CC03-21-2022Min LONGWOOD CITY COMMISSION
Longwood City Commission Chambers
175 West Warren Avenue
Longwood, Florida
MINUTES
March 21, 2022
6:00 P.M.
Present: Mayor Brian D. Sackett
Deputy Mayor Tony Boni
Commissioner Abby Shoemaker
Commissioner Matt McMillan
Commissioner Matt Morgan
Dan Langley, City Attorney
Clint Gioielli, Acting City Manager
Michelle Longo, City Clerk
David Dowda, Police Chief
Judith Rosado, Financial Services Director
Chris Capizzi, Leisure Services Director
Shad Smith, Public Works Director
1. CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Sackett called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. OPENING INVOCATION. Pastor Stephanie Salinas with Longwood Hills
Congregation gave the invocation.
3. THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Mayor Sackett led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
4. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS. Ms. Longo read the following
announcements.
A. The "Longwood Food Trucks"will be held on Friday, March 25,
2022, from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Reiter Park, 311 West
Warren Avenue.
B. The Longwood Pirate Seafood Festival will be held on Saturday,
March 26, 2022,from 10:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday,
March 27, 2022,from 10:00 a.m.to 5:00 p.m. at Reiter Park, 311
West Warren Avenue. The event will showcase pirates,
mermaids, a free kid zone, unique entertainment, and great
food.This is a free event.
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C. Orlando Health South Seminole Hospital along with Ladies 327,
Inc. will be sponsoring the "Concert in the Park" event on
Saturday, April 2, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Reiter
Park, 311 West Warren Avenue. There will be a kid zone,
vendors, and food trucks. Music starts at 7:00 p.m. and the
band will be Torn.
5. PROCLAMATIONS/ RECOGNITIONS
A. Nomination of the Beautification Award.
Commissioner Morgan nominated Bayridge Sushi, 400 Savage
Court,for the Beautification Award. Nomination carried by a
unanimous voice vote.
6. BOARD APPOINTMENTS. None.
7. PUBLIC INPUT
A. Public Participation. None.
8. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS' REPORT
District#1. Commissioner Shoemaker said she believed her fellow
Commissioners received the same email as herself regarding a
community partnership with One School of the Arts. She said she
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reached out to Mrs. Salva and told her she would bring the item forward
during her Commissioner's Report. She referred to the school's event on
April 19 and asked the Commission if they plan to attend to please
contact Mrs. Salva. She added the school is not within city limits but
Longwood residents probably attend the private school.
District#2. Deputy Mayor Boni referenced the mailboxes that were in
the Commission Chambers and noted it was an idea by his wife Amy, and
with the help of the Commission, Mr. Gioielli, and staff the City has
retirement flag mailboxes. He said they looked really good. He noted the
two (2) mailboxes, which have all of the City symbols including local
organizations and the military, will be installed at Reiter Park and
Candyland Sports Complex. He asked if people starting in May can drop
off their flags.
Mr. Gioielli replied and stated staff planned to install the mailboxes by
next Wednesday, and suggested the Commission consider an unveiling
event. If the Commission wanted to tie in with another event, he said the
next City event is Movie in the Park on Saturday, April 2. The food trucks
are scheduled at 5:00 p.m., the movie at 7:00 p.m., and the Commission
could consider the unveiling at 6:00 p.m.
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Commissioner Morgan asked if President David Rubin of Heroes Strong,
Longwood may attend.
Deputy Mayor Boni strongly agreed and said he had texted Mr. Rubin a
photo of the mailboxes.
Mayor Sackett suggested two (2) unveilings of the flag retirement boxes,
one event at each park.
Discussion ensued on possible dates and times of the events.
It was the consensus of the Commission to hold the first unveiling of the
mailboxes during the next City event at Reiter Park on April 2, Movie in
the Park, at 5:00 p.m.
Deputy Mayor Boni reported he attended a cancer awareness event
where someone wrapped their Lamborghini in pink so everyone could
sign the car with a Sharpie. He thought it was a good idea to get in the
spirit of getting rid of cancer. He also attended a ribbon-cutting for MA-
SE Sushi Eatery and welcomed the restaurant to the city of Longwood.
District#3. Commissioner McMillan thanked the Longwood Fire
Department for their assistance in getting his grandfather to the hospital.
