In Monday’s regular city meeting, commissioners tackled topics concerning construction in the community, budget amendments and revising miscellaneous utility fees.
Action Church received approval to rezone from multiple-family residential to residential, multi-family, office. Mayor Art Woodruff explained the necessity of the new zoning. “The zoning on this church site is multi-family and has been for as long as we can remember. It has been used as a church or a school… and when they came in to ask, following the rules, to open a preschool it was discovered they didn't have the ability to do that because of the current zoning,” stated Woodruff.
“So this is one of those wonderful historical things that we come across in Sanford every now and then. When the way we handle zoning and future land use has changed over time, and the way our staff has handled things in terms of just looking the other way or not following the rules has definitely changed so… luckily we had an applicant who was willing to work with us and do it the right way and we appreciate that.” Adding to the construction conversation, a preliminary subdivision plan including 71 units was approved for Tranquility Village (Ridgewood Avenue Townhomes). The neighborhood will be townhomes for the workforce in the community and located at 500 Terrace Court. The owner, Vasu T. Persaud stood before the commision to answer any questions before the approval.
On the administrative end, revising miscellaneous utility fees and charges for the city’s water and wastewater utility systems was approved. Some of the fees targeted, as listed by commissioner Austin, were off/on repairs, turn on application for services, late payment, processing fee for delinquent list/administrative fee.
Commissioners approved a tentative millage rate of 7.325, where the average homeowner will pay $841.46 per year in taxes, a $52.85 per year increase from the current year. The date of the first hearing after notification to residents from the Seminole County Appraiser will be September 9, 2024 at 7 p.m. at the City Hall.
The commission approved the annual School Resource Officer (SRO) Agreement between the Seminole County School District and the City of Sanford. The school district will receive 13 SRO’s and will pay the City of Sanford $964,185.50.
The procurement of various chemicals used in water and wastewater treatment from the Hawkins Water Treatment Group Inc. was approved by the commission in the amount of $50,000 for the remaining fiscal year. Additionally, commissioners approved the procurement of Sodium Hypochlorite from Odyssey Manufacturing Company in the amount of $100,000 for the remaining fiscal year.
$100,000 will be allocated towards Tradewinds Power Corp. of Miami for the generator for the Downtown Vacuum Station. The total to this vendor is now $594,000 for the fiscal year.
A resolution to amend the stormwater budget in the amount of $200,000 was passed. $50,000 for a change order to a purchase order to Caraway Concrete for additional city wide concrete services, and $100,000 to replenish the repairs and maintenance fund, and $50,000 to replenish the materials fund was passed.
The Police Department budget was amended by the approval of commissioners in the amount of $72,837, which along with a prior approval of resolution No. 2024-3250 will total $145,674 for the replacement of the two marked police vehicles.
The commission approved to award Kyocera Document Solution Southeast, LLC, for a five year contract for Sanford’s copy/print/fax/scan service in the total amount of $317,820.
