Ray’s Report
Clermont Council Meeting
October 27, 2015
Hello Friends and Neighbors
Fred Sommer’s 25th Grand Floridian took over Clermont’s Waterfront and parts of our city this past
Saturday. Fred has done so much for our city. His events put Clermont on the map as a place for
athletic events. The City honored Fred at our last council meeting. He deserves much credit for
Clermont’s future as the “Choice of Champions.”
Ocoee man triumphs in Great Floridian Triathlon in Clermont, Orlando Sentinel Sports excerpt
CLERMONT - Kenyon Congdon, a 46-year-old man from Ocoee, was the top finisher in the 25th
annual Great Floridian Triathlon on Saturday in Clermont.
Congdon finished the triathlon, consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run, in
10 hours, 27 minutes, 13 seconds. He finished about nine minutes ahead of runner-up Doug Guthrie
(10:36:01) of Winter Springs. Chad Siple of Dunedin was third in 10:37:54.
Jenny Albrecht of Mobile, Ala., crossed the finish line about an hour ahead of Robin Martz of
Clermont to win the women's division. Albrecht's time was 11:35:18, compared to 12:32:32 for Martz.
Julie Dukes of Pasadena, Md., placed third in 12:35:40.
15K to bring awareness of 10-mile clay loop road, Lake Sentinel
The South Lake Sports Foundation will host the Clermont Clay 15K at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 22 to bring
awareness to the 10-mile clay loop road in rural Clermont, which is used by runners, walkers, birding,
mountain biking and the like.
A portion of the proceeds will go to the foundation to help support running trails in the area, especially
the clay road loop, which is filled with challenging hills.
Entry fee is $60 before 11:59 p.m. Saturday and then $65 through Nov. 20.
The loop is at 8928 N. Bradshaw Road.
To register or more information, visit clermontclay.com.
The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus will perform a free concert at the First
United Methodist Church, Wesley Center on Wednesday November 4, 2015 at 7:30pm. Tickets
available at: ARMYFieldBand114.eventbrite.com
The City will have the new trash containers at the KR Board meeting this Wedn4esday and they will
explain all the options. Likewise, there will be city employees in the Lobby with an identical display
from 8:00 am till 3:30 pm.
Read about the penny sales tax at the end of this report.
Now here is my report (Unofficially)
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City of Clermont
Council Meeting Agenda
6:30 PM, Tuesday, October 27, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PROCLAMATION
Small Business Saturday – November 28, 2015 is proclaimed to be Small Business Saturday
PRESENTATIONS
2040 Long Range Transportation Plan – This was a presentation from Mr. T.J. Fish, Executive
Director of the Lake ~ Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). He presented the 20 year
long range transportation plan. This plan considers the transportation needs of the various cities in
Lake County and Lake County as a whole. This plan is a guide for FLDOT to develop their plans for
our area. The plan considers the needs not constrained by revenues and those cost feasible projects
with construction funding between 2021 and 2040. This plan is updated every 5 years. The plan
escalates cost to the year of funding. For example a project in 2015 that costs $6.5 million would be
estimated to cost $11 million in 2040. The plan incorporates Bicycle and pedestrian projects as well as
Lake County’s trails, and sidewalks projects.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jim Purvis – Bicycles bring economic development to our city as does most other sports. He would
like FLDOT to install signage on US27 that trucks use the right two lanes. Three years ago I wrote
DOT with that request and it was denied. US 27 is a major transportation route for truck traffic.
Harry Masson –Spoke about the increased amount of traffic on Hancock Road and Hartwood Marsh
Road. He sees the need for a traffic signal on Hancock for cars entering/exiting Heritage Hills and
Kings Ridge. He believes Lennar is responsible for part of the cost of the signals.
Charlene Forth – spoke about the bear hunt. She was proud that Clermont had a resolution opposing
the bear hunt. She said the State has a proposal on the table to have a hunt every year.
Next was a lady and her 11 year old son. He has to cross Hwy 50 at East Avenue each morning. She
is afraid to allow him to walk across the highway so she drives him to school. She wants the School
Board to put guards at this intersection until after middle school begins. City Manager to look into this
situation.
REPORTS
Darren Gray, City Manager- Many events in the city this past weekend. The Grand Floridian run
was well attended. Diane Travis is home again after her travels to Australia where she ran in an
international run. She finished 4th in her category.
Dan Mantzaris, City Attorney- No Report
Tim Bates, Council Member - He has been appointed Chairman of the Water Safety Committee in
Lake County.
Ray Goodgame, Council Member- On Halloween, the Historic Village will hand out candy as will the
downtown merchants and the Methodist Church will participate in the “Trunk or Treat event on
Halloween.
I want the Police Department to put officer body cameras as a top priority. I gave council members
copies of another newspaper article stressing the need for Police Officer to have body cameras. The
cameras protect the officers as well as the reputation of our city.
