Winter Park City Talk

FEB. 28 COMMISSION MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

There was a City Commission meeting held on Feb. 28 at 3:30 p.m. in City Hall Commission Chambers. Below are a few highlights of decisions made:

CONSENT AGENDA:

The minutes of Jan. 24 regarding the Howell Branch retention pond and the state office building discussion, as well as the meeting of Feb. 14 were approved with a modification.

RFP-6-2011 for Financial Advisory Services was awarded to The PFM Group.

PR 146196 was awarded to Alan Jay Chevrolet, piggybacking the Florida Sheriff’s Association contract for purchase of 2011 Chevy 2500HD Truck.

The amendment to solid waste contract to allow for city billing of shared containers was approved.

The fire union contract was ratified.

The Ethics Board Work Plan was approved.

Staff was approved to acquire updated cost estimates for the demolition and restoration of state office building.

ACTION ITEMS REQUIRING DISCUSSION:

The appointments made to the Canvassing Board for the Tuesday, March 8, election were approved.

The Transportation Plan was approved with amendments.

The offer of a sculpture White “A” by Winter Park resident Micheline Kramer to the city for a 10-year period on Morse Boulevard was tabled.

The recycling pilot test project was tabled.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Equalization Board Hearings:

The resolution declaring undergrounding of electric/CATV facilities to be paid in part by special assessments levied against properties abutting North Phelps Avenue and Bryan Avenue was approved.

The resolution confirming undergrounding of electric/CATV facilities to be paid in part by special assessments levied against properties abutting North Phelps Avenue and Bryan Avenue was approved.

A full copy of the Feb. 28 City Commission minutes will be available on the city’s official Web site at www.cityofwinterpark.org the week of March 14, pending approval by the City Commission.

WEAR GREEN AT THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

The city of Winter Park and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee are proud to present the 32nd annual Winter Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 6, at 2 p.m., in downtown Winter Park.

Gather your family and friends and wear some green to enjoy the only St. Patrick’s Day parade in Central Florida. The parade will begin at the Winter Park Country Club and continue south down Park Avenue to City Hall. More than 75 units will participate. Park Avenue will be closed to traffic from Webster to New England avenues from noon until 4 p.m. Side streets will also be closed at the Park Avenue intersections along the parade route beginning at 1:30 p.m. The celebration will also feature Irish music and step-dancing at the main stage in Central Park.

This celebration is made possible by the generous support of event sponsors including the city of Winter Park’s Community Redevelopment Agency, Fiddler’s Green Irish Pub and Eatery and Schenck Company.

For more information, please call 407-694-8228.

IMPASSE HEARING

There will be a Teamsters Local 385 Police Impasse hearing on Monday, March 7, at 3:30 p.m. in City Hall Commission Chambers. The public is invited to attend, however, no public comment will be taken.

MARCH 8 - ELECTION DAY CAST YOUR VOTE!

On the ballot for Tuesday, March 8, voters will have the opportunity to cast their vote for the two open Winter Park City Commission seats 1 and 2:

Candidates for Seat 1

Scott Callahan

Steven Leary

Candidates for Seat 2

Bonnie Jackson

Sarah Sprinkel

In addition, Winter Park voters will be asked to consider a charter amendment regarding changing the election cycles and terms of office. The following language will be on the ballot regarding this amendment:

AMENDING CITY CHARTER REGARDING ELECTIONS AND TERMS OF OFFICE FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION

Shall the Charter be amended to provide City elections shall be held every other year, by providing four year terms for the Commissioners and Mayor; with a transition whereby elections for four year terms shall commence in 2014 for Commissioner seats 1 and 2, in 2016 for Commissioner seats 3 and 4, and in 2018 for the Mayor; and amending term limits for the Mayor and City Commissioners to three consecutive full terms of office. Yes or No

CURRENT TERMS & ELECTION CYCLES

• City Commission is able to serve a maximum of four consecutive full terms of office.

• Each term is a three-year term.

• Elections occur every year.

PROPOSED CHANGES

• City Commission is able to serve a maximum of three consecutive full terms of office.

• Each term is a four-year term.

• Election occurs every other year.

To find additional election information please visit the city’s official Web site at www.cityofwinterpark.org > Election Info or the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Web site at www.ocfelections.com.

VOTING LOCATIONS

According to the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office, as of the end of January, the city of Winter Park has a total of 19,021 registered voters. If you are one of those registered voters, below are the locations where you can vote depending on your precinct number:

• Precinct 9102 - Winter Park Christian Church - 760 N. Lakemont Ave.

• Precinct 9202 - St. Andrews Methodist Church - 100 St. Andrews Blvd.

• Precinct 9302 - Winter Park Presbyterian Church - 400 South Lakemont Ave.

• Precinct 9402 - First Baptist Church of Winter Park - 1021 New York Ave.

• Precinct 9502 - Azalea Lane Recreation Center - 1045 Azalea Lane

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