Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer's Neighborhood Briefing

November 2010

Greetings,

During the month of November, we pay special tribute to our veterans and active military. Join me on Saturday, November 13th in Downtown Orlando at 11 a.m. for the City’s Veterans Day Parade. This annual parade, hosted by my Veterans Advisory Council, will honor our military men and women. Bring the entire family and enjoy local marching bands, parade floats and salute the men and women from more than 150 Central Florida veterans’ organizations. For more details on the parade, including parade route and parking information, visit cityoforlando.net.


This time of year, we also celebrate Thanksgiving. Our entire City family wishes you and yours a happy Thanksgiving holiday. During this season of thanks, I continue to be grateful to all of you, our neighborhood leaders, for your dedication and commitment to making our City a great place to live, work and play.


My regards,

Mayor Buddy Dyer
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Strengthen Orlando

Neighborhood Best Practices

Has your neighborhood association participated in a group project? If so, we want to know!  The Neighborhood Briefing now showcases Best Practices. This special section is dedicated to highlighting neighborhood events and projects.

For more information or to submit your information contact Cindy Light, Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator at 407.246.2169 or cindy.light@cityoforlando.net.

 

Engelwood Park Cleans Up Well

The Engelwood Park Neighborhood Association held a successful neighborhood clean-up day on October 2nd for the second year in a row. Residents and students from local schools and the University of Central Florida helped in various ways to make this year’s clean-up a fun and exciting event. The residents partnered with the City of Orlando for the clean-up. The City provided the supplies needed to pick up trash along the streets and sidewalks and collected it when the day was through.

The goal of the clean-up was to both beautify the neighborhood, and enhance relationships between residents and local students. After a hard day of work, refreshments were provided as a way to say thank you to the participants. “This clean- up was a success” said Tom Golay, association president, “it provided us with an opportunity for neighbors to get to know each other better while improving our neighborhood.”

For more information on the Englewood Park Neighborhood Association clean-up project,
contact Tom Golay at 407.380.8868 or epna2004@yahoo.com.

For information on starting your own neighborhood association clean-up project contact the
Office of Communications and Neighborhood Relations at 407.246.2169.

Leadership Training– Community Connections Workshop

Maximizing Neighborhood Partnerships - Learn about successful partnerships from inception to implementation. Join experts for a discussion about maximizing the participation of every sector to build your neighborhood and achieve your organization’s goals. Find out how to create and utilize partnerships with businesses, other neighborhood organizations and community and faith-based organizations to create a stronger neighborhood. See enclosed flyer for details. 

Hosted by City of Orlando and Orange County Government
Date & Time:
Saturday, November 13, 2010, 9 – 11 a.m.
Please note the change in time.
Location: Orange County Internal Operations Center, 450 E. South Street

Registration: To register for this workshop, please call Orange County Neighborhood Services at 407.836.0035 or register on-line at ocfl.net/CommunityConnections.

Speakers’ Bureau

Have you ever wanted to learn about all the exciting things happening in the City of Orlando?
Do you want to learn more about our revitalized Downtown, the new community venues,
or enhanced transportation options?

Now you will be able to get the answers to those questions and many more! Mayor Dyer’s Speakers’ Bureau is just one of the many tools the City uses to keep citizens informed, engaged and knowledgeable about their government. This new program is part of our continuing efforts to better serve our residents and organizations. The Speakers’ Bureau is composed of members of Mayor Dyer’s senior staff.

Groups can request speakers by contacting the Office of Communications and Neighborhood Relations at 407.246.3104, or cityoforlando.net for complete details and to submit a request form. There is no cost to utilize the speakers’ bureau.

Fall Fiesta in the Park

The annual Fall Fiesta in the Park is Saturday & Sunday, November 6th and 7th, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. around Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando. Admission is FREE! This year is the 40th anniversary of the Fall Fiesta in the Park, which is one of Orlando's perennial favorite community events set around beautiful Lake Eola Park. You'll have the opportunity to browse through more than 600 arts and crafts booths showcasing unique handmade works, paintings, sculptures, weaving, ceramics, jewelry and plants. Fall Fiesta in the Park features an extensive food court area, showcasing plenty of tasty ethnic foods, as well as classic festival fare. You'll also be treated to live entertainment, by local performers at the Lake Eola Amphitheater, located on the west side of the lake. See attached flyer for more information.

For more information go to cityoforlando.net or call 407.246.3720

Building Citizenship in the Community: Back to Basics

The United States of America is a “federal republic” form of government. A republican form of government takes its name and inspiration from the Roman Republic, There are different types of republics. Some are governed by a constitution, known as constitutional republics, are often headed by a President, and may include branches of government overseeing legislation and judiciary matters. Others are collectives of numerous states, as in the case of the United States, and these are known as federal republics. Parliamentary republics like the United Kingdom have a separate head of state and a head of government who share powers with each other and with a parliament, while Islamic republics are run in accordance with Islamic law.

The strength of the republican form of government relies on the people involved. In some countries, like the United States, citizens are extremely active in their governments, working to reform things they dislike, participating in elections, and holding officials accountable for their actions.