Keith Mullins, Council Member –The Grand Floridian and the Greater Clermont Cancer Foundation
music festival at Water Front Park were great events. The sidewalk chalk art contest is coming soon.
Diane Travis, Council Member – Commented on the great job done by the Clermont Police
Department at the bicycle event this past weekend. Riders said they felt very comfortable riding in the
traffic.
Mayor Ash – She attended many events since our last meeting. She was at the Central Florida
Leadership Council in Orlando. She represented the city as Lake County’s representative. On the 17th
she met many citizens and discussed our parks and the new splash pad. She wants the city to advertise
the yearly rate of $15 for City children. She commented that we have homeless people in Clermont.
She attended the Garden Club event and the Kings Ridge Women’s club meeting. She also commented
on the new recycle containers.
CONSENT AGENDA
The next portion of the meeting is the consent agenda which contains items that have been determined to be routine and noncontroversial. If anyone in the audience wishes to address a particular item on the consent agenda, now is the opportunity for you to do
so. Additionally, if staff or members of the City Council wish to speak on a consent item, they have the same opportunity.
Item No. 1 – Meeting Minutes
Consider request to approve minutes of the
September 10, 2015 First Budget Public
Hearing, the September 22, 2015 Regular
Council meeting, and the September 24, 2015
Final Budget Public Hearing.
Item No. 2 – Bid Award
WITHDRAWN
Consider approval of bid award contract to
Allstate Paving, Inc. to provide drainage and road
improvements on Pitt Street, East Minneola
Avenue, Roane Road and East Montrose Street in
the amount of $781,538. The contract is to be
funded from the CDBG in the amount of
$644,000, FY 2015 carry forwards totaling
$125,000 from the Water and Stormwater Funds
and FY 2016 funds in the amount of $12,538.
Item No. 3 – Surplus Request and Single Source Consider approval of single source purchase
Purchase
from Physio-Control, Inc. to purchase LifePak
15 Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillators, AED, and
Cardiac Rhythm generator and declare end of
life inventory as surplus from the Fire
Department and dispose of in accordance with
the Purchasing Policy. The total price of
$120,582.35 includes $15,000 credit for the
trade-in of surplus equipment.
Item No. 4 – Single Source Purchase Approval
Consider approval of single source
determination from CUES, Inc. to purchase one
camera truck for Environmental Services
Department in the total amount of $230,200.
Budget is for $225,000
Item No. 5 – Contractor Name Change
Consider request for contractor name change
from Amec Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc.
to Amec Foster Wheeler Environment &
Infrastructure, Inc.
Item No. 6 – Utility Service Agreement
Consider request for water service to a single
family home owned by Bebe R. Yasin at 15520
Laguna Rd.
Item No. 7 – Resolution No. 2015-39
Consider approval of Resolution for an
additional Deferred Compensation (457b)
Option to be administered by the League of
Cities.
Item No. 8 – Resolution No. 2015-40
Consider approval of an annual employee
(holiday) bonus program.
Item No. 9 – Employee Group Medical Plan
Consider approval of the proposed employee
group medical plan changes effective January
2016.
Council voted 5-0 to approve the Consent Agenda items 1,3-8
After discussion concerning Item 9 and learning this is a State requirement, it was approved by
the Council with a 5-0 vote.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Item No. 10 – Charlene Forth
Discussion with City Council.
Mrs. Forth spoke about the City problems many years ago. She got to her main topic which was only
allowing speakers 3 minutes. She said she was told to go to the end of the line for an additional 3
minutes. By then the council has lost the emphasis of the subject she was discussing. The Mayor
disagreed and asked Mr. Purvis if Mrs. Forth was correct. Mr. Purvis told the Mayor it was her
demeanor that was so unpleasant to the citizens. The City Attorney said the council voted a resolution
for the three minute time limit. However the Council can also vote to stop or have the speaker
continue.
Item No. 11 – Variance Request
Consider a request for six variances at the Arby’s
property located a quarter mile north of the
intersection of US Hwy 27 and Steve’s Road.
We have Arby’s coming to Clermont. They will be on the north side of Texas Roadhouse.
Tabled Till November 10th
Item No. 12 – Ordinance No. 2015-75, Final
WaterBrooke
Consider Ordinance introduction for the
addition of a new zoning district, Planned
Unit Development (PUD).
Council voted 5-0 to adopt this Ordinance
Item No. 13 – Ordinance No. 2015-70, Final
WaterBrooke
Consider ordinance to annex property
located south of State Road 50, east of
Hancock Road, west of Hartle Road, and
north of Johns Lake Road.
Council voted 5-0 to annex this property.
NEW BUSINESS
Item No. 14 – Resolution 2015-24
WaterBrooke
Consider a conditional use permit to allow a
mixed use Planned Unit Development in the UE
Urban Estate zoning district.
