Winter Garden leaders approve higher rates for farmers market vendors

The Winter Garden City Commission unanimously approved three site plans during its meeting Thursday, Feb. 12.

The first site plan approved was for Resurrection Catholic Church at 1211 Winter Garden-Vineland Road. The plan is to renovate the church, narthex expansion and redesign the courtyard and parking, including converting some of the paved areas to grass parking to improve on site stormwater conditions. 

Commissioners approved two site plans on West Colonial Drive. 

The approval of the site plan at 13905 W. Colonial Drive will allow Encore Winter Garden, an RV resort, to demolish the existing 1,832-square-foot, two-story office building and construct a new 1,832-square-foot, single-story office building. The building will be the front office building for the resort and improvements include new concrete walkways around the building and a new pedestrian handicap ramp. 

The approval of the site plan at 14134 W. Colonial Drive allows the applicant, Covenant Group, to construct a two-tenant, 5,000-square-foot commercial building in the West Market master development. The proposed site improvements include additional landscaping and parking for the building. 

Vendors pay more for Farmers Market

The commission unanimously approved an amendment to the Farmers Market license agreement that would require each vendor per 10-foot-by-10-foot-space occupied to pay a $5 amenity fee. 

The license agreement was approved and executed July 24, 2025, between the city and Red Top Productions Inc. to govern the market’s operations. 

The agreement did not include the city charging a fee to Red Top Productions for operating the Farmers Market. 

To help offset the cost to maintain the market as well as the downtown space, including the pavilion restrooms and programming, the city proposed the $5 amenity fee, which Red Top Productions will assess as an additional fee all vendors will pay for their weekly market participation. 

The fee will go into effect Saturday, March 7. 

Vendors currently pay about $40 per 10-foot-by-10-foot space. The $5 fee will bring the cost up to $45 per vendor. Marc Hutchinson, the economic development director for the city, said the Farmers Market has about 100 vendors each week. 

Property tax reform’s potential impacts

During city manager comments, Jon C. Williams notified commissioners and residents of information available on the city’s website regarding the state’s proposed property tax reform and its impact on Winter Garden.

Several property tax reform proposals, including eliminating all non-school local property taxes for qualifying homestead properties, are on the table. 

Winter Garden potentially could lose $13.8 million annually, or 20% of its operating budget, in revenue if all non-school local property taxes for qualifying homestead properties are eliminated, while ensuring public safety is not compromised. 

If the property tax reform passes, residents still would pay school and special district taxes, which represents 43% of the property tax bill. The remaining 57% of the tax bill provides the funds needed for city services, programs and amenities. This portion is where homestead properties would be exempt from paying. 

Winter Garden’s tax base is 68% residential. Of those homes, 67% have a homestead exemption. 

If the current property tax structure remains unchanged, the city will have $70.3 million in revenue, of which $36.6 million is budgeted for police and fire and $4.4 million is budgeted for debt and Community Reinvestment Act transfers. This would leave the city with a $29.3 million operating budget. 

If eliminating taxes on homesteaded property is approved, there will be a revenue loss of $13.8 million, leaving the city with a $15.5 million operating budget if the city continues to budget $36.6 million for police and fire and $4.4 million for debt and CRA transfers. 

The operating budget is used to operate and maintain parks, operate recreation programs, maintain streets and sidewalks, fund city special events, fund capital projects and maintain landscaping. 

The loss in revenue could result in higher millage rates, additional special assessments, increased fees for services and potential cuts to city services including local amenities.