Winter Park City Talk

JAN 24 COMMISSION MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

The City Commission met on Jan. 24, at 3:30 p.m., in City Hall Commission Chambers. Below are a few highlights of the major decisions that were made.

CONSENT AGENDA:

• The minutes of 12/16/10 and 1/10/11 were approved.

• The request regarding the lease of the Bush Auditorium (Rollins College) for Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., to administer Civil Service Test for the Winter Park Police Department at no cost to the city was approved.

• The following purchases and contracts were approved:

• PR 146045 to Playmore West, Inc.

• PR 146050 to Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., for refurbishment of Fire Engine 64.

• Piggybacking the Palm Beach County contract with Playmore West, Inc., for playground park equipment, parts and installation.

• Piggybacking the City of Orlando contract with Florida Irrigation Supply, Inc., for irrigation and sprinkler supplies.

• Piggybacking the Orange County contract with Siemens Water Technologies Corp.

• Piggybacking the Orange County contract with Aquatic Weed Control for aquatic restoration and management services.

ACTION ITEMS REQUIRING DISCUSSION:

• Staff was approved to further explore the possibility of a public/private partnership for the reconstruction of Fire Station 64 (Howell Branch Road).

• The amendment to High Performance contract regarding staff recommendation #2 was approved.

• The educational plan regarding the city’s animal ordinance was approved with the expenses reduced to $20,000.

• The Howell Branch retention pond ownership and maintenance was approved with amendments.

• The agreements between the Florida Department of Energy and the City of Winter Park for funding through the Florida Clean Energy Grant and the Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant was approved.

• The ground lease terms for 50-year lease agreement for 941 West Morse Building (state office building) was not approved.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

• The second reading of the ordinance relating to animal control and penalties; authorizing a fee for entry into the dog park at Fleet Peeples Park and providing for violations was approved.

• The second reading of the ordinance to extend the deadline for the de-annexation of the parcels involved in the Ravaudage project was approved.

• The first reading of the ordinance to vacate city utility easement at 1211 College Point was approved.

• The resolution designating $2 of each paid red-light camera citation to be utilized for police training was approved.

A full copy of the Jan. 24 City Commission minutes will be available on the city’s official website at www.cityofwinterpark.org the week of Feb. 14, pending approval by the City Commission.

RED LIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS NOW ACTIVATED

In an effort to make Winter Park roads safer for residents and visitors, this past weekend the Winter Park Police Department (WPPD) activated newly installed red light traffic cameras. The first two sets of cameras that were activated are located at the intersections of Temple Drive at Howell Branch Road and Temple Trail at Howell Branch Road. Cameras will also be activated on future dates at the intersections of Lakemont and Aloma avenues, Orlando Avenue and Lee Road, Orlando and Fairbanks avenues, and Orlando and Orange avenues.

Red light cameras will help WPPD enforce traffic laws by continuously monitoring traffic signals. After the signal has turned red, the camera is triggered by any vehicle entering the intersection, it automatically photographs the vehicle and records the speed, license plate, date and time of day. Trained officers will review each photograph and its details to ensure a vehicle is in violation before a ticket is mailed to the registered owner. The fine is currently set at $158 per violation and there is no cost to the community for installing or maintaining the red light camera system as the program is funded by the fines collected from violators.

According to WPPD Chief Brett Railey, “Improving traffic safety is a major department objective. We are pleased to inform our residents that we are installing and activating this state-of-the-art red light camera system to help us encourage safer driving habits, reduce intersection accidents, and save lives on our roadways.”

Statistic from the Insurance Institute for Highway Driving show that 762 people were killed, and an estimated 137,000 were injured in the United States, during crashes resulting from drivers running red lights in 2008 alone. Cameras have been shown to substantially reduce the number of red light violations, which in turn decrease the number of intersection accidents.

For more information regarding the city’s red light traffic cameras, please visit WPPD’s official website at www.wppd.org or call 407-599-3659.

WINTER PARK DECLARES FEBRUARY TOBACCO-FREE PARKS MONTH

On Jan. 24, the City of Winter Park declared the month of February as “Tobacco-Free Parks month.” In celebration of this month, the City of Winter Park will hold a kick-off event on Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 1:30 p.m., at Phelps Park located at 1200 North Phelps Avenue.

The city, in partnership with the American Lung Association, the Orange County Tobacco Free Partnership, All In, ACHIEVE Healthier Communities Leadership Team, and others, have joined together to encourage tobacco-free parks this month, reduce the threat of disease caused by tobacco use and reduce the exposure of tobacco use in the community.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), creating a tobacco-free zone is an evidence-based strategy that when combined with other interventions can have a profound effect on improving health behaviors by changing the environment of the community. This is just one way the city is promoting a healthier lifestyle by encouraging voluntary compliance for its parks to be tobacco-free for the month of February.

POPCORN FLICKS IN CENTRAL PARK

On Thursday, Jan. 27, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the City of Winter Park and Enzian Theater will present Popcorn Flicks in Central Park featuring “It Happened One Night.” This event was rescheduled from Jan. 13 due to cold weather conditions. Bring your blanket or chair to enjoy the movie under the stars in Central Park. Free popcorn for everyone. Please call 407-629-0054 or visit www.enzian.org for more information.

CITY BLOOD DRIVE

The City of Winter Park in conjunction with the Florida Blood Center, will hold a blood drive on Monday, Feb. 7, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., in front of City Hall located at 401 Park Avenue South.

A critical number of voluntary donations are required every day to meet the need for blood. To donate blood, you must be at least 16 years old, weigh 110 pounds, and be in good health. All donors must bring photo ID. We appreciate your lifesaving efforts.

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