Winter Park City Talk

Budget approved

Through an extensive yearlong preparation process that requires a careful and microscopic analysis of city services, city staff prepared a sound, balanced budget for the City Commission’s consideration. On Sept. 22, the Commission held the second public hearing on the proposed budget and voted unanimously to approve and officially adopt the Fiscal Year 2015 budget. For this upcoming fiscal year, which begins on Wednesday, Oct. 1, the city’s budget consists of $45.5 million in the General Fund and a total of $151.5 million, which includes all funds.

Winter Park is surrounded by cities in financial situations that required them to raise their taxes. The great news is the city of Winter Park was not one of them. I am proud to say this is the seventh year in a row the city has not raised its millage rate while continuing to maintain and expand the high-quality services our residents expect and enjoy. The action the Commission took last night is one of the most important responsibilities of your city government that is taken very seriously and results in excellent service. City staff is looking forward to the next fiscal year and excited to continue our mission to serve.

Bowling alley property

The proposal for the city to pursue a contract to purchase the property owned by Rollins College located at 1111 W. Fairbanks Ave. failed at the Community Redevelopment Agency meeting Sept. 22 by a 3-3 vote. (Tie votes cause the action to fail.) Also at that meeting, the CRA fiscal year 2015 budget was approved as presented.

Sept. 22 City Commission meeting highlights

Immediately following the CRA meeting, the City Commission met, and if you were unable to watch or attend that meeting, below are a few highlights of decisions made:

Mayor’s Report

• The Third Quarter Business Recognition Award was presented to 4R Restaurant Group.

Consent Agenda

• The minutes of Sept. 8, 2014, were approved.

• The city manager, in consultation with the city attorney, was approved, to sign purchase orders for payment of HIDTA personnel and operations and specialized, confidential investigative services on behalf of HIDTA.

• The updates to the Purchasing Policy were approved.

Action Items Requiring Discussion

• The disposal of city-owned property located at 300 N. Pennsylvania Ave. as presented was approved.

Public Hearings

• The request of Mr. Joseph Passalacqua for the after-the-fact subdivision or lot split approval so that 1252 Lakeview Drive was tabled at the applicant’s request.

• The request of Mr. Drew Hill for Conditional Use approval to develop a four-unit, two-story townhouse project at 1003 and 1009 S. Pennsylvania Ave. was approved.

• The request of Lakeside Winter Park, LLC to amend the conditional use site plan approval and development agreement for the Lakeside Winter Park project at 111 N. Orlando Ave. to substitute the off-site employee parking needed for the Blue Cross/Blue Shield® Medical Office from the location previously approved at 271 S. Orlando Ave. to a new location on the property at 110 S. Orlando Ave. was approved with an amendment.

• The first reading of the ordinance vacating and abandoning the utility easement at 716 Kiwi Circle was approved.

• The resolution approving the execution of an assignment for the purchase of certain real property owned by Rollins College located at 1111 W. Fairbanks Ave. was pulled from the agenda.

• The fee schedule effective Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014, was approved.

Budget Public Hearings

• The second reading of the ordinance adopting the millage rate was approved.

• The second reading of the ordinance adopting the fiscal year 2015 annual budget was approved.

A full copy of the Sept. 22 City Commission minutes will be available at cityofwinterpark.org the week of Oct. 13, pending approval by the City Commission. Remember, if you are unable to attend the City Commission meetings, you can watch them live, gavel-to-gavel as they happen. During the meeting, simply log on to cityofwinterpark.org/cclive to easily stay tuned-in to official city business.

CoffeeTalk featuring Commissioner Tom McMacken

The featured guest has changed, but the event remains the same. This month’s CoffeeTalk will feature Commissioner Tom McMacken, Thursday, Oct. 2, at 8 a.m. Please make plans to join him for conversation and a cup of coffee provided by Palmano’s Cafe, Coffee & Wine Bar. CoffeeTalk is held at the Welcome Center located at 151 W. Lyman Ave. For more information, please call 407-599-3428.

Love art? We have the board for you

The Public Art Advisory Board is currently looking for interested applicants to fill a vacant board member position. If you are a city resident that enjoys, collects, preserves, or interprets art on a regular basis, or if you simply admire art in our city, this is the perfect board for you. The board interprets notable works of art and implements educational opportunities concerning public art for the benefit of Winter Park residents and visitors. To this end, the board also acquires culturally diverse and nationally recognized American art that builds on the historical character and community spirit of Winter Park. It administers a Public Arts Trust Fund and makes recommendations to the Winter Park City Commission regarding all matters affecting public art in accordance with Public Art Ordinance #2487-02. Applications can be found at cityofwinterpark.org > Government > Boards > Citizen Board Application.

Art In Chambers exhibition featuring Rollins (Re)Visits Cuba

The city of Winter Park Public Art Advisory Board is proud to announce the newest Art in Chambers exhibition featuring photography by Rollins College students and faculty. The photos offer a diverse perspective on Cuba today. The exhibition will be open for public viewing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, in City Hall Commission Chambers and the adjacent Chapman Room, in Winter Park City Hall located at 401 S. Park Ave. The exhibit will be on display through December 2014.

Rollins College first hosted international students from Cuba in 1896. They were able to rekindle a long-dormant connection to Cuba with field study programs in March 2012 and December 2013, organized by professors Patricia Tomé and Robert Reinauer. The exhibited photos are from both of these field study trips. Cuba is undergoing rapid change, and the hope of the students and faculty involved is to capture some of that dynamic through their photography. For more information regarding Art in Chambers, please call 407-599-3498.

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