HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-08-2025 Goals WS MinutesCITY COMMISSION MINUTES
FEBRUARY 8, 2025
GOALS WORK SESSION
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in a Special
Goals Work Session on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 9:00 AM, in the City Commission
Chambers, 1‘ Floor, Sanford City Hall, 300 North Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida.
Present: Mayor Art Woodruff
Vice Mayor Patrick Austin
Commissioner Sheena Britton
Commissioner Kerry S. Wiggins, Sr.
Commissioner Claudia Thomas
City Manager Norton N. Bonaparte, Jr.
City Clerk Traci Houchin
Deputy City Clerk Cathy LoTempio
Mayor Woodruff called the meeting to order at 9:01 AM.
Mayor Woodruff provided a power point presentation based on the suggestions of
the Commission. The Commission reviewed the top five focus areas:
Improving/upgrading infrastructure; prioritizing customer experience; Opportunities for
Community (assistance programs, helping those who are unhoused, etc.); Communication
internally and with our community, and Crime and Crime Prevention.
e Improving/upgrading infrastructure: Commissioner Thomas _ suggested
implementing a dashboard or spreadsheet like a thermometer where the public can
always access the status of projects. Commissioner Britton mentioned she sees
much waste on materials, vehicles, and time management. She would like to see
the management staff utilize better time management. As for vehicles,
Commissioner Britton noted that luxury vehicles should not be provided for staff.
Vice Mayor Austin said the City uses State contracts to get the best price on
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
FEBRUARY 8, 2025
GOALS WORK SESSION
vehicles and although they may look like luxury vehicles, they may be less
expensive than work trucks. He suggested the City look at outsourcing some of
the City services.
Prioritizing customer experience: Commissioner Thomas asked how the City can
communicate with customers to follow the rules as many of the issues seem to be
that the customers are not providing the proper information or responding to staff
in a timely manner. Commissioner Thomas suggested that they look at the way
the staff is being trained. Commissioner Britton feels that the employees in
supervisory positions may be the ones who need additional training. She said
communication and response is an issue. The residents should not have to go to a
Commissioner to get a response regarding which staff was capable of handling.
Vice Mayor Austin said following up goes a long way. The City needs to look at
additional training, hierarchy, and social media. Mayor Woodruff said Citizen
Serve can be reviewed online to see the status of projects. Vice Mayor Austin
wants to know the percentage of people that caused their project to take the slow
lane.
Opportunities for the community: Commissioner Wiggins holds two food
giveaways a month and the people the Picnic Project serves are not homeless,
they are working people like all of us. He is not in favor of the Rescue Outreach
Mission, as Sanford receives homeless people from all over Seminole County.
Commissioner Britton expressed her opinion regarding the homeless community.
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
FEBRUARY 8, 2025
GOALS WORK SESSION
She said it is time for the City to fund other projects and stop making chronic
homeless people comfortable. Sanford does not to be the hub for all public
services. Mayor Woodruff suggested something like The Sharing Center, that has
phones, showers, and laundry (no food). Commissioner Britton recommended that
it be located out by the mall. She fears Sanford is going to become a camping
ground. Vice Mayor Austin said the City should do more rather than worry about
the cities who are not doing anything. Commissioner Thomas mentioned when
she attended the CALNO meeting, she received a lot of push back from the other
cities. She said all the Seminole County cities should be assisting with
homelessness. Commissioner Britton suggested stocking the food pantries in the
Sanford schools and if other organizations wanted to help it would be a great way
for them to work with Seminole County Schools.
Communications internally and with our community: There were discussions of a
newsletter for City Hall and Manager’s reports. Commissioner Britton asked for
better communication between the Mayor and the Commissioners. There was a
discussion for the Communications Office to track key social media and
responding but getting information and posting it.
Water quality: There is a Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(FDEP) meeting, Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 2 PM to discuss allocating
the funding for the new water plant. Vice Mayor Austin asked if the City would
like to sell Site 10 in Geneva to make ball fields out of it. After a brief discussion,
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
FEBRUARY 8, 2025
GOALS WORK SESSION
the consensus is that the location was too far away from the City. Commissioner
Wiggins said the Goldsboro property is progressing. Vice Mayor Austin asked
why the City is not utilizing the lobbyists to assist with moving projects along.
There was a brief discussion regarding the selection of the new law firm. The City
needs to be prepared to pay more for these services.
There was a brief discussion about restructuring from the top and asked if there is
really a need for an Assistant City Manager and Mr. Bonaparte explained the
necessities of an Assistant City Manager.
There being no further business, the meeting was adj ay PM.
Mayor’Art Woodruff I /