SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA  
COUNTY SERVICES BUILDING  
1101 EAST FIRST STREET  
SANFORD, FLORIDA  
32771­1468  
Meeting Minutes  
Tuesday, May 20, 2025  
9:30 AM  
BCC Meeting & Budget Work Session  
BCC Chambers  
Board of County Commissioners  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
Chairman Jay Zembower  
Present:  
Vice Chairman Andria Herr  
Commissioner Bob Dallari  
Commissioner Lee Constantine  
Commissioner Amy Lockhart  
Additional Attendees: County Attorney Kate Latorre, County Manager Darren Gray, and  
Deputy Clerk Kyla Farrell.  
II. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
Robert Bradley, Bread of Life Christian Church, gave the Invocation. Commissioner  
Constantine led the Pledge of Allegiance.  
III. CONSENT AGENDA – PUBLIC PARTICIPATION  
County Manager Darren Gray announced there are no changes to the Consent Agenda.  
With regard to public participation, no one spoke and public input was closed.  
Motion by Vice Chairman Herr, seconded by Commissioner Lockhart, to approve the County  
Manager's Consent Agenda Items 1 through 5.  
Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.  
County Manager’s Consent Agenda (Items No. 1 - 5)  
County Manager's Office  
1.  
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Proclamation  
proclaiming May 26, 2025 as Memorial Day in Seminole County, Florida  
(KJ Boggs, Veterans Services Director)  
2025-503  
2025-465  
2025-481  
Emergency Management  
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Interlocal Agreement  
with the Florida Department of Health for the countywide rabies program.  
Countywide (Alan Harris, Emergency Management Director)  
Management and Budget  
3. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Resolution  
implementing Budget Amendment Request (BAR) #25-036 in the Water &  
Sewer Capital Improvement Fund to transfer $1,025,000 from reserves  
for Utilities CIP Projects. Countywide (Timothy Jecks, Management &  
Budget Director) Requesting Department - Utilities  
Resolution #2025-R-48  
Resource Management  
4. Approve the proposed updated negotiated settlement of the workers’  
2025-492  
compensation claim of a retired Roads-Stormwater equipment operator  
stemming from a 2016 workplace injury for the total amount of $114,837,  
inclusive of attorney’s fees and costs. Countywide (Lorie Bailey Brown,  
CFO/Resource Management Director)  
5.  
Award IFB-604992-25/LAS- Term Contract for Purchase of Fiber Optic  
Cables & ITS Systems to Advanced Cabling Solutions, Inc., Casselberry,  
FL at an estimated annual amount of $300,000 and authorize the  
Purchasing and Contracts Division to execute the Agreement. (Stephen  
Koontz, Deputy Director of Resource Management) Requesting  
Department - Public Works  
2025-469  
2025-439  
IV. REGULAR AGENDA  
6. Presentation and Award of RFP-604918-25/PCD - Term Contract for  
Micro-Transit Services to the top ranked firm Beefree, LLC dba Freebee  
and authorize the County Manager to execute the agreement and adjust  
service levels going forward based on demand. Countywide (Stephen  
Koontz, Resource Management Deputy Director) Department - County  
Manager’s Office  
Kristian Swenson, Assistant County Manager, and Timothy Jecks, Management and  
Budget Director, addressed the Board and presented the item as outlined in the  
agenda memorandum (thumb drive with backup received and filed).  
The Commissioners shared their comments with staff regarding the presentation. Mr.  
Gray stated staff has visited all of their partners, including all three hospital systems,  
Seminole State College, the School Board, the Airport, and all seven Cities. Staff  
received total enthusiasm from all of them. In fact, the private sector partners are  
willing to sit down to talk with staff; however, they're not there yet. Today staff just  
wanted to bring the Board the facts; what the cost is and what their savings are. They  
do not know what the additional cost savings will be or the partners, although they had  
great conversations with their partners. Regarding the communication plan, once the  
Board chooses a vendor to move forward with, the Communications team is ready to  
start working with them on a communication plan. Mr. Gray will be working with the  
Board as well. If they want to do this, they need to do it in a timely manner so they can  
have enough time to start educating the public on the new process.  
Mr. Gray stated he spoke with Tiffany Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer, Lynx, and told  
her once a decision was made by the Board, they would forward an official letter to her  
(received and filed). At that point, the next step of the process would be, what is the  
new Lynx budget. Chairman Zembower briefly shared his comments.  
With regard to public participation, no one spoke, and public input was closed.  
Motion by Commissioner Lockhart, seconded by Commissioner Constantine, to award  
RFP-604918-25/PCD - Term Contract for Micro-Transit Services to the top ranked firm  
Beefree, LLC dba Freebee; and authorize the County Manager to execute the  
agreement and adjust service levels going forward based on demand.  
Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voted AYE.  
Chairman Zembower recessed the meeting at 10:37 a.m., reconvening at 10:47 a.m.  
