Clermont City Council Transcript 5/26/26

5:38 I call this me meeting to order. Is it Did you hear me out there?
5:45 Can you hear me? Okay, I can't hear. Um, welcome to our council meeting for May
5:52 26, 2026. Virtual participation in council meeting are available on your computer or smartphone via Microsoft
6:00 Teams or by telephone. You can learn how to participate virtually by visiting our website at www.cleoutfl.gov
6:09 and search for attend councsil meeting online.
6:13 In the interest of time, efficiency, and ensuring everyone who wish to address the council is given the opportunity to do so, the following will apply to all
6:20 comments made by the public in person and virtually. Each speaker will be permitted three minutes to address the council. In an effort to be respectful
6:30 during the meeting, please make sure your cell phones are set to silence.
6:35 Thank you for participating in your city government.
6:40 Tonight, we will observe a moment of silence. Please rise and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.
7:01 Amence to the flag of the United States of
7:08 America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
7:17 Amen. Please be seated.
7:26 Today we have two presentation. The first presentation will be the 2026 assistant principal of the year.
7:35 Yes, sir. So, I'm going to take this, Mr. Mayor.
7:38 You going to take it? Okay. So, I'd like to recognize Miss Rashonda Scott of East Ridge High School for being named the State of Florida Department of
7:45 Education's assistant principal of the year. Miss Scott is no stranger to excellence. She began her career in Lake County in 2013 as a language arts
7:54 teacher at Windy Hill Elementary or Windy Hill Middle School and was named Lake Countyy's assistant principal of the year in 2025. She's been serving
8:02 East at Eastridge High School since 2022.
8:06 The city of Clermont is proud to have such an accomplished educator in our community. We are grateful for Miss Scott's dedication to her outstanding
8:14 commitment to bettering the lives of our students and the future of Clermont.
8:19 So, the city of Clermont would like to recognize Miss Scott with an award. And we'd like to afford her a moment to speak after we take a photo. So, Miss Scott, would you please come up here?
8:32 Congratulations.
9:17 They're on now.
9:22 I just would like to thank you all for recognizing me as an educator. Um, it's an honor and I think the most amazing thing about winning this award are the
9:30 students. Um, I really love our students and sometimes an education is not always easy, but when you really feel like you
9:37 make a difference and you're recognized for that, especially at the state level, um, it's it's a really it's a really big honor. So, I really do appreciate that.
9:47 And, um, I've been in Clermont for a long time and u, but thank you all for the recognition. Thank you.
9:54 Thank you.
10:04 Next we have a presentation on Thrive Clout. Miss Sherry.
10:12 Oh, there she Okay.
10:26 Thank you, mayor. Thank you, council members. We're pleased to be here today.
10:30 Um, this is part of sort of our annual update on our partnership with the city of Clermont. We do have
10:39 a couple of slides and a video that we wanted to show. And I don't know, can we do the video or No, we can do the slides first.
10:53 Second slide maybe. So, we've had a few students that couldn't come because of their transportation issues. I don't
11:01 know if anybody thinks there's a transportation issue in Lake County, but teens also have a transportation issue.
11:06 And so, what we've um done as part of our 10th anniversary, we're celebrating 10 years of serving teens in South Lake
11:15 County, our teen advisory council, and you'll meet some of those members in a minute. um serve every semester. They
11:22 can sign up to serve our organization either on our video team, our event planning team, or our communications
11:28 team. And so they work to plan, promote, and execute all of our events that we have in the community. So they work
11:37 probably more hours than anyone else on our on our programs. One of their projects this semester was to create a 10th anniversary video that summarized what Thrive has done in the community.
11:48 So they wrote the script, they recorded the video, they edited it, everything. So we'd like to share that with you now.
11:55 Okay. Okay.
12:04 Bummer. The sound AV issues.
12:13 I can hear it here.
12:38 You get to see all the slides.
12:43 Do we remember the script or else can we sour papar about those in just a minute.
13:01 You're going to see businesses that don't aren't in downtown anymore from our early days.
13:08 A lot of city venues that we've used as part of the program. That's the Keeler building.
13:18 That's Main Street Community Bank.
13:20 A lot of businesses provide one of our TAC members.
13:27 Is this on our It is on our YouTube channel. So, I would encourage everyone to watch it
13:35 later. um because it tells a little bit more about what we do with students, how we grow them in their leadership skills
13:43 as well as how they serve their peers in the community.
13:48 So, I'll just let you enjoy the video without any sound. Oh, there's our mayor.
14:01 Mhm.
14:16 We held an event last December in the Clermont Historic Village and they also host some of our summer popups activities.
14:30 I can hear what Roxan's saying and what she's saying is that one of the benefits of Thrive is that it not only benefits the students but also the community
14:39 because they're going to later be leaders in this community and they're learning how to do that through this program.
14:45 And how do young people in Clermont learn more about the program?
14:51 Thank you. We're going we'll go back to the slides. They can do so by going to our website at thriveClermont.org.
14:57 We're also active on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. So, what I'm going to do now is turn it over to um
15:05 Morgan, one of our teen advisory council members who can introduce herself, what she's been doing this semester, and tell you about our upcoming two weeks from tonight here in downtown Clermont.
15:17 Hello, I'm Morgan Owens and I'm a part of the Teen Advisory Council and I'm excited to talk about the summer pop-ups today. It's a twoight event and there's
15:26 going to be over 20 different activities and two that I would specifically like to highlight is the Clermont Police Department are coming and showing us
15:33 their SWAT team which is going to be really excited. That's the one I'm doing that night. And then there's also a scavenger hunt where there's going to be
15:41 interactive clues and prizes. Now overall this event really helps with social connection as well during the summer which during the summer it's
15:49 really hard to interact with people. So it really does push teens to interact with people and have social connection over the summer which is essential because according to the US surgeon in
15:57 general uh lacking social connection is actually as risky and dangerous as smoking up to 14 or 15 cigarettes a day.
16:05 So this helps foster the social connection that is extremely important for our teenagers. Thank you. Thank you.
16:16 And now Eve and I are going to talk a little bit about our um Teens Got Talent which is going to be hitting the streets. You guys are hearing it. Well,
16:24 maybe Mr. Van Wagner signed the contract, but Thrive Clermont has partnered with the city of Clermont and Landlue Talent Agency to put on an
16:33 exciting program on October 22nd at the Performing Arts Center. It's called Teens Got Talent Showcase and it's going
16:42 to feature up to 12 acts of Lake County teens. Students can put in their call
16:49 for talent starting June 1st through our website. We're looking for solo acts and group acts of two to five people. We'll
16:57 pick 12 performances that night and they'll get to perform on the main stage for up to 700 people. In addition, we're
17:06 going to have an art exhibit where local art teachers will be asked to curate a table of their artists in their class's
17:14 greatest works. So, it'll truly be a night dedicated to the arts. So, we hope to um I think tickets go on sale June
17:23 1st. The call for talent is June 1st and we're looking for sponsors, volunteers, and all of that can be connected through
17:32 our website. We'd also like to extend an invitation. I know that you have a meeting two weeks from tonight, but if you get out early, if you have a short
17:40 agenda, please mosy down to the city center and check out our summer popups. Thank you very much. Thank you.
17:58 thrive and um very important program here in in our community especially because they keep our kids busy during
18:06 the summer when they out of school. So, um I know from a fact when I was in the post office, I've been been
18:14 used to be a terrible time of the year for me in the post during the summer because kids were out of school and they wasn't busy. They was always getting
18:20 them mischief. So, so keeping them busy is a great great thing. Uh we have a proclamation on ALS awareness month.
18:30 Yes, ma'am. Whereas amiotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS often known as Lugeric's disease is a progressive
18:38 neurodeenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord leading to loss of muscle control and
18:45 eventually impacting a person's ability to speak, move, eat, and breathe. And whereas ALS affects thousands of
18:52 individuals and families each year, bringing emotional, physical, and financial hardships to patients,
18:59 caregivers, and loved ones. And whereas families in the Clermont community have experienced firsthand the devastating
19:07 impact of ALS and continue to courageously share their stories to raise awareness and inspire hope for
19:14 future treatments and a cure. And whereas Clermont resident Dave Keeble passed away from ALS in 2022 at just 50
19:22 years old after a courageous 5-year battle with the disease during which his wife and three daughters witnessed the
19:29 profound effects of ALS on their husband and father. And whereas throughout his illness, Dave Keeble remained a
19:36 dedicated advocate for ALS patients and continued supporting awareness and advocacy efforts until he became too ill
19:44 to do so. And whereas increased awareness, community support, and continued investment in ALS research are
19:52 essential to improving care, advancing treatments, and one day finding a cure.
19:57 Now therefore, I, Tim Murry, mayor of the city of Clmont in the state of Florida, do hereby proclaim the month of
20:04 May, 2026 as ALS awareness month and witness whereof, I have here unto set my
20:12 hand and cause the great seal of the city of Clement to be affixed this 26th day of May in the year 2026. Miss, would
20:20 you want to join me down front, Miss and Council?
20:27 Please.
21:19 To Mayor Murry and the city council, I would like to thank you for this honor.
21:24 Councilwoman Allison Strange, I appreciate you sponsoring this proclamation.
21:29 My name is Sharon Keeble and my husband was Dave. He died in November 2022 after a tough and courageous 5-year battle
21:38 with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Garri's after the famous baseball player who passed from it.
21:45 For those of you who don't know what ALS is, it is a progressive neurodeenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord leading to the
21:54 loss of muscle control. There is no cure and no medicine to slow its progression.
22:00 Most people die of the disease within 3 to 5 years.
22:04 Dave was a very active man who coached basketball and soccer to local kids. So when his legs wouldn't move properly on occasion, he thought maybe he was doing too much.
22:14 Fortunately, the cause was way more sinister, and at the age of just 44 years old, he was diagnosed with ALS.
