Commissioner Lynum’s Birthday
I would like to take a moment and wish Commissioner Lynum a Happy Birthday which is coming up this Friday, May 11. Happy Birthday Commissioner, I hope you have a great birthday.

Commissioner Diamond’s last meeting
We’ve had to cancel the next meeting in May due to scheduling conflicts, so Commissioner Diamond, as this is your last meeting, I would like to thank you for your 10 years of service to the citizens of Orlando.

Byron Brooks: Induction into Hall of Fame
I want to wish big congratulations to our very own Byron Brooks, who was inducted into the Edgewater High School Hall of Fame this past Saturday, April 28. Byron – from Edgewater’s class of 1979 – is being honored for making a difference in our community in two categories… his community involvement and his professional achievements.

Congratulations Byron and thank you for being an exemplary public servant both in your job and in our community.

Fleet Operation Named as a "Top 100”
I want to congratulate and recognize our Fleet Division for their hard work and excellence. They were recently named as one of the "Top 100" government fleet operations in the country by Government Fleet magazine and 100 Best Fleets for 2012.

Building Safety Month
May is Building Safety Month, a public awareness campaign to help individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create and sustain safe and sustainable structures.

I would like to take this moment to thank all of the City employees, from Economic Development to Public Works, who work to ensure the safety and sustainability of our structures in the City of Orlando. Thank you for all you do, every day to keep our community safe.

Small Business Week
This meeting is the only City Council meeting scheduled in the month of May, and I would be remiss if I did not mention National Small Business Week which will occur the week of May 21.

Small businesses are the backbone of both our City and national economy and drive our local economy by creating new jobs and opportunities for residents.

• There are 27.2 million small businesses in America that create between 60% and 80% of all new jobs nationwide.
• 93% of the businesses in Orlando have less than 50 employees.

I invite everyone to join me in celebrating National Small Business Week by making a conscious decision to support our small businesses – many of which are located in our Downtown, Main Street districts and part of our Buy Local Orlando initiative.

Items of Note