General Items
State of the City
Please join Mayor Buddy Dyer on Tuesday, April 5, at 10:30 a.m., in Council Chambers, for his annual State of the City Address.
He will share how together we can build a more connected Orlando. For more information or to watch online, visit cityoforlando.net.
Cattle Drive
On Monday, April 4, Mayor Dyer will join with our regional partners in the City of Kissimmee and Osceola County to serve as Honorary Trail Boss for the 2016 Cattle Drive which will kickoff the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo.
The cattle drive will start on the Osceola County Courthouse Lawn, where back in the “old days”, lost cattle could be claimed after their owner was notified by the Courthouse.
The event will also be the first time in decades, real Florida cattle will be trotting through the historic streets of Downtown Kissimmee.
Education Equality Index
Through our after school, summer and mentoring programs, the City of Orlando works year-round to impact the academic success of more than 10,000 children, and our efforts are working.
According to the national Education Equality Index, which was released last week, the achievement gap between Orlando students from low-income families and their more advantaged peers is narrowing at a strong rate.
The index shows that the achievement gap in Orlando is narrowing faster than 90-percent of major U.S. cities.
Mayor Dyer thanked the Commissioners for their partnerships in these programs.
Items of Note
PACE –City Hall Energy Upgrades
City Council voted on an item that will provide financing options for residential and commercial building owners seeking to make improvements to their property including energy and water efficiency upgrades, furthering our goal of becoming one of the most sustainable cities in America.
Council voted to establish a non-exclusive Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing program that will allow for three PACE administrators to operate in our City limits and offer financing opportunities for property owners to make these improvements.
This step builds on our efforts to make our buildings greener, an effort that the City is also taking on.
Through federal grants and bonds, we’re investing more than $19 million in energy efficiency improvements at 55 city buildings including City Hall, Amway Center, our wastewater treatment plants, fire stations and community centers. At completion, this project will save the City up to $2.5 million per year in energy costs and the savings will help to pay for the cost of the new police headquarters currently under construction.
This April, during Earth Month, share with us on social media how you will #SpringIntoSustainability.
Pi Pizza in Parramore
City Council voted on an item that will help to further support our small businesses and continuing to invest in our Parramore neighborhood.
Through our Business Assistance Program, City Council voted on funding to Pi Pizza, an expanding local business that plans to occupy approximately 2,200 square feet of existing space, complete interior renovations and create up to 10 new, full time jobs.
USTA Agreement
Lake Nona is already recognized for Medical City, and the United States Tennis Association’s National Campus will be part of its growing sports district, which will also include the new Orlando City Soccer Club training facility.
When it opens later this year, the tennis campus will serve as the new home for American tennis. With more than 100 courts, the facility will host training and tournaments year round, and impact our economy by creating more than 150 high-wage jobs and adding to our tourism industry with an estimated 50,000 hotel bookings per year.
The national campus will also home of the USTA’s Player Development Program, whose upcoming session starts in June. Council voted on an item that will allow UTSA to rent 10 courts at the Orlando Tennis Centre from June to November, providing a home for the player development program until the campus in Lake Nona is complete.
Residents will still have access to the tennis center during this period, and while utilizing the tennis center, the USTA will host free clinics for adults and children, including youth from our Parramore Kidz Zone and recreation programs.
NRPA Disney Parks Build Grant
Part of our commitment to being a City for Everyone is providing amenities for all residents to enjoy.
April is Earth Month, and we are again joining the National Recreation and Park Association’s Parks Build Community initiative, which helps make improvements to parks and community centers across the country, including right here in Orlando.
One of our three City parks and community centers will receive a $20,000 grant and Orlando residents get to choose which one. Projects our residents will get to choose from are:
- Engelwood Neighborhood Center community garden
- Poppy Park basketball court revitalization
- Fitness pods at Al Coith Park
Voting opens April 1, and runs through April 30, at the National Recreation and Park Association website at NRPA.org.
New Business – HPB minutes & BZA
Council heard one item covering two separate land development applications for a proposed new two-story accessory structure in the backyard of 722 E. Amelia St.
This case generated the need for the workshop presented by Dean Grandin and Richard Forbes at the last Council meeting.
The first application, which City Council tabled at a previous meeting is HPB2016-00001, requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed new building. The Historic Preservation Board recommended approval with a number of conditions, including a condition that the new building be at least 10′ from the rear property line.
The second application is for a zoning variance; case number VAR2016-00006. In this case, the Board of Zoning Adjustment recommended approval of a zoning variance to allow the building to be just 5′ from the rear property line.
At the workshop a couple weeks ago, there was a consensus by this board to side with the expertise of the HPB on these matters going forward, but we still need to dispose of these applications.
Staff recommendation was to approve the HPB’s recommendation in this case because they believe a 10′ rear yard setback is consistent with the historic pattern of development in this part of Lake Eola Heights.
