Art Woodruff, Mayor - Sanford, Florida

06/07/2026

Here are highlights of the June 8, 2026, City Commission agendas.

If you don’t want to receive these emails, just let me know. If you know someone that would like to be added to the list, have them send me an address.

The full agendas are available at

Work Session : https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/cd06bba6-fdc6-412f-ab45-181dc85c0b56
Regular Meeting:https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/fea5a1a6-d279-43a1-8c13-48107432151e
YouTube Link for Work Session and Regular Meeting: https://www.youtube.com//streams

WORK SESSION 4 PM –

Presentation of Annual Comprehensive Audit

Presentation of Second Quarter Financial Report

Discussion Reserve Fund Balanced. Following a presentation at the last meeting about the reserve funds, the commission requested more information including the current balance of each fund and the finance director’s recommendation for the minimum balance in each fund.

Planning 101 – a discussion of how the planning process works in the City of Sanford and an opportunity to propose changes to the plan. However, the state has a hold on any planning rule change that could be considered more restrictive. This was done with Senate Bill 180 in the 2025 legislative session. No changes are allowed within a year of when a named hurricane passed within 100 miles of the city.

Discussion of the Joint Planning Agreement with Seminole County. To help plan for development along the city’s boundary, the city and county have had a Joint Planning Agreement that addresses zoning, roads, utilities, and development standards. The current agreement has expired and the two entities have been working on an update.

Consideration of a resolution regarding property taxes.

Discussion of the Health Center Management Agreement – the city contracts for an employee health clinic as part of the health insurance program.

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA - 7 PM-

Presentations
Presentation by Richard Glover, CEO, Central Florida Zoo
Proclamations – Pride Month, Juneteenth

Consent Agenda Includes: (I only include items I think are of general interest.)

Approve, accept and file the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

Approve a contract change with Charles Perry Partners for work being done a the Sanford Marina to replace the potable water system on Dock D at a cost of $30,800. (marina fund)

Approve an increase of $100,000 for legal services regarding the 1,4 Dioxane contamination of the water supply. The total approved cost for legal services will now increase to $795,000. Legal fees are recoverable if the city prevails in the lawsuit. (utilities fund)

Approve an increase in the purchase order for Core and Main for the meter replacement project by $258,935 to a total of $13,165,520. (utility fund)

Approve a contract for $76,528 with Arminius Consultants for Industrial Pretreatment Support Services, specifically conducting a user survey of industrial wastewater users subject to federal, state, and city pretreatment requirements. The information will identify and classify users as required by state and federal agencies. (utilities fund)

Approve a contract with SanPik, Inc. for completion of the Teen Challenge Vault Replacement. The concrete, underground vault contains piping, water meter, and backflow device but the vault has deteriorated and needs to be replaced to protect the water line equipment. ($136,097)

Approve the replacement of two compact pickup trucks with the equivalent of over 300,000 miles based on engine hours with Ford Maverick Pickup Trucks at a cost of $70,000.

Approve a contract with Danus Utilities for the Country Club Park Lift Station rehabilitation at a cost of $34,676. (utilities fund)

Approve a contract with Ovation Construction for sand blasting and painting a diesel storage tank at Site 10 and improvements to the chlorine room and reclaim pump room at the South Wastewater Treatment Plant at a total cost of $84,411. Site 10 is property near Geneva that the city owns and uses for treated wastewater storage and disposal when it is not used in the reclaimed water system. (utilities fund)

Events:
--The Final Match: Live at Hollerbach’s – Sunday, July 19, 3-6 p.m. for the final match of the World Cup. Closing Magnolia Square. City costs $750 includes equipment and security.
--Freeway Run for Recovers – Saturday, Sept 12, 6-10 a.m. with 500 runners closing multiple streets along the route. City costs $3,481 for road closures, equipment, and security.
--Bad at Business Beer Festival- Saturday, Nov 21, Noon to 6 p.m. closing Palmetto Ave, and 2nd Street. City costs $4,180 for road closure, electricity, EMS team, and security.
--Punk Rock Flea Market – Sunday, December 13, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closing Myrtle Ave at Tuffy’s. City costs $1,703 for road closure, equipment, and security.
--

Public Hearings

Approve rezoning 3.61 acres at 451 MLK Blvd from agricultural to general commercial for development of a new office for the Seminole County Tax Collector. This was passed without discussion at the previous meeting.

