Loading...
041494-Special Meeting158 MINUTES City Commission, Sanford, Florida Speci al Meeti ng April 14 19 94 The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in Special Meeting at 6:00 o'clock P. M. on April 14, 1994, at the El-Bethel House of Refuge, Inc., 1001 Celery Avenue, Sanford, Florida. Present: Absent: Mayor Bettye D. Smith Commissioner Lon K. Howell City Manager William A. Simmons City Clerk Janet R. Donahoe Commissioner Whitey Eckstein Commissioner RObert B. Thomas, Jr. Commissioner A. A. McClanahan City Attorney William L. Colbert Charles Rowe, Director of Community Development, called the Community Improvement Association of Georgetown meeting with the Sanford City Commission to order and introduced Vice President Bernard Mitchell, Parliamentarian Altermese Bentley, and Secretary Ollie Belle Williams. Introduction of ACCESS 94 Program. Mayor Smith welcomed everyone and explained the purposes of the Access 94 Meetings are to information. Remarks from District Commissioner. hear citizens' comments and questions, and provide Commissioner Howell stated he is happy to be here tonight, and that there are a lot of good things going on. Remarks from Cit¥ Manager. City Manager Simmons thanked everyone for coming to the meeting, and invited citizens to visit City Hall. He reported that since the Access 93 Meeting in District 1, Sanford is preparing to achieve more jobs, new parks, the expressway; and better amenities are being planned. In the past year, city government has formally recognized the importance of being pro-active in economic development; since the Access 93 Meeting in District 1, the city has a new department head, Director of Economic Development, Charles Rowe, who is actively pursuing economic development. Also, Sanford has adopted standards in the Old Sanford Residential Area, which will probably take some time to get the system working and let people know what is expected and allowed, and how to best utilize the standards to improve quality of life and real estate values. Economic DeveloDment. Charles Rowe, Director of Community Development, reported that the Department of Community Development is continuing what the Community Development Office was doing, i.e., primarily focusing on improving housing quality and housing standards through rehabilitation and other programs. There are two ways to address housing: direct assistance (housing rehabilitation, etc.) and economic development (which provides the occupants the economic wherewithal to rehabilitate their own structures, or to choose to move and purchase a new home). In the past approximately nine (9) months, the city has applied for, or is applying for, three grants: the $730,000.00 Youthbuild Grant, CDBG funding targeted at 13th Street and for Orange Avenue Park, and Empowerment Zone designation in the Goldsboro and the Midway areas which would provide approximately $2.9 million to the community. Historic Preservation. Kevin Stubbs, Chairman of the Historic Preservation Board, reported that the Historic Preservation Board is an eleven (11) member, all volunteer board formed in 1985, for which the city provides secretarial and liaison support. The city's first locally designated residential district, the commercial downtown district around First Street, was also designated by the City Commission in 1985. One of the primary functions of the Historic Preservation Board is overseeing applications for Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior modifications to buildings in the district; and with the passage of the new residential historic district and related codes, the demand is increasing. In addition, the MINUTES City Commission, Sanford, Florida Spec i al Meet i n§ -159 April 14 94 19__ board acts as the historic preservation arm of the city government. The board employs various consultants, through budgeted funds, to perform preservation related studies and research; provides certain types of aid to various organizations in the community undertaking preservation related/oriented projects; offers advice to homeowners who are renovating their properties; offers support, through its ties to local and state agencies, for preservation projects; offers some financial support for some preservation related projects; provides preservation education to the community; and meets the first and third Thursday of each month at 5:00 P. M. at City Hall. Code Enforcement. Dan Florian, Building Inspector, gave a brief history of code enforcement, from about 2,000 B.C. to date. He reported that the Code Enforcement Board was created due to the elimination of the Municipal Courts and the resulting lack of enforcement of local codes. The intent of the Code Enforcement Department is to promote awareness of the city codes, and protect the general health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Sanford. Mr. Florian explained the code enforcement procedures and timeframes. Parks Development. Howard Jeffries, Grounds Maintenance Coordinator, commended COMA for its work to upgrade parks. One of the results of COMA's work is the plan to upgrade Orange Avenue Park, which will be renamed Bentley-Wilson Children's Park. Further, some of the Orange Avenue Park upgrading has begun, some of the equipment has been ordered, and some of the citizens' concerns have been addressed (the basketball courts have been removed). There will be two (2) playgrounds in the park: one (1) for children under five (5) years of age, and one (1) for those over five (5) years of age; and the equipment can all be installed in one (1) day with as few as twenty (20) people. Crime Prevention. Ralph Russell, Police Chief, introduced Deputy Chief Joe Dillard, and reported that during the past year, the Police Department has been reorganized to include the addition of the Community Relations Division which includes the Community Policing Team, the School Resource Officers, and the D.A.R.E. Officer. The Police Department encourages communication between the community and the Police Department, and all Police Department employees have completed a Human Diversity Course. Also, the Crimeline phone line has been installed whereby citizens can anonymously provide information, and its use is encouraged in situations when immediate help is not needed. Thefts, burglaries, aggravated assaults, and motor vehicle thefts are all on the rise nationwide, as well as here; there has been an increase in drug arrests this year; robberies have decreased in Sanford; even though calls for service have increased over the past two (2) years to more than 70,000 calls for service, response time for immediate attention calls is still averaging three (3) minutes. The Community Services Officer (a civilian employee), a new program since last year, will handle those calls that do not require immediate response, and will take reports and information. The Community Policing Team was started over two (2) years ago, initially with a grant from HUD. That funding has been lost, but the City Commission has authorized city funding through the rest of this fiscal year, and hopefully it will be continued next year. Citizen Participation. Kelly Mitchell stated she resides near the Sanford Police Department, and reported that the ventilation/vacuum equipment to remedy a gasoline leak at Eighth Street and Laurel Avenue is