22:21 Our then three young daughters, Emily, Molly, and Faith, and I had to watch this strong, always on the- go husband and father, gradually lose the use of
22:31 every muscle in his body, from his legs to his arms, his hands, his swallowing, his speech, and eventually his
22:38 breathing. By the time he passed away, he could just about move his pinky finger on his right hand.
22:46 It is, I believe, to be the crulest of diseases. To watch the person you love fade away knowing that there is
22:53 absolutely nothing that you can do about it is absolute torture.
22:59 But through it all, Dave became an advocate to raise awareness. ALS is supposedly a rare disease. So it doesn't
23:07 get funding like say cancer does, but that's not true. It is not as rare a disease as they say it is.
23:16 When he was sick, we corresponded with several other ALS patients living in Clermont to offer our support and our
23:22 encouragement. We raised money. We researched. We advocated for the patients and their families who came after him until he became too sick.
23:33 Today, my daughters and I would like anyone who is battling ALS or any other terminal disease to know that they are
23:40 noticed, supported, and loved. Being a caregiver is as lonely sometimes as being the patient with ALS, but we see
23:49 you. And thank you again for this opportunity to bring awareness to this disease. Thank you.
24:08 Next, we have the election proclamation.
24:11 Yes, ma'am. The general election of the city of Clermont shall be held on the 3rd day of November, 2026 between the
24:19 hours of 7:00 a.m. and 700 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at such precinct locations as determined and noticed by the Lake
24:27 County Supervisor of Elections. The purpose of this election is to elect city council member seat one two-year
24:34 term, city council member seat three two-year term, city council member seat five two-year term. A primary election
24:42 will be held on the 18th day of August, 2026 if there are more than two candidates who qualify for any one of the above
24:50 seats. Election qualifying begins on June 8th, 2026 at 12 p.m. and ends on June 12th, 2026 at 12 p.m.
25:00 In witness hereof, I have here unto set my hands and caused the great seals of the city of Clout to be affixed this 26th day of May, 2026.
25:10 Thank you.
25:18 Okay. Next item is public comment. If if you wish to address the council in person, please come to the microphone and state your name and address. Once in
25:26 person comments have have concluded, we will move on to virtual comments. If you
25:33 are participating online on Microsoft Teams and wish to provide comments, please raise your hand and you will be called on to unmute your microphone when
25:42 it is your turn to speak. If you are participating by phone, you will press star five on your phone to raise your
25:49 hand and then call when called upon you will press star six to unmute your microphone.
25:57 For all virtual participant, if you wish to comment on other items on the agenda, please stay on the Microsoft Teams or on your cell phone and raise your hand when
26:06 that item comes up on the agenda. This portion of the meeting is only for items that are not on the agenda. In the interest of time and efficiency,
26:14 ensuring everyone who wishes to address the council given the opportunity to do so, each speaker will be permitted three minutes to address the council to avoid
26:21 disruption of the meeting. Speakers should avoid inappropriate language, personal attacks, and derogatory statements and direct comments to the
26:30 city council. Everyone is requested to be respectful each other even when we disagree.
26:36 Public comment is now open. Yes. Anyone? Please sir.
26:58 I'm Sterling Fry. I live at 1647 First Street. It's a home that I bought in uh
27:05 1969, so I've been there 57 years, and it's the only house I've ever owned. Uh
27:14 when when I came here, the population was about 2500 people. Uh, highway 50
27:22 was two lane. There was one restaurant, kidders, one bank, citizens, and the
27:29 police force was about five. Well, that was pretty steady right up until the
27:36 freezes occurred in the mid 80s and then you know the the rest of the story from there.
27:43 So, I have two items to talk about today and they're interrelated.
27:49 The first is the paving of the streets.
27:52 Now, Clermont has been paving a lot of streets, mostly inner and I'm I'm talking about old Clermont. Now, everything I'm talking about today is
28:01 old Clermont. Uh now, Lakeshore Drive uh is kind of turning into the Burma
28:09 Road and East Avenue uh really needs to be addressed as well.
28:16 Now, those those uh two streets carry more traffic within Old Clermont. Uh uh
28:26 they're second and third to Highway 50 is what I'm trying to say.
28:32 And uh uh even now uh back behind Kurabas, I forget that name, Legend's
28:40 Way, maybe it's being paved and East Avenue and Lakeshore Drive never come up
28:47 in the rotation. I was talking to my neighbor about East Avenue, particularly there at Highway 50 on the north side
28:55 where you have all of these ripples. And I said, "You know, I bet you they've been there 15 years." He said, "No way.
29:04 I moved here 25 years ago and they were there then." And so myself and millions of other people have been bouncing over
29:12 that thing for all those years. And uh uh I I just I don't know. It seems like
29:20 it's become the norm rather than a problem. So, you know, you try to pick your way through there and it really
29:27 needs to be addressed. So, those that's that concern, paving.
29:32 The second thing is speeding. And typically what happens here is people get excited about speeding in their
29:40 neighborhood. They come in here and jump up and down and scream and we want a stop sign. And the city generally is uh
29:49 very agreeable because it stops the screaming and uh they think it's fixed
29:57 but it isn't. The speeding remains uh there at that stop sign at uh
30:05 uh East Avenue and Lake Shore, which alter
30:14 which I'm going to refer to as alternate 50.
30:18 Okay, it's a cut off street, a lot of traffic, and a lot of speeding.
30:26 Now, another example of the that technique is over on Brogden Road.
30:31 That's that little short street from Lake Shore over to 27. There's one one intersection in there, a T intersection.
30:39 People there have apparently made enough noise that the stop sign was installed there, arguably
30:47 that should not be there. And then they got rumble sticks to to to to warn you
30:54 of this stop sign. It's crazy. And the biggest problem there is parking on the street. And and as of right now, for at
31:03 least two weeks, there's a camper on that street up on Jacks plus other cars parked there. You got to cross the median to to pass to get through there.
31:13 So, uh that that uh now now you ask, well, what are you
31:21 going to do different besides stop signs?
31:27 There have been various uh studies and so forth on this very problem. It's not just Clermont. And so, uh I have a copy
31:37 here of one solution. It's eight calming traffic calming measures. They're very polite about it. They don't call it
31:45 speeding, they call it calming. And uh the one I want to There's eight of them.
31:55 The one I want to talk about in here is the one that I prefer. And I'm going to give you all copies of this before I leave. I I I hate to have to cut you
32:04 off, but it you exceeded the time limit and but I want you to take that study if you ever may and uh my chief back there chief back there.
32:12 Yes.
32:13 Okay. Uh can you have him get with chief and go through all that? And of course he say going to give us all a copy of it as well. And Mr. Fry, I don't want you
32:21 to have to sit here all night and hear what uh hear something. But uh Lakeshore Drive and East Avenue, they they're on our schedule to be done this summer.
32:30 Okay. So, I'm a little bit hearing challenged and I'm having a hard time hearing what you're saying. This whole sound system is off for me.
32:38 Yeah. Well, I I Okay. Uh, East Avenue, East Avenue and Lakeshore Drive, both of them is on our schedule to be paved this summer. Okay.
32:47 Okay. Perfect.
32:48 You know, u, but the other literature you have there, I would like for the U city manager get you with the
32:55 chief of police and you all go over that and we we take a look at that. Brogden Drive. I noticed under the radar right now as well. Okay.
33:02 Can I mention something yet about the one I prefer for speed and control? Do I have time? I give you a minute.
33:09 Okay. Thank you. Uh the one I uh particularly like are the speed tables,
33:16 not speed bumps. And going out around Lakeshore Drive, I think they're working tremendously well. The county put those
33:25 in. Right. There is one that's in the city limit before you get to uh the county. I'm not sure how that happened.
33:34 The only other ones I know are up there by the National Training Center on on that street there. They're they're not
33:41 very good. They're too sharp. They're more like uh uh I don't know what you call them, bumps instead of tables. So
33:49 that that is what I recommend because the mo the modern car and motorcycles
33:56 can speed so quickly. I I'm only 150 ft away from East Avenue and by the time they get to my boat house, they're
34:05 already speeding, right? So they speed to the next stop sign. Stop. Speed to the next stop sign. It's it's not a
34:12 solution. I just hope and I hope that Clermont is going to get away from that being the solution to speeding.
34:20 I thank you. I thank you, sir.
34:32 I think I'll keep the top one.
34:34 Mr. Vanwag, make sure he he'd get with Chief. Thank you.
34:42 I think Mr. Norris probably has some information on that that could be helpful for him as well.
34:57 Yes, ma'am.
34:58 Uh good afternoon. My name is Sarah Joe Leland. I am a Clermont resident. I live on East Avenue. I'm a homeowner.
35:04 I'm a mother of three. I brought my little buddy with me. Um my other two buddies are in the back. Um, I'm a nurse practitioner by trade, but I currently work as a nurse educator at Lake Center
35:12 State College. Um, I'm here today to address the canis cannabis dispensary that was allowed to open directly across the street from my children's school.
