Commission Meeting Draft Minutes
Draft Minutes of the September 21, 2020 6 pm Commission Meeting
The special meeting of the Lady Lake Town Commission was held in the Commission Chambers at Lady Lake Town Hall, 409 Fennell Blvd., Lady Lake, Florida with Mayor Pro Tem Ruth Kussard presiding. The meeting convened at 6 p.m.
A. Call to Order
Mayor Pro Tem Ruth Kussard
B. Invocation
By Reverend Terry Wheeler of the Villages Church of Christ
C. Pledge of Allegiance
D. Roll Call
| Commissioner (Ward) | Present |
| Hannan (Four) | YES |
| Kussard (One) | YES |
| Holden (Two) | YES |
| Vincent (Three) | YES |
| Richards (Five) | YES (via teleconference) |
STAFF PRESENT
Kris Kollgaard, Town Manager; Derek Schroth, Town Attorney; Thad Carroll, Growth Management Director; C.T. Eagle, Public Works Director; Mike Burske, Parks and Recreation Director; John Pearl, I.T. Director; Pam Winegardner, Finance Director; Chief Rob Tempesta, Deputy Chief Jason Brough, Lady Lake Police Department; Maureen Gochee, Human Resource Director; Wendy Then, Senior Planner; and Nancy Slaton, Deputy Town Clerk
E. Public Comment
Mayor Pro Tem Kussard asked if there were any comments from the audience.
David Sirdar of 661 Wintergreen in Fruitland Park spoke about issues, political and otherwise, that were of importance to him.
F. Public Hearing
1. Resolution 2020-107 (First and Final Reading) — Adoption of the Final Millage Rate for Fiscal Year 2020 — 2021 (Pam Winegardner)
Finance Director Pam Winegardner presented the background summary for this agenda item and read the resolution by title (on file in the Clerk’s Office).
Mayor Pro Tem Kussard asked if there were any questions or comments from the Commissioners or public. There were no questions or comments.
Upon a motion by Commissioner Holden and a second by Commissioner Vincent, the Commission approved the first and final reading of Resolution 2020-107, adopting the final Fiscal Year 2020-2021 millage rate of 3.3962, by the following roll call vote:
| Commissioner | Vote |
| Hannan | NO |
| Kussard | YES |
| Holden | YES |
| Vincent | YES |
| Richards | YES |
2. Ordinance 2020-07 (Second and Final Reading) — Adoption of Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2020 — 2021 (Pam Winegardner)
Finance Director Pam Winegardner presented the background summary for this agenda item and read the ordinance by title only (on file in the Clerk’s Office). Ms. Winegardner noted that this ordinance was advertised in a local paper, and not in the legal ads in the Classified section; it must be a full-size ad. No changes were made to the ordinance since first reading.
Mayor Pro Tem Kussard asked if there were any questions or comments from the Commissioners or the public.
Upon a motion by Commissioner Vincent and a second by Mayor/Commissioner Richards, the Commission approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 2020-07, adoption of the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 operating budget, by the following roll call vote:
| Commissioner | Vote |
| Hannan | NO |
| Kussard | YES |
| Holden | YES |
| Vincent | YES |
| Richards | YES |
G. Consent
3. Minutes — September 9, 2020 — Special Commission Meeting
4. Minutes — September 9, 2020 — Commission (Special) Meeting
5. Consideration of the Renewal of the Two-Year Term Lease Agreement between the Town of Lady Lake and the Lady Lake Historical Society (Mike Burske) (Background Summary on file in the Clerk’s Office.)
6. Consideration of the Renewal of the Two-Year Term Lease Agreement between the Town of Lady Lake and the Lady Lake Dog Park Association (Mike Burske) (Background Summary on file in the Clerk’s Office.)
7. Consideration of the Renewal of the Two-Year Term Lease Agreement between the Town of Lady Lake and the Kiwanis Club of Lady Lake (Mike Burske) (Background Summary on file in the Clerk’s Office.)
8. Consideration of the Renewal of the Two-Year Term Lease Agreement Between the Town of Lady Lake and Boy Scout Troop 244 (Mike Burske) (Background Summary on file in the Clerk’s Office.)
9. Consideration of the Renewal of the Two-Year Term Lease Agreement between the Town of Lady Lake and the Lady Lake Chamber of Commerce (Mike Burske) (Background Summary on file in the Clerk’s Office.)
10. Consideration of the Renewal of the Two-Year Term Lease Agreement between the Town of Lady Lake and the Lady Lake Little League (Mike Burske) (Background Summary on file in the Clerk’s Office.)
