City Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I call this meeting to order. Welcome to our council meeting for July 28th, 2026. Virtual participation and council meeting are available on your computer or smartphone via Microsoft Teams or by telephone. You can learn how to participate virtually by visiting our website, www. and search for Attend Council Meeting Online. In the interest of time, efficiency, and ensuring that everyone who wishes to address the council is given the opportunity to do so, the following will apply to all 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. During the meeting, please make sure your cell phones are set to silence. Thank you for participating in your city government. Today's invocation will be given by Brian Broadway of Living Message Church. Please rise and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Let's pray. Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for your kindness, your mercies. We ask today, God, that we show justice and love and understanding. as we grow together. We ask that we learn from what is written. Your book of Micah teaches us of justice, teaches us of a shepherd king that changes us internally with kindness that manifests as external character. Help us to show that character today, that we'd act justly, that we'd love mercy, and we'd walk humbly amongst each other. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.

I don't know, presentation. The next item is public comment. If you wish to address the council in person, please come to the microphone and state your name and address. Once in-person comments have concluded, we will move on to virtual comments. If you are participating online on Microsoft Teams and wish to provide comments, please raise your hand and you will be called upon to unmute your microphone when it is time for you to speak. If you are participating by phone, you will press star five on your phone to raise your hand. When called upon, you will press star six to unmute your microphone. For all virtual participants, if you wish to comment on other items on the agenda, please stay on Microsoft Teams or on your phone and raise your hand when 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, efficiency, and ensuring that everyone who wishes to address the council is given an opportunity to do so, each speaker will be permitted three minutes to address the council. To avoid disruption of the meeting, speakers should avoid inappropriate language, personal attacks, and derogatory statement and direct comments to the city council. Everyone is requested to be respectful of each other even when we disagree. Yes, ma'am.

Natalie Kaler, Executive Director of Claremont Main Street, here with two of my board members, Keith and Rocky, who are helping me because I couldn't carry everything. I'm full of good news today. First of all, the team just came back from the Florida Main Street State Conference last week, where we won three awards from the Secretary of State. We are the only city to have done so. And that's actually the most you can win. So go Claremont. But we won for Four Point Patriot, which was for our Claremont on screen recruiting of the film and doing the website. And then we won for. These are really hard to read. Our Claremont flag walk. So the flag walk that we had last month, they actually told me to submit that application. So when you know someone tells you to apply for an award, you're going to win it. So that was great. And then this one is for the rebranding and the redesign of our website, which was important to me because we actually include a business directory of all 217 plus businesses in the downtown, which is a very unusual thing to do. But we think it's important that people know everybody that's downtown. So Keith is carrying the stuff from our tot lot design for the park. And we had about 75 kids show up to the park that day. And we were wearing these as the grownups. We have these to send to the kids that they are official park planners. We got incredible submissions and look forward to bringing that to the design team and then ultimately to city parks to try to talk through. But we were so excited. The amount of work that kids put into that. was amazing. And the detail, like they had graph paper, we had a proposal that was seven pages long. It was absolutely delightful. And they came up with some really, really great concepts, which Calvin and Ben can talk about. He was there. And then finally, we launched our Claremont, With Love from Claremont art initiative yesterday. So we have a call to artists out right now. And these are the three sample paintings that we have. We're going to do a total of 50. So I'm looking for 47 more artists. The call to artists is on our website. They just have to tell us, give us their... website or instagram handle or wherever where their art is give us a sample of what their art is and then we have 230 some photos that we got from historic village that show all different kinds of life in claremont and so the artists are going to be able to pick from one of those paintings and then convert it in pictures and then convert it into a painting but these are just some examples that dress is from the historic village on the second floor of the kern house and so all she had was a picture of that and she put it in the little storefront. So I just love what the artists have done with this already. We are paying the artists $300 to do that. And then the paintings are gonna go up in the businesses starting in September. We'll have a launch at the farmer's market on September 13th. And I did it with three minutes, three seconds to spare. So yeah, all right.

Except I have one question. I think our school's starting in about two, three weeks. Are we going to send an invite to the kids for the art contest?

Yes, so it's out in public. Anybody can apply. We take all different sorts of styles. And so, yeah, kids want to apply. They certainly can.

Okay, well, I think when the school starts, we probably have to send them a special invite and let them know they probably wouldn't know to look at the website and everything.

Well, the call is over on August 7th.

So we would have to do it.

But it is something that we could do for next round, for sure. I would like that if we did a kid round. That's really smart. Well, congratulations.

Do you have one more bit of news to share with the community that was revealed at the conference?

Oh, see, I only have three minutes. Yes. So Claremont Main Street and the city of Claremont are going to be hosting that conference next year. So we'll be bringing all the Florida Main Streets and Secretary of State usually comes the day before and he likes to participate in the Wednesday night activity. So I actually played putt-putt behind him last year. So we have to make sure that we do something really fun on Wednesday night. But it's about 250, 300 people that come from all around the state. And we get to host them from Sunday to Friday, basically. And we already have reserved the... recreation center for their formal dinner where they give away all the prizes. And then other than that, we're just going to start planning. So if people want to be involved, we would love to have people in the planning team.

Do you know when that's going to be?

They're typically middle to end of July. So we know that, but we don't know the exact date. We're waiting on the Secretary of State for that.

Thank you. Congratulations. Yes, sir.

Good afternoon. My name is Ben Anderson. I live on Drew Avenue.

And I called the city police a couple weeks ago and spoke with an officer, Robondo, about the excessive speeding on Lakeshore Drive from Hooks up to East Avenue. and he said that he was aware of the problem and that they do patrol that area but he suggested to me that i come here today and request a speed study be done on that stretch of road And I did observe yesterday that there was an overturned car. I don't know if you guys are up on it, but I looked down the street and there was an overturned car on its hood. I mean, on its roof. And apparently I heard from a neighbor that someone had shot off Lakeshore into the lake. And so I'm assuming that... either they're having trouble realizing the importance of stopping at East and Lakeshore, or they're just not getting the visual and audio stimulus to do so. So that was my request today.

Okay. Thank you, sir. Mr. Van Wagner, can we get with Chief? I know we did a study not long ago, a few years back, I think it's been, but see if we can't get with Chief and get another one going down there. And I'm quite sure now that we resurfacing the road down there, they're probably speeding even worse. Yes, thank you. So we'll get with Chief and see what we can do. Thank you. Thank you.

Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor and Council. My name is Dennis Allard, and I live on Nature Cove Lane here in Claremont. The last City Council meeting I attended was on March 24th of this year. I reported on my positive experiences on separate ride-alongs with Officer Kahn and Officer Hernandez. I also commented on the prevailing verbal and physical attacks and attitudes on law enforcement on all levels. Unfortunately, this attitude and behavior have exponentially increased by scoundrels, rogues, rebellious people that range from individuals, various factions, and more openly with politicians. That hits home to me. because I grew up with law enforcement in my family and I still have law enforcement in my family. So that doesn't sit well with me. I indicated that I would be eligible to request another ride along this past May. I did and was assigned to Officer Clay Urquhart on May 25th Memorial Day, which had a wonderful ride along with him as well. It was a slow day on the ride along with Officer Urquhart, so he suggested that when I'm eligible again in November for another ride along to request a weekend evening. I will with Captain Strickland and Lieutenant Marshall. My recurring positive observations and attributes from my ride alongs are professionalism, knowledge, friendliness to me, freely informative in explaining current calls that are being addressed, the quick response on backup calls. Based on my experience with the Claremont Police Department, I said it at the last City Council meeting, and I'll say it again. The Claremont Police Department is second to none. My highlight after each ride-along is the permission given to me by the officer for me to pray for him and his family and other officers and their families, that God would give them health, safety, and protection from evil. Finally, when I went on the last ride along, I had found these at the Claremont Police Department. Some of you know about these patches that you can buy at the Claremont Police Department. And I think it's a wonderful cause because these patches promote and are sold for women's breast cancer research. And so the last time I went to get a couple patches, I went to the Claremont Police Department to purchase a couple patches, and I had the privilege and good fortune of finally meeting Captain Strickland there. And I appreciated the time he gave me in our discussion. So I'd like to close by just saying pray for our law enforcement, first responders, military, and government. And just take the 10 seconds that it takes to go up to one of those people and thank them for their service. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Yes, ma'am.

Hello, my name is Sarah Jo. I'm a homeowner in Claremont, a mother of three. I'm a nurse by trade and I currently work as a nursing instructor at Lake Sumter State College. I'm here today to follow up on some comments I made publicly two months ago regarding the marijuana dispensary that was allowed to open across the street from my children's school. I was told that the matter was referred to the state AG, but I haven't heard back, so I just came back to follow up. I also just want to reiterate my concerns regarding the increasing amount of marijuana dispensaries being allowed to open in Claremont, along with a large number of smoke shops. Claremont currently has, per Google, at least seven marijuana dispensaries and at least 13 different smoke shops. These stores provide no benefit to our community and are selling products that are untested, unsafe, and known to be addictive. like industries is to create addicts. That's why they exist. They want to get you addicted. They want you hooked on your product. So you keep coming back and purchasing more. And we're delusional if we think that increasing access to a product will not also increase demand for that product, particularly in our vulnerable populations, which I am mostly concerned about as a nurse, including children, people with low socioeconomic status, basically people who are desperate turn to these products for relief because they cannot get proper help, right? That's why they do these things. And we know that when restrictions on illicit substances like marijuana removed increases in addiction, crime, homelessness and death quickly follow. That's what's going to happen to our city as long as we continue to allow these stores to proliferate with no zoning regulations. The purpose of government is to promote the public good and human flourishing. And I'm calling on you as our elected representatives to do whatever you can to protect our community from these predatory businesses. Adults are free to do whatever they want in the privacy of their own home, but you do not have the right to push addictive substances on children who cannot defend themselves. And I actually brought some things to show you guys because I like show and tell. And I actually went to a smoke shop for the first time in my life, never done it before. But I want you to understand what these products look like and how they are marketed to children.

If you saw this, would you think this is candy? Yeah, this is a THC gummy, just under the legal limit.

You are allowed to purchase this without a marijuana card, okay? Much worse, actually, to be honest, than your THC products are your kratom products. If you don't know what kratom is, it is a natural plant substance. It is. A lot of things are natural. I always say arsenic is natural, so is kratom. And so kratom is highly addictive. It does cause overdose deaths, particularly when in combination with other drugs. If my children saw this, they would eat it. Okay. These products actually not even that expensive. I spent about 40 bucks on all three of this. If you want to buy a lot of Kratom, the store that I went to, I thought about taking pictures, but I thought that might throw me out. You can buy jars and bags this large, absolutely enough to cause an overdose, particularly in a child. Um, there's about $40 worth of products. And so these things are highly addictive. Um, and you do not need a medical marijuana card to purchase any of them. And the challenge, and this is why these types of stores need to be restricted versus restricting the product themselves is once you a product becomes illegal, they just change the formulary and it becomes a different product. So for example, 70H is a form of Kratom that just recently became illegal. They're now pulling it off the shelf. The lady selling me the product was actually telling me about it. And so these products are out there. Children will get into them. Can I actually have the pink one back real quick? I know what the time is, so I'll show you. I want you to touch them so it's not on your hands. Thank you. But I brought them for this purpose. If they try to sell this, what does this look like to you?

Ma'am, I need you to go back to the microphone, please.

This is what they look like. I just want to make sure everybody understands that these products are sold. You do not need a marijuana card. And this will kill kids. And this is what they look like. And this is sold in a smoke shop, not in a marijuana dispensary. You don't have to have a card to go in there. And they're all over the place. We need to limit them. To protect our children. And that is it, basically. I hope I can hear back. Like I said, I really hope we can do something about the one that is literally across the street from my children's school. My kids should not be in car line asking me what a cannabis dispensary is. Though, actually, they know because I educate my children because I don't leave them in the dark. But that is pushing substances on our children.

Can I ask you what school does your children go to?

Wesley Christian Academy.

I think we have an answer for that. I was told yesterday that

Well, the city properly permitted and did follow the law with the restrictions. Oh, I'm sure they did.

The law is wrong. The law is incorrect. 500 feet is nothing. 500 feet is across the street. I measured on Google Maps on my own watch. The law is wrong, so I'm asking you to change the law. We need to change our zoning laws. We need to change our restrictions. It's absolutely ridiculous that the... People who run the marijuana companies who have billions of dollars behind them, they were able to write the law to make it where there is essentially impossible to regulate these. Once we allowed them in our city, 500 feet is nothing, right? And you also can't place any additional restrictions beyond what you place on a pharmacy. But that's insane. Pharmacies provide products that people need to live. Blood pressure medication, stroke prevention medication, diabetes medication. There is absolutely nothing sold in a smoke shop or a marijuana dispensary that is safe tested or does anything to benefit anybody only increases crime and dependence and addiction. And the government, its job is to protect citizens of predatory businesses. And I would be just as upset if there was a strip club. If there wasn't a liquor store across the street from my kids school, there's absolutely no reason that my children should be exposed to this. And if the law is not where it needs to be to protect kids, then we should change the law, right?

Yes, ma'am, I totally agree. If the law isn't providing what you need, but I don't think we have, at this level, we don't have the right to change that law. That's a state law. However... I don't know.

There are options you have. We have. We could talk about it.

Right. We do. And I know we discussed a couple of things yesterday as well.

But I mean, everybody went through there. We don't need people pushing drugs near our kids. Right. Like everyone understands that if you put a someone selling drugs near a school and children walk past that every single day, that that's inciting minors. Right. Like that is a problem. Now, the law may not be clear on that issue right now. Someone told me yesterday that apparently they don't count preschools and that's why it was legally permitted. I don't know if that's true. That may be wrong. But there's 500 children in that school. We got your point. And so I'm asking you to change the law. Do your job and change the law. Respectfully. Thank you. Have a great day. If you don't want to see my samples, they're here.

Thank you.

Your semi-drugs should be picked up again. Yeah.

Ma'am, you left one of your products up here.

Products. That's what I.

Thank you very much. Sorry about that.

Well, listen.

Just a little question. Yes, sir.

I am farmer Banks Halfrick. I live in the Clay Road District, farm tip of the day. One of the most despised vegetables is not broccoli, it's actually okra. And here is a super cool hack to make okra appetizing. Cut it up into pinwheels, salt, pepper, olive oil, roast it, make it nice and crispy like popcorn, except you can call it okra pops. Okay. Mayor, council, distinguished guests, this month we turn 250 years old. Who exactly are we as Americans? We are travelers over the Bering Strait Bridge some 20,000 years ago with names like Hopi and Navajo and Cherokee and Seminole. We are settlers from England in search of religious freedom. We are immigrants from Canada and China, from Japan and Israel, from Argentina and Colombia in search of a better life for ourselves and for our children and grandchildren. We are black and brown. We are mocha and white. We are the rainbow for the world to see. We are Christian and Catholic. We are Hindu and Muslim. We are agnostic and atheist. We are pagan and we are Sikh. We get to believe and worship who we want to worship. We get to exercise our religious freedoms, also our liberties and freedoms here in the United States. We get to love who we want to love. The two things that America has that no other country has is one, we are diverse, and two, we are united. In fact, our first name is United. Without United, there is no us. And without unity, there is no United States of America. I am Farmer Bank's Helfrich candidate for State House District 25. I am an immigrant and I believe in the United States of America. May you all be blessed. Thank you for allowing me to speak. Thank you.

Yes.

I'm sorry that I need to bring my phone up here because I have to. It's kind of a sad day for me, especially because I have to, Charlene Harrison, 4th DeSoto Street, Claremont. Sorry, I was up all night at the ER with my husband.

Sorry to hear it.

I spent 83 days at Orlando Hospital, Florida Hospital, watching my husband fight for his life. While I was there, I had only told the council members here, city manager people that I knew that would be thinking I was coming in here. Why wasn't I here? Some things I had wanted to do. The reason why I'm going to address this today, it's a hard thing to do because I got some calls and I didn't tell the people that were calling me where I was sitting. And I'm going to address something that is very important to me. And then I'll be here later this afternoon. I'm going back to sit with my husband and relieve my son and then come back down here. In a workshop, and Mr. Myers, Councilman Myers, which I'll call her Chandra. I know Chandra very well, and I know that she's a decent, honest person. I know she loves Jesus like anything you can imagine, including me. But I can't set that aside, and I'm always very fair. And I got calls, Chandra, and people said, you know what your girl's doing, what she brought up in a workshop? I said, no, what's going on? And it was about the pay here and raising the pay. I know I went back and saw some videos of what I could take the time to do. I didn't have many minutes or hours or anything to look at anything. and a $2,000 fee amount was thrown out. And what I'd like to say to all of y'all, this is not attacking Chandra, she brought it up, but we are different in Claremont, and I will be speaking about this later today. We have done this, Chandra and the rest of the council, because it is a token we give you to serve here. You are public service, just like you didn't get paid on the code board, I mean, yeah, the code board. And that was my husband that went out there and sought you in the parking lot. I sent you a message about that and didn't hear back. Then it was me that stepped in after you lost the first time, taught you everything the second time because I knew you were worth that. I knew what kind of person you were. Helped you and taught you everything you needed to know about a campaign. Even looked up my friends to donate nicely. Doing your mailers. Don't regret any of it. And then you had that statement you made in here about people's, maybe not enough for diapers, milk, bread, but Chandra and counsel, there are people struggling. I spent $600 of Trump gas money to go back and forth every day, eight, nine hours a day to be with my husband because I didn't know if he was going to die each day. and there are people struggling and they don't need you to take more money so that you can have a car payment maybe you want to pay down a mortgage maybe you want to go to the mall maybe you want a nice dinner maybe you want a luxury vacation i don't know what the reason is but this is because you do it to serve the public. It's not to make a paycheck. And we've known this the whole time I've been up here for almost 30 years. That's why we do it, because people will run to sit here for a $2,000 paycheck, and they will destroy this town. And if you need a job and money, go get a job, a real job. And that's not me attacking Chandra. I'm just speaking out loud because it came up that way. And it hurts me. And it's hurt my husband and it's hurt me. So something that I believed in. And I hope, Chandra, you will revisit this in your own self, in your mind, and whatever. Because you made that promise to run for these people. And we've got to be good stewards of their money. And how are we going to take extra money, you guys, when they're making two and three jobs they're trying to do at home just to exist with this gas and groceries and everything up. So I wanted to educate everybody. And the public is listening and online. We don't do this to make a paycheck.