35:20 Um, I would like each of the council members to address uh later why this was allowed to happen. Um, current uh zoning
35:28 laws say the dispensaries have to be 500 ft from the edge of school property. I literally went and measured it yesterday. It's 105 ft from the edge of
35:36 the parking lot. Um, I know that's probably confusing because people don't understand that there's two schools there. There's a preschool and an elementary school and that the parking lot and all of the grounds are used by
35:45 children. Um, but this is in direct violation of Florida zoning laws. Um, we know that the risk of regular marijuana use are well established. In my
35:53 experience as an ER nurse, I treated patients routinely who are extremely sick from the adverse effects of marijuana. We know that regular use of
36:00 marijuana significantly increases your risk for mental disorders like depression, schizophrenia, and smoking marijuana causes the same damage to your hearts and lungs that smoking cigarettes
36:09 does. And we are delusional as a people if we think that increasing access to a substance will not also increase use of that substance. And it's been repeatedly
36:17 shown that when restrictions on elicit substances like marijuana are removed, increases in addiction, crime, homelessness, and death quickly follow
36:24 and essentially wipes out any tax gains that are received from the sale of that elicit substance. Um, the government exists to protect its most vulnerable
36:31 citizens. And I believe that children are our most vulnerable citizens and advertising cannabis. It literally says on the sign, cannabis dispensary. My
36:39 children can see it while they play in the parking lot, when they drop off at school, while they're in carline. that is advertising to children and it's
36:46 immoral. I understand that people have a right to purchase these products by state law. I'm fine. Do whatever you want as an adult in the privacy of your own home. There's plenty of places in
36:54 Clermont that these types of buildings can be that are not in view of a school where hundreds of children come and go every single day. Um, and you do not
37:03 have the right to push your addictive substances on small children and allowing this facility to open directly
37:10 across the street 105 ft from the edge of the parking lot where I park and drop my children off every single day. That is a problem. It should not have been
37:18 allowed. If I sound a little bit angry, I do apologize. I get frustrated as a parent because I don't have the time to understand zoning laws, right? I
37:25 understand healthcare. That's my business. And it is frustrating that I'm driving my kids to school and all of a sudden I notice, wow, why why was this
37:32 allowed to happen? Like why do we have a city council if they're not thinking about the f children's welfare, right?
37:38 We have at least five dispensaries in Clermont. I know where they are. I treat the patients that get sick from the products that are sold there. Um and I know where they're at. We do not need
37:46 another one. It does not bring any additional revenue once you account for all of the tax losses that will come from treating all of the harms that marijuana causes. Um and so I just hope
37:55 that somebody will look into this. I'm assuming it probably is legal. I understand that my voice is essentially like I'm just one person, but I feel morally obligated to at least stand up
38:04 for myself, stand up for my children, stand up for the people in our community that don't want this here. Put it somewhere else. It doesn't need to be where my kids have to look at it every
38:12 day. Um, so I appreciate your time and I hope you guys have a wonderful day.
38:16 Ma'am, I need to ask where is this one located at?
38:19 So my children attend Wesley Christian Academy. Um, and so it is the there's 7th and 8th Street are the bounds of the
38:26 school and Highway 50. And if you look directly across, it used to be a hardware flooring store. There's a um I believe a Hispanic restaurant to the
38:34 left of it and station over there near Asic. Yesterday myself.
38:40 Yes. So I parked there and I put on my Fitbit and I walked across cuz I said I cannot believe that this is allowed via zoning laws. And what's interesting is I have a friend who owns a building
38:48 downtown and she said that they looked into selling it to a dispensary because they've been trying to sell it and the city did not allow them to do that. And she said it's crazy that I couldn't sell
38:56 my building downtown to a dispensary, but we can have a dispensary literally next door to a school.
39:02 And so I just hope that somebody look into that. Um, and I appreciate your time and I hope you guys have a wonderful day. Thank you, ma'am.
39:12 Yes, sir.
39:18 That's a little hard to follow and thank her for bringing that to the attention. Joe Famasi 2693 jumping jack
39:26 way. Uh I come before the council today once again. Um major water disruption of over 2,000 residents in the Wellness Way area, Wellness Ridge, Parkside Trails.
39:39 Uh when I was looking up the city rules applying for uh digging in the dirt, it said that you include exclude Fridays,
39:47 Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, which this happened on Memorial Day as far as I know when we were noticed. Um this has
39:54 been the fourth break in three years, and I think that the third party
40:02 contractors really need to have a hard point driven here. They knew they shouldn't have dug. They know they shouldn't have done that. So, there needs to be accountability for that.
40:12 Also asking that you add on to their bill the cost every time we have to buy water down there, cases of water. I know
40:19 it's not uh normally added in there, but I think it's something that needs to be uh brought to attention and maybe add a
40:26 little bit more financial uh spanking to these individuals because this is getting out of control. Um, I've put in
40:35 a request to 811. They haven't gotten back to me yet to check to see if they even had a permit to do that where they had the clearance. Um, I think that the
40:44 developers that are hiring these third party contractors need to be held accountable that they should have had somebody out there to supervise these individuals. It's their responsibility.
40:54 They're hiring them. Just like if I would hire a pool contractor who caused damage to another neighbor's yard, I'd be just as much liable as they would be.
41:04 So maybe not only the third party contractor get a fine for this, but also the main developer that hired them to do
41:12 this work should be uh put into this particular scenario. Uh, I'm hoping that you'll make the investigation that you
41:19 do public so that we can read exactly what happened, why this is occurring, cuz it seems like they're attacking our
41:26 main water line all the time. I find that hard to believe that you don't know the main water lines there when you're digging.
41:36 You know, you have maps supposedly you've had all the clearances. So, is this some fly by night company with no insurance coming down there, or is this
41:45 someone just counting this as doing business and expecting the insurance to pay? So, I'm asking for major accountability and made public and they be held accountable. Thank you.
41:56 Thank you. Yes, ma'am.
42:02 Valerie Shuitt, West Montro Street. Um, last week we did another Biking Clermont video audit and this time we tested what the trip would be like to
42:11 get from our home here in old downtown Clermont to one of the closest gyms, CS Fitness. So, we chose that trip because it's exactly the kind of everyday
42:20 destination that matters if bikability is actually going to help with traffic.
42:24 And the ride showed us a couple big opportunities. First one is Pit Street.
42:29 Uh, Pit is a major opportunity because it already goes under Highway 27. So that means two quadrants of our city
42:36 divided by a federal highway already have a safe connection point. We do not have to spend millions on a bridge or a
42:43 tunnel. Um but I will say Pit is not yet truly bike or pedestrian friendly. So the sidewalk is quite narrow there.
42:52 There's very little shade. We saw literally zero people outside of cars while we were biking. Um, but it does look like there may be room along much
43:00 of that corridor for a real multi-use path, and that could really maximize um, this street into a game-changing
43:07 east-west connection point. Um, from there, we turned on to Grand Highway.
43:12 Grand has no real shoulder. The sidewalk is too narrow to comfortably share. So, as a cyclist, you're left choosing between riding in the road where you do
43:20 not feel safe on that road, uh, or riding on the sidewalk where you feel like an intrusion. And that's something I feel a lot um biking around Clermont.
43:28 And so, but I will say on Grand, people were actually using those sidewalks because a lot of them are actually shaded. Um the second big opportunity we
43:36 saw on the way back, we did 50 to block some to Minihaha Avenue. Um that avenue is wide and many of the front yards are
43:43 quite deep and it looks like there could be room for a much better uh pathway there. But partway down that road, the
43:50 sidewalk just ends. as we know, I think to be true in a lot of old Clermont, especially on the south side of 50. So,
43:57 those are the takeaways I'll share for now. Um, I will say it's funny because we do these videos by choice. We try to make them fun and entertaining, but I
44:06 was really struck the other day um at why this is important. was coming home from the beach on Highway 50 and I was
44:14 by the Grove Publix and I saw a man walking on the side of Highway 50 carrying two handfuls of bags. No
44:22 sidewalk, no shade. He was walking. So I I clocked that and I was like, "Man, that looks miserable. This is like 400 p.m. on a hot day." And then uh but I
44:30 went around, went home, got freshened up, think I had a little nap, and then at some point realized I needed to go out and buy some groceries for dinner.
44:38 So, I hopped in my car, started heading towards Key Foods, and I saw that man walking an hour and a half later on
44:46 Highway 50, drenched in sweat, carrying these bags. Um, and I just I felt it in that moment. It felt like this is not
44:55 right. This is not the way that it's supposed to be. And I don't know this man's story. Um, but I think it underscores why this matters. a strong
45:04 trail and a strong greenway network is not just a recreation amenity. Its transportation, its public health, its economic development, and its equitable
45:13 access to daily needs. And yes, the data supports that these things do follow the investment into bikeability and
45:20 walkability even in hot Florida, even in our climate. And so, I'm encouraged by recent conversations I've been hearing up here on the council and I've been
45:27 having with citizens um at increasing this in our city. I think it would be community transformative. So, thank you for continuing to engage those
45:35 conversations as policy makers um and continuing to imagine a Clermont that is healthier, safer, and more connected. Thanks.
45:43 Thank you. Anyone else?
46:21 Good afternoon, Mayor, City Council.
46:23 My name is Robert Mock. I live at 270 Division Street in Clermont.
46:29 I'd like to say what a beautiful day it was yesterday for our memorial ceremony.
46:36 Yes.
46:37 I hope everybody went and really enjoyed it. We had so many comments and I want to thank the council uh and the uh parks
46:47 and recreation for supporting and uh sponsoring the memorial day. I had so many comments and one of them is now
46:55 that they want to permanently move the ceremony to Arc Center.
47:03 But following that, um, I had a, um, this photo, this poster board up there
47:10 of the, um, veterans first, uh, responders memorial just to let people
47:17 know, uh, get a visual rendering of what the city of Clermont and, uh, the city council are looking to do.
47:27 And I had a jar there, but I wasn't expecting anything. I came up with $1,000 just in that short period of time
47:35 that people donated to it. But my main reason here is that I'd like to uh thank the council again
47:43 and I have several vets that we're going to take a poster like this and we're going to uh attend the uh Clermont's
47:53 farmers market on the street with a information table to talk about uh the
48:00 future of coming uh veterans and first responders memorial to get ask questions questions if uh or give answers to questions that
48:09 people might have. And also uh a couple weekdays down along 8th Street uh pier area, I'll set up a table with this uh
48:18 postcard with and information people come by and to advertise uh what's coming and to get to generate the
48:27 excitement and uh people interested in what's happening and what the city of Clermont and the city council is doing for our veterans and first responders.
