Winter Park CoffeeTalks brew conversations with elected officials, city leaders

Want to “espresso” your thoughts to Winter Park City Commissioners? Have a “latte” on your mind?

The city has just the place where any resident can chat directly with elected officials and the city manager.

Winter Park poured out a new CoffeeTalk Friday, July 28, as City Manager Randy Knight spoke to a group of about 10 residents, launching another series during which residents are given a chance to talk issues with city leaders.

The group of Winter Parkers met with Knight over coffee at the Winter Park Welcome Center, where they discussed everything from reckless jet-skiers at night on lakes and canals to what will become of the old library building.

“People can just talk to their elected officials and city manager about whatever is on their mind,” Director of Communications Clarissa Howard said. “It could be anything. Some people come and they talk about their street, their house or a specific tree. Others come and talk about bigger picture, larger policy decisions.”

The city first launched CoffeeTalk in 2005 — an idea created by Howard and Assistant Director of Communications Craig O’Neil in response to residents looking to express their thoughts to the City Commission without the stage fright of speaking during a public meeting.

“People were intimidated to come and talk and be in the dais setting,” Howard said. “We wanted to create this intimate, more informal, casual environment for people to talk to their elected officials and city leaders in a less intimidating way.”

“I think it’s helpful,” Knight said. “People don’t get a chance to have casual conversations in a normal City Commission meeting. It’s been good.”

Speaking during a meeting also can make residents feel rushed, while CoffeeTalks allow for a more natural conversation, Winter Park resident David Williams said.

“This is how a resident can really gain access to the city manager,” he said. “I go to the planning and zoning meetings and the regular meetings that are scheduled. When things affect me, I go there. You get three minutes — that little snippet of time to say something. You can’t even express yourself and your concerns.”

There’s an average of about 20 people who attend the CoffeeTalks, with the mayor always drawing the biggest crowd. 

As more city tools have become available to residents over the years, the questions from residents have become even more specific, Howard said. At CoffeeTalks, the public gets a chance not only to discuss what is happening in the city but also the reasoning behind the decisions made by elected officials.

“You can go to a commission meeting and hear the decisions and the vote, but at the CoffeeTalk you can ask why,” Howard said. “It’s more of an individual conversation you can have.”