042291-Work Session536
MINU 'S
City Commission, Sanford, Florida
A~ril '22,
19 9'1
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in Work Session on
Monday, April 22, 1991 at 5:00 P.M. in the City Manger's Conference Room, City Hall, Sanford,
Florida.
Present: Mayor-Commissioner Bettye D. Smith
Commissioner Whitey Eckstein
Commissioner Robert B. Thomas
Commissioner A. A. McClanahan
Commissioner Lon Howell
City Manager William A. Simmons
City Clerk Janet R. Donahoe
Absent: City Attorney William L. Colbert
The Chairman called the meeting to order.
The first item of business was a discussion regarding Stormwater Utility.
City Manager reported that the City Commission authorized a contract with Conklin,
Porter & Holmes, Engineers, to prepare a feasibility study for the establishment of a
stormwater utility, to include alternatives on how to set up such a program, and a comparison
of what is being proposed vs what is in existence in the surrounding areas.
Cal Conklin, Conklin, Porter & Holmes, appeared and gave a brief introduction to
stormwater utility. He stated that stormwater management isa part of municipal government
which has been underfunded and not taken care of very well, and that there is a need to find
a funding source if the Commission is interested in moving forward in this area. Further,
stormwater utility is a utility-fee-based type system whereby users pay in accordance with
how much they use the system, which is based on the amount of stormwater runoff that comes
from individual parcels. Also, new legislation encourages municipalities to enter into the
stormwater utility business. He reviewed various Tables contained in the Progress Report
dated April 22~ 1991, as follows:
Table 1 & l-A: Provides a list of Cities and Counties where stormwater utility has
been implemented, or is in the process of being considered, and the rates and
charges being implemented by said Cities and Counties (charges range from $1.00 per
month for ERU to $3.00 per month). Three rate systems include: 1) Single Family
Unit System (SFU), which uses a single-family detached residence as the basis for
the system; single-family, multi-family, and mobile homes are charged a flat rate,
but are different, and the amount of impervious area is the basic criteria for
determining said rate. 2) Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU), which lumps together
all single-family detached, multi-family, and mobile homes; of which all are
charged the same flat base rate, and is the most commonly used system by other
municipalities, and 3) Multi-Family System, which is a more complicated system.
City Manager reported that stormwater utility would allow the City to begin
addressing the clean up of ditches, the downtown flooding problem, and the Cloud Branch and
Mill Creek drainage problems, however, said objectives would be considered in the City's long
term plan for funding under the stormwater utility.
Mr. Conklin recommended that the system be operated at an operation and maintenance
level for a couple of years and minor deficiencies be corrected, and once it has a proven
revenue stream, major projects could be funded through a revenue bond issue.
MINUTE S 5 5 7
City Commission, Sanford, Florida
22,
1991
Mr. Conklin recommended utilization of the ERU System, which is similar to the
system the County is considering, and that City and County systems should not be vastly
different. He further recommended that the City Commission consider a credit for on-site
retention, and consider different methods of billing for stormwater utility. Further, the
statistical information provided in the report is relative to developed properties only, that
revenueprojections for undeveloped properties will be p~ovided in the final report, however,
it is recommended that vacant land be added at a later stage.
Table 3: Statistical Data regarding single-family units, multi-family units,
mobile home units, and the amount of impervious area on the aggregate-sums of those
tracts.
Table 4: Estimated number of ERU's or SFU's for System 1 and System 2.
Table 5: Preliminary look at the revenue at the different levels of charges for the
equivalent residential unit.
Mr. Conklin reported that the Commission should consider the policy questions
provided in the back of the report if the Commission wishes to consider implementation of a
stormwater utility. Said questions are as follows: 1) What does the City want to initially
fund with a stormwater utility and to what dollar value?, 2) Which method (SFU, ERU
multiplier or other method) is the Commission most interested in pursuing?, 3) Does the City
want to make a charge to undeveloped property?, 4) Does the City want to provide a credit for
having existing stormwater retention facilities to a defined standard?, 5) Does the City
want to have-a special appeal procedure? and 6) What billing method and frequency does the
City wish to consider further?
City Manager reported that Staff recommends the utilization of the ERU System, with
billing on the City's utility billing system at a suggested preliminary monthly fee of $2.50,
and that undeveloped land not be included at this time.
Mr. Conklin reported that he will prepare a more comprehensive revenue projection
utilizing the ERU System for possible monthly fees ranging from $2.00 to $3.00, and report
back to the Commission.
The consensus of the Commission was to implement a stormwater utility, with
utilization of the ERU System.
