Maitland City Talk

City Council sets Fiscal Year 2016 essential priorities

On Friday, April 24, the City’s Fiscal Year 2016 budgeting process officially kicked off with the annual strategic planning session held at the Maitland Community Park. The backdrop of the city’s beautiful tree canopied park, with its majestic oaks and vibrant recreational activities, provided the perfect atmosphere for the annual retreat. The session began with an overview of the elements of city’s strategic planning process. Our citywide strategic plan provides a mission statement, vision statements and essential priorities or goals. The city’s mission statement clarifies our purpose and primary objective to, “provide the level of service necessary to maintain the excellent quality of life that is enjoyed by our citizens, business partners and visitors – to be a community for life.” Like the mission statement, the vision statement includes our city’s values, gives direction and provides inspiration. The city’s vision is to be known as a model city, acclaimed for our beautiful parks and lakes, safe neighborhoods, robust cultural programs, quality government services, community pride, preservation of natural resources and state-of-the-art commerce centers.

The objective of the strategic planning session was to develop the essential priorities for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2016 budget and capital improvements program. The essential priorities are general statements of what the city wants to achieve, and the session generated the following 11 priorities or goals to guide staff in developing the budget:

• Develop Maitland’s identity;

• Improve inter-agency communications;

• Focus on lake water quality and water conservation efforts;

• Engage and support the business community;

• Improve transportation city-wide;

• Provide quality public safety services;

• Improve quality of neighborhoods;

• Maintain employee morale;

• Expand recreation facilities and develop east-west park system;

• Maintain and expand infrastructure; and

• Plan comprehensively for downtown development.

The next step in the budget process will be the Fiscal Year 2016 General Fund budget workshop on July 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The first meeting to set the city’s tentative millage rate for Fiscal Year 2016 will be held on July 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. A copy of the complete budget calendar is available on the city’s website at itsmymaitland.com

Orange County Extension’s Butterflies in Your Garden Class

Kelly Greer from the Orange County Extension Office will be at the Maitland Community Park to host the class Butterflies in Your Garden on Wednesday, May 6. The class meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Call the park office at 407-539-0042 to register for this free class. We hope you can join us.

Sign up for a S.A.F.E. class

The next Self-Defense Awareness & Familiarization Exchange class is on Wednesday, May 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Maitland Community Park. Please call 407-539-0042 to sign up for this free class.

Screen on the Green

Screen on the Green will feature “Annie (2014)” on May 2 at 8 p.m. Bring your chairs and blankets to our new location at the Maitland Middle School Soccer Field at 1901 Choctaw Trail and we will bring you the stars.