Winter Park City Talk

Aug. 22 City Commission meeting highlights

There was a City Commission meeting held on Aug. 22 at 3:30 p.m. in City Hall Commission Chambers. Below are a few highlights of decisions made:

• Mayor’s report

• A proclamation was presented to Miss Florida Kristina Janolo, former Miss Winter Park, declaring Aug. 22 a day in her honor.

• The board appointment to the Ethics Board was approved.

• Consent Agenda

• The minutes of the Aug. 8 City Commission meeting were approved.

• Below are the decisions regarding the following purchase and contracts:

• The change order to the community center contract with Turner Construction Company was approved and the mayor was authorized to execute the change order document.

• The piggybacking of the City of Orlando contract with TAW Orlando Service Center Inc., for electric motor and pump repair was approved and the mayor was authorized to execute the piggyback contract.

• The 15-foot water main easement located at 811 South Orlando Ave. (Publix), between the Hollieanna Shopping Plaza and Winter Park Business Center was approved.

• The extension of the conservation easement for 250 North Interlachen Ave. for the Morse/Genius Foundations was approved.

• The naming of the amphitheater at the new Winter Park Community Center to Ruby Ball Amphitheater was approved.

• The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services guidelines on food preparation for Saturday Farmers’ Market vendors were approved to keep the same requirement as in the past.

• The Continuing Services Contract - Concrete was approved to multiple vendors: A. L. Construction Enterprises Inc., Allcrete Inc., Castille Company Inc. and Conpilog Construction Division.

• Public hearings

• The following decisions were made regarding the requests of the City of Winter Park:

• The first reading of the ordinance amending Article III, “Zoning” the standards for significant changes requiring conditional use approvals on buildings bigger than 10,000 square feet, the standards for significant changes to conditional use approvals and the standards for building approvals in the Hannibal Square Neighborhood Commercial District was approved.

• The first reading of the ordinance amending Article III, “Zoning” so as to revise the approval procedures for the approval of building projects on such waterfront lots was approved.

• The first reading of the ordinance amending Article I, “Comprehensive Plan” to adopt new public notice and adoption procedures for amendments to the city’s Comprehensive Plan, Goals, Objectives and Policies document, substituting for the current amendment procedures was tabled.

• The first reading of the ordinance authorizing the refunding of the Water and Sewer Revenue bonds, Series 2002 was approved.

A full copy of the Aug. 22 City Commission minutes will be available on the city’s official website at www.cityofwinterpark.org the week of September 12, pending approval by the City Commission.

Fiscal year 2012 proposed budget

There will be two public budget hearings on Monday, Sept. 12, and Monday, Sept. 26, at 5 p.m., in City Hall Commission Chambers to share your comments about the proposed budget and millage rates before final adoption. Because this process is so important, I encourage all of you to attend and share your input.

You can find a copy of the proposed budget on the homepage of the city’s website under Info At Your Fingertips > Budget Documents.

Winter Park downloaded its way into savings by launching its new iPhone app

The City of Winter Park has partnered with SaveMyCity, to launch a new, free smartphone application that uses global positioning system to show shoppers and diners what real-time deals are being offered near them in Winter Park. Wednesday morning, the public joined Mayor Ken Bradley, members of the City Commission and local merchants on the front steps of City Hall as the city showcased its new smartphone app.

SaveMyCity users may browse a directory of Winter Park businesses and find deals from more than 50 of the city’s participating merchants. Nearby city parks and rental facilities can also be found using the new iPhone app. Payment is not required to use the app, so customers can simply walk into a participating location and show the deal to take advantage of the savings.

More than 56,000 pages of the city’s official website were viewed via a smartphone between January and July of this year. In addition, studies show that only 25 percent of its residents shop in Winter Park. Bradley said, “It is extremely important for the city to have presence in the ‘iWorld’ and offer our residents and guests opportunities to save money while supporting local businesses. We are thrilled to be the first city in the United States to offer the SaveMyCity smartphone application.”

Attendees of the launch enjoyed free samples from several SaveMyCity participating merchants including: Sprinkles, Sassafras, Nelore, Menchies Frozen Yogurt and Barnies Coffee & Tea Company, among others. Three lucky attendees even received a free iPhone pillow.

For more information about SaveMyCity or to download the app, please visit www.savemycity.com/winter-park-fl or the city’s homepage and click on the SaveMyCity button.

Hurricane preparedness

With the threat of Hurricane Irene possibly impacting our city, we would like to remind you to be prepared for the hurricane season by following the steps below to keep you, your family and property safe.

Step 1: Assemble an emergency preparedness kit & “to-go bag”

Step 2: Prepare your family, home & business

Step 3: Stay informed

Official city online resources

• www.cityofwinterpark.org > Departments > Fire-Rescue > Emergency Management

• Facebook www.cityofwinterpark.org/facebook

• Twitter www.twitter.com/WinterParkFla

Important resources

• Non-emergency Information Line (activated only when an emergency occurs) 407-599-3494

• Message Center Information email (activated only when an emergency occurs) [email protected]

• Winter Park Electric Utility Power Outages 1-877-811-8700

• Water & Wastewater Utility Outages 407-599-3219

Sign up for OUTREACH

OUTREACH is the city’s emergency notification system that uses technology to send out notifications such as extreme weather conditions, boil water alerts, power restoration status, and hurricane/tornado warnings directly to you. Upon hearing the tornado siren, you should tune to local media for specific weather information. In addition to outdoor warning sirens throughout Winter Park, OUTREACH will notify residents and business owners of impending emergencies via their home phones, cell phones and/or email. To sign up, please log on to the city’s official website www.cityofwinterpark.org and click on the OUTREACH logo. Click on “subscribe now” and follow the sign-up instructions. The city can then keep you immediately informed of any major emergency situation that may impact you, your business and your neighbors.

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