Commission Meeting Draft Minutes
Draft Minutes of the March 4, 2019 6 p.m.
Commission Meeting
The regular 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 Jim Richards presiding. The meeting convened at 6 p.m.
Procedure
Citizens are encouraged to participate in the Town of Lady Lake meetings. Citizen groups are asked to name a spokesperson. Speakers will be limited to three minutes. Additional time may be granted at the Mayor’s discretion. Upon being recognized by the Mayor, please approach the dais, state your name and address, and speak into the microphone. The order of agenda items may be changed if deemed appropriate by the Town Commission. Please be respectful of others and put your cell phone on silent mode.
A. Call to Order
Mayor Jim Richards
B. Invocation
By Pastor Joe Kowalski of Lady Lake Church of God
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 |
Staff Present
Kris Kollgaard, Town Manager; Derek Schroth, Town Attorney; Thad Carroll, Growth Management Director; C.T. Eagle, Public Works Director; Interim Chief Captain Robert Tempesta, and Captain Jason Brough, Police Department; Wendy Then, Senior Planner; Maureen Gochee, Human Resource Director; and Nancy Slaton, Deputy Town Clerk
E. Public Comment
Mayor Richards asked if anyone had any comments.
Nora Choquette of 212 E. McClendon St. stated she has applied for appointment to the Planning and Zoning Board and hopes the Commission will consider her tonight. She stated she has enjoyed volunteering on other boards and feels she would learn a lot from being on the Planning and Zoning Board.
F. Consent
1. Minutes — February 4, 2019 —1 p.m. Special Commission Meeting
— February 4, 2019 — 6 p.m. Special Commission Meeting
2. Minutes — February 20, 2019 — Special Commission Meeting
Commissioner Hannan made a motion to approve Consent Items F-1 and F-2. Commissioner Kussard seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
G. Old Business
No old business.
H. New Business
3. Lake Ella Estates Subdivision — Preliminary Plat Plan — Lake Ella LLC — Proposing 230 Single Family Residence Lots on a 67.47-Acre Vacant Parcel Zoned RS-6, Located on the North Side of Lake Ella Road, Approximately Three Quarters of a Mile East of Rolling Acres Road and Approximately One Mile West of South Highway 27/441, Identified by Alternate Keys 1283159 and 3462858 (Thad Carroll)
Growth Management Director Thad Carroll presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office). He noted that the applicant came before the Town Commission with a conceptual presentation nearly a year ago and took the Commission’s suggestions into consideration. The current proposed plan complies with the Town’s Codes. Mr. Carroll stated that Mr. Frank Cawthon is present with some of his legal team if there are any questions.
Mayor Richards asked if anyone had any questions or comments.
Commissioner Kussard disclosed for the record that she spoke with the representatives of this development regarding this project at last month’s Planning and Zoning Board.
With no further comments, Mayor Richards asked for a motion.
Commissioner Kussard made a motion to approve the Lake Ella Estates Subdivision Preliminary Plat Plan as presented. Commissioner Holden seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
I. Town Attorney's Report
4. Resolution 2019-102 (First and Final Reading) — Florida Conference Association of Seventh Day Adventist Church — Special Permit Use for an LED Electronic Message Board/Marquee Sign on a New Proposed Monument Sign on Property at 231 Lake Griffin Road (Thad Carroll)
Town Attorney Derek Schroth read the resolution by title only.
Growth Management Director Thad Carroll presented the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office). He stated the applicant is present.
Mayor Richards asked if anyone had any questions or comments
Richard Schrack of 238 Lake Griffin Road spoke in opposition of this sign as he is a neighbor. He stated he feels it is a traffic distraction near a dangerous curve in the road.
Mr. Carroll stated this sign will be at least 300 feet from the curve and just a few feet from where the current sign is located.
Commissioner Kussard asked if there were any other audience members who were opposed to the sign. There were no other objections.
Brian Whitehead with Sign Crafters of Florida noted the lighting of the sign can be dimmed down to as little as one percent at night, which is very appeasing and non-blinding to the eye. He stated it can be scheduled to dim automatically at a certain time of the evening and can be set to turn off totally at night and then come back on at daylight.
Commissioner Holden asked if Mr. Schrack had discussed his concerns with church representatives.
Mr. Schrack replied that he had not. He commented that the neighborhood is changing for the worse.
