HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-27-2023 WS MinutesCITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 27, 2023
WORK SESSION
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in Work
Session on Monday, March 27, 2023, at 4:00 PM, in the Commission Chambers, I"
Floor, City Hall, and 300 North Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida.
Present: Mayor Art Woodruff
Vice Mayor Sheena R. Britton
Commissioner Patrick Austin
Commissioner Patty Mahany
City Manager Norton N. Bonaparte, Jr.
City Attorney William L. Colbert
City Clerk Traci Houchin
Deputy Clerk Cathy LoTempio
Absent: Commissioner Kerry S. Wiggins, Sr.
Mayor Woodruff called the meeting to order at 4:07 PM.
1. Presentation: Update on pending bills, by Oscar Anderson, State Lobbyist.
Oscar Anderson and Kaley Slattery, State Lobbyists, from the Southern
Group, provided a power point presentation on the 2023 Legislative Update. Topics
included the legislative session 2023 budget process update and the City of Sanford 2023
appropriations projects. The City recommended the following projects that the Senate
fully funded in the proposed budget; Sanford Nutrient Reduction at Lake Jessup and Lake
Monroe, Cybersecurity Zero Trust Program, Sanford Fire Department Air Pack
Replacements, and Sanford Fire Department New Engine. The Senate did not approve the
Lake Carola Restoration Project.
Mr. Anderson and Ms. Slattery, discussed the following bills of interest;
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 27, 2023
WORK SESSION
• Affordable Housing, increasing funding for the production of more units, creating
a property tax incentive for market rate apartment developers to reduce rates, and
limit local government's ability to reduce the size and speed the market mixed-use
workforce housing projects.
• Government and Corporate Activism, to require investment decisions, including
bonds, government contracts, and public funds, to meet a specified requirement
related to the consideration of factors that have material effect on investment.
• Residential Building Permits, that would deem a building application approved if
municipalities fail to provide a timely notice that the application incomplete. It
would reduce the time period a municipality could ask for more information and
require the local jurisdiction to reduce the permit fee by 75% if an owner hires a
private contractor to review plans or provide building inspection services.
• Public Construction, requiring contracts between local governments and
contractors to include all cost estimates and restrict municipalities from
withholding payments. This would require municipalities to deem an application
approved if it is still under review after 180 days.
• Water and Wastewater Facility Operators, require the Department of
Environmental Protection to issue a license by reciprocity to an out-of-state water
or wastewater operator that has an active and valid license from that other state
with license requirements that are similar to Florida.
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 279 2023
WORK SESSION
• Vacation Rentals, would create additional preemptions on how Cities regulate
short-term rentals, such as limiting what kind of parameters municipalities can set
on properties, such as occupancy limits.
• Local Ordinances, add to the process for local governments passing ordinances
and gives certain additional rights of those challenging local ordinances.
• Financial Disclosures for Local Officers, to require specified local officers to file
a Form 6 financial disclosure instead of the Form 1. This bill would also add
Commissioners of Community Redevelopment Agencies to the list of officers
exempt from having to complete ethics training when they begin their term, if the
term begins after March 31.
• Sanford Airport Authority, Seminole County, seeks to extend the lease agreement
and contract period for the Orlando Sanford Airport, changing the lease
agreement timeframe from 50 years to 99 years.
2. Update — Vacuum Sewer System
Bill Marcous, Utilities Support Services Manager, said the Cedric
Coleman, Utility Operations Manager, was unable to attend tonight's Work Session. He
is cross -training employees from the Parks and Recreation Department who have offered
to help Utilities with the Vacuum Sewer System Repairs. He thanked the Parks and
Grounds Department for assisting Utilities with the repairs. Since Utilities is a Revenue
Funded department, they are able to pay the other employees for overtime. Lisa Jones,
Parks and Recreation Director, said staff volunteered to assist the Utilities Department
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 27, 2023
WORK SESSION
and get overtime pay. She said if it starts to affect their performance in their daily work
they would be advised to stop. Mr. Marcous provided a power point of the progress of the
repairs.
