CITY OF CLEWISTON

2024 Regular Commission Meeting and Workshop Schedule

Meetings and Workshops are held in the City Hall Commission Chambers

115 W. Ventura Avenue, Clewiston, FL 33440

Telephone 863-983-1484

Meeting and Bimonthly Workshop dates are subject to change.  Rescheduled meetings and workshops will be posted on our web site as soon as they are known.

Budget Workshops and Hearings Schedule - To be determined

Special Meetings and Workshops Schedule - To be scheduled as needed

Contact City Clerk Kathy Combass for information regarding agenda items or meetings at 863-983-1484 ext. 105.

The Department provides the following services:

• Fire Suppression
• Hazardous Materials First Response
• Vehicle Accident Response and Extrication
• Basic Life Support as First Responders
• Disaster Operations such as hurricanes, flooding, etc., including helping other communities when emergencies occur
• Group tours of the fire station

Policies

Check-Out Policies:

• All patrons can check out up to 25 items at one time.
• Most books, paperbacks, audio tapes, and CD's are three week loans.
• DVDs are seven day loans (VHS tape we no longer have).
• Patrons can renew materials by telephone.
• Renewals are allowed for one additional loan period, unless the item is on hold or the loan type of the item does not permit renewals.

Hours

Clewiston Animal Services employs two full-time Animal Control Officers and a part-time Kennel Technician.  Our Animal Control Officers cover more than 500 square miles to include the City of Clewiston and Eastern Hendry County.  In addition, Clewiston Animal Services operates an animal shelter with two indoor cat rooms and 14 outdoor dog kennels.  The animal shelter is located at 410 W. Arroyo Avenue, Clewiston.

We encourage everyone to visit our shelter to find your forever pet.  In addition, if you are interested in learning about the pet adoption process, spay and neuter opportunities, vaccination rules, or even how to volunteer, please call the shelter at 863-983-1474.

If you are in need of animal services or to report a problem, please call the Clewiston Police Department at 863-983-1474 and an Animal Control Officer will be dispatched.

The Solid Waste Division provides automated residential garbage service twice a week.  

Collection service is offered two days a week, Monday and Thursday for residents living north of Hwy 27 and Tuesday and Wednesday for residents living south of Hwy 27.  Carts are to be offered for collection no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before scheduled pickup or by 6:00 a.m. the day of pickup.  The cart is to be removed from the curb by the end of the day of pickup.  Any cart at the curb on a "no pickup day" will be charged a $25.00 special service charge to remove the cart from the curb each time this service is required.  This charge will be added to your monthly utility bill.

Pickup up service is not offered on holidays observed by the City.  If a holiday falls on a scheduled pickup day, the pickup will be made the next day. 

A refrigerator magnet is offered free upon request, reminding customers of the collection schedules.

TRASH COLLECTION

For yard and garden collection, the following requirements apply:

• One pile of yard waste will be collected weekly, and includes limbs, trimmings, and cuttings, not to exceed 4'x4'x8'. 
• Limbs are not to exceed 8 feet in length and 4 inches in diameter.
• Bushy limbs are to be cut apart and trimmed to lay flat.
• Debris is to be placed at the corner of your property, but not on the street, sidewalk, storm gutter, canal bank, or your neighbor's property.
• If your pickup exceeds these standards, call the public works department at 983-1471 for a special service.

Bulky Wastes collection is the pickup of "white goods" and other items that are not considered garbage or horticulture.  White goods are appliances such as washing machines, dryers, stoves, small window A/C units, refrigerator or freezer.  Units with doors are to be offered for collection after the doors have been removed and all food products have been removed and disposed of properly.  Residents must call the Public Works office at 983-1471 and arrange a pickup.  Items should not be placed for pickup until the night before the pickup date specified by the Public Works Department.

Special Pickups

• Call the Public Works Department at 983-1471 for horticultural trash that is larger than five cubic yards, or washers, dryers, or other bulky waste.
• A reasonable fee for the special pickup will be added to the customer's next regular bill.

Commercial Service
The Public Works Department has a full-service commercial collection.  Dumpsters of various sizes are available and will be delivered to your doorstep.  The service is offered as "on-call" or through a regularly-scheduled pickup.

Jay Ensminger serves as the Office Coordinator for the Public Works Department.  Please call with any questions or comments that you may have at 863-983-1471.

