[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6588858,"mediaKeyId","5513320-ab0a4faaaafa09de5de4e425afdef0c4","parentId",5513320,"title","City proposes outside permitting process study; commissioners debate workshop-first approach amid grease-trap code concerns","audioSeconds",2387,"startMs",1673000,"endMs",4060000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5513320-ab0a4faaaafa09de5de4e425afdef0c4&start=1673&end=4060","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5513320-ab0a4faaaafa09de5de4e425afdef0c4/thumbnail_1673000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6588858/Sanford/Seminole-County/Florida/City-proposes-outside-permitting-process-study-commissioners-debate-workshop-first-approach-amid-grease-trap-code-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588858-9d441fd6f7bee3ee780a3aad05a4cd73/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162762&Signature=fTEBPeZ5nsjVMcPgkUVxVQkRJ9bDgmuLyA1~I81qCqab9hCP6CZb04lrOUDvR~TxdTmka-PFmeWwvmO02fsfiH4DxeZdK5xbATqGN~hyE0g-7n6JsIowCmxBXZ7u11FeGG8saB2hh7L9~dGn1G5yOL6IAtm~N75DnURlWALj3YoMx2x1oBdzOxTgAsX3eeCqfBc8UzwDmkd6MYsebTn8Z6ku9DM4puEIE-fqyTjKpYVG56AeUd77wRwsRKN3T81jZHhamFEfWKSl2aN68rZ8GvsOx3gDW-7bZl-odXNbg3UH8SrlOMctQRi4AQuC9hTt-gl2dm4g575n4auIATIWpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sanford City","date","2025-07-29T09:56:57Z","article","Development Services presented a proposal on July 28 for an independent, Lean-informed process study of the city's permitting operations and related departments, and commissioners debated whether to run in-house workshops first or hire the consultant to lead stakeholder engagement.

Tony Raimondo, Development Services, said the city had adopted an \"open for business\" resolution in 2012 that later stalled and that staff revisited the concept in 2024. Raimondo told commissioners the recommended consultant is Rothtellis (sometimes transcribed as Robtelis), which previously performed the city's building-fee study and has worked in other municipalities. He described a multi-phase engagement that would include document review, context analysis, process mapping, business-process analysis, recommended process improvements and a final report; he said the five core phases would take 12 to 16 weeks and that the base five-phase price is \"just over a $100,000,\" while adding two optional implementation phases would raise the cost to about $140,000. Raimondo said, \"Please understand this is coming out of the building fund. That fund remains robust.\"

Some commissioners favored launching a facilitated workshop (what Raimondo called Phase 6 when used after an initial analysis) early in the process to gather staff and business input before or alongside an outside consultant. Commissioner Britton said she \"doesn't care for studies\" alone and urged starting with a workshop that includes staff, businesses and commissioners to build internal buy-in; Raimondo and other commissioners replied that the consultant's phased approach can include stakeholder engagement during early phases and that a third party may elicit broader and more reliable feedback.

The session on permitting interleaved with a separate but related discussion about the city's oil and grease program for restaurants and other facilities. Mike Cannon, Utilities Engineering Manager, said permit reviewers use the current version of the Florida building code as a baseline and that the city has been holding facilities to higher standards in some cases to protect the wastewater treatment system. Brent Johnson, Utilities Director, confirmed staff is rewriting the FOG (fat, oil and grease) section and consolidating guidance in the utilities manual so applicants have one location for information. Johnson said the utility's higher requirements were intended to prevent problems at the wastewater plant and that staff had begun the rewrite; he said the consultant engaged on that rewrite had already started.

Commissioners asked that, in the interim, any staff direction requiring standards beyond the Florida Building Code be routed to senior utilities staff for review (Mike Cannon or Brent Johnson) before being communicated to applicants. One commissioner asked for an immediate process so developers would not be held to a higher-than-code standard without a supervisor review; staff said they would convene a meeting and report back, and the city attorney offered to meet with a commissioner to help define an interim resolution process.

