030293-Special MeetingMINUTES
City Commission, Sanford, Florida
Special Moeting
537
March
1993
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in Special Meeting at 6:00
o'clock P. M. on Tuesday, March 2, 1993, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 526 Sanford
Avenue, Sanford, Florida.
Present: Mayor-Commissioner Bettye D. Smith Commissioner Lon K. Howell
City Manager William A. Simmons
City Clerk Janet R. Donahoe
Absent: Commissioner Whitey Eckstein
Commissioner Robert B. Thomas, Jr.
Commissioner A. A. McClanahan
City Attorney William L. Colbert
Charles Rowe, Sanford Community Development Officer, called the meeting to order
at 5:55 P. M.; Pastor Rivers gave the invocation; and Mr. Rowe welcomed everyone and
introduced Mayor Smith.
Introduction of ACCESS 93 Program. Mayor Smith expressed her appreciation to the Georgetown
COmmunity Association and the Trinity United Methodist Church for sponsoring the meeting and
the use of the church facilities.
Remarks from District Commissioner. Commissioner Howell stated this is a good opportunity
for citizens to bring up concerns, and he can see this continuing to grow on a regular basis.
Remarks from Staff. William A. Simmons, City Manager, recognized Jay R. Marder, Sanford
Director of Planning and Development, as the person responsible for planning and organizing
this meeting. Mr. Simmons stated City Staff is here to inform and to listen to what the
citizens have tell Staff.
Economic Development. Charles Rowe briefly discussed three areas of ongoing economic
development having a positive impact on Sanford's economic environment: the Chamber of
Commerce Small Business Council and the Chamber of Commerce Minority Business Council, the
Seminole Towne Center Mall, and the construction of the beltway.
Code Enforcement. Linda Gentry, Sanford Code Enforcement Official, briefly explained the
Code Enforcement Program and procedures.
Vacuum Sewer System. Charlie Turner, Sanford Utility Technician, briefly explained the
vacuum sewer system, its applications, and how it works~
Streets, Drainage, and Public Works. Jerry Herman, Sanford Public Works Director, briefly
reviewed the areas of work performed by the employees in the Streets and Drainage Division,
and reported there are ongoing milling and rejuvenating street projects; ongoing design for
drainage improvement projects; and that the stormwater utility fee, implemented last year,
is a dedicated source of revenue for drainage system work.
Tree Maintenance. Howard Jeffries, Sanford Grounds Maintenance Coordinator, explained that
citizens can get assistance with pruning trees in the right-of-ways from Public Works,
assistance with arbor permits and review of landscape plans for new construction from Bettie
Sonnenberg, the Land Development Coordinator, and that he can provide answers to tree care
questions. Further, the City is performing a tree survey to inventory all trees in the city
right-of-ways, and Grounds Maintenance is responsible for all trees in city parks.
Crime Prevention. Captain Ralph Russell, Sanford Acting Police Chief, reported personnel,
police call, and arrest statistics , and that it takes approximately 30 minutes per arrest,
and the Police Department's average response time is three minutes. Also, the Sanford Police
Department has increased patrols for District One, has signed the contract for Community
Based Policing at the Sanford Housing Authority, which will free up four additional officers
for District One, and has a bicycle patrol, all of which are designed to help prevent crime.
5 3 8 MINUTE S
City Commission, Sanford, Florida
Special Meeting
March 2, 93
19
.Questions/Answers of a General Nature.
A. Albert Fryor stated he has been targeted (his life has been threatened, his car
damaged) because he has been active with COMA to clean up the Seventh Street area;
it is not appropriate for police department dispatchers to ask whether a
perpetrator is black or white; patrols are maybe every two hours; and asked what
the City is going to do about the foregoing.
Captain Russell reported that whenever a person takes it on himself to fight crime,
he is going to be a target; the Communication Center Operators have specific
guidelines set up by 911 for questions to ask so officers know what the person they
are looking for looks like; the police department now accepts anonymous calls; the
police department plans to hire six officers (two to replace vacancies, four for
Community Based Policing).
B. Lady stated that police officers come to her house to make a report after an
arrest; the police department wants too much information when she calls to report
suspicious activity; and that she has been harassed.
Captain Russell reported that the court system requires that the police develop
probable cause to stop someone, and if probable cause is not established prior to
the arrest, the case will be thrown out before it gets to court.
C. Earl Myers asked what type of stand are the property owners going to take against
drug dealers; and stated the citizens have to take a stand and help the police.
D. Willie Mae Robinson, 131 Drew Ave, reported people are parking in front of her
driveway and requested "No Parking" signs across from said driveway.
Mr. Simmons stated he will handle said request.
E. Leon Brooks stated we need to do something about our youth, and requested a
swimming pool and better athletics; stated that all the commissioners should be at
this meeting.