48:37 I'd like again to thank you very much for that support and the veterans. Thank you. Thank you very much.
48:44 Thank you. Um when when when you do the displays, uh Chief Mark, are you going to have that jar with you?
48:54 Yes. Okay. Of course. Okay. We we may have to look at that. What do you think, Mr. W?
49:02 It it something we can do.
49:04 Okay. I just want to make sure we're legal now. Okay.
49:11 Good evening, council. Michael Kramer, 208 Nautica Mile. I want to also echo my sentiments on what an amazing day yesterday was at the memorial service.
49:19 And I will for one advocate strongly to have it at the performing arts. Uh I've attended for many years at the waterfront where it's hot and well, it's
49:29 just hot. And what a difference. We had a a great crowd and and it was it was a solemn occasion, but it recognized so many of our local heroes to the point
49:38 where and I don't know a lot of people rec saw this today, but the Orlando Sentinel featured it on the front page today. It was a two-page article and it really centered on the Tuskegee Airmen.
49:47 So, that was amazing. What I want to talk about was uh the dark sky initiative, which sometimes gets brought up here and and just again continue to
49:55 lobby for this. Uh we've recently converted the Clermont Yacht Club to be fully um dark sky compliant. It's the
50:03 first neighborhood that I'm aware of. Um that's not a new built neighborhood being compelled to do this. Uh the city
50:09 of Groveland now mandates that all all uh new growth is dark sky compliant. I always hate to be a little bit behind
50:17 Groveland as a progressive city that Clermont is. Uh I think this is something we should be on. In fact, I'm going to lobby strongly. The northern qu
50:25 district of downtown Clermont is the yacht club. It's the largest piece of property in that district. And we have
50:32 the largest piece of um waterfront property in the city of Clermont. And that entire street there is well overlit
50:41 in my opinion as you head towards Minnola. Excuse me. Um, we've already taken uh two of the Duke, we've worked
50:48 with Duke Energy and we've removed one light from the yacht club that was there to uh kind of protect boats, but since that got wiped out in the the hurricane,
50:56 we don't have anything to protect really. Uh, so, but we worked with Duke Energy and had the two street lights that are out there uh changed to LED and
51:06 change the focus so the light isn't spreading all over, but it only goes down. It's a dramatic difference. So, I'd really love to see if we could um continue that work down in that area.
51:16 And then I'd also like to uh congratulate Chief Grac on the new bike patrol and uh hope for reduced speeds
51:25 near Waterfront Park. I also strongly believe that we should have a speed limit of no more than 10 miles an hour on a bike near Waterfront Park. It's
51:34 it's extremely dangerous. And the only thing good about we we talked about speed tables earlier on on the roads.
51:40 The good thing about speed tables is they really give you elevation on those ebikes when you pull those wheelies. You can hit them and and you get you can get some air with them because I drive
51:49 around the lake quite a bit and there are speed tables on the north part of Lake Minnola and I continuously see kids
51:58 on on those ebikes and they they really get some air off the speed tables but um the cars do obey the speed limits in that area. So, thank you for your time.
52:06 Thank you, sir. This is public comment.
52:09 Anyone in the chamber wish to speak to anything that not on agenda may come to microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
52:17 Anyone in the chamber wishes to speak to anything not on the agenda may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
52:25 Seeing no one in the chamber close down public comment in the chamber have anyone online? No one at this time.
52:32 We'll close public comment all together and move on to the next part of our agenda. But before I do that, uh, Mr.
52:40 Van Wagner, are there any changes to the agenda? No changes.
52:43 Okay. No changes. Okay. The next portion of the meeting is the consent agenda which contain items that have been determined to be routine and
52:51 non-controversial. If anyone in the audience wishes to address a particular item on the consent agenda, now is the opportunity for you to do so.
52:58 Additionally, if staff or members of the city council wish to uh speak to a consent item, they have the same opportunity. There's consent items
53:06 tonight this afternoon are items one 1 through eight number six number seven please
53:13 six and seven any other
53:21 any other and no other I entertain a motion on items one through six one through five
53:29 one through six one through five one through five and eight six and seven I'm sorry six and seven I move to approve items number one through five and item eight.
53:36 One through five and eight. Second. Okay.
53:41 There's a motion for approval of consent agenda items one through five and eight.
53:48 Any further discussion?
53:51 Hear none. All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. All opposed and chair vote I as well. Motion passes four to one. 4.
54:01 All right. Item number six,
54:10 Danny Paige, Clermont. Um, real quick on six, I I just I think it's inappropriate, just my opinion, to be doing business
54:18 with a former um, city attorney um, who had some questionable,
54:27 lack term, motives or things going on. I just don't think that we should be doing business with him. That's just my my
54:34 opinion. And if there was anybody else that we could be working with in regard regarding this topic, that's item seven.
54:42 Excuse me. That's item seven. Oh, it was. Yeah. Oh, I apologize. No, six is the AI assist.
54:51 Oh, okay. Sorry. I apologize. I got them mixed up. Okay. Well, now you know what seven is.
54:58 All right. So, uh, on the item number six, again, apologies. Um, according to this agenda item, the software will
55:05 quote, "Return officers to the field up to 40% faster by reducing manual reporting time." So, in other words, uh,
55:12 the AI will transcribe body camera footage, generate searchable narratives and summaries, and assist in drafting reports. But I have some serious
55:20 problems with this uh, concerns. First, um, accuracy and accountability. So, who's going to uh verify that the AI
55:29 generated transcripts and narratives are correct? Um, because if officers still have to go back, which they should, and
55:36 carefully review the body cam footage to ensure that the AI didn't miss fair statements or omit context or paraphrase inaccurately, and then we also hear
55:45 about this hallucinate information regarding AI, which is a true thing. Um, then what exactly is the real time
55:53 savings here? Do you see what I'm saying? because they still have to go back and make sure that AI got everything right. And if they're not thoroughly reviewing it, then that
56:00 raises even bigger concerns if they're just not even bothering with it. They're just trusting AI for the reports and the transcription. Um, so when we're talking
56:08 about police reports, uh, documents that influence arrests, probable cause determinations, charging decisions, prosecutions, credibility assessments,
56:16 and in many cases, people's liberty. Um, if the AI gets something wrong, then who's accountable? Is it the officer or is it the department? and will the
56:24 public even know when artificial intelligence was even used to generate or assist with an official report of theirs? Um, second, discoverability and
56:34 retention and public records. Is it will the uh original AI generated drafts be retained? Will metadata be preserved?
56:41 Will edits and revisions be tracked?
56:43 Will defense attorneys and citizens or public records requesters be able to see what the AI originally generated versus what the officer ultimately submitted?
56:52 because those issues um could have serious discovery, evidentiary and due process implications if AI generated drafts, edits or metadata are not
57:01 properly retained and disclosed. Third, privacy and surveillance concerns. This proposal states that body camera footage will become quote searchable transcripts
57:10 directly into the Axon um evidence ecosystem. So that means every spoken word captured on body camera potentially
57:18 becomes searchable text stored inside an expanding um evidence database. So how long is that data retained? Who can
57:25 search it? Um can it be queried departmentwide? Can it be shared externally? And what safeguards are going to exist against misuse of this?
57:34 And finally the cost.
57:36 I'd rather see personally that money be used for life-saving equipment for our fire department instead of giving law enforcement an easy way out of of writing reports.
57:47 Just saying because over $151,000 for AI generated transcripts and report assistance is an extraordinary amount I believe for taxpayer uh money especially
57:55 when this agenda item simultaneously suggests that there will be no reduction in fund balance while also stating that
58:03 the expense will be paid from general funds over 5 years. So that that's kind of contradictory statements in my opinion. So, I'm trying to figure that
58:10 out because if federal funding is supposedly offsetting the cost, then where is the documentation showing guaranteed reimbursement if that's what
58:18 in fact what it is? Because taxpayers deserve uh transparency before uh approving long-term AI uh policing infrastructure infrastructure. Um and I
58:27 believe also lastly, clearly defined safeguards need to be put in place before implementation, not after problems arise.
58:34 Just saying. So, I think you guys should really carefully think about that. I really don't think it should have been on the consent agenda, but that's just me. Um, and then you heard number seven.
58:44 Thank you. Thank you.
58:45 Thank you. This is a public for this is a public forum. Anyone in the public in the chamber wish to address this item
58:54 may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
58:59 Anyone in the chamber want to address this item may come to the microphone, state your name and address and have three minutes.
59:06 Seeing no one in the chamber, I'll close public comment in the chamber.
59:24 My name is Deborah Cedars. I live on 354 Division Street, Clermont, Florida.
59:34 I can't even sometimes reach my doctor because of AI
59:41 and we do need what she said is so important.
59:48 Uh I have a phone hacker. I have a computer hacker and
59:56 I believe in computer programs. I believe that finding a way to find out cell phones
1:00:04 information to police and stuff is important like we had in the old days with the landlines.
1:00:12 But I am going to call my stock broker today to ask him questions
1:00:20 about the stocks I have in computer chips because I believe computer chips can be used
1:00:28 for good things, but what's going on with AI is scary. Thank you.
1:00:38 Thank you. Anyone else? Anyone else? This is a public form.
1:00:45 Anyone in the chamber may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
1:00:52 Seeing no one else in the chamber, I close public comment in chamber. One9 online caller. Go ahead.
1:01:13 Did they hear me? What's that? We're good.
1:01:21 Okay.
1:01:23 So, we have no one online. So, we're going to close the online public comment and bring it back to council. What say council? I was I thought the questions
1:01:32 Miss Paige raised were extraordinarily valid and responsible and I was curious if we already had a policy that we could
1:01:39 simultaneously adopt that addresses the concerns that she's raised. I don't know if the software comes with a standard policy or if one exists, but I'm not aware of one.