The City of Clewiston owns and operates its own waste water treatment plant and provides service to Clewiston and Harlem and accepts waste water from five mobile home parks located east of the City Limits.  For more information on the water cycle, please click on "Water Cycle Presentation" in the Related Pages section.

Clewiston Utilities also provides billing for two other services of the City of Clewiston; garbage collection, both residential and commercial, and mosquito control.  These services are established as part of your utility account, but are provided by the Public Works Department located at 1200 S. Olympia Avenue.  More information concerning these services can be found via the Public Works section of the website, by clicking this link:  Public Works Department.

If you are in doubt as to whether or not a permit is required, call  863-983-1500 or check the City's Code online (see below).  Remember - building codes are not another red-tape nuisance.  These codes protect you by ensuring the completed work meets specific quality standards that protect you and your neighbors.

Plan Review:

The City requires proof of licensure and insurance from contractors who pull permits within the City, so be sure to instruct the contractor to obtain the permit in his name, not your name.

Inspections:

Inspections are conducted on all types of residential and commercial structures for Building, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing.  Call 863-983-1500 for more information or to schedule an inspection.

Citizen boards and committees play an important role in local government and serve as a vital link between the community and its elected officials.  While you will find that your role on a citizen board requires time, effort and some night meetings, it is also a rewarding and challenging experience.

• Community Redevelopment Advisory Board
• Clewiston Library Advisory Board
• Hendry County Library Cooperative Advisory Board
• Planning and Zoning Board
• Board of Building Commissioners
• Municipal Golf Course Advisory Committee
• Parks, Recreation & Leisure Services Advisory Board
• Area Housing Commission of Clewiston, LaBelle and Hendry County
• Auditor Selection Committee
• Firefighter Pension Board 

• Area Housing Commission of Clewiston, LaBelle and Hendry County Board
• Firefighter Pension Board

Building Permit Application Process:

Required Documentation for Permit Application:

1. Site Plan
2. Building Elevations
3. Mechanical Plan
4. Signage Plan
5. Structural Plan 
6. Electrical Plan
7. Foundation Plan
8. Landscaping Plan
9. Grading and Drainage Plan

Commercial and subdivision projects must submit a Design Review Application prior to applying for a Building Permit.

It is advisable to consult with the Building Official prior to submitting your plan.  Missing or incomplete documents will delay the issuance of a Building Permit.  Please allow ten working days for the plan review process.  You will be notified when a permit is ready to be issued.  Construction prior to the issuance of a permit is subject to a STOP WORK ORDER and/or a penalty of $50.

Inspections:

Call the Community Development Department at 863-983-1500 at least 24 hours prior when scheduling a building inspection and provide the following information:

1.  The permit number
2.  The job site address
3.  Type of requested inspection
4.  Your name and telephone number
5.  Any other information that might help us provide you  with the inspection. 

If you have a building question, check the City's Code of Ordinances, for more information or print the residential permitting packet (link below).

The Streets and Sidewalks Division has nine employees whose responsibilities include maintaining the roadways, drainage systems, and sidewalks. Yearly projects upgrade these areas, and routine maintenance occurs on a daily basis.

An in-house sign technician makes all the signs, from street markers to stop signs, and original, creative signs, when needed. It is a state-of-art operation with the newest sign equipment on the market.

A street sweeper cleans the city streets daily. The City has two Ford mowers with 18-foot batwing flail mowers that keep the roadways and open areas neatly mowed.

If you find any of the following require attention, please call the Public Works Department between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours, on weekends and holidays, please call the Police Department at 983-1454. 

• Street pot holes
• Damaged or missing street signs
• Street markings
• Damaged or dead trees on City property
• Right-of-way mowing problems
• Damaged street drains
• Street flooding
• Street cleaning
• Other

Starting Service

Termination of Services  

Seasonal Customers

The Law Enforcement Explorer program is designed to provide youth some hands-on experience in the areas of criminal justice and law enforcement. Explorers do not need the desire to become law enforcement officers to join. Club participation is open to young men and women in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades who have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10 years old but have not completed the eighth grade and are not yet 15 years old. Post participation is open to youth 14 to 20 years old.  Applicants to the post must have graduated from eighth grade.  

Post participation is designed to give youth the opportunity to learn about a law enforcement career and provide hands-on experience in criminal justice and law enforcement areas.

Who can be an C.P.D. Explorer?