Ms. Ford, take 15 seconds to record that, please.

Yeah, well, the lady went on and on up here. And I did tell her back there, she needs to call Tallahassee. That's where the laws are. Y'all can't change it. So there you go. People need to understand this. And I'm tired of everybody trying to take away what we have stood on so long. We're not Winter Garden. We're not somebody else. I don't care about somebody else. We're Claremont.

Thank you. I would like to address that. Okay.

Mr. City Manager, did I ask in our budget for a pay raise for any of the city council members in our budget? Did I ask for us to have a pay increase in our budget that we've been working on for the last couple of weeks? Yeah, I know.

For this last budget? Yes. No.

Okay. Thank you.

So I'm saying, Chandra, that, and you heard me, it was only brought up. So if it ever happens again, I know it didn't go to permission. You didn't ask for it to be on the agenda.

Ms. Forth, okay. We got it. We have it. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, sir.

Sterling Fry 1647 First Street and I really hadn't planned on being here today and making a presentation but somebody came by my house who was concerned about speeding and they asked me to be here today to be part of the Group, I don't know. I came in late. So I don't know if anybody has Presented anything on speeding have they?

Yes, sir. It was addressed earlier It was addressed earlier, and I think they got with the chief of police to try to do a study. Okay.

So anyhow, if you recall the last time I was here, I spoke about the speeding, especially on Lakeshore Drive, and the condition of the roads of Lakeshore Drive and East Avenue, and lo and behold, in two weeks... It was all fixed.

So thank you for that.

But anyhow, meantime, I did have a chance to talk to some folks in the city about – let me back up a bit. As you may recall, I gave you that flyer on ways of controlling speeding other than stop signs. Do you recall that? So anyhow – I said I would come here and speak in regard to that. So I did have a chance to talk to some folks in the city about the traffic tables instead of stop signs. And the understanding that I got out of that was that Claremont has a policy of no speed tables. And so I'm wondering why. Well, the closest I could get was some folks don't want those, especially if they're placed in front of their house. guess they don't want to hear the hubcaps rolling or whatever but uh i think if you ask the people on around lakeshore drive in the county where they put those in i don't think you'll find too many of those folks complaining about having speed tables in front of their houses because their problem is solved That's working beautifully out there. And what I'm here for today is to reinforce my concern about placing stop signs one after the other to control speed. And they are not recommended in that information, that study that I gave you. So what I'm here again for today is, please, no more stop signs. Let's do some speed tables or something else that might work. And that's it. That's about the long and the short of it. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Again, Mr. Van Wagner, please get with Chief on all that, please. Yes, sir.

Good afternoon. May I ask City Council, as a reminder, the City of Claremont covers approximately, as you can see on the map, as you can see on the map, Wayne. The City of Claremont covers approximately 19.6 square miles and is home to approximately 54,000 residents and more. As our city continues to grow, it is important that the discussion and decisions are based on accurate information. As an advocate, as you are well known, of South Claremont, I would like to follow the statement to be entered in the public record. During the last city council meeting, An incorrect statement was made regarding the relative size of two of the largest communities in Claremont. It was stated that the Heritage Hills community is two to three times the size larger than Kings Ridge. In fact, it's the opposite. Kings Ridge is the largest community with approximately 2,088 homes, while Heritage Hills has approximately 1,100 homes. Therefore, Kings Ridge has nearly twice the number of homes as Heritage Hills, not the other way around. This correction is important because the City Council's discussions, decisions should always be based on accurate information. When the size and the population of a community are misstated, It can create a missing and misinterpretation of where residents live and the needs of the community. Accurate data is essential when considering representation, infrastructure improvements, public safety, transportation, parks and recreation, and the equitable allocation of city resources. like to thank you all for your time and you continue service for the residents of Claremont thank you and have a blessed day thank you oh by the way since I still got a little time you could show that map as a side note the line is heritage is Kings Ridge the blue is

is heritage shows so you can see it's like a little bit bigger thank you anyone else this is public comment anyone in the chamber wish to speak in public comment may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes

Good evening, Council. Otis Taylor, 3686 Kaladesi. We just concluded our youth program called Champion Circle this past Friday, and I just want to give kudos out to our fire department. They did a wonderful job allowing our teens to come out and show them what it's like in the everyday feel of a firefighter, inform them of what they can do if they choose to go that route. We also, I want to give kudos out to our police department. They did an awesome job when we did our police tour. And then we had our grand, which we do every year, our grand basketball game. We had 17 young men and to be able to work with a group of young men we had from all nationalities from all parts of Lake County. This year was really, really good. We really enjoyed working with these teams. We'll continue to work with them throughout the school year, but the summer program is over and it was just a win-win situation for us in the community as mentors and then also our teams. We are happy to say that we took the trophy back this year. It was a battle at the end. We ended up winning, I think it was 76 to 56. So it was a real good, a good exciting game for the boys. But the takeaway was our youth getting together with our officers, it just melts down a lot of problems that could be in the future. And I just wanted to thank the city for allowing that to happen, to allow our police officers to come out, our firemen to come out. And we went all over the city. We did things at Hyundai of Central Florida. They opened the doors and let the boys come in, learn about automotive, show them how to change tires, all different things like that. It's just been an exciting summer. But I wanted to say I am so thankful that we live in a community where we're caring for our youth because they're the ones who are going to be taking care of us. We don't train them today. We know what to expect. So one of the other things we like to do during the school year is work with we're going to go up to the office and rec and see if we can get a couple of rooms to work with these kids during the school year also. So it just bringing our community together, it was just a fun time and I just want to thank everyone that was involved and thank you all for allowing that to happen.

Thank you. Anyone else? Anyone else in the chamber wish to address anything for public comment? If not, we will close down public comment for the chamber. Excuse me. I got it. Thank you. Anybody online?

Not this time, sir.

Okay. Thank you. I got it. Thank you. All right. In that case, no one online, no one else in the chamber. I'll go ahead and close public comment. At this point, Mr. Van Wagner, are you going to change the agenda tonight?

yes mr mayor item number 10 is a request to table resolution number two zero two five dash zero four three r to september 22nd of 2026. okay uh since that's already on here we do not need a motion for that mr walker yeah we do need a motion we still need a motion okay

I need to read it. Yeah, I was going to say, she has to read it. And I have a question, too. Yeah, I just have a question.

A resolution of the City Council of the City of Claremont, Lake County, Florida, establishing residential utility rate discounts for persons age 65 and older, providing for conflict, severability, administrative correction of scrivener's error, publication, and an effective date.

Okay, I'd like to make a motion to table item number 10, resolution 2025-043, on to September 22nd of 2026.

I second.

Okay.

Yes, sir, you had a question? Yes. I would like to offer an amendment or ask Mr. Peterson if he'd be willing to entertain it. I'd actually like to request to table this to December 8th. And the reason why is we'll have the results of the election from the potential proposed tax referendum that also could affect our budget. And I think we should have all that information in totality before we make decisions.

This is September before the election.

I understand that. And I'm asking that I would prefer to have this table till after the election. And so I would ask my fellow council members to support tabling it to December 8th.

But I do have a motion.

Yeah, so there's already a motion. I'm willing to make an amendment. Or if Mr. Peterson wants to stick with September 22nd, we can vote on that. And if it votes down, then we can try December.

Do another one.

Mr. Peterson, would you like to amend your motion?

Staff is fine either way. Whatever you want to do is fine.

I mean, that was the staff recommendation for that particular date, correct? We're okay. Okay, so then I'll amend it to November. No, no, December.

December 8th is the first meeting post-election.

Okay, so I'd like to make a change in that to December 8th.

And I'll second it.

8 December. And I have a second. Okay. I have a motion and a second that we table item number 10, resolution number 2025-043R to 8 December of 2026. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed? Aye. All opposed? And chair vote aye as well. I got you. Motion passes 5-0. Yeah.

I don't know. Do we, do we need to make an announcement to let people know that council member strange is on, on phone so that people know she's here.

It's yeah. I mean, council member strange is on the phone and we can adjust the volume if y'all can't hear, but it sounds like she can hear us.

So, okay. Now here. Yes.

I can hear you just fine.

Okay. Thank you. Uh, any other changes? No, no other changes. Okay. Okay. The next site portion of the meeting is, is the consent agenda. which contains items that have been determined to be routine and non-controversial. If anyone in the audience wish to address a particular item on the consent agenda, now is the opportunity for you to do so. Additionally, if any staff or members of the City Council wish to speak to a consent item, they have the same opportunity. The consent item this evening is items one through nine. Any item need to be pulled. Are there any items that need to be pulled?

Mr. Mayor? Yes. I don't want to be pulled. I just have a question. Okay. And then maybe we need to pull it. Item three, we have in the staff report, this is for the Bishop Field Advisory Committee. We have in the staff report that the applicants are required to be a resident of Lake County. And we have one of the folks on here that actually does not live in Lake County. So I don't, but they coach here in Lake County. They coach in Claremont. I don't have a problem with that, but I guess I want to ask the question of the city attorney. If we do deviate from what was published, do we need to reopen that up to anyone outside of Lake County before we make that appointment? And can we just appoint the rest for the time being, or can we just go ahead and move forward?

So there's two things that I would say in answer to your question, Councilmember. One is when I look at the language in the actual resolution, it has an or. It's like three parts. And then there's or. So the way that I read it legally is resident of Lake County, comma, knowledge, blank, blank, blank, comma, or the third one.

That's fine by me then.

So I think it's okay without amendment. Great. If you think that's good enough.

I'm okay with that. I just wanted to make sure we weren't doing anything that would get us in trouble.

Yeah, that's great.

Okay. In that case, anything else that need to be pulled? Hearing none, I entertain a motion on items one through nine.

I make a motion to accept items one through nine on the consent agenda.

Second. Okay, I have a motion and a second for approval of consent agenda items 1 through 9 as presented. Any further discussion?

No.

Hearing none, all in favor let it be known by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed? And the chair vote aye as well. Motion passes 5-0. Thank you. Moving right along. Item number 10, we're taking care of early. Item number 11 is for final consideration of ordinance number 2026-024.

An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Claremont, Lake County, Florida, amending Chapter 18 of the Code of Ordinances to include definitions and prohibitions relating to illicit discharges and illicit connections to the City's municipal separate storm sewer system, and to establish inspection, monitoring, and enforcement authority relating thereto, providing for conflicts, severability, administrative correction of scrivener's errors, codification, publication, and effective date.

Sir, no presentation? Item number 12, 11. Okay. Anyone in the public who wishes to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes. Anyone in the chamber who wishes to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes. Seeing no one, I close public comment in chamber. Anyone online, sir? Seeing no one online, I close public comment on item number 11. I'll bring it back to council. What say council?

It's my understanding that this is a cleanup that we needed to do mandated by the state, so I'll move to approve ordinance number 2026-024. I second.

Okay, I have a motion and a second for approval of ordinance number 2026-024. Any further discussion? Hearing none, it's a roll call. Council Member Strange.

Aye.

Council Member Bain. Aye. Council Member Myers. Aye. Council Member Peterson. Aye. And the chair vote aye as well. Motion passes 5-0. Item number 12. Ordinance number 2026-023.

An ordinance granting to Duke Energy Florida LLC DBA Duke Energy non-exclusive rights of way utilization franchise prescribing the terms and conditions related to the occupancy of municipal streets and rights of way in the city of Claremont, Florida for the purpose of providing electric service, providing for severability of provisions, and providing an effective date.

And I'd be happy to discuss a little bit on this, Mayor. This is the subject of about a year's worth of discussions and negotiations that originated from the fact that your original 1996 ordinance has expired. So it ran its 30 years, and customarily Duke Energy's ordinances do go 30 years, the franchise agreements. And so the Duke had some asks and the city had some asks, you had some asks. There were some things that had to get done and this ordinance is the result of those negotiations. So in summary, this ordinance will look a little bit unusual to you compared to our usual ordinances. The reason is that this is consistent with Duke Energy's agreements around the state. So you look at other cities, it's gonna look like this ordinance. This is a little bit of modernization. But in addition, there's some trades. So we're going to get the same rate, the same fee that the city normally gets we would get under this ordinance. But Duke was interested in making an easier process for obtaining permits to do work. the city was willing to do that so long as as the Public Services Department requested Duke provide essentially on-demand trucks and assistance to us when we need to hold up certain infrastructure when we're doing right-of-way work we made requests on undergrounding because that seemed like a priority of the city and you'll see in section 4 subsection a you Duke wasn't willing to promise, give a blank check and say, we're just going to underground everything. But there is underlying language that says the parties agree to work in good faith toward executing an MOU to facilitate their shared mutual interest in working collaboratively on undergrounding plans and decisions, particularly with respect to any areas designated for use as trail systems. reliability, particularly in downtown, and solar street lighting. So these were priorities they've agreed to work with us on, and I think in good faith they've already undergrounded one or two things in the area. Also, this is not going to be 30 years. It'll be 10 years. It'll be up in 10 years and renegotiated at that time so that the parties can better meet each other's expectations without waiting until 2056. But that is my summary, and I believe Duke is represented here. So I don't know if they have anything to say or if I misstated anything, or maybe you have questions for her or me, but I welcome them.

Well, a lot harder to speak. Yes, ma'am.

Katie Christian, Director of Government and Community Relations with Duke Energy. Thank you, Mr. Waugh, for the great summary of the collaboration and reaching this agreement. And we really appreciate the feedback from the council members to prioritize things that are important to the city. And we look forward on working together on the priorities that have been identified on undergrounding, reliability downtown, and Solar Street lighting.

Well, thank you. Well, I do have one question. Is we going to get lighting on Excalibur before school starts?

Well, I thought we... And Oak Street? My understanding is that they, I believe that lighting was installed. The county told me it was installed.

I have to go out and check. Last time I was out that way, it was still a little dark. I got an email.

I got you. Well, the county emailed me today and said they had paid for the, the county paid for the installation. And we will assume the cost of ongoing lighting in the area. But I think it's done.

I just want to oh, well, that'd be great because, uh, hopefully our kids won't have to be walking school in the dark out there. They have some lighting along the road. So so I hadn't been I hadn't been out that way in a little while. So I'll go out and check it out. Thank you. Appreciate it.

Thank you.

This is a public here and anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have 3 minutes. Anyone in the public wish to address this to make on the microphone to state your name and address and have 3 minutes. Seeing no one, I closed down public comment in the chamber. Anyone online? Is there no one online? We closed public comment. Bring it back to council. What say council?

I just had a question. I don't know if you can hear me, Council Member Strange, but I know you brought up some items at the last meeting. I see some of that related to burying and solar and green power. Did you feel like the rest of those items that you brought up in question at the last meeting are being addressed or will be addressed through some sort of MOU?

Yeah, I just wanted to know if Christian felt like those were, the items identified in the revised or updated agreement are the items I was concerned about. So I just want to be sure that, I mean, an MOU obviously isn't binding. And so I'm seeking legal counsel that we are protected in that.

My understanding is that this does address the items you brought up. And, you know, if there was something missing, we will address it. I mean, we've been in regular contact and we have to have this. Yeah.

Yeah, so I'm okay with it as it is, as long as Christian's okay with it as it is.

Well, I do, it addresses the underlying, on the ground and everything, which is one of the main concerns of, I think, quite a few of us up here, so. Yeah. So, okay, I entertain a motion. And by the way, thank you and welcome. Thank you.

I'll move to approve ordinance number 2026-028. Second. Second.

I have a motion and a second for approval of item number 12, ordinance number 2026-028. Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Council Member Strange.

Aye.

Council Member Bain. Aye. Council Member Myers.

Aye.

Council Member Peterson. Aye. And the chair vote aye as well. Motion passes 5-0. Up to new business. Item number 13, physical year 2027 proposed at Ballarium.

Thank you, Mayor and City Council. Scott Boer, Finance Director. Pursuant to Florida statutes, the city must inform the Lake County property appraiser by August 4th, 2026 of the proposed maximum ad valorem millage rate for fiscal year 2027. The proposed maximum millage rate will be included in the property tax notices mailed to all city property owners by the Lake County property appraiser in August. THIS NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED RATE ALSO INCLUDES THE DATE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE, WHICH IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 AT 530 PM. THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 WILL BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026 AT 530 PM. THE FINAL RATE MAY BE LOWER THAN THE PROPOSED MAXIMUM MILLAGE RATE, BUT IT MAY NOT BE HIGHER. Per the budget workshop on July 8th, 2026, the majority of the city council recommended that the proposed maximum millage rate be adopted at 4.2900 mills for fiscal year 2027. This reflects a decrease from the current year's rate of 4.5900. And that concludes staff's report. Okay.

This is a public hearing. Anyone in the public who wishes to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes.

Otis Taylor, 3686 Keller DC. My question would be if the bill pass and we are lowering our rate in September, it looks like we could have some issues. But by law we have to have this by September? on the books, or is this something that we could push off like we did the other, just in case we're not paying these property taxes and then all of this is gonna kinda mess everything up?

Okay, address it later. Please, sir. Yes, sir.

