CCMtg09-04-12Min LONGWOOD CITY COMMISSION
Longwood City Commission Chambers
175 West Warren Avenue
]Longwood, Florida
MINUT ES
September 4, 2012
7000 P.M.
Present: Mayor Brian D. Sackett
)[Deputy Mayor H.G. "Butch' Bundy
Commissioner John C. Maingot
Commissioner Joe )[Durso
Commissioner Bob Cortes
Dan Langley, City Attorney
.Ion C. Williams, City Administrator
Sarah M. Mirus, City Clerk
Fran Meli, Director of Leisure Services
Tom Smith, Division Manager of Streets /Fleet
Richard Kornbluh, Division Manager of Utilities
Wanda Broadway, Human Resources Manager
]Fran Meli, Director of Leisure Services
Troy Hickson, Police Chief
Pamela Barclay, Director of Financial Services
Bill Gulbrandsexn, Fire Chief
Sheryl Bower, Director of Community Development Services
1. CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Sackett called the meeting to order at 7:00
p.m.
2. A moment of SILENT MEDITATION was followed by the PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE.
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS. (PART 1)
A. bead by title only, set September 17, 2012 as the public hearing
date, and approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 12 -1995,
which fixes the tentative rate of ad valorem taxation for the
fiscal year commencing October 1, 2012 and ending September
30, 2013.
Mr. Langley read Ordinance No. 12 -1995 by title only.
Mayor Sackett read the following statement:
The City of Longwood hereby proposes for Fiscal Year
2012/2013 a millage rate 5.9900 for $1,000 of non - exempt
CC 09 -04- 12/259
assessed valuation. Said rate is 17.26% higher than the rolled-
back rate of 5.1083 per $1,000 of non - exempt assessed
valuation as computed by Florida Statute 200.065.
Mayor Sackett opened the public hearing. The following spoke in
opposition to the Ordinance:
Robert Kopcha 101 Slade Drive, stated he was speaking in
opposition to Item 10 A and wanted to talk about raising his taxes.
He said he has had a problem for thirty five (35) years in front of
his house. He said he has a flood, and he cannot understand why it
has never been fixed but the other street over in Harbor Isle was
not there thirty five (35) years ago, but that entranceway had been
fixed. He said he cannot understand it because he has been
fighting for thirty five (35) years, when actually that other street
was never there. He stated he was getting a lot of water, and when
cars come around, water comes into his driveway and his garage.
He distributed pictures that he had taken and would like the
Commission to look at them.
Jerry Chilik 1091 Foggy Brook Place, stated he had a couple of
questions. He said he went over the Property Appraiser's report
and looked at all the millages by the taxing body, and none of them
were set yet, but there were the different categories, and the one
they were voting on if they increase it. He said they want to take
the millage to 5.99. He said he looked at the rest of them, and he
took a look at the County and noted the County's millage last year
was 4.8751. He said their proposed was 4.875 1, no increase
whatsoever in their millage. He said the public schools, by State
law was 5.47, and they were dropping it to 5.3, which was a three
(3 %) percent decrease in their millage. He said the Local Board
was 2.248, and it was 2.248 again, no changes. He said the Water
Management. District was .3 313, and again, it was .3313, no
changes. He said the approved debt that was approved by the
voters was .17, and again it was .17. He said now he looks at the
City of Longwood and noted last year the millage was 4.99, and
they want to raise it to 5.99, which was a twenty (20 %) percent
increase in millage. He said the property value on his house has
gone down by 4.3 %, but they were increasing his taxes by twenty -
four (24 %) percent. He said then he looked at the Budget, and
they were decreasing the overall budget plan by 2.6 %, which was
$581,000. He said if he was wrong, please let him know because
he pulled this off the website. He said he does not understand and
would like an explanation as to why they have to have $8.7 million
in Reserves, which was almost thirty (30 %) percent of the Budget.
He said so, of the Budget that they were looking for, thirty (30 %)
percent of that was just a Reserve. He said they indicate that the
City would generate $4,800,000 in property taxes, which was
CC 09 -04- 12/260
I
$716,000 more than in fiscal year 2012, and they were lowering
the Budget. He said yet, he, and he was sure everybody else in this
room, was going to get at least a twenty (20 %) percent increase in
their taxes for the City of Longwood. He said that increase, just on
the City that he paid last year was $805, and they want to raise this
to 996, $191 snore, when everyone else was staying the same. He
said he cannot figure that one out. He said, also, they said this
was part 1 and was there going to be a part 2.
Mayor Sackett said this was the first reading, so it was a part 1.
Mr. Chilik said they said something about a date in September.
Mayor Sackett said it was September 17 and that would be the
second reading of the same.
Paul Lovestrand 500 Preston Road, said they were in the worst
recession in 75 or 80 years, yet the City wants a twenty (20 %)
percent increase in millage from five (5) to six (6). He said there
were other alternatives. He asked who do they represent, the
taxpayers or City Hall. He thanked the two (2) who voted against
it, but they were in the minority. He said let's hope between now
and September 17 they they can turn one (1) more wound so they can
have a majority. He said he cannot understand a twenty percent
�— (20 %) increase in taxes, when his son's Orlando condo, which he
manages, went down. He said his taxes went up $90 and his son's
had a decrease of $27. He stated Orlando was going down. He
said maybe they have a little better management. He said he
recalls bad financial times back in 1990. He said the first month he
was in Office; they took a ten (10 %) percent budget increase. He
noted six (6) months later they took another five (5 %) percent
budget increase, and he never raised taxes in the ten (10) years he
was serving and never raised the millage rate. He said they
lowered it a couple of times. He said City Hall will always ask for
all they give them and a little bit more. He stated they represent
the City and not City Hall. He said the City was like a microcosm
of the whole Country. He stated they do not have an income
problem, they have a spending problem. He said this Con.nnission
seems to be relying on over taxation and over regulation. He said
he was in here a few months ago about their over regulation., and
nothing was done. He said they did not represent him, they
represented the Planning Department in that case. He said in this
case, he did not know who they were representing. He said if
somebody in City Hall wanted more, they were going to give it to
them because they represent them. He said why the raise in taxes.
He stated City Hall will be good and they will absorb it, and next:
year they will ask for more and they may not give them more next
year, but they never ask for less, they ask for more. He said they
CC 09 -04- 12/261
needed to cut expenses and not raise taxes. He said the City
population was very close to what they had in the 1990's. He said
there may be a thousand people more, but he said he recalls when
the City's whole manning document, and he has not seen this one,
was 135 people, and 30 policemen. He said he knows they have
about 40 policemen now. He said he realizes they can play games
like that by farming some out and sub - contracting and reducing
when it was not really a reduction, but in general it shows that this
City has done nothing but grow and need some cutbacks. He said
they need the City to suffer a little like the people where he sees
repossessed houses in the east and even the west, because times
were tougher than they have been probably in 75 years. He said
they ought to put this on a referendum, and some cities do that and
they ask for permission to raise taxes. He said if they were to ask
the people of this City for permission to raise taxes, he said he
guarantee that they would not be raising taxes. He said the
Orlando Sentinel would say, the courageous City Commission
raised their taxes to meet their needs. He said they never saw a tax
they did not like, so they will praise them for it. He noted the
people will not and they were tired of it. He said it was high time
for the City to represent the people, and not City Hall.
