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01-23-2023 WS MinutesCITY COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 23, 2023 WORK SESSION The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in Work Session on Monday, January 23, 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 4:06 PM. 1. Introductions: Richard Durr, Jr., Director of Seminole County Leisure Services and Christine Patten, Library Division Services Division Manager, Seminole County Library. Mr. Durr provided an update on the progress of the expansion of the Seminole County Library system. He said the Seminole County Libraries are very busy and the demand for printed materials has never gone away. Mr. Bonaparte said Tom Tomerlin, Economic Development Director, has been working with Mr. Durr on providing possible locations in downtown Sanford, for a new location for the expansion of the Seminole County Library. Commissioner Mahany said the first public library was located on Oak Avenue where the Women's Club of Sanford is now. CITY COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 23, 2023 WORK SESSION 2. Discussion and Presentation RE: Six Districts by the 2022 Concerned Citizen Task Force Inc. James Davis, Chairperson for the 2022 Concerned Citizen Task Force Inc., introduced the members of the task force, gave a brief history of the concerned citizen's task force and provided a video presentation. The video presentation included a history of a minority/majority district, increasing the opportunity for black representation on the City Council and a conversation on affordable housing. Mario Hicks, member of the 2022 Concerned Citizen Task Force Inc. provided the history and statistics on a minority/majority district. He read a handout that provided statistics and said African Americans are the largest minority in Sanford, Florida at 27%. He expressed concern with the City's increasing population in the coming years and concerned the City would be moving backwards in time if the City does not approve moving forward to six districts. Mr. Hicks thanked City staff for providing assistance with the committee on generating maps. Mike Jones, GIS Analyst, provided two different maps regarding the six districts. Vice Mayor Austin said one of the options the map shows the current District 2 Commissioner being drawn out of his district. He did not think drawing a Commissioner out of their current district was supposed to happen. Mr. Groot confirmed that this is one of the criteria that is supposed to be avoided. Vice Mayor Austin asked the task force what their other option included. Mr. Jones provided the map with option two. Mr. Hicks pointed out that every Commissioner stays in their district on the option two map. CITY COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 23, 2023 WORK SESSION Mayor Woodruff asked why the committee thinks it would be better for the City to move towards six districts for quality representation. Mr. Hicks said the committee wants to ensure the City would have at least one minority/majority district and going to six districts would increase that representation. Mr. Groot said in ten years the six districts would probably not exist when the current trends go down. He said you cannot use the word guarantee. If you use to maximize the majority population within the districts that is another question. Conunissioner Britton said when the Commission did the redistricting in District I last year they did not know the possibilities of the numbers. However, it was still done to change District 1 to better serve District 2. Mr. Davis said this is all about opportunities to improve the black communities to help with neighborhood improvements. Dr. Velma Williams said the Commission should embrace what was done in the past providing a minority/majority district without displacing current Commissioners from their district. She said equity is key and everyone should be treated equally and by going to six districts it enhances the chances of selecting a black candidate. She said she is not part of the 2022 Concerned Citizen Task Force, however she supports her decision for the City to approve the six districts. Vice Mayor Austin and Commissioner Mahany asked how Commissioner Britton won the election in a predominantly white district with 25% of the population being African American. He said I think our society has changed in four years. Commissioner Britton said I am African American. In 2022 she was elected by a majority CITY COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 231, 2023 WORK SESSION white district by residents who saw her potential and not her color. Currently the Commission is semi -diverse, not just regarding race but regarding male to female ratio. However, no one knows what tomorrow will hold. She said the concerned citizens and Dr. Williams are preparing for the possibility of tomorrow. When the Commission does the City budget they do not know if there would be a recession or what the economic climate is, but the Commission prepares for it anyway. She expressed she is if for six districts. Commissioner Britton said she was elected in a predominately white district against a white woman and that shows Sanford is changing. Dr. Williams asked the Commission what is wrong with going to six districts. Commissioner Mahany expressed concerns with unintended consequences, making the Commission more polarized, it would dilute out the Commissioners and there would be additional costs. Right now the City is not making the employees happy and she would like to focus on the list of pros and cons from the Florida League of Cities that Mr. Bonaparte sent to the Commission for further discussion. Reverend Oliver said he read the report dispensed by Mr. Bonaparte from the Florida League of Cities. He said there are more pros versus cons. If the Commission had less constituents the Commission can serve them better. Reverend Oliver expressed his concerns with the current trends, all of the social injustice that the Commission are moving the City backwards. He said the residents need the insurance that this would not happen in Sanford Florida. By going to six districts there would be more Commissioners to address the citizens. Commissioner Mahany said in 1983 having a minority/majority CITY COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 239 2023 WORK SESSION district was absolutely critical. However, she is not sure if having a minority/majority district is necessary any more. Commissioner Mahany said she does not see the City moving backwards, only forward. Cobin McGee, member of the 2022 Concerned Citizens Task Force Inc., said based on the 2020 Census Federal Reserve Board reported that the average wealth ratio of white families to black families, not income or opportunities, is ten to one. Meaning that blacks are easily economically vulnerable in the United States. Mayor Woodruff asked how does having six districts fix this problem. Reverend Oliver said the City is blessed to have a very capable Commissioner in District One that was elected because of her competencies, fairness in justice and treating people nice. He expressed his concerns of the black race being at the bottom and being treated equitably. Reverend Oliver expressed strongly he is for the City to approve the six districts to ensure the black community would be represented on the Commission. Mayor Woodruff said he does not believe that going to six districts would make sure there is a minority/majority district. Dr. Williams said it would not guarantee a minority/majority district. It would increase the chances of it. Mr. Davis wants to have representation in the minority/majority district who understands what is going on in their community. He does not think a white Commissioner in in the black community can take care of the community. CITY COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 239 2023 WORK SESSION Commissioner Wiggins emphasized he is staying with four districts. After a brief discussion the Commission decided they would vote at tonight's meeting regarding moving forward to six districts. There being no further business, the meeting adj MayoKArt W Attest: d0 P 1110