Watch the City Council Workshop and Meeting online.
Workshop
Budget Work session FY2017/18
On Monday, July 10, City Council held its first Budget Workshop as the City approaches the 17/18 Fiscal Year.
Mayor Buddy Dyer thanked Commissioners for their continued leadership in helping prioritize budget options as well as make the difficult choices that keep the City on strong financial footing. He said we are finally moving past the economic recession but that doesn’t mean a windfall of funding as pressure continues from the State Legislature in the form of another property tax amendment and new revenue limitations.
Last year, the City was fortunate to experience increasing revenues reflective of the growing economy and and these funds were allocated to Public Safety, City Parks and Recreation Programs and Infrastructure. In In Monday’s Budget Workshop, preliminary numbers that again direct our finances to further benefit our community – all without raising our millage rate, were presented.
We must remain committed to responsible spending and delivering our core services at the high quality our residents expect.
City Council
Mayor Buddy Dyer announced at the top of the meeting that Council will defer Ordinances 1st read #4 related to billboards to the July 24, 2017 meeting.
Mayor Dyer also pulled Hearings/Ordinances 1st read #2 related to medical marijuana dispensaries. He has asked staff to review this ordinance and evaluate the status of the ordinance the City previously passed.
General Update
Commissioner Sheehan’s Birthday
Mayor Dyer asked Commissioners to join him in wishing District 4 Commissioner Patty Sheehan a Happy Birthday. Her birthday was last week on the July, 6.
State of the City
On Friday, July 21, at 10:30 a.m. in Council Chambers, Mayor Dyer will deliver his 14th State of the City Address. This year’s speech will be a joint State of the City – Budget address.
During his address, he will focus on how we will continue to transition from a city that was packed with potential to one that is realizing its potential. Some key topics he will address include: smart planning and growth, housing, transportation, safety and our efforts to shape Orlando into a smart, sustainable city that has opportunities for everyone, especially our young people.
All the State of the City information, including a live stream, can be found on our website cityoforlando.net/SOC.
Items of Note:
Transportation # 1 – John Young Parkway Crosswalk Enhancements
On Monday, July 10, Council voted on an item that will support the City’s ongoing efforts to enhance pedestrian and transportation safety in Orlando. Later this year while the Florida Department of Transportation works to widen a portion of John Young Parkway, from north of Colonial Drive to Shader Road, the City will fund upgrades to pedestrian crosswalks.
Patterned pavement crosswalks, which make crosswalks more visible to both drivers and pedestrians, will be installed at the Colonial Drive, Lynx Lane, Silver Star Road and Shader Road intersections.
CRA Item #3
Item #3 under the CRA was ‘re-agenda’ed’ at the request of Commissioner Hill at the last CRA meeting. Commissioner Hill explained her proposed motion was to amend something previously adopted relating to the “Ranking and Contract Negotiations for Design-Build Services for CRA Parramore Residential Housing (RFP17-0247). She proposed to award the work on the initial 10 homes to the top two ranked vendors, with five or six sites going to the top ranked firm and four or five going to the second ranked firm.
Ordinance 1st read #7
Due to recent court rulings, we are updating our panhandling and solicitation ordinance. Mayor Dyer called on Alex Karden to give a brief presentation that outlines the changes.