The following spoke in favor to the Ordinance:
Judi 280 West Warren Avenue, said she was speaking in
favor of a millage increase to some extent. She said she sat in
seven (7) hours of budget meetings and watched them struggle and
cut all kinds of costs. She said she also knows that for the last
eight (8) years, the taxes have gone down every year, and have
relied on Reserves and cost cuts to balance the Budget. She said
from what she has seen, right now when they look at the one (1)
mill increase, yes they have $8 million in Reserves, but they have a
train station that has to be built and infrastructure improvements
that have to be made, and they have spent hundreds of thousands
of dollars on plans. She said so now were they going to say they
do not have the money to build it, oh well, they wasted their tax
dollar_ s. She said they have got_ to do something. She said they
have Reiter Park, that over the last decade she thinks they have
approved a minimum of about six (6) Master Plans for how many
thousands of dollars and it still sits there, a grassy field. She said
they have to fund some improvements for Reiter Park and noted
the $200,000 that was there has been there and carried forward for
how many years, and they have not done anything. She stated
times were tough, but the one thing she said she can say was that
they do represent the people, and there were two (2) sides to every
issue. She noted they represent her too. She said she was a
stakeholder in this town, and she has a business and property, but
when she looks around and sees what was going on in Lake Mary
CC 09- 04- 12/262
and Altamonte Springs, she was jealous because it was not
happening here because they were not investing in the
infrastructure. She said the Budget, with no tax increase, was a
bare -bones Budget where they will pay the bills. She noted there
were no employee raises and they were actually cutting six (6)
positions, and nothing will happen. She said next year, they will
not be any better off than they were this year. She said the single,
biggest asset that most people have was their home, and property
value has been plummeting for the last how many years. She
noted they will continue to decrease next year. She said they have
to invest in the infrastructure of the City to make developers want
to come. She noted they lost another business and it was the car
wash on State Road 434. She asked how many more businesses
they were going to lose. She said please do something.
Commissioner Maingot moved to close the pubtic, hearing.
Seconded by Commissioner Cortes and carried by a
unanimous voice vote.
Commissioner Maingot thanked Mrs. Putz for her commentary
because if the folks who were critical of them, not seeking the
interest of the people that put them there, were to have participated
in the Workshops and have seen the amount of bloodletting that
was going on there and the amount of cutting that they did, they
�- would have appreciated that they really take seriously their
representing of what was best of representing the people. 'He said
what was not also being said was that no mil.lage rate increase has
been had for almost eight (8) consecutive years, and they have
continued to operate this City and provide a level of service second
to none in the area. He said how they have done this was by good
stewardship of every dime that they have here in the City. He said
these things do not happen by themselves. He said they happen
with dedication, service, and commitment. He said there comes a
time when they have put them here not to vote present, but to look
to the future of the City. He stated yes, times were tough, but
tough times mean that they have to get moving and there was no
standing still. He said that was going backwards. He said the
Transit Oriented Development (TOD) operation out there can
generate for the City in the future for the people over $5 million of
additional revenue that they desperately need to trove forward. He
said they look at Altamonte and at Lake Mary. He noted the TOD
plans and image has been rated number one in the entire area, and
even Mayor Buddy Dyer in Orlando was using it as an example of
how everyone else should plan their TOD around our station. He
said they were a small City of six and one half (6 %) square miles,
just under 14,000 people, and they have had to look around and see
what was going on around them and seen the potential investment.
He said they have had expertise to come here, drawn from
CC 09 -04- 12/263
throughout the United States, whose professional ability was
diverse in terms of what was needed for their City, for our City, to
move forward. He said unless they can put in that capital
expenditure of infrastructure, they were going backwards. He
stated what will they say to them then when they look around and
see what was going on. He said what they have elected them to do
here but to move the City forward. He said sometimes they have
to take the tough decisions and that might not please everyone. He
said none of them pleases everyone all the time, but in good
conscience, and having done their due diligence, and having had
all the infrastructure and information that they need, they need to
get the basic revenue to start the project moving forward. He said
they have had developers come here and have said to "them, they
love the City of Longwood and it has tremendous charm. He said
they want to invest here, but they must first put in the basic
infrastructure for them before they come here and put their dollars
down. He said if our predecessors had the forethought and
foresight, the jurisdiction of the City of Longwood would now be
all the way out to Interstate -4, taking in everything around it. He
said but, instead they wanted to think insular and small, and that
was why they have consistently remained small. He said they have
to think bold, they have to make bold decisions, and yes, he can
certainly get up and justify everything they were doing. He said he
has been here for over thirteen (13) years, and he thanks Mr.
Lovestrand because he was the one who got him involved to run . �.
for the City Commission. He said so, they understand. He stated
he was in the landscape business, and most of his business was the
design and installation of new buildings. He said what has
happened to buildings, nothing and they have gone down. He said
like you, he suffers. He said do they sit on the sidelines and cry
about it. He said no and they get up and move forward, and that
was why they put them there, to make the tough decisions. He
said, without reservation in the interest of the people who he loves
in his City, that he knows what was happening elsewhere. He said
they made the plans that they were now following and what were
they going to say to them in three (3) or four (4) years from now
when everything was going fine- in those areas, and they were
sucking salt in the City of Longwood because they did not have the
foresight to move forward and to bring the development that was
needed to interest the developers to come and put their money in
the City.
Deputy Mayor Bundy stated he had been on the Commission for
over thirteen (13) years. He said he owns a small business and said
his revenues have been down about seventy (70 %) percent. He
said he understands and sympathizes with the business
Commissioner Maingot has lost, and with the suffering that
everybody else has had. He said he does not think there was
CC 09 -04- 12/264
anyone else in this room that has suffered in this down economy
more than he has. He said a couple years ago he had a nice Chevy
truck and now he has a 1997 General Motor Car (GMC) truck. He
noted a couple of years ago he had a nice home, and now they rent
a home and it was not something a lot of people know about, some
of them do. He said a little less than a year ago his home was
foreclosed on. He said when your revenue takes a seventy (70 %)
percent hit in a couple of years' time, there was only so much
cutting back they can do. He stated were it not for the fact that he
has a tremendous circle of friends that support him and help him
out, he would have been homeless. He said technically, he was
homeless. He stated he never moved out of his L)istrict, if any of
them were wondering about that. He said he stayed with a couple
of friends of his that actually live in his subdivision. He said he
was a proud man, and it was not easy to say this, especially in front
of a packed room like this, but they know, he has never shied away
from saying something just because it was not easy. He said so,
one (1) example was $190 increase in taxes. He said they can look
at it, and can justify it and break it down to $8 a month or $10 a
month, they were going to be telling some people out there that it
was $80, or $90, that was a grocery bill that some spend in a week.
He stated he was one (1) of the Commissioners that voted against
the millage rate. He said he was aware the infiastructure needs as
much or more than anybody in this City. He said he cannot look at
someone in the face and tell them they were only going to buy
groceries for fifty -one (5 1) weeks this year, because they heed
another $85. He said $85 was not a lot of money. He said with his
company when times were good, $85 was practically no money.
He said but, it was $85 he can use, and was $85 the people can use.
He said he was talking with the City Administrator earlier today,
and there was no right answer to this. He said he can make a case
for raising the millage rate, and can make a case for not raising it.