1:01:49 I I don't know the answer to that. I think they're good questions, too. Um, if the council wants to have further discussion about it, I I'll get with uh
1:01:57 Chief Gray and the command staff and talk about it and be prepared for the next meeting.
1:02:03 Yeah. Based on that, I move to table item number six until we have time to get more information.
1:02:07 Second. Okay. I have a motion and a second to table uh consent agenda item number six to next council meeting. Any further discussion?
1:02:20 Hearing none. All in favor? Let it be known by saying I I all oppose and chair vote I as well. Motion carries 40.
1:02:28 So Mr. W please. Thank you. Yes sir.
1:02:32 Um item number seven. I think she gave a little I don't Miss Paige. Did you want to do any more on that? If not.
1:02:41 Excuse me. Item number seven.
1:02:49 Yeah. I just I just kind of find it odd that we would be dealing with a prior um city attorney. Um there were some
1:02:57 questionable things throughout his um tenure here or whatever that he was people questioned and hence why he was
1:03:04 uh changed out. So I I I'm just as a taxpayer just physically uncomfortable with that. Um, if we if I'm sure there's
1:03:12 got to be other options or did we even did y'all even like look at other options, other attorneys that could help out with the matter that you're looking
1:03:20 for in regard to that. That that's I'm just asking if if you kind of farmed it out a little bit further than just him.
1:03:28 All right. Thank you. This is a public forum. Anyone in the chamber wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.
1:03:37 Anyone in the chamber wish to address this item may come to the microphone to state your name and address and have three minutes.
1:03:45 Seeing no one I'm the same opinion with that. I think when we on sir online no one in the chamber closed public
1:03:53 comments in the chamber anyone online Mr. Not this time.
1:03:56 Okay. Thank you. Well close public comment bring it back to chair chamber with uh council what to say council.
1:04:03 I mean I'm in the same opinion with that. I mean, we we did terminate that that attorney group and to bring them back in, I think, would be
1:04:10 inappropriate, and I would have to I would not be able to vote yes to that. I would definitely be a no.
1:04:17 Well, I I'll just I'll take responsibility. Um, give you a little bit of background if I can on this. So,
1:04:24 the city has been contacted by several different law firms. So, um, in response to the public concern, yes, there are
1:04:30 others who could. Um, but the reason why I put this on the agenda with this group is a actually in part because of the
1:04:39 familiarity that the city had with the prior city attorney. In addition, they're representing the cities of Minnola and Groveland. And so I thought
1:04:48 there was some possible value in the knowledge there. Now, this is the point of this is to basically file a claim in
1:04:56 federal court so that if the city does have some contaminants in the water, uh the city will benefit and get some
1:05:04 money. It's free money. In other words, it's already settled. There's a pot of money out there. The question is, how do we put our hand in the pot to go get it?
1:05:12 It doesn't really matter whose hand it is. Um but that was the thinking behind why it's on your agenda.
1:05:19 Do you feel Mr. law that there are other firms that are equally or more qualified than the firm that was on the agenda item number seven.
1:05:26 I don't think there's more qualified, but there are equally qualified where there's there's at least four appointed
1:05:33 class counsel, meaning that the federal court has vetted the attorneys and gone. And so that's what Stag Louisa is.
1:05:41 They're the ones who are appointed by the federal judge and they are working with DSK as local counsel with
1:05:49 Groveland. and that's why I presented it to you. Well, I'll support your request, Mr.
1:05:55 Peterson. I don't think it matters in this case who the attorney is and if our attorney feels like he can get someone else, I I share your concerns. I understand them.
1:06:08 Question with to the city attorney regarding um you said Stag Louisa is the one that's federally approved.
1:06:15 Are there other local law firms that are working with that federally approved a or law firm?
1:06:22 None that I know of, but I don't think that one is necessarily needed either.
1:06:27 Um I think that it it was kind of an arrangement where they're kind of working together finding suitable candidates and they identified Clermont
1:06:34 as a candidate the same way that Minola and Groveland were identified if that makes sense. But that I I don't think that local council is actually required
1:06:44 Can we use just stag by itself or do they have to go as a group?
1:06:48 That would be a question for them. Um I I don't know what their position would be. Uh I suspect that if they were willing to represent us before, they
1:06:57 would still be willing to preference on your part, Mr. W to for us
1:07:06 to table this so that you can get that clarification rather than vote it down and and try to deal with it that way.
1:07:12 here's or what I don't want to be the lawyer and give you a roundabout answer, but let me tell you what I'm thinking before I answer that. What I'm thinking is we have a
1:07:21 deadline of the end of June to put our hand into the pot, right?
1:07:24 And so, um, the issue is we have to get the testing done. Staga is prepared to
1:07:31 go get the testing done now once we approve it. Um, in other words, they'll pay for it. They'll do whatever it takes to get it done and get the claim filed.
1:07:40 So, I think if the council uh does not, you know, has concerns about local
1:07:47 council, at the very least, I would ask for a motion to move forward with Stagla if they're willing to proceed so that we
1:07:55 don't run a foul of any federal deadlines. It's free money.
1:08:00 Okay. So, we can make a motion to approve to stag today. I mean, that suits me.
1:08:07 Okay. So, I'd like to make a motion to approve this with just using STAG.
1:08:14 I'll second for discussion.
1:08:17 I have a thought on that. Um, and and Mr. Wall, please tell me if if this makes sense because as I look at this, this looks like DSK came to us with
1:08:26 STAG. There are four federal firms that can represent. So, um, tell me if how we could do this. My suggestion would be
1:08:35 that we modify the motion to say we approve our city attorney of moving forward with the process um and to
1:08:42 retain whichever attorneys other than DSK he deems appropriate.
1:08:48 I would I would I would I would agree to that because it might be a different firm than stag. You could give me that authority.
1:08:57 You want to make that motion? Well, you'd have to me to amend my motion to to what you just said. So, I would
1:09:04 make a motion to approve this with the with our city attorney to locate out of the other four and he has the power to do that.
1:09:15 Mr. Are you second? Is there a second on that? I'll second for discussion.
1:09:19 Okay. Uh M Mr. Wah evident you had contact with them all before, right? And so I I'm still
1:09:28 curious of why why DSK after you done communicated with them all before because I didn't know one of the other
1:09:35 lawyers. Um some of the other lawyers are just out of the state. They have no relationship with the city or even Florida to be honest that I knew of. Uh
1:09:44 there was one that was based out of Tampa, but I still didn't know them.
1:09:48 And so I felt or thought that the city might be more comfortable. I might have miscalculated. Um but that was my
1:09:55 thinking. I'm I'm comfortable with DSK, but uh you know I know they one of the top law firms, government law firms
1:10:02 around here. I know that and everything they have being um even as we were firing them, you know, they were winning
1:10:10 um government of the year law award for the being the top government law firms in the central Florida area, even as we were firing them.
1:10:18 And I would think with them being around here so long, they they got a pretty good history of what's what's been going on and can help us. And I was curious if
1:10:27 that played any any into your decision with the history they had with us.
1:10:32 I have nothing personal with I mean that's why I was willing to to recommend it, but I understand that the council may have other preferences.
1:10:37 Well, and it is a federal case, right? I mean it's not a federal it's not a state case. So no, you would think that you'd want to have somebody that
1:10:45 can be utilized in this capacity. We don't need a local attorney group that's dealing with a federal case. As you said, it's already been settled and we
1:10:53 just need somebody put that, you know, put the city of Clermont's hand in the I mean, frankly, I'm theoretically capable of doing it myself. The reason
1:11:01 why I'm not is because of the testing component. These approved class council, I don't want to take a chance. You know, if the city is eligible for millions of
1:11:10 dollars or hundreds of thousands of dollars, I'm not going to risk that, you know, you rely on me. I want the people who know what they're doing. So, uh, it's got to be someone like that.
1:11:19 Okay.
1:11:22 Well, I'm opposed to the current um motion only because we find ourselves in the same situation where we could be
1:11:29 approving somebody that there's an objection to. We We're just approving anyone at that point with no say.
1:11:36 We're approving people. There's there's four.
1:11:38 I understand that. But you don't know you don't know anything about those four, do you?
1:11:41 We know that they've been approved. So is so is STAG BSK and that's why I asked and BSK is working with STAG. So I I mean I would
1:11:49 rather have a say in who the agency is rather than just open-end it. Uh I think it doesn't eliminate the concern that's
1:11:57 being raised about the the other agency if there is another agency that's going to work with STAG. um they could be
1:12:04 somebody that somebody finds a really glaring issue with and we wouldn't know that unless it's brought forward brought
1:12:12 forward as a resolution. I would support just moving forward with STAG um as we as was originally proposed um or moving
1:12:21 forward with stag and DSK, but I'm not willing to go forward or I I won't support going forward open-ended.
1:12:28 Yeah. And I I have a lot of trust in and confidence in Mr. Mr. Wah and I figure he done his
1:12:36 homework and everything and he feel comfortable with it. I I have no problem with it myself. So, um, the way it the way it is.
1:12:45 Well, and and tell me if this is possible because the potential the horrible in this parade if as as it were could be that STAG's agreement, we don't
1:12:54 know, might be with DSK when it comes to Florida because it sounds like they're a federal firm who's looking for local
1:13:01 councils. So, to use probably poor choice of words, they don't have to deal with the local client. Um
1:13:09 I I agree with the sentiments about the quality of the firm. I think that DSK is a rep a reputable firm. Um for anyone
1:13:17 watching or listening, I am a licensed attorney. Um and so that is my opinion.
1:13:23 Um my concerns and and I don't want to disparage. I really don't. Uh but I think that you know I've commented we
1:13:30 live in a fishbowl up here. So we have to say what we have to say. Um, the reason why I voted as I did in December of '04 was because I felt that the
1:13:39 actual the individual attorney assigned to our city was making deals rather than
1:13:46 advocating. That was my opinion and sometimes that works. I don't think in I don't know in this case if that's good or bad, but what I'm suggesting is
1:13:55 is there a possibility that we work with a different attorney in the same firm?