Approve rezoning 17.24 acres at 4064 and 4057 Zanzibar Way at Queens Crossing to add vehicular accessory sales and associated repair (tire sales and installation) to the Planned Development zoning. This was passed after discussion of approved uses along Lake Mary Blvd at the previous meeting.

Consider annexation, change in future land use, and rezoning of parcels totaling 18.51 acres at 650 MLK Blvd and extending to Meisch Rd. The property will be developed with two warehouses of 97,000 and 128,000 sq ft. Outdoor storage will be in the form of 52 truck parking stalls. Deviations from parking space size, outdoor storage (truck parking), and buffers are mitigated by use of parking by employees, increased landscaping, improved stormwater management, and building orientation.

Consider annexation of 1.31 Acres at 3890 Kentucky Ave to obtain utility service for an existing single-family home.

Consider a Planned Development rezoning of 6 acres at 1500 W 10th St for an 80-uni, senior apartment complex. The project is for the Sanford Housing Authority on the former Castle Brewer Court site.

Other Items

Approve a purchase order with Pinnacle Ozone Solutions for repairs and ongoing maintenance of the ozone injection system at the auxiliary water treatment plant. (utilities fund)

Approve a purchase order with Hydra Service, Inc for the Hydralink program that is upgrading 78 lift stations to provide monitoring of the lift stations at a cost of $223,163. (utilities fund)

Approve a renewal of an agreement with the Seminole County Sheriff for the sheriff’s legal counsel to provide legal services to the city for forfeiture actions. The city pays administrative and court costs plus 20 percent of any forfeiture received.

Approve a budget amendment to allocate $775,000 in PFAS lawsuit settlement funds to water system projects: vault replacement, water value installation, water main projects, and auxiliary water plant projects. Conditions of the settlement restrict the use of these funds to water system improvements. (utilities fund)

Approve a budget amendment for procurement of BlitzAI, an artificial intelligence platform that will review submissions for permits for completeness before they are moved on for review. The software can review a submission in minutes and let the applicant know if the submission is complete or if additional information is needed. The cost for a six month trial is $100,000.

Approve a resolution supporting a state law naming a portion of SR 46 from Sanford Ave to Lake Mary Blvd as Mayor Larry A Dale Memorial Highway.

Approve an agreement with WeCare tlc. to manage the City’s Medical Wellness Center. The center is part of the city’s health plan for employees. An agreement with Lake Mary allows employees from either city to use the other’s center. Annual cost will be $733,000. (all funds)

Official Youtube Channel of City of Sanford, Florida. There’s Always Something Going On in Historic Sanford. As one of the oldest incorporated cities in Central Florida, founded in 1877, located on the beautiful St. Johns River, Sanford is home to a wealth of history and is listed on the National ...

06/04/2026

I just got an interesting statistic from the tax collector's office. Much of the governor's hype has been on continuing to pay taxes after you have paid off your mortgage and how you still owe the government for your paid off home and can lose it if you don't pay taxes. He's made it sound like thousands are being put out into the streets. In Seminole County, in the last three years there were 63 applications for a tax deed, 7 of those on homesteaded property. 17 of the 63 tax deed applications went to a sale. One of those was a homestead. In the last three years, one homeowner is Seminole County lost a home to not paying taxes.
There are a lot of people struggling to manage finances. Taxes, INSURANCE, food, gas - they all impact cost of living. But it would be nice if Tallahassee had an honest conversation about how to fix housing affordability. Instead we get this, Live Local which lets apartments be build where they were never intended, and allows apartments that are market rate claim a tax exemption, and attacks on local government.

