HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-28-2025 WS MinutesCITY COMMISSION MINUTES
JULY 28, 2025
WORK SESSION
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in a Work
Session on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 4:00 PM, in the City Commission Chambers, 1 St
Floor, Sanford City Hall, 300 North Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida.
Present: Mayor Art Woodruff
Vice Mayor Patrick Austin (Arrived at 4:39 PM)
Commissioner Sheena Britton
Commissioner Claudia Thomas
City Manager Norton N. Bonaparte, Jr.
City Attorney Lindsay N. Greene
Deputy City Clerk Cathy LoTempio
Absent: Commissioner Kerry S. Wiggins, Sr.
City Clerk Traci Houchin
Mayor Woodruff called the meeting to order at 4:07 PM.
1. Sanford Airport Authority Budget Presentation by Joel Knopp of Forvis Mazars.
[Commission Memo 25-173.A] (RM 6.A)
Mr. Knopp provided a brief presentation of the Sanford Airport
Authority's (SAA) Budget. He thanked the SAA staff for their full cooperation and said
there are no adjustments necessary to the budget. He reviewed the Management
Discussion and Analysis pages. He said that the increases in these areas are due to staff
changes. He also reviewed the Balance and Income Statements as well as the Compliance
Section. Overall, he said that this is a clean report. He asked the Commission if they had
any questions and Commissioner Thomas said she is looking forward to next year's
report for a comparison.
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JULY 28, 2025
WORK SESSION
2. Discussion RE: Commission approval of budget amendments and transfers by
Cindy Lindsay.
Ms. Lindsay said all budget amendments must be approved by the
Commission regardless of the amount as they have an associated Resolution. Budget
transfers that are $50K or above require Commission approval under the current policy.
The Finance and Purchasing Department are in the process of revising the Purchasing
Policy. Ms. Lindsay asked the Commission if they would like to increase the amount on
the budget transfers for approval. After a brief discussion, the consensus was to raise the
budget transfer amount to $75K and above for Commission approval. In addition, the
Commission agreed if the Capital requests increase 20% or more, that would require
Commission approval.
Ms. Lindsay said these changes would be included in the Resolutions
discussed in September during the Budget Public Hearings.
3. Discussion RE: Commission Dashboard by Elizabeth Jones, Performance
Manager Coordinator.
Ms. Jones provided a power -point presentation regarding the Capital
Projects on the dashboard. She said that this is an interactive dashboard with several ways
to search the projects. She displayed Gannt charts, a graphical representation of activity
against time, which helps project managers monitor progress. There is also a Geographic
Information System (GIS) Dashboard to search projects by location. Ms. Jones said she is
currently waiting for additional information that should be available next week.
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WORK SESSION
Commissioner Thomas said she loved this and asked if there would be something on the
City's homepage giving directions to the public. She would also like to see planned
versus actual and thanked Ms. Jones for this information.
4. Discussion RE: Permit Process Study by Tony Raimondo, Director of
Development Services.
Mr. Raimondo, said in 2012 the Commission approved Resolution No.
2012-2348, regarding the City's "Open for Business" policy. This policy dissipated over
time and in 2022 this policy was brought up again. Mr. Raimondo said he is not letting
this policy disappear again. There were 18 action items of which 15 have been
completed. The City Hall Wayfinding, Permit Express Program and Soliciting external
feedback are remaining. His recommendation is for staff to reach out to Raftelis to
conduct a Building Fee Study. Their team includes Community Development Directors
who have lead teams through high -volume permitting, planning, and inspection
operations, and they have a long-standing relationship with the City. Mr. Raimondo
provided a scope of the study, a timeline, and the cost, which would come from the
Building Department fund.
Mayor Woodruff suggested moving forward with the study.
Commissioner Britton said she is not favor of studies, but did suggest that they start with
the Improvement Workshop first. Commissioner Thomas suggested starting with,
initiating engagement, understanding the content, and the business process analysis. Mr.
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Raimondo said he believes the City needs a third -party consultant. Commissioner Austin
said an outside view sees with a fresh set of eyes.
5. Regular Meeting Items — additional information
Mayor Woodruff asked if the Commission had any questions regarding
any items at tonight's meeting. There were no questions. Mayor Woodruff asked to
discuss Consent Item 6.L, regarding the Outdoor Kiosk Project with the electrical on City
property. He wants to ensure that this project abides by Schedule S of the City Code. He
recommended that the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meet with Eileen
Hinson, Director of Planning to review. Charles Davis, Chairman of the CRA, concurred
and said there will be two locations for the kiosks downtown. Commissioner Thomas
asked if the CRA had anything in place to handle vandalism. Mr. Davis said yes, the front
of it is glass and if need be it can be replaced if the graffiti is not able to be cleaned off.
Commissioner Thomas inquired about Consent Item 6.1), Special Event
for the Truck Show and the location. Brady Lessard, Economic Development Director,
said the applicant coordinated the event with Elev8.
6. Briefing Items
7. City Manager Comments
Commissioner Britton thanked Mr. Raimondo and Craig Radzak along
with staff for working with her and being transparent. She will be attending the National
Black Caucus, approved by Mr. Bonaparte. She will not be attending tonight's meeting
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and asked if the Commission would excuse her absence. Mayor Woodruff asked if the
Commission's trips should be brought to the Commission for review.
Vice Mayor Austin mentioned he has had conversations that some items
are being held up by the City Attorney. He asked if the Commission should have staff do
an anonymous poll in six months on the productivity of the City Attorney. Ms. Greene
said she would meet with each Commissioner every quarter. Vice Mayor Austin inquired
if the attorney is moving things along. Mr. Bonaparte said Ms. Greene is attending the
Executive Team meetings.
Commissioner Thomas inquired about the Consent Agenda Items relating
to Service Weapons. She saw one with a cost and the other two without a cost. Mayor
Woodruff said that is due to the years of service. She asked about Consent Item 6.M
relating to the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). Edwige Josue,
CDBG Program Manager, said the program is no longer going to target specific areas, it
will be available throughout the entire City. Commissioner Thomas suggested the number
for the homeless population may need to be updated.
Mayor Woodruff said he is glad to see the new lift stations downtown, and
that the Groveview lift station is in design status. Brynt Johnson, Public Work and
Utilities Department, said the Groveview Lift Station Project is out to bid. Mayor
Woodruff has 1,4 dioxane mediation in three weeks. Ms. Greene has developed a Monroe
Meadows draft letter and asked for Vice Mayor Austin to comment on the special
assessment. Mayor Woodruff is working on a 250`h America Grant with Jerry Sullivan,
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Recreation Manager and Brigette Stephenson, Museum Curator, for the Henry Sanford
Project,
Commissioner Britton asked when the City Manager's evaluation was due.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:40 PM.