-You are between the ages of 10 and 21

-You are free from physical limitations that might prevent you from completing any duty assignment

-You have no felony convictions

Each week, Clewiston Police Explorers meet to participate in training sessions that are overseen by law enforcement advisors. The topics of these meetings include, but are not limited to, arrest and control, criminal law, and criminal procedure. 

Any Explorer over the age of 16 who is in good standing with the Explorer Program is eligible to ride along as an observer with an officer. This experience allows Explorers to find out first hand what police work is really like. Additionally, Clewiston Explorers provides role players many training events throughout the region. 

How to Apply

 Young people who want to become a Clewiston Police Explorer should fill out this interest form. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1cWgmPUBZ-gXbQJBsfhoDxToSvDvu8WONf2fLsDXiC98/edit

Need a computer?

The library has nine computers with Internet capability.  Computers are available on a first-come first-serve basis.  But first you must read the Library's computer rules, then sign on the back of the application card that you will abide by them.  You may sign up to use a computer for 30 minutes at a time.  If no one is waiting, you may use the computer for a longer period of time.  

Want to arrange a tour?

Anyone can schedule a tour of the library.  The director and staff enjoy showing what the library has to offer.  Call the library at 863-983-1493 to schedule a visit.

The current members of the City of Clewiston City Commission are Phillip Roland, Mayor, Kristine Petersen, Vice Mayor, Mali Gardner, Commissioner, Sherida Ridgdill, Commissioner, and Julio Rodriguez, Commissioner. 

Rates and Fees

Ordinances and resolutions are defined by Section 166.041(1), Florida Statutes:

• Ordinance means an official, legislative action of a governing body, which action is a regulation of a general and permanent nature and enforceable as a local law.
• Resolution means an expression of a governing body concerning matters of administration, expression of a temporary character, or a provision for the disposition of a particular item of the administrative business of the governing body.

Procedures for Adoption

• Each ordinance or resolution is introduced in writing and embraces  one subject only, and that subject shall be clearly stated in the title.
• The majority of the members of the governing body shall constitute a quorum.  The affirmative vote of the majority of a quorum present shall be necessary to enact any ordinance or adopt any resolution, except a two-thirds vote is necessary to pass an emergency ordinance.
• All ordinances or resolutions shall become effective as provided therein.
• Every ordinance or resolution shall, upon its final passage, be recorded in a book specifically for that purpose and shall be signed by the mayor and the city clerk.

Ordinances

• No ordinance shall be revised or amended by reference to its title only; the ordinances shall set out in full the revised or amended act or section or subsection or paragraph of a section or subsection.
• A proposed ordinance may be read by title, or in full, on at least two separate days and shall be noticed once in the newspaper or general circulation in the municipality at least 10 days prior to adoption.  The notice of proposed enactment shall state the date, time, and place of the meeting, the title or titles of proposed ordinances and the place and where the proposed ordinances may be inspected by the public.
• The notice shall also advise that interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance.

Hours of Operation

Policies

Billing Rates are based on the class of service, i.e. residential, commercial, etc. and a rate sheet is available at the Utilities Office. Our Customer Service personnel are very knowledgeable and can answer almost any question, however you can ask our Office Manager, Monica Perez, about billing questions or the Operations Director, Danny Williams, about service questions or complaints at 863-983-1454.  Payments The City accepts a number of payment types to pay your utilities, including Electronic Debit. Please see the Related Pages links below for more information on individual types of payments. Delinquent Bills Bills are due when rendered and are considered past due if payment is not received prior to the due date listed on your bill.  Service will be subject to termination if payment is not received within five days of the due date.  If a service has been terminated, payment must be received by 4:45 p.m. to be reinstated the same day.  No reconnects will be made after normal operating hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Transfer of Deposit

Understanding Your Bill

Clewiston Utilities is a municipally owned electric utility. We are a department of the City of Clewiston and own all of the electrical distribution system within the City including the Harlem community. Which means that any “profit” made by the electric department is returned to the City of Clewiston, primarily in the form of Parks and Recreation, Police, Fire, and street lighting services; and helps to offset ad valorem tax rates.

Clewiston Utilities has not raised the Electric Base Rate portion of your bill since May 2001. The Base Rate is the portion of your bill that includes the Kilowatt Hours (KWH) referred to as “electric usage”. This portion of your bill is what covers all aspects of operating the electric utility except the actual fuel costs used to produce the electricity. The POWER ADJUSTMENT, which appears on your bill is the difference between our base rate and what Clewiston Utilities pays to purchase electricity. It is calculated monthly and applied (charged) on your electric usage only. There is no profit on this charge.

