Sanford, FL (by Douglas Stanglin/USA Today) -- The Sanford police chief criticized for his department's handling of the Trayvon Martin shooting case will resign permanently today, the city announced.

Update at 2:14 p.m. ET: The resignation will be part of a separation agreement with Chief Billy Lee Jr. that commissioners will be asked to approve later today.

"Under the separation agreement, Chief Lee would resign from his post, effective at midnight tonight," the city said in a statement. "The chief's resignation comes a month after he was allowed to temporarily step down from his position as police chief in an effort to aid in restoring calm to the City in the wake of protests surrounding the Trayvon Martin investigation."

Original post: A public notice for the meeting says only that commissioners would consider adoption of a "resolution relating to the police department," The Sanford Herald  reports.

Lee stepped down temporarily on March 22 following a public outcry over the police response to the shooting of the unarmed teen by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

Zimmerman, 28, was arrested last week on charges of second-degree murder in the case. He was released today on $150,000 bond.