This is the old Jahna Mine Property. Mattamy Homes is requesting a Conditional Use Permit for the
development of 540 acres for a 950 unit housing project, for single and multi-family residential units.
The north portion fronts on to where Hooks Street would run. I met with the developer and I can
foresee a long fight over the fact that they need to construct Hooks Street from Hancock Road to their
eastern boundary. They will pay impact fees for the construction of their portion of Hartle Road on
the eastern boundary of their property. They will have an entrance into the development from Hartle
Road. This is not an age restricted development and when I met with them they had not even discussed
with the School Board Transportation Department to establish where school bus stops would be
located inside their development. This same situation happened at Verde Ridge and they refused to
build school bus stops inside the development. However this was not part of their approval. They need
at least three school bus stops inside the community. School busses will have to enter and exit off Hwy
50 at Emil Jahna Road. This is crazy.
Council Voted 4-1 (Goodgame) to approve this resolution
Item No. 15 – Ordinance No. 2015-71
WaterBrooke Transmittal
Consider Introduction of Ordinance to change
the future land use from Lake County Urban
Low Density to Low Density Residential and
transmit the proposed Large Scale
Comprehensive Plan amendment to the Florida
Department of Economic Opportunity DEO)
Council Voted 5-0 to Adopt this Ordinance
This developer still has to have the Council approve their PUD.
ADJOURN
Penny Sales Tax
Over thirty percent (30%) of revenues from the penny sales tax are paid by people who don't
live in Lake County. Outsiders are literally helping to pay for our basic capital needs thus
reducing the tax burden on the Lake County property owner. Please get the facts and vote on
November 3rd. There is some personality driven politics - not fact based opposition to this
renewal.
Why support the Renewal of the Penny Sales Tax? Facts:
1.) Enacted by Voter Referendum in 1988 – it’s not a new tax.
2.) Pays for Capital projects only – does not pay for salaries.
3.) 30 percent of revenues collected are from visitors (non-residents) passing
through Lake County.
4.) Is split 3 ways evenly among the School District, Cities, and Lake
County.
5.) County Expenditures from current 1-cent tax over the past 13 years:
10% - renovation/construction of facilities such as Animal Shelter, health clinic, public records
and evidence storage.
13% - Public safety such as police vehicles and sub-stations.
9% - Libraries
6% - Parks (active recreation and passive)
4% - Other infrastructure such as voting machines and fiber optic upgrades
6% - New Emergency Radio System – allows all agencies to operate on one system
51% - Roads and Transportation
1% - Storm water Projects
The referendum is scheduled for November 3, 2015 primarily due to the budget cycle in
Florida and the renewal’s overall importance to Lake County. Something this important
shouldn’t be buried at the bottom of a multipage ballot in 2016. All cities, Lake, and the
School Board, budget in July/August prior to each year. Government entities must prepare a
budget for 2017-18 in July/August 2016 knowing for certain whether the referendum was
approved by the voters or not. A November 2015 referendum allows time to plan accordingly
compared to a November 2016 referendum.
If renewed, penny sales tax revenues will be shared equally between the School District,
Lake County, and the 14 municipalities of Lake County. The School Board, County and Cities
receive a significant portion of their revenues from this penny sales tax.
For Clermont, this tax amounts to over $2,800,000. per year, which goes towards new fire
equipment, police cars, and roads. You need to vote to renew this existing tax or this
revenue must come from other sources.
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Six Little Stories
{1}
Once all villagers decided to pray for rain, on the day of prayer all the people
gathered, but only one boy came with an umbrella.
That's FAITH
{2}
When you throw a baby in the air, she laughs because she knows you will catch her.
That's TRUST
{3}
Every night we go to bed, without any assurance of being alive the next morning
but still we set the alarms to wake up.
That's HOPE
{4}
We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future.
That's CONFIDENCE
{5}
We see the world suffering, but still we get married and have children.
That's LOVE
{6}
On an old man's shirt was written a sentence
'I am not 80 years old.... I am sweet 16 with 64 years experience'
That's ATTITUDE
Have a happy day, live your life like the six stories!
Again, it is my privilege to serve you !!
Ray Goodgame, Clermont Councilman, Seat 2
Telephone 352-243-9696
Email – Raygood8@aol.com
This e-mail is not the official record of the actions taken by the Council, and is not intended to express the views or opinions of the entire City
Council or serve as a substitute to, or in lieu of your attendance at said meeting or your review of the official minutes of this meeting. To review
the official minutes from the meeting please contact Tracy Ackroyd, City Clerk at 352-241-7330. If you no longer wish t receive his report, notify
Ray Goodgame at Raygood8@aol.com to have your name removed. Likewise, if you want to receive your personal copy of this report, send your
name and e-mail address to Raygood8@aol.com .---