1:14:02 Is that something we could do? Because my fear is if we say no to DSK, which I feel I appreciate your concern. We
1:14:10 remember this a very large firm. It's statewide. So, it's probably got hundreds of lawyers is my guess. Um, if not close to it, hundreds, you know,
1:14:19 it's got a lot of it's got a lot of lawyers. And our concern, I think, was more with one person, not but I want to give you an opportunity to speak to
1:14:27 that. I just feel like we maybe if we make a decision where it's not kind of in some ways cart blanch to Mr. Wah at
1:14:35 this point now that we've given him direction. I think he made a good recommendation. It's just not maybe what we're all comfortable with. But I think
1:14:44 now that he has the feedback he I trust as you said Mr. Mary that he'll make a good choice. So I'm comfortable saying move forward with the process however
1:14:52 you need to so long as it's not with DSK. I'm also comfortable saying move forward with the process as proposed so long as our former attorney is not the
1:15:00 one handling the case. Both of those would make me comfortable. I could support that latter.
1:15:06 The former attorney not on that that that I can support. Uh and I'm assuming you're saying so a so DSK and we're going to
1:15:14 put it up to Mr. W to pick the group because I'm a hard no on DSK because he cost the city millions of dollars. Well, that but that's one person, right?
1:15:22 And so that's where that's why I want to if it's the person or if it's the firm, right?
1:15:29 I want to help achieve your goal because I think we're all on the same page and we can get it done if we can get the language right.
1:15:34 So are you do you object to the firm or the individual? Does it matter to you? No.
1:15:42 Either way it's a no or either either way off of us.
1:15:48 Is is that where you're Okay. So, um, are we comfortable if we say move
1:15:57 forward with STAG but with an alternative local firm that Stag might say we're not going to do that?
1:16:05 Are we comfortable with that potential?
1:16:07 They may not even need local counsel. I don't know. I I so then let's right if that's the case
1:16:14 are we comfortable saying move forward with stag and if local firm is necessary bring that back to us in June 9th
1:16:23 that I can do um in other words if that was the arrangement I could how about this yeah help us
1:16:30 if if stag um if you were to approve them as the firm um because of the timeliness of this.
1:16:41 I need the testing done. So, what I want to do is have them do the testing. If for some reason they need to withdraw
1:16:49 because uh DSK isn't on board, we could agree to reimburse them for the testing maybe as part of the motion. It's not
1:16:57 it's not a up to a certain limit or something like that. You know, what's the cost of the testing?
1:17:03 I I $10,000. I mean, if you give me up to that authority, um, I don't think it costs that much to be honest, but I
1:17:11 let's just give me that limit. Um, and then we can come back first meeting of June if there's a hiccup. Okay.
1:17:17 Well, I'm I'm assuming they're looking for a local firm could be there federal.
1:17:21 They looking for a local labor because local firm is more in tune with the local laws and everything than is and be less.
1:17:28 I you know this these are federal cases out of Louisiana and South Carolina and I don't that's why I'm saying I'm not sure they need local I think part of
1:17:37 the issue is that local firms can help identify good candidates. DSK knows the lay of the land and I think that's how these candidate they're like hey this is a city that
1:17:46 might qualify this is I don't think they need them to but they have offered I mean they've offered to help us in any way that we need
1:17:53 and I know DSK has they represent several cities throughout throughout the central Florida areas I mean they some
1:18:00 are everywhere in all the different cities so you're right they can't identify a lot of the different cities I'm assuming so so that's why I was
1:18:07 curious what what what stood out and made you decide to go with PSK. Okay.
1:18:12 So, but I as I say I I trust Mr. War. I I can go with what he recommended uh and everything. I I truly So, we making the first motion.
1:18:20 So, but so it sounds like the motion might be something like move to approve the hiring of STAG and the moving forward with the process with authority by the
1:18:30 attorney to spend up to $10,000 for reimbursement if necessary. Necessary for testing. For testing. Correct.
1:18:38 I'll make that motion. I'll second that. Okay, how we doing?
1:18:43 Okay, call for a vote. Have a have a motion.
1:18:48 I can't remember all the language, but as long as the clerk has it, she has it on there, but as presented and um is there any further discussion?
1:18:58 Hear none. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. I.
1:19:01 All oppose. Chair vote I as well. Motion carries 40.
1:19:07 Thanks everyone for working through that. That was fun.
1:19:11 All right. Item number nine, ordinance number 2026-023, an ordinance of the city council of the
1:19:19 city of Clermont, Florida, amending chapter 1, article 2, division 3 of the Clermont City Code to create section
1:19:26 1-01-101, providing for administrative fines, cost of repair, cost of enforcement and
1:19:36 leans, providing for conflict, severability, codification. the administrative correction of scrivener's error publication and an effective date.
1:19:49 All right. This is an introduction. I entertain a motion unless council.
1:19:54 I'd like to make a motion to approve admin ordinance number 2026- 023 for the first reading. Right.
1:20:04 For the first reading. Okay. I second.
1:20:06 Okay. We have a motion and a second for the introduction of ordinance number 2026-023.
1:20:12 Any further discussion? Hear none. All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I. I. All oppose and chair vote as well.
1:20:19 Motion passes for all. All righty. Moving right along. Reports.
1:20:30 Mr. Van Wagner. Just a few things. Uh, first of all, Citizens Academy is going to begin tomorrow night here at city
1:20:38 hall at 5:30 and that'll run for 5 weeks. Also, two events that I've been told I want to share with you. Wednesday
1:20:46 and Thursday, that's May 27th and 28th, there's an event called Prayer in the Park at the Highlander Pavilion from 7
1:20:53 to 11:00 a.m. And then Saturday, June 6, is the Jerk Festival and that's going to
1:21:00 be at Waterfront Park from noon to 10:00 and the boat ramp is open.
1:21:08 That's everything I have. Okay.
1:21:13 Is that this weekend, May 31st? the Caribbean Jerk Festival.
1:21:17 No, next June 6th. Okay. June 6. Next Saturday. Mr. W.
1:21:23 Thank you, mayor. Uh we are very busy working through a lot of things right now. I believe that as of noon today, uh we've completed the agreement for the
1:21:32 last dumpster location in downtown Clermont. um after negotiations regarding a temporary license. Um we
1:21:40 have had some developments in the fone litigation and um thank you mayor. Uh we are very busy
1:21:47 working through a lot of things right now. I believe that man if that's the voice you guys have to hear I'm sorry.
1:21:53 Um, in any event, um, the I can't reveal the details of it, but what I can say is the settlement last settlement proposal
1:22:01 we got was 22 times larger than the last suggested
1:22:08 offer from uh the plaintiff and um he's now changed counsel for I think a fifth
1:22:15 time. Uh, I think there are some issues with plaintiff's case, but it's that time of year. I need to request a shade
1:22:24 session with this council to discuss next steps in the litigation. Um, it's it's another turning point. I want to tell you what's happening. I want to
1:22:32 have outside counsel come and talk to you, why things haven't substantially changed since a year ago at our last
1:22:39 shade session. and it's required under the law for me to ask you this and then it's up to us to set a time and give appropriate notice.
1:22:49 Um outside council the FLC going to be involved with that?
1:22:55 Well, they are involved. I mean, currently they are still uh defending the case for us and providing uh the
1:23:03 costs of the defense, working with Dean Ringers. They're on my floor in downtown Orlando, so we talk to them all the time.
1:23:10 uh they agree that a shade session is a good idea and they will come prepared having spoken with the Florida League of Cities. Okay.
1:23:18 For the shade session.
1:23:19 So have the you say you've changed the settlement agreement again but he's the offer has changed. I mean it's
1:23:27 something that is so out of left field that uh I don't want to discuss too much in public at this point, but I I I need to talk to you about it.
1:23:35 Okay. Uh Mr. Mr. How soon would you like this? Well, let's see. Um, by the end of June.
1:23:43 Okay. Uh, if possible, Mr. Van Wagner, uh, would you like it after after a
1:23:51 council meeting, sir? Well, we normally do them after council meetings because of only having four council members, the next council me.
1:24:05 So, if No. Well, we we have to go into one in June. We can't do it today.
1:24:09 I I would I would say I what what I'm saying is I would do it beforehand, not after because I think the next one could be a little longer
1:24:16 because of everything we had to push off.
1:24:19 What we people are wanting to do that on June 16th. We've got a workshop. I have it starting at 3. Could we do the
1:24:26 shade session at 2 on June 16th before our workshop? I can.
1:24:30 You cannot. Okay. Does everybody have three for that? I have three. June 16th. Yes.
1:24:38 I'm I'm fine with before the council meeting on the 9th if that's the request or before or after on the 23rd.
1:24:44 Well, I it'd be useful if I could get three times so that I can coordinate with council.
1:24:50 I'm sorry. I mean, we could go into July. This isn't super timesensitive, but it's something that needs to be on your radar. C could Could we just say before the
1:24:58 meeting on the 9th and then before after the meeting on the 23rd as those three times?
1:25:02 That works for me. So the 9th, the 23rd, before and after. Oh, before and after. Okay. Okay.
1:25:10 Do we do we have a workshop on June 30th? No, it's the fifth Tuesday.
1:25:16 Um and then so I can coordinate with them and then work with the clerk to notify or notice the the hearing.
1:25:24 Would you need two weeks notice on that one at least? Okay. Okay. Yeah. Good. Okay. Okay.
1:25:35 Uh oh. And uh so that I believe conclude Oh, we did file a lawsuit against the
1:25:41 owner and tenant of 1919 Sunset Lane and a motion for temporary injunction is pending. Okay, that concludes my report.