Clewiston Utilities is a member of and buys all of its electricity from the Florida Municipal Power Association (FMPA). FMPA is made up of 30 other cities.

The Mosquito Control Division operates from the end of June through the end of November, using an integrated mosquito control program. This program consists of:

• Aerial and ground applications of approved insecticides nightly by trained licensed applicators;
• Larval control is done at the beginning and continues throughout the season; and
• Barrier treatments and inspections of private property are provided, upon request.

You can help eliminate breeding sites by:

• Cleaning out eaves, troughs, and gutters
• Removing old tires or drilling drain holes in those used in playgrounds
• Turning over or removing empty containers
• Checking tarps on boats or other equipment that may collect water
• Replacing water in birdbaths and pet feeding dishes at least once a week
• Changing water in plant trays, including hanging plants, at least once a week
• Removing vegetation or other obstructions in drainage ditches so water will flow.

Remember -

• Avoid outdoor activities whenever possible between dusk and dawn
• Wear light colored, long sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes, and socks when outdoors
• Spray DEET or other repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitos may bite through clothing

Did you know . . .

• Studies reveal mosquitos are a small portion of a bat's diet.
• There is no proof the Citronella plant actually repeals mosquitos.
• Researchers have found that while electrocutors do attract and kill insects, mosquitos comprise only 6.4 percent of a five-day insect catch.

All bids must be in sealed envelopes and the bid number and subject clearly marked on the envelope.  No responsibility will be attached to any officers for the premature opening of a bid not properly addressed and identified.

For more information on Audits, please call Finance Director Shari Howell at 863-983-1484.

Emergency Service

To report a water or sewer break, call 983-1454.  After hours, call the Clewiston Police Department at 983-1474.

Utility Locates

Don't dig until you call for utilities locates - call 983-1454 - from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. weekdays.

Billing Questions

Contact Office Manager, Monica Perez, at 983-1454.

Service Questions or Complaints

Contact Utilities Director, Danny Williams, at 983-1454.

Questions regarding a bill or invoice should be directed to Shari Howell at 863-983-1484.

The City of Clewiston is a great place to work!  We offer benefits, regular hours, and a pleasant working environment.  In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities.  We look forward to you joining our team!

The City does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, marital status, military service, or any other characteristic protected by law.  The City of Clewiston is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The Human Resource Department accepts applications only for those positions which are announced.  If there are currently no vacancies in the position you selected, check the site again at a later date.  This website page is updated each time a new vacancy occurs.

Stop by city hall and see Kathy Combass, City Clerk, about obtaining an employment application.  If you wish, you may attach your resume to the application.

Florida Electronic Library - open a new path to learning.  Use this site for current events, business, health issues, homework help, finding full-text articles, and Florida history and information.

Travis Reese is the City's Fire Inspector, Building Inspector and a volunteer fireman.  The Fire Inspector enforces applicable provisions of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life/Safety Codes and Standards, Florida Fire Prevention Code, the Florida Building Code, and the City of Clewiston's municipal code as it relates to the life safety enforcement for the public.  Mr. Reese conducts annual fire inspections on all commercial, educational, and residential occupancies equal to three units and greater as mandated by law. 

Below are links to sections of the City's Comprehensive Plan, amended July 20, 2015.

1. Introduction
2. Future Land Use Element
3. Traffic Circulation Element
4. Housing Element
5. Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water, and Natural Groundwater Aquifer Recharge Element
6. Conservation Element
7. Recreation and Open Space Element
8. Intergovernmental Coordination Element
9. Capital Improvements Element
10. Concurrency Management System
11. Reserved
12. Consistency of the Comprehensive Plan with the Southwest Florida Regional Comprehensive Policy Plan
13. Public Participation in the City Planning Process
14. Economic Element
15. Reserved
16. Public Schools Facilities Element

Under the administrative control of the Utilities Director, Cecilia Guzman  serves as Warehouse Specialist for the City. Cecilia is responsible for the procurement of materials, supplies, equipment, and services at the lowest possible cost consistent with the quality needed to provide the best service and value to the taxpayers.