Good afternoon. Joe Famasi, 2693 Jumping Jack Way. I hope that we can get back to the 4.2900. I think that working on an adequate and effective budget is going to take hard work. No matter what happens with the amendment, we're still going to have to figure it out. It's not our job to tell people how they need to vote. It's our job to get in and learn how to fix it. So let's get down there, let's make this budget work. We have priorities, public safety, infrastructure, those kind of things that we're supposed to be focusing on. So I hope that we look at this as an opportunity to make our budget more efficient. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else? This is a public hearing. Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes. Anyone else? Seeing no one else, I close public comment in the chamber. Anyone online, Mr. Wayne? No one online. We are closed public comment online. And bring it back to council. What say council?

Make a motion.

Go ahead.

You want me to?

Yeah, you go ahead.

I'd like to make a motion to accept What is the proposal? Proposed 2027, Avalorum rate of 4.29.

I second.

I have a motion and a second for approval of item number 12. Number 13, I'm sorry. Item number 13, Avalorum, for 2027 to be at 4.2900. I understand we cannot... Let's see that when we do the final in September, but we can go lower. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

Aye.

All opposed? Chair vote aye as well. Motion passes 5-0. Item number 14, resolution number 2026-024R.

A resolution of the City Council of the City of Claremont, Lake County, Florida, creating a downtown parking garage special advisory committee for economic development, providing for the membership of the committee, appointment by the City Council and duties, providing for conflicts, severability, administrative correction of scrivener's errors, publication, and an effective date.

Okay, Mr mayor, this is I'll take this 1. this is just the resolution to create the technical advisory committee. The next item will be actually discussing the members.

Okay. Um. I think in the resolution, I think we may. Need to change that something in the resolution, I think for the people authorized to be on there.

in which respect?

In which respect? I know we, one person on the Asked on the list is he doesn't live in the city of Cleveland, but I know he has on the main street board. So he has some interest in the downtown. Okay. And I think our resolution kind of precludes him from being on there. So I guess we would need to make an amendment to that, Mr. Warwick.

Yeah, I think you can definitely do that if you wish.

So along that lines, to go back to the question I asked earlier about the last advisory committee that we created. So would the, I'm looking at page 273 in the agenda packet, section one under qualifications. So you have to qualify as a member of individuals, and you have the list. And the last one is, or serving as an officer or director of a corporation of other business entity so engaged within the city of Claremont downtown. Would membership of Claremont Main Street fit into that category?

That's a good question. It's a good question.

It's not a member. It doesn't say member. It says officer or director.

Well, I mean, the person is on the board of directors. Right.

The main street. Oh. Or a director of a corporation of other business entities so engaged, which I presume is referring to a business practicing a profession or performing a service for compensation. But I don't know that it does. I mean, it's a not-for-profit. Yeah. So I think it would require...

But not-for-profits are businesses, right?

I think it would require an amendment. I mean, myself, because that all looks like for-profit style activity to me.

But it also says through the city of Claremont downtown. That doesn't, entities don't engage.

Well, it says reside in. I mean, does the member, does the director reside in Claremont?

He's an unincorporated Claremont, but he has a couple of businesses in town, but he's also serving on the board of directors for Main Street, but he doesn't have a business in the downtown area.

Can I, Mr. City Attorney, if we wanted to rectify this, can I make a motion to interpret that last line to include membership to a director level responsibility or involvement in organizations such as Claremont Main Street, Historic Village, Chamber of Commerce, et cetera?

Devoted to the city of Claremont? Yes.

Then I would make that motion.

In other words, a motion to approve it with that language. Yes.

Okay. If you will, Brian, before you make the motion, it's my understanding we had 10 applicants. Do we like the number seven still, or do we want to... Make this a bigger committee so more people can participate.

Yeah, so I think we actually have nine now. I think one individual has withdrawn their name. So I would be okay with amending to up to nine. And so making my motion of up to nine and then that interpretation piece.

I second that.

Okay.

If you make the motion, I'll second it.

Yep, we got it.

Well, we got a little ahead of ourselves.

Oh, we didn't have public comment yet, did we?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Well, you know what, though, because this will be good because then they can comment on the amended motion or the amended resolution.

Right, but this is a public hearing. Anyone in the chamber wish to address this item, they come to my phone and state your name and address and have three minutes.

Once again that's the make it afternoon City Council may have a quick question are we going to keep it a secret or we're going to be showing the names of the 9 is that going to be displayed at the next item was going to be on this. Yes on the next day.

This is the resolution for the next day. Anyone else wish to address this item. Anyone else in the team which is this is I can make on the microphone state your name and address and have 3 minutes. Seeing no one else in chamber, Mr. Wayne, we have anyone online? No one online, so we'll close down public comment, bring it back. I do have a motion and a second with the amendments as given. Any further discussion? Hearing none.

Yeah, one thing I'm wondering is if we have, do we actually have anybody or do we want to have somebody designated from, for example, Main Street? Is that something we want to consider before we move forward?

I believe there are a couple of folks on the list who are board members for Claremont main street. Yeah.

And what I'm asking is, do we want main street to actually nominate a representative?

Oh, I see. Well,

Well, we sent it out for nominations in Main Street. If they wanted somebody, they had the opportunity to send somebody.

And nothing stops them from participating in the committee meetings or sending materials, and they're not shy. No, no.

Okay, I just wanted to put that out before we voted.

Yeah, okay.

Well... Again, we do have a motion and a second with the added recommendations and amendments to the resolution. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye. All opposed? Aye. And the chair vote aye as well. Motion passes 5-0. Okay. Item number 15, Downtown Parking Garage Special Technical Advisory Committee. All right.

So, Council, this is the... These are the nine applicants that you have, and now you can choose up to nine of them. Are you going to display them? I can read out the names. I don't have the display. I don't think it was on this. Well, we have a list in our package. Yes, sir.

You don't have that list?

Yeah, I don't have a paper copy.

You don't have a paper copy. Well, I think she has it here. Okay, thank you. yeah he's coming around oh would you we i and mr mr matthews i'm gonna ask you to let the There are people who know exactly what this committee is going to be doing. They have purpose. Can you flip to the next page?

There we go.

Thank you. uh so so the committee was appointed to help us look at a couple different sites for the parking garage the one off of 7th street and the one right behind city hall so they're going to be meeting looking at the different sites going over the different pros and cons of each site as well as looking at designs preliminary designs that were done not not the final designs because we're going to be doing an rfq for a design firm to come out and build design so They're going to come back and recommend to counsel at which site they want to go with. And then they'll still be meeting once the design RFQ comes out and come back and recommend to counsel, which design that they, they see they'll be working with staff on that RFQ selection committee to design, to help figure that out. After we pick a site and a design, then the staff is going to go back out with an RFP for a construction company or an RFP for a builder to come out and do the actual construction of the design and the site, assuming everything continues to move forward.

Okay, thank you. Let me add this. Everybody, basically with the amendment we just did, everybody on the list will be on this committee with the exception of Mr. Jason Stringfeller. The other nine would be on the committee with the amendment that was just given. Okay. That is correct.

That was not my understanding of what this committee was doing, so I want to make sure we're all on the same page. It was not my understanding that this committee was going to be helping select a firm. It was my understanding that this committee would be working with staff and professionals that we have to come up with designs that we then send out or bid so i'm not trying to get my goal in doing this was not to get committee folks to to pick a firm it was to get committee folks to help create designs at both locations so that we could make informed decisions about what the opportunities are at both locations

That's correct. Well, they'll be looking at designs because when they meet as the committee, when they're looking at site and design, the staff will be showing them a bunch of different design opportunities and options, and they will help select what kind of design they like. So then we go out with the RFQ for the design firm.

If I'm mistaken, the council will have a final say over it all. Correct. And everything. So, yeah. But no, I don't think we're asking them to do anything. a firm, look for a firm or anything. We're just asking them to help us choose a location and with some type of design. So suggested design. That's correct.

Well, and my goal in bringing this up to you council members is to make sure we're all on the same page because, you know, I see this as a multimillion dollar decision and I would like for staff and the committee to to have reasonable resources. And what I mean are dollars that they can spend on design. We have something like nine or 10 architectural firms that are on continuing services with us. So I want them to feel free to be able to come up with ideas for us rather than feel boxed in or to be limited. And so there's not a lot of time. So if we are comfortable, I like to give staff some sort of whether it's a budget or some sort of approval to spend a little money so we don't feel boxed in, so we don't spend several million, you know, jump over dollars to pick up pennies, in other words. So I want them to be able to, if they came back to us with five or six designs, I'd be happy with that, is my point.

Okay. All right.

Along that same line, if it's okay to just discuss, because I know I received calls, I don't know if other people did, about where we were with this and what actually we approved at the last meeting on the 23rd of June. So I went back and watched the meeting. To your point, Councilmember Strange, because I wanted to try to recall what exactly... you made as your motion, and then I seconded at that meeting. And correct me if I'm wrong, but when I look back at it, here's what I heard and made some notes on, that it was a two-pronged motion. The first was to create a citizen committee to work with staff and professionals to come up with design for garages at the 7th and Mineola and City Hall locations and to deliver concept plans and estimated budgets within 60 days. And then the second part of that was simultaneously staff would advertise an RFP or some sort of invitation to bid, I think is what the language we actually came up with, to do a triple P, a public-private partnership within the CRA for parking solutions and options that is totally different from the city garage and have that delivered by September 22nd.

Yes. And in that vein, I think for clarity and transparency that my understanding is our attorney has identified prong number two as the best vehicle being an RFI, which I think is request for ideas.

Yeah, and I'm okay with that. I think we pretty much kind of gave them the open-ended whatever RF fill in the blank was best to meet that need. And so I guess to your point, Council Member Strange, about the committee and the work. So my first question is, are we still on a 60-day? And is that 60-day from June 23rd or is that 60-day from today? And number two, I mean, what would we need to spend? I guess I'm curious, what would we need to spend or do to help the committee come up with designs and budgets and plans to present to us for us to vote on the location and go out to bid?

I think I have the same question as you council member Bain, which is I don't want staff or the committee to be handcuffed by lack of resources on coming up with ideas and concepts for us. So I know the city manager can spend up to 50,000, but I don't think we have an allocation for design for parking garage in our budget right now. So I just want to publicly be having the conversation about Are we comfortable with the city manager or the designee working with the committee to spend some money? And my position is, as I said before, if they came back with five or six designs between the two locations, I would be okay with that. I'd like to see options.

And I guess my answer to you would then be, yes, I'm okay with exerting resources, allocation, funding to help them create the designs for those plans and budgets to bring to us. So I don't know if we have to approve that or if we're good with up to the $50,000 and just give verbal authorization to the city manager that they can bring an item back to us if they need to to reallocate that from a line to a line. But I would be okay with that.

And then as to the time limit, I think, I mean, my original intent was to move this forward quickly. What I don't want to do is have the appearance or feeling of dragging it out. But I think if we could get an update, at least by the August, the second meeting in August, and then my goal with the September, what is it, the 22nd, was to be able to hear all the ideas from the public and know what those concepts might cost. And so I think getting the cost for those concepts might be a procurement question, RFP question. So we may be running into 90 days plus 15 or 20. I'm not going to get hung up on that, but I would like to at least get an update by the second meeting in August on where the committee is and if they have any designs yet or something to show that we've tried to, you know, where we're at on that process.

I mean, doesn't the city, didn't we vote on getting our own design center in the city? And couldn't the design firm then do the plans and we could give them the concepts?

It could, but that's in the 27. We haven't approved that yet. But yeah, that's what I'm trying to, it would be helpful if we had that right now, is the point.

Yeah, but... Mr. Wall, the mention of giving the city manager up to $50,000. This is an item that isn't in the budget yet, Mr. And so would there need to be a motion to amend our budget for this $50,000 to authorize this city manager to spend it?

Yes. Yes. Okay.

Because it's not in the budget. I keep, you got to always remember he has an authorization if it's a budgeted item. Okay. So, yeah. Well, I guess the first thing we would have to do if we want to do that is make a motion to amend the budget for $50,000 to authorize him to spend this money. So it wouldn't need to be done, I'm assuming. Mr. What?

I mean, I think you could do a motion to allocate the funds, and then we can maybe pass the budget amendment next meeting, for example, when we figure out where it's going to come from. But, you know, in other words, I view that as something that we can work after the fact on if you allocate the funds.

So we can just have a motion saying we're going to allocate the fund, and then we can –

And in the meantime, we can start talking to these people about what these concepts are going to cost to provide these options to the committee. Because it may be that we need to give you different guidance at the next meeting. Maybe it's more. Maybe we need more time. But believe me, this is foremost on staff's mind, and they want to execute this. Right, right.

So are we all comfortable with up to $50,000? And if he needs more, he just needs to bring it back? But if we can get it done for $50,000, then... Then we're comfortable with that. I mean, I think we've over allocated in the comprehensive plan what's been contracted so far. So if he was to treat this as part of the comprehensive plan, I think that he legally could do it. I don't know, Christian, if you want to correct me.

Yeah, I think we could do that. I want to talk to Scott about it, but yeah.

If it would be okay, Mr. Mayor, Nathan is going to go ahead and head this up for us, Nathan Norris and this committee. And if he could just take a moment to talk to this, I'd be grateful for the time to let him say something about this.

Okay. So in addition to the nine members that we're going to put on the committee, he's going to be the chair and chairing it. Okay.

Yes, thank you. I think it might be easier to think of it in terms of some of our history of going ahead and going forward with plans before we've really had the discussion or had the council have the opportunity to identify what we usually talk about in design as the program. What is the program that you really want? And so when we're talking, when Council Member Strange mentions, oh, it'd be great if we had six or seven different ideas that we could consider, that actually makes the design process a little easier to have a meaningful choice. If you only have one thing to look at, it's hard to have a meaningful choice. Because you really don't have choice. So the idea is, at least in my head, the easiest way to move forward is the first step isn't actually drawing out the parking garage. It's having these community members get together and debate the different elements that they think are important so that they can come back to the council, let's say, in that update in August and say, okay, this is the program, or these are the program issues that we see. The next iteration or the next step would then be to go to the concept stage where you're actually drawing these things out so we can get an idea of the expense. And so there may be opportunities to take funds from our existing comprehensive planning process. and maybe allocate that. So that's the other thing that I'd say. So I think we're sort of, as far as decision making, I think we're sort of safe. And I think that with the people that have expressed interest in serving on this committee, they're very knowledgeable and very interested in trying to identify a program that will be helpful to you. So that's really what I think would be the process. Any questions?

And how much money do you think you might need, Mr. Norris? AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS GIVE YOU THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED TO HELP US MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, GOOD DECISIONS.

I'M NOT SURE, BUT UNDER $50,000 WOULD BE ENOUGH AT THE CONCEPT STAGE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.

SO AUTHORIZING UP TO 50 SHOULD COVER IT AT THIS POINT.

YES.

Thank you.

I'm not sure we did public comment.

We didn't. But I think what I just want – if I can just say one other thing. What I don't want to do is push this too far out. Right. I think that was pretty clear from our last meeting that we don't need – Really, they're not making a recommendation on location because we've actually asked them to give us some concepts and estimated budgets on both. So I would like to see that done within 60 days of today so that we could make a decision by the end of September on a spot. Yes. And then we go out to bid for an actual structure. I agree. And then we approve or disapprove that structure at that location. And we get this either, we'll get it decided one way or the other. I think that's what the public is asking us to do. And I think that as long as we're on that path, I'm okay with that. I agree.

I have no problem with 60 days from today. I think if we went back to June, we'd be handcuffed. I do, too, to be honest. But this is a public forum. Anyone in the public who wishes to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes. Anyone in the chamber who wishes to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes. No, I...

Hi there. Anna Sinclair, 575 West Mineola. Again, thank you for the opportunity. It's not a comment. It's actually a question probably for the city attorney. Because now that we have formed this committee, are we under sunshine? Can I go to Bacchus to get some wine or nah?

That's a great question.

Because I live downtown and if I have to, I guess for 60 days not getting coffee downtown, that's a very... I'll still do it, but...

Well, it's a good question. And I think I was going to have the city attorney explain that once we went through all the vote. But you can go ahead now.

Well, I'm glad it was brought up because we do want to avoid that. It is my interpretation based on how the committee is formed. that it probably is subject to sunshine okay best to err on the side of caution it doesn't mean you can't go get coffee or talk about how amazing the red sox are doing okay right now historic really um or or things like that you just can't talk about things that are likely to come in front of you as a committee okay so basically i can go get coffee yeah don't talk about the parking garage don't talk about that yes okay perfect thank you that's all thank you anyone else

Anyone else wish to address this item? No one else in the chamber wish to address the item. We're going to close down public comment in the chamber. Anyone online, sir? No one online? I'll bring it back to council.

So I think the way I understand it now is we're going to empower our city manager to get the design center up to a $50,000 budget to come up with some kind of design for us. Is that what I'm understanding?

No, I think actually maybe this will help if I make the motion and this maybe clears it up for you. I would like to move, what is this, item number 15, downtown parking garage special technical advisory committee an authorization of allocation of up to $50,000 to be authorized where from at the next meeting, and to have this committee, as the last resolution said, make a recommendation to us within 60 days of designs for garages at 7th and City Hall locations, 7th and Mineola and City Hall locations, including concept plans and estimated budgets. And then also simultaneously having staff do what they're doing and they can work with this committee once they get that back. I second.

Okay, Mr. Wilde, that meet all the legal ramifications with the monies and all that, right?

I think we're fine on that. Okay. And then after that, have you all appointed the committee yet? Okay, no, okay, I was just checking.

I'm moving the resolution with all of that. To appoint and these things. Gotcha. Just to clarify what we're actually doing with it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So appointing committee and additional funding was all in your motion. Okay. Okay. All right. I have a motion and a second for approval of item number 15 with the name presented to us on the committee and Mr. North as the chair of the committee, okay? And with the authorization up to $50,000 for the city manager to get this accomplished. However, at the next council meeting, we'll determine where the $50,000 is coming from on the budget. Does that sum it up? Okay, thank you. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor let it be known by saying aye. Aye. All opposed?

Aye.

