve its citizens. I am Farmer Banks Hellfrick, advocate
0:28:51 for South Lake County, candidate for state house district 25. May you all be blessed. Thank you for allowing me to
0:28:58 speak. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.
0:29:06 Hi, my name is Kathy Kyle. Uh I live on Third Street in downtown Claremont near Waterfront Park. Um I'm just up here to
0:29:13 make a couple of comments about a few things on the agenda. Um, I guess I'm going to give a tiny bit of backstory.
0:29:21 Anything that's on the agenda, you have to wait till the items come up. I am so sorry. I didn't realize that. Okay. So, when the when do we speak each
0:29:28 as each item comes up or as each item come up, we'll we'll give a public comment opportunity for public.
0:29:33 I apologize. I misunderstood. Thank you. Thank you.
0:29:47 Joe Famasi 2693 jumping jack way. Uh I hope I'm a little bit better received
0:29:52 here than I was at the county. Uh good afternoon mayor and council members. My name is Joe Fasi and I am a resident of
0:29:58 Wellness Ridge. I'm here tonight to address concerning trends in the governance and budgeting of the Wellness
0:30:03 Ridge Community Development District. specifically how the 2026 budget appears
0:30:09 to have been engineered decoupled the development's financial responsibilities from the community they are still
0:30:16 building when we look at the fiscal year 2025 versus 2026 the shift in staggering
0:30:23 in 2025 the developer LAR was responsible for developers contribution of nearly 490,000
0:30:30 to bridge the gap in operation and maintenance cost in 2026 Six, the
0:30:35 adopted budget that contributed has dropped to zero. How did this achieve
0:30:40 this? Not by cutting cost by by increasing the burden on residents.
0:30:47 Assembly revenue collected from the homeowners has jumped by over half a million dollars in a single year. While
0:30:55 the developer continues to plot new lots and expand the boundaries, the out-of-pocket cost for the LAR to
0:31:01 maintain the infrastructure they are marketing has essentially vanished while our neighbors and I are seeing operation
0:31:09 maintenance fees climb to over $850 per unit. the MSTU and the lack.
0:31:17 The most concerning is the injection of 364,000
0:31:22 into the intergovernment revenues via the MSTU funds that come from the city of Claremont. This taxpayer money is
0:31:30 being funded into the CDD budget that is still entirely controlled by the developer seated board. We are seeing
0:31:37 significant spikes in the line items like trust fees tripling from 4,000 to
0:31:43 13,000 administrative costs that benefit the long-term debt structure of the development project. Yet, there are
0:31:49 being subsidized by residents and now indirectly by the city's MSTU fund. We
0:31:55 are essentially paying for the privilege of the developer to exist their financial obligations early. The CDD was
0:32:03 sold as a way to ensure growth pays for itself without overburdening the public.
0:32:09 Currently, it feels like the residents are paying for growth while the developer enjoys the profits and the
0:32:15 city provides the backbone. I am asking the council to exercise
0:32:21 great oversight on the MSTU funds are being utilized within these developer control districts. We need to ensure
0:32:28 that the public funds and residents assessments are being used for legitimate maintenance, not to pad the
0:32:35 budgets so a developer can walk away from their funding agreements. Thank you for your time.
0:32:42 Thank you, sir. Yes, sir.
0:32:53 Good afternoon, mayor, city council members, staff, my fellow residents of
0:32:58 Claremont. I have a restricted address under the Florida state law for a combat disabled veteran. Um, I gave each of you
0:33:05 an oath of office. Should be on your thing there. Several of us or most of us in the military took this oath.
0:33:11 Everybody who's an elected officer takes an oath under the state of Florida. Um, looking back to the last meeting, I was
0:33:18 reflecting on when someone talked about standards and best practices. As a retired commission officer, I'm
0:33:24 held to a standard for my entire life. I'm commissioned for life until I die or resign my commission. Many people have
0:33:30 an oath of office. Our police officers, our firefighters, those who serve the public has an oath of office to do our
0:33:37 duty. I had the fortune, good fortune back in the early about 20 years ago to
0:33:42 serve on an inspector general team. I was an IG. I inspected intelligence programs as an intelligence officer and
0:33:48 we always talked about best practices in the military. You have standards and rules and laws and so you enforce best
0:33:55 practices and there was some fascinating debates going on. The issues are in the past for me but how we establish a
0:34:02 standard or a best practice is something that I think tears at the heart of our country and how we treat each other how
0:34:08 we live to our best standard and how that standard is reflected how we interact with each other. We talk about
0:34:14 it, we inferences, we talk about it in practice. But a lot of times when we have a disagreement on what the standard
0:34:19 should be that causes conflict across our communities and even across our nation as a military officer, I was held
0:34:26 some of the highest standards. My PT test had to be above 90% as a commander. I had all these things placed upon me
0:34:31 and I realized that standards often oppress us. We're held to a standard
0:34:36 that oppresses sometimes our freedoms or what we choose to do. Other people have a different standard than us and they do
0:34:42 things that I could never imagine doing. Someone stre on the football field for the NFL game this past not completely
0:34:48 streaking naked but ran up there with an advertisement on his back path. Things I would never imagine doing. I think if we
0:34:54 think about our decorum we talk about military and how we treat each other that'll make our community our city
0:34:59 council and everybody a better place. Thank you. God bless. Thank you.
0:35:07 Yes sir. Good afternoon, city council. My name is Vincent Neim, Regency Hills.
0:35:13 Uh, majority. Actually, all you know, I'm the advocate for your address, sir. I'm uh I don't have to give my address.
0:35:21 I'm a retired officer. We went through this years ago, your honor.
0:35:27 Well, would you like to continue or you you go ahead or in the past you'll be given your address, but go ahead.
0:35:34 Okay. Okay. You're right. Okay. Well, you know, I've been advocating for Hardwood
0:35:40 March for going on eight years now. All right. And I'm in constant community um
0:35:46 communication, I'm sorry, with my surrounding communities. All right. I'm actually happy that you
0:35:52 finally after eight years are taking a part in whiting of Hartman Marsh Road.
0:35:58 But my phone's been ringing a lot and asking questions because they saw that article by South Lake TV. And number one
0:36:05 question is, isn't that a county road? That's number one. And number two,
0:36:10 didn't you fight to get the loan that the comm county commissioners got of $12
0:36:17 million? And number three, why are they asking for $20 million on something that
0:36:23 the county already took our loan out for? I said, "Let's just be happy that they're going to bat for us this time."
0:36:30 All right. And then somebody called me up and said, "Is it for political propaganda?"
0:36:37 And my response to that was, "I don't know. Let's just be happy that the council is fighting for us to get
0:36:43 Hartwood Marsh Road widened." Now, since we fought hard to
0:36:50 get that $12 million loan from the county, all right, the residents along Hartwood
0:36:55 Marsh would like to know clarification what we were fighting $20 million for
0:37:01 when it's already supported with a loan that the county commissioners took out.
0:37:07 Okay. And that's all they want to know. Thank you. Have a blessed day. Thank you.
0:37:14 This is this is a public hearing. Anyone in the um public that wishes it
0:37:21 speaking anything that's not on the agenda may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
0:37:27 This is public comment. Anyone in the public wish to address anything that's not on the agenda may come to the microphone, state your name and address
0:37:33 and have three minutes. Hear no one. I close in-house public
0:37:38 comment. Anybody online? Anyone online? Okay. Thank you. Thank you. So, we will close public comment and get ready to
0:37:45 move on to the next. But before I move on to the next item on the public agenda, Mr.
0:37:51 Mr. Van Wagner, uh the last question on Hartwood Marsh Road, if it were my understanding that
0:37:58 that uh the county did the loan, but they was trying to get us to go in on
0:38:03 the loan and we refused to do that if I'm not mistaken. That is true. I told him that was a
0:38:08 non-negotiable for us based on the council's input. Okay. Well, and that's it. And is this
0:38:15 is the writing of the Hartwood Marsh Road is strictly on the county. We have not we pushed for it and everything and
0:38:21 they was trying to get us to go in and do the loan for them, but we refused to do that. So, they did the loan. So,
0:38:26 we're not obligated for any any funding on that. Okay. What was the $20 million that he's
0:38:32 talking about? Well, I think that's what they they loan the loan they went out to do hard with Marsh Road with the county
0:38:37 actually made a uh did a loan for $20 million to do it. If I'm not mistaken,
0:38:43 I thought the county did a $12 million loan. My understanding was they were projecting a higher amount than they
0:38:49 thought it was going to be and then when they went to get the cost estimates, it turned out to be a lower amount.
0:38:55 Yeah. Okay. But we are involved in the utilities portion of the cost. Right.
0:39:00 That's what the city of Claremont's contribution is. Well, well, they our utilities, so yeah, we have to pay to move some of our
0:39:07 utilities and everything. Other than that, uh the whole project is under, but that's a budgeted item that you all
0:39:12 have approved in the past. So,
0:39:17 so uh and before we move on, are there any changes to the agenda, Mr. Van Wagner? No changes to the agenda today.
0:39:23 Wow. No changes. Okay. So the next uh portion of the meeting is the consent agenda which contains items that have
0:39:30 been determined to be routine and non-controversial. If anyone in audit wish to address a particular item on the
0:39:36 consent agenda now's opportunity for you to do so. Additionally, if staff or members of the city council wish to
0:39:43 speak to a consent item, they have the same opportunity. The consent agenda items tonight are items one through
0:39:50 eight, if I'm not mistaken, item one through eight. So, is there any items that anyone wish to have pull from the
0:39:57 agenda? Mayor, I don't have uh any items to pull
0:40:03 at this time, but I do have two items for a couple of questions for staff. Well, in order to get to that, we need
0:40:09 to pull them. We do not need to pull them. According to the city attorney, we can actually have conversation and still vote under
0:40:15 consent without having to pull them for separate votes. Well, okay, good.
0:40:21 And I think he's online. I don't I'm assuming. Yeah, I'm just going to make that comment. So, I forgot to do that in the
0:40:27 beginning. Our city attorney isn't here with us today, but he's online and everything. So, uh we are we do have an
0:40:34 attorney with us today. Okay. Um I don't know if if we need to get
0:40:40 clarification if the rest of the council wants that clarification, but I'm happy to get the clarification.
0:40:45 Yes. Can Can you guys hear me? Yes.
0:40:52 Okay. Sorry, mayor. Yeah, thank you. I am in attendance. Yes. So, when items are on consent, it doesn't prevent you
0:40:58 from um commenting on them or or it just
0:41:04 that's it. I mean, you are allowed to do some some comments. Well, that's not my concern. My concern
0:41:11 with it, Mr. while is the fact that if we we do a group motion to pass the consent agenda
0:41:19 as a uh as presented and you have someone and they want to vote against it. How how do you go that wouldn't it
0:41:25 have to each item have to be voted on that item have to be voted on separately you could pull it after the comments. Um
0:41:32 for sure I move to allow Mr. Bane five minutes for question and answer from staff to
0:41:37 address consent agenda items so he can decide if he needs to pull something from the agenda. Go. I second.
0:41:44 Yes, sir. Okay. No one from the public, so I can
0:41:50 Okay. Uh, can I just ask for the um I want to ask the same questions I asked
0:41:55 of the fire chief for item number two. I'm sorry. Item number three that I
0:42:01 asked in the agenda review because it's not in the materials and I think it's important just for the public to to know
0:42:08 about the temporary site for fire station number two. Um the location
0:42:13 the location kind of the timeline we talked about um how long and and the
0:42:20 staffing of that just just so that the public is clear on on where what's happening with that because it does
0:42:25 affect them. Good afternoon, Mayor Council. David Eel, fire chief. Uh the plan for the
0:42:31 temporary fire station is for us to occupy the western edge of the uh the parking lot over at the ark. Uh we're
0:42:38 essentially going to be putting a double wide there for one of our crews to maintain quarters. We'll have a uh we'll
0:42:44 have a covering for the for the apparatus and then we'll have a a small shed out there to keep our our bunker gear stored in. So, we're anticipating
0:42:51 about a 10-month uh process to get the station remodeled, and we've got about a two-month lead time to be able to get
0:42:57 the trailer for the personnel to be able to live there. So, you we're also having to do some work with utilities to get
0:43:03 all that hooked up. And, uh, you know, that's why we're asking for the emergency purchases so we can keep everything moving on the timeline.
0:43:09 And with regard to the the apparatus and the staffing for currently at station two, how will that work for the city?
0:43:16 Correct. We have two two units that are at station two currently. Uh we're going to move one unit to station one and the
0:43:22 other unit is going to remain down in the uh down in the Kings Ridge area to maintain coverage. If the facility for
0:43:29 station five becomes available before we have the crew ready in May, we will move that unit from station one down to
0:43:35 station station station five so that we can get that up and operating quickly as quickly as we can. Thank you. I just wanted to make sure
0:43:40 that the public was aware of all that because it was not in the actual document. I thought that would be very helpful to understand and know.
0:43:46 Thank you for the opportunity. That was the only questions I had on uh this item. I do have some questions on the next item too.
0:43:52 Unless anyone else has anything on that. Go ahead. Um
0:43:59 with regards to the arts and recreation catering services, I I I got a question
0:44:05 about an hour or so before the meeting about our current process and I think um
0:44:10 I I just want to get some clarification. Do we currently have uh caterers
0:44:16 approved for the Ark or is this something new that we're doing? We have one caterer that's that's
0:44:23 currently approved at the Ark. Okay. And it's not is it or is it is it or is it
0:44:30 not required that people use them? It's not required. Okay. Under this new process, would
0:44:36 would uh folks be required to use one of these approved vendors or would they
0:44:42 still be able to do any have anyone they want to come in? Correct. Yes, we're not requesting that
0:44:47 this is an exclusive list, right? Okay. That's I think where I wanted to get some clarification is that um I
0:44:53 think there was some concern that this would be an exclusive list and that may be something new that we would be doing
0:44:58 and I just thought it would be helpful to ask that clarification. So, if what we're doing right now is staying the
0:45:06 same with the exception of instead of providing a a a renter one name, we
0:45:13 could provide them 10 names and they could choose one of those 10 or bring in someone else.
0:45:18 That's correct. Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. Uh do you wish to pull anything?
0:45:24 I do not. I move to approve item numbers one through eight. I second.
0:45:29 What was that, ma'am? Move to approve items number one through eight. Well, before we before we do that, I I
0:45:34 actually want to pull items three and four. Okay. Uh
0:45:40 because um is there any other that need to be pulled? Okay.
0:45:48 With that being said, I would entertain a motion on items two uh five, six, seven, and eight. Second.
0:45:56 I'm sorry. One, two, five, six, seven, and eight.
0:46:05 Second.
0:46:11 No, someone else can move. That's fine. I make a motion to um approve items one,
0:46:18 two, five, six, seven, and eight. Second. Okay. I have a motion for
0:46:23 approval of consent agenda items one, two, five, six, seven, and eight. Any further discussion? Hear none. All in
0:46:30 favor, let it be known by saying I. I. I. All oppose. Chair vote. I as well. Motion passes 5. Okay. The reason I pull
0:46:37 item number number number three, um I'm finding it hard to hard to support
0:46:44 this basically because I I think what we're doing here uh with station number two isn't in the best interest of the
0:46:51 city of Clema. Um, prior to last year, year before last, we
0:46:56 had we had process in place where we were going to actually renovate, build a whole new station number two, move uh
0:47:02 because of the fact that it when I came in as mayor station two uh we didn't have the room uh we were lacking room
0:47:09 over there. We really need to ext expand that uh station number two. So, we went out and found a location. We were going
0:47:16 to move the whole station number two. And at that point, a matter of fact,
0:47:21 things hadn't changed. Uh we'd probably be almost through building station number two now. And if we had in better location, easier uh access and give more
0:47:29 room to our firefighters as well. And it could have also been serving um if we could have got the road road uh Hancock
0:47:36 extended like it should have been. Uh at the same time, we've been also been able to serve station um the wellness way
0:47:43 area while we took our time and did a little bit of things before we build
0:47:48 station number five. Now, we going to renovate station number two in that in that very congested area. We're talking
0:47:54 about enlarging the place where they already talking about they don't have room uh for vehicles and parks and
0:48:00 everything else. So, now we going to take up more space. Um, talking to the engineering, my understanding is it's
0:48:07 going to be a very very tight fit in this in that area where we're doing station two. So, I'm finding it hard to
0:48:14 support um spending this kind of money to do this in the next five, six years according to what I'm hearing. Uh, we
0:48:20 may have to go back and re reook at station number two again. See where we got the opportunity right now to go down
0:48:27 and and we have the land we purchased. we can build station number two down
0:48:32 where it was originally planned to be built. Uh we wouldn't have to waste these funds on a temporary location, you
0:48:39 know, uh they can actually be put put towards the fire station number two rather than
0:48:45 wasting funds on a temporary location. And the other thing is now you're moving, you're talking about relocating
0:48:50 station number two down at the arts and recreation center, you take them further away from the uh area responsibilities.
0:48:56 Okay. and thought that was the whole idea behind doing station two so we can
0:49:02 cover more area. But that being said, that's why I I'm find it hard to support
0:49:07 because I don't think it's a very very well thoughtout plan and everything what we're doing with the se with city
0:49:12 dollars and everything. We can do better with it. Okay. Um there should be public comment. Yes.
0:49:20 Yes. Vinceic, Regency Hills. We went over
0:49:26 this almost two years ago. Number one, it would have been $14 million we would
0:49:32 have spent. Number two, you just said that it's the temporary one where it's
0:49:37 going to be posted is less congested. Your honor, I live right there. Okay. I
0:49:44 can't tell you how congested that's going to be. You have to cross Hartwood Marsh. That's number one. And number
0:49:51 two, it would have been built already. I don't think so. Okay. Number three, when
0:49:57 Scoffield Road opens up, you ain't getting a fire truck out there outside
0:50:02 on a timely manner and then to Hartwood Marsh. They've done the facts. The council did their homework on this. You
0:50:09 were the only one opposing it. So, I don't understand. You got five of you up
0:50:14 there. Four of you agree that it doesn't belong there, but yet you still want to continue to fight on this. So, if you're
0:50:21 going to pull something, pull it for the reason why you're pulling it. Don't pull it because you want to go
0:50:26 back to Hartwood Marsh next to two surrounding communities. Two surrounding communities. It's butt
0:50:33 right on Regency Hills and it's literally across the street from Hartwood Landing. I wonder what all
0:50:40 those residents are going to be saying about this home when they watch the meeting. Thank you. Have a blessed day.
0:50:46 Thank you. Anyone else? Anyone else? This is a public hearing.
0:50:52 Anyone in public wants to address this item may come to the microphone, state your name and address and have three minutes. See no one else. You have
0:50:58 anybody online? Um, no one online. So, I call code public comment on this. As I
0:51:04 stated, the reason I pulled this because I think the best location for this is is Hardwood Marsh Road. Uh, my um church
0:51:12 by the church and everything, you know, and I've never agreed with with RO. Well, that's the reason we
0:51:19 went and put it down there is because uh the previous council and when we were looking at all this didn't think it was
0:51:25 a great fit. Engineers and everything didn't think it were great fit. It was going to be a little of a burden. The
0:51:30 congested area right now, that area right now is so congested I I don't even know how they operate. That's one of the
0:51:37 biggest areas I get complaints on. What am I going to do about the congestion out there? people trying to get out of
0:51:42 the parking lot um public's parking lot or the shopping center parking lot in the firehouse right there and putting it
0:51:49 next to a subdivision. It's already sitting next to a subdivision and most fire station going be in there. So
0:51:55 that's where I'm at. But hey, I entertain a motion. I just can't support it right now because I don't think it's it's it's probably use of our funds.
0:52:02 Okay, we can do better than this. I move to approve item number three.
0:52:07 I second. Have a motion and a second. Second for approval of item number
0:52:13 three. Any further discussion? Um I'm going to support it at this
0:52:18 point. Um I initially thought this was not a great
0:52:24 spot to continue fire station 2. Um however
0:52:29 uh it was discussed and decided and I think this is this is where oftent times
0:52:38 decisions get made that maybe a council member either on the council or someone
0:52:43 like myself new to the council didn't agree with. But it's so far along that
0:52:48 if we continue down this road of of um
0:52:53 go kind of yo-yoing on these things, going back and forth, we're never actually going to do anything. And I that's my bigger concern. I thought a
0:53:02 different station and utilizing the current station two as an ambulance hub for the the southeast quadrant was a
0:53:10 better option. That didn't win. And I think we just have to realize that we're
0:53:15 at a point where we have to do something. And I I would probably say that um delaying and going to a
0:53:23 different plan, even if it was not next to the church, but just a different plan would uh potentially jeopardize our
0:53:30 folks in Hartwood Marsh area and Wellness Way area, Kings Ridge, uh Heritage Hills, and I think we just
0:53:37 whether we like it or not have to start to move forward with something. Thank you. uh need I remind you that uh
0:53:44 the other location is over halfway done with engineering to be moved down there. At the time it was next before going
0:53:51 back and forth. But I have a motion and a second for I have something I'd like to say sir.
0:53:56 Yes. Um I take issue with statements that this wasn't thought out. Uh I think
0:54:02 there an attack on our staff. Our staff worked really hard to come up with a plan that would give every citizen in
0:54:09 Claremont a sixinut response time. I'd like to remind the council and the public that six minutes is the point in
0:54:15 time that the brain starts to die for lack of oxygen. It is a magic number, not a madeup number. It's very
0:54:21 important. The previous plan had a 15minute response time provided to residents of Wellness Way at the tune of
0:54:27 $15 million. The new plan prepared by our staff and presented to us and approved during the budget process last
0:54:34 year, was to put a temporary station at Wellness Way as soon as possible, which is underway with a permanent station
0:54:40 under construction starting as soon as October. We also need a fire station up near Verde Ridge, where we currently
0:54:45 have a 9-minute response time. We have a fire station planned with the developer at McKinnon Groves to give those
0:54:51 residents a six-minute response time. And we are keeping an eye on the fire station at Lincoln Park, which when
0:54:56 Minnola pulls their trucks out of Lincoln Park will provide a nine-minute response time. This is not a halfhazard
0:55:02 plan. Our police, our fire chief has done a remarkable job and his entire team taking the citizens safety and
0:55:09 their pocketbooks into consideration when they've come up with this plan to ensure that you and I and our children
0:55:15 and our grandchildren all have a six-minute lifesaving response time. It
0:55:20 is not a political issue and I don't want it to become one. That's all I have to say.
0:55:27 Thank you. As I say, it's uh a motion. Sir, you've had your your Yeah, it's a motion and a second on the floor
0:55:33 to approve item number three. Any further discussion?
0:55:38 All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose and chair vote nay. Motion
0:55:43 passes four to one. Item number four. The reason I asked for that to be pulled um like you Mr. Mr. Bane I asked this
0:55:52 question um I'm concerned with this when I read when I read through
0:55:58 the package for this item it says it's for city events. Okay. Uh for
0:56:06 to have these caterers uh be available for when the city host events. But then
0:56:12 I go down a little bit further in the package and they start talking about fee schedules. Okay? And basically what it's
0:56:18 stating is the fact that okay if you go and rent the facility you use one of
0:56:24 these caterers the city collect 10% on all food on the
0:56:29 food and another 20% on on the beverages alcohol and beverages. So why why are we
0:56:35 nickel and dimeing our our resident? No way is the caterer going to pay that
0:56:41 fee. If I go in there and rent that facility and they and the caterer is telling me,
0:56:46 "Oh well, it cost me uh $2,000." And they know I they got to pay another 200 10% to to me to the city, they going to
0:56:55 tack another $200 on to the to the use of that facility. And same thing with the alcohol. So what are we trying to do
0:57:02 here? Are we trying to force the uh people not to utilize the facility or what? Okay. And then it goes on another
0:57:09 statement. It say most importantly is the fact that people that using it
0:57:14 will have this. Okay. My question was why are we doing this when right now I can use any cater I want. And looking at
0:57:22 the 10 caterers they talking about I don't want to use any of them. So what
0:57:27 do I do? When I asked that question, the question was me was the fact that if I
0:57:32 use a different caterer besides what's on the list, I'm going to get charged an extra fee. That kid cater get charged
0:57:39 extra fee. So, what are we doing here? Right now, I have the opportunity which I've used many of times that Arts and
0:57:46 Recreation Center just like the other facilities and I've been able to go in there as always. They've told me, "Hey,
0:57:52 here's a list like for alcohol. Here's a list of vendors you can use. Uh you pick and choose whoever you want.
