Winter Park City Talk

Oct. 10 City Commission meeting highlights

There was a City Commission meeting held on Oct. 10, at 3:30 p.m., in City Hall Commission Chambers located at 401 Park Ave. South. Below are highlights of the decisions that were made:

• Mayor’s report

• The Employee of the Quarter presentation was made honoring Mike Ruby, aquatics supervisor for the Lakes Division.

• A proclamation was presented regarding the 2012 election schedule.

• The board appointment to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board was approved.

• A request was made and approved to create a Martin Luther King Jr. task force to bring recommendations back to the commission for appropriate acknowledgment of Martin Luther King Jr.

• Non-action items

• The financial report for August 2011 was presented and accepted.

• Consent agenda

• The minutes for the Sept. 26 meeting were approved with modifications.

• The various purchases and agreements were approved (for a complete list of purchases and agreements, please access the Commission Agenda Packet at www.cityofwinterpark.org > Government > City Commission > Agenda Packets).

• The contract for pay cards with Global Cash Cards was approved and the mayor was authorized to execute the three-year contract.

• The updated interlocal agreement for Fire-Rescue Services with the City of Casselberry was approved.

• The Temple Drive electric undergrounding project materials was approved to be awarded to Electric Supply Inc., Gresco Utility Supply Inc., HD Supply Utilities Ltd., Stuart C. Irby Co. and Wesco Distribution.

• The land swap of the city’s lot at 509 S. Capen Ave. for the Habitat for Humanity lot at 507 S. Capen Ave. to allow Habitat for Humanity to swap that lot to the New Warner Chapel Primitive Baptist Church to build a new fellowship hall on the property was approved.

• The city’s co-sponsorship of a Veterans Day Program on Friday, November 11, at 11 a.m., at the Winter Park Community Center was approved.

• The agreement between the City and Teamsters Local Union No. 385 (police department) was ratified.

• Action items requiring discussion

• The exchange and sales agreements with CNL/Progress Point for State Office Building Property located at 941 W. Morse Blvd. was discussed and staff was directed to continue negotiations.

• Public Hearings

• The resolution calling for a public hearing to use the uniform ad valorem method of collection of a non-ad valorem assessment for properties abutting Dixie Parkway and Williams Drive was approved.

• The second reading of the ordinance to repeal sections 62-51 and 62-53 of the City Code and amend section 62-52 of the City Code as required by Chapter 2011-109, Laws of Florida, regarding firearms and ammunition was approved.

• First reading of the ordinance to vacate and abandon an existing utility easement located at 1500 Summerland Avenue was approved.

A full copy of the Oct. 10 City Commission minutes will be available on the city’s official website at www.cityofwinterpark.org the week of Oct. 24, pending approval by the City Commission.

CoffeeTalk featuring Commissioner Carolyn Cooper

If you have a latte beans to grind or simply want to espresso your thoughts, please join Commissioner Carolyn Cooper for CoffeeTalk on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Winter Park Welcome Center located at 151 W. Lyman Ave.

This is your opportunity to talk to your city leaders in a more casual, informal environment.

Special thanks to our coffee provider Palmano’s Roastery & Espresso Bar.

2012 upcoming elections

The City of Winter Park’s general election will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, for the purpose of electing a mayor. If a primary is necessary, it will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Qualifying will be held from noon on Tuesday, Nov. 1, and will end at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

The polling places shall be open for voting from 7 a.m. on the day of said election until 7 p.m. The polling places and the election officials for such election shall be the same as those designated and appointed by the Orange County supervisor of elections for the presidential preference primary election on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.

For more election information, please call the City Clerk at 407-599-3277 or visit the city’s website at www.cityofwinterpark.org and click on the Election button.

Calling all veterans!

On Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m., the City of Winter Park in partnership with the Winter Park Ministerial Alliance and the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce will be presenting its inaugural Veterans Day Celebration. This event will be held in honor of all of the veterans of Winter Park at the new state-of-the-art Winter Park Community Center located at 721 W. New England Ave.

Calling all veterans that have served in any military conflict (World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, or Afghanistan) or has served in any military branch in honor of our nation's freedom. The city is holding this event to pay tribute to your dedicated service to our country.

Beginning at 10 a.m., attendees can gather information from a variety of organizations and services that offer resources specifically for veteran needs such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, Orlando VA Medical Center, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and more. At 11 a.m., the official program will begin with musical tributes, anecdotal speakers and recognition of veterans according to the various military branches and world conflicts served.

City saves more than $1.5 million and maintains high credit ratings

Early last week, the City of Winter Park successfully sold its $14,155,000 Water & Sewer Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011, to PNC Capital Markets. This sale resulted in $1,569,148 of net present value debt service savings or 10.50 percent of the par amount of the refunded bonds. This transaction is similar to refinancing your home mortgage to reduce your monthly payment. The true interest cost on the new bonds is 2.326 percent. The city saw the economic opportunity to refinance its current debts, and this sale to PNC proved to be a fiscally sound decision that resulted in a tremendous amount of debt service savings for our city.

Also announced late last month by both Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, the City of Winter Park maintained its high credit ratings for the sale of its Water & Sewer Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011, and its existing water and sewer revenue debt.

Moody’s Investors Service:

• Assigned the Aa2 rating to the city’s Water & Sewer Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2011.

• Affirmed the Aa2 underlying rating on existing Water & Sewer Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2002 and 2009.

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services:

• Assigned the ‘AA-’ long-term rating to the city’s series 2011 Water & Sewer Refunding Revenue Bonds.

• Affirmed the ‘AA-’ underlying rating on the city’s existing Water & Sewer Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2002 and 2009. The rating outlook is stable.

Moody’s Investors Service is a leading provider of credit ratings, research and risk analysis. The firm’s ratings and analysis track debt covering more than 110 countries, 12,000 corporate issuers, 25,000 public finance issuers and 106,000 structured finance obligations. This Aa2 rating signifies the stability in the city’s level of debt service coverage, its system treatment capacity and water supply, and its strength in its above-average service area.

With offices in 23 countries, Standard & Poor’s has a history that dates back more than 150 years and is a leader of financial market intelligence and independent credit ratings. The AA-/Stable rating is based on a variety of factors including: the local service area economy, Winter Park’s above-average income levels and favorable unemployment rate, the system operations with ample water supply and capacity, and the city’s strong annual debt service coverage.