04-26-2021 WS MinutesCITY COMMISSION MINUTES
APRIL 26, 2021
WORK SESSION
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in Work
Session on Monday, April 26, 2021, at 4:30 PM, in the City Commission Chambers, 1st
Floor, City Hall, 300 North Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida.
Present: Mayor Art Woodruff
Vice Mayor Kerry S. Wiggins, Sr.
Commissioner Sheena Britton
Commissioner Patrick Austin
Commissioner Patty Mahany (Arrived at 4:46 PM)
City Manager Norton N. Bonaparte, Jr.
City Attorney William L. Colbert
City Clerk Traci Houchin
Deputy City Clerk Cathy LoTempio
Mayor Woodruff called the meeting to order at 4:32 PM
1. Discussion: Rescue Outreach Mission Sustainability Plan by Michael Towers.
Mr. Bonaparte introduced Michael Towers with the Rescue Outreach
Mission (ROM). Mr. Towers discussed the American Rescue Fund and how these funds
can be used for the sustainability plan of ROM. He provided the history of ROM. He said
ROM is looking to create sustainability, as well as revenue. Seminole County has five
units of low income rental housing and these units are given to non -profits to manage
where the rental income goes to that non-profit for sustainability. Mr. Towers said the
American Rescue Funds can go to Economic Development and low income housing. He
said the goal is to have all seven cities in Seminole County contribute a portion of their
American Rescue Funds towards purchasing houses that can be renovated and placed into
the low income rental housing program throughout Seminole County. He said in Sanford
the Mission would look into restoring houses that have code violations or are located in
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WORK SESSION
the Historic Goldsboro area. It helps the City by cleaning up neighborhoods, while also
helping the community.
Commissioner Britton asked Mr. Towers who is in charge of the
maintenance, utilities and administration of the properties. He said most of the people
who live in these houses have jobs, they just hit tough times and need a little assistance.
He said ROM is in partners with Habitat for Humanity who has a `Brush and Kindness
Program' where Sherwin Williams donates the paint and supplies, then Habitat utilizes
people who need Habitat hours for the labor.
Mr. Towers said currently the program has two buildings and it is not
economically sound for them to have one person maintain those two buildings. Seminole
County Development Services would be the realtor for the program. He said the
administrative portion would go to the shelter manager or the facilities manager. The
utilities are handled by the tenant who can also utilize the assistance from Seminole
County for deposits on the utilities. He said the program is designed to help the residents
build up their credit to get back on their feet.
Mr. Bonaparte asked what the next step is. Mr. Towers said the next step
is putting all of this information in writing. He said they have been working with
Commissioner Herr from Seminole County on the agreement. Once the agreement is
ready Mr. Towers is going to present it to the Seminole County Commission along with
all the other cities in Seminole County. Mr. Bonaparte asked if Mr. Towers will be asking
the City of Sanford for a portion of their American Rescue Funds for this project. Mr.
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Towers said they will be asking all of the cities to use some of their American Rescue
Funds. Commissioner Britton asked if this project is something that will be obtainable.
Mr. Towers said absolutely and thanked the City for all the assistance supporting ROM.
Mr. Towers introduced Andria Herr, District 5, Seminole County
Commissioner. Commissioner Herr said that these are people who have fallen on bad
times and should be the customers of the community, they are certainly the clients of
ROM. There are often times they are with ROM without the ability to move forward. She
said the County wants to provide a community wide self-sustaining program that allows
ROM move people on the continuum to a better life. Commissioner Herr answered
Commissioner Britton's question regarding this project being obtainable and said it is
absolutely obtainable and she wants this project to be a model for the County. Mr.
Bonaparte asked if the County sees more than one shelter in Sanford. Commissioner Herr
said she does not have that vision yet. She said it is certainly not out of the rhelm of
opportunities, but she wants to have one great shelter before having two good ones.
Commissioner Mahany asked who maintains Warley Park. Commissioner
Herr said that is a private developer that has wrap around funds. She said this location
accepts residents from all over, not just Seminole County and Sanford, because the
tenants' receive Federal Funding. She said Warley Park is affordable housing, not a
homeless shelter. Commissioner Mahany said she thought it was called permanent
supportive housing. Commissioner Herr agreed and thanked the Commission for
allowing her to speak this evening.
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WORK SESSION
Mr. Bonaparte thanked Commissioner Herr for speaking.
