What's on the Agenda for Mount Dora

This week, the Mount Dora City Council meeting will be in city hall (Tuesday, January 19th - 6pm). Based on the public attendance of recent meetings, get there early for a good seat.

Here is the link to the agenda on the city website >> AGENDA

(Heads up: It's a long document. 140 pages. Good news is that there is a handy "jump to" feature that lets you leap through sections quickly. )

Remember: At the start of every meeting is a time for citizens to address the council on any matter not on the agenda. If you have an issue on your mind or a question, please bring it forward then.

Main Point - Public Hearings

There are two public hearings/presentations where both council and the public are able to participate.

The first one is the Waterman Village (Mount Dora Health Facilities Authority) Financing Request.

Per City Manager Vince Pastue's accompanying memo, "....in mid-December, City Administration received a request from Waterman Village to finance approximately $23 Million in improvements and debt refunding utilizing the Mount Dora Health Facilities Authority... There is no impact on any City operations as a result of the financing."

The second public hearing/presentation is the first reading of Ordinance 2016-01,

Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Innovation District. Per Deputy City Manager Mark Reggentin's accompanying memo, on September 15, 2015 "City Council directs staff to amend the Employment Center section of the Comprehensive Plan to eliminate residential uses." This Ordinance is a continuation of that action.

Next on the agenda, the Council will meet as the CRA and NECRA Boards -- It is like an intermission of sorts -- the City Council recesses and then reconvenes as the two boards. There are some budgetary actions to be considered. After that, the City Council reconvenes. If you are at the meeting you will see that no one actually changes seats or anything. What are these two boards?

CRA - COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD

NECRA - NORTHEAST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD

Both were created many years ago via ordinance. You can search the Municode to learn more about the creation and purpose of each board via this LINK to the City website.

There is no Old Business on the agenda.

Main Point - New Business

Then comes the New Business and there are many items. There's something for everyone.

1. Discussion/Consideration to Approve Palm Island Boardwalk Design

2. Discussion/Consideration to Approve Donnelly Park Lighting

3. Consideration to Approve Third Annual 5K Resurrection Run

4. Consideration to Approve 2016 Lake Dora Classic Car Show Event

5. Discussion/Consideration to Adopt Resolution 2016-03, Approving Budget Amendment Carryovers

6. Consideration to Approve Fire Department Extraction Equipment

7. Consideration to Appoint Citizen Member to Fire Pension Board

8. Consideration to Approve and Release Request for Qualifications/Proposals for City Attorney Services

After that comes the following with the highlighted items that are included:

1. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE

Main Point - City Manager Update

2. CITY MANAGER UPDATE

A. US 441 Utility Easements

B. Loch Leven Lift Station Electrical Expenses

C. Water and Wastewater Workshops

D. Upcoming Agendas

Items A and C above outline areas for upcoming discussion where substantial spending or rate structure changes are upcoming. We are going to talk about the $800,000+ requested to secure utility easements east of US441 and north of SR46.

In reference to Water/Wastewater Workshops, Mr. Pastue is looking at providing more opportunity for review of the proposed 21% increase in Water/Wastewater rates.

After that comes the council.

3. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS

Here is where Council members bring up items of interest to them and/or constituents.

And then... at this point... the meeting is to be adjourned.

We have a representative form of government -- we have elected a mayor city-wide, 4 members that represent specific sections of the city and 2 members that are elected city-wide, of which I am one. And because it is not a direct or democratic system, we 7 are representing you. That does not take away your ability to still be directly involved in the meetings or to merely attend them. Feel free to attend. It is YOUR city afterall.