06/04/2026

Soon, we may be asking residents where do they want us to cut $15.3 million from the budget. Where would you cut that much? Below are all the departments funded partially by property tax. If you want more detail:https://sanfordfl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2026-Final-Budget-Download-vs-Printing.pdf

06/04/2026

Here's a slightly different perspective on the reasoning behind the property tax cut for some residents, but a former state legislator. https://floridatrident.org/the-property-tax-blast-radius-nobody-is-talking-about/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSNvfhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeZgBwU-oDZv05JMtrsDELcasao_dHoPTChB4JwKkp06qBZfm9t9WXQDPFWC8_aem_kxTlYCpPlTgK7O_YCa4qOQ

Everyone is talking about property taxes. Almost nobody is talking about power. That's strange because power, not taxes, is what this debate is really

06/02/2026

As the legislature debates the future of cities and counties, they are saying that in the future, after homesteaded properties have exemptions from taxes, that property taxes can only be spent on public safety and other things they deem core services. This year, for Sanford, property taxes just cover the cost of public safety and no other services. After a reduction of $15.3 million in property tax revenue, we are supposed to then only fund public safety and other core services. The revenue now doesn't fund that now. Using a fire fee, as we have twice considered and rejected, and has been proposed as an option to cover short falls, would cost homeowners more than what they currently pay in taxes. Since the governor and legislature are not giving a thoughtful consideration of how to reduce the cost of homeownership, I hope the voters make sure they understand the implications before they vote.

Sanford
2026 Property Tax Revenue $46,594,860
2026 Fire and Police Costs $46,097,309 not including capital
Proposed property tax cut in first year $6 million
Proposed property tax cut after second year $15.3 million

05/21/2026

It's bitter sweet watching election qualification take place without me this time around, but I won't miss the pressure of raising money, chasing absentee ballots, or making the mail deadlines this time around. By next Tuesday Sanford ballots will be set for the August election. Good luck to all the candidates who are willing to jump in. It's not easy putting yourself out there to lead our community.

05/16/2026

Another great addition to Sanford.

05/10/2026

Here are highlights of the May 11, 2026, City Commission agendas.
This will be the only meeting in May. The second meeting date is on Memorial Day.

The full agendas are available at

Work Session : https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/74044217-ed9c-4612-b2a8-1ab30ea3a05c
Regular Meeting:https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/2c3d224f-be64-4b6c-985c-7754353e31ae
YouTube Link for Work Session and Regular Meeting: https://www.youtube.com//streams

WORK SESSION 5 PM – Note tone change.

Discussion of the Health Center Management Agreement – the city contracts for an employee health clinic as part of the health insurance program.

Discussion of the 417/Lake Mary Blvd Connector. This could be added to the 7 p.m. agenda for voting. The county is requesting the City’s participation in funding the connector between Lake Mary Blvd and 417 to relieve traffic (much of which comes from Volusia and Brevard Counties). Funds would come from the new gas tax the county adopted last year.

Continued discussion of Goals established on March 28 meeting.

Presentation regarding Budget Reserves.

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA - 7 PM-

Presentations
Proclamations: SHS Girls Water Polo, Florida Emancipation Day, Building Safety Month, Professional Clerks Week, Code Enforcement Appreciation Week
Presentations: Art in Chambers – Artist Reg Garner, Exellence in Government Communications, Sanford Historic Trust Preservation Award Winners

Consent Agenda Includes: (I only include items I think are of general interest.)

Approve change orders with All Terrain Tractor Service for improvements to the two parking lots on 2nd St. purchased by the CRA.

Approve a $50,000 sponsorship of Sanford Main Street’s Sanford Sizzlin’ Summer to stimulate business during the slow summer months. The funds will be used for marketing, free movies at the Ritz Theater, and Celery Seeds which are certificates that can be used as cash at downtown businesses. $20,000 from the sale of Celery Seeds will be returned to the city at the conclusion of the program. (general fund)

Approve the purchase of an additional Ford Maverick pickup truck for the building inspection department at the cost of $35,415. (building department fund)
Approve of the disposal of seven vehicles and heavy equipment by the Public Works and Utilities Department. These are no longer needed by the department or have already been replaced but each should be worth at least $5000 at auction.

