Watch the City Council meeting online
General Items of Note:
NY Times Recognition
In Sunday’s New York Times, Orlando was named one of the top 52 places to go in 2015. We were ranked #13 and noted as a destination – not just because of our great attractions, but also because of SunRail, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, our future soccer stadium and our unique businesses and restaurants in our Downtown and Main Street Districts.
Same Sex Marriage Re-cap
Last Tuesday, the City hosted the first same-sex wedding ceremony in which 44 couples had the opportunity to get married as the State of Florida become the 36th state (plus D.C.) to provide marriage equality for all.
The lifting of this ban on same-sex marriage in our State helps us to continue to advance civil rights and equal treatment for all of Orlando’s residents and provides more than 1,200 legal and economic protections for same-sex families.
Mayor Buddy Dyer would like to thank MBA Orlando who helped organize this event and to all our local businesses that donated their services, making this day extra special.
3 Year Anniversary of Domestic Partnership Registry
And on the heals last week’s historic day for equality, this week we celebrate the 3-Year Anniversary of our City’s implementation of the Domestic Partnership Registry. This registry was approved by the Orlando City Council in December 2011 creating the City’s first-ever Domestic Partnership Registry.
Since then, 13 other Florida jurisdictions have used the City of Orlando’s registry as a model. Currently, more than 1,300 couples have registered on the registry.
Bike Share
Last Friday we celebrated the launch of the Orlando Bike Share program. With this program, bicycles are able to be rented on a short-term basis – providing another affordable transportation option for our residents and visitors.
This first phase of Bike Share includes 20 bicycles at four different locations. An additional 16 stations are planned for the second phase, which will provide 180 more bicycles by the spring of 2015 for a total of 200 bicycles at 20 stations throughout Downtown Orlando.
The Bike Share program utilizes GPS, smart phone capability, and website technology to access memberships and rent bicycles.
For more information and to become a member, visit Orlandobikeshare.com.
2015 MLK Parade and Events
The Mayor recognized his Mayor’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, our MLK Sponsors and our student Humanitarian Award Recipients, who were selected by their schools because they embody the ideals, like justice, fairness and inclusion, that Dr. King advocated for.
Join us and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at several upcoming events, including:
- The 10th Annual MLK Leadership Forum on Thursday at the Florida A.& M College of Law in Downtown Orlando
- The City of Hope concert and performance at 7 p.m. on Friday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church
- The 31st Annual MLK Holiday Parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday
- The Great Day of Service activities on Monday at several locations.
Please visit MLKOrlando.com for a complete calendar of events, with times, locations and more information.
Stanley Cup at City Hall & 2015 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic
We are looking forward to hosting the 2015 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic at the Amway Center on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, where our Solar Bears will take on All Stars from across the country.
As part of the All-Star Classic week activities, the Solar Bears are bringing the Stanley Cup to City Hall on Tuesday, January 20. It will be located in the Rotunda and open to the public for photos from 12 – 1 p.m.
Our Amway Center is hosting yet another major event and continues to draw people from all over to our downtown to experience our urban core and patronize our businesses, restaurants and venues.
DPAC Parcel 3 Hotel Development Site
As part of the continued development of Downtown Orlando, the City is leading an effort to secure a hotel adjacent to the Dr. Phillips Center on a 34,000 square foot vacant commercial outparcel located at the southeast corner of Orange Avenue and South Street.
This opportunity would bring additional upscale hotel rooms to serve the Arts Center and our other Downtown venues.
A Public Notice soliciting proposals was advertised on Monday, January 5th. Interested parties have until 3 p.m., Wednesday, February 4th to submit proposals.
For more information on the site and development opportunity, please visit the Real Estate Management Department page on the City’s website.
Ordinance 2nd Read #1 – Ace Café
The Project DTO Task Force has been working to create a roadmap for the next 10 years for our Downtown to continue its revitalization and attracting new people and unique experiences that appeal to everyone. Over the past few months, we have had great success opening several new large-scale venues and businesses that support us in this effort. And there are still more to come!
The development for Ace Café was on the second read Monday. The Mayor called on Thomas Chatmon, DDB/CRA Executive Director, to give the Council a brief presentation on this exciting project.
Agenda Items of Note:
EDV #6 – Artistic Mural Process
A proposed process that will help us to continue to encourage artistic murals in our community and create an easier, more streamlined approval process was on Monday’s agenda.
As our Downtown and the surrounding Main Streets have grown, it’s been great to see more and more public art, including murals that help create vibrant districts and supports place-making in our Main Streets.
Mayor Buddy Dyer thanked Commissioner Sheehan for her leadership on this issue and recognized the steps we are taking to continue making our City a leader for arts, culture and entertainment in Central Florida.
