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September 14, 2007
- City News |
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Mayor's
Message |
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Dear Friend,
This week, our country reflected on the
tragedies that occurred six years ago on 9/11.
This was a poignant reminder of the thousands of
brave men and women who serve our country every
day, either as firefighters, police officers or
in the armed services. While all military
personnel have sacrificed for our freedom,
POW-MIAs unfortunately have made an even greater
sacrifice to protect our freedoms.
Next Friday, my Veterans Advisory Council will
host a POW-MIA Remembrance Ceremony at City
Hall, honoring United States Military prisoners
of war and those still missing in action. The
VFW Post 2093 Band will provide patriotic music
and members of the University of Central
Florida’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 159 will
perform the setting of the table ceremony.
During this military tradition, five cadets,
representing the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force
and Coast Guard, will set the table to symbolize
our commitment to remember our prisoners of
war and soldiers missing in action.
I invite you to join me at the POW-MIA
Remembrance Ceremony next Friday, September 21
at 10 a.m. in the City Hall Rotunda, 400 South
Orange Avenue.
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 Preparedness Month
While personal preparedness for emergencies is
frequently stressed, especially during hurricane season,
business preparedness is equally important. America’s
businesses are the backbone of our economy, and small
businesses alone make-up nearly 45 percent of the
nation’s payroll. If businesses are prepared and
therefore able to survive and recover from a man-made or
natural disaster, the City and our economy are more
secure.
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How quickly a company can get back to business after a
disaster often depends on the emergency planning done
today. The Department of Homeland Security has a three
point message for businesses: Plan to stay in business,
talk to your people and protect your investment.
Plan to Stay in
Business: Business continuity planning must account
for all hazards (both man-made and natural disasters).
You should plan in advance to manage any emergency
situation. Assess the situation, use common sense and
available resources to take care of yourself, your
co-workers and your business's recovery.
Talk to Your People: Involve your employees and
co-workers in your emergency planning, practice your
plan and promote preparedness among your co-workers.
Protect Your Investment: In addition to emergency
preparedness, reviewing your insurance, checking the
security of your buildings and computers, checking your
air-conditioning and heating units for air quality and
preparing for long-term power failures can help protect
the investment you have made in your business.
For more information, visit Ready Business at
Ready.gov.
Work Where the
Heroes Work
The Orlando Police
Department is actively recruiting for qualified
candidates. Information on qualifications and benefits,
plus the application and a short recruitment video is
available online at the
Police Recruiting page. Thank you for your interest
in the Orlando Police Department where Courage, Pride
and Commitment is more than a motto, it is our way of
life.
OPD Receives Grants
for Traffic Enforcement
The Florida Department of
Transportation awarded the Orlando Police Department
Traffic Enforcement Section $113,000 to purchase two
unmarked, unconventional vehicles and two variable
message/radar trailers for traffic enforcement purposes.
The new vehicles and equipment will be used to target
aggressive driving, driving under the influence and red
light running as well as help reduce pedestrian-involved
crashes and traffic fatalities. This is the fourth
Florida Department of Transportation grant that OPD has
received since 2002 for traffic enforcement and
education programs. |
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At the September 10 meeting of the Orlando
City Council, the Council approved two items that further the City’s
commitment to ensuring the safety of our residents and neighborhoods.
The first is the design for the new police training facility for
teaching and certifying police officers, allowing OPD to be among the
most highly trained police departments in the country.
A second tool to increase the effectiveness of the Orlando Police
Department is the license plate recognition system. This will allow
officers to easily identify stolen vehicles and help OPD catch car
thieves and recover stolen property.
The Council also approved a Downtown Parking Study to evaluate the
City's overall parking demand and how that demand will increase over the
next 15 years. During the master planning process for the Community
Venues, the City determined parking needs for the Downtown core. This
study will build upon that research and expand the focus to include the
entire City limits.
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Mayor in the
Community |
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On Monday,
September 10, Mayor Buddy Dyer attended the
Orlando Utility Commission’s (OUC)
groundbreaking for one of the cleanest, most
efficient coal-fueled power plants in the
world. The 258-megawatt integrated
gasification combined cycle plant will turn
coal into synthetic gas, while significantly
reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides and mercury. It will also
produce 20 to 25 percent less carbon dioxide
emissions than OUC’s current coal plants.
The new plant is one of four receiving
funding from the Federal government to
promote low-cost electricity and reduce
carbon emissions. This new project continues
OUC’s tradition of building power plants
that incorporate the best available
environmental technology at the time of
construction. |
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Also on Monday,
Mayor Dyer attended the Hooked on Phonics
Across America Tour at the Dr. J.B. Callahan
Neighborhood Center. At the event, Hooked on
Phonics donated $100,000 in Hooked on
Phonics products and other educational
materials to the City’s Families, Parks and
Recreation Department and the Parramore Kidz
Zone. |
On Tuesday,
September 11, Mayor Dyer visited the Orlando
Fire Department to sign guest books for
firefighters, police officers, civilians and
military officers who lost their lives as a
result of the 9/11 terrorist attack. Each guest
book was manned with a firefighter, police
officer, civilian and military officer, who
posted for the 12-hour open house. At the end of
the day, the guest books were collected and
sent to FDNY, NYPD, New York City Mayor and the
Pentagon. The Orlando Fire Department also held
a candlelight memorial service Tuesday evening
to honor the 343 members of the New York Fire
Department who lost their lives.
On Friday, Mayor
Dyer joined the Mexican Consulate at Lake Eola
Park for a ceremony celebrating the 197th
Anniversary of the Independence of Mexico.
Friday afternoon,
Mayor Dyer welcomed Hispanic community leaders
for the kickoff of the Hispanic Heritage Month
to showcase City services and celebrate the
commencement of the Hispanic Heritage Month
celebration.
On Saturday,
September 15, Mayor Dyer will attend the
inaugural football game at the new Bright House
Stadium on the University of Central Florida
campus.
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Did You Know? |
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Mayor’s
Neighborhood Matching Grants
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:
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Dover Shores
Community Center, Tuesday, September 18,
6 - 8 p.m. |
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Orlando City
Hall, Saturday, September 22, 9:30 -
11:30 a.m. |
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Callahan
Neighborhood Center, Monday, September
24, 6 - 8 p.m. |
For
more information on the Mayor’s Neighborhood
Grant Program, visit
cityoforlando.net/grants.
National Neighborhood Day
This Sunday, September 16, is National
Neighborhood Day, a time to bring neighbors
together to create and enhance neighborhood
connections. In Orlando, our vibrant
neighborhoods are the heartbeat of our City. To
celebrate National Neighborhood Day, the City
encourages neighborhood groups to recognize and
reinforce the relationships that are the fabric
of our community by re-kindling friendships,
welcoming new neighbors, catching up on each
others' families, working collectively to
improve the neighborhood or sharing food,
fellowship and fun.
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Upcoming
Events |
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Road Closure |
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For information on
road closures please visit:
our site.
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For up-to-date
information on I-4 lane and ramp closure please
visit:
trans4mation.org
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For the latest
East-West Expressway updates please visit:
epass.oocea.com/constructionupdate
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City Hall
400 South Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407.246.2221
Fax: 407.246.2842
Email:
buddy.dyer@cityoforlando.net |
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Florida has a very broad public records law.
As a result, any written communication created or received by City of
Orlando officials and employees will be made available to the public and
media, upon request, unless otherwise exempt. Under Florida law, email
addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address
released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic
mail to this office. Instead, contact our office by phone or in writing.
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