He stated he lives in a section of town of working class people, and
it does not matter that everybody says the property owners will pay
their taxes, and a lot of it was rentals and they can look at hint and
say they will not pay any property taxes this year. He said he can
guarantee the gentleman who owns his house, as nice as he was,
was not absorbing that tax bill and not including it in the rent, so
we are all in this together. He said he was going to be voting
against it like he did in the beginning. He said there was no right
answer to this. He said, yes, they were all in this together. He said
this Country has solved its problems together, and they will solve
this problem. He cannot look his neighbors in the eye and tell
them he needs another $85 or $120 from them this year. He stated
he cannot do it. He said they have cut the last few years, and
probably have done too good a job of insulating the community
from the cuts that they have made because they were in a bare
bones budget situation. He said there has not been a lot of
CC 09- 04- 12/265
evidence of seeing that. He said they can call the Police, they still
respond. He said they can call the Fire Department, they still
' respond. He said that always has been his goal. He said he wants
to make sure the citizens were safe, that the water that was
delivered to your homes was clean. He said in response to the $8
million in Reserves, that was not all unencumbered reserves. He
noted there were encumbrances or potential encumbrances on that
reserve, so it was not all $8 million. He said he told the City
Administrator, the previous Administrator, and the one (1) before
that there were four (4) things he would like to see when it comes
to the budget. He said he would like to see them move forward on
capital projects, he would like to keep the people employed, he
does not want to raise the millage and he will not approve a budget
with less than twenty (20 %) percent reserve. He said they can hit
the twenty (20 percent reserve without the millage increase, and
that was at the top of his list of what he wants to accomplish. He
said as far as the millage increase goes, can they do some good
things with it, yes they can. He said the infrastructure at TOD, the
money was in the budget for the stormwater, the money was in the
budget for water and sewer. He noted those were enterprise funds.
He said they will be able to get that done. He said as to where they
will be next year, he does not know. He said as long as he was
sitting up here, he will take the information he has and make the
best decisions he can make, based on what he knows and the
intelligence the Good Lord gave him, and he will make sure he J
makes a decision that if he runs into any of you anywhere, he can
look you in the eye and tell them he has done his best for the City
of Longwood, and that was the people, the taxpayers, the property
owners, and residents of the City.
Commissioner Durso said he has only been on the Commission for
four (4) years. He said they sincerely care about what happens in
the City. He said they do not take any of these decisions lightly.
He said it was something they receive many telephone calls and
electronic mails about. He said they were bombarded with
numbers, and they do from time to time have to make some pretty
_significant and :difficult decisions._ _ He, -said he was the other
Commissioner who opposed this increase. He said in light of what
Deputy Mayor Bundy said, he asked a very simple question of
what the average bill was for the water for people in the City of
Longwood. He said they stated $50 was the average. He said a
$100 increase means two (2) months' worth of water for some
folks, and there were plenty of people who were getting their water
shut -off for lack of payment. He said they have to go back out
after they have paid their bills and turn the water back on, and it
was evident there were people still struggling. He said he
recognizes the significant investments that need to be made with -�
regard to TOD. He said he was always a huge supporter of
CC 09 -04- 12/266
SunRail and all the things that came with it. He said it has always
been good for Central Florida, and will certainly be good for the
City of Longwood long term. He said everything within a half a
mile of that station was expected to reach a targeted value of $681
million. He said that was nearly eighty (80 %) percent to eighty
five (85 %) percent of Longwood's total taxable value right now.
He stated he recognizes how significant that investment was and
how important it was. He said he tends to believe that there were
other opportunities, short of a tax increase that they can entertain.
He said he has been and will continue to be a great proponent of
purchasing the water utility that was adjacent to the City of
Longwood. He said it was for sale and they have staff that was
qualified in many cases to operate a lot of those plants and
facilities, and it will provide them with an opportunity to generate
revenue without increasing the burden on the taxpayers and the
businesses. He said he was a true believer of public /private
partnerships. He said he believes some of the programs in the City
should be paying for themselves through revenues generated
through participation. He stated one (1) example was the Parks
and Recreation Department. He stated they spend approximately
$1.2 million and genuinely believe in participation rates and
sponsorships and things along those lines in the community. He
said they can cover a lot of those costs. He stated companies like
Bright House, South Seminole Hospital, Nanex, United Parcel
�.— Service (UPS) of America, Inc. and FedEx that were here and have
never been asked. He said if they have been asked, it was so far
back that they do not even bother to participate. He said there was
no reason in the world that they should not have parks named after
them and be paying for them. He said he was not interested in
raising taxes at this point. He said he does believe it will put an
unnecessary burden on a lot of folks. He said as an example of
that, he spoke to a young lady this afternoon., knowing that this was
coming up today, and he asked a very simple, direct, non- leading
question. He said he simply asked what she would think if they
raised their taxes. He said she said very plainly she understands
everybody has it tough, including the government, but her salary
had been cut twice this year, so she said she did not know how that
would play in her house. He said that was all he needed to la
because as long as they have some other opportunity, some other
functional way to do it, and he said one (1) thing that
Commissioner Maingot said that he completely agrees with was
that they have had forefathers in this City that have kept it
exceptionally small, very small. He said they only thought of
Longwood, they did not think of partnerships with Altamonte or
with Lake Mary or with the County. He said if they look at some
of the work that has been done on Highway 17 -92 in Lake Mary
and Casselberry and Altamonte Springs, a lot of that came from a
partnership that was founded ten (10) years ago. He said the City
CC 09 -04- 12/267
of Longwood decided not to join in. He said they have thought
small and it was time for them to think big, but it was time to think
big in a way that will not play out the residents, so he will be
voting "no ".
Commissioner Cortes said he thought he was the newest one of
this Commission, and he said he loves this City. He said there was
no doubt about it. He stated he moved here in 1996 and not only
did he want to live here, he established his business here, and this
was his home. He said his children grew up here, went to schools
here, graduated, and moved on to other pastures, and now that they
live away from here, they would love to come back home. He said
when he ran for the City Commission three (3) years ago; he
wanted to do good things in this City. He said he soon realized
one of the toughest things about this job was what they were going
through right now. He said he was a numbers person and has
always been really good in math. He said a lot of things he started
putting together the math, and noted his fellow Commissioners
have all been here three (3) or four (4) terms and he included
Commissioner Lovestrand who spoke earlier. He said they all
maintained the millage at eight (8) years plus, and that did not
equate to a tax decrease when they left it at the same rate. He said
he did the math and from the years 2003 to 2007, all of them were
hit with a tax increase, even though the millage stayed the same.
He said his business property almost doubled by the year 2006 to a
point where he called the Property Appraiser and asked if this was
correct. He said it did not increase because of the millage, but it
increased because they appraised it higher. He said he looked back
with his houses and business, and said they did get hit with a tax
increase that was not $90 or $100, it was $500 or $1,000 a year.
He said his property went from $2,800 to $6,000 in one (1) year,
but the millage stayed the same. He said the millage was kind of
like the elephant in the room, whether the millage was the one that
really causes the taxes to go up or down. He said it was not truly
the case. He said what makes the taxes go up or down was the way
the properties were valued. He stated from 2008 through now,
2012, w_ as that a phenomena has been happening. He said the
market started to readjust the houses, and right now his homes
were back in business and starting to appraise at the values that
were back in 2001/2002. He said if they look at theirs, the values
were back to those 2001 /2002 figures. He said so they have been
seeing a tax decrease every year for the past four (4) years, which
was a good thing. He said he welcomed it and loved seeing the tax
notices that said he was paying less this year than last year. He
said it was mentioned that the County taxes were the same millage,
but if they look at the Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices, they were
less taxes. He said it happens to be because the homes were —
thankfully going back to the levels where they should have been,
CC 09 -04- 12/268
not the over- inflated levels that happened between 2003 tluu 2006.
