The Longwood City Commission on Aug. 18 approved a series of consent and regular-agenda items, all by unanimous votes (5-0). The items ranged from personnel actions to capital maintenance and assessments; most passed with no substantive public debate.

Key outcomes at a glance

• Acting city clerk appointment (Agenda item 12A): The commission approved the appointment of Leanne Carinena as acting city clerk and the associated acting city clerk agreement effective Aug. 14, 2025. Motion to approve carried 5-0.

• City clerk recruitment schedule (Agenda item 12B): Human Resources presented a recruitment timeline for the permanent city clerk. The commission approved the proposed schedule and authorized staff to proceed; HR recommended narrowing the interview pool to seven candidates to allow for internal applicants. Motion carried 5-0.

• Ordinance adoption (Agenda item 11A): Ordinance 25-22-70, described in the meeting as a required citizen participation plan tied to grant eligibility, was read by title and adopted following a public hearing with no speakers in opposition. Roll call vote: 5-0. The ordinance provides the plan the city needs to comply with certain grant requirements.

• Non-ad valorem assessment rules (Agenda item 12C): Resolution 25-17-02 adopting the annual non-ad valorem assessment rules for wastewater, road and neighborhood beautification assessments was approved 5-0. Staff said rates remained unchanged from the prior year and the resolution is administrative for placement on the November tax roll.

• Budget amendment and Sandalwood Park pipelining (Agenda items 12D and 12E): The commission approved a budget amendment to shift capital funds and then approved a pipelining project at Sandalwood Park. Public Works Director Chad Smith explained the work is needed because an old steel pipe under the park’s basketball courts is collapsing and caused holes in the court; the project includes pipe lining and manhole repairs. After the pipe work, leisure services staff expects to use a grant to renovate the basketball courts. Both items passed 5-0.

• Special appointments and commissions: Commissioner Boney nominated Deb Carswell to the Local Planning Agency (LPA); the commission approved the nomination by voice vote. The commission also approved other routine consent items (10A–E) on the consent agenda.

Context and next steps: City staff noted no immediate budgetary impact for the assessment resolution and said work at Sandalwood Park is required before planned facility renovations. Human Resources will circulate candidate resumes as part of the clerk recruitment process and the commission scheduled special meetings for candidate selection. The City Clerk's office will certify assessment rules with the Seminole County Tax Collector before the Sept. 15 deadline for November property tax bills.

Other business: During public input, a representative of Our Legacy thanked the city for supporting an annual organ-donation run at Lyman High School; that presentation was informational and did not require action.

The commission noted its next meeting on Sept. 4 will include the first public hearing on the millage and budget. No other ordinances were amended at the Aug. 18 meeting.