No formal procurement decision was made at the work session. Raimondo said the agenda item would return for formal consideration after legal review; several commissioners expressed support for the full multi-phase study if it included workshops and strong implementation follow-through.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Live From the City of Sanford City Work Commission Meeting July 28th, 2025 @ 4pm","oneSentenceSummary","Development Services proposed an independent permitting process study and a phased stakeholder review, while commissioners debated starting with in-house workshops; utilities staff said the fat, oil and grease manual is being rewritten and interim supervisory review will be required when staff proposes standards exceeding the Florida Building Code.","taxTitle","Sanford, Seminole County, Florida","taxId",5039,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588861,"Sanford unveils interactive capital-project dashboard; staff working to complete and publish it online",292,1332000,1624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5513320-ab0a4faaaafa09de5de4e425afdef0c4&start=1332&end=1624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5513320-ab0a4faaaafa09de5de4e425afdef0c4/thumbnail_1332000.jpg","/articles/6588861/Sanford/Seminole-County/Florida/Sanford-unveils-interactive-capital-project-dashboard-staff-working-to-complete-and-publish-it-online","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588861-b4f48f185abd38a54be7518de51cbf57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162762&Signature=KZxubfwL1p7kqPwOGd0OALiF3I9g9SQci8uK~tGtlLA935wQiH~9~gbpGtJ0M9WsVUxV2XQKpil7-sk7-hk~jqPGaO4WleDjIPgdK7mJzBwco6UVp22dffhJpE88gE6aePuQD5c2fSIzIRWyDi9n0sRMO8RABn6VdNJ5Ctkgnli71CqCsNqZ4yJYroh33VmIIuxEB9XAV1wDRNJbx2naOLe4cFLqsjZP~8DtaZBQoy9yhKQKFVQPZ2SmBZjr7RHPApBfGkWF52WbJmF1z85OCDbwTEndJZ5UjfUziY-K92z~ZJ5ivOp5LZkWTTl6UMszOAmzyiVay5WtrVRvBxAU~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff showed the Sanford City Commission an interactive capital-project dashboard on July 28 designed to give commissioners and the public a single place to view the status of city capital projects and related updates.

The presenter, identified in the work session only as Elizabeth, described the dashboard as an \"interactive dashboard\" that allows users to sort projects by start and end month, view a Gantt chart for timelines, and filter highlighted projects such as the vacuum and water meter initiatives. Elizabeth said some numbers were still being updated and she expected to finish data collection \"by the end of this week, beginning of next\" before a final website placement coordinated with the communications team.

She also described a feed that will ingest monthly updates from the city manager report so the dashboard reflects staff'provided status updates. Commissioners asked for planned-versus-actual visualizations and for budgeted-versus-actual data; Elizabeth said she would add those items and continue to refine the dashboard.

Commissioners generally praised the concept. Staff said they were still determining the dashboard's permanent home on the city website and would provide commissioners with a copy of the current dashboard state while updates continue.

No formal action was taken; commissioners requested additional comparisons (planned vs. actual) and asked staff to complete data updates and publish the dashboard with links from the city manager report.","City staff demonstrated an interactive capital-project dashboard intended to improve transparency by showing project status, Gantt charts and links to the city manager report; staff expects to complete data updates by week's end and to post the dashboard on the city website.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588866,"Sanford commissioners debate raising budget transfer threshold; staff to put proposal in September budget resolution",475,855000,1330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5513320-ab0a4faaaafa09de5de4e425afdef0c4&start=855&end=1330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5513320-ab0a4faaaafa09de5de4e425afdef0c4/thumbnail_855000.jpg","/articles/6588866/Sanford/Seminole-County/Florida/Sanford-commissioners-debate-raising-budget-transfer-threshold-staff-to-put-proposal-in-September-budget-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588866-ceedf28625a7fe4c51a05d52efd2a4ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162762&Signature=dxu1xRIsksaXhzoLyZhjF9L1os18ljFeRWrKyvZFucAVkoo2~F44xsyEJbkHfhhaUXsZ-M3MT4iRAf-qAxHRViPFVvCME-Qi6VkCw5PEMsefqExaQE9dPI0KITwpTZMfp6VN12G6QhvcvO3XfKwcAkMu9q-CHe38Km7kYwMfwDIPh4aewVbh9TnP1hPtDJ4AuwfPJvqfhZyo5GgSkF-VxubB-6ZiuukoH7nYBb7VKOKOFz9CY61P79Ay57Idk5yUarK-eyh15iKTffEJfHMzMDBznMIyCw4sk92fNzj~PKfX95ngMcKakJm2UEcuojwiWsptjSxyuiyvY5ikl46qvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sanford City Commission members on July 28 discussed revising the city's policy that requires commission approval for budget transfers over $50,000 and for any change to capital projects regardless of amount.

