By Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council, District 4

Today Mount Dora City Council held a 'Work Session" from 9:00 until noon. Work Sessions are public meetings where discussions can take place but no actions or votes are taken. We discussed 5 topics today. I'll give you some information on each of them.

1. CITY MOTOR POOL FLEET MANAGEMENT  We heard an excellent report from our Finance Director regarding our fleet of motor vehicles including emergency service vehicles, public works equipment, etc. Our fleet includes 214 vehicles with an average age of 6 years. Four years ago our average vehicle age was close to 15 years. Currently we own some of our vehicles and lease others. Some of our vehicles are used on a daily basis including police cars and others are only used occasionally such as a back up fire truck or another truck only used to clean out drains. This mix of leased and purchased vehicles seems to be a good idea since we do not have a vehicle maintenance shop or mechanics. We continue to look for every option to keep our fleet costs under control. Our new Public Works facility will include a fuel farm that will enable us to buy fuel in bulk and save money.

2. RAILS TO TRAILS UPDATE  Last budget year we worked with partners (Lake County and Tavares) to submit a "BUILD Grant" for $25 million to purchase 11.5 miles of railroad owned property, design and build a bike/hike trail from Sorrento to Tavares. We were not awarded that grant but we will be improving our proposal and trying again this budget year. We think that a trail system would be very good for our local economy.

3. COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER  For several years a top priority of our Northeast Community Redevelopment Board has been to build a recreation and training center. Several potential locations have been studied. The favored location that has been recommended is where the old pubic works building was located near the corner of Lincoln and Highland. That parcel is contiguous to Lincoln Park. This facility could be used by youngsters, senior citizens and everyone in between. The consensus was to proceed with planning for this project. Speaking only for myself, I am concerned about both the cost of construction and especially about the operating costs of that proposed facility going forward. We'll be hearing more about the merits and concerns involved over the next few months.

4. PARKING UPDATE  Downtown parking shortages have been discussed for the entire 14 years that I've lived in Mount Dora. It's been a long time coming but over the next few months we will be asking for RfPs or RfQs from developers to find out what ideas might be pursued to construct a parking structure.

5. POLICE DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT  Mount Dora has a long tradition of excellence in our police department. Our department has been accredited at the highest level for many years but the past couple of years have been bumpy. One of the reasons our City Manager selected Acting Police Chief Brett Meade is his expertise in organizational development. Under the leadership of Acting Police Chief Meade a comprehensive 222 page assessment of our police department has been conducted. There are 5 parts to the survey both qualitative and quantitative. Nearly 650 Mount Dora residents participated as well as every sworn officer and departmental employee. We discussed a draft copy of that report today. I'll add my personal observation that the very best organizations in business and government constantly assess themselves in order to set goals and to keep getting better. It takes guts to listen to the unvarnished truth and opinions of staff and customers and I admire the fact that this study was undertaken.

A number of important issues have been highlighted. We've have had a high rate of turnover and have terminated one police chief and had a second chief retire in the past two years. Disciplinary process concerns, training weaknesses and trust issues have been identified and can now be dealt with.

The study we heard about today is very well done and should help us address the issues and opportunities we are dealing with. I think the most important and positive statistic mentioned today is that 91% of the officers and employees of the police department believe that our department is headed in the right direction. That positive assessment on the part of our dedicated officers and employees is very important to our future success.

I've interjected my personal opinions a couple of times in this report but please keep in mind that I'm not reporting to you on behalf of Mount Dora City Council. I'm just one of  7 members so my colleagues may or may not agree with my observations.

My quote for you today comes from former First Lady Michelle Obama who said the following in a speech to high school students; "Know that this country belongs to you, all of you. With lots of hard work and a good education... anything is possible."

Thank you for your interest in Mount Dora and thanks too for allowing me to be your District 4 City Council Representative.

Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council, District 4 representative

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here.  Discover the area's online event calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.  ​

Article updated Feb. 17 to reflect result of Mount Dora Planning & Zoning meeting.

Change may be coming.  Previous efforts to transform historic downtown Mount Dora with significantly higher building heights is an issue that has ruffled more than a few feathers in the past.  Now the previously hotly-contested issue has quietly resurfaced again at the same time COVID-19 has some residents wary on attending the public meetings.   

On February 17, Mount Dora Planning & Zoning Commission (P & Z) asked City staff to prepare an ordinance that includes raising downtown's building height limit from the current 35 feet to 55 feet in order to accommodate developers. The ordinance is scheduled to be discussed at the April 21st P & Z public meeting at 10 a.m. at City Hall.  The ordinance would also include increasing the building heights on Highland Street's commercial district.   The commission tentatively plans to vote on the increase at its May 19th meeting at 10 a.m.  

For perspective on the proposed increase, Mount Dora’s landmark Renaissance Building, the most visible building on the city’s main downtown street, is approximately 35 feet tall, according to City documents and its planning staff.  The gray building is three stories tall, plus a basement.  That building is 20 feet under what P & Z is considering.  The proposed changes would increase building heights within 100 feet of Lake Dora from 25 feet to 35 feet.

The proposed 57% height increase could affect the size of any new development on the vacant lot on the corner of 5th Avenue and McDonald Street, as well as Pineapple Point, the 4.3 wooded lakefront land adjacent to the Lakeside Inn, providing the buildings were 100 feet from the lakefront.   The 20-foot increase could also make it more profitable for developers to tear down some existing properties in order to build potentially bigger and more lucrative projects.  Increasing building heights throughout downtown isn't necessary to build a new parking garage.   

The City’s newest council member, Austin Guenther, works for G3 Development, his family’s commercial real estate development business which owns commercial properties that could benefit by the height increase.   According to G3's website, the councilman is tasked with the company’s business development. G3's ownership also has a stake in Pineapple Point, the undeveloped waterfront acreage next to Lakeside Inn.   