He said another big phenomenon that adds to this happened in
January of this year. He said the County had the one (1 ¢) cent
sales tax that sunsetted in January, and they were back to six (6 %)
percent instead of seven (7 %) percent. He said it was a good thing
because they were trying to encourage businesses, but
unfortunately, the City lost a dedicated funding source for that. He
said that fielding source was used for transportation projects, like
paving and fixing the sidewalks and roadways. He said that was
another half a million dollars that they no longer have and what
was going to happen next year. He said they fixed the budget, and
they all worked hard on it. He said he could not be at the Budget
Workshop because he had a death in the family, but he was able to
put in his two (2¢) cents to cut and lower expenditures on this
budget to get it to where it was today. He said he thinks they have
done a good job. He said if they do not raise the taxes, they were
still at the twenty -one (21 %) percent fund balance that they all said
in the past they wanted to be. He said he was struggling because
5.99, he has to agree, was one (1 %) percent more. He said the only
reason he agreed to vote to move that from 4.99 to 5.99 last month
was to give all of them here options of how they can proceed to do
the best that they can do for them and him, and everybody else in
this City. He asked was it the correct thing. He said he does not
know, that was what they were trying to figure out. He said if they
�°— remain at the 4.99, will they be in the same predicament next year
again, when the Property Appraiser will appraise the property even
lower. He said he was trying to say that they have been dealt some
tough cards here, and all of them put them here to try to make the
best decisions. He asked were they the right ones. He said were
they the wrong ones. He said what he was trying to tell you, he was
trying to do what was best for them, best for him and best for the
City. He said there was no doubt about that, so at the end of the
day when they finish voting on this, keep in mind he will be voting
for them, himself, and for the residents.
Mayor Sackett said that he has been here nine (9) years, and sees a
lot of children that were here to support someone in the City. He
said he has taught over 700 children in this area. He said he has an
investment in this area, and as Mr. Lovestrand said, the timing of
that tax bill coming was unfortunate as he has three (3) homes. He
said one (1) of them went up $70, one (1) went up $120, and the
other went up $1,100. He said they came here twenty -three (23)
years ago, and he had some visitors come to his house to ask him
to do this job ten (10) years ago. He said he looked down State
Road 434 and he sees Burger King gone, Checkers gone, the
bowling alley gone, Pic `n Save still empty. He said he sees a car
wash empty and Albertson's gone. He said all of this was a
reflection of bad times and high prices. He said what does that
CC 09 -04- 12/269
mean. He said they had a meeting about a month ago and one (1)
of the people who was looking at infrastructures, claimed that
people would come to the table if they had something enticing to
have them here. He said they see a bowling alley closed on State
Road 434 and looking the way it does, that was kind of sad and
something needs to be done. He said as others have said, they
have done many, many, many studies about what to do with this
Historic District, and the TOD, and how to fund all of that. He
said they had this recent meeting where he said he was doing the
math as they were doing it, and it was cut, cut, cut until they hit
$270,000. He said then it got higher when they looked at the Fire
Department Budget. He said they cut, and they really looked at
things, and as the Deputy Mayor said, important to them was
public safety, number one, Fire and Police. He said they have
forty (40) policemen, and forty -six (46) firefighters, thanks to a six
(6) person grant they have. He noted they have grown a little bit
there, but so has crime, and so have other things. He said he was
tired of seeing massage parlors and pawn shops. He said they need
to do something for State Road 434, and he thinks the can by
changing the environment of what was here. He said they were
that little donut hole in the center of everything that was great that
was happening in Lake Mary and Altamonte Springs. He asked
what do they want to be here and do they want status quo. He said
he does not want status quo. He noted his grandchildren live here,
and he wants Longwood to be something that he invested in, and
that they need to invest in. He said he agrees that 5.99 was an eye -
opener, and that was why people were here, and that was a good
thing. He said was it the right number. He said he doubts it. He
said he sees Reiter Park sitting there as a pile of dirt, a ten (10)
year plan of nothing and about $500,000 in plans. He said there
was a couple of $100,000 coming that way, maybe to put in a
playground. He said that was about it, playground, basketball and
things like that. He asked what do they want to do, do they want
the status quo or do they want to make this City rise up to what it
can be. He said he thinks Longwood was right on the threshold of
something really good. He said he was going to hear the closing
comments and questions, and maybe they will get a motion that
makes some sense of this, and they get some discussion and
direction as well.
Commissioner Maingot moved to approve Ordinance No.
12 -1995 as presented Item 10 A and set September 17,
2012 as the public hearing date, and approve the ad
valorem tax of 5.9900 per 1,000 non - exempt valuation.
Seconded by Mayor Sackett.
Commissioner Durso said one thing he wanted to point out was an
increase to 5.99 was not going to save them from this abyss. He
CC 09 -04- 12/270
said a fundamental change in the way that they approach
expenditures and revenues was what will change their direction.
He asked what will happen next year. He stated admittedly,
everyone has said that property values will go down again, so
revenues will go down again, whether it was two (2 %) percent,
five (5 %) percent, eight (8 %) percent, and whether or not this
Election will change anything in the direction of the property
values, who knows. He said if property revenues go down again,
they will be here having the same conversation again, and they will
say that 6.59 was just where they need to go to do right by you. He
said it was not a big increase, it was only $100 or $150, but 6.59
was where they needed to go because they will be in the same
position. He said they needed a fundamental shift in the way that
they approach these things, and they need to find alternative
sources of revenue that do not ride the business owners and ride
the property owners because that will not fix this issue. He said it
simply will not. He stated next year they will be having this same
conversation folks. He said he appreciates the comments of those
who were in favor of this or who were on the fence about it, he
genuinely does, because this was a really tough one. He said there
were some fundamental principles here that they need to take into
account. He said it has been pointed out that they have a relatively
stable, on the higher end, millage rate compared to other places. He
said there have been a lot of mistakes made in this City over the
past twenty (20) years. He said he campaigned on a lot of them, so
he knows. He truly believes there should be a fundamental shift in
the way they were doing this. He said they need to focus on
public /private partnerships. He said they need to focus on
expanding the City's business model through the acquisition of a
utility. He said they need to develop alternative sources of revenue
and get out of the wallets of the people who live and work here.
Commissioner Maingot said it was a fact that there were very good
arguments for and against. He said when they speak about public
and private partnership that was exactly what he was trying to do
to move forward. He said they can have all the plans in the world,
but unless the potential investors can see the public investment in
the infrastructure that was needed, then no investment will be
made. He said they will continue to be the small. City that they
were, doing the very best that they can. He said they can speak
about all sorts of other options of generating outside fiends and
additional revenue, but until that was realized, they were doing a
lot of happy talking. He said they have to face the facts. He said
either they were going to bite the bullet and move the City forward
so they can increase the tax base, generate additional revenue for
their benefit as well as the City's benefit, or they will always
continue to wait for the crumbs to fall off the table while Lake
Mary, who has a much larger tax base than we leave, and
CC 09 -04- 12/271
r
Altamonte, continue to move forward. He said what did they think
was going to happen to their potential investors. He said they have
done all the work for the last five (5) or seven (7) years. He noted
it does not happen overnight. He said they will say thank you for
all the great ideas, but that was where they will put their money
and their investment, and here in Longwood we will be left
sucking salt, and a lot of happy talk to go with it. He said they
have to realize that sometimes decisions were hard to be made, and
there were other things that were mitigating in the area as well in
terms of why they go for and against. He said he honestly believes
that the people, if they were made aware of where they want to go
and why they want to go there to move the City forward, they will
definitely have their concerns, but ultimately, agree with them. He
said they cannot stand still and have to move forward. He said
otherwise, they will be left behind. He said they have cut back a
lot in the budget. He said regarding what Deputy Mayor Bundy
said, the $8 million reserve was truly not $8 million that they have
tucked away. He said that was a special item they put in there to
j force tighter controls on expenditures, and to put that money aside,
line item by line item, for a rainy day. He said in case they have a
hurricane, where were they going to find the money to talce care of
it. He said were they going to wait until Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) decides to give them money. That
was something he said he learned back in his days with Colgate -
Palmolive, a very astute United States and international company.
