Winter Park City Talk

On behalf of the City of Winter Park, we welcome all the attendees of the 53rd annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival this weekend to our city of culture and heritage!

March 12 City Commission Meeting highlights

There was a City Commission meeting held on March 12, at 3:30 p.m., at the Rachel D. Murrah Civic Center. Below are a few highlights of decisions that were made:

• Mayor’s Report

• An informational update on the 2012-2013 “Art on the Green” sculpture project was given by Chele Hipp, Public Art Advisory Board chair.

• A proclamation recognizing Louis Roney being inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame was presented.

• A proclamation celebrating the Girl Scouts 100th Anniversary was presented.

• A presentation was given to Cynthia Bonham, city clerk, for achieving her Master Municipal Clerk designation.

• A proclamation declaring the month of March as Purchasing Month was presented.

• Non-Action Items

• The financial report for January 2012 was presented and accepted.

• Consent Agenda

• The minutes of Feb. 27 were approved with modifications.

• The various purchases, bids and contracts were approved (a complete list can be found at cityofwinterpark.org > Government > City Commission > Agenda Packets).

• The request to locate temporary modular classrooms and an administration building during construction of Bush Science Center addition, subject to providing landscape buffer along both street frontages as depicted in exhibit provided and protection of shade trees, was approved.

• Action Items

• The Commission agreed to appoint a Wireless Task Force. Nominations will be provided at the next Commission meeting.

• Public Hearings

• The following decisions were made regarding the Equalization Board Hearings:

• The resolution declaring that the city is to fund capital improvements for undergrounding electric/CATV facilities along Via Salerno and Mayfield Avenue with the cost to be paid by special assessments was approved.

• The resolution confirming the special assessments for the undergrounding of electric/CATV facilities for properties adjacent to Via Salerno and Mayfield Avenue was approved.

• The requests of Windermere Winter Park Venture, LLC, resulted in the following decisions:

• The second reading of the ordinance amending the comprehensive plan, future land use map to change the designation of Single-Family Residential to Medium-Density Residential on the property at 444 W. Swoope Ave., was approved.

• The second reading of the ordinance amending the official zoning map to change the zoning designation of Single-Family Residential (R-1A) District to Medium-Density Multi-family (R-3) District on the property at 444 W. Swoope Ave. was approved.

• The second reading of the ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2840-11 Moratorium for Pain Management Clinics was approved.
  

• The first reading of the ordinance amending the historic preservation section of the Land Development Code was tabled.

A full copy of the March 12 City Commission minutes will be available on the city’s official website at cityofwinterpark.org the week of March 26, pending approval by the City Commission.

“Get Energized about Energy Savings” and win a KindleFire

The city of Winter Park cordially invites you to “Get Energized about Energy Savings” on Thursday, March 29, at the Winter Park Community Center located at 721 W. New England Ave.

Attendees will learn about energy, cost-cutting ideas and concepts from proven energy and green-building professionals from the city’s electric and water and wastewater utilities, Trane, Progress Energy and the Central Florida Chapter of the United States Green Building Council. Attendees will also learn more about the energy conservation programs offered by the city that are available to help customers identify the best energy conservation strategies and what rebates are available to help finance their conservation efforts. The following two sessions will be held:

• Commercial customers: 9 to 11:30 a.m. (coffee and pastries will be served)

• Residential customers: 5:30 to 8 p.m. (pizza and salad will be served)

This event is free to all Winter Park utility customers. Each attendee will also be entered into a free drawing to win a new KindleFire. Utility customer must be present to win.

Seating is limited so please RSVP no later than Friday, March 23, by calling 407-599-3285 or online at:

• Commercial customers usgbc-fgc.org/WinterParkBiz

• Residential customers usgbc-fgc.org/WinterParkHomes

Don’t delay. Register now and join us to learn how you can save energy, which saves money!

City celebrates Florida Bicycle Month with “Bike from Park to Park”

The city of Winter Park supports March as Florida Bicycle Month and will celebrate by joining the city’s Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Board to host the fourth annual "Bike from Park to Park" at 8 a.m. on Friday, March 23. The scenic bike ride will begin at Central Park West Meadow, located at the corner of Morse Boulevard and New York Avenue. The ride, which is about 3.5 miles, will take bicyclists through Lake Island Park to Mead Botanical Garden, by Azalea Lane Recreation Center and back to Central Park West Meadow, where refreshments will be served. Bike from Park to Park supports the mission to promote a viable and safe pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly infrastructure.

Millions of Americans engage in bicycling because it is a viable form of transportation, an excellent form of fitness and provides quality family recreation. The city of Winter Park’s “Green Local Government” initiative is an environmental action agenda designed to transform Winter Park into one of the most conservational cities in America by encouraging environmental-friendly lifestyles through alternative transportation modes, such as bicycling.

Investing in road improvements such as bicycle lanes, routes, off-road trails and parking to enable safe access for all users are all ways the city encourages bicycling. Bike from Park to Park is an additional way to encourage and promote alternate forms of transportation.

Those interested in participating in this exciting, green event are asked to please RSVP by Tuesday, March 20, via email to [email protected] or by calling 407-599-3233.

Click It or Ticket-Saving Lives and Increasing Belt Use

The Winter Park Police Department is joining with other state and local law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates across the country to help save more lives by strongly enforcing seat belt laws around the clock, but especially at night.

The 2012 "Click It or Ticket" enforcement mobilization in Winter Park will run from Sunday, March 18, to Saturday, March 31.

Nationally, 61 percent of the 10,647 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes overnight (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash, compared to 42 percent during the daytime hours.

Motorists should buckle up every time they go out, both day and night. Law enforcement agencies across the country are prepared to ticket anyone not buckled up — no warnings and no excuses. Click It or Ticket.