Winter Park City Talk

Dec. 12 City Commission Meeting highlights

There was a City Commission meeting held on Dec. 12, at 3:30 p.m., at the Rachel D. Murrah Civic Center. Below are a few highlights of major decisions that were made:

• City Manager’s report

• The resolution supporting pension reform was approved.

• Non-action items requiring discussions

• The Park Avenue Area Task Force and city staff were directed to bring forth recommendations regarding parking in downtown and also merchant employee parking.

• Consent Agenda

• The minutes of Nov. 28 City Commission meeting were approved.

• The following are decisions were made on the various contract and bids:

♣ The piggybacking the City of Denver/US Communities contract with Kone, Inc., for elevator maintenance and service was approved and the Mayor was authorized to execute the piggyback contract.

♣ Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., was approved for purchase of aerial fire apparatus.

♣ Wesco Distribution was approved for the purchase of circuit breakers.

• The Historic Preservation Façade Easement donation for 121 W. Garfield Ave., commonly known as the Kummer-Kilbourne House, was approved with modifications and the mayor was authorized to execute the agreement.

• The upgrade of city wireless and voice network with Centurylink/Embarq for the purchase of equipment to upgrade IT infrastructure was approved.

• Action Items Requiring Discussion

• The request of the Tree Preservation Board to review the Tree Preservation Ordinance was approved.

• Public Hearings

• The second reading of the ordinance regarding lakeshore protection was approved.

• The second reading of the ordinance to vacate a portion of the city right-of-way located at 2525 Via Tuscany was approved.

• The request of Rollins College of final Conditional Use approval for the Alfond Inn, 112-room hotel with a restaurant/bar, meeting/ballroom space and on-site parking at 300 E. New England Ave. was approved with amendments.

• The resolution electing to use the uniform method of collecting non-ad valorem special assessments levied within the city to collect the costs for abatement of code violations was pulled from the agenda.

A full copy of the Dec. 12 City Commission minutes will be available on the city’s official website at www.cityofwinterpark.org the week of Jan. 9, pending approval by the City Commission.

Dec. 26 City Commission meeting canceled

In observance of Christmas, the Monday, Dec. 26, City Commission meeting has been canceled. The next regularly scheduled City Commission meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 9, at 3:30 p.m., at the Rachel D. Murrah Civic Center located at 1050 W. Morse Blvd.

Two Santa neighborhood visits left

The city of Winter Park is welcoming Santa and Mrs. Claus in the last two neighborhoods according to the following schedule (weather permitting)*:

• Thursday, Dec. 15

• 6:45 p.m. Briarwood Drive

• 7:30 p.m. Harland Park on Blueridge Road

• 8 p.m. Chelton Circle

• Monday, Dec. 19

• 6:30 p.m. DePugh Nursing Center

• 7:30 p.m. Margaret Square

• Times are approximate and subject to change.

Holiday promotions

The city of Winter Park Economic Development/CRA Department is proud to present their second annual Winter in the Park Holiday Window Contest and Skate! Shop! Dine! promotion.

The Holiday Window Contest features participating Park Avenue and downtown Winter Park merchants as they transform their storefronts into works of art. The contest will be judged in two different categories, the “Design Excellence Award” and “Peoples’ Choice Award.”

To determine the winner of the “Design Excellence Award” our very own Winter Park City Commission will judge the window displays based on creativity, appeal, theme, use of color, use of space and merchandising. The award winner will receive a $500 electric utility bill credit, generously provided by the city of Winter Park Electric Utility Department.

To determine the winner of the “Peoples’ Choice Award,” patrons of participating merchants are encouraged to vote for their favorite window display by Sunday, Jan. 8, at 5 p.m.

Ballots to vote for winners in this category are located at each participating store as well as the Winter Park Welcome Center and the Winter in the Park holiday ice skating rink in Central Park West Meadow. Completed ballots must be deposited in the drop box located at the check-in table at the ice rink. Patrons may also vote online. The award winner will receive a $250 electric utility bill credit generously provided by the city of Winter Park Electric Utility Department.

In support of our local business community, the Skate! Shop! Dine! promotion encourages patrons of the “Winter in the Park” holiday ice skating rink to show their wristbands at participating merchants for special offers and discounts. Skaters will receive a wristband to enter the ice rink and merchants will need to see that wristband in order to allow their specific discount offer.

For information regarding the Winter in the Park Holiday Window Contest and Skate! Shop! Dine! promotion, including online voting and all participating merchants, please access the Winter in the Park button on www.cityofwinterpark.org and click on either the “window contest” tab or “wristband participants” tab.

Visit the city’s official website at www.cityofwinterpark.org, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.