0:58:00 Same thing with cater. I pick and choose what caterers I want. There's no 10% in there. Uh anything else. Now why are we
0:58:07 just doing it with arts as well as well? Why are we just doing the art recreation center? Why aren't we doing with the city center? We use catering over there
0:58:14 as well. Do the same thing. So why are we why are we targeting arts and recreation center? And I got other
0:58:20 question. We ourselves as a city have used the
0:58:26 East Ridge culinary art to do catering for us. So that mean if we decide when
0:58:32 we do our breakfastes and everything down there, employee breakfast, if we decide we can no longer use the culinary
0:58:38 art uh from East Ridge or when we use them, they're going to be charged extra
0:58:43 when they come out and voluntarily basically do this for us. See, it sound like we restricting oursel. I don't
0:58:49 think we need this this this policy here when right now we can ask you to hand up pairs if you want to say hey here's some
0:58:55 caterers hey you can give them a list and say we don't need we don't need to do all that okay yes sir
0:59:03 I just want to clarify there's currently as part of this um proposal there is no
0:59:10 extra fee for any caterer or any renter to use a different caterer than the 10
0:59:16 that are being presented or premier here who's already under contract. So, anybody can anybody can still use any
0:59:23 caterer they want without any kind of penalty. That's that's what's that's how staff
0:59:29 has presented this so far. Okay. So, so why we need if you can use any cater we need why we need to do
0:59:35 this? What's the purpose of this? This is an opportunity for us to um give a
0:59:41 preferred list that we've vetted and because sometimes we do get that from renters where they come in and say, "Do
0:59:47 you have any caterers that you like?" So now we have a list that's been vetted and we can hand that over. Um again, it
0:59:55 is it is additional revenue for the city for the department. Um and it is an
1:00:00 opportunity for the caterer to advertise um their business with us. So we we trying to get in business for
1:00:07 advertising uh in businesses out there now preferring that's where we get ourselves in trouble when we start
1:00:12 preferring now and not so much get in trouble by preferring but I think in the past
1:00:19 matter of fact the first time I used one of the facilities I was given a list and say hey here's some caterers in the area
1:00:25 you can use or you can choose or you can find your own the same thing with alcohol that's been approved to do
1:00:30 alcohol okay and we didn't have to have this so I I I'm just trying to figure out why all at once we trying to do this
1:00:36 and and then we trying to collect money off of it ourselves. See, can we move on to public comment,
1:00:42 please? Yeah. Yes.
1:00:53 Vince, Regency Hills. I don't want to take all day on this topic. It's very simple. I worked in this industry for 40
1:01:00 years of my life. It's always nice when you're booking a catering hall to know exactly what recom what caterers
1:01:08 entertainment decorations you recommend since they worked here before. Okay. They just said
1:01:15 they're not charging extra for it. All you're doing is permission to use these certain individuals. It's a no-brainer.
1:01:23 Okay. And that's all I'm just trying to say. Some people in the rush to get a room, they don't have time. It could be
1:01:29 a last minute party. they ain't going to have time to look for a vendor. So, they'll go to the city and say, "Who do
1:01:35 you recommend? Who works here the best?" Okay. Have a blessed day.
1:01:41 This is a public form. Anyone in the public wish to address the item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
1:01:49 This is a public form. Anyone in the public wish to address the item come state your name and address and have three minutes.
1:01:58 My name is Paula Foley and I live in Kings Ridge. Um, I will say I haven't researched this at all, but I do have a
1:02:04 question and I agree with the mayor. Why do we need this if you are why can't you
1:02:10 just put out a list? Why does there have to be something set in stone? And should the city really be recommending
1:02:16 caterers? Is there a liability attached to that? Thank anyone else. This is a public
1:02:23 hearing. Anyone in the public wish to address the I may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
1:02:30 Seeing no one else and any anybody online. Okay, I'll bring it back to council that said uh well what
1:02:38 like I said in my general review when I asked the question about using another
1:02:44 caterer that's not on the on the list. I was told that there will be an extra fee
1:02:51 charged if we use a caterer outside. Of course, however, they say it's not in place just yet. And this isn't what this
1:02:57 isn't in part of what's in in this write up yet. So, my question again is why are we trying to nickel and dime our
1:03:04 residents to use our facilities, which their taxpayer dollars also help fund
1:03:09 fund the facilities as well. We should be doing all we can to help our facil uh
1:03:15 taxpayers and everything and make it a lot easier for them and rather more difficult. I have never had anyone come
1:03:22 come in all my years come and complain to me about getting caterers or going
1:03:27 out and getting caterers to do things. Okay. Do you propose, Mr. Mayor, that we limit use of the Ark to Claremont residents?
1:03:34 Excuse me. Do you propose that we limit use of the Ark to Claremont residents?
1:03:39 No. Because I think when you use like all our facilities around here, if you use them and you're not a resident of
1:03:44 city of Clmont, you get a charge a higher fee that's already in place. Uh if I go
1:03:49 across the street and use the art uh city center and I'm not a resident, I pay a high higher fee. Same thing with
1:03:55 arts and recreation center. We do take that into consent. That's why we we give a little bit lower fee to our resident
1:04:01 because they're tax dollars help pay. This is amenity to the taxpayers and everything. So why are we trying to
1:04:08 guard them for extra money all the time? I don't know. Well, we currently subsidize the Ark to the tune of about $1.2 million a year
1:04:14 and that's paid for by the citizens of Claremont. My question to you would be, because I agree, I don't want to nickel
1:04:20 and dime the citizens, but my question would be, would it be a better policy for us to charge a fee for out of
1:04:26 Claremont users that would help us actually cover in its entirety that $1.2
1:04:32 million? But if you if I'm not worried as I I think we've had this discussion before years ago and as I told you then
1:04:39 and I'll stick with it now. Um amenities like this for the city I don't
1:04:44 look for them to make a profit. I if I can recover 50 60% of the fund and
1:04:51 everything operating cost I'm happy because these facilities are not designed to make money or cover the
1:04:57 cost. City center doesn't come itself. Waterfront Park doesn't cover the cost. Not one facility we have in here we
1:05:04 operate cover the cost. So why are we singling out a recreation center? That's
1:05:09 my question. We seem to be concentrating on single out making sure it pays for itself but none other facility pays for
1:05:15 itself. Okay. But I entertain a motion if there no further discussion.
1:05:22 Yes, I do. I do. If I can. Um, so I think I I asked this when I asked the questions
1:05:29 before it got pulled that a res or a person can use any caterer they want.
1:05:36 Yep. Right. Uh, Mr. Foreman. Sorry, I didn't mean to make you come back up. Um,
1:05:42 he said yes twice. He said yes. I mean, yeah, that's what I want to make sure. Um, and with the fees
1:05:48 at the bottom, is that a new thing uh that's at the bottom of this uh staff
1:05:53 report? the 10% and the um 20% and the combined is that new
1:06:00 um it's part of the RFP but currently Premiere which is under contract is 20%.
1:06:05 So we are collecting these types of fees from Premiere which is currently the only person on the list.
1:06:13 So it's not that we're adding the fees new to this list of 10.
1:06:18 Correct. It's just delineating it out differently. Yes. Um, it will I don't see Premier's
1:06:24 name on here. Will they be still one or I'm sorry. Uh, Premier's contract is
1:06:29 still active. Okay. So, they'll So, there really will be 11 names that will be given.
1:06:34 Correct. Okay. So, I do have a um a suggestion
1:06:40 then if if if uh as a motion if but I'll defer if there's any other questions.
1:06:47 Seeing none, I'll make a motion to approve this with the additional
1:06:53 language that we direct staff to make it clear on the application that
1:07:00 a renter can use any caterer of their choice and that there are no additional
1:07:06 fees for that choice.
1:07:16 Okay. Do I have a se second?
1:07:23 I don't hear a second. So motion pass. Yes, ma'am. Motion fails. You mean?
1:07:30 Fails. I move to approve item number four as presented by staff. Second. Okay.
1:07:36 Okay. I have a motion and a second to approval item number four presented by
1:07:43 staff. Any further discussion? I guess I'm just confused why we don't want to be clear on that.
1:07:50 I wasn't clear what that means to you. Like did you want it in big bold letters capitalized or
1:07:55 I don't think we need to micromanage council member Strange. I think um if there is a I think that's a genuine
1:08:01 concern that it could be implied that here's a list if we're not explicit that
1:08:07 you can use anyone you want. I think it would be good to just say here's a preferred list. you can choose anyone
1:08:14 you want. I I don't know that that's a bad thing to say. Um and that there's no
1:08:20 fee for that. It avoids someone coming before us saying I was never told that I
1:08:27 could use someone else. Had I been told that I could choose someone here or someone else, I would have done that. I
1:08:32 think it's just transparent. But if I may say, I have rented from there and they make
1:08:38 it very clear on the application that you do not have to use their catering services. Great.
1:08:44 That's great. That's that's all that's what I just want to make sure we're clear on. Well, and and I guess that's my point. So why we need to put this in place now
1:08:50 if you don't need a cater don't have to use a cater ser it's a nice option for
1:08:56 people as Mr. Neim said who don't have time to research because I have gone to
1:09:01 many venues in my personal life to say hey who do you recommend? Oh, you recommend these. They're not saying I
1:09:07 have to use them. It's just a recommendation to make it easier for the people who want to use our facilities.
1:09:13 That's all it is. It's just making it easier. Well, ma'am, we and as one that
1:09:18 have used both of them and scheduled many events and held many events down there, they've always every time I went in, they always say, "Hey, uh, you can
1:09:25 use uh, Premier." Matter of fact, I think Premier almost have the contract
1:09:30 to just for alcohol. Ain't nobody else is very much in the city to handle alcohol pretty much
1:09:36 except Premier and everything. And they've always told me I catered even though I did. Yes, I went and used my
1:09:42 own caterers and everything. So that's why I'm saying why do we need to go back and reinvent this wheel and do all these
1:09:48 things and not not making sense if we can just use whatever we want. We don't need to do this. They can always give
1:09:53 you recommendations. It makes perfect sense. Okay. It's amazing how we we're spending so much time on this.
1:09:59 It's really thing that we're discussing. This is a catering facility. Any catering facility that you go to, we'll
1:10:06 have a recommended list. They're not going to say you have to use these. These are the recommended because these
1:10:11 are what people you know you'll go let's say you want to do a wedding you might not know caterers so that if you know
1:10:16 your own if it's a city function you might want to cater your own person but I mean to discuss this
1:10:23 infinitum it's it's 45 minutes we've been on consent and you you're very you're very well
1:10:29 right both of all of you right city didn't have to discuss this like this because it was something that was done
1:10:35 be and put on a consent agenda without any any discuss here. Again, we
1:10:40 putting things on the consent agenda that should be discussed before it goes to the consent agenda. See, we're just
1:10:46 trying to push things through, push things. Point of order, Mr. Mayor. There's a motion and a second to call the vote. I have a motion and a second on the
1:10:52 floor to approve item number four as presented. Any further discussion? No. You hear? None. All in favor? Let be
1:10:58 known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote nay. Motion passes four to one.
1:11:07 All right.
1:11:13 Item number nine, if I do believe and 10,
1:11:19 item number nine and 10 are for final consideration of ordinance number 2025-041
1:11:24 and ordinance number 2025-042. As they are for the same project, they
1:11:31 will be presented together and will be voted on separately. Okay, I'll read both into the record.
1:11:38 Ordinance number 2025041, an ordinance of the city council of the city of Claremont, Lake County, Florida,
1:11:44 adopting the largescale comprehensive plan amendment for the city of Claremont, Florida, pursuant to the
1:11:50 local government comprehensive planning act, chapter 163, part two, Florida Statutes, setting forth the authority
1:11:56 for adoption of the largescale comprehensive plan amendment. Setting forth the purpose and intent of the
1:12:01 large-scale comprehensive plan amendment establishing the legal status of the comprehensive plan amendment providing
1:12:08 for conflict severability the administrative correction of scrivener's error publication and an effective date
1:12:15 ordinance number 2025042 an ordinance under the code of ordinances of the city of Claremont Lake
1:12:21 County Florida amending the official zoning map of the city of Claremont referred to in chapter 122 of ordinance
1:12:27 number 289C code of ordinances is reszoning the real properties described herein as shown below providing for
1:12:34 conflict severability administrative correction of scrivener's error recording publication and an effective
1:12:40 date. Yes sir. Good afternoon mayor, city council members and guests. John Cruz
1:12:46 development services. Uh the first part's going to be for the comp plan amendment adoption hearing. Since the
1:12:53 project is greater than 50 acres, a large-scale comprehensive plan review is required.
1:12:59 The amendment 25-01 ESR was transmitted for comment to the state of Florida, Florida Commerce
1:13:05 Department and other state agencies for review in November of 2025.
1:13:11 The city received five responses from the reviewing agencies. Two were no comment with one technical clarification
1:13:18 of the specific land use category being Claremont Wellness Way North one and
1:13:24 three comments were no adverse impacts. The land use has been clarified to be
1:13:30 wellness way north with the number one added. Since no substantial comments or
1:13:35 objections were received, the city is proceeding forward with the adoption of this request and recommends approval of
1:13:41 ordinance 2025-041. Next, we're moving on to the resoning
1:13:48 portion. The city as the applicant is requesting reszoning of the subject pro property as
1:13:56 a followup to the staff initiated annexation request. The property is located south of Hardwood Marsh Road and
1:14:02 west of Lake Orange County line and is approximately 357 acres. On the display
1:14:08 is the property outlined in yellow, but actually it's uh to the right is to the
1:14:14 north. The uh the the picture was uh rotated to get it on the slide. So
1:14:19 again, uh the right is actually to the north where it says Hartwood Marsh Road.
1:14:26 The property was approved under PED ordinance number 2021-36 in Lake County for up to 660 single
1:14:34 family dwelling units along with 520,000 square ft of non-residential use, which
1:14:39 would be commercial office. The project is currently moving forward and construction activity is starting. The
1:14:46 property was annexed by city council on June 10th prior to building permit issuance to capture approximately $8
1:14:53 million worth of impact fees on the residential portion of the development. No commercial construction has started
1:14:59 at the moment. The current zoning of the property within Lake County is plan unit development. The compatible zoning
1:15:05 within the city would be plan unit development as well with the current entitlements captured within the PUD.
1:15:11 The zoning designation abides by the wellness way community guidelines regarding implementation. The
1:15:16 preliminary plat and final plat for a few of the phases have been approved by Lake County.
1:15:21 The PUD zoning does not propose a conflict between the existing uses and land uses in the area. The transfer of
1:15:28 Lake County's PUD ordinance into the city's PUD ordinance is a like for like with small adjustments made to code
1:15:34 references such as county being replaced with city reference. The planning and zoning commission recommended approval 4
1:15:41 to one with the added condition that the developer and property owner provided advanced burn notification.
1:15:47 Additionally, the commission recommended a secondary irrigation system. However, staff notes that this requirement is
1:15:53 already addressed in section 25 of the ordinance. It was recently brought to light to our city attorney that an
1:15:59 existing settlement restriction with adjoining property owners on the southern end of the project had been approved. Based upon this, staff is
1:16:06 recommending a condition added to address this. It will be placed on page
1:16:11 eight of the ordinance or page 195 in your packet. And on the screen, it's
1:16:17 underlined that would be placed under section four that reference it that u
1:16:23 settlement um restriction. Staff recommends approval of the resoning to PUD with the conditions presented and
1:16:30 contained in ordinance number 2025-042. That concludes staff's presentation.
1:16:38 Thank you. And of course, this is all from the city, right?
1:16:45 So, this is a public hearing. Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come either one of these item may come to the microphone and state your name
1:16:51 and address and have three minutes.
1:17:01 Hi, uh, my name is Brian Blair. I live in the Fox Meadow subdivision which is
1:17:06 very close proximity to the parcel that's on uh that hits Phil Peters Road
1:17:12 and uh I came all the way over here but I didn't know the gentleman was going to recommend it. Uh we were the party to the settlement agreement. So I would
1:17:18 just endorse my support that that be added so nothing is missed. Thank you.
1:17:23 Thank you. This is a public hand. Anyone else that wish to address the light may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
1:17:31 Anyone else? Seeing in no one else I close in house
1:17:36 portion. No one online. I close public comment. Bring it back to council. What say council?
1:17:44 Um ordinance. Let's take ordinance number
1:17:50 2025-041. Move to approve item number nine ordinance 2025-41.
1:17:56 Second. Mhm. I have a motion and a second for approval of ordinance item number nine,
1:18:02 ordinance number 2025-041. Any further discussion? No. Hear none. All sorry.
1:18:09 Council member Strange I. Council member Bane
1:18:14 I. Council member Myers I. Council member Peterson I.
1:18:20 And the chair vote I as well. Motion passes 5.
1:18:26 Um, item number 10, ordinance number 2025-042.
1:18:31 I would like to move item number 10, ordinance 2025-042
1:18:37 with two amendments. One being the staff recommended
1:18:44 um Oh, wait. That was on the Was that on this one or the last one? Okay, it's on this one. On page 195, uh, is that
1:18:51 section four that you want that under? Yes, sir. It'll it'll go under section four. It'll be item D.
1:18:57 Okay. So, staff language item num item D under section four, page 195. And the
1:19:04 second amendment would be on page 202, section 13.
1:19:11 The planning and zoning commission uh recommended a written notification to
1:19:16 owners, but there's no language on uh how far out that goes. So, I would like to recommend uh given its proximity in
1:19:24 this location uh owners within 1,000 ft of the property.
1:19:36 I'll second for discussion. Have a motion and a second for approval with the added
1:19:44 amendments as as stated. Any further discussion? I have a question for the
1:19:49 fire chief probably. I'm not really sure who um in in spirit I have no objection
1:19:56 to the to the amendment. I don't know if a,000 ft is too little, too much. I have
1:20:03 no idea.
1:20:09 I guess the question is who might be impacted by it and who might be afraid by it.
1:20:16 I'm sorry. Can can you repeat the uh specifics on the question? Sure. So, the motion is to approve the
1:20:21 ordinance, but for the notice anytime there's a controlled burn to be giving
1:20:26 people within a certain range notice that there will be a controlled burn. And so, the question the motion is for a
1:20:33 thousand feet of the burn site. And my question is, is that too little, too
1:20:39 much? Can you give me guidance? You talking about for forestry in the uh in the area next to it? forestry
1:20:46 management basically, right? Yeah, it's the it's the item uh chief we talked about in the agenda review about
1:20:52 the P&Z addendum where they added the notification to you and to the owners,
1:20:57 but they didn't clarify how far out. And I'm just I'm providing language that says 1,000 ft out.
1:21:04 I'd say at least 1,000 feet just with the smoke in the area. Uh typically forestry does a much broader broadcast
1:21:10 before they uh before they'll commence a burn in the area. If you were to pick a number out of the sky, what number would
1:21:15 you pick? Uh, for for anything other than a control burn, I'd say thousand would probably be sufficient, but if they're going to be doing a significant amount
1:21:22 of clearing, we'd we'd want a much broader area than that. How do you feel about that? I'm completely okay. This is something
1:21:29 the developer would be required to do. It's not something the city would have to pay for. So, I was just trying to
1:21:34 strike a balance of open-ended versus what's, you know, in our code. We we I
1:21:39 thought, okay, at least 1,000 ft would capture maybe like the folks off of Lever's Lane and that area there. Uh
1:21:47 might capture some further to the east to the county line south. Uh a lot of
1:21:53 these folks are county residents, not city residents, but I think because this project's going to be city property, we
1:21:58 should be a good neighbor and try to make notifications as as wide as we can. So, I'm open to larger given that it's
1:22:05 the developer who would be paying for it. I'm I'm the same. I'm open to larger. If you're comfortable and you want to leave
1:22:10 your motion at a thousand, I've seconded it. We can move forward. If there's a temperature to go farther, I can engage
1:22:16 with that as well. Yeah, I'm fine with a thousand. And Chief, I guess as with anything else, let us know if you're finding that this
1:22:23 is that notification level is just not enough. Come back to us and I think you've got at least two council members
1:22:30 who are saying that they would like to see uh a notification go out to as many people as possible. Yeah. For the majority of them, anything
1:22:36 other than prescribed burn, which is, you know, the majority of burns that going to take place, anybody getting a permit from the county or anything else,
1:22:42 I think a thousand feet would probably be sufficient. They're going to be smaller piles. Okay. Rather than a large land area that
1:22:47 they're doing a control burn on. Okay. How do we feel about that? Is this like something that we prescribe or is it a county prescribes the data?
1:22:54 When I talk about prescribed burns, why would we put it in this ordinance if we're not controlling it? Wouldn't it be the county? It's already, isn't there
1:23:01 already ordinances on control burns, wider burns, like whether you have, you know, what's the wind velocity of the
1:23:07 day? There must be a lot of other criteria that answers it, not just distance. That's correct. It's the division of
1:23:13 forestry is what handles a lot of the burn permits. So, by putting it in, they were giving a definition that a thousand is good all
1:23:20 the time. I don't think that's a good thing to say because maybe a thousand isn't good all the time. So, I think we
1:23:25 should leave it up to the county to prescribe what's needed as far as distance and other criteria that's going
1:23:31 to enter into the That makes sense. It that would make sense, but uh correct me if I'm wrong, Chief. When when
1:23:39 there's no item in an ordinance like this from a municipality,
1:23:44 uh they can simply put a notice on a on a website and that's their notice to the community.
1:23:50 Correct. not an actual something in the mail that goes to an owner that lives by nearby within a certain feet radius that
1:23:57 every time they're burning, they get notified of that. What if we say something to the effect of they must provide written notice to homeowners
1:24:06 within a certain distance as determined by whoever is the governing agency at
1:24:12 the time because they need to notify the agency of the burn and they need to find out the distance that people I mean I'm
1:24:18 trying to figure out how that might address Mr. Peterson's concerns and and that's what the what PNZ put in.
1:24:24 They said written notification to the owners and the local fire authority and our chief is the local fire authority.
1:24:29 So, I'm just trying to clarify for owners a radius so it's not open-ended
1:24:35 because we know sometimes there are folks who will sure treat that not so judiciously and or in
1:24:41 in the spirit. And so, I'm just trying to put a a a distance on that so that if it's a,000 ft and it works great. If the
1:24:49 chief tells us, hey, this it needs to be 50,000, you know, uh then he he I let
1:24:55 him use that expert knowledge to come back to us and tell us. But I think in this area uh we should make sure given
1:25:02 that uh there is going to be burning occurring that we try to be as good as neighbors to our city residents and our
1:25:08 county residents who abut this uh to to be notified other than just a post on a website or a social media account.
