08-09-2021 WS MinutesCITY COMMISSION MINUTES
AUGUST 9, 2021
WORK SESSION
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in Work
Session on Monday, August 9, 2021, at 4:00 PM, in the City Commission Chambers, l'
Floor, City Hall, and 300 North Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida.
Present: Mayor Art Woodruff
Vice Mayor Kerry S. Wiggins, Sr.
Commissioner Sheena R. Britton
Commissioner Patrick Austin (Via Ring Central)
Commissioner Patty Mahany (Arrived 4:40PM)
City Manager Norton N. Bonaparte, Jr.
Assistant City Attorney Lonnie Groot
Deputy City Clerk Cathy LoTempio
Absent: City Attorney William L. Colbert
City Clerk Traci Houchin
Mayor Woodruff called the meeting to order at 4:08 PM
1. Presentation: Sanford Waterfront Partners
Mr. Bonaparte introduced Richard Heisenbottle and Venny Torre,
Principles of Sanford Waterfront Partners (SFP). Mr. Torre said SFP has secured the
funding for the project and is moving forward with the engineering plans. He said the
development agreement calls for a few items to be in place before the closing, one is the
transferring of land and that should be at the beginning of next year. He said the City and
the banks require completed permit drawings in order to close on the land. The drawings
will take approximately six to eight months to complete. They are working with the City
to try to do an expedited start. He said that SFP could start doing the civil work, which
includes earth moving, underground utilities and soil preparation at the beginning of next
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
AUGUST 9, 2021
WORK SESSION
year, however, the full set of plans (Vertical Plans) will take six to eight months to
complete.
Mr. Heisenbottle said bid package one will be called underground and
while this work begins SFP can work on the vertical drawings. He said bid package two
is for the construction of the buildings. He said they have been successful with having the
funding in place and requiring the permits needed.
Mayor Woodruff asked the gentlemen to clarify the funding. He said it
sounds like there are two pieces of funding. One to get through the drawings stage, to get
permits is in place and two, the funding for construction, based on getting to that point, is
committed. Mr. Torre and Mr. Heisenbottle agreed that was correct.
Mayor Woodruff said he knows there have been discussions regarding the
expedited process. He said if the City does not agree to the expedited process and goes
with the non -expedited process, how long will that process take?
Mr. Heisenbottle said a timeline for the non -expedited process would be at
least six months to produce the engineering drawings. Then there is 24 months of real
construction which would bring the project completion to November of 2024. He said
FEMA has already approved the elevation changes and SFP is hoping the City will
approve the expedited process so the earthwork and underground utilities can begin.
Commissioner Britton said her concern is that the Community
Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funding is tied up in the project. This is her number one
concern because this project is in District 1. She recapped what SFP presented, SFP has
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AUGUST % 2021
WORK SESSION
funding, a timeline has been set, a groundbreaking of early next year and a possible
completion of May 2024, which is earlier that the expected completion date of November
2024.
2. Presentation: Georgetown Historic District Sign Project
Mr. Bonaparte introduced the Historic Georgetown Neighborhood District
Steering Team. Ms. Julia Wright -Brunson, member of the Historic Georgetown
Neighborhood Steering introduced herself and other members of the team. She said the
Historic Georgetown Neighborhood was established in 1817, seven years before the City
of Sanford was incorporated. In October 2020 the Georgetown Neighborhood was
designated by the National Parks Services as a Historic Neighborhood District. Ms.
Brunson said the steering team is requesting financial assistance from the City in the
amount of $8,000 to purchase 90 Historic Street Sign Toppers and accessories for the
Historic Georgetown Neighborhood. She said the Young Men of Excellence are willing
to work with the City's Public Works Department on the installation of the signs.
After a brief discussion the Commission agreed to provide $8,000 to the
Historic Georgetown Neighborhood Steering Team for the purchase of the sign toppers.
3. Discussion: Energy Performance Audit.
Tom George, Deputy City Manager, provided an update on the Energy
Performance Audit. The City is looking at using a piggyback contract and will have to
put this item out to bid. He will update the Commission on the progress.
4. Continued: Discussions on follow-up of Budget Review and Salaries.
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
AUGUST 9, 2021
WORK SESSION
Cindy Lindsay, Finance Director provided a power point presentation of
the City's Personnel costs. There was a brief discussion regarding employees who are
working minimum wage and how the City can address increases and competitive pay.
Ms. Lindsay and Fred Fosson, Human Resources/Risk Management Director suggested
that the City do a pay study. Commissioner Austin and Commissioner Britton are not in
favor of the City doing a pay study. Mr. Fosson said the last pay study was done in
2016/2017 and was $57K. He said the next study would have to go out for bid.
Commissioner Britton asked Mr. Bonaparte if the employees have been
asked how a pay study would affect them. Mr. Bonaparte said the employees have not
been asked. Mayor Woodruff said the employees are concerned about compression and
competiveness. Commissioner Austin suggested Mr. Bonaparte discuss the pay study
with the City's Executive staff.
Ms. Lindsay said the study looks at market and compression issues.
Commissioner Mahany asked if City staff could do this study. Mr. Fosson said staff has
done research, however some entities do not have the same job descriptions.
Commissioner Mahany asked Mr. Fosson to contact the last pay study consultant to see if
they could give us an estimate on what the City is looking into.
Mayor Woodruff asked the Commission if they want to approve moving
the amount of $653K into the City's budget to address the minimum wage issues. The
Commission agreed to move $653K to the budget to adjust the current pay scale.
5. Discussion: Regarding Quasi-judicial Hearings by Mayor Woodruff
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AUGUST 9, 2021
WORK SESSION
Mayor Woodruff asked the Commission if they have reviewed the
document regarding the information about quasi-judicial items. He wants to make sure
that they are all on the same page. He said according to this information the Commission
would have to be more detailed on their responses with regards to quasi-judicial items.
Assistant City Attorney Lonnie Groot provided an example of how to respond to a quasi-
judicial item. Commission Britton asked how many times an item is allowed to be
continued. Mayor Woodruff said as many times as the Commission wants to allow it,
within reason.
6. Regular Meeting Items — additional information
7. Briefing Items
8. City Manager Comments
Commissioner Britton said that she would like to discuss the American
Rescue Plan at the next Commission Work Session. Mr. Bonaparte said he is working
with Ms. Lindsay on a plan to show how the funds can be spent.
Commissioner Britton expressed her disappointment and said that she felt
disrespected by the Commission when she asked for several items to be tabled until the
next meeting and the Commission did not honor her request. She said those items were
important to her and she wanted to get more information on them before they were
approved.
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
AUGUST 9, 2021
WORK SESSION
Commissioner Mahany said the Commission meant no disrespect to her.
She said the Commission felt these were time sensitive items and the next meeting was
four weeks away.
Commissioner Britton said she met with Mr. Bonaparte when he returned
and wanted to express her feelings.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned X� 5:39 FM.
Attest:
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City Clerk
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