Commissioner Howell reported that in the past four years, the Little League Program
has been greatly improved; a referendum for a recreation center and a swimming pool
was defeated ten to one, and he is hesitant to bring them up again so soon since
they were defeated by such a large margin; and that the Commission is committed to
athletics.
Howard Jeffries asked that citizens stop people from abusing and vandalizing the
parks.
F. Betty Robinson asked where Mill Creek and Cloud Branch are located; and requested
"Speed Limit" signs in Georgetown.
Jerry Herman explained Mill Creek runs from Georgia Avenue along Mulberry and
Persimmon Avenues to the drainage plant, Cloud Branch starts near Pinehurst Park
and runs to about the same place; the Mill Creek/Cloud Branch drainage improvement
project will cost 12 to 15 million dollars, and it includes closure of some of the
open ditches.
Captain Russell reported the speed limit in any residential area is automatically
25 mph whether or not it is posted, that people learn it is 25 mph when they apply
for a driver's license, and that the Police Department enforces it.
G. George Evans, member of COMA, asked who is responsible for maintaining and cleaning
the cemetery on 25th Street.
MINUTES
Je
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City Commission, Sanford, Florida
Special Meeting
March 2
Mr. Simmons reported he has met with various people, including morticians and a
state legislative aide, to gain information about who is responsible and what can
be done to clean up and protect the cemetery. He has a vision that at least the
portion of Pace Jackson that is in the city can be brought to the stage where it
can be maintained with mechanical equipment; and he envisions groups in the
community maintaining it. The vandals have to be brought to justice.
Captain Russell reported the Police Department is working with the Sheriff's
Department to patrol the area.
Reverend Pitts reported there are a lot of vacant buildings that could be made into
gyms, and people could donate items to equip them; there is nothing for kids to do;
and COMA will work with the City 150% to accomplish this. There is a drop-off at
401 East Seventh Street.
Mayor Smith reported this is one of the most exciting proposals the City has
received and she talked to Charles Rowe about it the day after she firSt heard it;
it is not a dead issue.
Jerry Herman reported he will check the drop-off.
Reverend Rivers, Paster of Trinity United Methodist Church, asked if there is a
Police Ministers Association at the Police Department, if there is a PAL or similar
organization at the Police Department; and stated that the Police Ministers ride
with police officers, and that they would like to~do that ~n Sanford.
Captain Russell reported there is no Police Ministers Association at the Police
Department; the DARE Program is in the schools; they are working on starting the
Community Based Policing Program, which would be similar to PAL; and they are
trying to develop more programs.
Lady asked how many of the applicants for the six police officer positions are from
Georgetown.
Captain Russell reported there are 90 applicants, and none are from Georgetown.
Laine Wood requested speed bumps, "Church Zone" signs, "Speed Limit" signs, and a
speed limit lower than 25 in her neighborhood.
Mr. Simmons reported a recent Attorney General's Opinion opinesthat municipalities
do not have the authority to lower speed limits below 25 mph.
Mr. Pringle, 1009 West 16th Street, requested a "4-way stop" at the corner of
Roundtree and 16th Street.
Maurice Fields, 713 East 10th Street, reported he had been working with Code
Enforcement to have low hanging branches trimmed from trees which are near his
house and where people congregate, that some property owners had complied and some
had not; and that the 10th Street alley between Hickory and Locust Avenues is wet,
there is a problem keeping fill in it, and that the trash trucks dig out the fill.
Linda Gentry reported that the lots where the owners had not trimmed the low
hanging branches are undeveloped and the owners can not be required to trim the
branches.
Michelle Otero, 409 Palmetto Avenue, reported derelict vehicles in which people
sleep.
Captain Russell reported the vehicles have been cited and the cabinet shop has been
served with notice that they have to move them.
19 93
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MINUTES.
City Commission, Sanford, Florida _ Speci al Meeti ng
March 2
19 93
O. Ursula Cassady, 313 Palmetto Avenue, reported drug dealers have moved into the
area; hookers are in her front yard, she has called the police ~they have
responded, but the drug dealers start up again as soon as the police lea~
P. Bernard Mitchell asked if Captain Russell will still pursue Community Based
Policing if he is appointed Police Chief.
Captain Russell reported that he will pursue Community Based Policing whether or
not he is Police Chief, and it will stay as long as he is with the department.
Mayor Smith stated the City Commission is also committed to Community Based
Policing.
Commissioner Howell stated he is committed to Community Based Polici~g.
Q. Alfred DeLattibeaudiere reported that a lot of the problems talked about tonight
are parental problems, the children are not controlled by their parents.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:02 o'clock P. M.
Attest:
~ City Clerk