The major objectives of the Purchasing Division are to:

• Ensure the City receives the best value obtainable for every tax dollar spent.
• Promote free, open competition and equal opportunity for all vendors and suppliers.
• Monitor vendor performance to insure reliability.
• Keep abreast of current developments in the field of Purchasing.
• Monitor prices, market conditions and new products.
• Maintain and guarantee the integrity of the city's procurement program, the warehouse facility and its inventory.

Deliveries will not be accepted between the hours of 12 Noon and 1:00 p.m. For more information, call Miguel at 863-983-1496.

The City of Clewiston accepts applications for only those positions that are announced.  The City of Clewiston is an Equal Opportunity Provider and  Employer, Drug Free, Tobacco Free workplace.  Due to the volume of applications we receive for open positions, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

If there is an opening for a position you are interested in, please submit one application for each position.  If you wish, you may attach a resume to your application.

Applications may be picked up at Clewiston City Hall and may be submitted by mail or in person to the City of Clewiston Human Resources Department, 110 West Osceola Avenue, Clewiston, FL  33440.  Call Ashly Sergent at 863-983-1492 for more information. 

Click Here for Job Postings

The Community Improvement Division is responsible for the enforcement of the City of Clewiston's Code of Ordinances, usually concerning safety, appearance, and zoning regulations.  The most common violations involve but are not limited to:

• Yard maintenance and overgrown weeds and trash
• Abandoned and inoperable vehicles, boats, trailers, etc.
• Construction prior to obtaining the proper permits
• Minimum housing and building maintenance standards
• Absence of house numbers
• Illegal signs in the City's rights-of-way or on utility poles

Individuals who wish to report an alleged code violation or tip will need to provide their name and address before an investigation can occur (Note: Florida Statute 162.21 (3)(b) and FS 166.0415 have been amended by 2021 Senate Bill 60).

The City does not enforce deed restrictions or home owner association rules and regulations as those are considered civil matters.

If you receive a violation notice, promptly contact Code Enforcement at 863-983-1454 extension 309. It is the City's goal to help its citizens achieve compliance.  If you need additional time to correct the deficiency, Code Enforcement will work with you.  There are no time extensions granted for issues dealing with public health and safety issues.  Failure to correct a violation within the prescribed time may result in a fine or legal action.

Check the Code to see if you are in compliance with the City's rules and regulations.

Link to view Florida State Statute 162.21 (3)(b): https://m.flsenate.gov/statutes/162.21

Link to view Florida State Statute 166.0415: https://www.flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2020/166.0415

The library is a department of the City of Clewiston and is administered by a seven-member board:

The course was established in 1929, opened for play on Sunday, February 23, 1929, for a fifty-cent daily fee, or for two dollars per month, the whole family could play.  The original  course was designed by Stiles and Van Kleeck, golf architects of New York, NY and St. Petersburg, FL, and Captain Deane Duff, general manager of the Clewiston Company, under whose direction the then-new course was constructed.  The Clewiston Company was to become the United States Sugar Corporation.

A five-hole course had already been in use at the Clewiston Civic Center Park in downtown Clewiston while the construction was being completed.

The Clewiston News, dated Friday, February 21, 1930, stated that an important feature of the announcement of the opening of the new course was that the nominal green fees had been established to make it possible for everyone in the community to enjoy the course.  

Call Laurie Lindsey at 983-1484 with any questions about your payroll check, deductions, or annual leave time.

The City's Comprehensive Plan can be found in the Planning Division of the Community Development Department.  Applications for variances and other Zoning amendments can be found via the "Forms and Applications" link of the "More Information" Section in the left column of this page.

The Clewiston Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a public body which operates pursuant to the State of Florida Community Redevelopment Act of 1969 (Florida Statutes, Chapter 163, Part III) that gives counties and municipalities the authority to create community redevelopment agencies and to carry out community redevelopment to eliminate and prevent slum and blighted conditions and to enhance and protect the tax base within the designated community agency districts.

The City Commission encourages you to become familiar with the CRA and its plans for future.  The attached Redevelopment Plan, (by chapter) outlines goals and polices, and provides implementation strategies necessary to take the plan forward.  All residents are invited to take a look at the Plan and to contact the City at 863-983-1484 if you have any questions or suggestions.

Current members of the Community Redevelopment Advisory Board are R. L. Carroll, Scott Jones, Karl Larson, Kersten Maxson, Electa Waddell, Lisa Walker and Luan Walker.

Information on the Transmission Connection Process for Generation, Transmission, and End Use, including Facility Connection Requirements and Connection Queue, can be found via the link below: