032112 sp mtg agn & min 2012 -119
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2012
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY OF SANFORD
CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING
City Commission Chambers
1 Floor
Sanford City Hall
WEDNESDAY, March 21, 2012 300 North Park Avenue
5 PM Sanford, Florida
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with disabilities needing
assistance to participate in any of these proceedings should contact the City Clerk at
407.688.5010 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
Advice to the public: If a person decides to appeal a decision made with respect to any
matter considered at the above meeting or hearing, he or she may need a verbatim record
of the proceedings, including the testimony and evidence, which record is not provided by
the City of Sanford. (FS 286.0105)
Speaking Before the City Commission. There is a three (3) minutes time limit for each speaker
on each item, except a person representing an organization and presenting its views during a
quasi judicial hearing will be allowed five (5) minutes, and a person speaking under Citizen
Participation will also be allowed five (5) minutes. Your cooperation is appreciated in observing
the time limit policy. Each person desiring to address the City Commission on an agenda item
pending before the City Commission must, before addressing the City Commission, legibly
complete a citizen's input form and submit the form to the City Clerk or designee.
Pledge of Civility. A resolution was adopted by the City Commission of the City of Sanford
recognizing the importance of civility, decency, decorum and respectful behavior in promoting
citizen participation in a democratic government. The City of Sanford calls upon the elected
officials, employees, and the public to exercise civility toward each other. (Resolution No. 2226,
04/11/11)
AGENDA
1) Meeting call to order by Mayor Triplett.
2) Invocation.
3) Pledge of Allegiance.
4) Discussion regarding the Monday, March 26, 2012 Work Session and Regular Meeting
venues and agendas.
5) Update from staff regarding preparations for the March 26, 2012 Regular Meeting.
2012 -120
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2012
SPECIAL MEETING
6) Award bid for utility line relocation work to Hazen Construction in the amount of
$555,555.55 and authorize the Mayor to execute the contract documents.
[Commission Memo 12 -049]
7) Public Safety Complex 2008 Sales Tax Revenue Note refunding: Accept the
proposal from Branch Banking & Trust Company for a non qualified bank loan of
$15,050,000 and adopt Resolution No. 2291 authorizing the refunding of the 2008
Sales Tax Revenue Note. [Commission Memo 12 -050]
8) Other business.
9) City Commissioners' comments.
10) Citizen Participation. Each speaker is allotted five minutes to speak and may present
additional written material. If you have a matter you would like to discuss which requires more
than five (5) minutes, please feel free to arrange a meeting with the appropriate administrative or
elected official. This Citizen Participation is for the City Commission to receive citizen input and
comments pertaining to matters over which the City Commission has jurisdiction or control.
Questions directed to the City Commission may be referred to City staff to be answered within a
reasonable period of time following the meeting.
2012 -121
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2012
SPECIAL MEETING
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in Special
Meeting on Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at 5 PM, in the City Commission Chambers,
City Hall, 300 North Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida.
Present: Mayor Jeff Triplett
Vice Mayor Patty Mahany
Commissioner Mark M
Commissioner Velma Williams
Commissioner Randy Jones
City Manager Norton N. Bonaparte, Jr.
City Attorney William L. Colbert
Deputy City Clerk Cynthia Porter
Absent: City Clerk Janet Dougherty
1) Meeting was called to order by Mayor Triplett at 5:08 PM.
2) Invocation by Thelma Mike, Good Samaritan for His Glory Ministries, Inc.
3) Pledge of Allegiance.
4) Discussion regarding the Monday, March 26, 2012 Work Session and Regular
Meeting venues and agendas.
City Manager Bonaparte said that because the anticipated attendance at the
Regular Meeting will surpass attendance allowed in the Commission Chambers, he asked
the Commission to agree with the change of venue to the Civic Center which will hold
about 600 people. Staff is approaching this as having visitors welcomed to our
community and will make whatever accommodations we can so they are treated
pleasantly and politely by our City.
2012 -122
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2012
SPECIAL MEETING
5) Update from staff regarding preparations for the March 26, 2012 Regular
Meeting.
Mr. Bonaparte said that regular business would be suspended and the only
item on the agenda would be comments regarding the death of Trayvon Martin. The
family has requested to speak at the meeting.
Fire Chief Jerry Ransom said that Staff is developing an operational plan
as well as a contingency plan like all major events. The incident action plan will be
finalized tomorrow afternoon. A joint information center to coordinate media requests
and information is being established and the center has already begun constructing a web
page on the City's site so they can provide maps and information. If the Civic Center is
used it has been recommended that an outside multi media company be used that can
provide jumbotrons; the estimated cost is $32,000 but it would cover everything. A
project code has been created to capture all costs for this event.
There was a consensus of the Commission to accept the change of venue
to the Civic Center with the audio visual on the outside.
6) Award bid for utility line relocation work to Hazen Construction in the
amount of $555,555.55 and authorize the Mayor to execute the contract
documents. [Commission Memo 12 -049]
Commissioner Williams moved to approve the award of the bid to Hazen
Construction in the amount of $555,555.55 contingent on submittal of all contract
2012 -123
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2012
SPECIAL MEETING
documents and to authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement. Seconded by
Commissioner Jones and carried by vote of the Commission as follows:
Mayor Triplett Aye
Vice Mayor Mahany Aye
Commissioner M Aye
Commissioner Williams Aye
Commissioner Jones Aye
7) Public Safety Complex 2008 Sales Tax Revenue Note refunding: Accept the
proposal from Branch Banking & Trust Company for a non qualified bank loan
of $15,050,000 and adopt Resolution No. 2291 authorizing the refunding of the
2008 Sales Tax Revenue Note. [Commission Memo 12 -050]
Commissioner M moved to accept the proposal from Branch
Banking & Trust Company for a non qualified bank loan of $15,050,000 and adopt
Resolution No. 2291 authorizing the refunding of the 2008 sales tax revenue note.
Seconded by Commissioner Williams and carried by vote of the Commission as follows:
Mayor Triplett Aye
Vice Mayor Mahany Aye
Commissioner M Aye
Commissioner Williams Aye
Commissioner Jones Aye
8) Other business.
Mayor Triplett asked about logistics regarding Reverend Sharpton's event
tomorrow night.
Recreation Services Manager Lisa Jones said that she was contacted
2012 -124
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2012
SPECIAL MEETING
yesterday by representatives of First Shiloh and the event will be held at their location at
7th Street and Elm Avenue.
Fire Chief Jerry Ransom said that he was in on the operations meeting
with the Police Department and they are developing a shorter incident action plan and
some contingencies in case there is a march so they can accommodate that so there is no
traffic hazard.
9) City Commissioner's comments.
Commissioner M said that on March 12 he met with the City
Manager and requested the Police Chief's resignation. Prior to the meeting on March 14
he asked him what his plans were and Mr. Bonaparte said that wasn't the way he wanted
to go and was looking at a review down the line. Because of the situation being poorly
handled and because of a no confidence level in our Police Chief locally, state wide,
nationally and even internationally, he would ask that the Chief step down at this point.
He asked the City Attorney to help him with the legal wording of a vote for no
confidence in the Police Chief. He would like to make a motion to get a vote regarding
that.
City Attorney Colbert said that a Commissioner can make a motion that
the Commissioner has no confidence in the Chief of Police. If the motion is seconded it
could be discussed. Ultimately the Chief of Police works for the City Manager and the
Manager works for the Commission. It would be up to the City Manager to decide
2012 -125
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2012
SPECIAL MEETING
whether or not to take action. The motion is not binding on the Chief of Police or on the
City Manager; it would be an expression of the City.
Commissioner M moved that we take a vote that there is a no
confidence in our Police Chief. Seconded by Commissioner Williams. Lengthy
discussion followed. The motion was carried by vote of the Commission as follows:
Mayor Triplett Aye
Vice Mayor Mahany Nay
Commissioner M Aye
Commissioner Williams Aye
Commissioner Jones Nay
Mr. Bonaparte expressed empathy and sympathy for the loss of a 17 year
old child. Nothing will bring Mr. Martin back; the promise that he had is gone and that is
very painful. In terms of the Police Department, yesterday he and the Mayor spent the
day in Washington, DC, talking with Congresswoman Brown and members of the
Department of Justice and asked for a meeting so that we can have the investigation
conducted by the Federal Department which includes the Department of Justice and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation; all of those are in play. The Governor has indicated that
he asked that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement also be involved. We have a
situation where the Police Department has done an investigation and they've turned it
over to the State Attorney who has said that he will take it to the Grand Jury on April 10;
he has asked the FDLE to assist. The United States Attorney General's office has been
involved as has the Department of Justice; a lot of eyes are looking at this; and certainly a
2012 -126
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2012
SPECIAL MEETING
lot of eyes are looking at Sanford. My statements have been that I want a review of the
shooting and a review of the Police Department and what they've done to guide him in
determining if the Police Department did something they shouldn't have done or did they
not do something they should have done. I want an independent law enforcement agency
to review those actions and to advise me to show culpability or not. Earlier it was
pointed out situations dealing with former Chief Lee and what happened after he was
forced out. When you talk about rushing to judgment, I have an obligation to look at this
and will certainly do what I think is right and in the best interest of the community, the
City that I call home, Sanford. He heard the vote today and takes it under advisement
and knows how strong each of the Commission feels as expressed in their opinion. He
knows that this is not taken lightly by any of the Commission. We will move forward.
[Commissioner Williams left the meeting.]
10) Citizen Participation.
The following individuals spoke during citizen participation: James Davis,
Lenora Malone, Willie Thomas, Jr., Oscar Redden, Gary Jones [Commissioner Williams
returned to the meeting.], Thelma Mike, David Ortman, Vicky Hankins, Jeanette
O'Bryant, Jud Metcalfe, Lorenzo Polk, David Banfield, Tonnetta Foster [Vice Mayor
Mahany left the meeting.], Turner Clayton [Vice Mayor Mahany returned to the
meeting.], Glen Denman, Murray Jess, and Pastor Robin Riggins.
2012 -127
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 21, 2012
SPECIAL MEETING
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned
at :49 PM.
41toto-
ip , Mayor Jeff Triplett
Attest:
9 20 1 /S 1
ity Clerk 1
cp
1