1:25:14 I support that and I think we've seen that play out at Wellness Way and and we hear the the conflict that comes when
1:25:20 you don't have that communication. Um, I would suggest that perhaps we can consider an amendment to the motion to
1:25:26 say they must give written notice at I would say a distance um not less than
1:25:31 250 ft or at such further distance as designated by the local fire authority,
1:25:39 whatever language we use to refer to the applicable state. So you want to you want to decrease the
1:25:45 distance? Well, if he's if he's if there's a the goal would be that the developer contact the fire chief and the
1:25:52 fire chief chief determine the distance and that the developer get that in writing from the fire chief before
1:25:59 burning and maybe the language could be played for. What is your thoughts, Chief? If I could ask a question, it sounds
1:26:04 like the concern is primarily the smoke nuisance that's associated with the burning. So, there are other mechanisms that we
1:26:10 can use other than just notifications. Uh, one of the tools that we often use is called an air curtain. It forces it's
1:26:16 like a fan that goes into the fire and it causes the uh the the smoke product. It's it's much much cleaner. It almost
1:26:23 comes out as a sometimes you can barely even tell that there's smoke there. So, those are other things that could be put into place requiring an air curtain as
1:26:30 opposed to just a distance and notification. So, if you're concerned about the impact to neighbors, that's
1:26:35 one tool that can be utilized. I don't think you want to discourage forestry management, chief.
1:26:41 um when they when the um they issue a burn burn order, you you are notified
1:26:46 already, right? We do we work with forestry on that. We've monitor them in the past. Uh we've had some uh neighborhoods that have been
1:26:52 impacted when they're doing uh burning the debris p piles as they're clearing land. And you know, we we if we
1:26:58 have a question, we'll have forestry go out there and take a look to make sure that everything's being done according to their uh their standards. Christian.
1:27:04 So that's that's in place and I I can understand the concern about a th00and feet but but once it once the burn start
1:27:12 um houses more than 1,000 feet all over the neighborhood can be affected. We can go you can as you said 50,000 ft and
1:27:18 they can still be affected. So, um, notification I I just trying to figure
1:27:23 out how many how far out do you want to notify and I I agree and we have to draw a line somewhere on on these items just like we
1:27:29 do with developments. Um, when a cup or a PUD comes before us and we do the notifications
1:27:36 um, like I said, right now our ordinance says 150, staff goes out 200, right?
1:27:41 Um, you know, there's always an argument to go further. Our PNZ
1:27:47 in their thoughtful conversation wanted to try to make sure that residents in this area, whether city and/or county,
1:27:55 got some sort of notification other than a social media post or a website post
1:28:02 about a controlled burn in their neighborhood. Um, if there are additional items, I think, you know, we
1:28:09 could certainly uh add those in. I'm not opposed to that, but I'm just I I'm
1:28:14 simply looking at it from the notification standpoint of what was already in the ordinance here before us
1:28:20 defining a distance. Otherwise, if we approve it as written, there's no definition of distance. So, that
1:28:27 developer can notify one person and they've met our ordinance. Well, perhaps we can leave this to the
1:28:33 attorney to craft based on because what we're looking for is the police chief to be involved to designate proper
1:28:39 management techniques because there may be other techniques over time. I mean, this is an ordinance. It's going to be here forever. So, if the I think I
1:28:46 called you the police chief. I'm sorry. Did I say police? Um the for our fire chief to be involved and to give the
1:28:52 approval. And I don't have any problem including that they must give a written notice to people within, you know,
1:28:59 homeowners within a certain distance as designated by the fire chief because to Mr. Peterson's point, there might be
1:29:05 days that the wind's only blowing to the east and therefore, you know, that's I don't know. I'm not in this business.
1:29:11 Um, but if you're comfortable, Mr. Bane, I think that uh, Mr. Wah and the fire
1:29:16 chief could come up with some language if we give them the direction that we just want to make sure people are justly
1:29:22 notified when there's a burn so there's not fear or danger.
1:29:27 Chief, are you okay making the call on every notification you get on how far out that written notification of the
1:29:33 ordinance needs to be? Completely. Okay. Then I withdraw the second motion and leave it as currently
1:29:38 written and just make the motion with the staff recommended item um language.
1:29:45 If my second council member Strange if you agree to that. I think perhaps we could add if you'd be
1:29:52 open to it at the kind of the end at um with written notification to adjacent
1:29:59 property owners at a distance recommended by the fire chief.
1:30:05 Okay. So instead of within 10,00 ft that language say as as approved by
1:30:12 the fire Claremont fire chief. Yeah. If you're comfortable with that I would recommend we put in the authority having jurisdiction.
1:30:17 The what's that? The authority having jurisdiction with the so so written notification with
1:30:23 approval from the authority having from the authority having jurisdiction. Would that be local authority chief?
1:30:29 Yes. Okay. Locally in charge of having jurisdiction. Yes. That's the second part of that then. Technically that is my fire marshall
1:30:35 that uh oversees those bills. Okay. Then that's what I would I I would include as that second item then. So my second Okay.
1:30:41 Yeah. Second the the motion as made with the amendment to page 195 with the settlement language suggested by staff
1:30:47 and the amendment to page 202 with the notice the written notice to go to the
1:30:52 property owners um within a distance as designated by the local authority
1:30:58 fire authority. Yeah, I think Christian has enough here that he can write up whatever language it needs to be.
1:31:07 So we do have a motion and a second. That was a second. I just wanted clarity going for the vote.
1:31:13 I'm ready to vote. If you're ready to vote. Yeah. So, did you write down all your motion
1:31:18 there? Yeah, I think we got it. I think so. Would you like it reread? Yeah. Well,
1:31:24 okay. Um, so, uh, my motion was to add the staff language that they have on the
1:31:31 screen. Okay. Here on page 195 of our packet, which is under section four. or it'll be a new uh
1:31:38 small letter D. And to add language on page 202, section 13, letter B, that
1:31:47 says provide written notification to owners as approved by the local fire authority.
1:31:55 Does that cover that, Chief? Correct. Local fire authority jurisdiction, whatever. I think you got the gist of
1:32:01 what we need in there, but I I let I So, we want written notice to adjacent property owners at whatever distance is
1:32:08 approved by the local fire authority. Yeah. The legal term is the authority having jurisdiction. The local
1:32:13 as approved by the authority having jurisdiction. Jurisdiction. Local authority having jurisdiction. And I seconded all of that. We're on the
1:32:20 same page. Yeah. Yeah. Local authority having jurisdiction. Okay. That is the motion.
1:32:26 And I have a second with all that. Okay. We got there. We got there. Any any f further further discussion?
1:32:35 Hear none. Uh yes. Council member Strange
1:32:40 I. Council member Bane I. Council member Myers I.
1:32:45 Council member Peterson I. And the chair vote I as well. Motion carries 5150.
1:32:52 Item number 11 is for reconsideration of ordinance number 2026-00002.
1:32:59 An ordinance of this code of ordinances of the city of Claremont, Lake County, Florida, amending chapter 32, streets,
1:33:06 sidewalks, and other public places to remove the expiration date providing for
1:33:11 conflict, severability, cotification, the administrative correction of scrivener's error, publication, and an
1:33:17 effective date. Yes, sir. Good afternoon again, John
1:33:22 Cruz, Development Services. On February 11th, 2025, the city council approved an
1:33:28 ordinance to allow golf carts on city of Claremont roads within a specific boundary with specific requirements.
1:33:34 Part of this ordinance also included an expiration date. Section 32-102
1:33:39 uh item G within ordinance 2025-00009 lists an expiration date of February
1:33:46 11th, 2026 unless extended by city council. As of December 26, 2025, the
1:33:52 city has issued 28 stickers for golf carts to be operated on city roads. Verification with the police department
1:33:58 indicates that no incidents have occurred with gu golf carts in 2025 as a
1:34:04 result of this program. During the introduction of this ordinance on January 13, 2026, it was
1:34:10 motioned and amended by council to add a three-year time frame. The ordinance has been updated with the expir this
1:34:16 expiration date of February 10th, 2029 is being presented for final consideration. Staff recommends
1:34:23 approval. Ordinance number 2026-002 with the requested expiration date
1:34:29 added. This concludes staff's presentation. Thank you. Of course, this again is
1:34:35 bought by the city. So, it is u public form. Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the
1:34:40 microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes. And as we start uh public comment, if I may briefly just to remind the public at
1:34:47 the last meeting, we have a golf cart ordinance. This one, there's a second one that determines the area. So, this
1:34:54 is expanding the ordinance and then there's another ordinance that says this is the area.
1:35:00 So, this is just about the permission to do golf carts. So or use golf cart the area coming up in here or is it some
1:35:06 other time? Well well the ordinance already have established area that we have on on
1:35:11 books already. So this one is not the area. This is can we operate golf carts within the city
1:35:17 limits at all and then there's another ordinance on the area today. So today is just can we operate golf
1:35:22 carts in the city limits. But we'd love to hear what you have to say because we could always bring the other
1:35:28 one back if Sure. No, no, no. I am Kathy Kyle. I live at 335 Third Street and I have permit number 11 and um I just want to
1:35:35 say I'm in support of the uh of the ordinance, the existing ordinance and the the extension of it. So
1:35:43 that's it. Would you share your experience with us? I'm curious. I don't use it. So Oh, oh, well, I drive Violet all over
1:35:49 town and um yeah, it's really nice to be able to use the golf cart to get around all
1:35:56 around the downtown area. And um I have comments about the new ordinance, but I
1:36:01 guess I don't talk about those right now. But uh no, it's been really super to
1:36:07 have that. I have had one or two experiences of aggressive
1:36:12 drivers, I will say. Um that's been a, you know, a little
1:36:18 nerve-wracking, but um but typically that doesn't happen. People in cars. No, people in cars who,
1:36:25 you know, don't want to wait 15 extra seconds, you know. But, uh, haters are
1:36:32 going to hate, you know. Well, well, ma'am, I don't I don't think that's just towards golf carts. I see
1:36:38 that going towards the vehicles, pedestrians, and everybody else around here. So, we have to do something about that. This is not not specific, but you
1:36:45 know, how how dare you go 17 miles an hour when I want to go 38 miles an hour
1:36:52 in a 30 mph zone, right? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. This is a public. Anyone in
1:36:58 public wish may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
1:37:03 Anyone else? Seeing no one else at close public, in-house public, no one online. We have
1:37:10 no one online. So, I bring it back to council. would say council.
1:37:15 I move to approve item number 2026- 0002. I second.
1:37:23 I have a motion and a second to approve item number 11, ordinance number 2026-00002.
1:37:32 Any further discussion? Yes, mayor. Um,
1:37:38 I do think uh we need to have a conversation about whether we want to expand our
1:37:44 golf cart radius. Um, and we didn't do that today um with this item. This is
1:37:50 just to allow the golf carts uh as as council member Strange mentioned. Um,
1:37:56 when this was originally proposed by staff and I did have a clarification question for staff. So in the presentation slide it says recommend
1:38:02 approval with the expiration date. Our materials say recommended without the expiration date. Could we get
1:38:08 clarification on that? Yes. Um originally when staff brought this forward we um recommended
1:38:17 no expiration date. And again if you read the top uh that's italicized in the staff
1:38:24 report. That was the new stuff added. Yep. Normally we keep the old staff report as reference and history.
1:38:30 So if you ever see in the staff report at the top where it's italicized that means it's it's been added. So staff
1:38:36 recommends approval ordinance 2026002 with the requested expiration date added. So that's staff's
1:38:42 okay uh recommendation. So staff originally when they proposed this did not propose an expiration date.
1:38:48 That is correct. We we just um struck that that item completely out. We
1:38:53 brought it forward. Yep. And this is where we're at today with the three. Would staff, and it may may not be you,
1:38:59 Mr. Cruz, it could be uh the city manager. Would staff still recommend approval without an expiration date?
1:39:08 Yes. Okay. Thank you. So, the city manager said yes. Um, and the reason why I'm asking that is because I think we've had
1:39:14 a trial period. And I'm not a fan personally of
1:39:21 trial period and then another trial period for the sake of trial periods. if
1:39:27 there's a legitimate valid, hey, we didn't collect enough data, we have
1:39:33 mixed data, we forgot to collect data, something like that where it would warrant us to need to potentially do an
1:39:39 additional trial period. Or if we were coupling this with an an expansion of
1:39:44 the golf carts and we say, look, we want to do this, okay, we're adding some area, so let's just, you know, put this
1:39:50 out another year or two or whatever. Um, I could be fully support that, but my
1:39:56 concern is adding the three-year for the sake of just adding a three-year without
1:40:02 it being proposed that way. Is that um this is an investment that people make when they buy a golf cart. Brand new,
1:40:09 they're anywhere from 5 to$10,000 plus dollars. Uh so if someone wants to make
1:40:15 that investment, um that they now are are wondering, okay, am I going to be
1:40:20 able to get to do that? Now, I understand we can always repeal any ordinance that we write, but the reality
1:40:26 is is that if it's going well, we're not going to do that without some sort of justification. So, we're just we're
1:40:32 pushing that goalpost arbitrarily, and I think it's just creating more bureaucracy for our residents. Number
1:40:38 two, um I think that um the the um the
1:40:45 entrepreneurship of folks who might want to go into the golf cart business. This is prohibiting someone from doing that.
1:40:52 I certainly wouldn't want to invest in a business that the city may or may not in
1:40:58 three years now again we have to come back up and decide whether or not we're going to continue this. Are they just going to keep kicking it down the road
1:41:03 or are we just going to, you know, allow it to happen? Um, so I I just I don't
1:41:09 understand and I haven't heard a justification for why we need to have a second trial period and why it needs to
1:41:16 be an additional why why three years. Um, and so uh I I would like to see this
1:41:24 just extended as staff originally recommended. And I would move to strike
1:41:30 uh letter G under section two which has the expiration
1:41:35 um and and make that as an amendment to the motion um to strike letter G.
1:41:41 I I I still think we need to have a sense that we only have 23 registered vehicles which is not a you know a great
1:41:48 sampling. So let's say in three years we have just a point of point of information there's no second. So unless there's a
1:41:55 second we don't need to discuss it. But I I've made the motion. Is there a second? Well, I
1:42:00 Is there Well, I I I'm in agreement with you. Just remove the um I'll second for purposes of discussion.
1:42:06 Thank you. You're welcome. I just want to try to make sure we're facilitating here. I'm in agreement with you. Just move remove the uh
1:42:14 the time the timeline. We just need to remove that. I think we've did one year and this has been something that's been
1:42:20 floating around here for years and we've done this. U we we've had no incidents.
1:42:25 I don't care how many golf carts we get out there. Even if we put a timeline on it, uh increase with golf carts, we can
1:42:32 still somewhere along the line have have incidents. But I think we need to just
1:42:37 remove the timeline and just let it let it be an ordinance and go ahead from here on out. My more concern is is the
1:42:46 areas of use. That's that create more problem for me than than than the
1:42:51 timeline. Okay. My recommendation was to go ahead and remove it. I I had pushed for the sunset and I feel
1:42:58 like you you're asking questions. I'd like to answer them and that's all is um if you look back at the timeline
1:43:04 of when this was adopted at the time I was really pushing for the comprehensive
1:43:10 plan to be done. I firmly believe that Claremont in many areas will embrace
1:43:16 golf cart usage but we are currently vehicular centric as a city. I don't
1:43:22 think that's where we're going to land. That's just where we are. And one year later, we have 28 permits that have been
1:43:27 pulled. And I don't I don't feel like that is a big enough group to really see
1:43:34 what is it that we're really dealing with. I mean, we're dealing with ebikes. We're dealing with golf carts. There's a lot of transportation issues that are
1:43:40 going on. I think these are important issues. And to your point, Mr. Bane, I do think that if we adopt an ordinance
1:43:45 and it's permanent, it is very hard to take that away. If there's a three-year sunset and we don't renew it, it just
1:43:52 sunset and we didn't renew it. It doesn't actually take an affirmative act to take away people's businesses,
1:43:59 people's feelings of liberty, their sense of entitlement. That's where I'm coming from. We didn't actually end up
1:44:05 starting the comprehensive plan process until later in the year. I think it was October. And so, I think if we had
1:44:12 started in December of 2024, we would be better able to make a permanent decision today. But as we sit here today, we're
1:44:19 on a timeline of April being our ABA report. We're on the timeline of summer for DPZ to be coming back into the fall.
1:44:26 And I thought valid points were made about one year being too short. You know, we deal with threeear CUPs all the
1:44:33 time. I would go to five if we feel like we need something a little more permanent. Again, I think it probably
1:44:39 will end up being permanent, but I want to be thoughtful and exercise temperance as we're moving forward with this change
1:44:46 to the way we handle transportation in the city. And that's where my hesitation is, is I don't want to create a sense of
1:44:53 entitlement, um, a sense that we're taking something away, especially if people are building businesses on it. I
1:44:58 would rather give a notice that this this still is in trial. We haven't had a lot of people participating. So, we're
1:45:04 giving a longer period of time. maybe more people will participate. I don't have a crystal ball to know where this is going to stand, but that's where I'm
1:45:10 hesitant to make a permanent decision on this one. Yeah, and I hear that. Um, and I respect that. Um, I think there there there's
1:45:19 got to be some number and we don't know. We're we're both making a hypothetical on why there's there's the number of
1:45:26 permits there are. Some people could not have gotten a permit because they simply didn't want to invest the money in buying the golf cart to have a permit
1:45:33 that only was going to be valid for a year and now have a golf cart sitting in their driveway. Um, so I think um I
1:45:40 share that that concern and in theory I think having the the comprehensive plan
1:45:45 information is valid and helpful. But I certainly
1:45:50 gosh I I would be hardpressed to believe any comprehensive
1:45:56 plan process and report that this council approves does not allow for
1:46:02 multimmodal transportation, bikes, ebikes, um golf carts, cars, pedestrian
1:46:11 walkways, etc. Um, and so I I just think we're we're creating a burden that
1:46:17 doesn't need to be there. I understand the theory behind it. I just don't know that. Um, you know, if we were expanding
1:46:24 the map, I would say absolutely we need to have a trial period for that new area
1:46:29 because we're adding something new. This is just an area that already exists that we haven't had any issues with. At some
1:46:35 point, again, kind of like that notification, you have to draw that line and say, "We have data. the data shows
1:46:41 this um and let's just move forward and that's kind of where I was coming from with it and I get that
1:46:48 I mean I think what we you know we initially spoke about you know if we want to be like the villages you need to
1:46:54 have things that are set up for golf carts and uh you know like if we build it they will come maybe we have to
1:47:00 create golf cart parking create you know like where you have the different so you know it incentivizes people to get a
1:47:07 golf cart if they have to park in a regular parking spot If they're fighting with other cars, there's there has to be
1:47:13 like say golf cart lanes just like they have bike lanes. We have to, you know, we if as a city council, we need to
1:47:19 promote golf carts. That's maybe why we only have 23 now. But I think if we just
1:47:25 open it up, like you said, we need to have a a sunset a sunset date. Well, we could always amend it later
1:47:31 when the comp plan is done and make it permanent. We don't have to wait. Is going to come in. They'll say, "Wow, you could do this, this, and that." Wow,
1:47:37 that never thought of that. But that's what their function is, is to open up our eyes to the things that we can't
1:47:43 see. I think we just have some philosophical disagreements on on what whether or not
1:47:48 we need a timeline or not. And trial periods after trial periods after trial periods, I think, is just unnecessary
1:47:54 given that we don't have any concerns. So, I I would hope the council would just approve it as it was originally presented without it. Um, and we'll see
1:48:01 where that vote goes. Mr. Mayor, we if I can add, we have two motions and two seconds on the floor
1:48:07 right now. So, Yeah. So, my motion was to amend, right,
1:48:12 add an amendment to the motion and it was seconded. So, we can vote on that and if it fails, then the original
1:48:18 motion is still on the floor. It just wouldn't be amended to strike the three-year term. Actually, I think it was a
1:48:25 unless Mr. Wall says something different. Amended. Okay. So, we'll we'll call the question that Mr. Bane posed, which is um as
1:48:32 originally presented by staff without a sunset. Yeah, without a sunset.
1:48:39 All right. So, I do have a motion and a second on the floor um present u to approve the
1:48:46 item as presented by state staff without a sunset. This is a roll call.
1:48:51 Any further discussion? If not, council member Strange.
1:48:58 Nay. Council member Bane. I council member Myers.
1:49:05 Nay. Council member Peterson. Nay. And chair vote I as well. Motion
1:49:13 fails three to one. Three to two. So now we'll call the mo the the motion
1:49:19 to approve with the sunset. Second. Got a motion. You don't have to second. No, we just
1:49:24 have to vote. Right. It's already been moved and seconded. Yeah. I I'm going to vote for it because I think the golf carts need to be there.
1:49:31 I think it's unfortunate that we're kicking the can down the road and and just adding more trial periods, but
1:49:39 that's that. Okay,
1:49:45 motion on the floor is to go ahead and approve item number where we are number 11, ordinance number 2026-022
1:49:52 as presented by staff. Any further discussion? No.
1:49:58 Just to clarify, we're voting as presented by staff today with the sunset.
1:50:04 I, Council Member Bane, I,
1:50:09 Council Member Myers, I, Council Member Peterson, I, Chair, vote, I as well. Motion
1:50:17 carries 50. Okay.
1:50:23 Item number 12 is consider is for consideration of resolution number 2026-00001R.
1:50:31 A resolution of the city council of the city of Claremont, Lake County, Florida, granting a conditional use permit to
1:50:37 allow for a food truck to operate on a vacant parcel located in the C1 like
1:50:42 commercial zoning district providing for conflict severability administrative correction of Scrivener's error
1:50:48 publication and an effective date. Yes, ma'am. Good afternoon, mayor, city council
1:50:54 members, and guests. Justine Day with planning and development services. The applicant and property owner Rick
1:51:02 Richardson is requesting a conditional use permit to allow for a food truck to operate on a vacant parcel designated
1:51:08 with the C1 light commercial zoning district. The property is located at the northeast corner of the Lake Avenue and
1:51:14 West Highway 50 intersection and is approximately 34 acres.
1:51:20 The applicant is proposing to operate a single food truck as a takeout only service on the property. Operating hours
1:51:26 would be up to four days a week. Since the land development codes do not identify the requested use as a
1:51:32 permitted use under section 125313,
1:51:37 it requires this type of use only through a conditional use permit. The current zoning permits resident uh
1:51:43 restaurants and food establishments provided the use is conducted within an enclosed building. Staff has reviewed
1:51:49 the application and finds that the use would not be more obnoxious to the district due to the similarities and
1:51:55 uses permitted. The applicant is also requesting a variance for a reduction to the landscape buffer required by land
1:52:01 development code section 123-43E1. This would allow for a 10-ft landscape
1:52:07 buffer in place of the minimum 20 foot buffer required along West Highway 50 to
1:52:13 the south. After careful overview of the elevation contours, its staff determination that the reduced landscape
1:52:19 buffer may still meet the intent of the code. The property currently has a burm along west highway 50 that then
1:52:25 decreases in grade continually towards the north side of the property. The burm limits visibility on the site which
1:52:31 would be enhanced by the proposed 10-ft landscape buffer. The owner is willing to make the necessary site improvements
1:52:37 to accommodate access, parking, and storm water retention. It is of staff's opinion that this use makes the most of
1:52:44 a smaller constrained parcel while offering the property owner the ability to use their property.
1:52:50 When evaluating a request for a conditional use permit, the land development code section 101212 requires
1:52:56 specific development standards that are required to be met. Staff has reviewed the application as submitted in accord
1:53:02 in accordance with the development standards criteria and finds the proposed use can meet the general
1:53:07 criteria for granting a conditional use permit. The proposed use will not be detrimental to the health, safety, and
1:53:14 welfare of the surrounding community. The planning and zoning commission recommended approval four to three with
1:53:19 conditions to allow the operation up to four days instead of the original three and to require additional addit uh
1:53:26 lighting on site if operating hours are after dusk. Staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit with the
1:53:32 conditions contained in resolution number 2026-1.