\"By state statute, budget amendments have to be approved by commission,\" Ms. Lindsey, the city's finance staff member, told the commission, adding that transfers (internal moves between line items that do not change the total budget) currently do not require commission approval unless they exceed $50,000 or they change capital projects or equipment. Lindsey said \"anything over $50,000 to transfer, and also anything that changes the capital project\" comes before the commission.

Several commissioners said the $50,000 threshold, which has been in place about five to six years, is too low given inflation and operational delays that occur when staff must wait for commission approval. One commissioner proposed $75,000; another suggested $100,000. Commissioners also discussed whether to require commission approval when a capital project is altered so long as the project still gets done; options included a percentage threshold of 20% or 25% of a capital project's value.

\"My goal is to make it easier for staff to get their job done, but for us to still maintain the knowledge we need as to what's going on,\" one commissioner said, recommending \"$75,000 for transfers and 20% or 25% on capital.\" Several participants favored starting with $75,000 and revisiting the threshold after a year.

Lindsey said the administration will present recommended language when the purchasing policy revision is presented and will include the transfer threshold in the budget resolutions the commission adopts in September. No formal change was voted on during the work session.

The exchange clarified the difference between budget amendments (which change the overall budget and must be approved by commission) and transfers (which move funds between line items without changing the total budget); staff said transfers are typically within a department.

The commission directed staff to return a proposed change in the purchasing/budget transfer policy for consideration with the September budget resolutions.","Commissioners discussed raising the threshold for transfers the commission must approve from $50,000 to $75,000 or $100,000, and setting a percentage cap (20% suggested) for changes to approved capital projects; staff will return a proposed change as part of the September budget resolutions.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588871,"Sanford Airport Authority audit returns clean opinion, shows $5.4 million net position decline",317,499000,816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5513320-ab0a4faaaafa09de5de4e425afdef0c4&start=499&end=816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5513320-ab0a4faaaafa09de5de4e425afdef0c4/thumbnail_499000.jpg","/articles/6588871/Sanford/Seminole-County/Florida/Sanford-Airport-Authority-audit-returns-clean-opinion-shows-54-million-net-position-decline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588871-3097e4ccd6f2383dc83cc7923bdc1a63/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162762&Signature=YAIuuqumo2fq2ei~6N7MU4~lfbv9V2CuNF5VNtTQTjQeu5mhntQ17cbUqs5ciayJsBxcjxvANWWOx4auC0y8GILFWVec1TOiRVUCdaOp62bmOEJxINCdLV73MPm2YFMPmll-FlHBiueazd95qQLTqL-ztJOVXAAvpPr3uqDgy7mRmXvhBmvG4cKFB84k2tMeGSMddHjknbIu8jCpiuKT6cncmpwkXXh~QO87QlDnT-7Yhr-YBQh0~B97aDp21LZOHnV3VsCrsqWwPLqdsqn1UDWBSKCvl4jikPQL6LHbn26n2fuLPEpW7yRvEr4f-KdZVbzmvRc5jcqfLO~8g7OHyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Auditors for the Sanford Airport Authority told the City Commission on July 28 that the authority's financial statements for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2024, received an unmodified opinion and uncovered no audit adjustments or reportable compliance findings.

Joel Knopf, a partner with Forbus Bazaars, presented the audit and said, \"The report on Page 1 is our opinion on the financial statements, which was an unmodified opinion that the statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.\" He added the audit found \"no audit adjustments,\" which the firm views as evidence of \"very good internal controls over financial reporting.\"

Knopf told commissioners the airport experienced significant operational changes during the year after it took over terminal operations, fueling, ground handling and passenger services effective Feb. 28, 2024, which increased payroll and revenues for the remaining portion of the fiscal year. He said operations were essentially breakeven before depreciation, and that total depreciation for fiscal year 2024 was roughly $15 million. The authority posted a $5.4 million decrease in net position for the year but ended the year with $18.2 million in unrestricted net position.

The audit also included separate reports on federal and state grants and on passenger facility charges. Knopf said those reports were clean and that auditors found \"no material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, or noncompliance matters that had to be reported.\" He also noted the independent accountant's report on compliance with the authority's investment policy and the Florida Auditor General's required management letter were likewise clean.

Commissioners asked no follow-up questions. Knopf said next year's comparison should be easier because the airport will have a full fiscal year of terminal operations to compare against.