2. Update on Sanford Mayfair Management and the Mayfair Golf Course, by Tom
George.
Mr. Bonaparte introduced Tom George, Deputy City Manager to provide
an update on the Mayfair Golf Course and Sanford Mayfair Management. Mr. George
said about a year and a half ago the City formed Sanford Mayfair Management (SMM) to
operate the Mayfair Golf Course. He said the President was former Mayor Jeff Triplett,
the Vice -President and Owner is Tom George. He said with Mr. Triplett's passing and his
upcoming retirement, SMM will be dissolving fairly quickly. This brings the City back to
where they were a year and a half ago, where the City will have to either look into
another management company or have it taken over by City employees.
Mr. George said he had hoped to have a great solution with a few options
for the Commission on which way to proceed. He said Cindy Lindsay, Finance Director
and himself thought they could just transfer the agreement currently in place between the
accounting firm, SMM and the employment HR Firm to the City. He said the County
contract is not an issue. Mr. George said he is working with the labor attorney who told
him there is not enough of a relationship between the HR firm who now hires and pays
the employees and handles all the HR responsibilities and the City to handle that type of
agreement.
Mr. George asked the Commission if they would like the City to look for a
new management firm or would the Commission prefer the City manage the golf course
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with City staff. Mayor Woodruff said that the City has not been successful with
management companies. He said that it seems to work best when the City manages it. Mr.
Bonaparte reminded the Mayor and the Commissioners that the salary for former Mayor
Triplett and Mr. George has been $0, as they volunteered their time. Mr. George said the
current board consists of several City employees; Cindy Lindsay, Finance Director,
Nicole Osburn, Executive Assistant to the City Manager and Lisa Jones, Parks and
Recreation Director. Commissioner Austin asked if other employees or elected officials
could take over. Mr. George said once he retires the company will dissolve because he is
the owner unless another non-profit would like to take it over. He said he could sell the
company to someone for $1 but how many people want to work for free. Commissioner
Austin asked why can't Commissioner Mahany take the spot of the former Mayor and
have someone else take his place.
Commissioner Mahany expressed how much she does not want to see a
management company take over. She said the City has the most phenomenal Recreation
Department. She said she would like to see Lisa Jones, Jerry Sullivan, Recreation
Manager, and their staff, take over the management of the golf course. She asked Mr.
Bonaparte to find out what it would cost for additional salaries to make this happen.
Commissioner Austin asked Mr. George how much additional work is involved with
being on the board. Mr. George said the board does not meet a lot and that he and Ms.
Lindsay are the ones with daily work. Mr. George said he spoke with Pete Sands, the
General Manager of the Mayfair Golf Course for over two years now. He said Mr. Sands
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would look into creating an LLC, however there is a lot of work involved with that. Mr.
George said there are good management companies out there, the City just has to monitor
9
After brief discussions, Mr. Bonaparte said he will get with City staff and
get information regarding a proposal and present it to the Commission for their
recommendations.
3. Discussion: Sanford Housing Authority — Board Open Position
Traci Houchin, City Clerk, said Ms. Hillery declined the open position on
the Sanford Housing Authority Board, therefore, the Commission will have to appoint
someone to that vacant position. Mayor Woodruff said there is also a vacant residential
position. Commissioner Austin asked if an individual can sit on more than one board. Mr.
Colbert, City Attorney, said that an individual cannot sit on more than one board.
Commissioner Britton said that Ms. Hillery said she had to decline the position due to a
conflict of interest with her working in real estate. Ms. Houchin asked the Commission if
they would like to accept more applications or review the current applications. After a
brief discussion, the Commission agreed to review the applications currently on file and
interview the applicants if they are still interested. Vice Mayor Wiggins asked if the
Commission cannot find a resident to appoint to the board, is the Commission permitted
to pick someone from the applicants received. Mayor Woodruff said he would reach out
to the board to ask if that is possible.
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Mayor Woodruff said he had something else to discuss with the
Commission regarding the May City Commission meeting schedule. He said normally
there is only one meeting in May, due to Memorial Day. He said however, this year the
fourth Monday would be on May 24, 2021 and Memorial Day is not until the following
Monday. He asked if the Commission would like to add another meeting in May.
Commissioner Austin asked if the Commission has met the required number of meetings.
Mayor Woodruff said the Commission already has the correct number of meetings.