1:53:38 This concludes staff presentation. Thank you ma'am. Is the applicant present? Afternoon.
1:53:59 For the record, my name is Christopher Germana with Germana Engineering 1120 West Miniola. I'm the engineer record.
1:54:05 Um, just want to kind of go over briefly the concept plan that was presented in your package, a little bit about the
1:54:11 facility and how it's going to work. So, as staff mentioned, this is a food
1:54:16 trailer. It's going to be a trail operation. So, uh the owners are going to come in with a pickup truck. They're
1:54:22 going to have a trailer and they're going to park it at the designated gravel pad that's identified on your
1:54:28 plan. At the close of business, they're going to take that trailer, bring it off property, and uh with that, they are um
1:54:36 going to bring it to a dumping station. So, which means there's going to be no utility needs for this uh for this
1:54:43 project. So, we're not tying into water and sewer. Everything is self-contained. They're going to bring it off property
1:54:49 and then come back the next business day. Um in your plan, we we are providing grass parking. We do have a
1:54:56 designated handicap space with a sidewalk and then an accessible route to the public way. We are going to have a
1:55:03 storm water to meet the St. John's and city of Claremont's requirements. the concept of it is needs to be determined.
1:55:10 It's it's a placeholder, but that's where we anticipate it. We get we're going to get geotechnical and and
1:55:15 supporting information. So, I just want to explain a little bit about it. Um I'd be happy to answer any technical
1:55:21 questions and then the owners are here as well for any operational type questions.
1:55:26 Okay. Uh thank you, sir. If there is any question, we will come uh go ahead and
1:55:32 call you back up later. But right now this is a public unless donor. Did you
1:55:37 want to say something before I go to public comment? Okay. Yeah. Well then this is a public
1:55:44 hearing. Anybody in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone to state your name and address and have three minutes.
1:55:51 This is a public forum. Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone to state your name and address and have three minutes.
1:56:05 Good evening. Good afternoon, city council Vincent Regency Hills. Uh before
1:56:11 you take a vote in this, just keep these simple facts. Uh the engineer did say a
1:56:16 dumping facility, but he didn't say where it was. And in order to have a dumping facility, does that still fall
1:56:22 under the commiss registration act? Which in other words, you need a
1:56:28 certificate from the commissary registration entitled DBPR-7022.
1:56:36 Okay. Uh also highlight points backflow of traffic.
1:56:41 Lake Road. Lake Avenue is a narrow road 20t long. lighting lighting on the
1:56:49 entire area because we know it gets dark over there. All right. ADA compliance. I
1:56:54 hope you understand that they really have to be in compliance for wheelchairs. Parking. Parking is a big
1:57:01 one. That's why we're asking for lighting. All right. Or um you should be asking for lighting. The water backflow
1:57:08 when it rains. There's a lot of grass over here. All right. The sanitary. All
1:57:13 right. The gray water. What dumping facilities is this? Gray water means
1:57:18 dirty water when you wash your hands, when you wash your utensils. Okay. The
1:57:24 bathroom. What kind of bathroom are you going to have? Is it going to be a rental portter party? How long is it
1:57:29 going to be there? Is it going to be there 24/7? Is it going to be in a summertime when it really like I don't
1:57:36 understand? And also expect vandalism to that. You know how kids are. Okay. Food
1:57:42 trucks. This is very important. It states in the ordinance and it's in writing, you're allowed one food truck
1:57:48 for four days. Does this mean he could bring any other food truck or is it going to be specifically for their own
1:57:56 the only the owner's food trailer? Not truck, I'm sorry. And also taking in consideration
1:58:02 it's a large trailer, not a food truck. A trailer and it's being trailed with an
1:58:08 additional four feet plus he's pulling it with a large pickup truck. So if you do the math that comes out to anywhere
1:58:14 from 35 to 40 feet now you have to make a tone on Lake Avenue. That to me is a
1:58:19 safety issue on the backflow of traffic from 50. Come on. I like the idea but these things have to be answered before
1:58:26 you reach your decision. Thank you. Have a blessed day. Thank you. Anyone else? This is public.
1:58:33 Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
1:58:39 Anyone else? Seeing no one else, I have one online.
1:58:44 Go ahead.
1:58:56 Go ahead. Online, they on teams or phone.
1:59:04 Hello. Hello. Yes, ma'am.
1:59:09 page test um section 101-2
1:59:15 subsection C of your LDC of course as you are aware requires you
1:59:20 to make four specific findings um including that this will not be
1:59:26 detrimental to the health safety or general welfare persons residing or working in the vicinity and especially
1:59:33 that it would be desirable this particular location You're being asked
1:59:38 to make an affirmative finding findings based on the evidence currently in the
1:59:44 record before you. Of course, this this approval is going to be based on a preliminary conceptual site plan. So,
1:59:51 formal grading and engineering review will of course, you know, occur later.
1:59:57 But yet, you can clearly see here that the parcels sit in a visible depression. The proposed surfaces are gravel, not a
2:00:05 concrete pad for this trailer. And grass. So there are no grading contours,
2:00:11 no spot elevations, no drainage calculations and no demonstration of how runoff from compact gravel and grass
2:00:18 parking will function in this lowline these low parcels. So if drainage
2:00:23 drainage analysis has yet to be completed, how then can council make a finding
2:00:29 uh that the use will not be detrimental to health and safety given the depressed
2:00:35 topography? Um, moreover, I have particular concerns regarding ADA
2:00:40 requirements. You can see clearly there from the conceptual site plan there, specifically
2:00:46 the ingress and the egress. For instance, the proposed sidewalk that's entering into the property off the
2:00:52 current sidewalk on Highway 50 is way too steep for wheelchair access.
2:00:59 And the entry out Lake Avenue uh will initially be concrete as it's
2:01:06 proposed, but then it turns into gravel as you can see and then it turns into stabilized grass. Uh so all of which is
2:01:13 extremely difficult for wheelchairs to navigate whether again they're coming in off of 50 with that steep uh ingress
2:01:20 there and then um or lake again they'll initially hit that proposed concrete but
2:01:26 then they're going to be hitting gravel. I don't think this is acceptable for um
2:01:32 wheelchair people people using wheelchairs. um council must you know
2:01:37 also find that this is desirable no matter if you find it well desiraability of course is objective but in this
2:01:45 particular instance in this particular location um given what's in your packet there
2:01:50 what evidence do you have that supports the conclusion that conclusion that it's desirable given the site's visibility
2:01:56 and proximity to existing residential structures um additionally have a few specific
2:02:02 questions about either staff or perhaps applicants can answer. Uh number one,
2:02:08 how can the city be sure that the proposed gravel area um you know right
2:02:14 there where you see off of lake that first again goes into the proposed concrete into that gravel area right
2:02:19 there won't become overflow parking or the parcel that actually belongs to the
2:02:24 city won't be utilized for parking. Um which brings me to number two has
2:02:30 um ma'am I need you to wrap it up in 30 seconds. Okay. Well, have they thought about
2:02:36 stacking issues on the property? There's only five spaces. Also, they say there's six spaces on their permit, but there's
2:02:42 not. There's five. And then I would like for them to expound on the portaotty if they would. And at the end of the day,
2:02:47 your required findings must be supported by competent substantial evidence now,
2:02:53 not after engineering review. Thank you. Thank you.
2:02:59 Anyone else on that? Nola. So, we're going to close public comment and bring
2:03:04 it back to C uh staff. I mean, council, I'm sorry. Um,
2:03:11 I'd like to to start my clock if that's okay. Um, you're ahead of us. We don't
2:03:18 have a a a code for food trucks. We we don't have this. I want the public to be aware. Um, my understanding is the way
2:03:25 that this has been processed is as a walk in food service establishment. And
2:03:30 so we've got engineered drawings for a food trailer. Um, which for me, you
2:03:36 know, I'm just wondering if we're making a mountain out of a molehill. To be honest, um, I wasn't really sure how to
2:03:42 to take this one when I first saw it because in theory it fronts Highway 50,
2:03:47 but when I actually looked at the property, lo and behold, it's right next to Lake Dot,
2:03:52 right? Lake Dot is one of the potential parks that we're looking to make a
2:03:59 string of pearls out of. So, actually kind of seems cool to me, fun to me. Um,
2:04:06 I've been to food truck establishments before, you know, places where there, what do they call them? Food truck
2:04:12 parks, I think, where, you know, it's what is it? It's gravel and there's portaotties and sometimes they have some
2:04:19 shade and sometimes they don't have shade and and it's very functional and it's kind of the step up to more
2:04:25 established business ownership. And so I'm here wanting to help these folks get
2:04:31 where they want to go. Um Christian, I hope you're paying attention because I'm going to be asking for your take on some
2:04:37 of this. Um because the first thing is I would like to see this be a temporary
2:04:42 cup, not a permanent cup. I would like to revisit this. I know, as you can tell, Mr. Bane, I'm going to be very
2:04:49 slowm moving as we move through some of these things, but I think it's exciting. What I don't want to do is have these
2:04:54 business owners spend an extraordinary amount of money, including storm water retention for a for a self-contained
2:05:02 food trailer. I I but I don't know how to get there. So, hopefully Christian can help us get there. I think if I have
2:05:09 to approve it the way it is, I'll approve it the way it is. I don't think it's perfect. I would want to put a timeline on it because I do think it's
2:05:16 going to be better as we go through this process and I'm going to be asking council probably during the report
2:05:22 section to help give direction to staff on how we can start improvements at Lake
2:05:29 Dot with maybe a landscape architect to create kind of a walkable space there. You go, you get your food, you go for a
2:05:35 little walk, you enjoy the park, the Florida native. How do we make that nice? How do we make this an amenity for
2:05:41 the community? and I commend you and your creative ideas. We're just we're not ready for it. So, I want to help get
2:05:47 them there if we can. Um, without it being unduly burdensome on them. I also
2:05:54 don't think a frontage anticipating frontage on 50 is actually the right way to look at this. I think we should be
2:05:59 looking at it as if you're coming from Lake Dot from downtown. And I think it could be a really neat amenity for the
2:06:04 city. That's my time. That's that's what I have to say. But I have a lot of markups in my book because
2:06:10 Yes. You know, I think before we do any approvals, I would be requesting that
2:06:15 staff like prepare and present some kind of ordinance for food trucks and food trailers so we have some kind of
2:06:22 guidelines to go by as opposed to, you know, you're all hearing these negatives that are coming out. So, we need, you
2:06:28 know, I don't think I'm an expert on food trucks, so I don't know I don't know what we need to get, but I think
2:06:33 staff would then, you know, they could prepare and present some kind of ordinance and then we could it wouldn't
2:06:39 even come to us. It would just it's done instead of coming to us, you know, and these we're trying to answer questions
2:06:45 that we really don't have the power to answer. But they've been through this process already. They know
2:06:51 where is the obviously you have this trailer now, right? And and it's being utilized where?
2:06:56 Nowhere. So you just decided to to buy a trailer and just maybe have it work.
2:07:03 No, you're an entrepreneur. As a matter of fact, we've been doing this for the past over six to seven
2:07:08 years now. Okay. Okay. So, it's not anything new. Yes, we had the trailer in storage. Okay. And we have the property
2:07:16 there. And the only thing is going to be there is just our trailer.
2:07:22 Okay. Serving serving the best Maryland crab cake.
2:07:29 Yes. So, about the portaotti. So, you're going to have a portaotty. How is that going to work?
2:07:35 I'm sorry. Portaotty. You're going to have a portaotty there. How's that going to work? Yes. Well, a port is uh it fits
2:07:42 underneath the counter. Okay. And you can either take it out, you know, to use
2:07:48 it. It seals off any type of waste, anything like that. That's going to be toward the back of the trailer away from
2:07:54 the food and you push it back on the pallet. I think the the porter part they're referring to is only for their use
2:08:00 because this is a carry out service. So, people won't be on the facility. And we're going to you know where we
2:08:06 have certainly the story. Uh we will empty it and clean it every day.
2:08:11 It will not be stationary. It will be portable. It will be moved every day.
2:08:16 Right. It will be dumped, fresh water provided and stored at our storage facility which
2:08:22 is off of Ray Good game Parkway.
2:08:28 Yes sir. Um thank you for clarifying that. That was going to be a question I had about
2:08:34 the portaotti um with the lighting. So, the lighting that that will be required
2:08:40 if you're operating after dusk, does that lighting come down when you
2:08:46 pull the trailer out or is that lighting staying there? No, we've already contacted Duke Energy
2:08:54 and have a work order for lighting for a pole. Yes. So, that so that'll be something that will be permanent there that that we
2:09:00 don't have to worry about like some sort of temporary thing that could be vandalized or stolen or things like that. Okay. Um because I think that was
2:09:07 one of the concerns that was brought up about about that is what happens with like the restroom and and and the
2:09:12 lighting after you're not there. But we've got clarity on the restroom. It's not a public restroom and the lighting
2:09:18 would be affixed into the ground. Lighting full all night. Okay. Um
2:09:25 is there currently any storm water management on the property right now?
2:09:32 No. I don't know if that's a staff question or or I'll have to let the engineer talk.
2:09:37 Yeah. And then staff if you have input too if you
2:09:45 not that staff is aware it's unimproved at this moment. Okay. You have anything to add?
2:09:53 I would agree there there's no storm water. It's a vacant property. And as noted earlier, we're going to have a dry
2:09:59 pond. Yeah. Um geotech needed. the size of it needs to be determined and we're going to conform with the city of Claremont and
2:10:05 also St. John's requirements. Right. Um the gravel that was mentioned that will be com this runoff that's
2:10:11 associated with that will be conveyed to the storm water pond whether it's sheet flow or by inlets. Thank you. And my other question then
2:10:17 for staff would be um for the drainage. We've heard some comments about the
2:10:24 what's being proposed versus say a concrete pad and runoff. I is it staff's
2:10:29 opinion or information that these types of materials that are being proposed
2:10:35 would be better for runoff than having more completely impervious like a a concrete slab out there?
2:10:42 So gravel would be considered impervious just as the concrete slab. Okay.
2:10:47 So it would it would basically be the same. Okay. So there's no difference between the the concrete pad or or the gravel
2:10:54 that's being proposed in here in terms of runoff. No, but all of that regardless would go to
2:11:01 the new storm water retention area. Correct. That's being proposed as a part of the plan. Correct.
2:11:06 Okay. Uh those are my only questions. Um the
2:11:12 with regard to the comment that that council member Peterson made about standards and so forth. I agree. Um, in
2:11:19 fact, I think, uh, you know, when this came up, there was a food truck, uh, park that was going to that was proposed
2:11:26 out by, um, Flippers Pizza and BJ's uh, a couple of years ago. Uh, and I think
2:11:32 we we kind of missed our opportunity to address something there um, with with
2:11:37 regards to some standards, but also uh, we had this come up with uh, further up the road on 50. Um, there's there's
2:11:44 another little mini food truck park, if you will, that was approved by PNZ and by the council. And so, uh, while I
2:11:52 agree that there needs to be some standards put in place, I don't think that, uh, that we should penalize an
2:11:58 individual for essentially not having that in place. Uh, and so I think, um, I
2:12:05 think we should move forward with this. I agree with Council Member Strange's points that she's made um a and also
2:12:12 with Council Member Peterson to say look at we've got to get something in place here because uh the peacemail piece is
2:12:18 not working and I don't want to get to a point where we have to penalize someone because of the peacemail piece. Uh I
2:12:24 don't think that's just on on us for them. I think the other piece of that that I hear from brickandmortar folks is
2:12:30 that, you know, when we when they open, they pay impact fees or when they build and when food trucks come in, they
2:12:37 don't. And so I think maybe a part of that needs to be what kind of equity does there need to be some parity and
2:12:43 equity there at some point in the future for new food truck businesses or new food truck parks. Should there be some
2:12:49 sort of impact fees associated with that to kind of make sure we have an equitable uh level field out there. But
2:12:55 I don't think that we should impose those things on a particular item that's before us here today. I agree with you. I think I think we
2:13:01 should have some type of feed to make it fair for the brick and mortar and you know um the food trucks. Um but not at
2:13:08 this time but we do need to have an ordinance on this because this peace mail. Yeah.
2:13:14 Well, I I think if I'm not mistaken, Kirk, we have been working on ordinance for food truck in the past. We kind of
2:13:20 like dropped off there with change over other people. So it it has been working.
2:13:25 Uh Miss Miss Strange CUP if they we issue this cup, I don't think we we need
2:13:32 to be temporary or a CUP because if they're not meeting the guidelines and the orders establishing, we can always
2:13:38 pull a CUP. Okay. So don't we we don't need to have to worry about being a temporary cup. Um
2:13:48 I can't I think I think you know I I maybe I don't know. I have trouble
2:13:53 hearing sometime, but I thought I heard somewhere about um somebody questioning the staff uh on their work and their
2:14:00 findings and everything. I I totally trust our staff and I think they do did due diligence in in running this through
2:14:07 process and everything and I detrimental to to the public. I think I heard you say that in your presentation that it
2:14:13 did not present any detriment. Okay. Uh, and of course I think the online um
2:14:19 person online was questioning all that. I I'm sorry. I got to support my staff
2:14:25 and always think they do great work and they they've been doing this a long time and it it bothers me sometime when I
2:14:30 hear people question about the work the work about staff and everything. I think we got great staff around here and we
2:14:35 need to always support them. Um, that's basically all I mean, I have no problem with this because we got another food
2:14:41 truck I set up on this council when we authorize the other food lot right up the road. Um, less than a mile away or so. Uh,
2:14:49 it's not one food truck, it's three food trucks in there. And guess what? They switching over every week look like, you know. So, so,
2:14:57 uh, and I've even been in there a couple of times. So, but I do agree we do need to go ahead and continue our ordinance
2:15:03 that Kirk get on there and try to see if we can't get the ordinance feed. So, I entertain a motion if there no further
2:15:09 discussion. I I need some followup from a logistical or technical standpoint. And Christian,
2:15:14 if you're on the phone, you'll probably be one that will need to answer this in case the city manager can. As I look
2:15:20 through the actual ordinance that's proposed on page 250, uh, section one,
2:15:25 paragraph 11, um, again, I think that this because this is drafted as if it's
2:15:31 a building, we're treating it like it's a a a brick andmortar. Uh, I would like to see paragraph 11 be limited to six
2:15:38 months, not a two-year start rather than two. I mean, I'd like to see this active. If they're going to do it, I want them to do it right away. Um, I do
2:15:46 want a legal determination before this is final on whether a food trailer qualifies as an open air food truck
2:15:53 establishment. Um, I don't know that we have definitions for that. So, I want to
2:15:58 make sure that we've properly define that somewhere, even if it's just in this ordinance. On paragraphs
2:16:05 2, five, six, 7, there's references to the city's code. And I worry that our
2:16:14 code doesn't anticipate this. So I want to make this isn't really for you as much as it is the attorney. I want to
2:16:20 make sure that the code if the code doesn't truly anticipate these issues that it's in the ordinance itself, the
2:16:27 language of what these things mean. You know, if we say we're going to comply with um the trash is disposed of in
2:16:33 accordance with the city code and this is going off site. I just want to make sure Christian's looking at this that we're all comfortable with the language
2:16:40 of it. Um, paragraph 8 refers to if the parking at the site is deemed to be inadequate. My question would be by
2:16:46 whom? Who makes that determination that it's inadequate? I don't necessarily
2:16:53 want to, my vote would not be to restrict their operations to four days a week. Um, not necessarily opposed to the
2:17:01 times, but what if they if they wanted to be a breakfast joint? Do we really care if they're open during
2:17:07 normal business hours? Do we want to say four days a week? Again, this is a cup. Uh I remain of the opinion that we
2:17:15 should put a period of time on this for all the reasons we've discussed, not the least of which is we don't have a
2:17:21 existing code that anticipates this. Um I'm concerned about the justice of the appearance that we're avoiding the code
2:17:27 on setting up a permanent structure. If it's working, they can come back. I'm willing to talk about three years jumps
2:17:33 out at me. I'm willing to go up to five. Um, but something to where there is kind of a again a trial period. Uh, not to
2:17:40 rub I don't want to rub anyone the wrong way. This is the first time we've done this one. Um, and I think that as we go through the comprehensive plan, these
2:17:46 questions will be addressed and and we can formalize this for more permanent. But I'm open to a temporary fix. I'd
2:17:53 like Christians to look at those items that we talked about, those definitions to make sure
2:17:58 they're properly defined. I would want to amend. In fact, I'll make a motion to approve item number 12 with amendments
2:18:04 paragraph 11 to reduce the period of time to begin to 6 months to expand the
2:18:10 hours of operation to 8:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. uh seven days a week and to uh
2:18:18 identify if the parking is deemed to be inadequate by the city manager, then it can come
2:18:25 back to council. and with a three-year time limit.
2:18:32 This is Christian. Can I address some of those things? Sure. Do we want a second first so that we've done that?
2:18:37 Do I have a second? Great. We don't have time. Second. Okay. I have a motion in a
2:18:43 second for approval of item number 12 with the stated uh amendments.
2:18:49 Any further discussion? Who? Oh, yeah. Christian. Okay. Oh, I'm sorry, mayor. Yeah, this was
2:18:56 it's me. So, uh, yes, Council Member Strange, I am actually paying attention, believe it or not. Um, so in response to
2:19:02 some of your concerns, um, I think the reason why we, this is my perspective,
2:19:08 the reason why we like to put items 25, five, six, seven in there that say they
2:19:13 will comply with certain provisions of the code is so that if there is a violation, it provides the council a
2:19:20 fairly easy method for revoking the cup in the future and and they're on notice,
2:19:26 we don't have to say, well, you didn't know. Although it is true that Of course, even if we didn't have those
2:19:32 things in there, they would have to follow all other provisions of the city code. Um, in section 8, I think you
2:19:39 raised an interesting point, but it it is implied that it's city staff without saying that it's city staff that they'll
2:19:45 determine that. And of course, you have the final say as the city council in
2:19:51 determining whether staff is right about that, you know, for the purposes of revoking. Um, as far as I know, the Florida
2:19:58 Department of Agriculture does not define this as an open air food establishment. It's called a mobile food
2:20:04 establishment. And I don't know all the details of the regulations that the Department of Agriculture has on these
2:20:11 things. All I can tell you is that it's not considered open air. It's considered
2:20:16 mobile. Um so anyways, that's all I have to say about the issues that you raised.
2:20:23 Do you need to Christian, do you need to look over this ordinance and make sure you're happy with the language that it's
2:20:29 compliant with the mobile statute? I am happy with it. Okay. Okay.
2:20:36 Thank you. I think we covered all the questions along the way.
2:20:43 I I couldn't write so fast. But anyway, I we do have a motion and a second on
2:20:48 the floor for approval of item number 12 with stated uh amendments.
2:20:56 Yeah. Is there any further discussion? Um I I agree with several, but I don't agree with a couple of the others. Um I
2:21:04 I we didn't even ask if they can have this ready in six months. And we and we
2:21:10 give we give cups two years. So, I I I think we at least ought to ask if we're
2:21:15 going to change that now on you at the 11th hour, does that even work with what you have in plans? And and can staff
2:21:20 even accommodate that through the approval process? Yeah, I'm glad you mentioned that. I actually wanted to bring that up. So, we
2:21:27 do need to get state permits, St. John's, uh, and all appropriate permits. The time to achieve that seems possible,
2:21:34 but I I would ask for a little bit longer than six months, okay, to, you know, to break ground. probably,
2:21:41 you know, maybe maybe nine months. Okay. Just to give a little cushion there, but um but we still have to go through state
2:21:48 permits. Okay. They want to do a year instead. Years is a long time.