All opposed? Chair vote aye as well. Motion passes 5-0. Thank you. Item number 16, council member requests.

you mayor this was my item that i asked to be put on the agenda um it actually is two sets of proposed changes for the council uh rules of conduct related to how we go about our meetings and so if if if we can i i separated it out only because if folks don't want to approve um if they like items one a b and c but don't like item two then we could separate them. I didn't wanna lump them together, but I'll explain them here. Item 1A is pertaining to the process for how we go about our meeting. And it's related to this resolution that we have here in the packet and Robert's Rules of Order. that it states that city council will generally have untimed opportunity to ask questions and seek information of staff, applicants, and members of the public presenting or speaking to matters before the council. This does not pertain to members of the council making statements on matters before the council. Council will follow an orderly speaker rotation that will rotate the first speaker position each meeting and follow a numeric order based on seat number, except that the mayor or presiding officer will go last. So for example, if this gets approved at the next meeting, seat one would go first, then seat two, seat four, seat five, and then seat three. And then in the meeting after that, it would be seat two, seat four, seat five, seat one, and then the mayor and so forth. Upon the conclusion of the questioning and seeking information rotation, members of the council would then have three minutes to make a statement on matters before the council and will follow the same orderly rotation of that meeting. These time limits may be extended by the mayor, presiding officer, or affirmative majority vote of the council. That language is already in our rules. And finally, members of the council will have three minutes to make their individual report during the reports agenda category at the end of the meeting and will follow that same rotation and items can be referred. And this all goes to anything that's on the agenda under presentations, consent agenda, unfinished business, and new business. The reason why I'm proposing this is that we've heard from the public and we've all heard actually all of us up here talk about how we tend to jump around and sometimes inadvertently speak over or we try to move something forward before everyone's had an opportunity to address the item. I'm just trying to make a stab at coming up with some sort of rotation process that allows council to ask all the questions they need to ask of the material that comes before us but separate that between actual question fact-finding and making statements because I think that's where the issue runs into potentially having concerns related to how long statements go and And so if we can separate those two and have unlimited questions, but then have a three minute period of statement. And I think we all can agree reasonably that if it's a really, really big issue and you need that additional 30 seconds, we do that with our residents who come up during statements at the beginning. I think we can give that deference to each other. But by rule, it would be three minutes. And then in addition to that, the other two changes related to item one would be just changing the other two spots in the rules to reflect this change, if we so agree to it. The second item I've proposed is for a agenda review meeting. And right now for the public, if you don't know, we all as council members meet individually with the city manager, deputy city manager and directors. And those meetings can go anywhere from an hour, hour and a half, two hours. And so five of us, That's maybe 10 hours up to a week that staff are meeting with us individually to review the agenda. What I'm proposing, and I just threw out a date and time, a day and time to start the conversation, was that instead of individual meetings, that we would have a joint agenda review meeting with the city council and department heads, and I just threw out 9 a.m. on Mondays before the council meeting, And the purpose of that would be for staff, what we do behind closed doors now, where staff would present and introduce what's on the agenda. Council would ask questions, try to seek information, let staff know, hey, I have questions about this. Can you bring this data to the actual meeting? It's for information gathering only. No votes, no action can be taken. And at the end of that, members of the public would be permitted three minutes at the end of the agenda review meeting to speak on any item that was just addressed.

um and those are the two items that i've proposed for um discussion and potential action this evening okay this is a public forum anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes anyone

Joe Famasi, 2693 Jumpin' Jack Way. Council Member Baines, I appreciate the spirit of this. The only part I didn't hear is whether the enforcement comes in.

Thank you.

Yeah, because when a violation of these rules intentionally continue, is there an enforcement half of that to make sure that we can bring this back to an orderly situation? That was my comment. Thank you. Thank you.

Anyone else?

VINCENT NEMEK, REGENCY HILLS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I GOT TO TELL YOU, AFTER SERVING ON PLANNING AND ZONING FOR SIX YEARS, WHICH I STILL LOVE TO DO, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MR. BRIAN VANE TO BE MY CHAIRPERSON. AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED ON HOW FAST AND ORGANIZED THE MEETINGS WENT. Okay, I was one of the public that complained about the disorder. And according to the parliamentary rules, we cannot sit in those seats and yell out rule of order. It has to be done from up there. All right, or else there'll be complete chaos. So I would like to definitely tip my hat off on that suggestion for Councilman Bain. On the other side of the coin, I was just a little taken back by your second part with having Monday meetings. I understand you're saving a lot of time with the staff, and I get that, and the directors. I understand. It's a lot, and it's time-consuming. But having public comment, number one, I'm going to be honest, and you know I'm raw. You're having two council meetings back-to-back. Okay? I like the concept, but the public comment kind of threw me off. But keep in mind, you schedule meetings with these gentlemen and the directors in the room. Okay? Because when I get a packet for P&Z, I have the privacy of my own home to go over that. And I have tools and techniques. You, the council... have the city manager, you have Danny, assistant manager. Sometimes you even have our attorney there. You have the director of PNZ and the director of finance, okay? So really think about it as a tutoring course. Do you really want to show your other side of what you might be knowledgeable? Because if you're going to have a developer come up to this and know your faults, He's going to have the upper hand on the city of Claremont, not the council. Okay? So I said my piece. I hope you guys vote the way you want. But I hope your first item goes through because you were very good as a chairperson. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else?

Hello, Ana Sinclair, 575 . I like this. I think that sometimes with meetings, they can get a little bit disorganized. With some items, I understand that you need kind of a certain level of chaos to actually talk everything through. With most items, though, I think that having something like this is crucially important to keeping the meetings brief. I appreciate that. My only suggestion, and I don't know if it will be part of this, in addition to the enforcement component maybe, would be that perhaps the council gets to ask the question first before public comment. And the reason for that is that sometimes we hear what you ask. You have more information than we do because you have more time to read the packet. And then that might change how I think about a certain thing a little bit. And you might prompt me to ask certain questions when it's my time for public comment. The second reason for doing that is that if you ask for questions first, then we go into public comment, and then we go into statements, you can actually address the concerns that the community has brought to you, and it keeps this interaction humane. You want to make sure that people feel listened to and heard. So regardless, I appreciate this, and thank you very much, Council Member Bain, for this. I am in full support.

Thank you. Anyone else? Anyone else in the chamber? Seeing no one else in the chamber, anyone online? No one online, so I close public comment. Bring it back to the chair, uh, council.

I like the idea of 1A where you're talking about taking turns and giving our time limits. So I'm in total agreement with that. As far as the gender review, I'm not in agreement with that because that's two council meetings. And it's our time to, how I call it, is being tutored. And when I had to be tutored in some of my previous subjects in college, I wouldn't want anybody watching. And that's how I feel. This is me being tutored by the experts on the different areas. And so I don't want that to be seen for everyone. That's my opinion. So I'm a no on that.

Mr. Peterson. I think it's a great idea, the 1A. But the problem that I think one of the gentlemen from the public said is, who's going to be policing it? What do you do? I mean, if it's constantly that you can then say, OK, you can go, you can go, you can go, then what have we accomplished? You can have another three minutes. You can have another half hour. We can go off on a tangent over there if you feel like going to that. Let's talk about ceiling lights as opposed to garage. You know, what's happening, I think, is that it's the tangents that we really have to worry about. But, I mean, I think this is a great step forward, you know, as opposed to everybody, you know, complaining. Now at least somebody's doing, which is an important part. So, you know, I'm in agreement with that. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm sorry, Ms. Strange, you are there. Ms. Strange. Yeah, I'm here.

Thank you. Council Member Bain, I commend you. I think that the work that you put into this is evident in the agenda packet, and so I appreciate it. I can tell it was very thoughtful, not only in the preparation, but in the actual content. I loved the comments of the public. I think they were very good comments. I honestly had not thought about what could be perceived as a vulnerability in asking questions, as Ms. Myers said, being tutored. I think there's wisdom in the perception of potential developers. I think that there was good advice given there that we need to be mindful how this could be perceived through the observation on item number two in your request. I question if we need, if we were to move forward with the agenda review process, if we would still need unlimited time for questions for us, it seems a little duplicative. I don't know what direction this is going. It may not go in the agenda review. I will say, I like the idea of the meeting where we can all ask the questions. I have found multiple occasions where I asked a question in my review, which gave me information. which then when I said it at the public meeting, it caught other members of council by surprise because they hadn't thought of something the way that I had thought of it or heard it from staff the way that I heard it. So I do think there's value in that. And I wonder if there's a modification of the agenda review perhaps on maybe the Thursday or Friday prior to the meeting, which if there were questions that we felt Maybe we didn't want to ask in the public eye would give us time to have a follow-up question or give staff an opportunity to get answers that we might've asked at the meeting. I think also looking ahead at the next upcoming meeting, that's one of the things I tend to do in my agenda reviews is kind of get a feel for what's coming up in the next month. So that might be helpful to add to something like that. And maybe it's not something we have to do, so it doesn't become you know, one meeting after another, after another. I think the goal here is to make our meetings move faster. And I don't know if we would be achieving that or if we would just be adding more to our plate as council. I'm open to the conversation. I, again, I like where we're going. I definitely like the structure. We just, I mean, Mr. Mayor, you just did it. You said our names and you gave us a chance to speak. And I feel that felt great, actually. So I do like that a lot. So I think on the first item, Brian, that I could move to support that. I mean, I could support that today. I think probably working through item two a little bit more, maybe. It's hard for me not being in the room with you right now. I can't read your faces, so I apologize. I'm shaking my head yes. But I like the direction of this a lot. So I don't know if we're there, but I'm in support of the general direction that we're going. I think this is great, and I thank you. I sincerely thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Did you want to say anything, Mayor, before I? Well, okay. I have some follow-up, but I'm happy to go at the end.

Well, for the first part, I have no problem with the first part, if that's what you all want to do. But here's the thing, and especially with reporting the second part about reports. Council members in the past has always come to me and complained about having to be first all the time.

Oh.

So that's why I've always kind of like rotated things around. This rotates. And everything. So that's one of the reasons I've always tried to rotate special reports and everything. So I have no problem with that. And then the second part, my feeling exactly, we're almost having two council meetings, okay? I enjoy my agenda review in private, in person. And as I've said many times before, I do not meet with, Developers and one of the reason I don't meet with the developers I can talk to my city staff in private anything I don't know They can inform me and any question I have that they can't answer they can go back to developer and get it for me Whether than me having to deal with the developers, okay And that's what I depend upon my staff for they are very qualified people and they can handle it and I would love to be able to stick with that and I just I see adding a gender review a public gender review and having public comments i mean it's almost two two council meetings okay and i'm quite sure and of course monday would be a hard time for me because i do i got board meetings and things like this on monday and things so even if it works to go through so i'm trying to find a good time for everybody with all the other schedules and all it could be kind of tough but the rest of it i can support okay first part okay

um thank you all and thank you for the public for the comment i think just to address if i may the the items that did come up uh parliamentarian and enforcement so um in our council rules right now we do have a process by which that the um that any council member only the mayor or presiding officer can interrupt a speaker so any speaker um and um THAT IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, ANY ONE OF US CAN CALL A POINT OF ORDER AND ASK FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE OTHER ITEM THAT IS IN HERE IS WE DO HAVE RIGHT NOW THE CITY ATTORNEY SERVES AS THE ADVISORY PARLIAMENTARIAN FOR THE CITY. AND I WOULD, AND IT DOES SAY Final parliamentary procedure are made by the mayor or presiding officer subject to the immediate appeal to the full council. So I think that we as council members, if we feel like we're not following our own rules, whether it's this or any other rule, we have the parliamentary privilege to call a point of order. or a point of privilege. And the city attorney can rule on that, similar to what we did at the last meeting where the motion was made to adjourn. It was a privileged motion. I think it frustrated some people that we weren't able to debate it, but that's a parliamentary motion. You can't debate that. And so if we have that, I think we just all need to give the thumbs up to the city attorney to really take on that role of advisory parliamentarian, but also for us to brush up on our that we have as council members to be able to say, okay, point of order, I think Council Member Bain's going way too long. And so I think we need to expedite this. And we can do that in a respectful way. And I think... especially by being able to point back to a rule that we all approve, if it's unanimous, that we said, hey, we all said we were willing to do this and we're not doing it. Can we get back to that? And I think it creates that buy-in. So hopefully maybe that addresses the question. I think Mr. Fumasi was the one who asked about parliamentary enforcement. The agenda review meetings, I hear what my fellow council members are saying. I would like to just strike item two from this proposal at this point. I think there's some warrant, maybe, as Council Member Strange said, maybe we workshop this and talk about it when the opportunity comes up. But it sounds like there might be some apprehensions on that, and that's okay. I just put this in there for discussion to talk about it and we can continue the conversation. But I really think the main purpose here is items one, A, B, and C, which are all the same, which would be this new process. And then finally, I really like the idea that I think one of the other citizens brought up about having the council members ask their questions. then go to public comment and then have the council member comments. I'm okay with trying that as a rotation. And if it seems it works great, great, let's do it every meeting. If it doesn't, all right, well, that didn't work. We just move on to a different process. I don't think we have to codify that necessarily. It's just as a way for us to try. But I like that. So with all that being said, I would like to make a motion to approve items one, A, B, and C and remove item two from the resolution. I second.

I have a motion and a second for approval of item number 16, council member request item 1, A, B, and C, and abstract item 2. Correct. Okay. Correct. Any further discussion?

No.

I do. Mr. Bain, I'm glad that you brought up Ms. Sinclair's comments. I actually really like that idea. I don't know. how, if we don't codify it, how we do that. But I actually think that would be very good if it's something we would like to consider and related to that. And Mr. Wall, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think if we had an item, if we open up the public comment after a motion is made, please correct me, but I think if the motion is to table the item, that we would not need to move forward with public comment. So the motion before the public comment might procedurally be helpful.

I guess I'm not fully understanding the question.

That's what I'm trying to think, too. The fact is if we decide to have a question and answers and everything before we open it in public and then we make a motion before we go to public, will that shut down public?

Oh, well, you're not even required to do public comment unless – You have done that as a matter of practice, which erring on the side of we want to hear from the public. But actually, it doesn't really matter because you're not required to do it unless it's a public hearing or someone makes it known that they want to speak. But I mean, without that.

Ms. Strange, if I'm not mistaken, I think she's concerned with the fact that if we make a motion before public comments, do they close public comment out before a lot of it?

It depends on if you want to entertain it or not. If it's a public hearing, you have to have public comment. But if it's not a public hearing, you don't.

Let's say we were tabling an item to a later date. Would we...

then need to open it up and go through that process no not usually i mean for that matter we don't even actually have to read resolutions when you take up resolutions if you're going to table them okay for example i mean there's things we do in an abundance of caution but that's not strictly necessary so then maybe we should keep it with table with with the item that's table but then we get on another agenda item and we're discussing it here and

Actually, we somewhat did tonight. We tried to make a motion before we actually opened our public comment.

Well, maybe we should just keep it so the public can make their comment first, and then we can go.

We just have to remember.

Well, actually, Mayor, it's kind of like the city manager has discretion without any public comment to show up here and take something off the agenda. The point of public comment is to inform the actual decisions you make, like affirmative action. So on procedural stuff, I'm not concerned.

Okay, so we'll be okay. We'll be okay. We'll be okay. And I think that was our concern. We'll still be okay.

I think that's a great idea that the citizens would come after we to have our discussion. So that's where they could come up. They might have a different questions before because they're not aware of how our feelings are on this. And then once they do, they could have different questions or even maybe sterner questions to us because they disagree.

So here's one of the questions I have then. Okay, we have our discussion. Citizen, come up and have a discussion. The citizen stirs some more questions up than us. Do we get, in this procedure, do we get a chance to go back and redo everything?

Well, I think if we're, I mean, I think we'd have to have a second question period, right? And so that's why I didn't even think about that. But you know what, though? Mr. City Attorney, does anything preclude us from, with the spirit of what we're approving here, in the intent of what we're approving, if we wanted to try a meeting where we started with the rotation of council member questions, then went to public comment, and then came back, and if we see that by doing so, we create a need for a second round of questioning before we get to statements, we then know we have to alter our rules. Sure. But rather than codifying it that way and having to do that every single time if we don't know that we want to do it that way right now, can we try it? Yes. And see, and if it does, we can go back and add it? Absolutely. Okay.

Then I think that'd be an approach I would want to try just to see if we can.

Okay. Okay.

So just as written currently for now.

We're calling for a vote?

Yeah, as approved, 1A, B, and C as written. And then with the expectation that we will try at a meeting to go with the council questions first, then public comments, then council statements. And if that continues to work, we'll codify that. If not, then we'll go back to how we do it right now, but just with this new rotation. Okay.

Okay.

So, there's a motion and a 2nd, yes, and everybody understand the motion. Yes. So, is there no further discussion? You okay? Miss strange.

I'm great.

All right all in favor. Let it be known by saying, aye, aye, aye. And the chair vote as well motion carries 5. 0. Uh. You don't need a break, right? Let's go to item number 17, resolution number 2026-021RR.

A resolution of the City Council of the City of Claremont, Lake County, Florida, granting a conditional use permit to allow for a veterinary clinic to operate within a planned unit development with C1, like commercial zoning district uses, providing for conflict, severability, administrative correction of scrivener's error, publication, and an effective date.

Yes, ma'am.

