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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-14-2025 WS MinutesCITY COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 14, 2025 WORK SESSION The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in a Work Session on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 4:30 PM, in the City Commission Chambers, 1s' Floor, Sanford City Hall, 300 North Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida. Present: Mayor Art Woodruff Vice Mayor Patrick Austin Commissioner Sheena Britton Commissioner Claudia Thomas City Manager Norton N. Bonaparte, Jr. Assistant City Attorney Lonnie N. Groot Deputy City Clerk Cathy LoTempio Absent: Commissioner Kerry S. Wiggins, Sr. City Attorney William L. Colbert City Clerk Traci Houchin Mayor Woodruff called the meeting to order at 4:36 PM. 1. Presentation of Code Enforcement Officer's Badges by Tony Raimondo, Director of Development Services. Mr. Raimondo presented Code Enforcement Officer badges for completing the Florida Association Code Enforcement Training for the City and the State to the following: David Sanders, Steven Parrilla, Philip Banks, and Julio Medina. Each of the officers introduced themselves. 2. Discussion on Sanford Chickens by Tony Raimondo. Mr. Raimondo provided a power point presentation that included information from Seminole County and other Cities in Seminole County who allow chickens. Most of the jurisdictions allow chickens, with special requirements, setbacks, type of community they are allowed in, coupe sizes, special requirements for storage for CITY COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 14, 2025 WORK SESSION feed and manure. Seminole County allows up to six chickens in residential zones only, no trailers, duplexes, or multi -family homes. Chickens are not allowed to wander the neighborhood. He provided several recommendations. Vice Mayor Austin asked how Code Enforcement is handling the residents that already have chickens. Currently, code enforcement has eight open cases being investigated. Eileen Hinson, Planning Director, said the current program is for residents with 9,000 square feet or more. Vice Mayor Austin asked how code enforcement would handle loose chickens. Mr. Raimondo said that a warning will be issued for the first time, and a violation will be issued for the second time. Ms. Hinson suggested investigating open spaces or community gardens. Commissioner Thomas would like to know the success rate of additional cities that have allowed for chickens. The Commission asked staff to investigate further and bring them back to another meeting. 3. Presentation of Sanford Fire Assessment Fee, by Cindy Lindsay, Finance Director. Mike Burton, Executive Vice President of Raftelis, mentioned he was fascinated about the chicken discussion. He and his wife have six chickens at their house just outside of Palatka. He provided a power point presentation on the following: Consideration of Special Assessments, Florida Law regarding Special Assessments, Fire Assessment Methodology, Fire Assessment Calculation, Full Cost Recovery, and partial cost recovery. The City has retained Raftelis to design a Fire Protection Non -Ad Valorum Assessment program that would fund a portion or all the City's Fire Department. CITY COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 14, 2025 WORK SESSION Currently, the Fire Department is funded though general funds. A fire assessment is a charge imposed against real property to pay for fire services provided by local government, it is not a tax. Mr. Burton said the initial adoption requires two public hearings to be completed by the end of the Fiscal Year or per the Property Appraiser's deadline. The chosen methodology for this study is a two-tier rate structure for all residential and non-residential parcels. Mr. Burton provided the calculations for the FY 2026 Full Cost Recovery, the FY 2026 Partial Cost Recovery, and the Fire Assessment Calculations. Mr. Burton will provide a milestone and bring it back to the Commission for discussion. 4. Presentation of the Required Auditor Communications for Fiscal Year ending on September 30, 2024, by Cindy Lindsay. Ms. Lindsay introduced Joel Knopp of Forvis Mazars. Mr. Knopp said he received a lot of representation from staff, and they were very helpful. He provided the Financial Statement and the City-wide Analysis. He said Ms. Lindsay and her team work hard on this report and the City has received another good report card. 5. Regular Meeting Items — additional information A. Ordinance No. 2025-4825, amending the City Code relating to recovered materials registration, not a franchised process in accordance with the requirements of State Law. [Commission Memo 25-107] (RM 7.1)) — Legislative matter. This is an action item on tonight's agenda. CITY COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 14, 2025 WORK SESSION B. Resolution No. 2025-3365, waiving the fees for use of the City Facilities. [Commission Memo 25-108] (RM 9.A) — Administrative matter. This is an action item on tonight's agenda. C. Resolution No. 2025-3373, to amend the budget in the amount of $2,000,000 and approve the Intergovernmental/Interagency Agreement between the City of Sanford and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) relating to the Fort Mellon Park Amphitheater. [Commission Memo 25-114 (RM 9G) — Administrative matter. This is an action item on tonight's agenda. 6. Discussion RE; Clarifying the Process for Commissioner Oversight and reporting to Staff or Management Concerns under the Florida Sunshine Laws, by Commissioner Britton. Commissioner Britton said she has received (multiple) legal emails about creating a toxic environment which she finds troubling and absurd. She does not understand how raising issues about accountability and leadership can be seen and treated as a threat. She would like to get some kind of direction. Commissioner Britton said that last year she made a motion for a vote of no confidence, (after touring around the City) so that the Commission could discuss those things. However, the Mayor advised her that she had not followed protocol, and that she should have spoken to the attorney beforehand. Commissioner Britton indicated that she spoke with Mr. Colbert and that he outlined a legal path for her to follow to do a vote of non -confidence. She said that the CITY COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 149 2025 WORK SESSION Mayor tells her that she should have spoken with the Commission first. Commissioner Britton is struggling to understand how she is only able to speak about the City Manager's performance during his evaluation period. This is not practical. Concerns around leadership, performance, and accountability do not only arise once a year. City issues, concerns, and communications are ongoing and could grow if they are not addressed. She said she is not repeating herself for the sake of conflict, she continues to try and address the issues that are not resolved. The last Commission meeting was not personal attacks. She spoke about litter, Public Works, Communication, forward thinking, boil water notices and lack of information. She said that she is unsure how this is creating a hostile work environment. Her evaluation was complete and thorough. Commissioner Britton asked Mr. Groot to inform her how she can address concerns with the City Manager as they arise versus having to wait for an entire year for the evaluation. Mr. Groot handed out some flow charts of other entities that have a Council/Manager form of government and gave a few examples. Commissioner Thomas said it is not that the Commission is trying to fire someone, however, she suggested that they review and revise the City Manager's contract along with the Charter. Mayor Woodruff said when the Commission sets the City Manager Goals for the next year, the Commission should also make note of the things that were accomplished in that previous year. Commissioner Britton expressed her disappointment with the Commission and will be motioning to terminate the City Manager at tonight's meeting. 7. Briefing Items CITY COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 14, 2025 WORK SESSION Mayor Woodruff handed out the 2025 City Manager Goals. He asked the Commission to review and send comments to the City Clerk. He will read the email letter from Christina Grace at tonight's meeting. Mayor Woodruff had a few questions regarding sidewalk work on 251h Street. He said he spoke with staff and the City is going to start videotaping the Work Session. 8. City Manager Comments There being no further business, the meeti Attest: C1kkN&,, City Clerk (CL) Q c� at 6:18 PM.