very loud. City Manager Simmons reported that he was made aware of the problem earlier today, we had previously been assured that noise would not be a problem, the equipment will be turned off tomorrow until mufflers can be placed on the unit; further, it 160 MINUTES City Commission, Sanford, Florida Spaci al Meet i ng April 14 19 94 must run 24 hours a day for a year and a half; it is not vapor extraction, it is bio- remediation. Mr. Fields reported he is concerned about the high grass in the alleys in the Georgetown area and about untrimmed trees and high grass on vacant lots. He stated that last year he turned in a list of places in the Georgetown area that need to be cleaned up. Dan Florian stated it would be most helpful if Mr. Fields would submit a current list. Commissioner Howell stated that the refuse problem is with large items, that do not fit in the refuse container, such as rugs, being left in the alleys; and requested that the city pick up these items when the trucks are going down the alley or perhaps once a month, without requiring citizens to request a special pick-up. City Manager Simmons stated staff will pursue this and report back. Mr. Mitchell stated he is concerned about the safety of children in the Washington Oaks area and in the Mellonville Avenue/ Celery Avenue/13th Street area walking to school in the street, and requested installation of sidewalks. Police Chief Russell and Civil Engineer Holloway will review the situation and make a recommendation. Anthony Peoples complimented the Police Department on its response last night to a neighbor's burglar alarm. Mrs. Richardson commended the Police Department for the Crimeline that does not require a person's name; stated she is embarrassed by girls walking the street and their vulgar actions; and she is glad the drug activity on Cypress Avenue is being taken care of. Beverly Pinkney asked what jobs or skills will be given to the youth through the PIC program and the emPloyment services. Director of Community Development Rowe reported the Youthbuild grant, for disadvantaged youth between 16 and 24 years old, will provide vocational training in building skills by rehabilitating the homes of the elderly; and the economic development grant has a business development focus to build entrepreneurship. The mall and activity at the airport and the port authority will also help to provide jobs to those who already have skills. Ms. Pinkney asked if a Code Enforcement Officer rides through the city and looks for code violations; and stated there is a need for a Code Enforcement Officer on the road. Dan Florian reported that Code Enforcement operates mainly on a complaint basis. Mayor Smith reported that she regularly turns in complaints, and that Sanford does need more Code Enforcement Officers; Commissioner Howell stated that he also turns in complaints, and that everyone needs to get involved, and people need to submit their complaints. Ms. Pinkney reported Sanford does not have enough Police Officers to appropriately protect its citizens. Mayor Smith agreed that Sanford does not have enough Police Officers, and stated that no place in the nation has enough Police Officers, 'and that we could not afford it. Further, the lion's share ($4,583,000.) of the FY 94 tax revenue ($4,790,220.) goes to the Police Department. Ms. Pinkney asked that activity programs be created for youth and young adults. City Manager Simmons reported that the Parks and Recreation Department provides the city's recreation programs, and is also responsible for the after school program and the summer programs, which have been significantly expanded in the last eight or nine years; right now we are utilizing all our facilities to provide the programs and have no other facilities to use for additional programs; the city is constantly looking for ways to expand our facilities. Further, about two years ago, the city held a bond referendum to approve a bond MINUTES City Commission, Sanford, Florida Specia] Meeti n§ 161 April !4 19 94- issue to finance a large recreation complex/indoor facility and a swimming pool; but the approximately 10% of the voters who voted, voted against the bond issue. The City will continue to try to finance facilities and programs, but they must compete against the needs of the police department and the fire department, as well as state and federal government mandates. Commissioner Howell reported there has been approximately a 25% increase in participation in the city's ball teams in the last six years; he supports efforts to fund recreation programs and facilities; and the Commission realizes the importance of funding for recreation. Mayor Smith reported that the property across from Sanford Middle School was purchased partially for recreation, and that the city must first pay for the property. Chief Russell reported Sanford's ratio of sworn police officers to citizens is above the national average; and that Sanford Police Department officers are giving their time to participate in the P.A.L. Program and the after school program. Ms. Pinkney reported that individuals age 15 years and older are not getting any support from the city, as they have no where to go, nothing to do (such as weekend dances), and no jobs, and this is causing a lot of the crime. City Manager Simmons reported that the city is working with the Mall developer for a means of assuring that the people of Sanford get a little better advantage than they otherwise would in trying to get jobs and business on the development of the Mall. Further, in years past, the city has provided after hours entertainment/teen dances at the Civic Center and other locations, and the results were so disastrous because of misbehavior of some of the participants that the City Commission decided to no longer hold them. At some point in time the city will try holding them again, and try to do it in such a way that the majority will benefit and will not get hurt by the actions of a small group of the attendees. Ms. Richardson reported that training is needed for parents; there are two piles of trash between Sanford Avenue and Cypress Avenue and between Fifth Street and Sixth Street; the vacant storefronts in malls and around the city are eyesores; and that children who are going to school and are really trying should get jobs before those who are dropouts or those who lie to get the job. Commissioner Howell reported, regarding vacant stores, that McDonalds is building a restaurant at Second Street and French Avenue, there are 10 new antique stores downtown; Walgreens is building a new store at 25th Street and French Avenue; and as the Mall starts to grow, businesses will increase in the surrounding area and move this way. Mayor Smith reported that Ms. Richardson has pointed out how varied and how complex our social problems are today; unfortunately, they are not all things that the city can take care of, although the city will continue to do the best we can with the resources we have. Further, we all need to work together and talk to our county commissioners and our school board commissioners and legislators in Tallahassee and in Washington about the many [Mayor Smith left the problems that face us, because these are not all just city problems. meeting.] There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Attest: ~- city CTerk