He was expected home the next day with some broken bones from a fall
and was going to start in-home hospice. He said he was there at the time
of the fall, and he greatly appreciated the efficient and professional
service of the City Fire Department.
Commissioner McMillan said referring to the last Commission meeting he
thought it was a good idea to do something for the City's 100th
Anniversary of its charter, especially from an educational point of view.
He said it is important to let people know Longwood is a municipality and
is incorporated along with utility and public safety services. He added the
City's history does go back further than 100 years clearing up any
misunderstanding of past events.
Commissioner McMillan reported on the true, good, and beautiful. For
the "true", he pointed out the fact the City's 2020 census population is
13,657 which was posted on Longwood's website. He noted the City's
population continues to grow. For the "good", he saw good volunteerism
that was promoted on social media by the Citizens on Patrol (COPs) after
a storm. He was near his parent and grandparents' houses about two
weeks ago when the electric lines went down, and the COPs went out
and stopped traffic. He saw wires everywhere on the street and
commended the volunteer organization for their help in this situation.
For the "beautiful ", he did miss the opening of MA-SE Sushi Eatery due
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to the incident with his grandfather but he did go to Bayridge Sushi with
Andre Klass who was celebrating the start-up of his technology nonprofit
in Longwood City Center. He noted Bayridge Sushi is a nice place in the
way it is decorated and how it is lit so everyone can go there and have a
good time.
District#4. Commissioner Morgan said he was happy to hear
Commissioner McMillan's grandfather is doing okay adding his age is
impressive at 103 %2 and recalled he had visited the City Commission on
his 100th birthday. He also thanked COPs for their work during a recent
storm. He posted an item on Longwood Facebook the other day
regarding the COPs and based upon comments told people there is a
difference between the Longwood Police Department and Citizens on
Patrol (COPs). He said the COPs do a lot of volunteer work in the
community giving up their own time choosing to contribute days,
especially on weekends to the City. He expressed gratitude along with
his fellow Commissioners for the organization which frees up time for the
Longwood Police Department so they can conduct other business. He
asked residents to thank the COPs if they see them working in the City.
He said his Facebook post was in reference to a large tree that had fallen
near his neighborhood on Longwood Hills Road. Wires had fallen as well
from a telephone pole, and there were two COPs in the rain on a
Saturday afternoon helping close down the street and veer traffic away
from the area. He said earlier that day there was a similar issue on Slade
Drive where cables had fallen down and again the COPs were directing
traffic on their day off.
Commissioner Morgan said there is a "Be Great Gala" coming up in April
on behalf of the Seminole County Boys and Girls Club of America. He
mentioned a lot of kids in Longwood attend the Boys and Girls Club at
one of three locations in Seminole County including Altamonte Springs,
Oviedo, and Sanford. He said as a board member the Gala is the biggest
fundraiser of the year with all proceeds going right back to the clubs. He
also said he continues to push Longwood as a central location for another
club, and there was a meeting recently regarding that idea at Victorio's
Oyster Bar & Grille. For the last two years, Commissioner Morgan said he
has asked the owner of Victorio's, a Longwood restaurant, to contribute
to the Boys and Girls Club, and without question, Victor Selenica has
provided food for the gala. He thanked Mr. Selenica for his consistent
contributions to the community.
Commissioner Morgan reported attending a one-year celebration on
March 9 for Main Street Community Bank in unincorporated Longwood.
He explained a lot of people in unincorporated areas do not realize they
are actually not in Longwood city limits. When he gets the opportunity,
he goes out to events in these areas to support those constituents,
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especially businesses. He also attended another one-year anniversary for
the Advent Health Hope and Healing Center. He said the event
represented a lot of work between Seminole County Sheriff Dennis
Lemma, CEO Tim Cook of AdventHealth Altamonte Springs, and others in
the community including Walmart and Leadership Seminole to get a
facility in Seminole County to treat for opioids, alcoholism, and the like.
He pointed out the center does not require insurance for treatment like
so many other facilities do. On March 12, he attended an event for a
teen named Mark who unfortunately died from an opioid overdose. The
teen was popular and well-known at the City Skate Park. He said the
"Skate for Mark" event continues to grow in size and there is an actual
skateboarding competition. In addition, the family who lost their son,
Mark, was in attendance. He thanked Matt, the brother of Mark, Chris
Capizzi, Leisure Services Director, Ryan Rinaldo, Recreation Manager, and
David Dowda, Police Chief for their contributions to the event.