Mayor Woodruff said he is concerned, because it would be five weeks in between before
the Commission would meet again. Commissioner Britton said she is fine with meeting in
May as she will not be at the June 14, 2021 Commission meeting. Commissioner Mahany
said she is fine with meeting May 24, 2021. Mayor Woodruff asked the Commission if
they all agreed on adding the May 24, 2021 meeting and interviewing the applicants for
the Sanford Housing Authority. All of the Commissioners agreed to adding the additional
meeting and interviewing the applicants for the Sanford Housing Authority.
Ms. Houchin said there is a recent member of the Police Officer's
Retirement Board who moved just outside of Sanford in Lake Mary. He has asked if he
would need to resign or if he can complete his term. After a brief discussion the
Commission agreed to allow the member to stay on the board for their term.
Commissioner Britton asked Kenneth Bentley, resident, to reach out to the
community to help the City find a resident for the Sanford Housing Authority Board.
4. Regular Meeting Items — additional information
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A. Resolution No. 2951, Classification and Pay Plan for two additional police
officers. [Commission Memo 2 1 -111 ] (RM 8.13)
Mr. Bonaparte said this item is a follow-up from the April 12, 2021 City
Commission meeting, where the Commission asked City staff to add two additional
police officers. Mayor Woodruff asked if there will be a budget amendment to follow.
Ms. Lindsay said there will be a budget amendment to follow. This is an action item on
tonight's agenda.
Mr. Bonaparte said City staff requested to pull Item 8.A; Demolition of
structure located at 1605 Merthie Drive from the agenda.
5. Briefing Items
Mr. Bonaparte said the City received a letter from Reginald Wallace of
DeBartolo Development asking for an extension agreement. He said he is preparing to
close on the property and begin construction on or about June 1, 2021. Mr. Wallace
would like to know if the City would amend the Tax Abate Agreement to start at the end
of the 24 month period, which would be June 1, 2023 instead of December 31, 2022. Mr.
Bonaparte said City staff has recommends not extending the agreement. The Commission
agreed with City staff.
6. City Manager Comments
Mr. Bonaparte provided an update regarding the downtown kiosk in
Magnolia Square. He said the Economic Development department is getting with other
departments and businesses to have updated information available on the kiosk.
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WORK SESSION
Mr. Bonaparte said on May 10, 2021 the Sanford Waterfront Partners will
provide a presentation at the Work Session with an update on the Heritage Park project.
Mr. Bonaparte said the tree trimming in front of the Gateway condos is
completed. Commission Britton said that she has received an email from a resident that
was not in favor of the trimming but is very pleased with the outcome.
Commissioner Mahany said she was at a cat show in Clearwater, FL and
read an article in the paper regarding people planting trees in the wrong places, between
sidewalks and properties. She asked if the City was going to enforce contractors to not
plant trees in these places, so that the City does not have that problem again. Mr.
Bonaparte said he would get with staff regarding her question. Commissioner Austin said
he remembered hearing that the City is no longer allowing that.
Commissioner Britton said at the last meeting Commissioner Wiggins was
correct and the Seminole High School Dazzlers do have a lot of students on their team.
She said she spoke with Maureen, the Dazzlers instructor, and the students have their last
event on Saturday and will confirm with Commissioner Britton the number of people that
will be in attendance. Commissioner Mahany asked if the Commission do the
presentations in the Breezeway and was told that due to recording procedures, that would
not be possible.
Commissioner Britton asked if the City has succession plans. For example,
when Bob Turk, Darrel Presley and Jordan Smith resigned are there succession plans in
place for a smooth transition. The Commission said the Recreation Department did
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because anywhere Mike Kirby went, Lisa Jones, Parks and Recreation Director, was. She
was always by his side doing all the work. All joking aside, Mr. Bonaparte said the City
does look into succession.
Vice Mayor Wiggins said there was a good turnout for Food Drive project
at Academy Manor Park.
Vice Mayor Wiggins said True Health is continuing to organize
vaccination locations.
Commissioner Mahany said reminded everyone to come visit out the St.
John's River Art Festival this weekend.
Mayor Woodruff asked if staff had any concerns about all of the street
closures for this weekend with all of the events scheduled. Lisa Jones said it will be a
busy weekend and ensured the Commission there would not be any problems and there
will be plenty of parking.
There being no further business, the meeting
Attest:
OAAL14)muu-,
City Clerk
(CL)
at 5:47 PM.