Commissioner Kussard suggested that perhaps Mr. Schrack could meet with someone from the church.
Mayor Richards commented that the sign meets the Code, is self-dimming from daylight to night, and is adjustable.
Lamar Young stated he is a resident of The Villages and a member of this church. He stated he feels this sign is just an upgrade of the current sign and should not be a nuisance to the neighbors as it will go off at night.
Commissioner Hannan made a motion to approve the First and Final Reading of Resolution 2019-102 as presented. Commissioner Holden seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following roll call vote:
| Commissioner | Vote |
| Hannan | YES |
| Kussard | YES |
| Holden | YES |
| Vincent | YES |
| Richards | YES |
J. Town Manager's Report
5. Consideration of Three Appointments or Reappointments to the Planning and Zoning Board (Kris Kollgaard)
Town Manager Kris Kollgaard gave the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office).
Mayor Richards asked if any of the other applicants are present. No other applicants were present.
Ms. Kollgaard passed out the voting forms and requested the Commissioners turn in their voting form to the Deputy Town Clerk.
The Deputy Town Clerk read the votes into the record as follows:
William Sigurdson received three votes (by Commissioner Kussard, Commissioner Vincent, and Mayor Richards).
Robert Conlin received three votes (by Commissioner Kussard, Commissioner Vincent, and Mayor Richards).
Nora Choquette received three votes (by Commissioner Kussard, Commissioner Hannan, and Mayor Richards).
Ed Freeman received one vote (by Commissioner Hannan).
Judy Glasel received one vote (by Commissioner Holden).
Robert Nyce received one vote (by Commissioner Holden).
Kenneth Voiles received two votes (by Commissioner Holden and Commissioner Vincent).
As a result, William Sigurdson and Robert Conlin were reappointed, and Nora Choquette was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Board.
Ms. Kollgaard informed Ms. Choquette that the Clerk’s Office would be contacting her regarding an orientation packet for this board.
6. Consideration of Three Appointments/Reappointments to the Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Board (Kris Kollgaard)
Town Manager Kris Kollgaard gave the background summary for this agenda item (on file in the Clerk’s Office).
Mayor Richards asked if any of the applicants were present. No applicants were present.
Ms. Kollgaard passed out the voting forms and requested the Commissioners turn in their voting form to the Deputy Town Clerk.
The Deputy Town Clerk read the votes into the record as follows:
Doris Turlo received four votes (by Commissioner Hannan, Commissioner Kussard, Commissioner Vincent, and Mayor Richards).
Richard Jones was reappointed by the votes of all five Commissioners.
Chryle Lowery received four votes (by Commissioner Kussard, Commissioner Holden, Commissioner Vincent, and Mayor Richards).
Judy Glasel received two votes (by Commissioner Hannan and Commissioner Holden).
As a result, Doris Turlo, Richard Jones, and Chryle Lowery were reappointed to the Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Committee.
Town Manager Kris Kollgaard reported that the Lady Lake Little League had their opening day ceremonies. She stated they included a note on the back page of their booklet thanking Mike Burske and the Town of Lady Lake Parks and Recreation Department for maintaining the baseball facilities.
K. Mayor and Commissioner's Report
Mayor Richards asked if there were any comments.
Commissioner Holden stated a Commissioner suggested the formation of a committee to review the Town Charter for possible changes at a recent Commission meeting, and he voted against it. He stated he would like a re-vote regarding the review of the Town Charter.
After discussion, it was agreed that the Commission would discuss this at the workshop scheduled for Thursday, March 7, 2019, at 10 a.m., for possible inclusion on a future agenda.
Commissioner Vincent stated he recently spent a couple of days in Tallahassee. He stated he, three representatives from Fruitland Park, and one from Tavares spent one hour with Representative Hayes. He stated Representative Hayes was very interested in the issues regarding Rolling Acres Road and called others in on the discussion. He stated he believes some good will come of this.
Ms. Kollgaard stated that Senator Bracy of District 11 has since contacted staff about this issue, although his district is Orange County.
L. Public Comment
Mayor Richards asked if there were any comments from the audience. There were no comments at this time.
M. Adjourn
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
___________________________
Kristen Kollgaard, Town Clerk
___________________________
Jim Richards, Mayor
Minutes transcribed by Nancy Slaton, Deputy Town Clerk