He said putting aside reserves, forcing the independent people who
actually have control over their budgets, to make sure they pinch
every cent they can pinch, and to make sure every dollar goes
additional ways than just 100 cents. He said he has no doubt in his
mind that they will eventually end up having to sit on the side lines
and see other cities move forward, and they stand still or go
backwards, if they do not go forward with this marginal increase.
Deputy Mayor Bundy said there was a lot for what has been said
and mistakes have been made in the past. He stated they go back
further than twenty (20) years. He said one of his biggest clients
used. to be theDeBartelo Corporation and a lot of them may not
know that name, but he said he bets they all know where the
Altamonte Mall was. He said they were the ones that bought the
property, built the Mall, developed it and operated it for many
years until they merged with the Simon Group. He said he did all
the ceramic tile and stone work for the DeBartolo Corporation for
many, many years. He said when he got the set of plans for the
Altamonte Mall; it had a cover sheet with the project name and
project location. He said he was in North Carolina at the time and
I q he turned the page and there was another cover sheet, and it said
Longwood Mall. He said he called the Director of Construction
and asked if they were building the same mall in two (2) different
CC 09 -04- 12/272
locations and they were too cheap to print more than one (1) set of
plans. He said they responded in the negative. He said they had
optioned two (2) parcels of property, one (1) in the City of
Longwood and one (1) in the City of Altamonte. He said the
community leaders at that time were very insular in their thinking.
He said they could not control it and they could not make any
money off of it, they did not want it. He said the DeBartelo Family
said okay, they would pull the trigger on Altamonte Mall and it
was a mistake that has cost the City of Longwood for a long, long
time. He said as Commissioner Maingot said, Commuter Rail has
not been something that has just happened last year. He said it was
something he, Commissioner Maingot and Mayor Sackett have
been working on for six (6) or seven (7) years in. supporting it,
working for it, and planning for it. He said and now, it was
coming. He said the consultants that they hired for the TOD stuff
told them those developers they talked to wanted to see them do
something before they come in. He asked how many in the
audience knew where the Commuter Rail was going to be. He said
on Church Avenue, across Ronald Reagan Boulevard (County
Road 427) on the north side of Church Avenue, and straddling the
tracks. He said the northeast corner property owner, a developer
called Orange Crown Companies has acquired a sizable portion of
that property and has been working with staff a long time. He said
a few weeks ago at the Commission Meeting, they approved a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as to wliat they were
going to provide in the way of stormwater improvements, sewer
and water improvements, and they were partnering with the
County, with Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), with
the City, with the developers to build a parking garage oil their
property. He said they have put their money where their mouth is.
He said the developers who had the vision and any developer that
wants to come in and wants to make a request for them to do
infrastructure, they could not spend any money before now
because they did not know for sure if it was coming because it was
tied up in the Legislature, and the Governor had it tied up, and
until the final signatures were made and the checks were cut, they
could not spend any money.. He said they could plan and put
money aside and they have done that. He said Orange Crown has
stepped forward and they were the first of what will be many. He
said he thinks others will come. He also thinks there were things
they needed to do in infrastructure, but they were in tough times.
He said when the Legislature has done something particularly
harmful to the cities, they will deal with it and have a capable staff.
He said they have a City Administrator that was as good an
Administrator as this City has ever had. He said he has a grasp for
finance. He noted he has come up through city government the
hard way, and has worked in every department that a city has, and
he really gets it. He said he understands it and understands what
CC 09- 04- 12/273
was important, and does not play politics. He said he takes his
direction from the Commission, and this was the direction tonight
that they were going to give him that will guide him for the next
twelve (12) months. He said he does not know if there was a right
or wrong answer. He noted there were pluses and minuses for both
sides. He said they will make this decision tonight, and whichever
way it goes, staff will deal with it, and the Commission will deal
with it.
Commissioner. Cortes said reiterating what he said, one (1) of the
reasons he voted to move this millage at 5.99, which the Property
Appraiser requires them in a time sensitive format on August 4 th to
get their decision to him, and was to give options. He said the
options they were entertaining here were, to keep it at 4.99, meet
the twenty -one (21%) percent minimum, but were at a bare bones
budget and without the funding for the one (10) cent sales tax for
capital and roadway, repairs and improvements. He said many of
the streets were deteriorating and they have to do something. He
said he was a huge supporter of Reiter Park, but in this Budget
there was no funding for Reiter Park, which sickens him. He said
there was no funding next year for Reiter Park. He said they have
allocated monies in the past, and now they were the closest they
have ever been to being shovel ready with construction plans, but
yet, there was no funding next year to do anything within Reiter
Park. He said so they have the 4.99 or the 5.99 that they were
currently looking at right now or they have somewhere in between,
which would still bring them half of that $400,000 that they could
use and dedicate strictly and solely to capital improvements. He
said he was not looking to balance the Budget, and he was not
looking to do anything else with this, and if they do move forward, .
it was to cover the shortfalls, especially with the one (10) cent
sales tax.
Commissioner Maingot said he thinks he agrees with what
Commissioner Cortes has said in his thinking. He said it was
better to have half a slice than no slice at all so at least they will
have something they can work with. He said if he would be
prepared to make a motion with a revised rate that he thinks he
would feel comfortable with, he said he would be happy to
withdraw his motion because he thinks they both want to see the
City move forward. He said he also agrees that whatever revenue
they get from what they come up with will be dedicated to not
general revenue, but specifically, for infrastructure development.
Mayor Sackett stated Commissioner Maingot could withdraw the
motion and he would withdraw the second, and he could remake .
the motion or Connnissioner Cortes or anyone could make another
motion.
CC 09 -04- 12/274
Commissioner Cortes asked the City Attorney, if they go that route
and the motion was stated this was to be used for capital
improvement, was that acceptable.
Mr. Langley said with respect to how the money was spent, it was
best dealt with at the Budget, which was the next Ordinance. He
said this was adopting a millage rate for revenue purposes, so how
they assign the use of the revenue was appropriate for the next
Ordinance.
Deputy Mayor Bundy asked the City Attorney ii" whatever millage
rate and whatever Budget they do, that was this year's Budget. Ile
said the millage rate goes on. He said so although they can say it
was going to be spent to capital improvements or capital projects,
that was all it will be because next year the City Commission, by
three (3) votes, can allocate that money any way they want to see
it. The only other way was if it was directed by a referendum, like
the debt service or the trails money that was with Seminole
County, correct.
Mr. Langley said this Commission votes on this year's coming up
Budget, and the next Com inission next year will. vote on the next
Budget, so if the millage stays the same as what they approve
�-- tonight, the allocation of how that money was to be spent for the
next fiscal year was determined next year.
Deputy Mayor Bundy said exactly, and there was no way that they
can set up that would sunset this millage increase that was binding
on a Commission in the future. He asked if that was correct.
Mr. Langley responded in the affirmative. He said the millage was
a determination made every year.
Commissioner Cortes said that was his question, that with this
millage, if they decide to go in whichever direction, next year they
were going to be back in this position. He said they can vote to go
back to 4.99. He said that was usually what the roll back rate was,
correct.
Mr. Langley said they can go down next year, they can go up or
they can stay the same. He said the same options they have this
year, they will have next year.
Mayor Sackett said let them move forward. He asked
Commissioner Maingot if he was withdrawing his motion.
Commissioner Maingot withdrew his motion and the
CC 09 -04- 12/275
second was withdrawn by Mayor Sackett.