V.BUDGET WORKSESSION  
Opening Comments - County Manager Darren Gray  
Mr. Gray had some opening comments for today's budget work session and reviewed the  
budget presentation included in the agenda backup.  
Property Appraiser - David Johnson  
Property Appraiser David Johnson presented his budget as detailed in the agenda packet.  
There were few comments and questions for Mr. Johnson.  
Supervisor of Elections, Amy Pennock  
Supervisor of Elections Amy Pennock presented her budget as detailed in the agenda packet.  
She distributed an additional packet (received and filed) with some amendments to the  
originally submitted presentation.  
There were few comments and questions for Ms. Pennock.  
Recess BCC Meeting at 11:00 AM or as soon thereafter for a closed session.  
Chairman Zembower recessed the meeting at 11:40 a.m. and announced they Board will now  
convene the following closed session:  
Convene Closed Session  
River Cross Land Company, LLC v. Seminole County,  
Case No. 6:18-cv-1646-ACC-LHP  
(County Services Building Room 3024)  
Reconvene Meeting  
Chairman Zembower reconvened the meeting at 12:29 p.m.  
Close Closed Session  
Chairman Zembower announced the Board has adjourned the closed session regarding River  
Cross Land Company, LLC v. Seminole County.  
Recess BCC Meeting until 1:00 PM  
Chairman Zembower recessed the meeting at 12:29 p.m.  
Reconvene Meeting at 1:00 PM  
Chairman Zembower reconvened the meeting at 1:00 p.m. with all Commissioners and other  
Officials who were present at the opening session.  
18th Judicial Circuit Court - Deputy Chief Judge Melanie Chase  
Deputy Chief Judge Melanie Chase addressed the Board and presented her budget.  
There were few Board comments.  
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller - Grant Maloy  
Clerk of Court & Comptroller Grant Maloy addressed the Board and presented his budget.  
There were few Board comments.  
State Attorney - William Scheiner  
State Attorney William Scheiner addressed the Board and presented his budget.  
There were few Board comments.  
Guardian Ad Litem - Amber Padrick  
Guardian Ad Litem Amber Padrik addressed the Board and presented her budget.  
There were few Board comments.  
Public Defender - Blaise Trettis  
Public Defender Blaise Trettis addressed the Board and presented his budget.  
There were no Board comments.  
Florida Department of Health - Dr. Ethan Johnson  
Dr. Ethan Johnson, Florida Department of Health, addressed the Board and presented his  
budget.  
There were few Board comments.  
Rescue Outreach Mission - Chris Ham  
Chris Ham, Rescue Outreach Mission, addressed the Board and presented his budget.  
There was a lengthy Board discussion regarding ROM.  
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT (Budget and Items not Related to the Agenda)  
Michelle Smith addressed the Board and discussed the partnership between the County and  
the Sharing Center. Jose Boscan addressed the Board and discussed recycling processing  
benefits.  
Public Comment Forms were received and filed.  
General Fund Budget Overview - Timothy Jecks  
Commissioner Constantine announced he has to leave at 2:45 p.m.  
Mr. Jecks provided the County's general fund budget overview as detailed in the agenda  
packet. Commissioner Constantine left the meeting during Mr. Jecks' presentation.  
Mr. Gray advised he will be meeting with each Commissioner, possibly a few times, before the  
June 17 meeting. He will be submitting the recommended budget by the end of the month;  
however, there will be certain scenarios that he would like to discuss with the Commissioners  
individually. He discussed the departments having flat budgets, and that they aren't  
requesting any new positions in the general fund. Regarding micro-transit services, he  
advised they will be recruiting two positions to help with that, but they're using existing  
resources so they don't have to ask to increase the general fund budget. The Board will have  
the recommended budget three weeks before the June 17 meeting, and staff is available to  
meet anytime over the next month to discuss that with the Board. He wants to make sure  
they have all of the information, materials, and research prior to the June 17 meeting.  
The Commissioners shared their comments regarding Mr. Jecks's presentation.  
Board Discussion  
The Commissioners discussed the Constitutional Officers' budgets, public safety, County  
services, revenue, the condition of the County Services Building, and taxes.  
Commissioner Dallari asked Mr. Jecks during their individual briefings to list the unfunded  
mandates that have come down from the State over the years and how they've increased.  
Mr. Jecks answered staff will pull that information together.  
Mr. Gray stated the next budget work session is June 17 and they will hear from the Sheriff's  
Office. Staff will also do an updated presentation along with the County departments.  
Chairman Zembower called once more for public comment; and no one else spoke.  
VII. ADJOURN BCC MEETING  
There being no further business to come before the Board, the Chairman declared the  
meeting adjourned at 3:04 p.m., this same date.  
APPROVED by the BCC:  
_____________________________  
Chairman  
_____________________________  
Date  
ATTEST:  
_____________________________  
Clerk of Court and Comptroller  
AS Clerk to the BCC