111212 ws agn & min CITY COMMISSION MINUTES 2012 -481
NOVEMBER 12, 2012
WORK SESSION
CITY OF SANFORD
CITY COMMISSION WORK SESSION
Railroad Depot Room
2nd Floor
Sanford City Hall
MONDAY, November 12, 2012 300 North Park Avenue
4:00 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)
AGENDA
1. City Financial Report — 4 Quarter ended September 30, 2012 —
presentation. [Commission Memo 12 -183] 4:00 — 4:15 PM
2. 2013 City Commission Regular Meeting Schedule. (Regular Meeting
8.A) [Commission Memo 12 -176] 4:15 — 4:20 PM
3. Discussion re: City of Sanford Sign Regulations. [Commission Memo
12 -180] 4:20 — 4:35 PM
4. Discussion re: Police Community Relations Blue Ribbon Panel
4:35 — 5:00 PM
5. Discussion re: Little Red School House — 519 Palmetto Avenue
5:00 — 5:15 PM
41 6. Regular Meeting Agenda Items — additional information and /or
questions. 5:15 — 5:25 PM
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WORK SESSION
7. Briefing items. 5:25 — 5:50 PM
• update re: downtown code enforcement issues (continued from
10/8/12)
• update on Community Visioning Process
8. City Manager Comments. 5:50 - 6:00 PM
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CITY COMMISSION MINUTES 2012 -483
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WORK SESSION
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in Work
Session on Monday, November 12, 2012, at 4:00 PM, in the Railroad Depot Room,
Second Floor, 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
City Clerk Janet Dougherty
Deputy City Clerk Cynthia Porter
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1. City Financial Report — 4 Quarter ended September 30, 2012 — presentation.
[Commission Memo 12 -183]
Finance Director Cynthia Lindsay presented the Report.
2. 2013 City Commission Regular Meeting Schedule. [Commission Memo 12-
176] (Regular Meeting 8.A)
There were no questions about this item. Action will be taken at tonight's
regular meeting.
3. Discussion re: City of Sanford Sign Regulations. [Commission Memo 12 -180]
The Commission discussed extending the deadline that currently requires
property owners to replace their non - conforming signs by January 1, 2013. An extension
1111 of one year was proposed that would provide additional time for Staff to identify the
remaining non - conforming signs in the City and to notify property owners about the sign
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CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
NOVEMBER 12, 2012
WORK SESSION
requirements and potential funding opportunities.
4. Discussion re: Police Community Relations Blue Ribbon Panel
As outlined in the email from Mr. Bonaparte to the City Commission
(provided in today's agenda), one of the initiatives in the "Nine Point Plan" to reunite the
community and move forward was the creation of a "Police Community Relations Blue
Ribbon Panel" representing a diverse broad cross section of the community. The purpose of
the Panel is to conduct an assessment of the Police Department's strengths and challenges in
• general.
The goal of the Panel is to asses the community's perception of the
Department's ability to carry out its primary function to serve and protect the public as a
whole and to identify strategies to transform police community relations in the City from
negative to positive and from destructive to constructive.
Mr. Bonaparte said that the Panel is a Staff initiative and the Panel would
report to Staff. He would work with the Police Chief in looking at what the community is
saying it feels are some of the areas needing change in terms of the administration of the
Police Department and how it interacts and its relationship with the Sanford community.
This item will be added to tonight's regular meeting for action.
5. Discussion re: Little Red School House — 519 Palmetto Avenue
The land and building have an assessed value of $245,845. If the City sold
the property for this amount it would also realize approximately $1,607.71 in property
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NOVEMBER 12, 2012
WORK SESSION
taxes per year as well as approximately $4,750 per year for water, sewer, stormwater and
solid waste fees. If the City were to retain ownership, approximately $64,000 would be
needed for repairs to make the building usable. Electric costs for a building of this size
(3,794 sq. ft.) are estimated at $5,780 per year. Landscape maintenance and mowing,
janitorial services, pest control and general upkeep and maintenance costs would also
need to be covered at an estimated cost of $2,000 per year.