Good afternoon, Mayor, City Council members and guests. Justine Day with Development Services. City Vet on behalf of the applicant is requesting a conditional use permit to allow for a veterinary clinic to operate on a property that is currently undergoing site review. The property is located at the southeast corner of South US Highway 27 and Citrus Tower Boulevard intersection within the Governor's Lake Commerce Center planned unit development. The applicant is proposing to build out a new animal clinic within the future multi-tenant shell building. The clinic will operate entirely indoors and offer services such as checkups, diagnoses, dental care, and minor surgery to small animals. No overnight boarding or the treatment of large animals such as livestock will be provided. Business hours will be Monday through Friday from 7am to 6pm and Saturday from 8am to 2pm. The clinic will be preparing a waste management plan that includes an internal pet relief area. In the future, they may add an outdoor relief area with a monitored waste station. The property is governed by ordinance number 2020-24, which allows for mixed use development with C1 light commercial uses. The veterinary clinic may be comparable to retail or medical office use within this district due to the services being offered. Additionally, the parcel is situated between commercial development on the north, south, and west sides of the parcel, while Lake Felter provides a buffer on the east side. The nearest residential use is approximately 1,100 feet away across South US Highway 27, and the nearest veterinary clinic is approximately one and a half miles away south of Heartwood Marsh Road. Based on the site's location and surrounding uses, staff finds the proposed use compatible with the district and would not be more obnoxious than existing permitted uses. When evaluating a request for a conditional use permit, Section 101 of the Land Development Code outlines specific development standards that are required to be met. Staff has reviewed the application and finds the proposed use can meet general criteria for approval and will not be detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the surrounding community. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval five to zero of resolution number 2026-021 as presented. Staff recommends approval of resolution number 2026-021R. This concludes staff presentation.

Thank you, ma'am. This is a public hearing. Anyone in the chamber wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes. Oh, I'm sorry, applicant. Yeah, exactly.

Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor and members of the council. Yes, my name is Jim Graham. I am with CityVet. I am CityVet's Vice President of Real Estate, and I'm happy to address any questions or anything you might have. So, thank you very much.

Thank you, sir. Again, this is a public hearing. Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to the microphone and state your name and address and have three minutes. Anyone in the chain which address I may come to my phone state your name and address and have 3 minutes. Seeing no one close public comment for chamber anyone online told public comments. All together and bring it back to Council would say. We will start the strange and.

Yeah, my my questions are, I think, for the city attorney. One is by approving this, are we... He's not here.

He's not here, Allison. He's not here. He stepped out for a minute.

Let me go to Brian, and when he comes back, we'll come back to you.

Okay.

Please.

Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. I just have one question that is unrelated necessarily to approval, but out of curiosity. With regard to staffing, what does staffing look like here, and do you bring staff in with this company, or do you hire from within, or how does that work?

Great question, Councilman. Just start, I'll go back all the way to the beginning. So first thing, we're a little different than other corporate veterinary groups. Each one of our clinics is a partnership between our corporation and a local veterinarian. So the lead veterinarian at that clinic is a veterinarian that already lives here in the Orlando area, and they will be heading up that clinic. So they're gonna live here, work here, play here. And then yes, we will then work with that lead veterinarian to hire their team from the Orlando area here. We do not put together a team in another location and then drop them in. No, they're all going to be recruited and hired from the local folks here.

And the size of this, what type of staffing do you typically see?

I forgot that part.

Yeah, no worries.

Yeah, normally I think early on we'll start with maybe seven to eight total staff. And as we probably through our three-year ramp up, we'll probably have anywhere from 15 to 20 staff. Okay.

All right. Thank you very much.

You bet.

Mr. Warren is back in the room. Ms. Strange, go ahead, please, ma'am.

Thank you. Mr. Warren, my questions are twofold. The first is going to be the 10,000-foot view, which is why is this before us? Is it because the veterinary clinic requires a CUP? That could be the answer. And then the second question relates to the fact that this property is in site review, and if we were to approve this, Are we somehow being interpreted as approving the site as a whole by approving this use?

First of all, yes, a CUP is required for this use at this location. Second of all, if I understand, are you asking if you approve this CUP, are you approving the site plan?

Are we, are we, yeah, I mean, are we kind of approving it by approving the CUP?

No, I mean, we can argue about whether or not you can factor in your review of the site plan for the purposes of CUP approval. I mean, it's currently kind of in the criteria, but no, you, the site plan is not before you today. And it won't be.

That's what it's related to. The packet refers to it's in the end cap and the location of it. And I'm just not sure. I'm questioning if this is put in the cart before the horse. Or if it's okay, are we basically saying for this property, we're okay if there's a veterinary clinic on it?

Yeah, that is what you're saying.

Okay.

If you approve it. Yeah.

I think what she's trying to say is if we approve this, does this go with the property, the land itself? So then can any other veterinary type of business then come into this site? Or is this just for this particular one here?

right right now it's just this one on this site right now it's just a veterinarian i guess i'm assuming he owned it all but i don't see it tied um to a particular uh owner so it's going to be allowed on this site if you approve it okay you okay miss strange yeah if you look at um in the packet the drawing that's provided just

If you just look at the staff, probably the easiest place to look at it is the staff report. The first page shows the entire parcel, but then the second page on the staff report shows the specific location of the veterinary clinic. And I just want to be clear that because we don't have the site plan before us, what we're saying is the yellow dotted entire parcel has, I don't see how we can do anything but approve that the yellow dotted entire parcel can have a veterinary clinic on it, that we can't approve that. the red parcel on page two because we haven't approved the site plan. That particular piece of property doesn't exist yet.

I see. I see what you're asking. Let me just look at this a little. Well, let me ask staff. I mean, are the other things shown on here approved yet?

This is a red fork.

The other uses are permitted outright, and technically that red spot is not a parcel at this moment. So we were referring to the whole larger parcel to have, because we don't know how it's going to necessarily be laid out. Right. This is a conceptual plan that has not been site reviewed.

It's it's going to be one of, uh, multiple uses on the property. Correct. Yes.

Okay. That answer your question, Ms. Strange.

Well, I'm going to make my decision today presuming that if I vote yes on this, that the yellow dotted parcel can have a veterinary clinic on it, not that I'm approving the red parcel on page two.

Correct. Is that accurate? Yeah, that is correct.

Okay.

We okay?

Yes.

All right. Thank you. Ms. Myers.

I'm good. I'm ready to approve it. Truthfully.

Mr. Peterson. I mean, I'm looking at this 1 thing on page 321. so is there like a restaurant going to be proposed in? Is that what wild pork is? Or is that part of the veterinary program?

No, no, that is not. That would be another retailer, actually, where I live in Texas. There's a Wild Fork there. Wild Fork is actually more of a specialty grocery store, meat market. Oh, okay. So, yeah, providing very high-end meats, fish, poultry, other things like that. You'd be amazed what you can find in there. Yes, I shop there quite regularly. Oh, okay.

Basically, it's going to be, you've got room for three different outlet stores and everything there. That's what's being laid out there. That's what's going on. Any other questions, Mr. Peterson?

Nope.

I have no, well... I think you addressed that my question was about. The jobs and staffing, but Mr Bain already question that, but you said, hopefully in a year, 15 to 20 staff jobs, how many of those reserved for area of people here in Claremont? I don't know you earlier. You said you got, uh, veterinarians in Orlando that you will be.

No, I mean, they will definitely be hired from the local community here. From the local community. Absolutely. Yes, sir.

And the 15 to 20, is that just a veterinary clinic? You see additional jobs when you finish developing all the three?

Okay, so I'm not the developer. You just got the vet, okay. We're actually leasing space in this building from the group that's developing it, so yeah. Their site plan and all that will hopefully get approved later. So we're rooting for that. Stay in your lane, huh? Exactly. But no, we are growing here in the overall Orlando area. We now have a clinic open in Lake Nona. We have one open in Castleberry. And we're now under construction on one clinic further south on Highway 27 in Davenport. And hopefully... This gets passed, and this will be our fourth clinic here in the Orlando area. We've got a lot of good doctors in this area, and we think it's a great place to be.

I just always look to hopefully have some jobs for my residents here.

Yes, there will definitely be jobs, and I can assure you that the half million dollars or so that we put into our build-out will be done by a lot of local contractors as well. Thank you.

I'm okay. Anyone else? Entertain a motion.

I'll move to approve resolution number 2026-021R. I second.

I have a motion and a second for approval of item number 17, resolution number 2026-021R. Any further discussion?

No.

Hearing none, all in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Aye. All opposed? Aye. And the chair vote aye as well. Citizen request number 18. Aye. You need a break?

No.

Okay.

I'm asking if we need a break.

Anybody need a break?

Five-minute break.

I'll tell you what, I'm going to give you six minutes. We're going to take a six-minute break. We'll be back at 510 according to the clock on the wall.

Thank you. Thank you.

If I can get everyone to take the seats. Okay, item number 18 is citizen request. Ms. Forth.

Miss I can you turn that your phone microphone on please just push the button Yeah, I see it the red Charlene Harrison fourth DeSoto Street, Claremont You have in your packets everything I'm not going to show all of that to the interest of time today and the reason why I'm here and for the people that are watching and whatever I that this was a report on the R3 residential district in the historic downtown, our decline and loss of quality of life. There is no one that can speak any more about that than I can in this room today, except for Tim Murray, who he's been in here as long as I have. And the shame of this is I shouldn't even be down here today. I have bigger fish to fry and a husband that I don't know how much time he has. But I did this because this is what my husband wanted, and I'm going to carry out what he started, and I'm going to finish it. And I need Mr. Walt to pay attention here today because I'm going to – fire the shot over the bow of the boat that we're going to go into litigation if this doesn't get done and i mean that sir we've got a lot of people in the neighborhood and we've had enough we are losing our town in the downtown historic district it doesn't matter and if this is up i'm going to show you something that maybe i didn't turn in and i'm going to put it here today um where you want to put that up there and leave it you can Wayne, just go ahead and move them to where there is a single piece of paper. All the way down. You see that date on 2021? That's when I came in here and did this same exact thing that I'm doing today. Do you know what y'all did? Zero. A big, fat zero at the city. Now, I know we didn't have some of the same staff. We had some people here. Nothing. And I mean nothing was done. So let's go. The decline and the loss of quality of life in our neighborhoods. It is hurting even the value of our houses. There is nothing but a party going on down here. We've got alcohol going on. We've got drugs. We've had arrests. We've got speeding. We have everything. This was a nice, beautiful place to live. And you see this? This I took from the collection at our house, which is my husband's grandparents' home. And I would like to say a little sidebar about that. I sold this place... when I was in elementary school with my daddy, who we came out to the old Blue Goose packing plant and my dad with RC Stevens Construction out of Orlando, they did renovations on packing houses and packing plants. And we went down the street and little could I know that I would marry a guy that I paid no attention to in high school. and would live in his grandparents house that i thought was cool this little cottage house and my daddy would take us down after we were there on saturday to the lake to go swimming and i saw this place and i thought this is really cool because i grew up in a big antebellum wrap around two-story house in turkey lake that what y'all know is behind valencia college in the woods, in the country, with my orange groves surrounded. And little could I know that the orange groves I was involved in would be my family. And now here we are. And I want to read you something that's in this book that the South Lake Animal League did. And then we're going to, this is going to be quick. Claremont. It's a beautiful town with its lakes, hills, and beauty all around. Fishing is great and water sports fun. There's things here to enjoy by everyone. It has nice churches, good schools, clean water and clean air. I don't think there's a better place to live anywhere. So whether you've come to visit or come to stay, this is the gem of the hills. Let's all keep it that way. I want that logo gone about this choice of champions. This is not and was, and everybody has taken away everything that is my husband's family's heritage. Been here since 1801. came here as the settlers, and this is Jim of the Hills. That's just the way it is. And now you've seen the proof that I've been in here. So the public understands, but I'm going to show you guys this. You didn't have this, and now, Mr. Waugh, this is the clerk copy. The intent under this 122-181, I'll just show you that. you'll see that's under Claremont's Code of Ordinances, is about the purpose of the R3 district. And I'll read to the bottom, not in direct conflict with the residential usage and which do not generate traffic as such a nature as to require industrial or commercial zoning. Did you hear that? That means you can't do all this crap in the CBD and send your problems down there into our R3 residential neighborhood. And that's the whole square from 50 down to East Avenue up Osceola and all the way down to 12th Street. Y'all envision that square that we're sitting in here tonight. There it is. Then this is the newest one, R3, but I'll show you it exists. I'm going to turn it into the clerk for Mr. Wall. There is about the key characteristics. And then the common uses, which we don't have to do. And I'll read again. Without degrading the character of an established neighborhood. Also, landscape settings that do preserve the aesthetics of the city. We've not done any of that in this R3. In fact, we've not done a darn thing in this R3. Unless we scream. So now, Mr. Waugh, you can see, and what I'm telling you is, you've sent your traffic, you've sent your loud music, you've sent the parties, you've sent racing, running stop signs, all into our neighborhood. So you have shoved these activities and this CBD to our residential. So now you have degradated it. Loss of quality of life. And that's why we're talking about litigating this, because, Mr. Wall, this will not be about making you compelling the city in order to go do these things. This is because you're going to pay for what you did to all of us, meaning I know you're sitting there as the attorney. Manzaras was here and did nothing. And you can't do that. You have hurt our safety. You have put us in safety whatever. So there you go. Now the housing. What has happened now? We're losing some of our neighbors because they can't stand it. And here's what's happening. In the housing, they then leave, and the investors are picking them up. They're now renting them out with five people in five different bedrooms and five different cars that are all on the street, and it looks like the hood and bad trailer trash. So I've covered black, white, pink, purple, whatever you want to cover. All of it. It's bad, really, really bad. And when we don't have ownership, then there you go again. And this was a beautiful place that I moved here 35 years ago and laid my eyes on when I was a child.

And what it's evolved to is not good, not for the residents.

Now, we're going to go to street and safety. You guys had a lot of that. and I'll put it up just so the public, there's what goes on in the parking in the neighborhoods. You see this all over, and you see where I said? There's a man that I got his picture, and I didn't zoom in because he had quite a package, sorry, that was undressing at the back of a car down to his Speedo underwear after he had run the horrible 100 race. Yeah. Went over and saw the lady that her two daughters are there with a pool on the side of the yard. She wasn't happy. so we see this that they take over our neighborhoods the city has no right to send these races and all this stuff into the neighborhoods so there you go with that that was the horrible 100 and i remember because officer stone was there and that was such a nice thing he's such a nice officer There's what they were doing. They were parking all up in East Avenue. There you see them at the stop sign. All the safety. These cars were pulling out in the middle. I called CPD and they got me Officer Stone down there after I had come out of there and almost got hit. This is what goes on all the time in these neighborhoods. There it is. There's the proof. I get out of my car and take the pictures. And there is a guy, I don't think that, No, that isn't Officer Stone. It's somebody he had assisting him. You see the cars all the way back, covering up the stop sign? This goes on all the time. Now, we're going to talk about what just happened, and I'd like a sidebar. I would like to thank the mayor. I would like to thank the city manager, where this is on my street, and right here, which I'm sorry I forgot to do. I've kind of had an 83-day choral nightmare at my house. There's the The X is where the American Legion is. They park all the way from 12th Street and the long way down to 10th by me, and this car has to wait all the way till you get to 10th Street, and nobody can move. So now you have made our safety problem again, Mr. Wall, that my husband talked to you, and he is certified in parking. I know your land use, no disrespect, but you're not. And he tried to tell you about this. And you can't send cars around a string of a block of cars into oncoming traffic. So you have every right now at the city to go down there and get the no parking signs. It doesn't matter who doesn't like it. And what I do know on DeSoto 10th and Montrose, there's only one person on each street that didn't like it. None. That's just one. And I don't care. You know, my son wanted to have some things when he was 12 years old, but I didn't let him have firecrackers and matches because he wanted it. But here's the thing. There's the proof right there, Mr. Wall, and I've got the pictures at home that we showed y'all before that my husband started, and I'm here tonight to do this. And this is why, you guys, I'm upset. You know Chuck, and you know me. I shouldn't be down here. For 25 years, I've been down here fighting for the residents and doing the city's job. And I'm going to add it up to our city manager stuff, and I'm going to turn the bill in and see what it is. No disrespect again. Chandra, I only brought that up about just paychecks and stuff and about whatever. No, this is the residents that paid their taxes, and by darn, they deserve to have their zoning. And we don't deserve that right there. Now I've got a husband, and I've got one that's over there that I don't want to divulge her thing. She's been fighting... Four-stage cancer, breast cancer for two years. She doesn't know when she's going to get home. She doesn't know when these roads are going to be blocked up. What? And we've got another one down there that had quadruple bypass, didn't go well. He's ended up in the ER twice with the ambulance coming down there. What are you supposed to do? So this is wrong, guys. Y'all know that. And I'll expect some things when we're over with it. So we're going to do this quick. Now we're going to go down to the safety streets and parking signs. I witnessed this with my own eyes. There that is in front of the Claremont Brewing Company, speeding down the street. This girl was drunk on top of it all. She had met our officers earlier in the day. And then when she hit the other car, there's people that did nothing but come down here to our party life, and they got into it. And you see how they knocked their car up over on the sidewalk? What if there was a baby and a mom in a stroller, which I've watched repeatedly? So there you go with that. There it is. Look at all of this they did to another car before they hit that one, which the city doesn't want anybody to see. Now we're going to go to, and I've talked to the chief, and this needs to get handled, and I'll talk about the officers. Our officers don't need to spend their good time down here being parking enforcement. We need to get parking enforcement, okay? And maybe a half part-time cop that is retired, one for the day and one for the night. This stuff is going on now, guys, Monday through Sunday, day and night. There is no more Friday, Saturday night crap anymore. So there you go. And I don't know if anybody in this room knows, does anybody know the Florida statute and why you don't park the wrong way? Because when you pull out, you part and you go straight into oncoming traffic. The Florida statute had a reason. It's called the Florida Uniform Traffic Law, Mr. Wall. And so is the one that my husband told you about that long parking. Got it? Okay. And I'm sorry. I'm done. I'm done with that crap. We're not going to play games anymore. There they are parking up on the sidewalk. I mean, they go over the sidewalk if there's no parking. There's this one down at the Claremont Brewing Company. That's where you come from that pedestrian walkway that comes from down here and goes over there. That parked all there, that goes on all the time. There's another one blocking a driveway, a businesses driveway. Commercial vehicles are out there. There's parked on the parkway. Then I'd love to talk about this, and we need to get a letter to him, and I'll talk to you all later and to the city manager what I really want because you don't have time for what our neighbors are wanting that we've had a meeting. There's Brewer and Sons Funeral Home. All of that is no parking, all of it. And you know what they did with a bigger one? They backed up all the way to 50, and these people came off of 50 almost there and caused an accident on 50 because when, boom, they came off of 50, there was a car in front of them. They need to get a notice down there. I've talked to Mr. Brewer, but as people go, and here's what they did the last time, and I think the chief may know this, and we had to call. They had a big party, and I'm going to say it like it is. They had to be from Groveland because they had all the big trucks. They had the stickers that are indicative of Groveland and Mascot in the country and on the farms. They went over the curb and into Center Lake Park. 20 of them parked in our walking park. And I've asked the city, put the signs there. There's a few, but they keep going. And you know what happens? And the funeral starts. And Mr. Brewer, when I call down there, and the neighbors do, and he says, well, the funeral started. What do you want us to do? Go in the sanctuary and move them? He does it all the time. Well, I'm sorry, folks. I've lost a bunch of people in my family, but when you're dead, you're dead. Okay? The dead doesn't mind in there. Yeah, it's not good to these people, but they know better. And our officers were down there and couldn't make a move, I think because they didn't want to sign and probably get their butts beat. I don't know. I wouldn't want to mess with them guys and those trucks. Now, these are the kind of signs that we need all over this place. It's time to do it. There's one right there down by the schools at Claremont Elementary. Those need to be put up because they're just stopping, standing, using everything they want. i know we see these but here's what i'm these stop signs Y'all can take note, and whoever cares about it, all these stop signs down here in this downtown need to have those flashing things like you have down at the boat ramp, because they're running the stop signs every day and every night. And at 10 o'clock one night, when I was coming home from Florida Hospital, and a long day, and thank God, God was watching me. I had the windows open. I'm done, just about. I had the windows open, and I heard, whooom! and there was a car full of boys, ran that stop sign at Weston DeSoto, would have broadsided me. That would have been, I mean, broadsides are like head-on collisions, if y'all don't know. Okay, so that needs to be done, too. Now, the end of this is, these are pictures, you want to put... There's what the alcohol trucks are doing. They went over the curb into Pastor Brenda's, dug in there trying to get out of there. There is the only sign y'all ever got done. You cared about the golf carts, but you didn't care since 2021 to do anything about us. Now, end of conversation. And I'm sorry, I guess it's the end anyway. Here is about the music. It's already here. They put and mounted... I hope y'all will give me grace a minute of what's happened. I'm just sorry, because I don't know how long Chuck has got. This is just deplorable that I should even be down here. But I've kept my husband a promise, and I'm going to keep that today.

