01-09-2023 WS MinutesCITY COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 99 2023
WORK SESSION
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in Work
Session on Monday, January 9, 2023, at 4:00 PM, in the Commission Chambers, Is'
Floor, City Hall, and 300 North Park Avenue, Sanford, Florida.
Present: Mayor Art Woodruff
Vice Mayor Patrick Austin
Commissioner Sheena R. Britton
Commissioner Kerry S. Wiggins, Sr.
Commissioner Patty Mahany
City Manager Norton N. Bonaparte, Jr.
Assistant City Attorney Lonnie N. Groot
City Clerk Traci Houchin
Deputy City Clerk Cathy LoTempio
Absent: City Attorney William L. Colbert
Mayor Woodruff called the meeting to order at 4:11 PM.
1. Discussion re: Commission Goals and Objectives
Steve Fussell,Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for the Sanford
Airport Authority, provided a power point presentation and reviewed the City's Key
Strategic Priorities. There were several discussions regarding the Six Vision Themes.
Commissioner Britton said the Commission should set obtainable goals
and focus on the smaller items. Commissioner Mahany agreed with Commissioner
Britton.
Vice Mayor Austin expressed his frustration regarding the City
Commission discussions, doing studies but feels like the City is not moving forward. He
said the Commission has not received updates on projects such as the new Fire Station,
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 99 2023
WORK SESSION
Clubhouse at Golf Course, salaries, the ball fields and affordable housing. It appears that
the City is able to find money for upper management.
priority items.
Mayor Woodruff asked the Commissioners to come up with their top six
Commissioner Mahany named a few accomplishments; the Jeff Triplett
Community Center, improvements on disadvantaged communities, streetscape and
stormwater projects, Central Florida Urban League and True Health assisting
disadvantaged communities and monthly food drives with the Picnic Project.
Mayor Woodruff asked staff to provide updates to the Commission on
projects that are ongoing. Vice Mayor Austin asked for staffs opinion on the list of six
visions presented on the power point.
Commissioner Britton provided sample pictures of what she would like to
see happen in District 1 regarding painting the curbs yellow in certain locations for `No
Parking'. Bilal Iftikhar, Director of Public Works and Utilities, informed Commissioner
Britton that this can be handled by staff. Cecil Smith, Police Chief, said enforcement
would occur. Tony Raimondo, Director of Development Services, said the City has just
certified employees for traffic certification. Commissioner Britton is to provide Mr.
Bonaparte a list of the areas.
Mayor Woodruff said the important part of strategic planning is for the
Commission to submit a list of concerns. Commissioner Britton expressed frustration
regarding the list as it is never followed through. She said the City should be marketing
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 99 2023
WORK SESSION
things to do in Sanford better. The City should be marketing the parks, zoo, the
waterfront, museums, facilities and golf course. She said District 1 is the biggest
economic engine and she is looking for an office location downtown. Commissioner
Mahany has concerns about the costs for this office and asked if this would be available
to be used by all Commissioners. Commissioner Britton said she is meeting with Lisa
Jones, Director of Parks and Recreation this week. She said that she will be using interns
and volunteers from the Citizen's Academy to assist her. Ms. Jones said there is office
space in the front of the building that Commissioner Britton can use.
Vice Mayor Austin is concerned about all the litter in town. He has asked
that staff hire an additional employee to assist with the litter clean up and some `No
Littering' signs be installed in high traffic areas. Vice Mayor Austin suggested the City
have a once a month incentive day for employees to come in on a Friday to pick up trash.
Vice Mayor Austin suggested gating up parks after dark to prevent crimes.
He said that he received the Groveview Village sign, however, it was delivered damaged.
He is also concerned about the homeless population. Mayor Woodruff said he would like
the City to look into an adult day care center. Commissioner Britton disagreed with
Mayor Woodruff and suggested the surrounding Cities should assist the City of Sanford
with the homeless population.
Commissioner Wiggins said the Sanford Housing Authority and the
Habitat for Humanity have been working on homes in his district.
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 99 2023
WORK SESSION
Commission Britton had an emergency and excused herself from the
meeting at 5:37 PM.
Mr. Bonaparte reviewed the list discussed up to this point and asked that
the Clerk's Office send a follow up email to the Mayor and Commissioners with the list
of items discussed and a reminder to submit their lists of projects to the City Manager.
2. Discussion re: Rental Ordinance
This discussion is continued to the February 13, 2023 City Commission
Meeting.
3. Discussion re: City Manager Evaluation
This discussion is continued to the February 13, 2023 City Commission
Meeting.
4. Regular Meeting Items — additional information
A. Approve Special Event modification of the ` l' Annual Porchfest' event re:
parking. [Commission Memo 23-OO1.G] (RM 6.G)
Jennifer Brooks, Special Events Coordinator and Ms. Jones provided the
Commission with a handout regarding parking for the event. Vice Mayor Austin
suggested the City advertise parking options on every social media outlet at least by
February 1, 2023. Nancy Sepulveda, applicant, said the event is posted on social media
and that the committee goes door-to-door to neighborhoods where the events takes place.
It is also advertised from Orange County to Volusia County.
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 99 2023
WORK SESSION
The Commission asked the staff if there were message boards available to
post parking locations for the event. Mr. Iftikhar said the City has three message boards
available that could be used.
5. Briefing Items
Mr. Iftikhar provided an update of the sewer system from this past
weekend. He said this weekend there was a lot traffic on the sewer system that resulted in
some sewer back-ups. He said the plan is to re-route the heavy used customers,
Hollerbach's, Tuffy's and Sanford Brewing Company onto gravity sewer. Mr. Iftikhar
hopes to have the project completed within five to six months. He said the problem is
supply chain issues and hopes to have new parts by next month. The Utilities staff still
has 9 — 10 openings so the repairs and projects are taking longer to complete.
Cedric Coleman, Utilities Operations Manager, said his crews have been
working non-stop since the hurricanes. Most of the crews missed holidays with their
families because the department is so short on staff. He said it takes a specially trained
person to be able to perform certain repairs. He had two employees who were trained for
the vacuum control valve replacements and one is currently out, leaving him with one
person. He mentioned that many employees leave because they can make more money
elsewhere. He said his employees are tired and he needs help finding staff. Lastly, Mr.
Coleman provided a demonstration on a vacuum control valve and how it works, hoping
that provides a better understanding for the residents.
CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 9, 2023
WORK SESSION
Vice Mayor Austin asked if City staff who worked during the hurricanes
received a check yet. Cindy Lindsey, Finance Director, said all hourly employees were
paid overtime for both hurricanes. The salaried employees received additional PTO hours
to cash in for Hurricane Ian, however no employees have requested to cash in the PTO at
this time. Finance is in the process of receiving information from the departments for
Hurricane Nicole.
Mr. Raimondo informed the Commission that any of the City's customers
that do not have an SC3 permit by the January 15, 2023, City staff will be removing their
personal property on that is located on City property and getting rid of it. Vice Mayor
Austin asked for Mr. Raimondo to inform those owners one last time before the deadline
date.
6. City Manager Comments
Mr. Bonaparte informed the Commission there would be two add-on items
on tonight's agenda.
Attest:
City Clerk
(CL)
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at (:29
err.
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