The property is located in the Sanford Historic Residential District. In July
of 1995 the School Board donated the building and property to the City by way of a Fee
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Simple Deed. In April 1998 the City conveyed the property to Tajiri Arts, Inc. by way of
a Special Warranty Deed subject to covenants and restrictions including that the property
shall be used for the public purpose of providing a place for performing arts to the
residents of the community and that the title shall remain in a corporation not - for - profit.
Should the property not be used for the public purpose of providing a place for
performing arts to the residents of the community or should the title not remain in the
name of a corporation not - for - profit, upon the happening of either event, title to the
property shall immediately revert and vest in the City of Sanford.
In December 2008, ownership of the property was transferred to JD
Thomas Cultural Center, Inc. by way of a Quit claim Deed. The new owner did not
immediately apply for tax exemption from Seminole County and apparently by the time
III this was rectified taxes had accrued to a level that the owner could not pay them in full.
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WORK SESSION
As a result a tax deed certificate was filed on the property in 2010 and the property was
sold in September of this year for $76,560. When the City became aware of the sale, the
Assistant City Attorney contacted the Tax Collector and the County Clerk's office and
the sale was cancelled. The City paid $6,966.32 in back taxes and the deposit on the bid
and ownership of the property has reverted back to the City.
The Commission discussed various options for the property including
whether to sell, renovate and rent it out, and declaring it as surplus and conveying it to an
organization to carry on the role for which it was initially donated. Commissioner
• Williams asked that the Commission consider donating it to the St. Johns River Festival
of the Arts and handed out information about that organization. She asked the City
Manager to talk with a representative of that organization.
Deputy City Manager George said that the County Clerk has asked for
guidance on refunding the money deposited by the firm that bid on the property. City
Attorney Colbert said that the Commission can authorize the City Manager to advise the
tax collector that the City has no objection to the refund of $3,800 to that firm. There
was a consensus of the Commission that the money be refunded.
6. Regular Meeting Agenda Items — additional information and /or questions.
Regarding Item 8.D., approval of Resolution No. 2344 defining and
revising cemetery fees and charges for services, Parks and Grounds Operations Manager
• Marc Hultin said that the cemetery resolution is not increasing the fees for the cemetery
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WORK SESSION
and has nothing to do with the plot sales. The opening /closing vendor, Atlas Concrete,
reduced their fees so the resolution adjusts the fees.
7. Briefing items.
• update re: downtown code enforcement issues (continued from 10/8/12)
Community Improvement Director Darrel Presley said that the property owner
at 311 E. 1 Street assured him that the property will be brought into compliance by mid
December. The other two buildings which had paper in the windows are already in
• compliance. Planning and Development Services Director Russ Gibson said that the
property at 121 E. 1 Street which is being utilized for church services on Sunday is in
compliance and is not in violation of the zoning regulations; the other related activities were
already sanctioned by the City prior to the City changing the policy that prohibits houses of
worship in the downtown; it is the formal establishment of church that is prohibited. Mr.
Presley said that the property at 121 W. 1 Street (Princess Theatre) is being utilized for a
church service on Sunday (sub- lease). The property owner has been noticed regarding the
violation. Mr. Gibson was going to meet with Trish Thompson and determine whether there
is a violation of City code.
• update on Community Visioning Process
Economic Development Director Nick Mcray gave a brief update on the
• activities of the Community Visioning Process. He distributed a copy of the invitation to the
Community Workshop being held on November 15, 2012 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the
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CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
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WORK SESSION
Sanford Civic Center.
8. City Manager Comments.
Mayor Triplett briefly reviewed the board appointment procedure for tonight's
board appointments.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjo i ed at 6:15 PM.
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Mayor Jeff Tr ..
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ity Clerk
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