Mount Dora “has a unique sense of character and charm that is unrivaled in the region, and that character and charm are a critical component to the economic well-being and success of the city,” stated a January 2021 report on increasing Mount Dora’s building heights by Renaissance Planning, a consulting firm hired by the City of Mount Dora.  Increasing building heights can also impact traffic, parking, and utility systems, as well as public safety due to limitations of fire equipment and the loading and unloading of delivery trucks, cited the same report. 

On the flip side, to changing downtown Mount Dora’s vibe with taller buildings can potentially bring in new residents that spend money and attract new businesses.  However, the significant number of vacant buildings downtown signals there currently isn't a shortage of space for new businesses.  The current 35-foot height restrictions have been in place long before speculative developers purchased downtown properties, therefore the height limits do not unfairly shackle them or adversely affect their private property rights.

Nearby Winter Garden is heralded as a model city which successfully preserved its historic charm while welcoming responsible new downtown development, including residential units.  That Central Florida city strictly adheres to development rules that discourages buildings taller than three stories and ensures new building designs fit in with and complement Winter Garden's historic downtown. The thriving city has turned away developers seeking to build five- and six-story buildings in the area, yet its quaint downtown is vibrant.  The city's large downtown parking garage, built in 2016, is two stories tall with 3 levels of parking that includes the rooftop.

Anyone wanting to weigh in on increasing Mount Dora Building heights can attend the April 21st meeting 10 a.m. at City Hall.  Social distancing and masks are required per the City’s Resolution 2020-138.   If the City’s P & Z Commission votes to recommend the ordinance, it will then go before the City Council for a hearing and vote.   

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here.  Discover the area's online event calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.  ​

By Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council Representative, District 4

I've selected a few items of interest from today's agenda to share with you. Remember that I'm reporting from my personal perspective not on behalf of City Council as a whole.

We got a promising progress report on our new Fire Station #35 that will be located on Rt. 19A on 3.35 acres near the intersection with Eudora Rd. Our architects showed us design concepts for that new station. Look for ribbon cutting to take place in late October. Plans for our other new fire station to be located on Limit Rd. near the intersection with Donnelly St. are also progressing but not as quickly as I would like.

A priority for the city is to help fill the need for "attainable" housing that is in short supply in Mount Dora. To that end we passed a resolution to accept a right-of-Way Deed that will eventually extend 20th. Ave. between Donnelly and Grandview near the new Dora Landings neighborhood. Eight affordable new homes will be constructed through cooperation with Homes in Partnership.

Over the past 2 years our Mount Dora Police Department has experienced organizational turmoil. One Police Chief was terminated and another chief retired. Several supervisors and about half of our officers have turned over. A top priority for our Acting Chief of Police, Brett Meade has been to conduct a comprehensive departmental assessment in order to develop a plan to help resolve Police Department issues. At the close of tonight's meeting we were give a copy of that 222 page assessment. It is based on survey responses from 634 citizens, interviews with police department employees, etc. Our City Manager and your City Council members will be reading that report and helping to implement needed changes based on the data that has been gathered. There was no discussion of the report tonight but it will be helpful moving forward.

I read a quote from Mahatma Gandhi that I found encouraging. "When I despair, I always remember that all through history the ways of truth & love have always won. There have been many tyrants and murders and for a time they can seem invincible but in the end, they always fail. Think of it - ALWAYS.

Thanks for believing in our Beautiful City and for allowing me to serve as your District 4 City Council representative.

Dr. Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council Representative, District 4

By Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council, District 4 Representative
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Mount Dora City Council met for a regular meeting this evening. I've pick out a few action or discussion items to include in this report. Please keep in mind that I'm reporting from my own perspective and on on behalf of Mount Dora City Council.

I've told you before that we need to make necessary and expensive renovations to our Wastewater Plant #1 that is now over 40 years old. Tonight we unanimously passed a resolution to take about $10,250,000 out a State revolving loan to make those improvements. The interest of the loan is super low, fixed at 0.02% for 20 years. We have also received a $1,5 million grant from St. Johns River Management District to put toward the approximately $11,742,000 estimated price tag. This project will not only increase our wastewater treatment capacity, it will replace our current 40 year old facility, add state of the art Bio. Nutrient Removal and get us in compliance with all current EPA standards. We've been planning for this project for a few years now and moving forward will not require rate increases.

The Mount Dora Center for the Arts Festival will be held this coming weekend February 6 and 7 from 9:00-5:00. The festival will look different this year with 130 exhibitors rather than about 300 in past years. The booths will be placed 10' apart. Masks are required. No eating food or drinks will be allowed outside of designated food court areas. The Center for the Arts is working hard to put on an event that is as safe as possible.

On the vaccine front, today the site at St. Patrick Church administered 1,084 second doses of Pfizer vaccine by appointment. Thus far the St. Pats location has handled about 12,000 first and most recently second doses. DOH-Lake is in charge and they have been a good partner. Kudos to St. Patrick Church for offering their campus, Mount Dora Fire Department, Mount Dora, Tavares and Eustis Police Departments and a host of volunteers and contributors who have made this local effort successful. Last Friday a new program called P.O.D. (Point Of Delivery) took 125 doses out to apartment complexes and mobile home parks for homebound residents. We're hopeful that in upcoming weeks they can also administer shots at local churches and in more Mount Dora neighborhoods if vaccine supplies allow. We are making steady progress.

I came away from this meeting feeling positive and grateful for the hard work of our staff and proud of our efforts to work together and make partnerships. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your City Council.

Our quote today is from Oprah Winfrey; "In the end God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars".

By Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council, District 4 Representative

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here.  Discover the area's online event calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app.