Winter Park City Talk

Jan. 25 City Commission meeting highlights

Mayor’s Report

The Core Value Coin Recipients for the First Quarter FY2016 were recognized.

Consent Agenda

The minutes for Jan. 11, 2016, were approved.

The contract and formal solicitation were approved (for a complete list, please visit cityofwinterpark.org/ccpackets).

Action Items Requiring Discussion

The Commission approved the acquisition of the property at 1111 W. Fairbanks Ave. (former bowling alley).

The 2016 Fire-Rescue Department Standards of Cover was presented and accepted.

Public Hearings

Request of A. J. Thomas III:

— The subdivision or lot split approval to divide the property at 2715 Woodside Ave. into two single-family building lots was approved.

The Resolution designating the Capen-Showalter House at 622 Osceola Ave. as a historic landmark on the Winter Park Register of Historic Places was approved.

The Resolution requesting the Florida Legislature to amend the sunshine and public meeting laws, to allow elected officials of a municipality to hold meetings outside municipal boundaries for the purpose of discussing matters of interest to the municipality with state and national officials, was tabled.

The Resolution to support the Innovative Traffic Signal Technologies Pilot Project was approved.

The first reading of the ordinance amending Section 58-65 “R-1AAA Lakefront District,” subsection (f)(1)(h) and Section 58-66, “R-1A and R-1AA District,” to remove unnecessary deed restriction requirements to streamline the permitting process; establish rear setbacks for Single Family Residential properties with short lot depths; and correct a single-family dwelling coverage error, and modify certain miscellaneous residential provisions was approved.

Request of the Winter Park Health Foundation:

— The first reading of the ordinance to add a new comprehensive plan policy to the text of the Future Land Use Element within the Winter Park Hospital Study Area “C,” to allow for a building floor area ratio of up to 98 percent, conditioned upon use for health- and wellness-related uses, was approved.

— The first reading of the ordinance amending Chapter 58 “Land Development Code”, Article III, “Zoning,” to change within Section 58-72 Office District, Subsection (F) Development Standards, to allow for a building floor area ratio of up to 98 percent, conditioned upon use for health and wellness related uses was approved.

— The first reading of the ordinance amending the official zoning map to change zoning on a portion of the property 2010 Mizell Ave., and the properties at 1992 Mizell Ave., 101 S. Edinburgh Drive, and 149 S. Edinburgh Drive, was approved.

— The development agreement to provide for the consolidation of properties into 2005 Mizell Ave., and the adjacent streets for a new “Project Wellness” facility, including provisions for the vacating and abandoning of city streets and dedication to the city of substituting rights of way was approved.

A full copy of the Jan. 25 City Commission minutes will be available at cityofwinterpark.org/ccminutes the week of Feb. 8, pending approval by the City Commission.

City is second place in $5 million energy prize

As of Jan. 4, the city of Winter Park was officially ranked in second place, only trailing Huntsville, Ala., for the Georgetown University Energy Prize. GUEP is a national competition that is challenging communities across the U.S. to rethink their energy use. The $5 million prize competition, which began in January 2015 and runs until Dec. 31, 2016, challenges small- to medium-size towns, cities, and counties to rethink their energy use and implement creative strategies to increase efficiency. Local governments, residents, utilities and others work together to demonstrate success in sustainably reducing energy consumption over a two-year period.

According to Mayor Steve Leary, “We are excited to be one of the top two cities in the nation that is leading the way on energy-efficiency. As a government, we are constantly seeking ways and implementing procedures to reduce consumption in our municipal facilities. We encourage our homeowners and businesses to look at their practices and see how they can do the same.”

Homeowners can participate in the competition by requesting a home energy audit and taking advantage of the newly re-vamped energy residential audit and rebate program. Those interested in reducing energy consumption and receiving rebates can email [email protected] or call 407-599-3220.

The city took another major step toward furthering energy-efficiency with the approval of a Property Assessed Clean Energy program. The PACE program allows residents to receive financing directly through the Florida PACE agency for energy-efficiency upgrades for their home. The city of Winter Park is the first city in Orange County to offer this program for its residents. For more information regarding the PACE financing program, please visit floridapace.gov.

Upcoming Candidate Forums

Tuesday, Feb. 9, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Hosted by Rollins Democracy Project and WPRK at the SunTrust Auditorium, Crummer Hall, located at 1000 Holt Ave. Call 407-691-1232.

Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Hosted by the Winter Park Voice at the Winter Park Community Center, located at 721 W. New England Ave. Call 407-671-2964.

Friday, Feb. 12, from 8 to 9 a.m. Hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce at the Winter Park Welcome Center, located at 151 W. Lyman Ave. Call 407-644-8281.

Friday, Feb. 19, from noon to 1 p.m. Hosted by the Winter Park Public Library at the Winter Park Public Library, located at 460 E. New England Ave. Call 407-623-3300.

For more municipal election information, please visit cityofwinterpark.org/elections, call the City Clerk’s office at 407-599-3277, or email [email protected].

For more information regarding the city of Winter Park, please visit the city’s official website at cityofwinterpark.org. Like, follow and watch us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, and YouTube.