2:21:53 I I I was under the impression she was she was referring to six months after they began operation.
2:21:59 No, six months. So, the permit will be become null and void if substantial work is not begun within six months of
2:22:06 issuance of the CUP. And he's saying he needs nine months. So, he's saying nine months. I'm okay with nine months if he's okay with nine
2:22:12 months. We start getting to a year and well well my thing is because you know the state can move slow. So that's that's my concern. Um so if they need
2:22:20 more time just to come back but you say n that's why I say 12 months because bureaucracy I mean nothing moves fast.
2:22:27 Yeah. And and that's my and that's part of my point. uh if I can have the floor back. Um that I I I don't I mean again
2:22:35 we're we're just arbitrarily putting timelines out there to make business harder for people and I I don't
2:22:42 understand that and I know it's new but um the
2:22:47 staff was was the was the other cup that or was the other food truck was that a cup that we did at uh the real estate
2:22:55 agency? Yes. And was that given two years? What was the timeline on that? timeline.
2:23:01 Well, they had everything already established. Exactly. Well, I So, that's the difference. It's kind of apples to oranges.
2:23:06 That's correct. The fence was already in place. The law was in place. The power was in place.
2:23:11 So, I just I mean I I I get that they're not brick and mortar, but I think we have to be reasonable and say whenever
2:23:17 anyone starts a new business that that we ought to treat them equitably and not treat them differently
2:23:23 based off of what type that business is. And if our our standard is 2 years to allow a CUP to to to happen, we should
2:23:31 allow that for this. I don't see this to be any different to need to shorten that time period for that. Um I I like the
2:23:38 idea of giving them the seven days and the 8 to 10. I it gives more flexibility and and opportunity. Um and that allows
2:23:46 them the free market to decide whether or not that's supported or not. Um the the um the I agree with the city manager
2:23:55 or I'm sorry the city attorney about um whether or not parking I think that's is
2:24:00 it correct me if I'm wrong Mr. ial, but that language about uh parking if it's not deemed to be adequate, that's pretty
2:24:07 much standard language we have on things like that. And it's always staff who who makes that call. That's correct. Technically, it would be
2:24:12 documented by code enforcement, right? Right. So, I I don't know that we need to get into the weeds too much on that.
2:24:19 Um and also then for the three-year time limit, uh again, the cup uh process
2:24:25 allows us to pull a cup regardless. So, I don't think we should put an arbitrary time limit on on the cup. Um, so I can't
2:24:32 support it as amended. There's pieces of it I like, but just there's some restrictions and burdens that we're putting in there that I think are
2:24:38 unnecessary. Hopefully, um, we can vote that down and and maybe have this a
2:24:43 little bit be a little less restrictive in a final product. Council member, if may I add a
2:24:49 suggestion? So, on the the timeline that that initial six months or nine months or whatever council decides on, we can
2:24:56 also add the language um as continuing in good faith. So, as long as they're continuing in good faith, that can be
2:25:02 expanded by staff. But if they're just sitting still and nothing's going on, then a time frame could cut it off. But
2:25:08 as you as you mentioned, sometimes government can be a little bit slow in the processing. So, I think as long as
2:25:13 they're continuing in good faith, that's a an option that you could use time frame. Yeah,
2:25:19 Mr. Mayor, since so much discussion has occurred, is it possible to have a few
2:25:24 minutes of public comment again? Oh, he's closing. No, I've clo I've closed public comment,
2:25:31 ma'am. Uh, but if I have a council or three council members says yes, I have no problem with it. Okay.
2:25:36 I move I move to Miss Kyle one minute public comment. I'm sorry. One minute of public comment. I make a motion. That's fine.
2:25:41 That's fine. One minute. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Um, I will say I own
2:25:46 property that's only two blocks away from here. I own three pieces of downtown property.
2:25:52 Um, I have absolutely no problem with doing this. you're kind of talking about
2:25:57 approving it one way or the other today, but you also talked about how you're putting the way it's set up right now,
2:26:03 you're going to put an undue burden on these folks. And I agree with that. Um, you know, food trucks everywhere um
2:26:11 typically don't have to worry about so many of these different things that
2:26:16 we're putting on them. And I think it would be better to put less things on them and to try to make it more
2:26:22 comparable to what other food trucks are all over the country. and the one on Highland Avenue and Highway 50 because
2:26:29 Lake Dot has been basically kind of a just a a dumping ground for 60 years
2:26:37 and um it's going to be improved no matter what especially if we're going to be doing a park there and everything.
2:26:43 So, whatever I think retention is a great idea, but I don't think that we
2:26:49 should ask them to go overboard. what they need is a parking space just like every other food truck has and that's
2:26:56 that's basically what I would like to say. Thank you. Thank thank you ma'am. Uh let me let me
2:27:02 I now that I understand I I misunderstood the six six months and everything because and I
2:27:09 don't agree with that because mostly we we usually give people two to three years to do things. Um and we bought up
2:27:16 the other food truck area over there. Yes, they they was already set up against remind
2:27:23 you all they was operating illegally. They was operating food trucks and everything over there before they even
2:27:28 came in to get approval. So there was no timeline set on them. Um I agree if
2:27:33 we're going to do this and I mean I don't think there need to be a timeline on this because if they never set it up
2:27:40 then it just never gets set up. You know it goes away. It's going to eventually have to fall off the books if you don't
2:27:46 do something in a certain amount of time anyway. So, uh, this six m six months is trying to put a rushing to do things
2:27:53 there with permitting and everything. So, I I I think we need to extend that if we're going to do it. Okay.
2:27:59 Well, this is a conditional use permit. So, this is not a use by right, right? So, I think it's exciting what they're
2:28:06 doing, but the purpose of it being exciting is to get people excited to go downtown. And so, I they're not building
2:28:14 a commercial building. They're bringing out a food trailer. Um, and I don't I
2:28:20 don't want I can't support a long period of time. I I would vote no for that. I
2:28:25 would like to see this move forward quickly. Their engineer has said he thinks nine months is good. I'll amend
2:28:30 my motion to say nine months up to a year with staff's approval if it's determined by staff that the applicant
2:28:36 is moving forward in good faith. I will amend my motion to remove the specific reference to the city manager to keep
2:28:43 our standard language in paragraph 8. Otherwise, uh, maintaining the 8 to 10,
2:28:48 seven days a week and the three years on the CUP, I I I see this as a test. I'm
2:28:54 not looking for them to make a massive investment. I'd like to see them test it out. Let's see how this goes and then we
2:28:59 revisit it. They already have the equipment. They're ready to go. They're excited. I'm excited for them. Those
2:29:04 That's my motion. Thank you. Okay. You have a amendment to the motion
2:29:10 with added amendments and a second. Okay. Any Is there any further discussions?
2:29:17 Hearing none. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. I. All oppose. I. And the chair vote I as well.
2:29:25 Motion passes four to one. I'm sorry. I voted I I'm sorry. Yeah, I voted I.
2:29:31 I'm sorry. Yeah. Sorry. Five. You didn't pass.
2:29:36 Let's activate that park. I did. Well, I said all oppose. I I know it was before I couldn't get the words out. He said I said it all
2:29:43 opposing. He said I saw. Sorry. I have to say one thing before I leave. We intend to beautify that corner right
2:29:50 now. It's a dark spot. We intend to beautify it uh as we cultivate the land,
2:29:56 put up the uh shrubbery. We're going to make Claremont proud.
2:30:01 I think that leak is a great opportunity. Thank you. Thank you.
2:30:09 Okay. Okay. Item number 13 is for consideration of the Lake County Disc
2:30:15 Golf Event request at Lake Hawa Preserve.
2:30:20 Wow, that's a mouthful.
2:30:26 Good afternoon. Brian Foreman, parks and recreation director. Uh for clarification for clarification. This
2:30:32 request for council approval is only for completion of the remaining landscaping
2:30:38 work and installation of a temporary second golf course at Hayawa Preserve.
2:30:43 Events and park usage have historically been approved at the staff level. Therefore, event approval is not part of
2:30:49 the requested council action. Landscaping work primarily consisting of
2:30:54 mowing and trimming has occurred in the area of the proposed temporary disc golf course. The work done to this point has
2:31:00 been inspected and found to be acceptable in that no permanent landscape altering actions have been observed. If approved by council, any
2:31:07 future work would be part of a detailed plan approved by staff prior to work beginning. Additionally, if work is
2:31:14 performed by an outside entity, they must provide a valid certificate of insurance. Any baskets and tea boxes
2:31:20 installed for a temporary second golf course would be removed by May 24. The
2:31:25 nature of any approved landscaping work would be temporary with growth expected to leave little or no long-term evidence
2:31:31 that the course existed. Staff recommends approval of a temporary second go second disc golf course at
2:31:37 Hayawata Preserve for the 2026 spring season including completion of staff
2:31:43 approved landscaping work necessary for course creation.
2:31:48 Thank you. This is a public hearing. Anyone in the public wish to address this item, come
2:31:54 on my microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes. That'll be fine.
2:32:04 Uh hello council, Mr. Mayor. Uh my name is Matt Knight. I'm a resident of Eustace uh Florida, but I am the
2:32:10 president of the Lake County Disc Golf Club. Um we submitted uh various documents about this item, which we hope
2:32:16 you've had sufficient time to review. Um, I would just like to say that this temporary disc golf course would be a
2:32:22 tremendous benefit for us running the 2026 United States Masters Disc Golf
2:32:27 Championships event, making Claremont a focal point of this national event that will bring 500 players and their
2:32:33 families to the area. We have a dedicated community of volunteers to help us make this event a success. We
2:32:39 have a number of people here today in support of this event and to save the council's time, I would just like to ask them to stand in support.
2:32:48 Thank you, council. That's very considerate.
2:32:54 Thank you. Thank you. Hello. I'm Sandy Sandy Gabin. I live in
2:33:00 the reserve at Lost Lake. I know. Okay. Sorry. Lake Hayawa
2:33:06 Preserve was purchased as a protected nature preserve and a passive park. The front area is a beautiful park, very
2:33:12 wellmaintained by the grounds department and it has like the playgrounds, the dog
2:33:18 parks, the Champion point disc golf course and then there's a walking trail that goes around the whole park and it
2:33:25 goes back around the protected wildlife conservation area. And um so I just
2:33:31 wanted to say a wildlife preserve is a protected area of land designated to
2:33:37 conserve biodiversity offering a safe habitat for wild animals
2:33:42 and the plants and natur it forms a natural ecosystem. There's a big
2:33:47 difference between a park with trees versus a wildlife protected preserve
2:33:53 which is what Hayawa Preserve was originally designated for. A preserve is
2:33:58 made up of all sorts of shrubs and bushes and even the dead trees and they become the homes and habitats to all
2:34:05 different kinds of ground animals, the ground animals. When I first heard about
2:34:10 the golf course, I heard it was going to be a temporary nine-hole disc golf course back on the fields in the back
2:34:17 area. And I wasn't happy, but I mean that's life. I would have been fine with
2:34:22 it. But I became distraught, saddened and angry when I saw that the the destruction of the actual wildlife
2:34:30 preservation protected areas. And to destroy the wildlife areas for one
2:34:36 competition to me is madness. I don't understand that the large competitions
2:34:42 have been held at Champions Point every year and they never needed to uh destroy
2:34:50 the wildlife part of the park. The competition will continue at Champions Point. Even
2:34:57 if you say no to this, the competition will uh still people the competitors
2:35:03 will still come to Claremont and they'll still stay at at our hotels and they'll still eat at our restaurants and still
2:35:10 shop at our stores. The city of Claremont itself will not be affected if
2:35:15 you say no to this. If you approve this, if you approve this, the wildlife
2:35:22 preserve will be destroyed. The animals will be displaced. The habitats will be
2:35:27 ruined. Instead of being a protected preservation, it'll be another disc golf course. Once they plow it down and the
2:35:34 roots are gone, it's not going to come back very quickly. And then I also like
2:35:39 you to consider money, liability, what funding will be used to for this course.
2:35:45 The city already pays $2,000 a month to maintain the Champions Point in the back fields. How much will it cost to
2:35:52 maintain an additional Cuh course even if it's just for a few months? How will it affect other departments such as
2:35:58 grounds? Okay. Anyway, just to can I sum it up please? Okay. A large portion of the
2:36:05 preserve has been already cleared, but if as right now you say no to this, the
2:36:10 roots have not been destroyed and they will grow back if there's no more foot traffic there. The competition will
2:36:16 continue in Champions Point and our town will still benefit. So, please say no to any additional disc golf courses and
2:36:23 keep our preserve safe. Thank you so much. Thank you.
2:36:30 Yes, sir. Yes, my name is Ben Champion. I live in
2:36:37 uh 15012 Collie Drive in Tavaris, Florida. Um I am an officer of the Lake
2:36:42 County Disc Golf Club. Um but I also uh am the owner and operator of an
2:36:49 environmental uh resources company uh called 123 Environmental. We do wetlands
2:36:56 delineation and gopher tortoise surveys all over Lake County and nearby.
2:37:04 Uh there were no gopher tortoises harmed or any wildlife harmed in preparing this
2:37:11 temporary course. Um there were no there were no trees cut down. Um many of the
2:37:18 bushes that were removed were um invasive species, exotic invasive
2:37:24 species such as Caesar's weed, uh air potato, and others. Um your own staff
2:37:31 has reported to you that there's no permanent damage or any damage, no permanent modifications to the course
2:37:38 there. Um the the uh woman who spoke before me stated there was plowing or
2:37:46 would be plowing. There is no plowing and there is no plan for any plowing. There's no damage going to be made to
2:37:52 roots. Um and this course uh is going to provide an opportunity for uh 500 disc
2:38:01 golfers and their families to come to your community and uh participate. stay
2:38:07 in your hotels and restaurants and so forth. Uh she indicated there would be no impact if this was turned down, but
2:38:15 that's not true. We need a certain number of courses to host the event. Um the event was bid on by the Greater
2:38:22 Orlando Sports Author uh sports commission. Um city of Claremont
2:38:27 participates in that indirectly because Lake County is a member of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. So, this
2:38:35 would be a major problem for the event that we've worked so hard to bring to
2:38:40 this city and to bring to the county and bring tourism, sports tourism revenue.
2:38:45 Um, half of the money spent to build the Lake Hayawa, the disc golf course that exists now was paid for by Lake County
2:38:52 Sports Tourism just for events such as this. Um, and she indicated concerns
2:38:59 about money. the the city is not putting in has not agreed to put in any money.
2:39:05 There's no funding required by the city. Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. This is a public forum.
2:39:13 Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes. Anyone else?
2:39:30 Yes, ma'am. Good afternoon, everybody. Uh, my name is Rosie Mole Holland. Um, I live at
2:39:38 10240 Lake Miniola Shores, which is ex
2:39:43 right across the street from Leia Lake Haywa Preserve. Um I partially moved to
2:39:49 where I moved because the trail is there and Lake Hayawa Preserve is there. We
2:39:55 are along with Sandy. We are daily users of the park which which we love dearly.
2:40:03 Um, as another point of history, because I have been in Claremont for a while, uh, my profession is as a wildlife
2:40:10 biologist and I actually wrote for the city um, for free as a good city
2:40:17 citizen. I wrote part of the Florida Communities Trust grant that acquired the Inland Grove property um, as a
2:40:26 expert biologist for the city. Um, as part of that FCT grant, um, FCT has kind
2:40:34 of a twoprong deal. Um, Department of Environmental Protection, they do, uh,
2:40:39 recreation, but they also want to preserve natural areas. So, I have a lot
2:40:45 of concerns that um the changes, although they might be temporary, but I have issue with the definition of
2:40:52 temporary that it'll cause a further decline on what was the natural areas
2:40:59 that were being left on that piece of property as part of the original proposal. So the current uh golf course
2:41:08 the 18 holes um it's very well managed but as far as a wildlife perspective is
2:41:14 concerned uh that entire course has been declining as far as its wildlife value is
2:41:21 concerned and that's because there's so much underbrushing. Um it's basically a
2:41:27 tree canopy there's no under understory anymore. So if these new 18 holes are
2:41:35 truly going to be temporary, so I would challenge the city to hold it to
2:41:41 temporary and set definitions of temporary so that it can go grow back. I
2:41:47 would also cons encourage the city because it was kind of the intent of the grant which is a long time ago now, but
2:41:55 the intent of the grant was to manage that wildlife habitat out there. The
2:42:01 city has not done a great job of that. As mentioned, there's invasives and the
2:42:07 mowing mowed them down. It doesn't take them away. They're they're still there. Um there could be a lot to manage that
2:42:14 habitat and make it better wildlife habitat. Wi-I which kind of was the two-prong
2:42:21 intent of of that grant. So, I don't know if I'm encouraging you to say no.
2:42:26 Say no with caveats, I guess, or yes with caveats. I move to give the speaker
2:42:31 two more minutes. I see her as an expert and with her background in history, I would really like to hear from her. Can
2:42:38 I get a second? Do you have more to say?
2:42:43 I thought she was But I I did have Is this a trick question? I find you.
2:42:50 Should I just say yes? I have more to say. I had one question for you, though. I have a question for you as as an expert.
2:42:57 I I heard you say it's a lot of invasive. I heard gentleman speak about invasive. A lot of stuff that were moved
2:43:03 out there were invasive is and you said yes, it was invasive and which Oh, and it's still there. You have some
2:43:10 you have wonderful category one which are the worst of the worst um invasive
2:43:16 species in the park which the city doesn't do anything to control them. Well, that was going back to another
2:43:22 part you said the city haven't been controlling. So, them removing all this invasive stuff for temporarily cuz it's
2:43:28 going to grow back. They're they're just mowing it down with a bush hog. It's not going away. And they they And I'm not trying to nitpick
2:43:35 about the mowing. Um it's just spreading the seeds over more places. So, you know, mowing actually kind of
2:43:42 exacerbates the invasive problem, but the invasive problem isn't being addressed anyways,
2:43:48 which I think is a fault of the city, not not the golf. I guess that's that's the point I'm trying to get at is the
2:43:55 fact that they did get rid of some of well they mow it down but I understand it being used to be in landscaping
2:44:00 somewhat myself I understand invasive it just going to come back if you it is going to come back bigger and
2:44:05 better it hasn't gone anywhere it's just shorter okay and it's got more light
2:44:11 but which the seeds that are there will actually germinate better but the point is there is no plan the city's not doing
2:44:18 anything to control the invasives that have been there all along and this is a temporary
2:44:23 mowing down of some of them. But, you know, some of the original golf course was temporary, too. And I think that was
2:44:30 a trial and it became permanent. So, my concern as a long-term resident is that
2:44:36 temporary doesn't turn into a 36hole golf course, which will basically take
2:44:43 the majority of the property and turn it into a single use. Now, not a single use, meaning I can't walk my dog there
2:44:51 or um I can't go to the the dog park or I can't go to the playground, but it
2:44:57 doesn't fit the original intent of that property. And it is the only property in
2:45:03 Claremont. Pretty sure I'm right on this for a city park that has a significant
2:45:09 natural area. Everything else is very developed. So, you've got something really special at Hayawa. That's all.
2:45:15 And I think it should be protective of it. whatever language that takes, I think it should be protective.
2:45:20 So, my my question and the reason why I wanted more time and I I will ask the applicant representative uh from the
2:45:25 disc golf association to answer some questions too. Um I'm hearing you say two things, so I want to get clear and
2:45:32 thank you for coming and for participating and providing your experience. It's very valuable to us.
2:45:37 It's my neighbor. We we want to make a good decision, too. Um, I'm hearing you say we can do a
2:45:43 better job in the maintenance of the wildlife preserve and that there are steps that the city needs to take in order to do that in the future no matter
2:45:49 what we do today. Yep. Am I hearing you correct? That's correct. And then um I'm also hearing you say
2:45:55 that the installation of a temporary course will not in the long term harm the preserve so long as we take the
2:46:01 steps to do the proper preservation. But I'd like your first of all if I'm hearing you wrong.
2:46:07 No, I think I think that I think that's correct. It is it is mowing and um as
2:46:12 long as temporary is really defined as temporary and I and I heard everything is going to be pulled out on May 4th. So
2:46:20 that's a a time certain and you know you may have other restrictions as far as
2:46:26 driving and those kinds of things things that would compact things more. Um yeah
2:46:31 I think it will come back and it could be managed way better or managed at all really. I have two
2:46:37 questions for you related to that. One is because I'm going to ask the applicant a follow-up question. So, I
2:46:42 I'm curious in your experience. What would you define as temporary in this sense? Like, if we host this event and
2:46:49 and and I'm going to be excited about hosting it, so I'll be honest. If we host this event, what would you say is a
2:46:55 period of time that it could stay in its current status without ultimately destroying
2:47:02 that wildlife preserve? What What would you call temporary? Well, they they said all the baskets would be removed or the
2:47:09 city representative said they're all going to be removed by May 4th. So, I would really hold them to May 4th. Uh,
2:47:16 hecker high water. May 4th is May 4th. No extensions and it's all gone. And it
2:47:21 put back as well as you can. You can't unmow it, but you know, you can if you
2:47:27 do ground disturbing activities because you drove there with a truck or whatever, you can rake things like that
2:47:33 out. So just define define what the city wants to see as the end product and then
2:47:39 just hold the deadline. Um and I received a number of emails on this and so please excuse me.
2:47:45 Are you one of the folks who might have emailed that I might have your contact information? No, I decided to come in person because
2:47:52 there's way too much emailing. My my second question would be would you be willing to be a resource for this
2:47:57 council and the staff on getting this back to where it should be and helping us do better for the preserve?
2:48:02 Sure. I've already done that for you guys once. So I will do it again. So you know, give them an inch, they'll take a mile. Well, thank you. Thank you
2:48:09 so much. I appreciate it. And I think I heard May 24th is the date. Is is that of a concern?
2:48:15 May 4th. No, did I say 24th? I thought I heard May 4th, but Okay. So it's February, March, April,
2:48:21 May. If we go 3 to six months, is that too long? What is temp? That's why I'm looking for what is
2:48:27 What did I get the Was that the June 1st? When was the event? Yeah, if we say June 1st, it's out. is ours. It's got to be gone.
2:48:33 May 7th through 10th was the event. So, yeah. So, if they have it out by the end
2:48:39 of May, do do you feel like we can get it back to a state that's a better state by at that point?
2:48:45 Well, I would hope so. You have to put the you have to put the requirements on them. Yes. Exactly. Yeah. But, um, from a
2:48:51 natural from the amount of from what's been done out there and adding the baskets, yes, I
2:48:56 would I would say that's reasonable. You you'll hear from Thank you. other folks whether it is or
2:49:01 not. Thank you. Thank you for coming and participating. And then my question my question for the applicant is
2:49:09 we still have public comment. Yes. Oh, we do. Yes. I'm sorry. Uh is there anyone else? This is public
2:49:16 form. Anyone else in the public wish to address this item? Uh come to the microphone, state your name and address and have three minutes.
2:49:31 Yes, ma'am. Oh, I thought she was coming. Well, if not, I'mma close the in-house portion
2:49:37 and we'll give you give me a minute, sir. Uh, and I'll go to online. We got one online. One the person online. Go
2:49:44 ahead, please.
2:49:51 Do they hear me?
2:50:08 They still there. Yeah, this is Christian. He's trying to get it to work.
2:50:14 Oh, okay. Thank you, Christian.
2:50:19 Yeah, he's in California and he is working, right? Uh
2:50:25 Unfortunately, yes, Mayor.