Since most Americans have more daily contact with their local governments it is important for citizens to stay informed and engaged with their City or county government. One of the best ways to stay informed about what is happening with the City of Orlando is by attending or viewing the bimonthly City Council meetings.

The Orlando City Council meets every other Monday, starting at 2 p.m. For a schedule of the City Council meetings, visit cityoforlando.net/cityclerk/citycouncil/calendar.htm. The monthly Council meetings are also listed in the calendar section of this Briefing. The City realizes that not everyone’s schedule allows them to attend City Council meetings, so an alternative to attending the meetings is watching it live on your TV or computer. City Council meetings are broadcast live on Orange TV (Bright House cable 199) and through the City’s web site – cityoforlando.net - click on “Watch Orlando on TV” in the right hand column on the City’s homepage or go directly to cityoforlando.net/council.htm.

Through the City’s web site, you are able to view several past City Council meetings. In addition to the live broadcast on Mondays, the Council meetings are televised during the week after the Council meeting on Bright House Cable 199. For a schedule of when City Council meetings are being televised go to orangecountyfl.net/cms/ORANGEMEDIA/otv and type in City of Orlando in the search box for a schedule.

Neighborhood Champion Award 

In recognition of the many unsung heroes that work hard to keep their neighborhood a great place to live, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer created the Neighborhood Champion Award, which he will present at the annual Neighborhood and Community Summit held in the spring of each year. This award is geared towards City of Orlando residents, 18 or older, that demonstrate exemplary dedication and commitment to neighborhood improvement and sustainability. These individuals are the kind of citizens that consistently make a positive impact in their neighborhoods through their volunteer efforts, neighborhood organizations, or Citizen for Neighborhood Watch groups. Nominations may be submitted throughout the year by completing the online nomination form located on our website, cityoforlando.net. The nominee’s efforts will need to have occurred between February 1, 2010, and February 1, 2011, to be eligible. We will contact the nominator and the nominee after the selection process has been held in March of 2011.

Buy Local Orlando

Buy Local IconBuy Local Orlando connects Orlando's businesses with the buying power of our local community. Visit buylocalorlando.net to register for and print your FREE Buy Local Orlando consumer card and start saving money through special offers and discounts offered at Buy Local Orlando merchants. For more information, visit buylocalorlando.net or call the City’s Economic Development Department at 407.246.3109.

Keep Informed about your City – Subscribe to “City News

City News is the City of Orlando’s weekly electronic newsletter delivered to your e-mail every Friday.

City News keeps you up-to-date on what is happening in Orlando by featuring a message from the Mayor, City Council updates and information on City programs, services and events. If you would like to receive City News, please go online to cityoforlando.net/elected/subscribe2/index.htm.

Community Venues Update

Amway Center Opening, A Huge Success!

Mayor Buddy Dyer cut the ribbon at the new Amway Center and officially opened its doors on October 1st. The ribbon-cutting was followed by his annual State of Downtown Address where more than 4,000 people were in attendance. The opening video, shown on the largest video scoreboard in the Northern Hemisphere, showcased the construction of the Amway Center and the excitement this venue brings to Orlando.

The Community Open House, held on October 2nd, was attended by more than 50,000 people. The day was filled with tours of the venue, including restaurants and the kids zone, family activities, food tastings, commemorative postcards and much more. Highlights from both of these events can be found on cityoforlando.net. The opening weekend events were just the beginning of an inaugural year that boasts a growing list of world class concerts and sporting events.

Our new Amway Center is a tremendous public asset for our City and the region. For information on upcoming events, please visit amwaycenter.com.

Looking for Information

Go online to the City’s website – cityoforlando.net and click on the “Community Venues” icon in the center towards the bottom of the page or visit cityoforlando.net/elected/venues. If you have questions that are not addressed on the City’s Community Venues web pages, or would like to have a Community Venues presentation at your association meeting, please contact Susan Harris by phone at 407.246.2779 or email susan.harris@cityoforlando.net.

JOBS

The Community Venues BLUEPRINT Employment Office is located at 1200 W. South Street, Orlando (corner of Orange Blossom Trail and South Street.) - 407.246.3721. Anyone interested in finding a job with one of the Venues, should go to the BLUEPRINT Employment Office for registration and referral. The office will also provide supportive services to eliminate barriers to employment, if needed. Examples of supportive services are resume writing, bus passes, childcare, tools and mentoring.

Performing Arts Center Speaker’s Bureau

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is spreading the word! Eager to share its mission and vision for a premiere arts and cultural destination in Downtown Orlando, the Dr. Phillips Center has created a speakers bureau comprised of staff, consultants and volunteers to speak to community-based organizations in Orlando and the surrounding Central Florida region. The team will be traveling to local professional, civic, educational, non-profit and neighborhood organizations to present and answer questions about the purpose and progress of the Dr. Phillips Center, as well as provide the direct cultural and economic impact it will bring to the community. The ultimate goal of the speakers bureau is to share the positive momentum leading up to groundbreaking this September and engage all residents in the project. If you are a member of any local organization that would like a member of the Dr. Phillips Center’s speakers bureau to present to your group, please contact Rachel Steele, Associate Director of Communications, at rachel@drphillipscenter.org.

