Workshop
Mayor Buddy Dyer delivered the 2015/2016 Budget Address during Monday morning’s workshop. Click here to watch Mayor Dyer’s Budget Address online. Click here to read the Mayor’s Budget Address.
City Council
Watch the Council meeting online.
General Items
National Night Out
Year-round the Orlando Police Department supports more than 960 active Neighborhood Watches that play an important role in keeping crime out of our community.
On August 4th we will celebrate the success of our Neighborhood Watch Program by participating in National Night Out. National Night Out is our annual community-building campaign that promotes police, community and neighborhood partnerships with the goal of making our neighborhoods a safer and better place to live. This annual event provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
Last year, our City’s National Night Out events drew more than 16,000 participants. This year we want to double that number. So I encourage all our residents to sign up on our website to host your own National Night Event on August 4th.
We are fortunate to have great community partners who support our National Night Out activities, like the Target Community Engagement Grant that was approved by City Council Monday, July 27, 2015. Thanks to the following sponsors for making this event possible: Target, Orlando Health, ADT, Channel 13 News, OUC, Sedano’s, WellCare, Orlando Fashion Square and Cox Radio.
I look forward to joining the Police and Fire Chiefs and our Commissioners on August 4th as we visit several National Night Out Parties.
Safety Near Railroad Crossings
Mayor Dyer wants to remind everyone to be smart and safe along the rail system. It’s important to practice safe driving and walking habits, especially near train tracks. Whether you live and work near railroad tracks, or drive over them during your daily commute, you should have an understanding of rail safety.
The City has partnered with the SunRail team to help promote safety messages such as: observe all railroad signs, cross tracks at designated areas, always look for a second train and avoid distractions.
For more tips on train safety visit Sunrail.com.
Main Street Restaurant Week and Awards
The Orlando Main Streets have two great events coming up. On Tuesday, July 28, the City will host the Main Street awards event which is an opportunity for us to recognize our Main Streets and their members for the great work they do to make our City a great place to live work and start a business.
The second is our very first Main Street Restaurant week taking place the first week in August (Saturday, August 1 – Saturday, August 8, 2015). This is an opportunity for all our residents to try out our great restaurants in our Main Streets with a pre-fixe menu. You can find out about the restaurants participating at mainstreetrestaurantweek.com.
Reggie Mcgill Birthday
During Monday’s Council meeting, Mayor Dyer wished a Happy Birthday to the City’s Director of Constituent Relations, Reggie Mcgill. The Council made a proclamation that Tuesday, July 28, is Reggie Mcgill day in the City of Orlando.
Items of Note:
Business Assistance Agreements
There were two small business assistance agreements on Monday’s Council agenda for two businesses in our Main Street Districts.
- Mills Park in Mills 50 will welcome Yamasan, a new Japanese restaurant that will create eight new jobs.
- A Gateway Orlando-area group medical practice, Unlimited Medical Services of Florida, is expanding into a new location and making a $4 million investment allowing it to better serve its patients.
Both of these small businesses qualify for assistance with their sewer and transportation impact fees through our Small Business Assistance Program. The program was created to remove financial barriers for businesses looking to locate or expand in our City.
Mayor Dyer recognized Carmen Santiago with Unlimited Medical Services of Florida and Jian Lin, owner of Yamasan Japanese Restaurant who were in Council Chambers Monday. Mayor thanked them for their investment in and commitment to Orlando.
Annexation: Starwood
We have had a long-term vision for the growth of the southeast section of our City and continuing to build on the success of Medical City. A property owner has recently approached us and filed an application for voluntary annexation of just more than 2,500 acres into the City.
There was a petition as well as a Memorandum of Terms on Monday’s agenda which outlined the partnership between the City and property owner to partially fund the road network and facilitate the private clean up of land also owned by this property owner that is already in the City of Orlando.
These new roadways will improve connectivity in the southeast area of the City and County and ensure our transportation network supports the mixed use development that will follow. These new developments will support our Medical City and the growing areas of East Orange County near UCF.
Mayor Dyer recognized John Brunetti Sr., John Brunetti Jr., Rob Yeager, Randi Fitzgerald and Kathy Putnam who were in attendance for Monday’s meeting on behalf of this project. Mayor thanked them for their partnership and willingness to ensure quality growth for our great City.
Mayor Dyer also recognized FJ Flynn, the City’s Deputy Director of Economic Development and Kyle Shephard, Chief Assistant City Attorney for their hard work on the petition for annexation and planning for an extensive roadway network that will provide better connectivity in our community.
