New library moving forward in MLK Park

Winter Park’s project for a new library/civic center is moving forward in Martin Luther King Jr. Park – for now.

The Winter Park City Commission on Monday got behind their city clerk, who shot down a petition looking to keep the new library/civic center out of Martin Luther King Jr. Park with a letter of insufficiency.

The letter claimed that the petition, which was crafted by local residents looking to preserve the charm and green space of the park, was not filed within a 30-day period after Commissioners voted on the new library location on Oct. 26, 2015

City Clerk Cindy Bonham went on to explain in the letter that the petition also failed to include crucial text from an ordinance passed on Nov. 23, 2015, which set in place the bond referendum for a new library that was on the ballot, and passed, in March.

Despite the petition being labeled as an “initiative” – which has no such time limit – it’s still looking to overturn an ordinance and is considered a “reconsideration” of a referendum, which must adhere to the time requirements, the letter reads.

The petitioner’s group came forward to appeal the letter on Monday, but it was upheld by a vote of 3-2 by the Commission, with Mayor Steve Leary, Commissioner Sarah Sprinkel and Commissioner Peter Weldon supporting the city clerk’s position.

Their vote effectively thwarts the efforts of the petitioners’ group for the time being.

But Attorney Virginia Cassady, representing the petitioners group, argued that the ordinance passed on Nov. 23 made no mention of Martin Luther King Jr. Park being the library location, and that the location vote on Oct. 26 was never made official as a city ordinance.

Since there’s no ordinance designating the library location as MLK Park and a “reconsideration” of a referendum is defined as the overturning of an ordinance, the petition is in fact an “initiative” that must be heard by the City Commission, Cassady said.

“There is a serious problem with how your charter is being interpreted here,” Cassady said.

“It’s bootstrapping a vote by you in October to the ordinance that was adopted and passed in November, which makes no mention of MLK Park. That’s why it’s erroneous.”

Residents also took an opportunity to make their voices heard regarding the library project and the petition looking to keep it out of the park.

Residents like Laura Brock said they had no idea that the location was already set at MLK Park when they voted in March, adding that residents should vote upon the location.

“I voted for the referendum, but I am one of the voters that feels very deceived,” Brock said. “I don’t think that people who are elected to the city by the taxpayers should be in a position where they can willingly or not willingly deceive people in such an important vote.”

Other residents said that its time to accept that the library is coming to MLK Park and that it’s time to support the project.

“I want to stand with those who worked so hard to bring us this exciting new opportunity of a new library in Martin Luther King Park,” resident Thaddeus Seymour said. “The vote is history, now let’s have the fun and excitement of working with architects, designers, librarians and educators to build a library which will be the pride of Winter Park and the envy of other communities.”

The city of Winter Park now plans to embark on a bond validation process before Ninth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Margaret Schreiber within the coming months. The process gives the city assurance that the bond referendum process is moving forward appropriately, City Attorney Kurt Ardaman said, adding that a judicial approval would protect the city from a party challenging its legality, in turn wasting money, time and effort.

Michael Poole, a resident behind the petition, said the petitioner’s group will meet with the State Attorney next week to discuss their next step moving forward, adding that the group will be actively involved in the bond validation process that’s expected to start later this year.

“We just need to figure out what the next steps are,” Poole said. “We’re not picking up our tent and going home.”