2:50:33 So, is they are they just down or they trying to come back online or what? Uh
2:50:39 Wayne, they're just saying Yes, I was going to say, um well, we
2:50:46 going to close public comment. However, if they ever get get up, let me know. We'll we'll go ahead and listen what they have to say. We a close public
2:50:52 comment in any other way though. But u I think Miss Stranger had a comment.
2:50:58 Yes. My question um is do you anticipate I hope the answer is yes. Do you
2:51:05 anticipate that we might get more events of this magnitude here in Claremont that
2:51:10 we might need a long-term solution to the expanded course? Or is this a once is this a one-time deal or do you think
2:51:16 we might get more? You mean in terms of the size of the event? Like will we have more events of this size in the future? Possibly after
2:51:23 hosting this one where the second course is is desirable or necessary. Oh um possibly. I mean I in terms of
2:51:31 like doing it again as a temporary course. Oh um I it would just depend on
2:51:36 whether or not we um have other events in the future. I mean we've used Champions Excuse me. We've hosted two
2:51:44 annual events at Champions Point every year. one of them in November being one of the larger events that we've hosted
2:51:50 annually and this is, you know, a national event that we're hosting with the national organization. Um, should we
2:51:56 host another national event with them? Um, it's certainly a possibility. I wouldn't rule it out. I mean, the club's
2:52:02 only grown and this is us hosting this event is an indication of how much the club has grown and we were awarded this
2:52:09 event after bidding on it because of the experience that we've had hosting um uh
2:52:15 successful events. So, and in your sport, what different age categories are there where nationals are
2:52:21 held? Like is there 10U, 18U? Oh, yeah. So the PDJ is the national
2:52:27 organization and they host um I think it's 11 majors every year. So there's um
2:52:33 uh the amateur worlds championship which is you know basically any age division
2:52:39 but there is a separate junior worlds um junior US competition. Um so there's
2:52:45 like a junior division of this tournament. We're currently hosting the masters event which is the 40 up and
2:52:52 then there's alo obviously the like you know the standard pro US pro event which is kind of always held in South Carolina
2:52:59 but pro worlds is an event that travels around as well and there was conversation earlier about
2:53:04 needing four courses and we have two courses and as a event organizer
2:53:11 does it help you to have two courses in the same city or do they need to be two courses side by side
2:53:18 I mean having two courses side by side as in the proposed uh for this particular event would be hugely
2:53:25 beneficial um just because um not only we have the fourth course um that allows
2:53:32 the event to happen but having the course on the same property as Champions Point. Um, in this particular event
2:53:40 there's four days of competition and in the fourth day there's uh there's a cut so that all players will be on two
2:53:46 courses. And so what that would mean is that the final day of competition the entire event would be taking place at
2:53:53 Lake Haywath Preserve um in Claremont rather than having part of it here and
2:53:59 then part of it in another part of the county. So, if we were not for this event, but
2:54:06 in the long term, in the desire to preserve the preserve, um, if there was another disc golf
2:54:13 course here in Claremont, so Claremont could still host. Yes. For future bids? Yes.
2:54:18 Does that make for a desirable location or uh, yes. I mean, an additional course
2:54:23 somewhere in Claremont is what you're saying. Yeah, that would be we I we
2:54:29 would be using that course instead of working on a temporary course
2:54:34 to host the event. Yeah, 100%. More courses in Claremont would only allow us to hold more events here and get more
2:54:40 people in Claremont. And a final question, talk about this being temporary, but my experience of
2:54:46 these structures is they're made of metal and they've got chain coming from the top to the bottom. Is there a
2:54:54 potential that these structures would stay and just the course would the the natural preserve
2:55:00 would come up around it or are you actually taking 0% chance? Yeah. So the disc golf basket um will be uh there's basically like a
2:55:07 metal sleeve that we we sit in concrete in like a 5gallon bucket and that gets
2:55:12 buried to the ground and then the uh the disc golf basket would go into the
2:55:17 sleeve and gets locked to the sleeve, right? So it can't be removed or vandalized. And at the end of the event,
2:55:23 all of that would we would be taking all of that out. You take it all out. Yeah. That's like we wouldn't
2:55:28 essentially leave no trace in that area when the court when the the event is over. Okay. Thank you.
2:55:34 Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for your time.
2:55:39 Anyone else? Thank you, Mayor. Um
2:55:44 Mr. Mr. Foreman, I think you you said uh what we're actually doing here is not
2:55:49 approving whether or not the event can take place. It's to say um that we would
2:55:58 support by our vote any additional temporary landscaping work through
2:56:05 approval of city staff. Correct. That's really what our vote of yes or no is.
2:56:10 Correct. Okay. Um, and is there someone who is the actual spokesperson for the event
2:56:17 that I have some questions for? Okay. Well, I Hey, that's not who the person
2:56:22 was that was in all the correspondence and so I I didn't want to make the assumption that you're the only person.
2:56:27 Uh, but there was another name that was mentioned that was doing work and I I just wanted to make sure that we have the right person that we're asking for.
2:56:34 I can answer a question. Not a problem. Thank you. Um, why was the work done without
2:56:39 permission? the the Lake County Disc Golf Club would
2:56:45 never have begun this project or done anything out on that preserve if we didn't if we didn't think that we did
2:56:51 have clear permission. Okay. I was in communication with folks at the city and our understanding was that we
2:56:57 did have permission. So, you specifically asked to do landscaping work and you got a yes from city staff.
2:57:04 Correct. Yes. And you have documentation of that because that's not what our city staff is saying. I have documentation that we
2:57:12 discussed the boundary like the design of the course like the boundary of the park. I have um documentation that we
2:57:19 requested like are we okay to design like to begin this course without city council approval
2:57:27 because we thought we were initial conversations was that we would have to have city council approval and I have an
2:57:32 email that was indicated that we did not have to have city council approval and I have emails
2:57:39 where we discussed um bringing a bush hog out onto the property. I have an
2:57:44 email where um city staff is, you know, um asking us if we're cutting down trees
2:57:51 out there, which would indicate that we're doing work, which, you know, we weren't obviously cutting down trees. I
2:57:57 have uh other emails that indicate similar things. Yeah. Because I think my biggest concern here is whether or not permission was
2:58:04 given for work that was done because whether it's temporary or permanent. The permission piece of it is is central for
2:58:10 me. Um a and my city staff is saying there was never any permission granted
2:58:18 to do landscaping work otherwise that would have had to come before us because
2:58:23 the administrative decision by city staff to host an event that's a parks department purview. we would not get
2:58:30 involved with that. But the actual altering whether temporary or permanent
2:58:36 would be something that would require um permission. It's it would to me I
2:58:41 kind of look at it as if I'm a contractor and I put a hole in someone's wall that I didn't ask them to put that
2:58:47 wall whether it's temporary or permanent. I put a hole in their wall that's going to damage the trust and the
2:58:54 um integrity of what I'm doing. And so my concern is that staff is saying
2:59:01 nothing was given. No permission was given. And I'd like staff to re reply to
2:59:06 that with regard to we have this the folks saying that there was permission given. It's my understanding it wasn't.
2:59:13 To me that's a central piece here is because we wouldn't be here necessarily
2:59:18 if permission was asked and it would have came before the council to grant that permission up front.
2:59:24 And that's correct. uh James Mayworm, assistant director of public services. So Matt, somebody else from the
2:59:30 organization, people from city staff. We met sometime in the summer. I I don't
2:59:37 remember specifically on site. Lots of conversations were had about potential
2:59:43 course. At that time, they identified they had other courses in Lake County. they weren't really 100% certain they
2:59:50 were going to ask to build a temporary course or anything else like that. Uh so
2:59:56 we had discussions about uh over maintaining the existing course that we
3:00:02 were mowing too much and not leaving enough barrier between holes. I asked Matt to send me a plan of the existing
3:00:10 course because I did not have that. And I asked him to identify those areas that he didn't want us to mow. Sometime in
3:00:18 September, Matt correctly asked permission to begin
3:00:23 designing the new course. We agreed and that led to a lot of stakes being put
3:00:28 out there, ribbons around trees and everything else. And that's terrific. Um
3:00:34 there was an email late December in which Matt identifies and says, "I want
3:00:40 to bring a bush hog out to start mowing." And that was a point in which
3:00:48 we started to ask questions internally what's going on and we never answered the email. We never told him yes go
3:00:56 ahead and do this. Um okay and so that's kind of where we're at. Okay. And I don't want to get too much
3:01:02 into the weeds of like this side said this, this idea said that. I'm not trying to pit people against each other,
3:01:08 but for understanding the perspective that I think this really boils down to
3:01:13 if if staff wanted to grant permission, they would
3:01:18 have had they would have essentially, correct me if I'm wrong, you would have had to come to the city council for that
3:01:23 permission. It was something that when we met, we discussed and said
3:01:29 you may have to go to city council to get permission for for what you're discussing. Part of that was in fact to
3:01:36 their desire to close the park. Yeah. Which which we rejected out of hand and said, "No, no, this is a public park.
3:01:42 You can't close it." So, you know, in in our world, there's stepbystep bystep process. you
3:01:50 know, when when the organization asks for permission to design the course, that seems very logical to me because
3:01:56 when I present something or bring something to council, what's that going to look like? I can't tell you. I need I
3:02:03 need to see what your layout is. So, absolutely, please design it. Tell us what we're doing.
3:02:08 Um, you know, if any of that was misconcred, I can't answer that
3:02:13 question. But certainly the intent to staff was not to just tally ho permit
3:02:19 anything that's going on out there. I mean fortunately it's mowing and as we've heard from other people that'll
3:02:24 all come back and there isn't really any permanent damage that we found. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. And I think I
3:02:31 mean I I know uh you ask you know 20
3:02:37 experts what work has been done and you're probably going to get a variety of answers and and experts would
3:02:43 probably tell you that. Um and so u I can't justify that one way or the other
3:02:49 but you know of course I want to see our recreation facilities be utilized and
3:02:56 promote the use of that. I'd love I want those economic dollars here in Claremont. Um, but I think we we do have
3:03:03 an obligation to recognize that a process is there for a reason. Um, and
3:03:11 this is a preserve. It's not a park. I that's to I would hope that that's an intentional name, Lake Hayawa preserve,
3:03:18 not park. Um, that there are natural areas whether they're over mowed, under
3:03:24 mowed, overgrown, undergrown. It it it it's a preserve and our staff that we
3:03:31 employ or that we direct the city manager to direct through their their work say mow
3:03:39 it more, mow it less. That should be what the city decides, not what a group
3:03:44 that comes in and starts doing work and then asks for for permission after or uh
3:03:50 for apologies uh instead of, you know, ask for forgiveness instead of permission kind of situation. Um the
3:03:57 only other question I have uh I guess Mr. Foreman if you could answer is were
3:04:02 are is this group paying any fees associated with utilizing this? No, we don't charge fees for use of
3:04:08 Haywa. Okay. Um if if this were in a a different city
3:04:15 park, would they be paying fees? Yes. Okay. So I I guess from my standpoint I
3:04:20 would certainly think that for especially um a non resident
3:04:25 organization, non taxpaying citizen in Claremont organization that um that we
3:04:31 ought to probably look at that in the future um to balance that. Um but I'm
3:04:36 really troubled by how we got here. This could have been completely avoided with
3:04:42 I think some basic question of do I have this permission to do this work? Yes or
3:04:47 no? Well, I actually see it different. Um,
3:04:53 so, you know, different experts, different opinions, right? Um, I'm actually in the tourism business. I'm an
3:04:59 events, right, holder like yourselves. Um, and I work with a lot of different cities and counties. I'm very familiar
3:05:04 with Ghost Sports. I work closely with Lake County Tourism. And so, here here's what happens. And, and I know this is
3:05:11 what happened with this group. They um partnered with Greater Orlando Sports. I don't know this because they told me. I
3:05:17 know this because this is the industry practice. So, they partnered with Greater Orlando Sports. Greater Orlando Sports bid out this event to a number of
3:05:23 different cities. We're so excited to have you here. Um, and in that communication, a lot of times what
3:05:29 happens is go sports just goes to Lake County tourism and then there's communications with the
3:05:36 parks director. And this happens in every jurisdiction that I'm in. I never go before city councils for anything
3:05:44 even though I run the event that I run. I just don't. It's all done at the staff level. In this case, we do have a
3:05:50 preserve. Um, it is different, but I asked Christian a while back because I
3:05:55 was actually contacted by another group who wanted to use Hayawa. So, I do think we want to be careful if we start
3:06:00 charging fees for the reason I'm about to state because we might be opening the floodgates on what happens out here
3:06:05 because it is a desirable place. is when Christian sent me the deed. It
3:06:13 talks about the purpose of this park is to use natural and passive recreational
3:06:18 purposes of which disc golf is kind of a great one for that. I mean, there's no
3:06:23 balls flying through trees. I mean, I know we've got the Frisbee, but let's be real. I mean, my kids can play it, right? I don't mean anything. Please
3:06:29 don't take it in a hard way. I was not a huge fan of disc golf when Lake County did it. I got to be honest, but I'm so thrilled you're here that I'm I'm over
3:06:35 it. I was wrong. So, I think that it may seem weird that
3:06:42 this happened and I think it's an opportunity for us to learn that, you know, right now most of our parks are
3:06:48 actually managed by public works. Most communities will have parks and I don't want to take away from public works and
3:06:53 I like that we do it the way we do, but most are managed by the parks and recreation department. And parks and
3:06:59 recreation tends to develop a really close relationship with the tourism office. And so in this case, what we
3:07:04 have are people who are used to doing the mowing, the trimming, the cutting, and they're saying, "Shoot, yeah, you
3:07:09 want to mow for me? This sounds great. You want to clear out the invasives? Why not?" And it it it may it I had the
3:07:15 reaction when I saw all this. I said, "What? Wait, what?" You know, I did have the same kind of how did we get here
3:07:22 moment, but I understand how it happened. And I think it's an opportunity for all of us to learn. Um,
3:07:29 I would have liked to have had more notice that we were doing this. I think that if we had
3:07:36 done more communication publicly that, hey, we won this national championship, but because it was done through Go
3:07:42 Sports in Lake County, it didn't actually require council approval. It
3:07:47 went to staff. So, I would just like to see an overcommunication in the future
3:07:52 on, hey, you've got a national championship. That's awesome. We're happy you're here. I would like to do something for you. But at the same time,
3:07:59 how do we preserve the preserve? And in a way, you know, every every conflict is an opportunity for growth and
3:08:05 improvement. And here we've had a member of the community who has come out and said, "Hey, she's an expert. She clearly
3:08:10 knows what she's talking about, and she's willing to help us not only recover from this temporary structure,
3:08:17 but also to help us move forward to make the preserve better because we had this breakdown. It it it was an opportunity
3:08:24 for a breakthrough. So, I'm excited. I'm not trying to shut anyone down, but I know we're we are trying to move through
3:08:30 meetings. So, I'm going to move to approve item number 13. And certainly, if we want to keep discussing, that's
3:08:36 unless I can help. That's all I have to say on it. Second
3:08:43 with a definite removal of the course by May 24th. Oh, sure. I I'll say June 1st. Yeah.
3:08:50 Yeah. It's already in there. Okay. Okay. There we go. Thank you. All right. I have a motion and a second for
3:08:55 approval of item number 13 as uh presented. Any further discussion?
3:09:03 None. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Nay. And the chair vote I as well. Motion
3:09:10 passes 40 41. Good tour. Oh, I I did have one
3:09:16 question. Of course, I nobody have been able to answer this one question that I never asked. Anybody determine how much
3:09:22 economic dis uh impact we going to have from this event? I can find out. That's usually one of
3:09:28 the the questions and I know Lake County Tourism is sponsoring. That's the question I've been asking and I haven't gotten that answer yet. So
3:09:34 I can get that answer for you.
3:09:43 All righty. Item number 14,
3:09:50 consideration for of the Claremont Fire Department 2026 day through 2030
3:09:56 strategic plan adoption.
3:10:06 Yes, sir. Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Uh
3:10:11 David Eel, fire chief. Uh thank you for the opportunity to come up and present our uh strategic plan for the year 2026
3:10:17 through 2030. Uh going about six months ago, we got looking at our current uh
3:10:23 five-year strategic plan, which was actually designed to last through the the 2026 fiscal year. And we determined
3:10:29 that we had already exhausted the majority of that uh that plan. and we determined with a lot of the changes
3:10:36 that were happening that it was uh it was be a good thing for us to go back and and do the strategic planning process a year early and go ahead and
3:10:43 get that plan in place. So in November we sent out about 90 invitations to
3:10:48 different community members. Um the plan itself is communitydriven. So we start with a community stakeholder meeting. Uh
3:10:54 we were inviting uh engaged citizens, business leaders, uh government leaders,
3:11:00 uh we had some directors from the city, we had uh churches that we invited. Uh basically anybody that we could think of
3:11:06 that had a stake in the Claremont community and did not work at the Claremont Fire Department. So that's what we were looking at to have in that
3:11:12 first group. Uh we had 29 respondents. Uh we ended up with a good mix of our community and they spent that first day
3:11:19 about four hours just going through the uh you know different things prioritizing our different programs uh
3:11:26 identifying what they liked about the fire department, what they didn't want us to change, things that they thought we should change and you know just
3:11:32 anything that would help us determine what the community expects out of us as a fire department. The following three
3:11:38 days, we had an internal team that was made up of uh not just folks in admin,
3:11:43 but we had uh we had firefighters in there, we had engineers, officers. So, we had a mix of the department in there
3:11:48 as well. And they spent those following three days taking the information from the community and then forming that into
3:11:55 a set of goals for us to take a look at for the uh for the for the next five years. In addition to that, we also
3:12:00 revamped our mission statement, our vision statement, as well as our value statement for the for the department. Um
3:12:07 the one piece that you won't see in the strategic plan uh there is a accompanying document that goes along with that that's called the
3:12:13 implementation guide. Uh the five goals that are in here they are smart goals which means they are specific they are
3:12:20 measurable they are attainable they're relatable and they're time bound. So all that detail is in the implementation
3:12:27 guide. So the the strategic plan that you're being presented with is to kind
3:12:33 of frame it best. the 50,000 foot view of what the fire department should be focused on over the next five years. So,
3:12:39 we think we've done a good job listening to the community. Uh we wanted to present the plan to council, have you
3:12:44 take a look at it, and if you agree that uh that we've done our homework and we have captured what the community is
3:12:50 looking for. We're asking for council to adopt the plan. Of course, if we need to go back and adjust anything, we're more
3:12:55 than happy to have that conversation and do that. We just want to make sure it's done right and we're putting our efforts and resources in the right direction
3:13:02 going forward.
3:13:07 Okay, that's it, Chief. Yes. All right. This is a public form. Anyone
3:13:12 in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
3:13:23 Joe Famasi 2693 jumping jack way. I participated in this uh event. I say it
3:13:29 was well organized. Uh the speaker that explained the different parts of this
3:13:35 was outstanding. Um I think he was a retired firefighter area. Yeah. Um I
3:13:41 can't recall his name off the thing, but very entertaining man, but at the same time very informative. I think that your
3:13:47 uh fire department has done an outstanding job with this and catching everything that they needed to help plan
3:13:54 this strategically to make it a better fire department. I appreciate what they did and I think the chief should be uh
3:14:02 thanked for um putting this together. It was outstanding. I took the survey that
3:14:08 uh there was other people there and the and it asked very good questions and it was a very kind of a it wasn't just uh
3:14:16 uh write down what you think, you know, there was a lot of uh questions and they asked, you know, many different ways to
3:14:24 try to get your perspective. So I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you for letting me participate.
3:14:33 Anyone else? This is a public forum. Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your
3:14:39 name and address and have three minutes. Anyone else? Seeing no one else, I close
3:14:46 in house. Yes, sir. We have anyone online, sir? Okay. So, we are closing. Bring it back
3:14:52 to council. What say council? I move to approve item number 14. I second.
3:14:58 Have a motion and a second to approve item number 14 as presented. Any further discussion? Just one question. Uh I didn't see in
3:15:05 here a review process or timeline of like periodic review or uh assessment
3:15:12 reevaluation of where you are with the plan. The strategic plan itself we treat as a living document.
3:15:17 Okay. um the goals the the objectives that are underneath each of the goals and all the tasks that are associated
3:15:23 with those those get evaluated annually. Annual. Okay. And that's that's part of our program evaluation process we do at end of view.
3:15:28 Okay. Thank you for this. I think it'll be very helpful uh particularly for the community but also for council in future
3:15:34 budget conversations. Thank you. Y we agree. Thank you. I thought I saw an evaluation in here.
3:15:41 Did I not? Anyway, I thought I
3:15:56 You okay, ma'am? Yeah, I move to approve it. Huh? Yeah. Well, I I don't know whether you
3:16:01 had other questions or not. You had something else you Oh, sorry. Have a motion and a second to approve uh
3:16:08 item number 14, I think it was, as presented. Any further discussion? No, sir. None. All in favor, let it be known by
3:16:14 saying I. I. All oppose and chair vote eyes. Well, motion passes 50. Item
3:16:19 number 15, ordinance number 2026-00003.
3:16:26 Introduction Premier. Yes, ma'am. An ordinance of the city council of the city of Claremont, Lake County, Florida,
3:16:32 providing for the annexation of a certain parcel of land contiguous to the present city boundaries, providing for
3:16:38 an effective date, severability, recording, and publication.
3:16:44 Okay. In a motion.
3:16:52 Move. Move to uh approve intro of ordinance 2026003. Second.
3:16:58 All right. I have a motion and a second for approval of our introduction ordinance number 2026-003.
3:17:06 Any further discussion? No. All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote. I as well.
3:17:13 Motion passes 50. Item item number 16,
3:17:18 ordinance number 2026-04. Intro. An ordinance of the city of Claremont,
3:17:24 Lake County, Florida, adopting the small-cale comprehensive plan amendment for the city of Claremont, Florida,
3:17:30 pursuant to the Local Government Comprehensive Planning Act, Chapter 163, Part Two, Florida Statutes. Setting
3:17:37 forth the authority for adoption of the small-cale comprehensive plan amendment. Setting forth the purpose and intent of
3:17:42 the small-cale comprehensive plan amendment. Providing for the adoption of the small-cale comprehensive plan
3:17:48 amendment. Establishing the legal status of the small-cale comprehensive plan amendment. Providing for conflict
3:17:55 severability administrative correction of scrier's error publication and an effective date.
3:18:02 Move to approve intro of ordinance number 2026- 0004. Second. I
3:18:07 have a motion and a second for approval of intro ordinance number 2026-000044.
3:18:13 Any further discussion? None. All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote I as well. Motion
3:18:20 passes 50. Item number uh 17, ordinance introduction
3:18:27 for 20226-00005. An ordinance an ordinance under the code
3:18:34 of ordinances of the city of Claremont, Lake County, Florida, amending the official zoning map of the city of
3:18:39 Claremont, referred to in chapter 122 of ordinance number 289C, code of
3:18:44 ordinances, reszoning the real properties described herein, as shown below, providing for conflict,
3:18:50 severability, administrative correction of scrivener's error, recording, publication, and an effective date.
3:18:58 Move to approve intro of ordinance number 2026-005. Second.
3:19:03 Have a motion and a second for approval or ordinance number 2026-00005.
3:19:09 Any further discussion? No. Hear none. All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote. I as well.
3:19:15 Motion carries 50. Item number 18 ordinance number 2026-088.
3:19:22 Intro. An ordinance under the code of
3:19:28 ordinances. An ordinance under the code of ordinances of the city of Claremont, Lake County, Florida, providing for the
3:19:34 annexation of a certain parcel of land contiguous to the present city boundaries, providing for conflict,
3:19:41 severability, administrative correction of scrivener's error, recording, publication, and an effective date.