Commissioner Maingot moved to approve the first reading
of Ordinance No. 12 -1995 and set the millage rate at
5.5000. Seconded by Mayor Sackett.
Commissioner Cortes said for clarification to the Administrator,
that would put the fund balance on paper at twenty -four (24 %)
percent.
Mr. Williams said the projected fund balance would be twenty -four
(24 %) percent, and they would still be dipping into reserves at
$1.183 million at a,millage rate of 5.50, and regenerate at an
additional $410,000, which would be 7.67% above the roll back
rate of 5.50.
Mayor Sackett read the following statement:
The City of Longwood is thereby proposing a fiscal year
2012/2013 millage rate of 5.500 per thousand dollars non-
exempt assessed valuation. Said rate is 7.67 percent higher
than the roll back rate of 5.4083 per thousand non - exempt
assessed valuation, as computed by Florida Statute 200.065.
.He asked if that was correct.
Mr. Williams responded in the affirmative.
Mayor Sackett said that would be the motion and it would also
have to set the next reading.
Commissioner Maingot added to the motion to set
September 17, 2012 as the public hearing date. Seconded
by Mayor Sackett and carried by a three -two (3 -2) roll call
vote with Deputy Mayor Bundy and Commissioner Durso
voting nay.
Mayor. Sackett said the City of Longwood_ has approved the first
reading of Ordinance No. 12 -1995, which fixes the tentative rate of
ad valorem taxation at a millage rate of 5.5000 mills for fiscal year
2012/2013.
B. Read by title only, set September 47, 2012 as the public hearing
date, and approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 121996,
which adopts tentative revenues, expenditures and fund
balances for the City's fiscal year budget commencing October
1, 2012 and ending September 30, 2013.
Mr. Langley read Ordinance No. 12 -1996 by title only.
CC 09 -04- 12/276
Mayor Sackett said therefore, the fiscal year 2012/2013 tentative
revenues, expenditures and fund balances for the City's fiscal year,
budget commencing October 1, 2012 and ending September 30,
2013 are as follows:
General Fund $18,588,668
Public Utilities $6,226,023
Public Facilities Improvement $1,577,018
Capital Projects $582,784
Stormwater Management $2,212,068
Other Funds $1.241,674
Total Resources $30,428,235
Mayor Sackett asked the City Administrator if this was published
and available online for people to see.
Mr. Williams responded in the affirmative.
Mayor Sackett opened the public hearing. No one spoke in favor
or in opposition to the Ordinance.
Commissioner Durso moved to close the public hearing.
Seconded by Commissioner Cones and carried by a
unanimous voice vote.
Commissioner Maingot moved to approve at first reading
Ordinance Number 12 -1996 and set September 17, 2012 as
a public hearing date. Seconded by Commissioner Cones.
Deputy Mayor Bundy had a question for the Administrator and
under the Public Utilities Fund, he sees one (1) of the items was for
a pickup truck. He asked with the reallocation, were they not
going to have some extra trucks.
Mr. Williams and Mayor Sacektt said they thought we would.
Deputy Mayor Bundy said the other thing he wanted to say was he
was not going to vote to approve the Budget because he was not
voting for the millage that will approve the Budget.
Commissioner Cones said he was not here for the Budget
Workshop and he noticed there was much discussion about Reiter
Park. He asked if there was a way to include at least $100,000 for
Reiter Park to have something to get it going once they get the
grant money some time before the end of the fiscal year.
Mayor Sackett said he thinks they still have to get through the
September 17 t1i Meeting.
CC 09 -04- 12/277
I
Mr. Williams said between now and then if the Commission does
direct him to go back and allocate an additional$ 100,000 for Reiter
Park, based upon the decision regarding the tentative millage rate;
! they can do that for the final reading.
I
i
Commissioner Cortes asked if that had to be an amended motion.
Mayor Sackett said they would have to make a motion.
Commissioner Cortes asked about Field i at Candyland Park that
had a $28,000 repair that Babe Ruth was willing to fund half of it,
and asked the Administrator to have Leisure Services provide an
electronic mail of what that entailed, and it was resodding, reclaim,
leveling and irrigating Field 1 at Candyland Park that would cost
j about $28,000, which they would get in writing from Babe Ruth
that they would pay for half of it. He said before they can change
j their mind and if they can allocate putting that into the Budget also
with the contingency that it comes from Babe Ruth paying half of
it. He said it was a way of getting something and not having to pay
for the full amount for it. He said these were the only two (2)
items he had concerns about.
Mayor Sackett asked when Candyland Park would be doing that
repair.
Ms. Meli said if they re -did Field 1, they would be looking at
probably a wintertime project, trying to go between seasons. She
said the only unknown was if the sod that needed to be put down
needed to be warrn enough for it to take root before they could
play on it.
Mayor Sackett said, personally he would delay that.
Commissioner. Cortes said if they were to do it, they would have to
put it into this year's Budget. He said his concern and asked Ms.
Meli, was it through Mr. Warren Brown or through Babe Ruth that
they have the commitment of them paying for half, and do we have
that in writing.
I
Ms. Meli said Mr. Brown goes through his Board, and she does not
have it in writing.
Commissioner Cortes asked Ms. Meli if she feels that possible
future change in direction of management may go away where we
will not have that option.
Ms. Meli said that was hard to say and the new management that
was going to be coming in to Babe Ruth in the spring, works
CC 09- 04- 12/278
closely with them now. She said she would have to discuss it with
him, because they were not - for - profit and they have to spend
money.
Mayor Sackett said with the new Board coming in and Mr. Brown
moving out, they were really not ready to get a signed thing, and
he does not want to tie this up into a $30 million worth of things,
so it was up to him to make a motion.
Commissioner Cortes said the good thing about it, if they allocate
it, it does not necessarily mean they have to spend it unless they
get the assurances that they were going to get it, and the timing
was right. He said if it does not go, then they can always leave it
in there and not spend it.
Mayor Sackett said or they put it in next year's budget and talk
about it then.
Commissioner Cortes moved to amend the motion to
allocate $100,000 for Reiter Park and re- include the
$28,000 with the caveat that half of it has to come from
Babe Ruth itself and written confirmation. He said if they
cannot fund it, then they were not going to use it this year.
Seconded by Commissioner Maingot.
Commissioner Durso asked what the total number was.
Commmissioner Cortes said it would be $14,000 from Babe Ruth
and $14,000 from the City.
Deputy Mayor Bundy said he does not want Babe Ruth to commit
to $14,000 and then it ends up being $38,000 to do it. He said if
they were going to commit to paying half of it, they pay half of it,
whatever the budget number was. He said they know what they
will do. He said they will do a budget revision to cover the other
portion of it, but they will not.
Commissioner Durso said to be clear, that was part of the motion.
Commissioner Cortes responded in the affirmative. He said they
pay half of whatever the figure was.
Motion to amend carried by a unanimous roll call vote.
Main motion, as amended, carried by a three -two (3 -2) roll
call vote Deputy Mayor Bundy and Commissioner Durso
voting nay.
CC 09- 04- 12/279
i
Mayor Sackett said the City of Longwood has approved the first
reading of Ordinance No. 12- 1996, which sets September 17, 2012
as the public hearing date.
3. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS. Ms. Mirus read the following
announcement:
A. The 66 IDowntownn Longwood Cruise -In" Car Show will be held
on Saturday, September 8, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
in the Historic District of Longwood located off of Church
Avenue.
i 4. PROCLAMATIONS/ RECOGNITIONS.
A. District #5 Presentation of the Business Person of the Month
Award for September 2012 to Steven Brint, M.D., Central
Florida Gastroenterology located at 11140 West Colonial
Drive.