Commissioner Morgan said there is a local coffee manufacturing
company called Blessed Bean. He said the company located in Longwood
is ranked in the Top 5 as a national distributor of bags of ground coffee,
and they distribute all over the world but mainly throughout the United
States. A woman from the company about two years ago contacted him
in regards to the trademark for the term "Strongwood" which he brought
to the attention of the Commission. He told the woman he did not own
the rights to the term "Strongwood" but the company wanted to do a
strong coffee blend called that name. The coffee would be Colombian
coffee with extra caffeine. Recently, he took a tour of the coffee facility
and the term Strongwood came up again for a strong coffee blend.
Several businesses in the area would sell this coffee for$10 a bag, and $5
of the purchase would go to the Longwood Parks and Recreation
Department. He has spoken with Mr. Gioielli about the idea which he
thought was very positive in the promotion of the City of Longwood.
Commissioner Morgan thanked Deputy Mayor Boni and his wife Amy for
their work on the flag retirement mailboxes which are impressive looking
and enable the City to move forward in their flag retirement ceremony.
District#5. Mayor Sackett said he was sad to hear about Commissioner
McMillan's grandfather as he enters the later stages of his life. Mayor
Sackett later pointed out the City's population is about 15,000 not 13,000
as mentioned earlier by Commissioner McMillan.
Mayor Sackett reported attending the ribbon-cutting for MA-SE Sushi
Eatery in Longwood and he and his wife later enjoyed the spicy tuna. He
said this past week the City hosted the Mayors and Managers Meeting.
The major discussion item which he brought forward was what was
everyone doing about gas. He asked if you had a $100,000 budget for gas
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for your trucks and other vehicles, how are you handling that so it
doesn't suddenly raise to $150,000 or$200,000? Some individuals
responded they do not let the trucks idle or a couple of people go on a
single trip. He said no strong suggestions were made with individuals
saying gas prices are going down. He was concerned about the responses
but he was impressed with the City of Longwood because staff is taking a
team approach among department heads and keeping good tabs on the
gas situation.
Mayor Sackett said he participated in the League of Mayors meeting
which is still on Zoom. Their discussion was also about gas and how are
people in cities dealing with it. Suggestions included vehicles not idling
anymore, and making smarter purchases of gas like going to 7-Eleven
compared to Wawa.
Mayor Sackett commented Ms. Tammy, who has been a long-time
coordinator of Boy Scouts, was in the audience with her youngest son
who also is a Scout. He said Ms.Tammy, knew of a boy's family who was
not doing well like having to live in a car, lost an apartment, had a vehicle
stolen, and wrecked. Mayor Sackett's daughter volunteered to take in
the boy temporarily about four or five days out of the week. The boy
visited Mayor Sackett's family the past week and said they were doing
things right, appearing happy most of the time, but they can also
challenge each other. He thought this was due to Scouting.
Mayor Sackett said he hoped under the Acting City Manager's Report he
had something about Dog Park mulch or suggestions on the improper sod
installation along Longdale Avenue.
9. ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA. None.
10. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve Minutes of March 7, 2022, Regular Meeting.
B. Approve the Monthly Expenditures for March 2022.
C. Approve the Monthly Financial Report for February 2022.
D. Approve a proposal and purchase order in the amount of
$52,565.52 to Rep Services, Inc.for the removal and disposal of
existing playground equipment and the installation of new
playground equipment at Smallworld Park as part of a FRDAP
grant.
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E. Approve a purchase in the amount of$55,000.00 to Sun State
Ford, Inc.for the purchase of a 2022 Ford F250 with a Knapheide
Service Body Fleet Vehicle.
Commissioner Morgan moved to approve Items 10A
through 10E as presented. Seconded by Commissioner
Shoemaker and carried by a unanimous roll call vote.
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS. None.
12. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Approve a purchase order in the amount of$73,731.00 to Sun
State Ford Inc. for the purchase of a 2022 Ford F550 with a
Knapheide Service Body Fleet Vehicle.