Mr. Marcous said a Utilities employee was hit by a resident's vehicle
while vacuuming out a man hole. Vice Mayor Britton asked about the precautionary
measures that are being taken to handle this incident. Mr. Marcous said he would be
meeting with Mr. Coleman to discuss. She expressed concern that the staff is not
equipped with the proper personal protective equipment.
Vice Mayor Britton thanked City Staff for the Community Meeting last
week at the Civic Center. Since the meeting, she has taken a tour of some of the pump
stations and provided a photo of a pump station with duct tape all over the entire unit. She
expressed extreme frustration and said she does not see things getting better. She said the
residents and businesses need to be told the truth. Mr. Marcous said he would speak with
Mr. Coleman and provide her with answers.
Commissioner Mahany was contacted by residents asking if their septic
tank fails, is the City going to make it mandatory for them to switch to City sewer. Mr.
Marcous said no it would not be mandatory. The City would refer them to Seminole
County Health Department. They are the ones who handle septic tanks. She said there is
also very poor water pressure in their reclaimed water lines.
Mayor Woodruff asked for the status of the Richman repair. Mr. Marcous
said the repair is completed.
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 27, 2023
WORK SESSION
3. City Financial Report I" Quarter Ended December 31, 2022
Cindy Lindsay, Finance Director, provided the 1St Quarter Financial
Report. She said the general fund budget is aligned where it needs to be. She said the big
item showing the -$12.6M is due to the repairs performed after last year's hurricanes. The
City has to have all repairs completed within 18 months of a hurricane in order to be
reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Ms. Lindsay said
the pension funds are improving.
4. Update on Development Services Department
Tony Raimondo, Development Services Director, introduced the newest
employees to the Development Services Department. He provided a brief power point
presentation on updates within the department. Mr. Raimondo, walked the Commission
through the steps it takes to obtain a building permit when a customer has all the
completed information versus a customer who does not have all the completed
information. He said currently Development Services is staffed at 100% and one of the
new employees would be the downtown code enforcement officer for nights and
weekends.
Commissioner Austin asked Mr. Raimondo to please review the legislative
bills presented at the beginning of the Work Session to let the Commission know if the
City of Sanford is for or against the bills pertaining to the Development Services
Department.
5. Discussion re: Special Event Guidelines
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 27, 2023
WORK SESSION
Jennifer Brooks, Special Events Coordinator, reviewed the information
regarding special events she provided to the Commission. She said the Special Events
Review Committee (SERC) is comprised of a City staff member from each department,
along with the applicants and other event coordinators. SERC meets on the opposite
weeks the Commission does.
After a lengthy discussion, Mayor Woodruff, suggested to revise the
Ordinance to reflect applicants would need to apply for a special event permit four
months in advance. Ms. Brooks suggested 120 days in advance. The Commission agreed
the City should have a Town Hall meeting, with staff, applicants and events coordinators
to discuss further and come up with a compromise.
Commissioner Austin said applicants who hold standing yearly events,
should submit an application for the following year as soon as the current event is over.
Vice Mayor Britton expressed she is not against special events. She is
concerned of the problems they bring to the City's infrastructure until it can be resolved.
She asked about the possibility of relocating some of the events and the applicants are not
in favor of the locations suggested.
The Commission expressed concerns of the after parties in the parking lots
after the events are over. Commissioner Austin asked if Code Enforcement has been
issuing tickets for illegal parking. Mr. Raimondo said the Code Enforcement Division is
issuing parking violations. Cecil Smith, Police Chief and Mr. Raimondo ensured the
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 27, 2023
WORK SESSION
Commission the City Events are being overseen. Chief Smith and Mr. Raimondo
informed the Commission to call them any time of day or night for assistance.
6. Regular Meeting Items — additional information
• Sanford Avenue and Georgetown Residential Historic Districts (RM 7.A)
This item to be discussed at tonight's meeting.
• One -Time Annual Salary Increase (RM 7.1))
This item to be discussed at tonight's meeting.
• Acceptance of Service of Process (RM TE)
This item to be discussed at tonight's meeting.
7. Briefing Items
8. City Manager Comments
Mr. Bonaparte handed out a March 2023 City Manager's Monthly update.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:26 PM.
B, F%
Mor Art Woodruff
Attest:
I-Ap
City Clerk
(CL)