3:19:48 Make a motion to accept ordinance number 20226-008.
3:19:53 Second. Have a motion and a second for intro of ordinance number 2026-00008.
3:20:01 Any further discussion? None. All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote. I as well.
3:20:09 Item 19, ordinance number 2026-00009. Intro. An ordinance of the city of
3:20:15 Claremont, Lake County, Florida, adopting the small-scale comprehensive plan amendment for the city of
3:20:21 Claremont, Florida, pursuant to the local government comprehensive planning act, chapter 163, part two, Florida
3:20:27 statutes, setting forth the authority for adoption of the small-scale comprehensive plan amendment, setting
3:20:33 forth the purpose and intent of the small-cale comprehensive plan amendment, providing for the adoption of the
3:20:39 small-cale comprehensive plan amendment, establishing the legal status of the small-cale comprehensive plan amendment
3:20:46 providing for conflict, severability, administrative correction of scrier's error, publication, and an effective
3:20:52 date. I make a motion to approve ordinance number 2026- 009.
3:20:58 A second. Have a motion and a second for approval of ordinance number intro of ordinance
3:21:03 number 2026-009. Any further discussion? I just want to be sure there's no public
3:21:09 comment. I don't see anybody standing up, but I just want to make sure if there is that we're giving people a chance.
3:21:16 No. Okay, great. Let's call the question. Any further discussion?
3:21:24 All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote. I as well.
3:21:29 Motion carries 50. Item number 20, ordin ordinance number 2026-0000
3:21:38 206 2026-010 intro. An ordinance under the code of
3:21:45 ordinances of the city of Claremont, Lake County, Florida, amending the official zoning map of the city of
3:21:50 Claremont, referred to in chapter 122 of ordinance number 289C, code of
3:21:55 ordinances, reszoning the real properties described herein, as shown below, providing for conflict,
3:22:02 severability, administrative correction of scrivener's error, recording, publication, and an effective date.
3:22:09 Make a motion to approve ordinance number 2026-010.
3:22:14 Second. Have a motion and a second for approval of item number 20. Ordinance number 2026- 010. Any further discussion?
3:22:24 Hear none. All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote eyes as well. Motion carries 5.
3:22:31 Uh we will begin by report. Mr. City Manager, Mr. Van Wagner.
3:22:36 Thank you, Mr. Mayor, uh, just want to remind everybody that there is a workshop for the city council on
3:22:43 Tuesday, February 17th. That's going to be starting at 9 a.m.
3:22:50 Also, a few events want to make you aware of. There's Tip a Cop tomorrow at Texas Roadhouse. That's a fundraiser for
3:22:57 the torch run, and that's from 4 to 8:00 p.m. Ultra Man Florida is at the Victory
3:23:03 Point this weekend from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Downtown Wine Stroll is on Saturday,
3:23:10 February 24 1st, 6:30 to 9. And there's also a 5K honor the fallen on Saturday,
3:23:18 February 21st from 5:30 to 7. And I just want to make you aware uh the council
3:23:25 had approved us doing a UB transition where the water was being changed from
3:23:32 the data we had and our staff has worked very very diligently to get more people
3:23:39 transitioned over to where they need to be and that and out of 7,900 people we
3:23:45 have 2900 left. So they they've done an e excellent job transitioning people
3:23:51 over and they're going to continue to do that and that's going to be spread over for more due dates. So we are dil
3:23:58 diligently working on that and uh like I said the staff is to be commended for all their hard work and efforts. Thank
3:24:04 you Mr. Mayor. Thank you sir.
3:24:11 M we let me ask you this. Um, can you give me a Where are we with the lights
3:24:16 on Hook Street? Are we trying to get lights out there on Hook Street and Excalibur and all that?
3:24:23 We got with Duke. I I guess I need to go to ask Mr. W because I think maybe the last time we talked about this, Mr. W
3:24:30 said he was going to get involved because we we told them, Mr. mayor that that was part of the prerequisite to moving
3:24:36 forward the franchise agreement with Duke that they had to take care of the responsibility of our discussion. So, we
3:24:44 are waiting on them to finalize that and let them know that that franchise agreement won't move forward until we've
3:24:51 finalized what we agreed to. Okay. So, we're holding their feet to the
3:24:56 fire, but they're not resisting us, but that Mr. WA has assured me that that's part of the negotiation
3:25:03 because we still got got students walking to school in the dark out there on on Excalibur and and Hooks and I
3:25:11 still uh not sure you all never came back and told me whether we actually paying for the lights that's supposed to
3:25:16 be on Highland that's haven't been there for two years everything. So, so that's also part of it.
3:25:21 They they've had some issues with the texts following through on the work.
3:25:27 When I asked the gentleman we had met with Mr. mayor. Yeah. And he assured me that that they were going to get that work done and
3:25:33 apologized over and over that it had not been done yet. Okay. And I thank you. I think you let
3:25:39 me know yesterday we you working on the right turn lanes up at um Hancock and Citrus Tower.
3:25:46 Yes. And 50 and all. So, so thanks for continuing work on that. And I I I think I asked you to do one other thing to see
3:25:52 if we can't get with the state to uh see can't we get them to cooperate with us
3:25:58 with buying the equipment to put the uh cameras on the lights on Highway 27 so we can do something about that traffic
3:26:04 on 27. I I did mention that to them also when I met with DOT, Mr. Mayor. So we are
3:26:10 asking and requesting over and over. All right. Thank you, sir. Appreciate that. and uh we can just
3:26:16 I'm still getting a little heat about the kids walking to school in the dark on on We'll continue on that. So, so thank
3:26:22 you. Can I may I ask a question? Yeah. For with regards to the regarding the
3:26:27 workshop, um are there any materials that we're going to be given at the meeting that we perhaps could get
3:26:34 prior to to be prepared for? I just in terms of I don't know what's being exactly planned for it but if there's
3:26:40 materials that you want us to look at to review if we can get that ahead of time that would be helpful.
3:26:47 I don't know what there's so the workshop there's going to be three different parts to it. There's going to be the uh utility rate
3:26:53 discussion. We're going to have the consultant come in and kind of give an overview of the utility rates. The second part and there's really nothing
3:26:59 to prepare handout before that. The second part is going to be the procurement process. I know uh Freddy,
3:27:05 our procurement director, has been sending you some information ahead of time just to kind of go over that. So, it's
3:27:10 just going to be a brief presentation on that. The last part of it is going to be budget overview. Not necessarily budget
3:27:16 overview, excuse me. It's kind of a pre-budget trying to get we're going to have you
3:27:21 listen to the department heads that have big priority projects over the next five years kind of tell you what they need
3:27:27 over the next five years. Big projects, not little, not staffing, not you know, a truck or something like that. It's
3:27:33 going to be big long-term things, but mainly we're trying to get council to
3:27:38 give us your priorities over the next five years so we can start looking at them. We we'll put all the suggestions
3:27:45 up there. Then we'll we'll get every council member to rank their top two or three and then we're going to that'll
3:27:50 help us start prioritizing. At the end of it, we're going to give you a list of everything that was mentioned and how
3:27:56 they fell in the ranking system so that when we do start the budget process, we'll have a head start on what we know
3:28:02 is is top priorities of council for the next five years. Okay. Thank you. And if that's yeah, if
3:28:08 that's the case, I think maybe I don't know if I speak for everybody else, but if there's going to be handouts that staff that department heads are going to
3:28:14 give us, if they can get that to us, if we're going to be asked to be making some rankings ahead of time, it'd be nice to just look at that and not have
3:28:19 to decide it right then and there within on the spot. These these aren't going to be very specifics. They're going to be just big
3:28:24 ideas. So, if there is anything, yeah, like I said, I don't know the actual agenda, but I know sometimes
3:28:30 there's just a lot of information that's handed out at the workshops that if we could, it was clearly done ahead of time. So, if we can get it ahead of
3:28:36 time, that'd be great. Right. Right. Yeah. If we have anything ahead of time, we'll definitely absolutely.
3:28:41 Thank you, Mr. W. Is he still there?
3:28:47 Yes. Yes, I am, mayor. Yes, sir. First of all, I am sorry that I'm not there, but a federal judge told me to be
3:28:53 here tomorrow, and I've gotten in the habit of not telling federal judges no. Um, but uh first of all, just a brief
3:29:00 report about Duke Energy. We are still negotiating that and I will I will tell you I I have told them that's not a
3:29:07 negotiable issue on hooks and they've also said they're happy to comply but
3:29:12 apparently haven't done anything about it. So at the end of the day our main leverage is that they want to renew.
3:29:18 There's a due date on that renewal and they're going to have to do it. Um the second thing I wanted to talk to
3:29:24 you about was SB80. Um, as you know, this has been a real big problem for local governments all
3:29:31 across the state. There is currently a bill in the Florida legislature to significantly revise SB180. It would do
3:29:38 things like remove the vague language that is currently under challenge that
3:29:43 says you can't pass something that's un, you know, more burdensome, which we don't even know how to define that,
3:29:49 right? So, um, they are talking about removing it. They're talking about removing the
3:29:55 100 miles and making it 50 miles from a hurricane disaster area. They're talking about making it apply to rebuilding
3:30:02 instead of new buildings. So, I have no idea what shape ultimately will take or
3:30:07 even if it'll pass or survive a governor's veto, but I wanted you to know that it is something that's under
3:30:12 consideration in Tallahassee. Uh, and that concludes my report. Thank you, sir. Council member Myers,
3:30:22 do y'all have the the slide to put up?
3:30:27 I want to say um happy Black History Month. Um part of my report is I attended the MLK parade and celebration
3:30:35 and I also had the um privilege of attending the opening of our public safety training center.
3:30:42 Black history is an annual time of reflection, celebration, and education
3:30:48 that honors history, achievements, and contributions of black people. In the United States and Canada, it is observed
3:30:55 in February. In the UK, in Ireland, is marked in October. It began as Negro
3:31:00 History Week in 1926, created by historian Dr. Carter G.
3:31:06 Woodson who believed black history was being ignored or erased in the mainstream education.
3:31:13 Over time it expanded to a full month of awareness. And I would like to highlight
3:31:19 the achievements of Gwindelyn Sawyer Cherry.Wendalyn Cherry was a trailblazing civil rights
3:31:26 leader, educator, and politician from Florida. She taught science and public
3:31:31 schools for more than 20 years in Miami. and she also served as a law professor
3:31:36 at FAMU. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1965 and she became the first
3:31:43 African-American woman to practice law in Dave County. She made history on
3:31:49 November 3rd, 1970 as the first black woman elected to the Florida House of
3:31:55 Representatives representing Miami Dade County. During her four terms, she
3:32:00 introduced the Equal Rights Amendment and the Martin Luther King State Holiday. She chaired the state's
3:32:07 committee for International Women's Year 1978. She served in the Florida House of
3:32:13 Representatives from 1970 to 1979. Before and after holding office, she was
3:32:20 deeply involved in the civil rights movement, working to improve education,
3:32:25 housing, and opportunities for black and marginalized communities. Her legacy
3:32:31 lives on through institutions named in her honor, including the Gwindelynsherry Park and Gwindelyn Sherry Park um Black
3:32:39 Women's Lawyers Association, recognizing her impact on public service and justice. US Senator Bob Graham called
3:32:46 Gwen Cherry a champion for the rights of all people and a voice of reason.Wendalyn
3:32:52 Cherry didn't just make history for her moment. She widened the path so women like me could step into leadership where
3:32:59 decisions are made. My service on the Claremont City Council is a direct continuation of that work. Proof that
3:33:05 doors once open don't close again when someone walks through them with purpose.
3:33:11 And I would like to ask all of my colleagues here to share one of their favorite African-American contributions
3:33:18 to our nation at our next council meeting. And that concludes my report.
3:33:25 Thank you, ma'am. Council member Peterson.
3:33:36 in Tallahassee.
3:33:42 I mean, we we had met with u some of the congressmen, some of the centers up there and we I think we were able to get
3:33:50 some grant money for um what is that for looking for that uh crossing of 50, you
3:33:57 know, we talk about a bridge or a tunnel. So we I think they were going to give us like 500,000
3:34:02 for uh to hire a consultant to do the initial investigation. So it is a step
3:34:08 forward and that in turn would help with our with the golf pro golf cart program too because people can't really drive a
3:34:14 golf cart but have that population over there and I that would incentivize that too and it was a good meeting. We also
3:34:20 had working on the waterfront project see if we can get monies in for that. So it it was all in all a really good
3:34:27 meeting. Secondly is I had spoken to some of our uh local constituents here
3:34:32 about the old fire I mean the old police station and the owner of that is he's
3:34:38 trying to seek maybe to sell or lease it to the uh library to create a library
3:34:44 because I understand Sumpter has closed their children's library right well I think it's Lake County and the
3:34:52 college together are looking to um the the children being where the college kids are is not necessarily
3:35:00 working as well as they would be I think it would be a good fit if we could you know I don't it's not really in our purview to get you know
3:35:06 that would be the whatever the library association or school board or whatever but it was a good conversation and I
3:35:12 think uh it might be fruitful and that's the end of my report. Thank you sir.
3:35:19 Council member Strange. Yeah, to follow up on um Council Member Peterson's report, I've been talking to the county
3:35:27 certain county representatives um for several months now. I I recently heard that Dr. Cavan is interested in having
3:35:34 the library at that building. Um I've talked to many people in the community that feel that having the children's
3:35:41 library downtown would be a good thing. I think it would be a good thing. So,
3:35:47 um, the people who have talked to me, I have expressed I'm not sure that we as the council
3:35:52 have any real control over that or say over that. Um, but I'm 100% in support
3:35:58 of it myself. Um, if that's something that comes before us. I have a question. Didn't they have mold
3:36:04 in there? Is that why the police left? I thought No, I don't know. I don't know the answer to that question. that there are some major
3:36:11 renovations that need to be taken care of and it's a cost issue now.
3:36:17 I think Mr. Mayor, you and I talked about that, but it at this time the county managers decided they're not
3:36:23 moving forward because of the cost. Because of the cost. Um, if y'all can recall, uh, Brian, you
3:36:31 I don't know, Mr. Peterson, I think you I I brought this to our attention in in a year or so ago about the library was
3:36:37 closing up there and we've been looking. Last conversation I had, which was about
3:36:42 two weeks ago, maybe it was just last week I had with the county manager and everything, they're no longer considering the police department
3:36:48 because when they go in there and re look at it, it's in such bad shape and everything. Uh it would cost them too
3:36:53 much. And I know Mr. Van Wagner and I we've had this conversation about the librarian and I've asked them to look
3:36:59 into um moving it going out there to old Badcock the Badcock Old Badcock and I
3:37:06 don't know if the uh county I spoke with the county about it too so I don't know where where they are with it but they're
3:37:11 doing something and I was kind of I'll put it out there. I was kind of against putting a library in the downtown area
3:37:18 all the way on this side of town when 90% of our kids and everything live to the we west side east side of town. So
3:37:25 that's why I was trying to look for something over over on that side of town and all. So uh but right now that's
3:37:31 that's off the table as of last week when I talked to the county manager uh when we was up in uh Leburg last week
3:37:38 she told me it was no longer on the table. So that's where we are. Yes ma'am. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Oh no that's fine. I would actually
3:37:45 suggest that libraries be available to all of our residents, right?
3:37:50 Um I don't think knowledge should be restricted to one part of the city and I've expressed that to the county
3:37:57 manager and several members of the county commission that I would be fully supportive of having different
3:38:03 locations. you know, as we've talked about new development coming in and new projects coming in and what they can
3:38:09 give back to our community that if we're going to accept more traffic, we should at least get some benefit. And so having
3:38:15 libraries and strategic locations becomes um a discussion point with developers who want to come in and get
3:38:21 cups or variances or something that we haven't anticipated um that parks, you know, rec all sorts of different things.
3:38:27 So I think that libraries um in different parts of our city would be great. I don't think we have to have
3:38:32 just one big one. Um, I know a lot of people like to go and it's not just for
3:38:37 children. We're talking about a children's library, but you know, libraries, having a place for people to get on the computer to be able to ride
3:38:43 their bikes. I mean, if you can imagine a college student who could ride their bike to the library and and not have to
3:38:50 have internet at home and not have to have a car, I mean, you've just saved $900 a month. I mean, that's that's a
3:38:55 big deal for a young person or a young professional. So, I think that um I would support a library for children.
3:39:03 We've got School of Rock going on here. We we were talking about new park spaces. So, I would be for it for
3:39:08 anybody listening um that putting that out into the universe. I did want to
3:39:13 make sure that the public is aware for anyone who's watching that um the DPZ
3:39:19 Cheret is starting on February 19th through the 23rd. It is posted on our
3:39:26 website. We do, if you go to the city website, there's a little button at the top that takes you to the page about our
3:39:32 comprehensive plan. Um, there are many, many opportunities for the public to participate during the Cherret process.
3:39:39 Um, I was excited to learn that staff is also coordinating meetings um ahead of
3:39:45 the Cherret to one gather information and two make sure people are aware that the Shred is coming up. They start on
3:39:52 February 12th and I think it's great Mr. Germaine, I think you had talked at one point about doing town halls and I think
3:39:58 that this is kind of a an I along those lines. They've got Kings Ridge, Wellness
3:40:03 Ridge, Legends, Living Hope Church, Waterbrook, and then the the public ones
3:40:08 at the city center and the Arts and Recreation Center. So, if I didn't say your neighborhood, um Living Hope Church
3:40:14 is February 15th at 12:30. And then the Claremont City Center is February 17th at 6 PM and the Arts and Recreation
3:40:21 Center is February 18th at 6 PM. So, the what I wanted to bring this up. One,
3:40:27 that's the public notice. And then for council, um I I personally am excited. I
3:40:33 want to hear what the public has to say. You know, I'm excited about the comp plan. So, I'm unapologetic about that.
3:40:38 Um, however, I was hoping that we could all be on the same page that for these meetings and even the sharet that even
3:40:46 if we go and this is my commitment to you that we not engage so that the
3:40:51 public feels free to speak and and I'm interested in observing, but I don't necessarily want it to feel to the
3:40:57 public like we're doing a meeting. I know they have been noticed so that we can all attend, but I wanted to get your
3:41:03 your take on that if anybody thinks that's out of line, but I wanted to be on the same page as a council on on
3:41:08 these meetings. So, we're all good with that. The these
3:41:16 are public meetings. Okay, great.
3:41:21 Mr. Bane, do you agree? Yeah. Okay, Mr. Murray. Yeah. Okay, great.
3:41:28 That's all I have.
3:41:33 Council member Bane.
3:41:38 Thank you, mayor. Um, just to piggyback off that, that that schedule is also on the city's website now. I think as of
3:41:44 today or yesterday, uh, it was added to the to the graphic for the um, workshops
3:41:50 starting on the 19th. And it's my understanding too that even though uh
3:41:55 like Kings Ridge or Wellness Ridge if they're not exclusive to that neighborhood, it's just inside that
3:42:01 neighborhood. And so um I think because it's a public meeting, we can't exclude anybody from attending. But obviously it
3:42:08 would uh there are three that are occurring in in non- neighborhoods um if
3:42:15 you will uh non uh community HOA communities um that uh are available and
3:42:22 then the the one for waterbrook is actually teams meetings so it's online um and will the link then be on the
3:42:30 city's website somewhere for that or how will the link be for the teams meeting
3:42:35 for that one? Yeah, we'll we'll make it available. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Um, thank you for clarifying that. I didn't
3:42:40 Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Um, you know, and and this is really our um our
3:42:46 opportunity to to create that shared vision for our future. Um, it you don't
3:42:51 have to agree uh on what that vision is. This is the opportunity. There's no vision already.
3:42:57 This is the opportunity to help provide that input for that vision. So, it really is a valuable opportunity to try
3:43:04 to be there for any and all of the events that you can. Um, and um
3:43:10 hopefully either at this point or some other way that people can provide maybe some online comments too if they can't
3:43:16 attend. That'd be great. Um, Lake County Schools is doing a trades and transportation hiring event uh next
3:43:22 Wednesday from 4 to 6:00 p.m. at the district office in Tavari. So, encourage
3:43:27 folks to check that out if you are looking for some employment in the trades or transportation areas and want
3:43:32 to work for Lake County's largest employer, which is our school uh school district. Um, and then finally too, I
3:43:40 want to piggyback a little bit on on what uh, Council Member Meyer said in recognize and celebrate Black Black
3:43:45 History Month here in February and the accomplishments and the con the contributions of black Americans,
3:43:51 including Mayor Murray as our as our first African-American elected uh, mayor and council member Myers as our first
3:43:56 female council member, African-American council member. Um, this is especially significant today as as unfortunately
3:44:03 too many are seeking to dismiss or diminish uh the history and diversity and community that has always existed
3:44:09 and been an intricral part of our community. So, I want to recognize that and and thank you for your contributions
3:44:15 and I look forward to uh sharing uh my um information as your request at the
3:44:21 next meeting. Thank you. Yes, sir. Mr. May,
3:44:26 thank you. Thank you, sir. I just had two really quick things. One of them is uh I was asked by one or more council
3:44:32 members about doing comment cards for the speakers when they come up. So before we do that, I want to just kind
3:44:39 of get consensus whether there's a cons consensus on council to move forward with speaker cards just as as a
3:44:46 background. It would just ask them to fill out their name and address so we have accurate recordkeeping and it would
3:44:52 ask them which items they wanted to speak on. Doesn't mean they have to fill out a speaker card. We'd still let him
3:44:57 speak without a speaker card, but it will help us with recordkeeping and it also help um with efficiency and getting
3:45:04 and getting the meetings going. But I wanted to get council direction whether we move forward with that or not before
3:45:10 we proceed. It's not mandatory. It's not mandatory that they have to fill one out if they don't want
3:45:15 somebody. Correct. Yeah, that's a separate issue.
3:45:20 Yeah, they don't have to give addresses, but this is more to to for us to get better recordkeeping of their spelling
3:45:27 of their names and the addresses and um have have them move have it moving a little bit more efficiently about having
3:45:32 people lined up and knowing what items are speaking on in a case like tonight where if we have 50 cards where they all
3:45:38 say the same thing, it'd be great if they say, "Does there anything different?" Kind of like the gentleman did today on the on the highwalken
3:45:43 thing. If rather than everybody getting up and speaking, they all just kind of stood up and said, "Yeah, we agree." So there's there's some efficiencies
3:45:50 that go with it. But again, if this is a council decision, if if there council wants to do it, we'll proceed forward.
3:45:56 If not, we'll we won't. So I just wanted to get a quick consensus on that. I
3:46:01 personally think it has a chilling effect on the public's participation in meetings. I've the county does that. Um,
3:46:10 and I think that we should always be mindful when we start a practice on the slope that we're
3:46:16 on and what it could lead to. Um, I know that I've been at meetings at the county where um, I didn't think I wanted to
3:46:23 talk about something and then the way the conversation went, I did want to talk about it. And so, I think
3:46:30 I wouldn't be supportive. I'm not going to stand in the way. There's other things. There's other battles I would pick, but I personally think it has a
3:46:37 chilling effect and would not want to do it. Okay.