Yes.

But then we have the outdoor music. We've got Valerie that's my neighbor sitting back there. She's heard it there. They have mounted speakers on the outside of their buildings. They were never allowed to do that. I want an ordinance. Y'all put it on the agenda. And just so you can tell them you're not going to do it. The music is inside with the door shut. The party's inside, guys. And I remember I got a hold of some of y'all. Chandra, I didn't get you, but I left you a message. I left Allison. I called with my phone at 10 o'clock at night for them to hear this music out front of my house. Sorry I didn't wake anybody up, but it is what it is. And there's even little Orlando that did it. They did it. There you go. Now, the last thing I'm going to show you. This is not for anybody's edification. It's not for to be showing off. Give me grace, God. That was 50 years ago that it's going to be August 28th. I have spent 35 that this city has taken away from me and my husband to come down here twice a month, every workshop. That's why I get mad about the salary thing, because I've been doing this a long time. Because if you don't stay on people, and nobody could have ever imagined ever in your lifetime, you think you have forever to live. And I told every one of y'all. Yeah, I know, Tim, we don't.

No.

And Chuck is okay because he knows he's going to be with Jesus, okay? And he fought hard for 83 days. And I'm finishing this for him. I deserve this tonight to have grace and a little bit of leeway. But let me tell you, this is what's going on in other people's houses. We're not the only one. We're not the only one. What about my neighbor with four-stage breast cancer? She deserves to have quality of life. I know. And Chandra, if we were in a gay community, it's great because y'all can control it. But we live here because we want to. And this is disgusting. And you see the end of this? I had to help the city design that for the parade.

All right, Ms. Forth, I need you to wrap it up.

Yeah, I'm done. I had to design it. Why? So now you have the outline. I will tell you later about, because I needed to do those. I will come back at the next one because I knew there were things that had to be done. And as you see, The developers can come in and tell you everything as long as they want, but a citizen can't. I'm going to come back and finish the historic preservation and the recognition of Mineola. Those things are really, really important to me and my husband's family. And Tim, I'd like you to take that up about the signs at the lake. You've been here a lifetime. But guys, this is wrong. Nobody has to live like this. Nobody. I mean, it's just deplorable. Yeah, I'm done. I'm done. Thank you, ma'am. I'm done. I'm going to pick this stuff up. Now, all of this that I have for the clerk, you guys have it all? I don't know if you want another set.

You have everything?

Yeah, the two that you didn't have, I'm going to give this to you to pass down.

And you need to make sure that Mr. Walt gets a copy of this.

And no, I won't entertain anything. I'm going home to be with my husband. excuse me thank you ma'am all right item number 19 is an introduction for ordinance number two zero two six days zero

We can do a public comment.

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to.

It's okay.

Vincent Nemec, Regency Hills, I apologize for. My comments, but to be totally honest with you, I do want to bring this up to the council. Just recently, we had a P&Z workshop with TPZ, and I like their plans, but my biggest question was exactly what that poor lady just has brought out. Traffic, traffic, traffic, traffic. We're losing our main veins into downtown area, all right? I'm sure you know about the lumber yard. Because you can forget about 12th Avenue. Okay. Then you want to do bike lanes. I love that idea. But I'm worried about the pictures I just saw. Let's think about it. They want to put flashing signs. Man, you've been here the longest on the council. You know flashing signs. Nobody's going to pay attention to signs. Somebody's going to get killed. It's going to take a fatality. But what was really shocking to me was with all this money that we're spending on DPZ, how the council could turn around and let the owner of the property of Salt Shack extend their deck going out to the lake. So we could say bye-bye to that beautiful boardwalk that was going to bring people down here. So on that note, just keep in mind what this woman said about traffic. You've been faced with this problem for the longest, Your Honor. Okay? And so has Darren Gray. So has Mr. Baltice. And now he has the torch. Let's see if we can change some of the citizens down there. Thank you and have a blessed day. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.

Um, just practically a couple of things as a downtown resident, Valerie shoe at nine three one West Montrose street. Um, I do agree that we, it's probably time for us to have a sound ordinance that is specific to the downtown area. Um, I think. There's probably a way that we can balance the lively nature of having music and all that kind of stuff, but also, you know, balancing it with the residents that are close by, um, know that's come up in conversation so I do support something like that I also think and we might have this already but a limit on the number of bars I love the bars that we have I go to the bars that we have but I do not want to see downtown Claremont become a bar town by any means so that's very important to me and then the other thing that's very important to me in downtown is preserving walkability this is the most walkable neighborhood that we have in a city that is not very walkable at all and the options we have for connectivity with some of the additional bike infrastructure and walking infrastructure to get more people into downtown is very important and it would be a high impact just like we're thinking about getting more cars in downtown with a parking garage it's a high impact to have the connectivity for pedestrians and bike ability and But it's also a high impact to have more residences in downtown. And so I think these tensions are something that will always have to be balanced. I do empathize and respect Charlene's perspective so much and her experience. She's lived here for a long time. I can't say that as a downtown resident, I share all of those feelings or that that has been my experience here. I love living here. I do think that we can balance both preservation and progress i think it takes a lot of intentionality um and it takes a lot of care and it's valuable to have merchants and residents and people that have are new here and people that have been here for a long time all those um perspectives are valid but i do think it's important that we we fight for the best and we make sure that we're holding both and progress and preservation for downtown so that's what i'll say thank you anyone else

Joe Famasi, 2693 Jumping Jack Way. I just like the person that came up here and did this. Very informative. And I feel that she made some good points about what's going on in Claremont. I do see a change in the downtown area. It makes me a little concerned. I feel like it's kind of going towards a frat party than it is an area where you would go down and enjoy yourself. Uh, she showed really good evidence of what's going on in the neighborhoods and where some things are kind of going awry. And I think that, uh, I, I know you were paying attention. I know some of you were really taking it seriously. and that you are going to try to address these issues but you know that these are ongoing issues and these are proof of what's happening in our city so i appreciate her coming here and doing that and uh i hope that you really paid attention what she was trying to tell you thank you thank you anyone else anyone else this is public come on

Good afternoon, Mayor, Council, City Manager. I'll address a couple of the issues that were raised this afternoon, and I'll tell you what we're doing about it and how we're going about it. I'll tell you, first of all, We're looking for compliance not through enforcement but through education. I walk downtown weekly if not every other week. I'm in constant contact with the establishments that are serving alcohol and we're addressing the issues that they see. I've had conversations with Main Street and we're working on those issues. One thing that we did that was low hanging fruit was we created an overtime detail due to the traffic complaints. So I'll give you a couple stats off the overtime detail. It's Friday nights and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to midnight. Those were identified as the times where we had the most amount of traffic during the weekends. The first weekend we did it, we conducted nine traffic stops, gave out six citations, two for stop sign violations, and three warnings. The second weekend, It was 13 citations for stop sign violations, one for fail to change address, and three written warnings for stop sign violations. So we are out there proactively addressing the issues with the stop signs. I will say that there is one establishment that we're working more closely with, and the owner is working with us hand in hand. We are not gonna be reactive. We will be proactive. We have conducted operations in downtown to ensure the safety of the citizens and the people who are coming to visit downtown. So just because you don't hear about it doesn't mean that we are doing nothing about it. I've done a lot of work with the mayor. I've done work in different neighborhoods that the council members live in. You don't always hear what we're doing, but I promise you that we are out there working to keep the community safe. When she talked about the horrible 100, yes, there was that issue that one year we worked very closely with Public Works. And it's us firing public works when it comes to the major events. We work very closely with them. We do after action reports speaking about what can make the event better. We have not had another issue like that, that she was talking about the mail dressing, the parking issues like that. That's been resolved with horrible 100 and other events. I believe the parade route and how we do the parade route now is routine. We have it down pat as we should. It's been going on for several years. Brewer and Sons parking concerns, we continue to work with that. Mr. Brewer, sometimes they have larger funerals where there's more vehicles. We encourage them to use the side roads where they can park. When there's issues, we do address them. As the police chief, I'll stand up here and say it. I'm not walking into a sanctuary where someone lost a loved one and telling them to move their car. I don't think that's appropriate. I don't think that's the way the city of Claremont wants us to police this community. If the community feels different, they can let me know and we'll do that. But as I sit here right now, I am not walking into a sanctuary to disrupt somebody's celebration of life. The sound ordinance, I agree. Can we make it better? Can we do something? Sure, but it takes us being creative and coming up with creative ideas and then looking at what other cities have done. When you look at the station, and I'll bring this one up because the handicapped spot at the station is one that constantly comes up. As the police chief, I feel like we've been running into brick wall after brick wall. The handicap spot was put in there in the beginning as a condition of the CUP for the first owner. That business has changed hands twice. They still have to comply with the CUP, but I would tell you this, the number of people who utilize that handicap spot are the people who are going to what is now known as the station. Is there a way, and I will pose this, is there a way to revisit the CUP and remove the handicapped spot and find another spot or have them put into the parking fund to where we can locate another handicapped spot? And that space can be used more effectively as a loading zone or as a parking spot for their staff. That's probably a more appropriate use for that space, being that in the CBD they can build all the way out to the property line. I pose that as an out-of-the-box idea. Is that something we can revisit and something we can do? I'll take any other questions that anyone has about what we're doing in the downtown area.

I think you answered the question I was going to ask. Are you seeing what other cities are doing for their noise abatement and for the issues that Charlene had brought up as far as the number of bars and stuff like that, the noise sound? Is somebody actually... going out there from the police with a decibel meter and saying, oh, this is hitting criteria, the distance from the location, even though the sound is coming from the inside of the building.

We have not done that in the Central Business District. With the meeting I had with the city manager earlier today, I had discussed that's something we'll do this weekend. We'll establish the baseline for the situation. It is something that we've done over at Summit Greens and with the National and the music over there. So we're not foreign to this idea. It's just...

I think one of the, you know, her husband's very ill. And just like you mentioned, you're not going to go in front of a funeral line and cross it. The same thing as if you have somebody that's terminally ill, and now you have this music that's loud to her. I don't know if we have to make an adjustment in the amount of decibels that can be heard at a certain distance. That's what I imagine the rule is, right?

Yeah, currently the noise awareness reads that way.

150 is more or less. Okay.

Well, Miss Strange, you have anything?

I do, but I have comments, not questions. Would you like me to state my comments? Yes.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay. I think I'm going to direct these to the city manager just so that I don't cross any lines. I think the public has brought up a number of issues that continue to be ongoing, and I do in many ways share their frustrations. I have been advised that we would be withholding on ordinances related to noise abatement and parking based on the pending downtown code that would be coming. And so my comments relate to my request that the code address these issues and that it not be forgotten as we see that hopefully in the next 30 to 45 days. And I brought up at the workshop the issue of what I understand to be the public perception or misunderstanding about park rangers and the community resource officers. I was contacted by a member of the public about a group of kids who daily, between the hours of 5.30 and 7 p.m., between the splash pad and salt shack, are riding e-bikes faster, faster than motorized vehicles, and that the resident has multiple times seen park rangers observe these young people and do nothing about it, which I think is probably because the park rangers maybe don't have authority to do that. That would make sense to me. But we have staff that we're paying to the park rangers. We now have staff that we're gonna be paying for CROs. We obviously have police. We now have a bike, an e-bike or a police bicycle resource that's available to us. And I think that a lot of these issues, the noise, the parking, everything could be addressed if we can organize our resources. And I don't see why, how we haven't allocated enough in the way of resources to be able to have a dedicated downtown police presence, whether that's park rangers, CRO. I don't think the public cares. I don't care what that person's title is. What I do care is that our laws and our ordinances are being enforced and that the public is being protected. And it may be an item for the CRA. Maybe we bring it up there, but I just don't see that we don't have the resources to not have these ongoing problems. So I would like to see them addressed sooner rather than later and like immediately if possible. So I don't know if that's just where I stand. So I don't know if council wants to speak to it, if we want the city manager to speak to it, but that's my piece on this issue for the time being.

Thank you, Mr. Bain.

Thank you, Mayor. I'm going to echo a lot what you just said there, Council Member Strange, and I think also what Ms. Schuett brought up, the point she made about preservation and progress. I think that balance is really important. And a lot of these things... by no means to minimize any of the issues that Ms. Forth brought up, but these are not isolated to Claremont. Any community that has experienced a revitalization or a rebirth or a rejuvenation of a district, of an area, it's a product of that success. More people wanna be here. More people wanna be a part of it. More people attend our festivals and our events and our parades and our races and our breweries and our restaurants and our shops. And those are all great things. We want that. We just have to figure out how to balance then those increases with making sure we preserve the nature of what we want as the vision for our downtown area in the business area, but also in our downtown adjacent residential areas. And, and so we just have to, we have to partner with those folks to be able to do that. And I think, you know, I'm really pleased that we're not, what I'm not hearing staff and, and folks say and do is, is, is bash folks. individual proprietors or entities, because that's not going to help the situation. I think we have to focus on solutions. And I think that's what we're doing. And I really appreciate you bringing that forward, Council Member Strange, because that's really for me, you know, if there are things we can do right now that don't involve a bigger picture, but make some positive improvements, let's do it. I don't think we need to necessarily wait for other bigger things to occur to handle some lower hanging fruit things like give props to the chief doing a weekend kind of targeted enforcement type of thing. I do think, too, I've wondered about now that we're having the CSO program and expanding the CSO program and the park rangers, you know, maybe it's worth having a conversation with our police department, with our parks department, with our business owners to look at, you know, what do we see the expectations of those staff members to be? And do we empower them? our CSOs and, and or our park rangers to do different types of enforcement activities or at a bare minimum, call the people who can do the enforcement activities and not just observe and witness things occurring. Um, Because I think the general public sees someone in a marked vehicle, whether that vehicle is a public services, parks, or police, or fire, and they think, hey, that person has responsibility. And when they don't see action taken, even if that's not that person's job, that's a missed opportunity to really be a... proactive or in some cases reactive entity so I think we have to maybe talk about having what is the role of these folks and what can they be doing as we mature as we grow as we get more successful because quite frankly if we don't start to address some of these things now it's either going to take one or two routes it's going to be out of control or it's going to actually hurt the people who are trying to make and invest in our city leave. And I don't want either one of those things to happen.

Yes. Thank you. Ms. Myers.

I echo everything that he just said, and we do have to figure this out.

Thank you. Yes, sir.

Bill Downs, Secretary. Just to contribute to this, I assume that my establishment does contribute both to traffic and to noise. But to my knowledge, we don't... What was represented here tonight as far as loud music, that's not us. We shut down music at 11, 1110 if the band shows up late. We close our doors. We do have outside speakers, but I don't think you can even hear them across the street. So... The reason I'm up here, though, is I really don't know what the ordinance is. I've heard 10 o'clock. I've heard 11 o'clock. I've heard there's no ordinance in downtown for sound because we're in a business district. My building is lucky enough to face away from anybody who's living there, so I don't think we contribute to Ms. Ford's problem. But I know others do. And if there is to be some kind of action on this, I would just ask for involvement from the people who are actually in, you know, the contributors to it. So we can either make adjustments and, you know, I just installed a $10,000 sound system that theoretically is going to be louder, but we're not, we did it for coverage more for less for volume. So if I know what the laws are, and rather than CBD showing up on my door with a sound meter going, hey, you're too loud one night because we have a rock band versus a soloist on the patio, it just gives me – you know, a direction to manage my business more effectively. And, of course, I do not want to fly, you know, foul of any kind of rules that I don't knowingly know I'm breaking. But that's it. If there's any questions that I can help or the establishment downtown, I'm willing to, you know, provide input. Thank you.

