August  24, 2007 - City News

Mayor's Message

Dear Friend,

On Monday, August 20, I presented the City’s 2007-2008 budget to the City Council.
The City Council and I established a set of carefully considered guiding principles to direct City staff as we worked together to craft a budget.

This year, I’m proud to say our focus on innovation, conservation and protection will foster accomplishments that our residents will see in their neighborhoods every day - and experience when they interact with our City government.

Safety:

Our top priority in this budget remains keeping our neighborhoods safe. We’ve committed to fully funding the second year of our public safety initiative. This means 25 additional police officers on the street and two new background investigators that will help us hire and train new officers quickly.

We are adding 30 new fire personnel to staff new fire stations to maintain our service levels as our City grows.

Our commitment to public safety isn’t just about more money. It’s about smart money.

We are putting added police on the street in the places they are needed most. We’re putting officers back on bikes in Parramore where they can connect with residents one-on-one and work together to deliver the message loud and clear that criminal activity will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods.

We are implementing a Central Patrol District to cover our urban core. This will result in quicker response times and higher police presence in the areas of our City experiencing growth like Lake Nona and the Mall at Millennia.

Quality Core Services:

This year, we are giving core functions a boost so that we can maintain our excellence in this area. We have committed a million dollars to improving sidewalks this year - particularly around schools where children are outside. We are devoting resources to renovate ball fields and build playgrounds around the City.

We are embracing technology to manage vehicles on our roads more efficiently and installing state of the art traffic signals. We’re taking the lead on stopping red light running on our roads.

Efficiencies:

In July, we outlined a directive for our City staff and administrators to find efficiencies in their departments as a way to trim costs, our third guiding principle. By implementing these suggestions, the City will save more than nine million dollars.

Green:

The City of Orlando is committed to using its leadership role to show that you can place environmental protection as a priority while using that strategy to save money.

From using LED traffic lights, to fostering new green building standards, to putting flex fuel and low emission City vehicles on the roads, to making our new community venues green facilities, to exploring exciting and innovative new ways to more responsibly dispose of our waste, Orlando is going to make a difference. We will officially roll out the City’s green action agenda in October.

I am proud to present the City Council and Orlando with a balanced budget for the fifth straight year. This budget will keep our citizens safe and provide them with the highest levels of service. It will start a green revolution in our City.

Public hearings for the 2007-2008 City Budget will be held in the City Council Chambers on Monday, September 10 at 5:01 p.m. and Monday, September 17 at 5:01 p.m.

 

Sincerely,

Buddy Dyer
Mayor


 

This section of City News provides public safety updates on new and ongoing City initiatives and opportunities for citizens to become engaged.

At Monday’s City Council meeting, the City Council approved agreements that will provide additional attainable housing within the Parramore Heritage Neighborhood. The City continues to strengthen regional partnerships and leverage State and Federal dollars to provide opportunities and assistance to help working families purchase homes.

As part of the Pathways for Parramore Initiative, these efforts support both the Housing pathway and the recommendations made by the Attainable Housing Task Force.


Parramore Facade Program

The City Council approved the Parramore Commercial Facade and Building Stabilization Grant Program to increase commercial occupancy rates and property values in the Parramore Neighborhood. This program provides financial assistance in the form of a forgivable or deferred loan to commercial property owners and tenants for the restoration/renovation of the exterior of their building and for the stabilization of their building. Enhancing these underutilized buildings in the Parramore Neighborhood will reduce blighting influences, improve the area’s physical characteristics and enhance the visual quality and attractiveness of the area. The City believes the program will result in an increase in commercial occupancy and property values. For information, contact the City of Orlando’s Community Redevelopment Agency at 407-246-2555.

 

Mayor in the Community

On Tuesday, August 21, Mayor Dyer attended the Greater Orlando Business Network meeting to share economic development and business opportunities in Downtown Orlando.

On Wednesday, August 22, Mayor Dyer welcomed the attendees of the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund (HBIF) luncheon. The luncheon celebrates the most successful Hispanic entrepreneurial visionaries of the year. HBIF specializes in providing free, bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs trying to establish or expand their business in Central Florida.
 

Did You Know?

Mayor’s Neighborhood Matching Grants

For more than a decade, the Mayor’s Matching Grants Program has provided resources for neighborhood associations, schools and non-profit organizations to plan and implement projects that address neighborhood needs, improve education and build neighborhood pride.

Application workshops will be offered for neighborhood organizations wishing to apply for a Mayor’s Neighborhood Matching Grant. Attendance at an application workshop is required. A minimum of two people who reside within the boundaries of the neighborhood organization must attend. Workshops will review the guidelines, instructions and application. There is no limit to the number of workshops attended by representatives of a neighborhood organization. Each workshop will cover the same information.

Please call the City of Orlando’s Office of Neighborhood Community Affairs at 407-246-3787 to reserve a seat at one of the workshops listed below:

For more information on the Mayor’s Neighborhood Grant Program, visit cityoforlando.net/grants.
 

Fall 2007 Mayor’s City Academy

Due to the overwhelming interest in the Mayor’s City Academy our Fall 2007 class is nearly full, but we have a limited number of slots open. The Mayor’s City Academy is a 10-week program that will acquaint you with City operations and our hard-working City staff team, featuring road trips, field demonstrations, department tours and many other experiences that will give you a new perspective and stronger sense of pride in your community. The Fall 2007 class will begin on Wednesday, September 5, at 5 p.m. All remaining classes will be held on Thursdays from 5:30 – 8 p.m., ending on Thursday, November 8. If, due to your availability, you would miss more than two classes, we recommend that you wait until the Spring 2008 class. Please fill out the application form located on www.cityoforlando.net/cityacademy and fax to 407-246-3508, if you are interested in joining a small group of civic-minded residents who receive a unique look inside your City government!

 

Upcoming Events

Road Closure

City Hall
400 South Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407.246.2221
Fax: 407.246.2842
Email:
buddy.dyer@cityoforlando.net