Winter Park City Talk

Feb. 24 City Commission meeting

If you were unable to watch or attend the City Commission meeting held Feb. 24 in City Hall Commission Chambers, below are a few highlights of decisions made at the meeting:

Consent Agenda

• The minutes of 2/10/14 were approved.

• The various contracts were approved (for a complete listing, please visit cityofwinterpark.org/ccpackets).

• The mayor was authorized to execute the Interlocal Agreement between the city and the city of Gainesville d/b/a Gainesville Regional Utilities.

Action Items Requiring Discussion

• The ULI Technical Assistance Panel scope and funding for the U.S. Highway 17-92 corridor was approved.

• As it relates to minor league baseball discussions, the City Commission approved the authorization of staff to pursue the following:

o Continue the exploration of bringing minor league baseball to Winter Park and constructing a stadium in Winter Park at four possible sites:

1. Harper Sheperd Field

2. Martin Luther King Jr. Park

3. Ravaudage

4. UP Development/VoTech

o Utilization of the Madison Group, LTD to assist the city in negotiating deal points and updating the facility assessment study.

o Pursue potential funding sources for the project on behalf of the city. (Acceptance of any funding source will require City Commission approval.)

o Bring recommendations to the City Commission in the August 2014 timeframe including the above information and appropriate traffic studies.

• City assistance was approved with an amendment as it relates to the gravity sewer relocation to accommodate the Capen House at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens location.

• The Canvassing Board for the Tuesday, March 11, election was appointed and approved.

• The Monday, May 26, City Commission meeting was canceled due to the Memorial Day holiday.

Public Hearings

• The final resolution declaring that the city is to fund capital improvements to underground electric/CATV (BHN) along Seminole Drive, to be partially paid by special assessments levied against real property specifically benefitted by said improvements and confirming the special assessments, was approved.

• The resolution designating 1873 Glencoe Road as a historic resource on the Winter Park Register of Historic Places was approved.

• The request of the City of Winter Park for the second reading of the ordinance amending Chapter 58 “Land Development Code” creating a non-compete window of 30 days before or after the city’s annual spring and fall art festivals (relating to non-residential zoning districts and the conditions required for a special event) was approved.

• The first reading of the ordinance authorizing the issuance of Electric Revenue Bonds to finance its outstanding electric revenue bonds was approved.

• The request of English and Swoope Investment, LLC and Village Park Senior Housing Partners, Ltd. to amend the conditional use and development agreement for the Village Park Senior Housing project at 550 N. Denning Drive, to add the property at 796 W. Swoope Ave., to the project; permitting an increase in density from 105 to 108 apartments was approved with an amendment.

• Request of the City of Winter Park the first reading of the ordinance amending certain provisions of Article IV, Sign Regulations to provide more specificity and add clarity; and amending Section 1-24, Schedule of Violations and Penalties relating to signs, was tabled.

A full copy of the Feb. 24 City Commission minutes will be available at cityofwinterpark.org the week of March 10, pending approval by the City Commission. Remember, if you are unable to attend the City Commission meetings, you can watch them live, gavel-to-gavel as they happen. During the meeting, simply log on to the city’s official website at cityofwinterpark.org/cclive to easily stay tuned-in to official city business.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The city of Winter Park and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee are proud to present the 35th annual Winter Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 2, at 2 p.m. in downtown Winter Park. Gather your family and friends and wear some green to enjoy the only St. Patrick’s Day parade in Central Florida. The parade will begin at the Winter Park Country Club and continue south down Park Avenue to Lyman Avenue. More than 75 units will participate. The celebration will also feature Irish music and step-dancing at the main stage in Central Park with demonstrations by the Tir Na Greine School of Irish Dance and the Watters School of Irish Dance. Irish music will be provided by the Tommy Doyle Band. This is one event you won’t want to miss! For more information regarding the 35th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, please call 407-222-0648.

Grand opening of city train station

The city of Winter Park, in partnership with Amtrak, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), will celebrate the grand opening of the city’s new train station Monday, March 3, at 10:30 a.m. The newly built station is located at 148 W. Morse Blvd., and will serve both Amtrak and SunRail passengers.

A brief program will be held featuring:

• Winter Park Mayor Ken Bradley

• U.S. Congressman John Mica

• Amtrak Southern Division General Superintendent Tom Kirk

• FDOT Director of Transportation Development Frank O’Dea

• ACi Architecture Design Partner John Cunningham

Immediately following the program, attendees will be able to tour the station and SunRail train. SunRail team members will be on hand to answer any questions.

In 2008, a number of community visioning charrettes were held to provide ideas for a train station design that was more characteristic of Winter Park. The new train station design incorporates that feedback and brings the community’s vision to life.

Featuring Craftsman-style architecture, passengers will be surrounded by solid beams of rich cherry wood etched with delicate carvings. Shades of green, royal blue and brown swirl about a beautifully laid tile wall – reminiscent of the colors of a peacock. From the new public restrooms to the mission-style hardware on the fine wood cabinetry, the city’s new train station will warmly greet or bid farewell to rail passengers as they arrive and depart the city. It is also the newest LEED-certified, city-owned facility, furthering the city’s commitment to sustainability.

Later this spring, the city will also be installing a “Public Art in Transit” piece called “Tree Whisperers,” created by local artist and longtime Winter Park resident Diane Gillett Boswell. Please make plans to attend this grand opening event to celebrate the past, present and future significance of rail travel in Winter Park.

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