The project team has headed into a new stage focused on construction. Construction bid packages were released on September 20. Responses are due in November to pre-construction manager, Balfour Beatty Construction. Orlando City Council will approve the total construction costs (called GMP) in December. Stay tuned for an announcement of the ground breaking date soon after.

For more information or to bid on construction services for the performing arts center, visitbalfourbeattyus.box.net/shared/kh4jotcxga
 

 

 

 

Public Safety Update

A Message from OPD Chief Val Demings

The mission of the Orlando Police Department is to keep Orlando a safe city by reducing crime and maintaining livable neighborhoods. The 1001 sworn and civilian employees of OPD serve the citizens of Orlando through crime prevention, criminal investigations and apprehension, neighborhood policing, involvement through the schools with young people and overall delivery of police services.

As Chief, I expect our employees and the department to serve Orlando with the highest standards using the best equipment and technology. I’m proud to say that OPD has a strong reputation nationwide.

Last month, OPD hosted the 117th Annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference that was held October 23 – 27, 2010, at the Orange County Convention Center. There were more than 16,000 police executives, exhibitors and their families in attendance. IACP is the world’s oldest and largest organization of police executives, with over 20,000 members from more than 89 countries. It has a reputation for first class workshops and forums, renowned keynote speakers and the largest exhibit hall of products and services for the law enforcement community. The IACP 2010 Conference gave us an opportunity to showcase our great city to the world’s law enforcement leaders.

For more information about the programs and resources of the Orlando Police Department, go online to cityoforlando.net/police.

Get involved in stopping and preventing crime:

Reporting Crime & Suspicious Activity – call 911

Neighborhood Watch – 407.246.2369 - For more information about starting or joining Neighborhood Watch please contact:

Kea Council - Commission Districts 1, 2, 6 - 407.246.3773
Georgeanna Butler - Commission Districts 3, 4, 5 - 407.246.3628

Crime Prevention Presentations/Residential Crime Prevention Surveys – 407.246.2461

Operation Identification – 407.246.2369 – Marking or taking pictures of your property to prove ownership.

Crimeline – 1.800.423.8477 - Available 24 hours a day, taking anonymous tips on any felony criminal activity. Spanish speaking operators available. (If you witness a crime in progress, you should call 911)

Drug Hotline - 407.246.CRAK (2725) – An anonymous hotline for citizens to report drug activity to the Orlando Police Department.

Illegal Gun Bounty Program - call CRIMELINE at 1.800.423.8477. CRIMELINE, along with the City of Orlando, sponsors the very successful Illegal Gun Bounty Program. You are eligible for a $1000.00 reward for information that leads to an arrest, a gun recovery and a weapons charge. You can also remain anonymous.

Green Works Update

Graffiti Hotline

Residents can call in and report graffiti to 407.254.GRAF (4723). This information clearinghouse, managed by Keep Orlando Beautiful, streamlines the process for graffiti removal by working in tandem with City departments and the OPD Gang Enforcement team to aggressively locate and remove graffiti. Residents can also report graffiti online by going to cityoforlando.net/public_works/graffiti/Graffiti.aspx.

2010 Tree Adoption Program

Green Works Orlando - Mayor Dyer's InitiativeThe next Tree Adoption Program is November 13 at Magnolia Park, 2929 Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703 at 8 a.m. City of Orlando residents who want to receive two free trees to plant should register upon arrival and provide proof of Orange County residency (such as driver’s license, photo I.D. or utility bill). Trees are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The give-away supply is limited to two 7-gallon trees per household. Trees may not be planted on public property or retention ponds. Orange County/University of Florida IFAS Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand to answer landscape questions.

For more information about the program or other dates, please contact the Orange County/University of Florida IFAS Extension Education Center at 407.254.9200.

Events

To stay on top of City events, visit cityoforlando.net.
For Community Affairs Events visit cityoforlando.net/oca.
For Harry P Leu Gardens Events, visit leugardens.org.
For Main Street events, visit cityoforlando.net/mainstreet.

November 1 Story Time at Leu Gardens
November 1 Orlando City Council Meeting
November 5 Date Night at Leu Gardens
November 5 First Fridays Art Stroll
November 6-7 Fall Fiesta in the Park
November 13 Veterans Day Parade
November 13 Tree Adoption Program
November 15 Orlando City Council Meeting
November 23, 2010 - January 3, 2011 Leu's Holiday House
Every Monday Audubon Park Garden District Community Market
Every Thursday College Park Farmer’s Market
Every Sunday Orlando Farmers Market

Office of Communications and Neighborhood Relations - Executive Offices
Michele Brennan, Director
City of Orlando - 400 S. Orange Ave - P.O. Box 4990 - Orlando, FL 32801-4990
Phone 407.246.2169 - Fax 407.246.2584 - Web Site cityoforlando.net/ocnr

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