The Altamonte Springs City Commission began the new year by passing a number of agenda items for the month of January related to federal grants, pension plan updates, the advisory committee and city projects.
During the January 7 meeting, the commission approved a federally funded sub-award and grant agreement for Hurricane Milton recovery from FEMA through the Florida Division of Emergency Management to reimburse the community for cer tain expenses for response, recovery and limited mitigation measures.
“Our reports currently show an estimated $862,000 in costs incurred by the city for storm preparation, recovery measures and resulting damage repairs that are eligible for reimburse ment,” said City Manager Frank Martz. “It is too soon to know how much of the $862,000 will ulti mately be reimbursed.”
Martz said some of the funds will be used to off set the costs the city incurred from debris removal and emergency protective measures, as well as projects such as repairing damages to various city buildings, roadways and parks. The city has 18 months to repair all damages from Hurricane Mil ton under the recovery grant.
The commission also approved the federally funded Justice Assistance Grant for load-bearing vests and other accessories for the Altamonte Springs Police Department.
The $17,844 award will be used to purchase load-bearing vests and other accessories to relieve the discomfort pain inflicted on officers by their duty belts, as well as improve accessibility to equipment, according to the city’s agenda memo.
The agenda memo said these accessories will in clude double magazine holders, radio holders, tourniquet holders and handcuff holders.
Martz provided his report, an nouncing some promotions within the Altamonte Springs Police Department following the upcoming retirement of Chief of Police James Riggs. Martz an nounced to the commission that Deputy Chief Terry Nicholas will be the new chief, Commander Evelyn Steenekamp will be the deputy chief and Lt. Matt Fowler will be the next commander.
“Very proud of the decades of excel lence that our police department has been able to sustain, which is not al ways easy,” said Martz. Martz updated the commission on the status of the Cranes Roost foun tain, sharing that it will either be a costly repair or there will be a new fountain design over the next six to 10 months.
Martz also said that many cities throughout Seminole County will be having transportation or utility related projects going on this year due to the Fourth Generational Sales Tax period.
Martz acknowledged some com plaints and Facebook posts regarding the work done at State Road 434, not ing that it is a state project.
During the commissioner’s reports, Mayor Pat Bates acknowledged these complaints, assuring residents that when the Central Parkway and State Road 434 project is complete it will be a “joyous occasion.”
During the January 21 meeting, the commission passed updates to the general employee and police officer pension plan, allowing employees with six years or more of credited service that transfer from either plan to keep their normal retirement date for benefits earned while under their plan through the date of transfer.
The commission approved the quin quennial ordinance to organize the city’s Advisory Charter Committee, appointing Jeff Hartley, Jennifer Stoker, Ellen Womack, Jack Bowen, Spencer Pylant, Brody Srodes, Jessica Lynch, David Shames, Howard Sims, Jeff Boebinger, Winthrop Cottingham, Russ Hauck, Nicole Oda, Paul Schae fer, Meredith Willenbring and alter nates Jeannine Ellenson and Marty Glickstein.
The commission also approved for Mayor Bates to execute an agreement with the Florida Department of Trans portation to give the agency $7,153 to paint 32 pedestrian poles as part of a collaborative project to resurface State Road 434 from State Road 414 and 436.
The commission unanimously ap proved all four of their finance items, including adding an additional $22,800 to the $155,790 budget from November 2024 to resurface the out door pool deck at the Westmonte Recreation Center. The additional funds will be used for updates to the outdoor pool restroom areas and life guard office.
The additional work was not in cluded in the original budget because it was intended for a separate phase of the project. However, the commission intends to take advantage of the ongo ing closure to minimize future pool closures, according to the agenda memo.
During City Manager Frank Martz’s report to the commission, the commis sion nominated Mayor Bates to con tinue in her position as a trustee for the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust.
Martz updated the commission on the Seminole County Trail Crossing project at San Sebastian Trail to build an underground tunnel for pedestri ans, informing them of the project's new price tag of $40 million, as the Herald previously reported.
“Chairman Zimbauer reached out and just asked as a reaction what we thought,” said Martz. “We said we’re in favor to do the right thing but $40 million doesn’t make any sense.”
Martz also informed the commis sion that the county has issued a re quest for proposal to explore some micro-transit options as the county is looking to change their relationship with Lynx and remove some of the routes within the county.
Martz said he has not seen the re quest for proposal yet but will update the commission.
“I do think that what the county is trying to address is an important issue,” Martz said. “They have some headways that are necessarily attrac tive for riders, that may contribute to the fact that there's not a lot of rider ship on some routes. There also may be a disconnect between the route it self and some of the destinations. I think they're just trying to evaluate the origins and destinations that could be served by some sort of micro transit that's on demand.”
Martz also shared that the county has been talking to nonprofits that deal with homelessness and that there are discussions of having a summit.
Martz shouted out Seminole County Schools for receiving a grant to launch their firefighting program for high schoolers this fall. He also shared that realtor.com ranked Altamonte Springs number five in the top best markets for first time home buyers for 2025.
During the commissioners' reports, Commissioner Reece praised Cassel berry for updating their parks and putting in a skate park and bicycle pump park.
Commissioner Turney announced that following the Community Serv ices Block Grant meeting, Seminole County assistance programs have re opened, including rent assistance for fixed income senior citizens over 62, the dental assistance program and fi nancial assistance program for rent, mortgage and utility program. Commissioner Turney also asked Martz to suggest to the county com mission that the tunnel or bridge alter native for the State Road 436 and 434 project be open 24 hours.
Mayor Bates ended the meeting by highlighting The Sharing Center, a nonprofit organization in Longwood to prevent hunger and homelessness, according to their Facebook.
“If you have anything that you don't need anymore that's in good shape, take it to the Sharing Center,” said Mayor Bates. “They can use it.”