The next item of business was a discussion regarding proposed Interlocal Agreement
with Seminole County Local Option Infrastructure Sales Tax Referendum, for transportation
infrastructure improvements.
City Manager reported that this is a 10 year program, which will pull forward a
number of roads from the County transportation impact fee program (20 year program), that
said program will provide a solution for needed City/County road improvements, and
recommended that the City Commission approve said Agreement, and work with and assist the
County in informing the public regarding the benefits of such a referendum.
The next item of business was a discussion regarding revisions to the City's Sick
Leave Policy, described in memo dated April 4, 1991, from Personnel Director.
Commissioner McClanahan reported that he is opposed to Item B, which is an unfunded
liability, and that said policy is too liberal.
:.:: ' MINU S
538 '
- ,,,'i" City Commission, Sanford, Flo~,:
19 91
City Manager reported that there is no change in this particular aspect of the
policy, however, said issue could be addressed if the Commission so desires. FUrther, the
purpose of this proposal was to allow the employee the option of accumulating sick leave over
and above the present limitations.
Commissioner Eckstein reported that he did not believe a "sick leave bank" would
be difficult to monitor, that the employees should be allowed to decide whether they want a
"sick leave bank", and suggested that Staff consult with other Cities to obtain information
on how they have implemented same. Commissioner Thomas concurred.
City Manager reported that because the City has a relatively small labor force it
might be necessary to go outside the City to administer a "sick leave pool bank", that said
administrative organization would determine the validity of requests to use sick leave from
the "bank", because of the potential for hurt feelings or possible favoritism. Further, he
will pursue discussions with other Cities regarding same, and report back to the Commission
with additional information.
City Manager recommended that the City Commission take no action regarding
Ordinance No. 3061, which is on the Regular Agenda for first reading later tonight.
The consensus of the Commission was to table the first reading of Ordinance No.
3061.
The next item of business was a discussion of land acquisition regarding Hovnanian
Park, for reclaimed water irrigation/recreation facility.
City Manager reported that there is a 20 foot strip of land which is not in either
parcel and appears to be a survey error, and therefore, the City should obtain a boundary
survey, said survey to be completed by May 25, 1991, and requested the City Commission to
authorize Staff to obtain said boundary survey if the Commission wishes to pursue land
acquisition.
The next item of business was a discussion regarding Solid Waste Management
Alternatives.
City Manager reported that the Public Works Director has been working with
Commissioner McClanahan regarding alternatives previously presented at the April 8, 1991 Work
Session, and that said alternatives have been narrowed down to two for City Commission
consideration.
Public Works Director reported that he has researched and determined that there is
no "track record" relative to the transferring of franchise fees from a City operated
enterprise fund. Further, Commissioner McClanahan has proposed that revenue generated by
said franchise fees be used to capitalize equipment expense sooner.
Commissioner McClanahan reported that he was opposed to earmarking monies generated
by franchise fees for a park, and recommended that said monies be applied to reduce the debt
for equipment thereby capitaiizing in shorter period of time.
City Manager reported that the Commission has not addressed possible funding source
for recreation facility improvements, that there has been discussion relative to funding for
land acquisition for a park and the installation of an irrigation system, that Staff has
refrained from indicating a funding source for said recreation facility because Staff has not
finalized plans and determined cost regarding same.
MINUTES
City Commission, Sanford, Florida
Aoril 22,
1991
Commissioner Thomas asked if there is any legislation and/or policy which prohibits
the earmarking of funds generated by franchise fees for a recreation facility.
City Manager reported that he has discussed same with the City Attorney, that he
is not certain whether it would be inappropriate to use franchise fees as a revenue source
for a recreation facility, however he did indicate that he was less comfortable with that
type of an approach.
Public Works Director reported that the City's Refuse operation operated at a loss
of $65,000.00 last year, that he has recalculated numbers based on utilization of Alternative
No. 3, determined administrative costs of $168,000.00 being transferred to the general fund,
with a balance of $273,000.00 into equipment capitalization fund, which is based on financing
equipment for four years.
The consensus of the Commission was to utilize Alternative No. 3.
The consensus of the Commission was to have a Work Session on Monday, May 6, 1991
at 4:00 P.M., to discuss potential swimming pool complex, land acquisition for reclaimed
water irrigation/recreation site, and stormwater utility.
The Commission did not review Agenda Item 6, City Transportation Impact Fees, said
item to be referred to another Work Session.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
'M A~-OR-
Attest:
~ City Clerk