All right. Thank you. Thank you, Bill. Anyone else in the public wish to address this item? Anyone else? I see no one else that closed it. Anyone online, Wayne? No one online. Okay. I think everybody may come in. Let me address a couple of things that was here. I heard something about alcohol. I think one of the first things I asked Mr. Van Wagner to do when he first came aboard over a year or so ago is do me a study on alcohol. I was concerned with a lot of the alcohol being places that's serving alcohol downtown. And I think he came back and he told me at that time it was like 15 place, 14, 15. Okay. And I still have a lot of concerns. So I brought it up to the council, the previous council. It didn't seem to be a concern to the previous council, because according to police reports, we only had like four incidents with alcohol. which was two more than we had the whole year before at halfway through the year, but it still wasn't a concern. I still have a lot of concern with alcohol, okay, and I want people to enjoy themselves and everything, but the comments I get all the time, there's a lot of comments I get that our young people under 21 will not come downtown now because there's too much alcohol being served and they can't be around alcohol and it's nothing for them to do. And I ask, my plea is to the business owner, do something for our young kids because they're the ones spending the most money downtown. Yeah, we come downtown to spend, but I watch our young folks walk down here. I may walk up to a food truck and question paying $30 for a sandwich or so, but they don't have no question about it because they're spending daddy's money. So it doesn't matter to them. And that's one of the things I've noticed about our downtown. So I always say we need to cater more and more to our younger environment. And we do have, I agree, there's too much alcohol, and I have nothing against those that want to drink and have fun. But I know the last count we got when you did the survey and everything was over 15 establishment and two, three block raises that's serving alcohol. And I think there's been some more come up. And in that study, I don't think we included American Leisure, the Elk Club, not a VFW. None of them was included in that, okay, at the time. And I know the VFW is, you know, kind of quiet now. American Leisure, they have a good time every night over there. And I'm a veteran, so I have no problem with it, you know, and I do visit them every once in a while for the alcohol. Parking on West Avenue, if I'm not mistaken, years and years ago, There used to be parking along West Avenue. I don't know what happened. Some years back during my youth days, I think we used to have some parking along West Avenue for the picture shoot. So we can do some research and see if that happened. Why can't we park there? Because it is a wide enough street that we can park. I think up on the north end of West Avenue by the Garden Club, we do have some parking on the side. So maybe we need to revisit that. Okay. Look at that. Mr. Suncreek, yes, there is an ordinance out here. The ordinance basically states you can't have any amplified music outside, speakers outside, the downtown. You can't have, the ordinance, if I'm not mistaken, the ordinance says no outside amplified music, okay, if I'm not mistaken. He's got it.

Are you going to read it to us, Chief?

Mayor, we have put that language in CUPs, but it's not directly in our code. Our code does address hours related to decibels. So you're not wrong in the fact that we have had that in CUPs, but it's not in the code.

It's not in the code, but we put it in CUPs. We have, yes.

Not all of them, just...

And I think that's what her concern is, outside speakers and everything. We're putting speakers outside, which you've come here and complained about before, and we had to go back and readdress that. But quiet hours, if I'm not mistaken, downtown, Monday through Sunday through Thursday, it's 10 o'clock, 11 o'clock on Friday and Saturday.

It's actually 9 o'clock, 9 p.m. It drops decibel to 7 a.m. Okay.

So it's 9?

9 to 7 is how the code does address the decibel level.

What about Friday and Saturday? It used to be extended hours on Friday and Saturday.

It used to, but it's not. So we've changed the code. So everything is 9 o'clock now. I'm sorry?

Everything is 9 o'clock now.

Everything. 9 to 7.

9 to 7. Okay. A long quiet hour, no construction, and everything between 9 to 7 a.m. Okay. Okay. I'm glad to know. I didn't realize the ordinance had changed. Yes, sir, Mr. Walker.

Well, I mean, I read it a little different in the code. There's section 18-23, subsection B, and that's where it says, notwithstanding any da-da-da-da, the following specific uses, activities, and circumstances are in violation of this article. And then it goes sub 1. It talks about radios, television sets, exterior loudspeakers, musical instruments, and similar devices. And here's what it says. using or operating or permitting the use or operation of any radio receiving set, exterior loudspeaker, amplified sound equipment, musical instrument, etc in such a manner as to create a noise across the boundary of the property including without limitation public and private rights of way from which the noise originates it's prohibited um which seems like a very strict rule regarding exterior loud speakers and stuff so i i do think there are provisions in here that are uh surprisingly strong and probably something that can be worked with okay

So according to what you're reading there, it should not be amplified music outside.

Well, you can have it. It can't go beyond the property line. And if we were going to argue about that, it certainly couldn't unreasonably disturb a neighbor. Okay.

Okay, so that was one of them. I think we've been through that several times with the exterior music, you know. Harbor 100 Chief, I know that was the big problem we had back in 21, I think it was, but I hadn't heard it. Like you said, I don't think any other incident. And yes, that was very bad at that time, Harbor 100. But I think they've been handling things pretty much. Mr. Bain, let me say this. I don't know if it's a good turn to be using we target people in the downtown area. I don't want our police department to get in trouble when we're saying we're targeting people in the downtown. Park rangers, yes, I would love to see our park rangers with a little bit more authority to do something about the e-bikes. I know I've been complaining about speeding e-bikes and everything on our trails for months now. And we need to do something about it. And it's just getting worse and worse every day. And I'm so afraid we're going to have ourselves a lawsuit on our hands because these young kids are getting out of control on the trails with these e-bikes and everything. And I think we need to do something about it. But those areas, I don't think I had anything else. I don't know if we can put a limit.

No, we can't.

We can't put a limit on bars or anything?

No, we can. Kind of like how you adopted an ordinance that limits self-storage to industrial, we can limit bars to certain zonings. We can put distances between them, but we cannot put an arbitrary number limit.

Okay. That goes back, I guess, to the discussion I had of the moratoriums and everything.

Well, that's another discussion, and we can do that. But, well. You know, I'm sorry. I know we probably should have moved on. You want me to move on? I don't want to hear what you say. Well, look, look, I mean, there were a couple of things I just want you to know about things that Ms. Forth said, because I think you need to know them in order to. make decisions. One is, yes, I did have a very frank and good, candid conversation with Ms. Forth and her husband about this parking idea and the signs idea. And what they're saying isn't crazy. I mean, the idea that cars can park on each side of the road, barely any room to get through, it's true. It's an issue. My wife was almost hit by someone in that situation today. in Orlando. But I think the reality is, whether we like it or not, you as a city have discretion on what you do with your signs, how you enforce your laws. The Florida Supreme Court has said that over and over and over again. Let's talk about the zoning. I mean, I think she made a compelling point about what R3 is supposed to be for. Put some good text in front of you. It is what it says. However, If someone didn't like a zoning or a use, there's a time to appeal. There is no legal liability for this, whether it's right or it's wrong. Now, and I guess that's all I wanted to tell you.

Okay. Well, and now the last thing I want to add, I know I've had a conversation with Mr. Van Wagner about, as far as I'm concerned, putting parking signs down there along the streets, all of them. I do realize, you know, it is a problem to be parking along the street there. But we got to realize the Clemont was developed years and years ago. Okay. And they didn't make room for parking on the side of the roads down in here and that. That's not just here. Even out there where I live, in the subdivision area I live, I have the same problem. We have narrow streets. People come to visit, they have to park on the street. So as I told Mr. Van Wagner here, we can go down there and we can put parking signs up along the streets. However, when neighbors, residents come down and have people visit them, where are they going to park? And if we put the no parking signs up, as far as I'm concerned, if they have the... company or visitors park on the street, we enforce the parking laws. Okay. You know, so we're at that dilemma. Do we want to start ticking into people or say you can't have anybody come visit you because you have nowhere to park or make your company or your guest park blocks and blocks away to walk to your house? Okay. I feel Ms. Forth's pain, definitely feel it, because I deal with it every day in my neighborhood, okay? The noise across the street. As Chief said, we've been working with these things for a long time. Mr. Wah, you know, our nuisance law and everything is what we're trying to strengthen up so we can handle some of these things with noise and everything because of these kind of things all over the city. But yes, sir.

It's okay. I'm Bob Farrell, and I'm I'M JUST WONDERING, YOU GUYS DO HAVE A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT, AND THE COUNCIL HAS TO FACTORIZE EVERYTHING. YOU'LL BE GETTING MINE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. OKAY. WE'RE LOOKING TO CLOSE OFF PART OF DESOTO STREET, JUST FROM WEST AVENUE, ALMOST UP TO 8th STREET, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO TO 8th STREET BECAUSE THERE'S A another entity that has to have access all the time. And it's an indoor event, but it's with the VFW riders, and we could have as many as 50 motorcycles that day, which is the motorcycles have to have black top or cement to be standing otherwise. They'll all be on the ground. But anyway, I just wanted to let you know that the special event permit does have questions about music and the rest of the stuff.

When you get your permit and your requirements together, bring it to city staff and we'll go through it and all and see.

Oh, it's already in here.

And it'll probably have to come to council for approval later. It'll come to council for approval.

Yeah, we're not going to make any noise. We're indoors anyway. I just need it for the parking for the motorcycles.

Thank you. Thank you. Yes, sir. I know I called public comment, but.

I know, I'm going to keep it sweet. Evan Furcaso, 1844 12th Street. We'll start off with the trail. I'm currently training for my next half marathon, so I've been spending a lot of time on the lake trail there. That area between Salt Shack and the splash pad all the way over to the boat ramp. It's terrible. Got to slow people down. Yes. It's not just the kids. It's the adults on e-bikes. It's the adults in their giant groups riding their road bikes. I ride road bike as well. I can push 25 to 28 miles an hour. That's not safe in that area. So, I mean, I think that would be a great first step in that area is to find a way to significantly reduce the speed in that area. And then second part to our city attorney when you discuss bars in the area You need to make sure you probably properly codify that to define exactly what a bar is That can always be a sticky situation from my experience as a developer we find We find ways around the way these things are codified. So just make sure it's strong It's all I got. Thank you Thank you

Again, I think one of the things I asked Mr. Waugh about for the e-bikes, I know our speed limit is, say, 15 down there and everything, but I've been told, well, I asked about changing it, but then I came back and I was told, no, 15 is good. and everything because my concern was the fact that I thought the state law now say if it's over 9 miles an hour, you're doing over 9 miles an hour, you need to be on the road. I think that was vetoed.

It was vetoed. And we do have an ordinance. I think it's on your next agenda for the e-bikes.

Okay. Okay. And I do know one of the e-bikes. Vendors in the area, store owners in the area is working with our police department. They do an education training session. I'm being told that, of course, I spoke to her about it and everything. Last time I spoke with her a couple weeks ago, I think she told me it's targeted for National Night Island Chief to do a training session with our youth on these e-bikes and everything. And I was just up in Virginia, and I hate to say it, but I saw a little old 12-year-old get killed on one of the e-bikes just run right into a car. Up there in Virginia, car stopped to stop sign. Mike Post, who the kid on the e-bike just came and slammed right into it and killed himself. It's heartening. And I see a lot of this going on all over the place. So I really think before we get too much trouble, we need to get control of it. So I'm looking forward to the ordinance you have. Anything else? I think a lot of this stuff, maybe, Mr. Person, I think we need to maybe... look at a workshop mr van wagner and everything put some of these things on the on a workshop and talk about what some of these things we can do and everything at a workshop to try to Remedy some of this stuff in the downtown. And the main thing, I guess one of the things, Mr. Wall, I would like to see is our park ranges. What can we do to give our park ranges more authority? And I know they have the back patrol they put down on the waterfront, but the park ranges, I don't know how much authority they have to enforce laws and everything.

Okay.

So that may be one of the reasons they're ignoring a lot of things, because I know at one point I was told they didn't have much authority to do much. So we need to look at doing that as well.

Okay.

Okay. Thank you.

anything else can we move on and then move on to 19 thank you item number 19 is an introduction for ordinance number 2026 there's 027

An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Claremont, Florida, established based on the proposed property known as Sanctuary at Wellness and further described herein, and recognizing the Community Development District created and chartered by Uniform General Law, the Uniform Community Development District Act of Florida, Chapter 190, Florida Statutes. Acknowledging the uniform district chapter expressed in sections 190.006 to 190.041 Florida statutes and as referenced and provided by section 190.0044 Florida statutes and confirmed by section 189.40312 Florida statutes establishing the Sanctuary at Wellness Community Development District the property proposed in this petition and designating the initial members of the district board of supervisors and designating the proposed land area within which the district may manage and finance its basic infrastructure systems facilities services improvements and projects providing for severability and repeal providing for administrative correction of scrivener's error providing for an effective date and providing for recording

Thank you. This is a public forum. Anyone in the public wish to address this item may come to me. Yes, ma'am. She's been waiting here all the time.

Good evening, counsel. My name is Kristen Trucco, 201 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida, 32801. I'm here on behalf of the petitioner, Lenore Holmes-Elsey, regarding their petition to establish the Sanctuary at Wellness Community Development. Wellness community development district, my understanding is that the petitioner has already received approval for the construction of all the homes in the public infrastructure within the boundary of the proposed district. So, the question in my mind really comes down to what's the best suited entity to provide for operation maintenance and financing of the public infrastructure within the boundary of the CD. prepared a short PowerPoint presentation for you today if you're willing to listen to it I can quickly go through it talks about some of the benefits of CDDs under the statutes and what the legislature has provided for CDDs and why we think that they're the best suited entity for the operation maintenance and financing of the public infrastructure within the boundary of the proposed district so if it's Is council open to hearing the presentation? I also have hard copies as well.

Is this, I guess maybe a question for staff or the rest of the council, is this more appropriate for the second reading versus the first reading?

I think it depends on you. I mean, I think that the petitioner has the right to lay an evidentiary record. So, for example, there are factors in the statute that you need to consider whether or not the city is appropriate. So I think at some point they do have to make this presentation.

Oh, sure, absolutely, yeah.

But it's up to how you want to do it. I mean, if you're inclined to intro it and then deal with it next time, it's fine.

Well... Well, yeah, and it's always been, that's why I've always preferred not to have public comments for an intro, because to me, if we do that, if they want to do it, I think we need to allow it. Okay. You know, that's why I've always chose in the past, always chose not to have public comment. Yeah.

This isn't the kind of thing that you're going to really be amending.

Yeah.

You know what I mean? So I don't have the same concerns I normally do where you need to make the big changes to something. So we don't have to re-advertise on second reading. This is the petition as it is. You know what I mean?

At this point, it's up to you all. I mean, I have no problem with going in and let her produce for me once we open it up. How fast can you do it?

I think like 10 minutes. I can try to go through it really quickly, but it's, I mean, basically, you know, it's the process. The point is, if this generates some questions that you may have, it might answer other questions. There may be some misinformation about CDDs that this might address. Our hope is that we can get any comments and concerns and questions that you have before the August public hearing so that we come prepared to answer that so that you can make the best decision possible and that we're educating you on just what the, this is really just general information about CDDs. Okay.

All right.

