While it has dominated our conversations for the past few years, we can't review 2011 and not mention the venues.  I was honored to participate in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts groundbreaking in June and have enjoyed watching its construction from my City Hall vantage point these past six months.

We were also excited to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the Amway Center in October.  It is great to see that the Predators are back and will soon be joined at the Amway by the minor league hockey team, the Solar Bears. Our 2011 USL Pro Champion Orlando City Soccer Club begin their 2012 season at the Citrus Bowl on February 18 at 7 p. With the NBA lockout behind us, we are eagerly anticipating the NBA All Star Game on February 26, 2012.  This will be the second time the game has been played in Orlando; the first time was in 1992, and what a game it was, with both Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan playing that year. I am excited to see history being made again now 20 years later and am thankful for the economic boost that the game will bring to our Central Florida community.

Speaking of an economic boost, it was exciting to be in Central Florida between Christmas and New Year's to participate in Bowl Week. Just three days after the teams were announced for the Champs Sports Bowl, tickets to the game sold out, for the first time since this bowl moved to Orlando in 2001.  Those 67,000 fans joined the fans from the University of South Carolina and the University of Nebraska who were here to watch their teams compete at the Citrus Bowl. 

For me, the fact that we do not currently have the funds to fully renovate the Citrus Bowl hits close to home since my father was instrumental in bringing a bowl game here to Orlando and to the Citrus Bowl in the 1940s.  The George Stuart Memorial Trophy is presented to the winner of the Capital One Bowl and a 12-foot tall replica of the trophy watches over the Citrus Bowl right outside its front entrance. The statue was dedicated by Mayor Bill Frederick in 1991, following the last renovation of the stadium.  Visionaries like my father understood that football and the Citrus Bowl were not just good for fans, they were good for our economy and good for building community.  Last year, the Champs and Capital One Bowls alone generated $105,145,243 in economic activity for Central Florida.  Along with Mayor Dyer, I will work hard to find a way to bring the full renovation of the Citrus Bowl to fruition in the coming years.

Earlier this week, WFTV did a special on the history of the Citrus Bowl and the bowl games.  Click here to watch the program.

While the venues certainly provide positive economic impact to our community, it is our small businesses that make up the backbone of our City.  2011 was an exciting year in the District 3 Main Street districts including College Park, Ivanhoe Village and the Audubon Park Garden District.  2011 saw new stores and restaurants open and innovative events take place throughout the community.  It is my hope that our residents will continue to see the importance of patronizing our local businesses during 2012 and beyond.

Another area that influences our economy is transportation and 2011 marked the beginning of some great projects here in Orlando and throughout Central Florida. Not only did SunRail become a reality, with construction beginning in 2012, and the first 31 mile phase being completed in 2014, but a few of the other pieces of the connectivity puzzle are also falling into place.

Since 2010, the City, along with its consultant, has been evaluating the possible expansion of the downtown bus rapid transit system, better known here as LYMMO.  The study looked at the idea of expanding the system both east/west as well as north/south.  After much public input, an east/west route was chosen and the City went after federal dollars to develop the route.  In September 2011, the City was awarded the funds and we are now in the process of selecting a contractor.  Construction is estimated to start during fall of 2012 with project completion expected in late 2013, to coincide with the opening of SunRail. The route generally follows Central Blvd to Summerlin Avenue to W. South Street to Westmoreland Drive. The City also received funding earlier last year, through another federal grant, to move forward on an expanded LYMMO route that will service the Parramore area as well as the Creative Village once it is developed.

Now we are focusing solely on finalizing the recommendation for a north/south corridor of the LYMMO system.  While funding is not in place yet, we need to have the project shovel ready to go after federal funds and grants to bring the project to fruition. As our LYMMO consultants say, "we need to know where LYMMO needs to go." With that in mind, please consider attending the North Corridor public open house on January 26th from 6:30 - 8 p at the Mennello Museum, 900 E. Princeton Street. 

While some may think they would never ride a bus, a BRT system is different.  I utilize LYMMO in the downtown corridor often-from City Hall to go to a lunch meeting near Lake Eola, or to drop something off at Fire Station One.  Think of the possibilities... a Florida Hospital employee having lunch on Virginia Drive or doing some quick shopping on Edgewater... or having dinner with some friends along the Drive and then taking LYMMO downtown for a concert and not having to pay for parking. 

The City is also focused on expanding our pedestrian opportunities. We are working on improving and expanding our trail system, including the Dinky Line Trail and the Orlando Urban Trail. We also received a federal grant to build 18 miles of new sidewalks in the City, many in the traditional city neighborhoods.  For more information on our Orlando Walks program, please click here.