11. Consideration of the Renewal of the Two-Year Term Lease Agreement between the Town of Lady Lake and the Lady Lake Soccer Association (Mike Burske) ) (Background Summary on file in the Clerk’s Office.)
12. Consideration of Fiscal Year 2021 World Risk Management and Public Risk Management Renewal Proposal (Maureen Gochee) ) (Background Summary on file in the Clerk’s Office.)
13. Consideration of Approval of the Re-Opener Changes to the Agreement between the Town of Lady Lake and the Police Benevolent Association for the Period October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2022 (Maureen Gochee) (Background Summary on file in the Clerk’s Office.)
Mayor Pro Tem Kussard asked if there were any questions or comments from the Commissioners regarding the Consent items. Hearing none, she asked for a motion.
Commissioner Hannan made a motion to approve Consent Items G-3 through G-13. Commissioner Holden seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 5 to 0.
H. Old Business
No old business.
I. New Business
14. Consideration for the Water Oak Country Club Estates New Maintenance Building MJM 04/20-002 Major Modification to Site Plan — Proposing the Construction of a 5,600-Square-Foot Maintenance Building with 16 Parking Spaces, New Lift Station/Force Main, and Construction of a 20-Foot Wide Cart Path within the Water Oak Country Club Estates; Located East of the Pro-Shop and Just North of the 18th Hole of the Water Oak Golf Course, between Orange Blvd. and Bishop Drive; Identified by Alternate Key 3793724(Thad Carroll)
Growth Management Director Thad Carroll presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office). He stated that Lara Parker of Water Oak is present if there are any questions as the engineer was unable to attend the meeting this evening.
Mayor Pro Tem Kussard asked if there were any questions or comments from the Commissioners regarding this item, and hearing none, asked for a motion.
Commissioner Holden made a motion to approve the Water Oak Country Club Estates New Maintenance Building MJM 04/20-002 Major Modification to Site Plan as presented. Commissioner Vincent seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 5 to 0.
15. Consideration of Approval of the Interlocal Agreement with Lake County for Disbursement of CARES Act Funds (Kris Kollgaard)
Town Manager Kris Kollgaard presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office). Ms. Kollgaard stated that she sent the Commissioners a copy of the estimated spend plan for these funds. She welcomed any suggestions from the Commissioners in regard items to add to the list but reminded them that it must be Covid-related. Lake County can deny reimbursement for funds already spent if they do not consider it to be Covid-related. Any unused funds received will be allocated back to the county.
Mayor Pro Tem Kussard asked if there were any questions or comments from the Commissioners regarding this item. She noted that the Town has already spent funds from this year’s budget on Covid-related items.
Ms. Kollgaard confirmed that the Town has spent approximately $19,000 of allocated funds for Covid-related items from this year’s budget.
Mayor/Commissioner Richards asked if the funds will be put back into the reserves if the Town is reimbursed for monies already spent on Covid-related items.
Ms. Kollgaard replied that they would.
Commissioner Vincent asked if there is CARES act funding available for Lady Lake residents who need assistance with such as rent due to Covid-19.
Ms. Kollgaard replied that Lake County is administering funds that are available for both households and businesses in all of Lake County. She stated the county was concerned that if municipalities tried to administer that program, there may be an opportunity for double-pay-out. Ms. Kollgaard stated the Town’s website has information regarding available CARES Act funding.
Commissioner Holden made a motion to approve the Interlocal Agreement with Lake County for disbursement of the CARES Act funds. Commissioner Hannan seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 5 to 0.
J. Town Attorney's Report
16. Ordinance 2020-05 (Second and Final Reading) — An Ordinance of the Town of Lady Lake, Lake County, Florida; Providing for a Text Amendment to the Town of Lady Lake Land Development Regulations (Ordinance No. 94-08) Chapter 5, Section 5-4, “Zoning District Uses”; Amending the Height Requirements for Specified Zoning Designations; Amending the Application Review Process by the Technical Review Committee for Planned Unit Developments (Thad Carroll)
Town Attorney Derek Schroth read the ordinance by title only.
Growth Management Director Thad Carroll presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office).
Mayor Pro Tem Kussard asked if there were any questions or comments from the Commissioners or the public.
Commissioner Hannan asked if the proposed elevator tower will require a variance.
Mr. Carroll replied that it would.
Regis LeClerc of Water Oak asked if the local fire department has adequate equipment to reach the height of a four–story building in Lady Lake. He asked if the taxpayers or builder would have to pay for the equipment if it was needed.
Mr. Carroll replied that there are currently buildings in the area in excess of 45 feet. He stated that Lake County has input on many of the site plans already approved, and they have adequate fire-fighting equipment. These multi-story buildings have sprinkler systems as well.