Okay. I think there is an issue. Okay. All right. Thank you. I appreciate that. I think there may be an issue. Okay. Pass these out just in case it's not available there. Okay. So, like I said, my understanding is the petitioner has already received approval to complete and build all the public infrastructure within the boundary of the CD. So now it just comes down to what entity is best suited to operate, maintain and finance the public infrastructure within the boundary of the CD. By way of introduction, CDDs are considered special districts in the state of Florida. Early on, Floridians realized the needs of its rapidly growing population could be served by local citizens organizing together in the form of a district and having vested powers. Special districts go back all the way to 1845. That was the first special district. It was created in order to drain the Alachua Suena, and it was financed by assessments based on the number of acres owned and the benefit derived from the project. I mentioned that because that's very similar to the methodology we use today to determine the amount of CDD assessments that are collected. Fast forward to 1980s, the Florida Legislature created CDDs and Chapter 190 governed CDDs and expressly states that they were created to provide a solution for planning, management, financing needs of capital infrastructure in order to service growth without overburning other governments and their taxpayers. That would include things like cities and counties. First CDD established in 1982. Today, there's over 1,000 CDDs in Florida. What is a community development district? It's a local unit of special purpose government that provides maintenance, operation, and financing for public infrastructure within a development. Think things like public infrastructure, roadways, stormwater systems, drain water systems. drainage systems, street lighting, utilities, et cetera. CDDs have limited powers. They only have the powers that are given to them in Chapter 190. There's no impact on the city powers whatsoever. We don't have land use, zoning, building, permitting, planning, approval rights. That all remains with the city. The formation of a CDD has no impact on that whatsoever. CDDs are typically established by a city or county after a developer submits a petition. In the early years of the development, the developer fills the seats of the CDD's five-member governing board that we call the board of supervisors. after six years and 250 residents reside within the cdd boundary the seats on the cdd transition to being filled by the residents through the general election process which obviously takes place in november of every even number of years i want to preface that by saying i work with several cdd's in central florida where the developer has finished completing all the infrastructure and they're looking for residents to fill those seats there's no there's no prohibition in the law that disallows developers to resign early from the board. If they do that, there's a vacancy on the seat, the remaining board members. can appoint a resident to fill that seat. Professional staff for CDDs generally include a district manager, licensed engineer, licensed attorney. CDD boards have full authorities to select contractors for the CDD, the amount of maintenance provided by the CDD, the amount of assessment provided, the landscape vendor, the stormwater system vendor, et cetera. We think a benefit of CDDs over other entities that could provide this service is that the residents that live within the boundary of the CDD sit on that board and they make decisions for the other residents and themselves that's a you know that's different if there was a private company that was providing the service they don't necessarily need to live within the boundary of the cdd it's same as if the city was providing the service um you all wouldn't necessarily need to live within the cdd it's the people that are paying for the assessment that are utilizing the project they're the ones making the decision about uh the infrastructure there and who's hired and and all the decisions how much assessments etc Okay, as far as transparency and accountability, the legislature made CDDs an actual form of government. As a result of that, CDDs are subject to the Sunshine Law. This is a protection for residents within the CDD boundary. You're familiar with the Sunshine Law. CDD meetings must be open to the public. Reasonable notice of the meetings must be given. Minutes of the meeting must be taken and promptly recorded. CDDs are also subject to the Public Records Law. Any documents made or received in connection with CDD business or public record open for public inspection. See, these are also subject to code of ethics for public officials. So the same ethical laws that apply to you all. That are promulgated by the Florida commission on ethics apply to CD supervisors as well. That means voting conflicts helps cut down on a corruption, those kind of things. That's why we think the best suited entity for operating, maintaining this type of infrastructure. Voting conflicts apply to them too. The voting conflicts law, they can't vote on any measure that would result in a special private gain or loss to themselves, a relative, an employer, a business associate. Gifts law applies to them as well. There's disclosure requirements. They can't. Accept or solicit gifts if they're given to them with the expectation that that would influence their official decision making on the board. Okay, as far as assessments and finances, some important distinguishments with as opposed to other entities potentially do this. Financial records of CDs are statutorily required to be audited by an independent licensed accountant on an annual basis. then that audit that's prepared by that licensed accountant is required to be sent to the Florida Auditor General and the Florida Department of Financial Services for review on an annual basis. That's two layers of oversight that the legislature has built in for CDDs that wouldn't exist if we have a private company providing these services or an association. CDDs are also statutorily required to comply with public bidding and competitive negotiation laws. Those are the same laws that apply to you all. So obviously we have to advertise notice of requesting bids for certain projects. Studies have shown that's encouraged cost effectiveness because you've got contractors bidding for the same service, improved quality of service and public trust. You know, obviously there's a clearly delineated scope of service and those RFPs that go out. clearly delineated grading criteria as well so that encourages public trust as far as assessments before CDs are able to collect one penny of assessments from its residents they're required to hold a public hearing and advertise notice of that public hearing so there's a formal resolution that's brought to the agenda needs to be on there seven days before the board meeting declaring this special assessment a separate resolution setting a public hearing then advertise notice in a newspaper general circulation in the county where the CDD exists. And then the public hearing happens where residents are able to come forward, make any comments or objections that they may have on that assessment increase. In addition to that, the legislature made a requirement that if an assessment increases one penny from what it was before, there's a requirement that the CDD send a mailed notice to that resident advising them of the proposed increase and the date and time of the public hearing. Again, these are statutory requirements for a CV. They don't exist for a private company. They may not exist for other associations that could potentially take on the maintenance and operation of this public infrastructure too. As far as the budget process, there's of course, a statutory requirement for the budget process to. To comply with a proposed budget needs to be prepared by the district manager. Uh, it's the same thing. There's a resolution that's brought to the agenda, approving the proposed budget, setting the public hearing and then 60 days prior to adoption by the city board and public hearing that proposed budget needs to be sent to the city for review and comments and any objections that they may have before that board makes a decision on that. And then there's further, there's laws about what the CD assessment can be. It must be a portion amongst the benefit property in proportion to the benefit received by each of those properties. So at any time, if a resident thinks that they're being charged too much in assessment or that there's some unfairness there, There's a private clause of action that they can pursue under the law with regard to the assessments that are charged by them. Additional benefits to CV residents, it may not commonly be known, but this is one of the biggest benefits, I think. CV assessments may be collected on the county tax roll. They're considered first priority liens, co-equal with property taxes. So if folks don't pay their property taxes, they could potentially lose title to their property under a tax sale. And the same is true for CDD assessments. This is built in by the legislature for CDDs and other forms of government in the state. This provides assurance that there'll be funds to maintain the improvements after the developers have exit the project and handle emergencies, which really we think translates to benefits the property owners and the values of their homes. Okay. And then obviously to non-paying property only. Two minutes, ma'am. Okay. Only is at risk of loss of title. There's no impact to other property owners. Also, no sales tax for goods purchased by the CD, no property tax. They're entitled to FEMA relief, relatively early turnover to residents as compared to other types of associations like an HOA is usually generally at 90 plus spelled out before it turns 90. Over also less expensive infrastructure financing, they have access to the municipal bond market and tax exempt on financing, just like cities and counties do in the state of Florida. This was correspondence is a public record from St. John's River water management district. They made a statement all things being equal. They consider CDs to be the preferred operation and maintenance entity over an association. FOR STORM WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, MITIGATION AREAS, CONSERVATION AREAS. SPECIFICALLY FOR SANCTUARY AND WELLNESS, THERE'S A TYPO HERE. PLEASE EXCUSE ME. THERE'S 699 EVENTS THAT THE CITY, MY UNDERSTANDING, HAS ALREADY APPROVED. AND LENAR IS PLANNING FOR RESORT STYLE, AMENITY CLUBHOUSE, FITNESS CENTER, POOL, GOLF SIMULATOR, OUTDOOR PRINTING GREEN, BOTCHY COURTS, PICKLEBOY COURTS, DOG PARK, MULTI-USE TRAILS. OVER $26 MILLION OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IS ANTICIPATED FOR THIS COMMUNITY. I USUALLY LIST OUT THE APPROVALS THERE. Obviously, it sounds like they've already achieved all the approvals that they need at this point. So I'll go quickly through that. And then the last slide, it just factors the law permits consideration of at the upcoming public hearing. So I'm here. If you have any questions, I could try to answer them now. I appreciate the opportunity just to quickly go through this. Hopefully, it could provide some light if it generates any questions. we can take them down try to answer them otherwise we can bring back answers for you at the public hearing our representative lenar is also here on lane register if there's any development type of questions thank you thank you ma'am 10 minutes fast talker you did good thank you thank you for sitting for so long thank you my pleasure thank you for letting me speak thank you um

This is public, anyone else in the public wish to address this item?

Good evening, I'm sorry to, I have a very important question. I've been coming to council meetings for the longest, and I do agree with you, Your Honor. All right, introductions are introductions. This is a point where you get an applicant. I'm not saying because it's Lenore, it's the CDD. I'm just saying you have an applicant that could spend time with the city council. Come up to this microphone. And speak as long as they can. Because I still need to hear about the rules about a limit, time limit they can talk on. But yet you'll have the citizens of Claremont that will come up here that's only allowed three minutes. So what I just saw was a double presentation. Okay? That's what I saw. That was like going to a planning and zoning meeting. And then we tell them what's wrong with it. And then they correct it and bring it to you. But they didn't come to the planning and zoning, so this is what they want to do. I'm not saying, well, no, I'm just saying this is not fair. Okay? And I'm in your boat on this one, Your Honor, because this is not right. Mm-hmm. Because now you open up to the public comment. I had no problem sitting there and just being quiet and saying, you guys approve or disapprove it. But that's where they could go to the city manager. And that's where they can make a phone call or email to each one of you guys if you choose to talk to them. There's been a time where Mayor Murray used to say, I don't speak to applicants. Still don't. Well, let's let's let's look. OK, but do you understand what I mean by this? All right. This is this is not this is not right. This is totally not right. All right. I'm not going to delay you guys from going home to dinner because you still got reports to do. God bless.

It's OK.

Anyone else?

Joe Famasi, 2693 Jumping Jack Way. I am speaking on this subject because I have been up here about these CDDs. These CDDs do not benefit the city. They do not benefit the residents that they serve because the law is flawed. Giving a developer six years of control and no way to vote out supposedly a form of government is not American values. So if we don't like the way they're spending our money, can we vote them out? Nope, we got to wait six years. That is totally flawed in the whole situation. I live under a CDD right now. They want to tell us it's better to serve us. Well, let me ask you. So we had roads that had to be remade several times, right? And they say they're supposed to hold them to a higher standard. I could show you some maintenance issues in my neighborhood right now under my CDD. According to them, it's the best course of action. So right now, the picture I'm showing you is an ADA issue where on the sidewalk, the wheelchair ramp there is not even nailed down. I've brought this up two years in a row. Stop sign. Looks right, right? But that's not the right style of what we're supposed to be using in the community and what's under the guidance of what we're supposed to be doing in the CDD. Oh, here we go. Here's a stop sign, the right pole that we're supposed to have. But the problem is, do you see how it leans to the left? That's been there for a couple years now. Here's another stop sign, the same intersection, leaning to the left. So my question is, is they say it's better to serve the residents, but I'm not feeling it. And I really would like you to think about this. There's no recourse for the residents because the developer has six years control. Board appointed members of the builder, okay? So if I don't like the way they're doing it, I can't just go down there and say, hey, we want to vote you out. The governor corrected the current citizen CDD board because of corruption that happened. There was a million dollars spent with no receipts. And so they gave them an avenue to kick those folks out of office immediately. Why didn't they do it for the builder control side too? So I'm asking you guys to deny this because this doesn't serve anybody. The impact statement for financials, there was nothing there. But there is an impact because when the CDD creates that stuff and turns it over to the city, that is financial impact. And I don't know how these things are supposedly helping growth pay for itself because apparently this system, it ends up coming onto the city rolls anyways. The only person that benefits is the builders because they recoup their money through those loans they borrow and they give the citizens another 30-year mortgage that they're going to have to pay. When we go to these meetings to talk about the budget, they take no input from you. Build a board. They already made their decision. They say that they're covered under the Sunshine Law. I know that several board members that probably work in the same office with the gentleman that negotiates to transfer from Lennar to the CDD. Have you ever seen a board discussion at a CD meeting? I've got several videos. Come to my website, Claremont New Residents for Change, and watch them. There's not much debate about what money they're spending. They propose a budget. They approve the budget. The only reason we show up is because they're going to tell us that we're going to do it. If you'd like to see an HOA, builder-controlled board in my neighborhood, who told us, we explained to them that we thought they... Christmas decoration price was a little too high. You know what she told us? This is a builder board control. You're going to have to just understand we're passing this. I got her on video. You like to see that six seconds. I just really hope that you guys understand. There is no, I don't know how they call this self-government, because every government has a way that if people don't like the way they're doing things, they can vote them out. And that's not written in this law. So I'm asking you to deny this. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Anyone else?

Anyone else? Seeing no one else, no one online? No one online, we'll close that and we'll move on where we are, 19, item number 19. What say council? Ms. Strange, you have any?

Is she still there? Before we get to a final vote on this, the two questions that I'm going to want answered, and they don't have to be answered tonight, is again, the potential RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS CDD AND THE CDD TO THE SOUTH RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THIS CDD AND THE CDD TO THE SOUTH WHEN IT COMES TO REGULATING THE WHEN IT COMES TO REGULATING THE WATER MANAGEMENT.

WATER MANAGEMENT.

I THINK THE OTHER ISSUES HAVE I THINK THE OTHER ISSUES HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BUT I REMAIN CONCERNED BEEN ADDRESSED BUT I REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT THE WATER BETWEEN THE TWO ABOUT THE WATER BETWEEN THE TWO CDDs. CDDs. AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION I AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION I HAVE SOMEWHAT RELATES TO THAT, HAVE SOMEWHAT RELATES TO THAT, WHICH IS THE POTENTIAL IMPACT, IF WHICH IS THE POTENTIAL IMPACT Because I worry about actual or apparent dysfunction between two different governing bodies, or CDDs in this case. So this is a first reading. I don't know, Christian, if I've mentioned anything that could be substantive. I think it's more fact-finding for me when I get back, which I'm happy to do in the time that we have. But those are going to be my two big concerns on this one.

Yeah, I agree. I don't think it's something that would get in the way of whatever your factors would affect your decision at the next meeting.

Thank you. Mr. Bang.

Thank you, Mayor. I'll follow up on a couple of things for staff, but just Mr. Wall, clarification on two points. One, after six years and 250 residents, so both items must be met. in order for the CDD to transition?

You know, maybe district council would be better suited. My understanding is the answer is yes, but I don't know.

Yes, it is. I'm happy to bring a copy of the statute to public hearing, but yeah, but there's no requirement. So if the developer finishes early, they can resign. A resident can be appointed by the remaining members of the board.

But it, but it also, it, it, But if 250 residents reside in the boundary and it's only year three, there's no obligation.

That's correct. The statute wouldn't be triggered. Until it's six. Yeah, it wouldn't be triggered.

So the statute does not get triggered until six and 250. Okay. Right. Mr. Wall, the other question I have is, does the statute require the initial CDD governing board to be developer selected?

Landowner election, right? So it's, do you want to?

Well, what were you going to say?

I was going to say that 190 contemplates that basically it's a landowner election at first. The developer, the reason I think the legislature has them on that initial board is because they own the majority of land.

Right.

So it's one vote per one acre. I can bring that information back, but basically they own the majority of the land within the boundary of the CDD. So they vote who will fill those seats. They could vote a relative of, you know, they could, well, not a relative, but because of the voting conflict law, but they could vote in any, you know, employees, for example, of the developer.

Yeah, under Florida statute 190.006 subsection two, it does say one vote, one acre. And it usually is that the developer is the owner at that scenario. So in practice, they do.

My question is, is that it appears in the ordinance that we actually are making the appointment as the council through approving the ordinance.

And I think the petition requires us to list out a proposed group of individuals, five individuals that would sit on the initial board. But we would go through a landowner election at the first board meeting where the majority landowner could select who fills those seats.

So let me clarify. It does say that the city council of the city of Claremont does hereby appoint the following individuals for a period of time not to exceed 90 days.

That's correct.

Okay. So we make the initial appointment.

That's correct.

Okay.

um i just want to clarify that and then i can ask staff my additional questions because i also don't think that they're subject to any any potential issue for a second reading thank you i hate to do this but before you go because uh my understanding also for as the board go uh the developer can give up a seat at any time if he if he chose so choose to is what i'm sorry a developer Well, now many of these boards are made up by members that the developer appoint. Correct. Okay, and most of the developer, well, my understanding when I talk to some of them, they say they can give up a seat at any time. They do not have to wait the six years.

That is correct. I work with several CDDs where there's residents and developers.

If somebody in the subdivision wants to sit on the board, they can go to a master tour and they can waive it and give it up before six years.

That's correct. Exactly. And these things can be challenged too in the future. Once the resident takes over the board, if they feel that, hey, that stormwater pond is defective, there's private causes of action that can be brought and are brought in some instances too. It's not that they're forever foreclosed from having a cause of action against that original developer. If there's an issue, but we don't anticipate that, but it's, it's just, that's how the legislature created. It is. They're the majority landowner at the beginning, and they select those initial seats.

And there's some of the developer I talked to about CDC, they said they would love to give up some of their seats because normally the people they put on them is people they work in their offices and that's taken away from the duties they normally have to do. So to get them off the board and put them back to work, they would love to do that. So if residents in the community wants to sit on this board, they can go ask the developer to replace a board member. And so, of course, the developer make the determination and of course, after that, they will still, they won't have to even go through the election process at that point. My understanding. But the sequence is, uh, that's correct.

They would just be appointed by the remaining board members. They can resign from that seat. And at the same very same board meeting, the remaining board members can appoint a resident. There's no restriction on that. I work with about 6 CDs right now. The developer is trying to get off the board actually. Looking for residents to fill those seats.

Okay.

And then with regard to the question on the stormwater management system, if Lane wants to speak on it, my understanding is that the two CDDs could enter into an interlocal agreement to work out any shared maintenance of the stormwater management system. But otherwise, they're totally separate and apart from one another, separate boards, separate agendas, separate projects.

I'm sorry, Mr. Bain. I just wanted to make sure I got that in. He can understand that is also part of it. Ms. Myers, do you have anything?

You had said, is it 250 homes or six years, or is it 250 and? Can that be changed to an or? Who would make that stipulation to do that?

I think that was all set down by the state law.

It's in 190. It's in 190. So that was the legislature. That was the legislature. And I defer to your counsel, but I don't see that you could adjust that. That could probably be challenged. But like I said, at any point, if the developer finishes the project or wants to appoint residents, they're permitted to do that. Usually they're They have the most vested interest in the community for around six years anyway, just like other associations. And really, we're looking at what's the alternative to a CDD for this? At least a CDD is a government and has certain protections built into it, like cities and counties do, and they can benefit from the financing as well.

Christian, do we have to approve the CDD?

No, but you've heard, I think, from, I guess, proposed district council. That's the legal standard. So when you think about the factors in determining whether or not to grant the petition, it's those five or six factors. And they're in the statute. And the one that was highlighted is probably the key one, which is, is this the best alternative for providing these things? And that means that if you go to a hearing and the only evidence you have says this is a CDD that provides, can provide the service, can do it right, can do it well, and that's your only, you're gonna have to approve it based on the evidence. And if you do, they can appeal that. And that's part of why it's wise for them to lay the record that they're laying. if that makes sense so so so if we don't then we we're then we could get litigated well it depends yeah i mean it depends if if there's another alternative and you have evidence on the record that comes in at the hearing and says actually it's not the cd it's a hoa should be doing it or you know there's an arrangement between this entity and sunshine i mean but

you're you're limited i mean those are the factors you have to consider those factors and if you made a decision it has to be based on those factors thank you and we feel like for the reasons that i've gone over the you know the legislature has built in protections for residents through making the cd a form of government as opposed to an association as opposed to a private organization so you know if you think of any other questions or information that you'd like before the public hearing please feel free reach out we would love to assist you with this decision okay thank you entertain a motion if no other questions

just go okay i make a motion to approve item number 19 ordering ordinance number 2026-027 intro community development district you have a second i'll second it