3:46:43 Um I initially thought it had some merit with regard to just recordkeeping
3:46:48 purposes um to help facilitate that for the city clerk staff and for the records. U I agree with Council Member
3:46:55 Strange though in terms of potential chilling effect. Um, I think if we're if our goal is to try to
3:47:03 um to also register support or against something, we could we could potentially
3:47:09 do that online where someone could go on and say, "My name is, you know, Alex
3:47:14 Smith and and uh I live at this address and I'm for this or against this and we could get a tally of something like
3:47:21 that." Um, but I understand the the recordkeeping. I thought more about it
3:47:26 and because it's not something that, you know, you have to fill out, I do think that potentially um people will not know
3:47:34 that and they'll think that they don't they can't speak because they didn't fill it out. And I certainly don't want
3:47:40 to uh do that. So, I think we have to be delicate with that and balance that uh recordkeeping versus the effect of it.
3:47:48 We could consider having another podium like or a table where we just ask people, hey, when you're done, you know,
3:47:54 to make sure your record is accurate if you would write your name and your address. And that way it's once they've
3:48:00 spoken that might be something else to happen. That's typically in in the places I've worked in the past or when I was working
3:48:07 out Lake County and PNZ. That's how they did that is some you didn't have to come up and fill it out beforehand. But if
3:48:13 you did speak, they would ask you just for recordeping, please fill one out. Again, we can't force them to do it. So
3:48:19 we can't force them to do it still. U anyone else? I mean, I'm I'm in agreement with that. I think it a lot of people get
3:48:26 intimidated by, you know, It's hard enough just to get up to the microphone. Now you're going to put
3:48:31 another burden on top of that. You know, I mean, it's a story. You'd rather be in the casket than do the
3:48:39 Come on. Come on. All right. Well, that that's three votes, so I'm good. I'm good.
3:48:44 Well, here's the other thing I'mma add with that. And and and of course, you know where I I feel with it, you know.
3:48:49 But the other thing for as accuracy of record, uh, Miss Tracy, if you don't
3:48:55 understand what they saying, we can always say, "Hey, can you spell your name for us?" Okay. And everything. So, uh, we can
3:49:01 always do that. I think sometimes we've had to go back and I've seen council meetings sometime before where they did
3:49:07 that and everything. We didn't understand it. So, um, okay. Well, I'll move on to my next item because that's that's majority right
3:49:13 there. So, that's correction. Okay. Uh the next item I wanted to uh make you all aware of is um bringing
3:49:20 back by popular demand our youth council. We are starting a 14 session starting September 9th through April 7th
3:49:27 and we're going to start accepting applications and nominations sometime probably around July or August. So we'll
3:49:34 we'll get that going again and we're looking forward to that. And hopefully the the lady that's coming to the next
3:49:41 meeting will be happy to be on the council.
3:49:46 ready. That's all I have. Well, I thank you, sir. Thank you. And thank you for finally getting that going. I think I've been asking for that
3:49:52 for a while and everything. Youth council, I I run into a lot of our youth around here that wants to telling me
3:49:57 they wants to get involved and even uh last few I think right around first part of the year, a few months ago, I've had
3:50:03 a couple of them, one actually come out of Georgia and follow me for a week and
3:50:09 everything and and do things. And uh we got a lot of young folks right here in Climouth that's uh coming to me all the
3:50:16 time want to know how to get involved. So uh I think that'll be a great thing to big thanks to Zayn and Jessica for doing
3:50:22 a lot of the hard leg work on this to get it actually in motion. So I thank you for getting that going. I
3:50:28 wish that we can get it quicker but because I think I've been asking for it for a year or two. It's usually corresponds with the school
3:50:34 year so that we couldn't start it now. Right. But thank you. Um,
3:50:40 I think we talked about library, so I don't need to do that anymore. Uh, LA, um, Martin Luther King Day parade. I
3:50:47 want to thank the council members for coming in and participating. Mr. Van Wagner, you coming out and participating
3:50:52 in it as well, uh, as well. Um, it meant a lot to have you down there, sir, and
3:50:58 and to speaking all. So, um, the people very impressed to have you down there and all. So, the parade wasn't quite as
3:51:04 big as it was uh, year before last. I don't know whe was the cold weather. I know we had a lot of cold weather
3:51:10 and a lot of people I mean I was getting calls in church on Sunday. Matter of fact, I was in church and I was busy on
3:51:17 my phone in church on Sunday want to know if we going to cancel everything because of the cold and other cities was cancelled. I was saying no, we we were
3:51:23 going to go ahead but I think that had to do with but it still was a pretty good turnout and most of the vendors and
3:51:28 everything was happy. So I thank you all for for the participation. Can I ask you a question though? Go ahead. Go ahead. Had you ever thought
3:51:34 about moving it to that Saturday instead of that Monday? Well, when I first started this, the
3:51:40 reason I did it on Monday because all the other cities around us was doing Friday like breakfast on Friday,
3:51:45 Saturday and everything. So, I said we'll do ours on the day. So, don't want have to compete with no one else.
3:51:51 But since that time, I've noticed like Ocoy and Winter Garden and all have started doing parades on on on Monday as
3:51:58 well. But we going we going to keep ours there. Uh and everything. And one of the other thing we talked about lucky doing maybe
3:52:04 is trying to figure out a day we can do a breakfast. Okay. Okay. And trying to how to how we going to fit that in. But uh but that's the
3:52:11 reason we do it on the Monday is because everybody else was doing their thing on Friday and Saturdays and all. So um I
3:52:18 was just going to provide a little humor. It was the first three third parade. It was the first time I I got to be in a convertible. So, thank you for
3:52:25 that on the coldest parade that we had so far
3:52:30 cuz it was cold. Yes, it was. It was cold. But trust me, people, it was I've been out there on colder days
3:52:36 and I don't know why it is the Lord keep doing this to us. But, uh, Saturday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday be 90° and come
3:52:44 Monday morning. That That's why I was saying you don't want to do it on Saturday. For the last three years, it's been cold
3:52:49 on Monday. here. Well, you ought to be with me at the waterfront at 7:00 on that morning when that wind is coming
3:52:55 off the waterfront down there. We trying to set up at 7:00. Uh
3:53:01 the fire training. Congratulations to the fire department. I was able to attend the fire training center uh um
3:53:08 ribbon cutting and everything over there. Great job and all and we're looking for uh more great things out of
3:53:13 them. As I said then um it is very important that our firemen train on a
3:53:18 regular basis because in a profession is there they constantly change and things are constantly changing. So staying up
3:53:24 to date and everything is is highly needed to in order to save lives and
3:53:30 everything as time things changes. So having a training center here where they can do that is going to be great.
3:53:35 Legislative days as Mr. Peterson say we did go up to Tallahassee and it was cold up there as well. Well, I got up there
3:53:41 on Sunday evening. I pulled in, it was like 77 degrees. I woke up on Monday morning, it was 28 degrees. Okay. So, it
3:53:48 was and I had to walk around um I guess it called do stadium. What's what's
3:53:54 Florida State Stadium? So, we would they had all us mayors out there walking around that stadium on on Monday all all
3:54:01 day on Monday and everything. And so, it uh giving us lectures and all this. So, it it was a pretty uh brisk day, but
3:54:08 thank God I did take uh warm weather clothes with me and also but it was great. Um Mr. Peterson spoke about I
3:54:17 asked for funding for the pedestrian study across Highway 50. Also, uh we
3:54:24 asked for funding for other items such as the meters in the middle. We asked for the water water treatment as well.
3:54:32 Uh different items. But our big my biggest concentration while I was up there to be honest with you since I had them two over there even though I was
3:54:38 there with them um focusing on our legislators about
3:54:44 property tax property tax issues. So that was one of our biggest f focus on Monday with the mayors was the uh
3:54:50 property tax on Tuesday. We went and we had a uh briefing and and everything. And then we actually went into the
3:54:56 legislators as a group uh LC Florida legisl uh legal cities local group uh
3:55:03 all the local chapters and everything got together and they went bombarding the state capital on Tuesday with all
3:55:09 their legislators to basically focus on the uh property tax. Uh last
3:55:15 I felt pretty good when I got ready to leave there at 2 o'clock on Monday on Wednesday afternoon after my last
3:55:21 lunchon or worked whatever they want to call lunchon board meeting with the mayors. Um we got a briefing by one of
3:55:28 the FLC gentleman and he's basically saying that um keep your fingers crossed
3:55:33 but basically he doesn't see things going anywhere with the profitability tax right now because even though they
3:55:38 every one of the proposals had passed the house every all the hurdles there's
3:55:44 not one legisl uh senate bill to match any of them okay so if there's basically
3:55:52 what's happened if you you don't have a senate bill to match anything uh match any of their bill, it can't it'll never
3:55:58 make it. Okay, they got to have a Senate bill and none of the Senate senators seem to be in a urgency to do it. But
3:56:05 here's the caveat. I'm hearing that our governor is talking about having a special session to try to get it done.
3:56:11 Okay? So, keep your finger crossed. But right now, um if the Senate doesn't
3:56:17 react in the next couple of weeks and stuff, they they may have to go back on a special legislative. So that that was my biggest concern up there because if
3:56:24 we we lose our property taxes, it's going to be a it's going to I think Climouth maybe we'll have to make some
3:56:30 some sacrifices and everything, but I think we'll be okay. But I think Groveland mascot and Minola and Mount
3:56:38 Ver because they don't don't have any real commercial. They're going to be in serious problems. So them cities may
3:56:44 fold. We may have to end up taking them taking some of them under our fold or
3:56:49 the state have to pick them up. Something going to have to happen to them. So we we just don't know. And
3:56:56 our biggest concern as the Florida League, local Florida League of Cities. Yeah. We're concerned about taxes going,
3:57:02 profit taxes going away. However, uh our biggest concern is what's what's
3:57:08 they going to replace it with. Exactly. Nobody's telling us what they going to replace it with. So that's that's what
3:57:13 we're trying to figure out. what what's going to replace it if if it goes away and everything. And I know the governor
3:57:18 has said if you come back with trying to increase sale tax, he gonna veto it. So So we can't do that. But anyway, that's
3:57:25 that's where we are with that and just keep praying and uh it's up to you all the residents whether we we do this
3:57:31 thing or not because actually it has to go on the ballot and come to you all for a vote. So um you need to give that some
3:57:38 great consideration. Uh had my mayor's lunching the other day. I thank everybody for coming out. That was another good laair's lunchon. Uh had
3:57:44 more turnout than I expected, especially when I was holding in in a facility that's usually closed on Tuesday. You
3:57:50 know, I think I counted about 35 or 37, whatever it was there, but it was great to be there. Uh Mr. Van Wagner and uh I
3:57:59 actually Kirk, I think I called you the other day. I still haven't gotten it. I think I asked you for uh information on
3:58:06 um impact fees, how much impact fee credit and everything they've uh given
3:58:12 been the developers in Weldman's way as well as the uh lumber yard project. How
3:58:17 much impact fees credit that we've given them the developers so far. So still waiting on that. Um
3:58:26 Mr. Mayor, just for clarity, I'm not aware of that request. No, I I I I tal I
3:58:31 didn't I talked to Kirk. I ran into Kirk and I mainly asked him for it. I just want to make sure you get what you're asking.
3:58:36 You probably have to go to him because you because Kirk I'm assuming Kirk probably have a better better hold on
3:58:42 that what's what's actually been done there or maybe uh Scott and everything.
3:58:47 So So you you you a little fuzzy. I'm trying to recall.
3:58:52 Well, I know it was we was on the run. We were talking in the street the other day. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So, uh,
3:59:01 okay. Um, but well, I'll get back with you and everything and show you and tell you again. And Mr. Aan, basically what I'm
3:59:08 asking for is the impact fee credit that we've given to the developers in Wellness Way, Wellness Ridge, um, as
3:59:17 well as the Lumberyard project. Okay.
3:59:23 Also, uh I know you all the council members, I know you all was probably saw a copy of the email I sent to Mr. Van
3:59:29 Wagner and Mr. Matthysse and and Mr. award and everything asking for
3:59:35 clarification or well asking for a breakdown the CDDs and in wellness way uh MSTUs
3:59:45 um HOAs all this basically what I was asking and what that was all about is trying to get a grip on what's going on
3:59:52 down there in welders way because at the last council meeting that that was brought up to us and I heard you say Miss Strange that you weren't aware of
3:59:58 certain things so I thought it would be great if we we can have them go back and
4:00:04 do a study and tell me exactly what the CDD is paying for, what they're responsible for. Okay, the reply got
4:00:12 back wasn't quite what I was asking for. Okay, so I'm going go back and ask him again. I think I've all so talked to
4:00:17 Kirk about it already, but the reply wasn't quite because I want to break down on you got the CDD, who's it, who
4:00:24 when it was established, how it was established, how you go on the board, when when is the elections, all this. What actually are they responsible for?
4:00:31 what is the MSTU responsible for? There's be seem to be some confusion down there about who's paying what and
4:00:37 everything. So, uh I'm trying to get that broken down and we know what what I
4:00:44 do know uh ad the CDD boards of elections. I find out a lot of more information on the boards of election.
4:00:50 Uh the boards are there and couple of what he sent me on the um CDD boards. Um
4:00:58 and Mr. Van Wagner, maybe you can check with us. I've already got a call in to Mr. uh to supervise election to verify
4:01:05 the fact that I think the wellness bridge uh CDD board is supposed to have
4:01:10 election this year. Yes. Can I clarify for you since I lived
4:01:19 in the developer?
4:01:29 Well, see that's that's that's the information when I'm going back and doing my research. That's why I'm asking for what I'm asking for and everything
4:01:36 because my understanding my understanding the CDD once it once you
4:01:42 get 250 voters in that subdivision is supposed to be turned over and then the
4:01:47 voters in that subdivision become eligible for for election and it has to go through the supervisor election. it
4:01:53 goes on the ballot on the regular voting ballots and the election has to be uh held on the on even years. So this year
4:02:00 is a even year in my I'm not sure but we may have over 250 voters down in there
4:02:05 in in in wellness read. So can I clarify that? Yes. Well, under the Florida statute, they
4:02:12 actually control for six years. There's a bill in the Senate right now that is going to
4:02:19 give people that are under the CD that is under control. If this bill passes,
4:02:27 we'll be able to throw out the electors that are in there now. We feel they're not doing a good job.
4:02:41 Currently, we
4:02:47 only get two seats and then the rest of the seats won't convert to us until they come up for election. Okay.
4:02:56 Well, as I say, there's a lot of conflicting information out there and I guess that's why I sent the email to you
4:03:01 all trying to trying to get that all clarified because uh I'm being a first first thing I was told that um they
4:03:09 don't turn the CDD over until the whole subdivision is built out. Okay. And all this, but
4:03:16 if I can help, I think Christian, if you're on the phone, you knew this was coming. I think we could all benefit
4:03:22 from some education on this. And um I know when I do a public records
4:03:28 request, I do it to Mr. Van Wagner and Mr. Wah, not not to staff, not not on
4:03:33 purpose anyway. Um and I think in this case, it would benefit us all if Mr.
4:03:39 Wall could put together a memo for us on the current status of the Wellness Way
4:03:45 CDDs. if there are multiple, if there's one, the HOAs, um, basically the general
4:03:51 status of what's going on down there, what contracts are being negotiated, just
4:03:57 two or three pages of the status and the legal positions so that we're not trying to guess or play lawyer or read and
4:04:05 interpret or take someone else's opinion, but that's why he's here. So, Christian, I don't know if you can hear me, but is that something if you can
4:04:12 hear me that you can do and what would be the timeline on getting that to us? The answer is yes. Uh within a week.
4:04:19 Excellent. And basically that was my original request. It was a one-page summary on each one of them stipulating all this
4:04:26 here. That I think that was my email request that went Christian didn't get you that.
4:04:31 Well, Christian I think actually worked on it and I don't know if y'all saw the reply that came back. And uh they
4:04:37 probably just sent it me due to sunshine law. Uh but it wouldn't basically they told me how many uh CDC CDDs we have in
4:04:46 in Clout and all uh but not the responsibility who's responsible for this, who's responsible for that. Didn't
4:04:52 tell me you're talking about the board, but how to go about getting elected to the board. And see these are kind of things as you say. I felt like after I
4:04:58 heard your comment uh last council meeting about, but you didn't know any of it. I felt like it'll be an education
4:05:04 experience for all us to learn this stuff because it is some things going on down in the wellness way area. That's I
4:05:10 tell you none of I mean every time I turn around I'm getting surprised whatever something new down there and um
4:05:16 and I think this is one of the things we need to get on top of the CDDs the MSTUs
4:05:21 and and HOA all all this stuff that's going on down there. So so that's why I requested it but I did send the main
4:05:28 letter to Mr. uh Van Wagner, Mr. Matthysse, and I copied every council
4:05:36 member. I did a copy to each one of y'all so you all know what I was asking for and everything along with Mr. W.
4:05:41 Okay. And I think Kirk and Mr. W actually worked on it, right?
4:05:48 Yes, sir. We we took a crack at it, Mayor. We weren't quite sure everything that you
4:05:54 know was requested on it, which is why we came up with the draft. But um you know if we have two to three pages to do
4:05:59 it instead of one I can guarantee you it'll be more comprehensive. Yeah. Well well if you want to well I
4:06:05 was asking for one page on each one of the entities. I didn't want you to have to do a whole research book on all of
4:06:11 them you know but if we can get a brief summary on each one of them one page summary on each one of them that's fine
4:06:17 okay with the breakdown. But main thing I'm re I'm I'm trying to get
4:06:22 I'm hearing that the CDD is supposed to be paying for this or they supposed to be paying for that. They collect the money. Where's the money going from?
4:06:28 What about what about the budget? See, I don't know what kind of budget they got and who who's who's getting the money.
4:06:34 We don't have any clue. So, that's what I'm concerned with. Okay. Thank you.
4:06:39 Yes. Could I send you?
4:06:54 Okay. Mr. Mr. Wall, can you hear Mr. Fumasi? Would you would you send him to the uh city attorney?
4:07:01 Okay. Okay.
4:07:20 Joe Famasi 2693 Jumpy Jack Way. Uh, I'm more than happy to send you the CDD
4:07:26 budgets because they're supposed to post it to our website. CDD Well,
4:07:32 um, I can send you the budgets of them, their proposed budgets, all their actions, minutes and um,
4:07:41 agenda packets. Okay. Uh, as you know, they canled their recent meeting because uh, they said
4:07:48 they had lack of business, but they had several things pressing on there. Uh I have a current information request in
4:07:54 for all those particular items. Okay. So, but uh I'd be more than happy to
4:07:59 send to the city attorney their budgets, their meeting minutes, foundation
4:08:05 documents, all that. Yeah, send them to the city attorney because that's probably what I would do it for because I've asked them and of
4:08:11 course uh council member Strange has also asked the city attorney to pay maybe go get a so it'll be beneficial to
4:08:17 go to them. I just asked if you give the city attorney my contact information, have him reach out to me. Yeah, that'd be great. Thank you.
4:08:23 Thank you. I have it and I'll send an email. Thank you, Mr. Mr. W. Um,
4:08:32 other thing one other thing, Miss Miss Strange, I hear you talking about using
4:08:38 local businesses and trying to promote local businesses and everything and and very concerned about uh notification of
4:08:45 of of like RFPs and everything. So, I got a question. Why aren't we using our
4:08:50 local newspaper to do ads like this uh Clout Sun and maybe I don't know if if
4:08:55 the South Lake Tav do to do notification ads but you can do uh legal ads in the sun. So why aren't we using that that
4:09:01 that will probably reach more people? I did some research and come to find out that u our normal stream through the
4:09:09 commercial and everything is only is reaching reaching less than 100 people or so. So why why aren't we using uh the
4:09:16 sun? Look at look using the sun and my understanding from what I've did and everything and looked at uh we can
4:09:22 probably do it in the sun a little bit cheaper and reach a lot more people. So can we take a look at that?
4:09:27 Are you talking to me? Actually Tracy and I are more of an expert at this matter than you could
4:09:33 imagine. So I'll let Tracy answer that because we have had a meeting already to discuss that. We have had multiple meetings. The Sun
4:09:41 only publishes one day a week and we require our advertising to be 14 days
4:09:47 prior to a public hearing and they're not able to meet that requirement.
4:09:52 So we we can't get our ads ready a couple weeks in advance to get it get it out there.
4:09:58 Well, they only pub for 14 days, but if we if say in if it's due two weeks from
4:10:04 now, we can't give it this week to make sure it get in the paper this week and have a 14 day
4:10:10 based on our current deadline with that. We were we work with
4:10:15 multiple departments and we were we're not able to do that. Well, I I'm just
4:10:20 looking at think trying to think. I've heard Miss Strange talk about uh we don't think not having much advertising
4:10:27 we get and who all it's going out to and using public uh local businesses and
4:10:33 everything. So, we have a paper right here in our community. I'm just curious why aren't we using it a little bit more
4:10:38 and everything. And I think when I looked at the cost breakdown and uh some of the cost they sent me and everything, we may save. Granted, it's only a couple
4:10:45 of dollars, but it's it's a savings. Okay. And I know for a fact because when
4:10:51 I worked in the post office, I used to send out 40,000 copies of that paper a week. Okay? And if somebody didn't get
4:10:58 that paper on Wednesday, my phone was ringing off the hook and I could only say, "Call the son. Call the news
4:11:05 leader. I have nothing to do with it, you know, and everything." But we just deliver what we've given. Okay? But uh
4:11:11 it's a very popular and people utilize it. Okay? So, I just thought maybe that would be another source if y'all would
4:11:17 look into that for me, please. Sir, uh, and can you get with the other thing? Can you get with uh public works and see
4:11:24 where we are with Blossom uh upgrade on Bloxom? I know we was public doing a uh community block grant.
4:11:32 I don't I never heard anything by the board or anything coming up for uh to to
4:11:37 ask for that community block grant. See if if they did it. Of course, I know usually people in the neighborhood that
4:11:42 sit on the boards and everything, but uh supposedly a community block grant we was eligible may be eligible for the
4:11:48 help uh do a upgrade over there on Blox Avenue, which is much needed. Okay. All
4:11:54 righty. What is that? Is that a direction from council? What did we just approve?
4:12:00 No, that's Mr. Mr. Mr. Vanwagen asking him to get with public uh public works. Mr. Stony. Um,
4:12:09 we have a what thing called community block grants. And community block grants, you can apply for them every three years if you have uh
4:12:17 what you want to call uh lowincome areas in the city and everything. You can usually apply for these block grants and
4:12:24 you can get them uh to do some different type work. And I think we were trying to apply. He last I heard he told me the
4:12:31 area blocks uh qualified for the block grant. So, did we submit for the B grant
4:12:36 to try to do the upgrade to get some upgrade? All the work that was done previous years like on Bloxom to the
4:12:42 north side uh along McKenna Park all the way down to Pit Street and then Dotto that was three different blocks that I
4:12:48 set on long before I was the mayor and everything. And we did one and did block from Highland, blocks them from Highland
4:12:54 down to I think it was uh uh Montro Street. And then the next one came and we went all the way down to Pit Street
4:13:01 along Pit Street in the streets there. And then the last one I think we did East of Sodto Street and all the way down uh Distant Avenue and everything.
4:13:09 Uh but the only you can only apply for the block grant every three years or so. And I think we end up getting about
4:13:15 seven $800,000 each year each time to help get the work done. So, and I was told that the block grant
4:13:21 was that area of Blossom over there. The area I'm talking about is what north
4:13:27 south side of 50 going down to uh Hook Street. We're trying to trying to get work done there and especially right
4:13:33 there from 50 to uh Minhaha. It needs some serious work. It's in serious
4:13:39 condition over there. Uh waste water and everything. if we can get with the city, if we get
4:13:44 with Stony and find out where we are with that and and everything because I'm starting to get uh I think I got a
4:13:49 couple emails asking about that uh well complaining about Blossom yesterday. So,
4:13:54 okay. Other than that, that's all I have, sir.
4:14:00 I think that's enough. So, anybody else has