Winter Park City Talk

Successful City Hall grand re-opening!

Thank you to everyone that was able to attend the grand re-opening of our newly renovated City Hall this past Monday afternoon. It was heartwarming to see many of our former mayors, city commissioners, residents, businesses and staff all gathered together to celebrate with us. If you were unable to stop by to enjoy the grand re-opening festivities, please feel free to come anytime during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to see all of the upgrades and improvements we have made to serve you better. I hope you enjoy our new beautiful landscaping and welcoming environment as you conduct city business. Welcome to City Hall!

Aug. 27 City Commission meeting highlights

There was a City Commission meeting Aug. 27. Below are a few highlights of decisions made:

Mayor’s Report

• A presentation was made to Ruth’s Hospitality Group as the recipient for the city’s Business Recognition Award.

• A proclamation was presented declaring Sept. 6 as Rollins College Changemaker Campus Day in the City of Winter Park.

• A proclamation was presented declaring Aug. 27 as Valencia College Day in the City of Winter Park.

• The board appointments for the following boards were approved:

o Keep Winter Park Beautiful and Sustainability Board

o Code Enforcement Board (alternate)

o Tree Preservation Board (move regular member to alternate)

Consent Agenda

• The minutes of Aug. 13 were approved with a modification

• The various contracts were approved (a complete listing can be found at cityofwinterpark.org > Government > City Commission > Agenda Packet).

• The easement subordination agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation for the Interstate 4 corridor project was approved.

• Staff revisions to the City Debt Management Policy as discussed at the Aug. 13 meeting were approved.

Action Items Requiring Discussion

• The property purchase at 666 Nicolet Ave. to provide stormwater treatment to Lake Killarney was approved.

• The report on quiet zones was tabled.

• Various items regarding the budget were discussed and will come forward at the two budget public hearings scheduled for the upcoming City Commission meetings Monday, Sept. 10, and Monday, Sept. 24.

• Sandstone Builders, Inc., was awarded the construction of the Fleet Peeples Park Restroom Project and funding was approved.

Public Hearings

• The following requests of Heartwood 20, LLC, were approved:

o First reading of the Ordinance - Amending Chapter 58 “Land Development Code,” Article I, “Comprehensive Plan” in the Future Land Use Element so as to add a new policy increasing the residential density for and limited to the property at 444 W. New England Ave., in order to permit the second floor to be used as residential units.

o First reading of the Ordinance: Amending Chapter 58, “Land Development Code,” Article III, “Zoning” Section 58-75 “Commercial (C-2) District” so as to increase the residential density for and limited to the property at 444 W. New England Ave. in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan.

• The following request of Mi Tomatina Restaurant was approved:

o First reading of the Ordinance - Amending Chapter 58 “Land Development Code” Article III, "Zoning Regulations” Section 58-86 “Off-Street Parking Regulations” to expand the Hannibal Square Parking Exclusion District to include the restaurant property at 433 W. New England Ave. in order to permit a 59-seat expansion to that restaurant.

• The following request of New Hope Baptist Church was tabled:

o Conditional Use approval to construct and operate a children’s day care facility on the church property at 274 N. Capen Ave.

• The first reading of the ordinance regarding annexation of 656 Overspin Drive was approved.

• The first reading of the ordinance regarding annexation of 600 Baffie Ave. was approved.

• The following request of SunTrust Bank was approved:

o Conditional Use approval to extend their approval for one additional year at 301 W. New York Ave.

• The following request of the City of Winter Park was tabled:

• First reading of the Ordinance - Amending Chapter 58 “Land Development Code” Article V, “Environmental Protection Regulations” Division 6, “Tree Preservation and Protection”

• The resolution supporting the Qualifying Targeted Industry (QTI) Grant was approved.

• The emergency ordinance amending Section 62-77 of the Code and adding new Section 62-79, to promote public peace and order in single-family home residential areas was approved.

A full copy of the Aug. 27 City Commission minutes will be available at cityofwinterpark.org the week of Sept. 10, pending approval by the City Commission.

What’s that large sculpture on City Hall’s front lawn?

This past weekend, a large structure landed on the front lawn of City Hall. The official name of this sculpture is Russell Bellamy’s “St. Prego.” This sculpture is the first of eight public art pieces that will be installed throughout downtown Winter Park as part of the city’s and Public Art Advisory Board’s Art on the Green 2012 exhibit.

Art on the Green 2012 will feature the unique and creative works of seven other noted sculptors and will be on display from Sept. 1 through March 1, concurrent with Central Park and City Hall park hours. Exhibition catalogues will be available at City Hall and the Winter Park Welcome Center, located at 151 W. Lyman Ave., during regular business hours.

Selected by curator Olga Viso, Rollins College graduate and executive director of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, the Art on the Green 2012 collection includes a range of sculptures from elaborate bronze pieces to those fashioned from stainless steel and reclaimed materials.

The Art on the Green 2012 exhibition can be viewed for free seven days a week. A fun, family-friendly opening event celebration will also be held Saturday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, in front of Winter Park City Hall.

For more information about the Art on the Green 2012 exhibition, please visit the city’s official website at cityofwinterpark.org/AoG

Purchasing Division receives Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award

The City of Winter Park’s Purchasing Division has been selected by the National Procurement Institute (NPI) to receive the 2012 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award, designed to recognize excellence in procurement by organizations that obtain high scores on standardized criteria. Winter Park is one of only 20 government agencies in Florida and one of only 54 cities in the United States to receive this prestigious award.

The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award Program is designed to measure innovation, professionalism, e-procurement productivity and leadership attributes in the procurement industry. The award program is sponsored by the NPI, the California Association of Public Procurement Officials, the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, the Institute of Supply Management, the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, the National Association of State Procurement Officials, the National Association of Educational Procurement and the Texas Public Purchasing Association.

The mission of Winter Park’s Purchasing Division is to procure quality goods and services at the lowest possible cost, consistent with the quality needed to provide the very best service to the public, while assuring fair and equal opportunity to all qualified vendors. The division is responsible for establishing purchasing policies, coordinating purchasing procedures, supporting all city departments, and contracting for the purchase of supplies and services exceeding the threshold for formal solicitation. Purchasing is also responsible for guarding against unethical or discriminatory practices in bidding or procurement activities as well as ensuring fair and open competition for vendors.

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