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Dear friends,
Last night, very late last night, the Orlando County Board of County Commissioners joined the Orlando City Council in supporting our Interlocal agreement to build a new events center, a performing arts center, and renovate the Citrus Bowl. This historic vote allows us to move forward with these momentous projects.
I would like to thank all of the residents, City and County Commissioners, representatives of the tourism industry and broader business community and venue partners who supported the community venues plan.
This was a victory for our entire Central Florida community. It's proof that when we work together to make our home a better place, anything is possible.
Next week, the Orlando City Council will hold a special meeting to approve amendments to the Interlocal agreement that were adopted by the County Commission Thursday night.
The City will also immediately begin moving forward with the plan to build the events center and performing arts center and renovate the Citrus Bowl.
Last night was about celebration. Today we get the chance to say thank you. Tomorrow, we roll up our sleeves and get to the job of carrying out our plan and realizing our vision of world class venues in the heart downtown.
Sincerely,
Buddy Dyer
Mayor
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This section of City News provides public safety updates on new and ongoing City initiatives and opportunities for citizens to become engaged.
National Night Out
National Night Out returns on Tuesday, August 7, 2007. This annual event is a celebration for Citizens for Neighborhood Watch, with local Neighborhood Watch groups holding events in their neighborhoods to bring residents together and educate them about crime prevention. Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, this night is a national event promoting crime and safety awareness. Last year, Orlando came in third place nationally for the number of neighborhood groups and residents participating in the event. Crime Watch groups around the City will hold rallies within their neighborhoods to increase program awareness.
Join Mayor Buddy Dyer, Police Chief Mike McCoy, Fire Chief Jim Reynolds and City Commissioners at a kick-off party on August 7 at 4:30 p.m. in front of City Hall. The party is open to the public and will feature radio station Z88.3, various mascots, children's activities and refreshments.
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Commuter Rail
The Orlando City Council voted to accept an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Florida for the Central Florida Commuter Rail Transit project. This alternative transportation project will operate along 61.5 miles of existing tracks from Volusia County to Osceola County including 17 stations. Orlando will have four stations: at Florida Hospital, the Lynx Central Station, Church Street and the Amtrak Station. All stations will be easily accessible by pedestrians and have convenient connections to buses and other transportation services. Phase I initiates service between Downtown Orlando and Volusia County and should be completed by 2010. Phase II links Downtown Orlando with Osceola County and should be completed by 2013.
The City of Orlando's capital share of this project is $13.7 million (8.9%). The rail project will be a vital transportation component to residents, business owners and employees in Downtown Orlando during the upcoming construction phases for Interstate 4 and the East West Expressway and will become an integral part of a balanced Central Florida transportation system greatly enhancing the mobility of the traveling public.
Orlando Citizen Corp
Mayor Buddy Dyer proclaimed July "Orlando Citizen Corps Month". The Orlando Citizen Corps is celebrating is fifth anniversary of helping make our community safer, stronger and better prepared for disasters of any kind. The City of Orlando is committed to recruiting citizens to participate in crime prevention, emergency preparedness and disaster response training courses including the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Citizen Fire Academy, Keeping Involved Through Service (K.I.T.S.), Citizens for Neighborhood Watch (CNW), Citizen Police Academy, Citizen Observer Program (COP), Volunteers in Police Service (V.I.P.S.), Neighborhood Emergency Response Planning, SeniorLinks, Hometown Security Volunteer (HSV) and Medical Reserve Corps. The Citizen Corps Council, composed of 50 citizens from a cross section of the community, provides advice and leadership to the Citizen Corps initiative.
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Mayor's City Academy Graduation
Mayor Buddy Dyer hosted the Mayor's City Academy Graduation Ceremony for the 33 Orlando residents graduating from the nine-week program. The Mayor's City Academy is held in the spring and fall to educate and promote citizen engagement. The participants experienced a first-hand look at many of the City's operations from Police and Fire, to recreation and wastewater treatment.
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CNL Donates $10 Million to Performing Arts Center
CNL Financial Group, Inc. will donate $10 million to help build the Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center (DPAC). This donation brings total charitable contributions for the performing arts center close to $80 million, within striking distance of the $110 million private-sector funding goal.
"CNL's contribution is a testament to our community's support for these critical downtown assets. It's a clear indication of just how important the arts are to our effort to increase the quality of life for all of Central Florida," said City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. "When complete, the Dr. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center will serve as our area's cultural cornerstone."
CNL is one of the nation's largest privately held real estate investment and development companies and was started in Orlando, by James M. Seneff, Jr. The Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, is responsible for designing, building and operating a performing arts center in Orlando. The vision of DPAC is to develop a destination that elevates the arts, provides the best arts education, generates urban renewal, and is fiscally responsible in construction and operations. For more information about the DPAC initiative, please visit www.orlandopac.org.
Centennial Fountain T.V. Special
In honor of the Lake Eola Fountain's fiftieth anniversary, the City's Office of Communications has produced a special television show, "The Centennial Fountain," which will air on Sunday, August 5 at 12 noon on WMFE Channel 24, Brighthouse Channel 2. Find out why the fountain isn't centered in the lake, how the City celebrated its dedication and more interesting stories from people involved with creating the fountain.
Inside Orlando
Inside Orlando returns to Orange TV with highlights of recent Orlando events. The WWE Wrestlemania announcement comes alive with special clips from the press conference, professional wake boarder J.D. Webb talks about his record-breaking jump over the Lake Eola fountain and a special feature from Lynx highlights how to use bike racks on the buses to get around town. Inside Orlando airs on Brighthouse Channel 9 on Thursdays at 11 a.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and Monday at 3 a.m. Inside Orlando is another creative product by the City's Office of Communications.
Deadline Nears for Photo Contest
The Historic Preservation Board is seeking photographs of the architectural features of the Lake Lawsona Historic District to use in its 2008 Historic Preservation Board Calendar.
Photographs must be black and white and printed on 8" x 10" paper with a white border. Vertical or horizontal photographs are acceptable. Up to four photographs, labeled with your name, daytime telephone number and the address of the subject must be submitted or postmarked by July 30, 2007 at 5 p.m. All residents are invited to participate.
Deliver photographs to the Historic Preservation Office on the sixth floor of City Hall, 400 South Orange Avenue or mail them to the Historic Preservation Office, P.O. Box 4990, Orlando, Florida 32802.
Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped 9" x 12" envelope if you would like your photographs returned.
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Mayor's Message
