Ocoee discusses tightening code enforcement

The Ocoee City Commission was presented with an update on the Operation Clean Street effort during its meeting Tuesday, Dec. 2. 

Code enforcement and the police, fire, building and planning departments were involved in the operation conducted Aug. 27 in Ocoee’s downtown mixed-used area.

Ocoee Police Chief Vincent Ogburn said the operation was conducted to identify and document violations of municipal codes and ordinances to ensure the public’s safety from hazardous conditions. The departments checked 45 properties, issued 33 property citations, 12 parking citations and three fire code violations. Of the properties cited, 20 have since come into compliance. 

After being presented the results of the operation, commissioners asked staff to bring back proposals that can tighten enforcement — especially for commercial violators and oversized vehicles in residential areas. The commission expressed concerns that fines are not deterring frequent offenders. 

“People don’t care, because they think we can’t do anything,” Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson said.

Ogburn recommended the commission continue to conduct multi-department sweeps, increase community education and institute a clearer fine structure. Under state law, fines reach $250 for first-time offenses, $500 for second offenses and up to $5,000 for irreparable violations.

TNXL PROPOSES LAND PURCHASE

The commission read a letter of intent from TNXL Academy Ducks LLC to purchase 8.97 acres at 1755 Adair Street and a 1.3-acre portion of 1701 Adair St. for $2.2 million. 

TNXL Academy is under a lease agreement, which was approved July 18, 2019, by the commission. A first amendment approved construction of a permanent building at the site and a second amendment gave TNXL $640,000 in capital investment for facility improvements. The second amendment Dec. 17, 2024, also reduced TNXL’s lease payments, and Ocoee maintains access to to two baseball fields from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays.

If the purchase is approved, TNXL would replace the functions of the two fields at Bob Sorenson Park with similar fields at Vignetti Park and maintain city access to the Sorenson Fields, under the same hours. 

District 1 Commissioner Scott Kennedy expressed his concerns with the price. He said there isn’t enough in the proposed packet to justify the $2.2 million, so he would need further negotiation to be convinced to sell the property. 

District 4 Commissioner George Oliver III echoed the concerns. 

“Land isn’t something you can manufacture,” Oliver said, emphasizing the need for Ocoee to have more stake in the property it already owns. 

The commission requested for TNXL to formalize negotiations and return with a detailed purchase agreement for the commission to review.