Commissioner Morgan moved to approve Item 12A as
presented. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Boni and carried
by a unanimous roll call vote.
B. Read by title only and adopt Resolution No. 22-1598, a fiscal
year 2021/2022 budget amendment for the purchase of a 2022
Ford F550 with a Knapheide Service Body Fleet Vehicle.
Mr. Langley read Resolution No. 22-1598 by title only.
Commissioner Morgan moved to adopt Resolution No. 22-
1598 as presented Item 12B. Seconded by Deputy Mayor
Boni and carried by a unanimous roll call vote.
C. Read by title only, set April 4, 2022, as the public hearing date,
and approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 22-2221,
amending Chapter 30, Section 30-10 of the Code of Ordinances;
relating to geographical commission districts.
Mr. Langley read Ordinance No. 22-2221 by title only.
Commissioner Morgan moved to approve Ordinance No.
22-2221 and set April 18, 2022, as the second public
hearing date. Seconded by Commissioner McMillan and
carried by a unanimous roll call vote.
13. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Mr. Gioielli said he appreciated the support of the Commission of city
staff and pointed out how hard Ms. Longo, City Clerk, worked on Item
12C which is a very difficult process.
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Mr. Gioielli said regarding Arbor Dog Park in Longwood, staff is
considering several things including the greyhound signs and different
kinds of mulch. In the past, mulch has been too sharp for the dogs' paws,
or the mulch is only temporary, or if dogs use mulch as a restroom how
long does it last. He said meanwhile staff planned to move mulch into
the entrance area of the park as well as the smaller dog park which would
allow for less dust and dirt on the animals as they come and go. In
addition, staff was considering an upgrade or removal of some of the old
wood fencing which surrounds the area. He said the large wood bollards
that run along Grand Street have been removed, and vehicle stops have
been added to the parking lot. Plans also include additional bench seat
areas and alternative dog activities for the park.
Mr. Gioielli introduced Shad Smith, Public Works Director, to address
citizen concerns regarding the perception of substandard work from the
City's contractor on the septic tank abatement program.
Mr. Smith said his department has received a lot of comments from the
Longdale Project area on the sod and other things. He said the company
who laid the sod has plans to come back and replace the sod. He added a
lot of the sod looks good but there are places in people's yards that need
to be fixed. Staff is still working on the issue, and residents just need to
notify the Public Works Department if there is a problem. He said also
the contractor will repave Longdale Avenue this Thursday and Friday
along with other spots that need finishing up. The contractor still has
another month to clean up. He asked the Commission if they had any
questions.
Mayor Sackett said he has told citizens to call either Mr. Smith or Mr.
Gioielli if they had problems.
Mr. Smith responded citizens can call him or the general office number at
Public Works.
Mr. Gioielli answered not only are citizens getting a call back from staff
but also a visit to the property to evaluate their concerns and follow
through until their issue is resolved.
Mr. Gioielli said both appropriation requests with the State of Florida for
the new fire station construction project and the IT infrastructure request
are being funded by the House and Senate. Staff also has been
approached by the Governor's Office even more since the last
Commission meeting and even as late as last Friday. He and staff
continue to provide the feedback and all the answers they are looking
for. Staff has even taken the proactive step of engaging with the
governor's budget chief office in an attempt to establish a line of
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communication, request their support, and provide any information in
advance of questions they may have.
Mr. Gioielli reported the City had been approved for the FEMA Safe Room
Grant Phase One which at the time was estimated at$116,000. He said
the good news is that amount has changed, and the City has been
approved to receive up to $362,000 for Phase One which is the planning
phase. The City also has been approved for Phase Two which would
allow the City to receive up to $2.5 million additional dollars. He said the
project is the City's commitment to making a safe room out of the fire
department.
Mr. Gioielli stated surveillance cameras are set up, working, and
recording at Candyland Sports Complex. One of the lightning alert
systems has been installed at Reiter Park, and the other system is
scheduled to be installed this week at Candyland Sports Complex.
Mr. Gioielli said in regards to the second phase of the Gibbs Retail Study,
he would like to get Commission input on dates for a Workshop.
Discussion ensued on possible dates.
It was the consensus of the Commission to meet Wednesday, April 6 at
5:00 p.m. for a Gibbs Retail Study Workshop.