Mr. LeClerc asked if the four-story building will be age-restricted as he is concerned about wheelchair bound and the elderly would not be able to use an elevator in case of a fire.
Mayor Pro Tem Kussard replied that this ordinance is not for a specific development; it is for restricting building heights. She stated many of the apartment development projects being proposed will not be age-restricted.
Mayor/Commissioner Richards also commented that this ordinance is more stringent than the ordinance it is amending. He noted that The Villages Station 51 has a snorkel ladder truck that can reach over 40 plus feet.
Commissioner Holden stated that he believes The Villages local ladder trucks can extend at least 80 feet, but he reiterated that the sprinkler systems will be the first line in controlling a fire.
Commissioner Vincent asked if the fire suppression system will have a halogen system to fight electrical fires.
Mr. Carroll stated he would have to check with the fire inspector, and the systems would have to be in compliance with the fire codes.
Upon a motion by Commissioner Holden and a second by Commissioner Hannan, the Commission approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 2020-05 by the following roll call vote:
| Commissioner | Vote |
| Hannan | YES |
| Kussard | YES |
| Holden | YES |
| Vincent | YES |
| Richards | YES |
K. Town Manager's Report
Town Manager Kris Kollgaard reported that nine proposals were received as a result of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for Executive Search Firm Services, and these have been handed out to the Commissioners. She asked the Commissioners to review the proposals and list their top three firms. She stated a public meeting will have to be scheduled to discuss the Commissioners’ lists and make a decision as to which firm to select.
Commissioner Vincent stated he was concerned that there was no turn-key cost noted on the proposals, and he spoke to the Town Attorney about this.
Mr. Schroth stated that Commissioner Vincent was concerned there was no cap on the prices for the proposals he had looked at. He suggested that the Commission could state that any amount over a certain amount would have to be authorized.
Mayor/Commissioner Richards asked if a proposal should be disqualified if statements were not notarized.
Town Attorney Derek Schroth stated that the Commission could choose to waive any irregularities at their discretion and were not required to disqualify firms.
Ms. Kollgaard asked the Commissioners to let her know when they finished reviewing the proposals and she would send out several dates to pick a ranking meeting by the selection committee.
The Deputy Town Clerk noted that the bid results provided to the Commissioners showed the total not to exceed cost by each proposer as requested by the RFP; only one firm noted that other expenses for travel, etc., could be incurred outside of their cost estimate.
Mayor/Commissioner Richards stated it should all work out if the Commissioners just pick their top three or four to pick from and terms and details for the contract can be worked out when one firm is selected after discussion.
L. Mayor and Commissioner's Report
Mayor Pro Tem Kussard asked if any of the Commissioners had anything to report.
Commissioner Hannan stated that in his opinion, the Planning and Zoning Board meeting on September 14, 2020 was out of control and he asked if this board is really needed as he did not feel anything was accomplished.
Mayor Pro Tem Kussard stated the Planning and Zoning Board is an advisory board. She believed the board may have been overwhelmed with the huge crowd and public participation regarding the agenda items. She noted that there were currently only three members on the board and that their opinion is appreciated.
Commissioner Vincent stated that the opinions of the board members were valued, and he feels the board members pave the way regarding items that come before them before it comes to the Commission. He thanked the Planning and Zoning Board members for what they do.
Commissioner Holden agreed with Commissioner Vincent, as did Mayor Pro Tem Kussard.
M. Public Comments
Mayor Pro Tem Kussard asked if there were any comments from the audience.
Mr. Regis LeClerc of Water Oak stated he is a member of the Planning and Zoning Board and he addressed Commissioner Hannan’s statements. He stated the Commission does not go along with the Board’s recommendations 99% of the time, and he feels they are a rubber stamp. He noted that there were nearly 200 people at the last meeting giving their opinion as to what is going on in the Town. He stated he feels the Board is necessary and gives the people a voice.
Commissioner Vincent thanked Mr. LeClerc for volunteering and serving on this board, as did Mayor Pro Tem Kussard.
David Keith of 304 Carrera Drive stated he had been on a planning board up north in the past. He asked why have a board if the Commission does not value their advice.
Commissioner Hannan stated that it bothered him that over a dozen people came up to the podium during the Planning and Zoning Board meeting to speak and did not give their address; they stated they were from The Villages and that encompasses three counties. He stated there was no way of knowing whether they even lived in Lady Lake.
N. Adjourn
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
___________________________
Kristen Kollgaard, Town Clerk
___________________________
Ruth Kussard, Mayor Pro Tem
Minutes transcribed by Nancy Slaton, Deputy Town Clerk