HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-10-2025 WS MinutesOma 5
CiTy COMMISSION MINUTES HY 44 : ae]
V| APPROVED Marcu 10, 2025
WORK SESSION
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in a Work
Session on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM, 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.
Assistant City Attorney Lonnie N. Groot
City Clerk Traci Houchin ,
Deputy City Clerk Cathy LoTempio
Absent: City Attorney William L. Colbert
Mayor Woodruff called the meeting to order at 5:19 PM.
l. Presentation of Code Enforcement Officer’s Badges by Tony Raimondo, Director
of Development Services.
This presentation was moved to March 31, 2025.
z. Discussion RE: House Bill 301 to increase sovereign immunity by Sharon
Kraynik, Director of Human Resources and Risk Management.
Mr. Groot, Assistant City Attorney, presented a brief description regarding
House Bill 301. He said there is a resolution on the agenda for approval at tonight’s
meeting. The resolution is for the City Commission to urge the Florida State Legislature
to oppose House Bill 301 and Senate Bill 1570 regarding the sovereign immunity law. If
approved tonight, the resolution will be mailed to the Governor and to all committee
chairs.
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2025
WORK SESSION
EF Discussion RE: Board Applicants by Traci Houchin, City Clerk
Ms. Houchin handed out the most recent board applications and asked the
Commission if they would like to interview the applicants or appoint them. Ms. Houchin
stated that there was only one applicant for the Fire Fighters Pension Board, and she is
not a City resident. The positions to be filled include: Four for the Sanford Museum
Board, two alternates to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and two to the Sanford
Housing Authority. Mayor Woodruff asked the Commission to review the applications,
and they can decide on March 17’s Special Meeting.
4, Discussion RE: Commission Evaluation Survey
Elizabeth Jones, Performance Management Coordinator, provided the
results of the Commission Evaluation Survey. After a brief discussion, the consensus of
the Commission was for Ms. Jones to send out another survey.
3, Presentation on Fleet Utilization Study
Ms. Jones and Brett Ferguson, Fleet Superintendent, provided a power
point presentation. Ms. Jones said the study provided information on the frequency of
vehicles being used, the age of the vehicles, and the mileage. This presentation was part
of the Black Belt Team’s project.
Mr. Ferguson stated the study identified two vehicles that would have
been more beneficial renting them instead of purchasing them. The study will help
provide the departments with the fleet that they need and reduce having vehicles in their
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2025
WORK SESSION
departments that are barely being used. Mr. Ferguson said he is meeting with all the
departments to review their fleet.
Commissioner Britton mentioned there is a lot of waste when it comes to
purchasing vehicles in the City and requested to see the details on future purchases.
Vice Mayor Austin mentioned that sometimes, the City costs are cheaper
than the State contracts that are used to purchase vehicles.
6. Regular Meeting Items — additional information
A. Approve Resolution No. 2025-3361, relating to opposing and defeating
legislation in reference to Senate Bill 482 and House Bill 665 relating to
Public Art. [Commission Memo 25-075] (RM 9.1) — Administrative matter.
Mr. Groot provided some additional information on Resolution No. 2025-
3361. This is an action item on tonight’s agenda.
B. Approval of Resolution No. 2025-3362, relating to opposing and defeating
legislation in reference to Senate Bill 420 and House Bill 1571 relating
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Commission Memo 25-077] — Administrative
matter.
Mr. Groot provided additional information on Resolution No. 2025-3362.
This is an action item on tonight’s agenda.
7. Briefing Items
8. City Manager Comments
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2025
WORK SESSION
Commissioner Britton said she attended the Sanford Cultural Guild where
there was a discussion regarding Botanical Gardens. She said it is an educational tool on
Florida native plants and would be great for school field trips.
Commissioner Wiggins said at his last Community meeting Britt
Henderson and Josh Brown were honored for the services they provide to the Community
at the Dr. Velma H. Williams Westside Community Center. His annual Community
Event was successful. The next food giveaway will be at Seminole Gardens.
Commissioner Wiggins event Saturday night went well. Mayor Woodruff said the
Saturday night event was fantastic.
Commissioner Thomas said Commissioner Wiggin’s event was great. She
agreed with Commission Britton that the Historic Preservation Board serves a good
purpose. She does not disagree that the Museum Board does not need quite as many
members. She listened to Museum Boards’ last meeting, and they could be more efficient
in how they run their meetings. Mayor Woodruff said the Museum Board formed two
working groups. One is the marketing group, and the other group determines the kind of
artifacts the museum should receive. Commissioner Britton said the Museum Board is
not as big as the other City boards. They meet at the Senior Center and the group is very
productive. Commissioner Thomas has met with Lisa Holder regarding Brevard Counties
Speak Up Brevard on their website, where citizens can propose creative ideas.
Mayor Woodruff mentioned Allegiant is seeing an 18% increase in air
traffic and estimates there will be 12% more in the Fall this year. He said the
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2025
WORK SESSION
Commission discussed backyard chickens a while ago. He said he has had several
residents ask about revisiting backyard chickens due to the price of eggs. Ms. Houchin
said Tony Raimondo, requested to discuss this at an upcoming meeting. Mayor Woodruff
mentioned that anyone in a residential property can have an Accessory Dwelling Unit
(ADU). He mentioned to Ms. Hinson that the City may want to investigate having a pre-
emptive solution. Not sure what the Legislative Bill is going to look like.
Vice Mayor Austin mentioned that the multi-family project is trying to put
it right next to the Wekiva Protection area. He expressed concerns with the Live Local
Act. He said recently there was a CAPP meeting about putting in transient lodging right
next to a neighborhood. The City has enough transient lodging. Ms. Hinson provided
information on the requirements for development. Vice Mayor Austin said he wants the
City to be creative. He mentioned the Commission has still not resolved the vast number
of Dollar Stores in Sanford. Commissioner Britton said that she recently attended a
conference and in talking to other Commissioners she learned that they could deny items
without reason. She asked why the City of Sanford is not able to do this. Ms. Hinson gave
the example that if a transient lodging facility, which is a hotel or a motel, come to the
City for approval, the City cannot tell them who they can and cannot house. That is not
considered a zoning issue. Commissioner Britton said there must be a creative way to do
this. The City is always saying no. Vice Mayor Austin said the City has many hotels and
motels and the homeless people are receiving coupons to stay at the hotels. A hotel and
motel are all about the level of services they provide. Mr. Groot said the Commission is
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2025
WORK SESSION
not allowed to say no on a zoning issue. Commissioner Britton asked if this is only for
the City of Sanford. She said she has spoken with other Commissioners from all over the
State and they are able to say no to zoning items. After a continued discussion, Ms.
Hinson said her staff does their best for the City of Sanford.
Mayor Woodruff said Commissioner Zembower and a representative from
the Catholic Church in Oviedo posted a homeless symposium and it was unclear who was
invited, because the City of Sanford staff was not invited. Mayor Woodruff heard about it
second hand from someone who asked him if he would like to attend. He said it was a
discussion about a plan to find five to seven acres of land to build 100 micro homes on.
Mr. Bonaparte mentioned there are members of the Race, Equity,
Equality, and Inclusion members in attendance.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:24 PM.