Special Events
-- First American Fireworks tent sale – 2430 French Avenue – Sponsored by Safehouse
-- Four Seasons Fireworks tent sale – 3820 Orlando Drive – Sponsored by
-- Pyrospot Fireworks tent sale – 1221 Rinehart Road – Sponsored by Glorious Hands - staff recommends denial due to it being on unimproved property.
-- Juneteenth Educational Event – Friday June 19, 4 – 8 p.m. – Parking lot of the Westside Community Center. No City Costs.
-- Enchanted Knights: Summer Solstice – Saturday, June 20, 10 am to 6 pm - closing Palmetto Ave, Sanford Ave, and 2nd Str. The Dragon Vault. City costs $4900 including street closures and security.
-- 2nd Annual Freedom Festival – Saturday, June 27, 7 am – 5 pm. Closing Hickory St from 9th to 10th St. New Bethel Baptist Church. City costs $1500 including street closure and security.
-- Purple Picnic in the Park – Saturday, Sept. 26, noon – 4 pm – closing Park Ave. Centennial Park. Ladies 327 and Dee’s Brothers. City costs $1600 including park rental, street closure, and security.
-- Dr. R. W. Merthie Community Block Party – Saturday, Oct. 17 – 10am – 2 pm. Closing Oak Ave. New Life Word Center. City costs $600 for road closure and security.
-- Enchanted Knights: Fall Festival – Saturday, Oct. 24 closing Palmetto Ave, Sanford Ave, and 2nd Str. Sanford Main Street. City costs $4900 including street closures and security.
-- Paws and Claus – Saturday, Dec 5, 10 am – 2 pm. Fort Mellon Park and closing Seminole Blvd. Sanford Fire Department
-- 10th Anniversary Sanford Porchfest – Saturday, Feb 27, 11 am – 7:30 pm – closing all streets from 3rd St to 11th St and Myrtle to Sanford Ave with one-way streets and single side parking on all streets between the event and French Avenue. City costs $53,000 including $43,900 for security (24 street closures) that will be paid after the event.

Public Hearings

Consider rezoning 3.61 acres at 451 MLK Blvd from agricultural to general commercial for development of a new office for the Seminole County Tax Collector.

Consider rezoning 17.24 acres at 4064 and 4057 Zanzibar Way at Queens Crossing to add vehicular accessory sales and associated repair (tire sales and installation) to the Planned Development zoning.

Other Items

Approve a budget amendment to use $17 million in impact fees for the South Sewage Treatment Plant expansion.

Approve a contract with Parthenon Construction for up to $300,000 in concrete repair, city-wide, as needed.

Consider a fourth and final extension of the contract with WastePro for solid waste collection and disposal. The amendment provides a 6.13% increase in fees that will be spread over three years. It also increases the allowed CPI increase from 4 to 6% for the first three years with no increase in the fourth year. With the increase, waste disposal costs for residents will remain near the average of surrounding cities.

Official Youtube Channel of City of Sanford, Florida. There’s Always Something Going On in Historic Sanford. As one of the oldest incorporated cities in Central Florida, founded in 1877, located on the beautiful St. Johns River, Sanford is home to a wealth of history and is listed on the National ...

04/25/2026

Here are highlights of the April 27, 2026, City Commission agendas.

Full agendas are available at

Work Session : https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/74044217-ed9c-4612-b2a8-1ab30ea3a05c
Regular Meeting:https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/5f42b0e1-0d3f-4d98-ab15-8154c90d1157
YouTube Link for Work Session and Regular Meeting: https://www.youtube.com//streams

WORK SESSION 4 PM –

Discussion of Goldsboro Redevelopment Entertainment Arts Tract (GREAT). One of my goals has been to have a Community Redevelopment Agency for Goldsboro like we had downtown. Unfortunately, the properties that could be included and that could benefit don’t provide the revenue needed. As an alternative our economic development department has put together a plan for the city to fund CRA type activities without the creation and limits of a CRA. Details of the plan will be discussed.

Project Status Updates. At the last commission meeting Comm. Austin asked for updates on a variety of stalled commercial projects. Economic Development has contacted each property owner and will provide an update.

Discussion of March 28 Goals Work Session. The commission met on March 28 to discuss goals for the commission and city. The commission will review the summary of those discussions.

Continued discussion of the Opportunity Site (downtown, city-owned vacant property).


REGULAR MEETING AGENDA - 7 PM-

Presentations
Proclamations: National Sexual Assault Awareness Month – Denim Day, Professional Municipal Clerks Week, National Police Week, National Public Works Week, Building Safety Month

Consent Agenda Includes: (I only include items I think are of general interest.)

Approve sale of a 2017 Police Interceptor SUV for $3000 to Eatonville Police through an Interagency Surplus Sale. Cost of maintenance and repairs exceeds the city’s fleet policy.