The presentation was limited to the audit report; the commission did not take formal action on the audit during the work session.

The audit and management discussion and analysis are available in the authority's financial statements packet submitted to the commission.","Auditors presented an unmodified opinion on the Sanford Airport Authority's financial statements for the year ended Sept. 30, 2024, citing no audit adjustments or reportable compliance deficiencies; the authority recorded a $5.4 million decrease in net position but retained $18.2 million in unrestricted net position.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588850,"Commission work session: consent items, downtown kiosks and routine utility updates discussed",207,3025000,3232000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5513320-ab0a4faaaafa09de5de4e425afdef0c4&start=3025&end=3232","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5513320-ab0a4faaaafa09de5de4e425afdef0c4/thumbnail_3025000.jpg","/articles/6588850/Sanford/Seminole-County/Florida/Commission-work-session-consent-items-downtown-kiosks-and-routine-utility-updates-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588850-d0b52c24595b45439ff6d55cd78726ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162762&Signature=He00z~yl~mYBVI5SUshdrnWyJnei4J5wumrR1CK05B3pdVm8L3JP-d28O~VbubxolN37ourhYr9fAXGk9TzzLUJaHZMjr-gp-Kg96wQqku4XGRamN1IhtFuTwjmut9t4rlMB8vexFnpak-76u9siNRi0U0GjwHNvZzm~0vqztmHjlRltSG-CbowWq3khooFy0ypcTkzJ~VhtAzIS8hlLJDT3Za4RBd08393aUAi140LNx6FNcJGdWHEZ9BUrIMY4vBYILH~c0PjA8ycCSUd5sAuKL-zlOnVz7H0iLef6kaqiy4lktmSRp~fTAqPlEAztuBP6KxYRYM2Ig0X8~N~RDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the July 28 work session, Sanford commissioners discussed a variety of consent and regular-meeting items that staff said would appear on the upcoming agenda.

Property purchase and CRA funds: Commissioners asked whether a property purchase on the consent agenda (item N) would use Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funds for short-term parking and what long-term uses might be. Staff said the commission would decide the property's ultimate use and reasserted the purchase was to provide short-term parking while larger decisions about long-term use remain open.

Downtown electronic kiosks: Commissioners reviewed a proposed purchase of two electronic wayfinding kiosks on the consent agenda. Staff said legal review had concluded the kiosks would sit in the public right-of-way and therefore were outside Historic Preservation Board jurisdiction and not restricted by the municipal sign code; staff said kiosks would be mounted with protective glass and have automatic ambient-light dimming. One commissioner asked staff to provide specifications to the planning/sign-code reviewer to ensure compliance with sign standards and confirmed installation is targeted before Dec. 30, 2025.

Events and property questions: Staff confirmed a truck show at the Elevate Mall on Sept. 14 was not expected to conflict with other activities. Commissioners also discussed how property purchases are processed and noted the city uses a real-estate attorney and has worked with a broker for valuations.

Utilities and lift station updates: Commissioners noted that new lift stations downtown are operating and that staff responded quickly to a Groveview lift-station incident; staff said the Groveview lift-station project is fully designed and out to bid.

CDBG program changes: Edwidge Joseph, the city's CDBG program manager, told the commission the city's Consolidated Plan work led to changes in the city's CDBG program, including removing a target area (District 2 is no longer the exclusive target) and opening new activities such as demolition, homebuyer assistance and facade improvement programs.

Other routine items: Commissioners discussed retired service-weapons items on the consent agenda and scheduling of the city manager evaluation and other administrative matters. No formal actions were taken in the work session; items were generally scheduled for the regular meeting consent agenda or follow-up at future meetings.","Commissioners reviewed several consent and regular-meeting matters including a proposed CRA-funded property purchase for short-term parking, two downtown electronic kiosks on the consent agenda, upcoming events at Elevate Mall, a Groveview lift station procurement update and CDBG program changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City proposes outside permitting process study; commissioners debate workshop-first approach amid grease-trap code concerns

Sanford unveils interactive capital-project dashboard; staff working to complete and publish it online

Sanford commissioners debate raising budget transfer threshold; staff to put proposal in September budget resolution

Sanford Airport Authority audit returns clean opinion, shows $5.4 million net position decline

Commission work session: consent items, downtown kiosks and routine utility updates discussed