1:25:50 All right, Mr. War, not to put you on the spot, but uh we I know I've been talked to you about
1:25:58 claims and everything. Did you want to inform the council on what's going on there. Uh with what
1:26:06 with the emails we've been we've been the warranty claims and all that. Uh
1:26:13 oh. Um there's nothing to report at this time except that we have uh filed a
1:26:21 lawsuit that will allow us to find information from Google. From Google. Yep.
1:26:28 Okay.
1:26:32 I I mean without I'm not trying to be koi. There's there's certain clues that we have and using a certain legal
1:26:38 process. I will be able to get a few crumbs that may show us the identity of who was involved with impersonating
1:26:47 someone from Lean Solutions Group. We know it's not someone who's impersonated an actual representative of the city.
1:26:53 Someone impersonated uh Lean Solutions Group on behalf of the city. uh that much is for sure and we do have some
1:27:02 clues. I I know certain details that I don't want to reveal right now uh in public, but using those clues, I think
1:27:10 we're on the track to discovering an identity.
1:27:13 Well, that wasn't in one, but thank you for that. Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know.
1:27:16 I was more or less referring to the one I've been uh emailing you about the the notice of formal warranty claims and defense.
1:27:23 Thank you, Mayor that we've been No, I I thank you. So there's a lot going on like I said. Thank you, mayor.
1:27:29 Um yeah, so there have been um we are receiving public input and complaints um regarding the maintenance of roads.
1:27:42 uh the maintenance of roads, the sound effects of roads, the fact that when trucks go down roads that have been uh
1:27:49 publicly built, whether in the city or just outside the city, uh houses are are
1:27:56 shaking. And um I had indicated that I would present a short report on these to
1:28:04 the um planning and zoning commission, but I can tell you a little bit more. Uh we're talking about Wellness Ridge, uh areas in Wellness Ridge where residents
1:28:13 have claimed that uh let's see, there might be issues with the workmanship of the homes in the area. Um because when
1:28:23 um when there are problems with the road outside or trucks, even just trucks going down, you they're hearing it,
1:28:30 things are vibrating and uh causing some security issues with the house. there are some stucco stress issues. So, this
1:28:38 is slowly uh getting on our radar in terms of public complaints. And what I want to do is take the complaints that we've got, particularly as relates to
1:28:47 the traffic at this point, and report it to planning and zoning. I'm happy to show you the council a copy of what the mayor receive.
1:28:57 I've been in contact with the owners about what those issues are.
1:29:01 Well, yeah, I've been Yeah, I've gotten a couple of them and all. Of course, I just been in contact with Mr. W. Sorry, I I don't send that kind of things to
1:29:10 you because I'm afraid of Sunshine Law, but Mr. W uh has been somewhat handling handling these and all, but I do think
1:29:17 you all need to be aware of these are some of the complaints coming in out of out of wellness way and all. Um, I'm trying to figure out
1:29:25 I'm just find it amazing that, you know, they build a road and as you're going down that people houses are shaking and everything is is it is it the road
1:29:34 building or or the construction of the homes is is my curiosity. So, um, so, but anyway, if you continue to look into
1:29:42 that and any more I get, I will continue to send them to you. Thank you, sir. and I appreciate it and thank you for the update on the uh the issue with the uh um city manager.
1:29:53 All right, Mr. Peterson, couple of things happened with public comment that was puzzling to me in that
1:30:02 I didn't realize that cannabis stores can I thought there was rulings on that their proximity to schools that you know
1:30:10 125 ft seems pretty close. I don't know if that would have to go to code enforcement or or planning and zoning or
1:30:18 I don't know how that came about in the first place. You know, it's an established business. It's hard to go back and say, "Okay, now move if we've
1:30:25 approved it because then that could be put us up for a lawsuit then." Correct.
1:30:29 But I don't think it came to council, did it?
1:30:31 It did not. as far as I know um since I've been here. Um well, look, the law
1:30:39 has been pretty accurately stated to you that the Florida statutes regarding medical marijuana dispensaries say no uh
1:30:48 closer than 500 ft except if it comes to council and a finding is made that it's
1:30:55 in the public health uh it's it satisfies public health, it's in the public interest and there's no real problem. But that has to be a certification made by you. I don't
1:31:03 remember that while I've been here. Um, our city code in reviewing it after
1:31:11 listening to the public comment doesn't really address it that much except to say that it has to follow state law. So state law is 500 feet.
1:31:20 It's 500 ft. So if is it 500 ft like she had said from the edge of the parking lot to you know public or private schools and it I mean
1:31:28 I think it goes to the property line. I mean I Okay.
1:31:32 So if it's within if it's within that and then they're at fault. So then they could be cited you know that would be up
1:31:40 to you to figure out what the remedy would be. But I think we should look into a remedy for that because I don't think that's appropriate to be close to a school.
1:31:49 Let me offer some help on this if council supports it because I have a feeling this is somewhat new. I think the law is somewhat somewhat new. This
1:31:58 could be something where you know you've got a church and I haven't looked at the property to know if the school is separate parcel for example. I think
1:32:07 it's a valid point made that there is a Sunday school there. I mean there are children they're going to Bible school over the there are children for sure and
1:32:14 I think that's the intent. Um, and I would agree that the parking lot probably is the boundary or the property boundary, but it might be something
1:32:22 where we want to get an attorney general's opinion where we we asked the state of Florida to issue us an opinion on where the property boundaries are.
1:32:32 And I would be curious to know if there was any special application made at the staff level or is this just something
1:32:39 that it it's done as a matter of right like is this not a conditional use that had to come to us for example you know and I'm not saying it shouldn't be there
1:32:47 but I understand the concerns about the proximity to the children and them being able to see it and it is across Highway 50. It's not
1:32:54 physically that close but it is visually that close. Yeah. Well, you're right.
1:32:59 Across the I I noticed it for the first time yesterday. I went past yesterday.
1:33:04 Wow. When did it happen? I I'm used to the flooring store being there.
1:33:07 And so when I drove past it yesterday and saw it, it was on my radar to call Kirk and figure out how that happened.
1:33:12 Okay. Because I know it didn't come to council, okay? And I'm assuming it met all the qualifications to be be there. Uh else uh staff wouldn't have approved it.
1:33:24 I'm even approved. I I'm quite sure it had to go go through city city staff and everything for they should
1:33:30 it is interesting that in our code and I've never seen this um there's a couple zonings where it says it's permitted
1:33:38 right um without modif without qualification.
1:33:43 So I think that's interesting and I can tell you are correct that when we passed when we changed the rules
1:33:50 several years ago we said these dispensaries could go anywhere a pharmacy could go I'm not addressing the 500 foot right
1:33:58 now. We'll look into that to confirm what was but yes they did have to come in for a permit to change the use of the
1:34:05 the facility and I also don't know for sure if it's looked at as a school or a church right that could be the difference as well.
1:34:13 That's things we'll look into. Okay.
1:34:15 Okay. But it did come through you and I'm assuming you could consider a dispensary a pharmacy, but I mean I can understand how it could be classified. If it was
1:34:24 going, you know, considered a drug, then it's not saying that.
1:34:27 I suspect this is going to be an issue of uncertainty and that's why I'm asking if we all need a clarification from how do we feel about asking for an
1:34:35 attorney general opinion. you know, even make an ordinance then for, you know, maybe in the future we could have an ordinance for the POS, you know, the
1:34:44 placement of dispensaries in the city of Clare.
1:34:48 And and we and council, we'll look into this. The the law that was passed a few years ago basically said that dispensaries have to be treated like a
1:34:56 pharmacy. So, anywhere that a pharmacy could go, a dispensary could go with some separation requirements. But we'll look into the building permit to see if it met the requirements or not.
1:35:07 Okay. Thank you.
1:35:07 I don't think I'm communicating effectively. Okay. I what I'm saying is I think the question of law is not going to be clear in this case
1:35:15 because we have a church that operates a school and whether it's 500 ft and how you measure that. I think that's going
1:35:23 to be a question and I think it's a matter of public importance that the attorney general would want to consider because we have school choice in Florida
1:35:30 and we have you know the efforts by the citizens to allow the dispensaries. I I'm not currently comfortable getting into whether we should have dispensaries
1:35:38 in a particular place. My question is about what is the law and how do the facts in this case apply and and I think it warrants but but I think Christian
1:35:47 needs direction from us before he applies for an attorney general opinion.
1:35:50 That's correct. And so what would be the direction he's looking for? We want clarification that that he has authority to ask the attorney general for an opinion.
1:35:57 I have to get your approval before I do that with the attorney.
1:36:00 So we would So do we make a motion for that or Yeah, you would. And does it cost us anything? No.
1:36:06 No. So, I'd like to make a motion that our city attorney contact the attorney general for uh clarification on what is
1:36:14 the statutes, what's the limitation on dispensaries, not pharmacies, and what distances they have to be from churches
1:36:24 or schools or churches operating as schools.
1:36:26 Yes, I'll second.
1:36:28 Well, I think I think uh actually the law already state 500 ft. I think think the question is how do you measure the
1:36:36 500 ft? Is it property align or the building or what? Okay. Is the more of the question.
1:36:41 All right. So we make we have a motion to second. I'd like to call for a vote on that too to get clarification.
1:36:52 Is there a second? I seconded it. Okay. Okay. I'm sorry. I didn't hear.
1:36:56 Okay. Okay. Well, we have a motion and a second to uh give the city attorney the authority to go ahead and contact the attorney general for clarification on
1:37:05 the uh rules of the location of dispensaries. Any further discussion?
1:37:11 Hear none. All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. I. All oppose. Chair vote I as well.
1:37:17 And and the second thing that came to me was you know I saw this notice a boil water notice in wellness way. I mean that's kind of troubling to me. You
1:37:25 know, you you don't you to see that kind of a notice is very strange. You know, I thought first of all, what happened?
