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Dear friends,
This week, our vision for enhancing our city and region’s community venues – a new Performing Arts Center, arena / events center and renovated Citrus Bowl – took an important step closer to reality when the Orange County Commission voted to add a sixth cent to the Tourist Development Tax (TDT). Paid by tourists when they stay in Orlando hotel rooms, state law only allows these funds to be used to enhance the tourist industry and/or construct entertainment venues. It cannot be used on things like education and transportation.
I applaud the county commissioners for recognizing the importance of these projects and for publicly voicing their support to work with us to get them done.
It has been evident from the beginning that a funding solution for these projects would hinge on approval of the $500 million TDT contribution that Mayor Crotty has said is available. Approval of the sixth cent and dedication of half of that new money to the events center has brought us closer to our $500 million goal.
Now the City and County are working together to develop a funding plan that will include contributions from the TDT, City, State, private sources, and tenants of the venues. That plan must be fiscally prudent and protect our citizens. Over the coming weeks, I will continue to provide regular updates on the status of various aspects of these projects such as the funding discussions; the Master Plan being developed by Glatting Jackson; and a study being completed that will show the impact these venues could have on our economy.
As you can tell, there is a lot of work that still needs to be done. These projects represent a historic opportunity for our community and I invite you to be a part of the process by attending community update sessions, which are included in this edition of City News. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Buddy Dyer
Mayor
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Parramore Kidz Zone
Last week, more than 100 community leaders and children joined Mayor Dyer and District 5 City Commissioner Daisy Lynum to announce that the City has secured $2 Million to jumpstart the Parramore Kidz Zone. Modeled after the Harlem Children’s Zone, Parramore Kidz Zone will employ creative outreach to engage a critical mass of Parramore’s children and link them to positive opportunities, including pre-kindergarten education, parenting education, healthcare, mentoring, tutoring and constructive activities when school is out.
The goal of Parramore Kidz Zone is to improve school performance, and decrease juvenile crime, child abuse and teen pregnancy rates among Parramore’s 2,000 children, 73% of whom live in poverty.
Parramore Kidz Zone is a coalition of more than 40 community partners who will combine their efforts to improve family economic security and engage young people in an array of activities in the Parramore neighborhood. If you or your organization is interested in being a part of Parramore Kidz Zone, please contact Brenda March at (407) 246-3819.
After-School Programs
As summer comes to an end, it is time to start thinking about registering your children to participate in after school programs offered at the City’s 16 recreation centers. The Orlando After School Is Super (OASIS) and Middle Teen Program (MTP) are for children and teens 1st through 8th grade. Please contact the recreation centers individually for availability. For a complete list of recreation centers click here.
Golf Complex
Dover Shores Community Center Golf Complex, in Commissioner Betty T. Wyman’s District 2, is open and will begin individual golf instruction and clinics in August. The 25,000 square foot complex includes 6 driving cages, sand trap, chipping area, and 9-hole putting green. Junior clinics for ages 5 - adult will begin August 3, 2006. The six-week Jr. Clinics include golf fundamentals, swing position, etiquette, short game, full swing and putting instruction. Individual youth and adult lessons will be offered from beginner to advanced. In addition, the new Dover Shores Golf Complex is open day and night to the public for practice Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Athletics
The youth Tackle Football and Cheerleading Jamboree is coming up on August 12, 9 a.m., at the Emery Hamilton Sports Complex. The Youth Tackle Football season begins on August 19, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Emery Hamilton Sports Complex.
Aquatics
The City pools are now open! Public swim is offered everyday at all 11 City pools from 1:15 - 4:45 p.m. and 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. City residents swim free and non-city residents only pay $4 per day. Family swim is also offered at selected sites in the evening. For more information call (407) 246-2649.
For more information about upcoming events and activities in the Families, Parks and Recreation Department call (407) 246-2288 or visit the web site at cityoforlando.net and click on the parks and recreation icon.
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To watch the latest Inside Orlando including driving tips and information on the Parramore Kidz Zone click here.
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Orlando lags behind other southeastern cities in terms of seating capacity for cultural performances. Orlando’s main performance venue, the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, currently seats 2,450. This compares to venues in Jacksonville that seat 6,500, Tampa that seat nearly 10,000, Norfolk that seat more than 4,000, Nashville that seat more than 7,500, and Charlotte that seat more than 4,500.
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Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and City Commissioners are hosting a series of neighborhood meetings for residents to discuss how new and updated community venues can enhance our City neighborhoods and where the City is in the process. The neighborhood meetings will also offer opportunities for residents to get engaged with these projects.
The Orlando City Council made a bold decision to move forward to meet our City’s need for creating a regional economic hub with world-class community venues—performing arts center, events center and Citrus Bowl. At that time, the City Council decided not just to build buildings, but also to embark on a process to transform neighborhoods through master planning. The City is working to build a community that celebrates its neighborhoods and its people, while also providing things like entertainment venues, roads and parks that meet residents’ needs.
It is essential that as City and County leaders continue to discuss the potential funding structure and master planning for these community venues, residents are given opportunities to become engaged in this exciting planning process. Below please find a series of neighborhood meetings being held throughout Orlando.
August 8, 2006 at 12:45 p.m.
Dover Shores Community Center
1400 Gaston Foster Rd
August 8, 2006 at 6:45 p.m.
Dr. J.R. Smith Neighborhood Center
1723 Bruton Blvd
August 9, 2006 at 1:45 p.m.
Beardall Senior Center
800 S. Delaney Ave
August 9, 2006 at 6:45 p.m.
Orlando Science Center, Founders Room
777 E. Princeton Street
August 15, 2006 at 6:45 p.m.
Northlake Park Community School, Media Room
9055 Northlake Parkway
August 17, 2006 at 6:45 p.m.
Rock Lake Community Center
440 N. Tampa Ave.
Residents with questions regarding these meetings may contact Susan Harris in the Office of Neighborhood and Community Affairs at 407-246-2779 or email her at susan.harris@cityoforlando.net.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are always needed to help staff the citizen call center during hurricane activation of Orlando’s Emergency Operations Center. Formal training is mandatory for all phone line volunteers.
The following training dates are available:
Wednesday, July 26 from 3 - 5 p.m.
Wednesday, July 26 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Friday, July 28 from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, August 8 from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, August 10 from 3 – 5 p.m.
Thursday, August 10 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
If you are interested in volunteering please call Kimberly Avera at (407) 246-3787.
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Mayor's Message
