Ocoee plans to crack down on parking violations

At the June 17 Ocoee City Commission meeting, Ocoee Police Chief Vincent Ogburn and Assistant City Manager Michael Rumer presented their review and recommendations to the commission regarding the strengthening of existing traffic enforcement measures to deter motorists from parking illegally within the city. 

“In response to concerns raised at the May 6 commission meeting, during which the commission highlighted the need to strengthen deterrence against motors who disregarded no parking signage and failed to comply with the existing traffic management measures,” Ogburn said. “Since that time, in collaboration with other staff members, we’ve conducted a review of best management practices and developed a comprehensive set of policy and enforcement recommendations. These recommendations are designed to enhance parking compliance and improve the overall effectiveness of code enforcement efforts.”

The first recommendation made was the implementation of escalating penalties for repeat parking offenders. The first citation will remain at its current amount of $40 but the second will rise to $75, the third $100 and the fourth $250 with the towing or immobilization of the vehicle at the owner’s expense. Ogburn also recommended the city authorize the immobilization or towing of a vehicle that remains in violation for 48 hours after receiving a citation.

“I want the highest level of enforcement and the most punitive level of fining,” Ocoee Commissioner Scott Kennedy said. “I got a red light camera ticket the other day and it was $158. … I think that’s completely different than intentionally and deliberately parking in a no parking zone and so the fine should be at least that much. I like the 48 hour notice with the fine, and I like the immobilization and the towing.”

Currently under city ordinance, the chief of police is authorized to report violators with three or more unpaid citations to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which would block violators from renewing vehicle registrations until they come into compliance with their parking violations. 

Other recommendations presented to the commission were seeking authorization for the research and procurement of tools to improve the police department’s capabilities to track parking violations, increasing the visibility of signage in problem areas and the streamlining of enforcement procedures to ensure consistent application of penalties and notices.

“(Our) code enforcement recommendation (is) a new snipe sign strategy of multiple daily scans of corridors with weekend support from the patrol officers,” Ogburn said. “(We) recommend the commission authorize the staff to conduct sweeps of all areas, beginning with the downtown redevelopment area and thirdly, (we) recommend the commission authorize code officers to seek maximum fines for all violations.”

In other news

• During the June 17 Ocoee Commission, Mayor Rusty Johnson read a proclamation declaring June 19 as Juneteenth Independence Day in Ocoee. “The city of Ocoee does hereby proclaim June the 19th, 2025, as Juneteenth Independence Day for all Americans as a time to learn more about our common past and to better understand the experiences that have shaped our nation,” Johnson said. 
• The commission unanimously approved — with Commissioner Richard Firstner absent — without discussion the annexation and rezoning from Orange County R-1 (single-family dwelling district) to Ocoee R-1A (single-family dwelling district) of three properties: 508, 518 and 524 Woodson Ave.  
• With their terms set to expire this month, Code Enforcement Board members Joe Bandur, who currently serves as chair, and Laini Schultz were reappointed for another three-year term by the commission. William Mann, another member of the board who’s term is set to expire, has not yet responded to the city about his interest in being reappointed. His seat will be considered vacant at the end of the month. The purpose of this board is to review residential property infractions of the city’s technical codes, negotiate compliance and impose fines for failure to comply. 
• Doug Gaines, Ocoee Parks and Leisure Services deputy director, presented plans for the city’s annual Ocoee Remembers memorial event, which honors and pays tribute to the descendants of the African Americans who were victims of the 1920 Ocoee Election Day Massacre. This year, the event is planned for Saturday, Nov. 1 and will include a public ceremony from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Unity Park, followed by an invite-only reception from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Ocoee Lakeshore Center.