1:37:31 Kings Ridge. We But it wasn't King Kings Ridge. It was well in this way. And we we really need to see why these things are happening. I mean, if it happens once, obviously, it could happen again.
1:37:42 And is it, you know, is it the same thing where the trucks are making houses vibrate? Are the trucks making water
1:37:49 manes crack? We, you know, we we need to get to the bottom of that. I don't know who we would who who do we have to direct that to
1:37:57 or the city manager and then he in turn has to follow through on whatever needs to be done on that.
1:38:02 Mr. Van Wagner, will you give them update on exactly what happened there please sir?
1:38:06 Sure. On Sunday, we had a company called Liberty Lighting that was doing work on a Sunday and they were subbed out by a
1:38:15 company called Brier. And Brier is subbed out by LAR. And they did, as far
1:38:23 as we know right now, no one gave authorization to work on Sunday that we can find.
1:38:30 And so the first question is why is somebody working on the weekend without approval, right? And then I was told by Jim from
1:38:40 public works that they discovered they made a break in the line and attempted to repair the line and turn off the
1:38:49 water without notifying the city of Clermont staff and did that on their own trying to fix it. And we found out
1:38:56 because the residents in the area started contacting us saying I don't have water. Well, we didn't know either
1:39:03 until they let us know. So there are multiple concerns in this situation that we're following up with and addressing.
1:39:11 So that's what happened, Mr. Peterson.
1:39:14 And we are addressing these things now.
1:39:16 Yeah. And I I told Mr. Well, he spoke to me about it just before council meeting and I was what I were referring to when I asked him to get Mr. W involved and
1:39:24 see if we can do something legally about this country because I know we they shouldn't be working on Sundays without
1:39:32 authorization and everything. So our holidays as stated before uh Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, I think they are not supposed to be doing any work out
1:39:41 there. So if they out there doing things on their own without proper permission, I think we need to get the legal legal
1:39:48 um minds involved with this. So So I've already asked Mr. Van Wagner to get get with Mr. Mr. War earlier. I asked him to
1:39:57 do that. Get with Mr. War and see what we can do about it legally. So and that's it. Thank you. All right.
1:40:04 Uh, Council Member Strange.
1:40:07 Thank you. My only report is actually a question for followup on the Wellness Way Water issue. Mr. Van Wagner, can you get us a report by the June 9th meeting?
1:40:16 Thank you. That's all I have. Council member Bain.
1:40:19 Thank you, Mayor. Um, I too have a followup on that. Um, question for the city attorney. What are the penalties
1:40:26 associated with people doing work or are there any current penalties? And do we have the ability to levy penalties for
1:40:34 those works that don't comply with our code?
1:40:39 The answer to your second question first, yes. I mean, to the extent that it doesn't comply with the code, we do have an ability um uh to levy penalties
1:40:49 and to pursue various remedies whether at law or equity, meaning that to the extent we've been damaged, we can certainly um do that. I did that in a
1:40:57 city recently where someone broke a pipe and they usually have some kind of insurance. So, usually it's not that difficult or or there might be a bond at issue.
1:41:07 Um I I don't know all the facts of the specific incident. So, I don't want to speculate yet about timing and when the
1:41:15 work should have been done. There are circumstances when work can be done on a weekend. I just I don't know exactly what happened yet. So, I'd like to look
1:41:23 into it and be able to tell you soon what the answer to your first question is.
1:41:27 Thank you. If that could be included in the report, that'd be great. Thank you.
1:41:31 Um, the Memorial Day ceremony that we had at the Clermont Performing Arts Center.
1:41:40 Um, I want to echo the statements that were made by a couple of the residents who spoke about it. It was really, um,
1:41:47 refreshing to have it indoor um, and and be in the facility there. Uh but also too to have the Lake County Community
1:41:55 Choir be a part of the ceremony this year was really a wonderful addition. I thought that not only the the people
1:42:03 sitting in the audience like us uh enjoyed, but also I think the the people who were there as part of the veterans organizations and the speakers really
1:42:11 enjoyed having that as a part of the uh ceremony. So kudos to everyone involved with that, both city staff, volunteers,
1:42:19 uh veterans organizations, and and so forth. Um I also we're in that time of year where we're going through different graduation
1:42:28 ceremonies and uh all of our high school and and college graduates are venturing on to their new endeavors. School ends
1:42:37 on Friday, believe it or not, for Lake County. So, just a word of caution and a word of, you know, uh, awareness that
1:42:46 we're going to see kids out and about at times of the day that we're not used to seeing kids out and about during the week, which is a great thing. We're going to
1:42:54 see more kids at our splash pads and our public pool and and in our parks and involved in our recreation and different activities, and that's a great thing.
1:43:03 But it does come with just awareness to make sure that as you're driving through neighborhoods next week, those neighborhoods may look different once
1:43:11 school is out. And so just to be aware of that and and a really uh just a a heartfelt congratulations to all of our
1:43:18 our high school graduates, all of our uh Clermont natives who have graduated their college programs, whether it's a
1:43:26 technical or two-year or four-year degree program. Um, congratulations on all that work that you've done. And I I
1:43:33 hope that you choose to stay invested and involved here in the Clermont community. And then speaking of how good Clermont is, maybe a reason why you
1:43:42 might want to stay in Clermont. I just saw a report um that the US News and World Report issued their 26 27 best
1:43:50 places to live and there's 250 communities on that list. And there are only two in central Florida that made
1:43:57 the list and Clermont is one of those two.
1:44:01 Um, and they highlighted uh our unique geography, our our wellness hub and our proximity
1:44:09 to Orlando as being the three main factors as to why this is a best place to live. So, we all know that, right?
1:44:15 Uh, but the word is getting out even more uh nationally. But it also feels good to have that national recognition sometimes to know that what we are doing
1:44:23 here and what we have here is really special and valued. Um if you're curious uh what the other community was, it was
1:44:30 the villages. So it's kind of on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of of what they offer and and why they might be an attractive place to live. So
1:44:38 congratulations to Clermont for making that list and being a great place to live. That's my report. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Matthysse. I have nothing to add, mayor. Thank you.
1:44:46 Okay. All right. And then for my report I guess um basically we talked about the cannibal and I can see it was already on my radar because I was shocked to see it
1:44:56 there yesterday and didn't know the flooring store had closed you know. So um
1:45:03 someone mentioned the the sidewalk so many haha that's been that's been a battle of minds for years. Okay. Long. I think we finally got one side of it
1:45:11 completed, but we I think the uh uh public work is still working on trying to get get the rest of uh Minihaha
1:45:19 sidewalks on the rest of Minihaha because especially there if you're there on Minihawk or what the third street I think it is third and fourth street, you
1:45:27 come around the curve there, there were no sidewalks there. And I used to travel that way quite a bit and used to be a young lady out exercising, but she was
1:45:35 pushing us baby stroller and was always in the street pushing and I had to be very careful coming around that car. But but ma'am, trust me, uh we we we have it
1:45:45 on the radar for many to try to finish up those sidewalk cuz it just dead in right there. We got portion of it um
1:45:52 last year and I'm looking for most of it to go in again. Dark sky. I think the only area we we really have in the city right now that's supposed to be under dark sky is is the wellness way area.
1:46:02 Okay. Uh I would like to see if we can take some steps as well in in the rest of the uh city of Clermont uh in
1:46:10 certain in the areas to go ahead and try to see if we can dog sky.
1:46:13 Just so you know, Mayor, uh council member Peterson has presented me with a draft ordinance and we're currently reviewing it.
1:46:20 Yeah. So for that. Yeah. So, um I know we we went and redid uh all of the street lights uh
1:46:28 last year, a couple years ago, I guess it was. We went through and put all LED lights in it, which which kind of helped out a little bit, but I would like to
1:46:36 see more dark sky as well. Um we talked about the water man brake uh lost guy carrying uh bike speeds on the on the waterfront.
1:46:49 Um, that is something I have know I've talked to Mr. War about looking at. I know right now it say 15 m an hour and
1:46:56 actually it's legal because I've been informed that they can do up to 20 miles an hour out there and I think it's too fast. Uh, so I've asked Mr. Water hook
1:47:04 into it with a little uh police department and everything and maybe come bringing it down to maybe 10 nine or 10 miles an hour because I think it's a
1:47:11 state um law they just passed and saying uh sidewalks shouldn't be no more than 9 miles an hour. I think it is. Also, I
1:47:19 have um owner of a eBac shop that's been talking with me and I I've sent her to the arts and rec parks and recreation
1:47:27 department and ask them to get with the police department as well. Um about doing lessons uh safety classes
1:47:36 and and all for for ebike riders and all this in in the neighborhood because they're getting to be very dangerous. I sit at my house right now over where I
1:47:45 live like just where I came here. I was sitting there looking out the window. A guy came through there on an ebike. I guarantee he had to be at least doing 30
1:47:53 40 miles an hour down the sidewalk over there. And it was and of course I got a couple of guys up and down the road all day long over there. It's just it's just
1:48:01 getting ridiculous. And when I get down on our trails, as I said before, uh it's getting to be very dangerous these ebikes and the way they going. So, uh, I
1:48:10 do have the young lady that run on ownback shop working with with the park and recreation. I ask to go talk with park
1:48:18 and recreation, the police department about trying to get the safety class up and running. Uh, so we can educate and then hopefully we can go ahead and get
1:48:25 the speeds reduced down on on the waterfront as well if it's if it's legal for us. Mr. Watt is looking into that for me. So, that is a big concern of
1:48:33 mine. So, um, and next Tuesday I'll be doing my lunchon at the, uh, Talia restaurant up at 4 on 455 next to the
1:48:42 public complex up there. Other than that, that's all I have. Anyone else have anything else?
1:48:50 Hear none every meeting and the journal.