Winter Park City Talk

Jan. 9 City Commission Meeting highlights

There was a City Commission meeting held on January 9, at 3:30 p.m., at the Rachel D. Murrah Civic Center. Below are a few highlights of major decisions made:

• Consent Agenda

• The minutes of 12/12/11 were approved.

• The various purchases, contracts, and bids were approved (for a complete listing of these items, please visit www.cityofwinterpark.org > Government > City Commission > Agenda).

• The Net Metering Policy; Tier 1 Interconnection Agreement and Tier 2 Interconnection Agreement for the Winter Park Electric Solar PV Incentive Program was approved.

• Contract Forestry Manager was awarded to ArborMetrics Solutions, Inc., and the Mayor was authorized to execute the agreement.

• Action Items Requiring Discussion

• The proposed on-street dining on Hannibal Square East was tabled.

• Public Hearings

• The following decisions were made on the requests of Jim Veigle Properties, LLC:

♣ The first reading of the ordinance to amend the Comprehensive Plan future land use map so as to change the future land use designation of single-family Residential to office professional on the property at 1210 Dallas Avenue and to amend planning area “J”, Policy 1-4.1.J.11, in the future land use element to add an exception to the encroachment of non-residential land use was approved.

♣ The first reading of the ordinance to amend the official zoning map so as to change the existing zoning designation of Single-family Residential (R-1A) District to Parking Lot (PL) District at 1210 Dallas Avenue was approved.

A full copy of the January 9 City Commission minutes will be available on the city’s official website at www.cityofwinterpark.org the week of January 23, pending approval by the City Commission.

City of Winter Park presents 10th annual Unity Heritage Festival

The City of Winter Park is proud to present the 10th annual Unity Heritage Festival on Sunday, January 15, and Monday, January 16, 2012. The annual community festival will promote family history and raise funds for the Educational Fulfillment Fund for local economically disadvantaged youth.

The festival begins on Sunday, January 15, in Shady Park in Hannibal Square located at the intersection of Pennsylvania and New England avenues, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The heritage festival continues in Shady Park on Monday, January 16, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Join Mayor Ken Bradley and Winter Park city officials at 10 a.m. for a special Martin Luther King, Jr., symbolic program, including the Feature Family Presentation.

For more information regarding the 10th annual Unity Heritage Festival, please call 407-599-3275.

Winter Park Mayor/City Commission Luncheon

The 2011 Winter Park Mayor/City Commission Luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, January 18, at 11:30 a.m., at the Winter Park Community Center located at 721 West New England Avenue.

Featuring Mayor Ken Bradley’s annual State of the City Address and the Winter Park City Commissioners, you won’t want to miss hearing your elected officials’ plans and visions for the New Year!

For more information, please call the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce at 407-644-8281 or purchase tickets on their website at www.winterpark.org.

Winter Park welcomes the Remembrance Rescue travelling 9/11 memorial

The City of Winter Park Fire-Rescue Department will be host to the Remembrance Rescue traveling 9/11 memorial now through Wednesday, January 18.

This memorial features one of the two surviving heavy-rescue units (Rescue 4) used by the Fire Department of the City of New York that transported nine of the firefighters that lost their lives that tragic day. This vehicle, a rolling tribute to their sacrifice, is making its way around the country in an effort to educate citizens on the work of America’s firefighters and the sacrifice of those who respond to our needs every day.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to host the Remembrance Rescue memorial in Winter Park,” said Fire Chief Jim White. “It remains the responsibility of our local firefighters to help the citizens of our city make a connection to those events which occurred around the nation in September 2001. It is a moving tribute to the sacrifice of our brother firefighters and we are certainly proud to host the Remembrance Rescue for the people of Winter Park,” explained White.

Remembrance Rescue will be available for viewing at the Winter Park Public Safety Facility, located at 343 West Canton Avenue daily from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., until Wednesday, January 18. Additionally, the memorial can be seen at the city's 10th annual Unity Heritage Festival scheduled this weekend, Sunday, January 15, and Monday, January 16, at the Winter Park Community Center located at 721 West New England Avenue.

For more information regarding the Remembrance Rescue, please visit www.therrp.org.

Electric car charging stations are all charged up and are FREE to use

On January 10, the City of Winter Park hosted a ceremony to unveil its latest green initiative - six electric car charging stations. The unveiling ceremony took place at the electric car charging station located at 120 Garfield Avenue. Several electric cars currently available on the market were on display, and residents and visitors were invited to charge their car for FREE at any of the six new locations:

• Winter Park Public Safety Facility, 325 West Canton Avenue

• North of Central Park, 120 Garfield Avenue

• Municipal Parking Lot A, 110 North New York Avenue (adjacent to the Amtrak Station)

• Winter Park City Hall, 401 Park Avenue South

• Azalea Lane Tennis Complex, 1045 Azalea Lane

• Hannibal Square Heritage Center, 642 New England Avenue

*Other electric car charging stations are located at the Best Western Mt. Vernon Inn at 110 South Orlando Avenue, and Winter Park AAA at 783 South Orlando Avenue.

The new electric car charging stations support the city’s commitment to being a Green Local Government. In 2008, the City Commission passed a resolution to “Pursue Measures to Become a Florida Green Local Government,” using criteria and standards developed by the Florida Green Building Coalition.

For additional information, please visit the following websites:

• ChargePoint America Program www.chargepointamerica.com

• WattNext www.wattnext.net

• City of Winter Park www.cityofwinterpark.org

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