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Claremont council approves COPCN application, emergency HVAC repairs and forms committees on parking and Bishop Field
Summary
At its June 23 meeting the City of Claremont approved an application to Lake County to preserve the option of running its own ambulance transport service, authorized emergency repairs to city‑hall HVAC, created a citizen parking study committee and a technical advisory panel for Bishop Field, and waived a trail easement condition for a waterfront restaurant.
Claremont’s City Council met June 23 and moved on several items with potential long‑range fiscal and service implications for residents.
Council voted 5–0 to authorize staff to apply to Lake County for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) that would preserve the city’s option to operate local ambulance transport in the future. Fire Chief David Eel said the step is a planning milestone, not an immediate service change. “Without that COPCN, we do not have that option,” he said, adding officials modeled a multi‑year rollout and worst‑case startup costs to be covered largely by transport revenue and local MSTU funds.
The council also approved an emergency procurement to repair or replace aging HVAC units in City Hall after a lightning strike disabled systems on the second and third floors. Assistant director James Mayworm told the council contractors could restore service with parts immediately at an estimated cost “in the neighborhood of $14,000,” while replacement options would be far costlier. After debate about emergency procurement rules and competitive bidding, the council authorized the manager to certify the emergency and proceed with immediate repairs.
On development and land‑use matters, council waived a previously required 15‑foot public‑access easement tied to a conditional use permit for waterfront restaurant Salt Shack after the property owner said an easement could not be granted. The council voted 3–2 to remove the condition while leaving open future cooperation on waterfront access.
Council also took several actions on parks and planning. After extended public comment and debate, council directed staff to convene a citizen committee to produce concept plans and budgets for two city‑owned parking options (the 7th/Minola parcel and the City Hall lot) and to solicit public‑private partnership ideas; staff was asked to return concept proposals within 60 days. The decision followed a lengthy downtown conversation in which merchants urged a rapid parking solution and residents worried about walkability and waterfront views.
Separately, the council formed a seven‑member Bishop Field Technical Advisory Committee to guide improvements at the long‑used youth ballfield. The committee’s membership will emphasize baseball experience, South Lake Little League representation, nearby residents (including at least one from Second Street and one from Dodto), and a local business representative; the body will evaluate design, grant, and neighborhood impacts.
Other votes included approval of a Lake Felter Park turf conversion (roughly $510,000 with an organic‑infill alternate) and refunds of variance application fees where staff acknowledged application or permitting confusion. Council also introduced an updated franchise ordinance with Duke Energy to replace a legacy agreement; staff and Duke agreed to pursue a memorandum of understanding on undergrounding and coordination before final adoption.
The council granted a first reading to a stormwater/code update and approved other routine consent items. For communications, council directed staff to retain transitional consulting (True North) to stand up a core communications program and to begin hiring a communications director immediately, with additional positions phased in consistent with budget review. The consultant recommended tools and a three‑person team focused on strategic planning, digital content and community engagement to better coordinate the city’s messaging and public outreach.
What’s next: staff will return with appointments and design concepts per the 60‑day direction on downtown parking and with the final Duke Energy ordinance and any associated MOU. The COPCN application will be filed with Lake County as directed; any subsequent operational steps on ambulance transport will require additional council decisions.
— Reported from the June 23, 2023 meeting of the City of Claremont City Council. Quotes are taken from meeting remarks and public comment and attributed to speakers present at the meeting.