Approve replacement of chillers at the public safety building at a cost of $235,511 from Trane Technologies with installation by Enfra MCC at a cost of $104,000. (general fund capital improvement fund)

Approve a contract with G*I Consultants for $57,000 for oversight and documentation services during the Fort Mellon Park construction project.

Approve the purchase of a grapple truck for the streets division. This will replace a 2017 truck with 4,000 engine hours (equivalent to 218,000 miles) at a cost of $193,000 including a $30,000 trade in value. (general fund capital fund)

Special Events:
-- Florida Vintage Market – Sunday, May 31, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closing Commercial Avenue. Ace Café. City services $1,152 includes security costs.
-- Sanford Lifestyle Cartfest – Saturday, July 25 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Closing Sanford Ave and Seminole Blvd near the Civic Center. Free weekend golf cart permits will be issued by the Police Dept after inspection. City costs estimated between $843 and $1756. Sanford Main Street.
-- Outpour Market – Saturday, Sept 12, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. On private property at Iglesia Vida Nueva hosted by Haven Events Planning. City costs $50.
-- Hollerbach’s Octoberfest – Friday – Saturday, Oct 16 – 17 from 9 a.m. Friday until 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Closing Magnolia Square and Magnolia Ave. Hollerbach’s German Restaurant. City costs $4,030 including rental, street closure and security.
-- Florida Writers Book Fair – Saturday, Nov. 14 10 a.m. – 3. p.m. using sidewalks along 1st Street and Artisan Square. Sanford Main Street.
-- 14th Annual Sofa’s and Suds – Sunday, Nov 22 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. closing Palmetto Ave and 2nd St. West End Trading Company. City costs $2,951 including security and emergency medical team.
-- 17th Annual Turkey Day 5k – Thursday, Nov 26 7 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Closing 5k route through downtown. 1200 runners are expected. Race Time Sports. City costs $4500 including road closures and security.
-- Hollerbach’s Krampusnacht – Thursday, Dec 3 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Closing Magnolia Square and Magnolia Ave. with wrestling between Santa and Krampus. Hollerbach’s German Restaurant. City costs $1256 including rental and security.

Approve a contract with Danus Utilities to replace valves on the Monroe Meadows lift station at a cost of $33,700. (utilities fund)

Public Hearings

None

Other Items

Approve a memorandum of understanding with the supervisor of elections regarding verification of qualifying petitions for elections for mayor and district 1 and 2 commissioners. Qualifying for these elections is at the end of May.

Approve two resolutions identifying property acquired by the CRA and now owned by the City as public right of way for parking. These are the lots at 2nd and Magnolia and 2nd and Myrtle.

Approve $381,000 in change orders for Fire Station 40. About half of the changes are based on updated requirements for the offsite stormwater site. The other have are changes made to design and finishes of the station.

Approve an extension of the Joint Planning Agreement with Seminole County. This agreement helps guide development at the city/county boundaries and expired in October. The city and county have been working to revised the agreement but because of delays will extend the current agreement.

Approve a settlement agreement with Amarok Security regarding code enforcement action based on an electrified fence installed at Adesa auto auction. The city and Amarok have come to an agreement that the fence falls under state law (section 553.793, Florida Statutes) and can remain.

Official Youtube Channel of City of Sanford, Florida. There’s Always Something Going On in Historic Sanford. As one of the oldest incorporated cities in Central Florida, founded in 1877, located on the beautiful St. Johns River, Sanford is home to a wealth of history and is listed on the National ...

04/17/2026

This is always a meaningful event.

Please join us for the 2026 Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony, taking place on Monday, May 25, from 9 AM – NOON at Veterans Memorial Park on the shore of Lake Monroe in Sanford.

Heroes’ Avenue opens at 9 AM allowing guests of all ages to connect our local heroes – our veterans and first responders – who will display restored military vehicles, fire trucks, emergency command vehicles, and law enforcement equipment. A historian will provide information on America’s 250th Birthday, the Sallie Harrison chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will explain their history and service to our community. Patriotic music will set the stage for us to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day.

The formal Ceremony begins at 10 AM and will feature
• Master of Ceremonies: Joey Cote, Seminole County Veterans Service Officer
• Sponsoring Organization: Casselberry Veterans, Inc.
• Guest Speaker: Captain Dan Sinclair, U.S. Army Veteran

We hope you will be able to join us in honoring the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.