Mr. Gioielli said the morning unveiling of a flag retirement mailbox at
Candyland Sports Complex is tentatively scheduled for April 2 pending
confirmation from Commission Morgan on times. The Commission had
earlier agreed to the unveiling of a second mailbox at Reiter Park on the
same day, April 2, at 5:00 p.m.
Mr. Gioielli said following up on a request from the last Commission
meeting, he presented proposed locations of the Greyhound signs from
the former Dog Track. He confirmed there will be a plaque placed with
the signs.
Discussion ensued on the sign locations.
It was the consensus of the Commission to place the Greyhound signs in
Arbor Dog Park on the Seminole County Trail side upon completion of the
project. Permission was given to Mr. Gioielli to decide on the height and
direction of the signs.
Mr. Gioielli announced the Orlando Magic is hosting a City of Longwood
Pride Night Game on Friday, April 1. The tickets are discount prices and
$5 will go to support the Longwood Historic Society.
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Commissioner Morgan pointed out that Longwood Babe Ruth Baseball &
Softball is hosting a Spirit Night on the same night.
Mr. Gioielli did note the tickets for Orlando Magic were already
purchased, the City was already committed, and there was no way to
change the date.
Mr. Gioielli said in regards to fuel costs, staff is looking beyond carpooling
and idling of cars, and has engaged a wholesale company in an attempt
to see if the City can purchase gas cheaper. Also, staff is working on a
pilot program to see if they can save money that way, and they have
approached retailers to see if there are any loyalty savings programs such
as Easy Pay at Circle K.
14. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
Mr. Langley passed out information on an upcoming item that will be on
the next agenda related to a settlement agreement. He gave a summary
of the case and stated there has been a lawsuit pending since 2006
involving Highline Drive in Longwood, which is in an industrial park near a
Chevron Station on State Road 434.
Mr. Langley explained there was a situation back in the 1980s where the
private industrial park owners came to the City asking for the City to take
over ownership and maintenance of the roads and to put utilities in. The
City did that with a special assessment. One of the property owners, Mr.
Demetree, who owns a warehouse building at 100 Highline Drive, has
disputed the City's ownership of part of that roadway which is 100 feet in
width. The pavement area is about 28 feet, and Mr. Demetree has
claimed that the City wrongfully claimed ownership of 72 additional feet,
beyond what it was entitled to. Mr. Demetree claims the City wrongfully
put utilities on his property and never should have done that, and the
utility should have been under the pavement or the road and filed a
lawsuit in 2006.
Mr. Langley said this case has not been prosecuted nor pursued by the
plaintiff very much over the years. Recently, Mr. Demetree has hired a
lawyer who has gotten more interested in the case, and the case has
moved aggressively in the last few months. It has been set for trial in
May. On Monday morning, Mr. Demetree and his attorney came to Mr.
Langley's office and signed a proposed settlement agreement which has
been approved by the City attorney and staff. The agreement states that
the City would continue to own the portion of the road that is needed for
road purposes, and then for the remainder of the property, the City
would get easements to allow continued use for utilities, road
maintenance, and prohibit any interference with the utilities that are in
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place. The City would then release to Mr. Demetree ownership of the
unpaid portion which allows him to combine that area with his building
envelope. He would then have to pay taxes on that property. That would
also allow him to potentially in the future subdivide his property and
build an additional building which would increase the City's tax base in
the industrial park. The City would not pay any money to Mr. Demetree
nor would Mr. Demetree pay anything to the City. The city would pay its
own attorney's fees.
Mr. Langley said he would reach out to each of the Commissioners
through phone calls to answer any questions. He recommended the
settlement agreement.
15. CITY CLERK'S REPORT
Ms. Longo thanked Chris Kintner and Dan Langley for their assistance in
preparing the proposed district map as well as a review of the code
language changes related to the ordinance for the geographical
commission districts. She also said the Florida League of Cities will be
hosting a Post-Legislative Session Webinar on Wednesday, March 23
from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and sent a link to the Commission to register
if they wished.
16. ADJOURN. Mayor Sackett adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
Minutes approved by City Commission: 04-04- 2
Irian D. Sackett, M. or
A ST
e e on , C RM
City Clerk
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