Mayor Sackett read a brief biography on Steven Brint, M.D.,
Central Florida Gastroenterology and presented him with the
Business Person of the Month Award for September 2012.
Photographs were then taken.
The Commission recessed at 8:28 p.m. and reconvened at 8:36
p.m.
5. BOARD APPOIN'T'MENTS.
A. District #3 Nomination to the Land Planning Agency.
i Commissioner Cortes nominated Mr. Greg Cetera, 590 Freeman
Street to the Land Planning Agency. Nomination carried by a
unanimous voice vote.
6. PUBLIC INPUT.
A. Public Participation. None.
7. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
District #5. Mayor Sackett said this Saturday was the Opening Day for
Babe Ruth. He suggested the other Commissioners who attended the
Florida League of Cities Meeting in Hollywood, Florida not do their
i
reports here now, but file them with the City Clerk and make it a public
record.
District #1. No report.
District #2. No report.
District 43. Commissioner Cortes thanked everyone for their well wishes —'
in their family's time of grieving and said it was very much appreciated.
CC 09- 04- 12/280
District 44. No report.
1.� 8. ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA.
Mr. Williams requested 9 F to be added to the Agenda, and a point of
clarification on Item 10 C. He said Attorney Chris Traber was here who
the Assessment Counsel was and when making that motion, they want to
include "approving and continuing the public hearing until September
17th "
9. CONSENT AGENDA.
A. Approve Minutes of the August 6, 2012 Regular Meeting.
B. Approve the Monthly Expenditures for August and September
2012.
C. Approve a purchase order in the amount of $71,595 to AIDS
LLC for the purchase of twenty (20) hydra stop insta valve
insert fittings.
D. Approve a purchase order in the amount of 546,471 to Pegasus
Engineering, LLC for Reiter Park storm water pond
modifications, permit compliance and authorize the City
Administrator to execute all associated documents.
E. Approve a Memorandum of Understanding (li OU) for the
(Department of Housing and Urban (Development (HUD)
Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant that
formalizes the relationship between the City,, the East Central
Florida Regional Planning Council and partners, and the
Federal Department of Housing and Urban (Development.
F. Approve and authorize to allow the City Administrator to
place a bid in an amount not to exceed $180,000 at public
auction for certain real property.
Commissioner Durso moved to approve the Consent
Agenda. Seconded by Commissioner N[aingot and carried
by a unanimous roll call vote.
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS. (PART 11)
C. Read by title only and adopt Resolution No. 1.2 -1319, which
imposes the Shadow Hill Capital and Maintenance Assessment.
r
Mr. Langley announced having proof of publication for this
and all Items listed under Public Hearings. He then read
Resolution No. 12 -1319 by title only.
CC 09 -04- 12/281
r
Chris Traber Attorney with Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson, P.A.,
introduced himself and stated he wanted to make the note that due
to the timing of the meetings this year and when the notices went
out, he would like to request that when they open the meeting for
public comment, that at the end of all the public comment they
would leave open the hearing instead of for a date and time certain
for their next meeting, which was September 17 at 7:00 p.m. He
said what that will do was make sure that the proper notice periods
have run before they submit the tax rolls to the Tax Collector that
Monday. He said it should not affect the consideration of Item 11
B at all because at any point in time they could rescind that
Resolution, even at the September 17 Meeting.
Mayor Sackett asked between the two of them, do they have the
date certain when they needed to do this and was it at the next
meeting.
Mr. Traber said he would recommend continuing to September
17 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard
that evening.
Mayor Sackett opened the public hearing and the following spoke
in favor to the Resolution:
Ron McLau lg ilin 104 Shady Lane, said they have lived on Shady
Lane for about twenty five (25) years. He stated he was looking
forward to this happening because Mr. Ron Allegro, who has lived
there, has been going house to house for years trying to collect
money from people. He said he told him he has been lucky to get
forty (40 %) percent fifty (50 %) percent of the people that live in
the neighborhood to pay a lousy $40 a year. He said it just should
not be that way. He said he looks forward to this happening just so
we no longer have forty (40 %) percent to fifty (50%) percent of the
people paying their dues. He said he thinks they will see more
neighborhoods doing the same thing, as long as the City looks for a
reasonable rate. He said he considers the rate he sees in the paper
to be reasonable. He said yes, it was a little more than double than
present, but it was still extremely reasonable compared to what he
has seen other neighborhoods paying. He said he was happy that
finally everybody in the neighborhood will have to pay their fair
share. He said he would also like to see the capital improvements
done, and they have had no capital improvements for years and
years. He said after he saw what the capital improvements amount
was he would like to know what they were getting for that amount.
Mayor Sackett said basically, they had a team of people meet with
him almost nine (9) months ago, and within the capital, new
CC 09 -04- 12/282
signage was the big thing. He said it was designed by one (1) of
the team members from his neighborhood.
l— Mayor Sackett introduced Mr. Tom Hibma who designed the sign
and asked if he could address what the capital was.
Tom Hibma 113 Shady Court, said exactly eleven (11) months
ago today, three (3) of them began meeting with the City
Commission, City Administrator and the Horticulture Specialist I,
Ms. Debbie Renfro. He said they have been instrumental in what
they have been trying to do. He said a fellow resident, Mr. Doug
Crenshaw assisted them also. He said they needed to re- irrigate
the main entrance by E.E. Williamson, and the first island on
Sunset Drive and the second island on Sunset Drive. He said new
electrical work at the main entrance to get it up to code will be
done, and also at the first island. He said they were planning to put
a new sign in on Sunset Drive, and part of the contingency of what
he has seen of the fiends showing for the capital improvement, they
may be able to put additional signage at the other entrances on
Lamont Avenue, Lake Myrtle Road and Shadow Trail. He said
these were the things that were planned, so they will see an
increase in value throughout that.main entranceway with new
plantings, bushes, trees will be removed that needed to be, and
trees will be trimmed for the first time in years. He said so he will
see a lot of improvements that will be taking place, and he thanked
the community for all the help they received from them. He said
the community has voted overwhelmingly of improving their
community. He said they do not want to see Shadow Hill turn into
a low income rental area.
Mayor Sackett said he remembers eleven month, ago you had $2
left in your budget, and that was it.
Mr. McLaughlin said the Administration was the only thing he did
not understand, and Mayor Sackett explained that was to set it up
on the tax rolls, so then it becomes billable through the County
taxes, so that sets it up so that annually they get assessed correctly.
Mr. Williams said there were some additional administrative costs
for mailings, but after this first year the initial cost to set up of
$5,000 will and can be reduced if the community desires.
Commissioner Durso moved to continue the public hearing
of this Item to the September 17, 201.2 Meeting. Seconded
by Commissioner Cortes.
Mr. Traber said the public hearing portion will be kept open. He
said in the event they heard additional public comment on
CC 09- 04- 12/283
i
September 17"', that persuades them to change their vote on the
Resolution or rescind it or reconsider it, they can do so at that time.
I He said it was important to take action on the Resolution tonight so
that staff has the legal ability to interface with the Tax Collector by
the September 15 16"' and 17 deadlines.
No one spoke in opposition to the Resolution.
Motion was approved by a unanimous roll call vote.
Deputy Mayor Bundy moved to adopt Resolution No. 12-
1319. Seconded by Commissioner Cortes and carried by a
unanimous roll call vote.
