Winter Park City Talk

March 28 City Commission meeting highlights

The official Oath of Office ceremony was held for re-elected Commissioner Carolyn Cooper and newly-elected Commissioner Pete Weldon. Congratulations!

Mayor’s Report

Proclamations were presented recognizing April 29 as Arbor Day and the month of April 2016 as Water Conservation Month.

The Healthy Weight Community Champion Award was presented by Dr. Kevin Sherin, department director from the Orange County Health Department.

Non-Action Items

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the year ended Sept. 30, 2015 was presented.

An update of the electric undergrounding plan was provided.

Consent Agenda

The minutes for March 14, 2016, were approved.

Action Items Requiring Discussion

Commissioner Pete Weldon was added as the City Commission representative for the library/events center design RFQ-9-2016 selection committee.

Public Hearings

The resolution supplementing Ordinance No. 3031-16; authorizing the issuance of not to exceed $21 million Electric Refunding Revenue Bonds, Series 2016 for the purpose of refunding a portion of the city’s outstanding Electric Refunding and Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2007, was approved.

A full copy of the March 28 City Commission minutes will be available at cityofwinterpark.org/ccminutes the week of April 11, pending approval by the City Commission.

Beware of fraud

Recently, several utility customers have reported that they have been contacted by individuals or organizations claiming to represent the city of Winter Park. These fictitious representatives threaten to turn off utility services if funds are not submitted. Although our Utility Billing Customer Service representatives do occasionally contact customers, if asked, they can always provide information that only the customer and the city would know in order to validate the call is legitimate.

• Winter Park customers who have delinquent accounts receive multiple notifications from the city prior to utility services being disconnected. Customers never receive just a single notification one hour before disconnection.

• Winter Park never requires customers who have delinquent accounts to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid utility services being disconnected. Customers can make payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail or in person at Winter Park City Hall.

• To guard against fraud, never share personal information, including your birthday, social security number or bank account information.

• For questions regarding your utility account, please call Utility Billing Customer Service at 407-599-3220. If you receive a suspicious phone call, or feel you are the victim of fraud, please hang up immediately and contact the Winter Park Police Department at 407-644-1313.

Refine the city’s vision at Weekends in the Park

The city of Winter Park, members of the Visioning Steering Committee, and co-creators will be at a neighborhood park near you, Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 3. They will be asking for your help to refine the draft vision statements and identify the big ideas that can fulfill the vision.

This weekend, the visioning team is coming to you at the following locations, dates and times, where you can attend at your convenience and when your schedule allows:

Saturday, April 2

8 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Ward Park, Loch Lomond Drive

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, 1050 W. Morse Blvd.

9 a.m. to noon: Phelps Park, Phelps Avenue

1 to 4 p.m.: Harland Park, Timberlane Drive

2 to 5 p.m.: Howell Branch Preserve, 1205 Howell Branch Road

Sunday, April 3

9 a.m. to noon: Azalea Lane Park, 1045 Azalea Lane

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Mead Botanical Gardens, 1300 S. Denning Drive

2 to 5 p.m.: Phelps Park, Phelps Avenue

2 to 5 p.m.: Orwin Manor Park, 3200 N. Orange Ave.

While the adults participate, the city will also offer kid-friendly activities and visioning exercises to engage the children, so that everyone, regardless of age, can share their ideas and input.

For more information regarding Vision Winter Park and to review the draft vision statements, please visit visionwinterpark.org, email [email protected], or call 407-599-3665, option 1.

Earth Day in the Park

The City of Winter Park will proudly host Earth Day in the Park on Sunday, April 10. This fun-filled event, presented by the city of Winter Park’s Sustainability Program and Keep Winter Park Beautiful (KWPB), will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Central Park. Ceremonial events from the main stage will include a mayor’s welcome and Winter Park Green School Grant Award presentations. In celebration of Arbor Day, certified arborists from the city’s Urban Forestry Division will be on site to answer questions and give away an assortment of one-gallon containerized trees for city residents to plant at home. Also, a 15-gallon tree will be raffled with the winner being announced at 2:30 p.m.

For a complete schedule and more information regarding the Earth Day in the Park, please visit cityofwinterpark.org/earthday or call 407-599-3364.

For more information regarding the City of Winter Park, please visit the city’s official website at cityofwinterpark.org. Like, follow and watch us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, and YouTube.