D. Read by title only and adopt Ordinance No. 12 -1992,
amending the Longwood Development Code (L1DQ
Article fl General Provisions, Article flfl Land -Use and
Overlay Districts, Article III ]Development Design
Standards, Article V Supplemental Standards, Article
VI Signs, Article, 1X Hardship Relief, Article X
Administration, and the Longwood Design Guidebook
,to adopt a Heritage Village Urban Code by reference,
revise parking standards, revise fence standards,
establish a waiver provision, streamline and clarify
existing development processes.
Mr. Langley read Ordinance No. 12 -1992 by title only.
i Mayor Sackett opened the public hearing. No one spoke in
favor or in opposition to the Ordinance.
Deputy Mayor Bundy moved to close the public
hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Maingot and
carried by a unanimous voice vote.
Commissioner Maingot moved to adopt Ordinance
No. 12 -1992 as presented Item 10 D. Seconded by
Commissioner Cortes and carried by a unanimous
roll call vote.
flfl. REGULAR BUSINESS.
A. Read by title only and adopt Resolution No. 12 -1309, which
would adopt the Longwood Bicycle - ]Pedestrian Master ]Plan.
Mr. Langley read Resolution No. 12 -1309 by title only.
CC 09- 04- 12/284
i
Commissioner Durso moved to approve Resolution No. 12-
1309 adopting the Bicycle- Pedestrian Master Plan.
�. Seconded by Commissioner Cortes.
Commissioner Durso said he wanted to thank the staff for their
work. He said he has received a lot of positive feedback from
MetroPlan for work that they have been doing.
Commissioner Cortes said Kimley -Horn and Associates, Inc. did a
great job in listening to all of them and creating potential paths and
linking existing trails to the City of Longwood.
Motion carried by a unanimous roll call vote.
B. Read by title only and adopt Resolution No. 42 -4321, which
confirms the annual non -ad valorem rolls for various
wastewater, road and neighborhood beautification assessments
for the 2042 tax rolls.
Mr. Langley read Resolution No. 12 -1321 by title only.
Commissioner Durso moved to approve Resolution 12-
j 1321 as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Cortes.
Commissioner Maingot asked the Administrator if they have
covered all those areas that have been assessed. He said there was
one (1) that was missing, and it was Barrington.
Mr. Williams said this Resolution incorporates all of those
assessments, including Barrington. He said there were resolutions
for each one (1) of them and the Commission directed staff to find
a mechanism in which they could address all the renewals on an
annual basis under one (1) resolution, and this resolution
accomplishes that direction and Barrington was included.
Commissioner Maingot said they were not identified in this
document 11 B.
Mr. Traber stated Barrington was not in here because it was his
understanding it was zero ($0) dollars this year.
Commissioner Maingot said they have spent over $25,000 on that
entrance and was supposed to get some money back from the
County, but in the meantime he would expect them to pay their
share of what was appropriate. He said they waived two (2)
portions of it last year, the capital and maintenance. He said they
need to address that.
CC 09 -04- 12/285
Mr. Williams asked Mr. Traber what the best way to address this
was.
Mr. Traber asked if they had any dollar figures. —J
Mr. Williams said they can get them fairly quickly, but they were
not charging maintenance wise.
Mr. Traber said the Barrington assessment could be assessed at the
prior rates that they were on the roll, and that could be the motion,
and that information could be provided to the Commission in the
next hour, so they can take action before the September 15"'
deadline.
Mr. Langley asked what the deadline was.
Mr. Traber said prior to the next meeting, so they would have to
take action to set the rate tonight, whatever it was.
Mr. Langley asked if there was any pre - notice requirement.
Mr. Traber said not for this.
Mr. Langley said they can amend the Resolution. He said the title
was not specific to restrict them from amending it to include
another assessment. He said they have the ability to amend their
resolutions as they were adopting them.
Mr. Traber said there would be a new Section 6 G for Barrington
i would be included.
Mr. Langley said they would need someone to make a motion to
amend the Resolution to include language.
Deputy Mayor Bundy asked if it would be appropriate to amend it
to include Barrington at the prior rate. He said regardless of how
much they have spent on it that is up to us to get the County back
because they have already been assessed for a capital improvement
for it initially. He said it was up to us, not them. He said they
waived the payment of it and waived the maintenance portion of it,
but it was not going to change regardless of how much they have
had to spend to correct the problems that were brought about by
the County. He said they were not going to be paying what their
capital assessment was initially, plus a portion of this $25,000.
Mr. Williams noted they were going to seek reimbursement from
the County.
CC 09 -04- 12/286
Commissioner Cortes asked if the language they were going to add
as Item 6 G for Barrington.
Mr. Williams responded in the affirmative.
Commissioner Cortes moved to amend the motion to
include Item 6 G as part of Resolution No. 12 -1321.
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Bundy and carried by a
unanimous roll call vote.
Main motion, as amended, carried by a unanimous roll call
vote.
C. Read by title only and adopt Resolution No. 1:2 -1320, which re-
authorizes a corrected I[nterlocal Agreement with Seminole
County regarding Community Development Block Grants
(CDBG).
Mr. Langley read Resolution No 12 -1320 by title only.
Commissioner Durso moved to accept Resolution 12 -1320
as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Cortes and
carried by a unanimous roll call vote.
12. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
Mr. Williams reminded the Commission about the Executive Session
tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. He provided a brief update on the status for the
SunRail Station. He said the contractor's schedule was to begin
construction around October 1 with Progress Energy starting the
relocation of their poles and completion by November, and then Archer -
Western to start construction around October 27 with completion by
November. 28 and Baseline Construction to start on November l' with
completion by May 13, 2013, and this was all subject to change.
Deputy Mayor Bundy inquired if they got the confusion about the
meetings going back and forth squared away. -_
Ms. Meli said they were meeting on Thursday.
Mr. Williams said Ms. Meli provided him with an electronic mail
submitted by the Community Assistant Consultant, Ms. -Pjta Ventr -y -with
the Division of Recreation Parks for the Florida Departrhent of =
Enviromnental Protection, regarding the 2010 /2011 Land and Water
Conservation Fund Grant. He said long story sliort, the Grant was going
to be approved. He said they have not received anything back from the
Federal Government and the Regional Contact in Atlanta "was Gwen
Smith. He noted they were understaffed, and she was doing the best she
CC 09- 04- 12/287
can do. He said this was for the $100,000, and hopes to have the contract
to them shortly.
Mr. Williams said Ms. Meli wanted to address the Commission about
Celebrate the Season dates and times.
Ms. Meli said Celebrate the Season has always been held on the first
Saturday in December. She said they would like to change it to the first
Friday in December, which was the 7 She said they would not be
competing with Crane's Roost with their big celebration, and it would start
at 6:00 p.m. She said the tree would be turned on at 6:15 p.m., and then
they want to have Holiday food from around the world and have food
vendors here for that, lots of entertainment, street carolers, crafts, face
painting, jugglers, and have a carnival atmosphere.
Mayor Sackett asked if there was a problem changing from Saturday to
Friday. There was none, and they all liked the changes.
Mayor Sackett asked about September 10'
Ms. Meli said at the last Meeting, the Commission voted to be low key
about the event, so Leisure Services will be putting a wreath out, and they
were going to put 4,000 flags out like they did last year, and the Police
Department was going to put out all their flags for all the different
branches of the service.
13. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT.
Mr. Langley had a follow -up from the last meeting on 565 Preston Avenue
and to let you know that the buyer was still looking for a pay off, and as
soon as we get it, they can close that in just .a few days.
14. CITY CLERK'S REPORT. No report.
fly. ADJOURN. Mayor Sackett adjourned the meeting at 9:11 p.m.
Brian D. Sackett, May
ATTEST: �
Sarah M. Mirus, MMC, MIC City Clerk
CC 09 -04- 12/288