Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District

On March 28, 2011, the Orlando City Council adopted an ordinance authorizing the creation of Local Government Neighborhood Improvement Districts in locations that meet specific criteria (see Ordinance No. 2011-3). As a Florida special district, a unit of special purpose local government, Part III, Chapter 112, Florida Statutes, provides general pertinent ethics and rules applicable to the Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District (DSNID). A Local Government Neighborhood Improvement District (LGNID) is one of the four types of Neighborhood Improvement Districts authorized by Florida law (see Part IV, Chapter 163, Florida Statutes).

Purpose

A LGNID is a dependent special district established to monitor and advocate for the interests of the business and property owners within a defined area. It is intended to foster communication and cooperation among business and property owners. It may also plan for, construct, operate or maintain physical improvements.

A LGNID has a staff and an Advisory Council. The Advisory Council develops an operating budget, strategic plan, capital improvements plan and financing plan for review and approval by a Governing Board. The Orlando City Council is the Governing Board.

Taxation and Assessments

In 2014, the city initiated a program to seek approval from the district’s property owners to establish a funding source for the district. A “Neighborhood Improvement District”, as provided in Florida Statutes, was the vehicle selected to authorize an annual levy of up to 2 mills of ad valorem tax on real and personal property. A referendum conducted by mail-in ballot was held between May 5 and May 20, 2014.

The referendum passed and authorized the tax for 15 years; FY 14/15 through FY 29/30. An accompanying ordinance specified that properties exempt from ad valorem taxes would contribute their share through a Payment in Lieu of Taxes [PILOT]. Orlando Health makes an annual PILOT payment for the duration of the tax authorization.

The Orlando City Council has indicated it will not authorize a referendum concerning special assessments or ad valorem taxes in a LGNID until the LGNID has been in place for at least 18 months.

Minimum Requirements for a LGNID

LGNIDs in the City of Orlando must meet the criteria listed in Section 40.4(3) of the Orlando City Code (see Ordinance No. 2011-3). A LGNID must also comply with Chapter 163, Part IV, Florida Statutes.

Before a LGNID can be established, the Orlando City Council must first appoint an exploratory committee to determine whether the district is feasible and desirable. The exploratory committee must conduct at least four public meetings, gather information and issue a report concerning the location, boundaries, size, name, goals, purposes, structure and merits the proposed district (see Ordinance No. 2011-3).

Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District Exploratory Committee

On June 7, 2010, the Orlando City Council approved a resolution creating the Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District Exploratory Committee. The Exploratory Committee met four times in 2010 to gather and analyze information relevant to the proposed district. After considering public comments at two advertised hearings, the Exploratory Committee recommended that the City Council adopt two ordinances: (1) an ordinance allowing LGNIDs in the City, and (2) an ordinance creating the Downtown South NID.

Reports and Materials

Downtown South NID Exploratory Committee

• Progress Memo, August 20, 2010
• Draft Report – September 9, 2010
• Final Report – September 20, 2010(PDF, 3MB)
• PowerPoint regarding Neighborhood Improvement Districts

Orlando City Council

• Resolution Creating Downtown South NID Exploratory Committee, June 7, 2010
• Workshop Presentation, October 18, 2010
• City Council Minutes, October 18, 2010

Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District (DSNID)

On July 25, 2011, the Orlando City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2011-28 creating the Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District. Ordinance No. 2011-28 established the Orlando City Council as the Downtown South NID Board of Directors; granted the Downtown South NID all the powers allowed under Section 163.514, Florida Statutes; and authorized a Downtown South NID Advisory Council.

DSNID Governing Board Members

• Mayor Buddy Dyer, Chairman
• Commissioner Jim Gray - District 1
• Commissioner Tony Ortiz - District 2, Vice Chair
• Commissioner Robert F. Stuart, District 3, Vice Chair
• Commissioner Patty Sheehan - District 4
• Interim Commissioner Shan Rose - District 5
• Commissioner Bakari F. Burns - District 6

The Board of Directors is responsible for “Major Decisions,” such as:

• Taxation
• Special assessments
• Financing
• Eminent domain
• Contracts in excess of $100,000
• Meeting Schedule

The Downtown South NID Board of Directors meets as needed during regularly scheduled Orlando City Council meetings.

Downtown South NID Boundary

The Downtown South NID is depicted on the Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District Map (figure 40.12-1). This area includes both the Downtown South Main Street area and the South Downtown Vision Plan study area.

Reports and Materials

• Ordinance No 2011-3, Authorizing LGNIDs, March 7 & 28, 2011
• Ordinance No 2011-28, Approving Downtown South NID, July 11 & 25, 2011
• Downtown South NID Bylaws, November 14, 2011 (Amended Nov. 2012)
• PowerPoint regarding the history of the Downtown South NID, November 17, 2011

Advisory Council Members

The Orlando City Council appointed a five-member Downtown South NID Advisory Council on October 3, 2011.

Current Advisory Council members are :

The Downtown South NID Advisory Council is responsible for:

• applying for and receiving grants
• monitoring and providing comments regarding planning, zoning and development proposals affecting Downtown South.
• providing recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding major decisions
• contracts under $100,000, subject to the annual budget

Downtown South NID Advisory Council Bylaws

Bylaws – Amended November 14, 2012

Orlando’s City Council is the designated Board of Directors for the Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District. It selects individuals to serve on the Downtown South NID Advisory Council. Click here for information about the Mayor and City Council and their meeting schedules.

The DSNID Advisory Council meets on a monthly basis (second Wednesday of each month – 9 or 11 a.m. if virtual). These meetings are scheduled for Veterans Conference Room on the 2^nd floor of City Hall. Please note that from time-to-time the Advisory Council may call for additional meetings beyond those listed or may cancel meetings. All meeting dates, times and locations of the Advisory Council are subject to Florida’s Open Government Laws. All of our meetings are open to the public and we strongly encourage the public’s attendance. All meetings are posted here.

2025 Meeting Dates:

• January 8, 2025 - Cancelled
• February 12, 2025
• March 12, 2025
• April 9, 2025
• May 14, 2025
• June 11, 2025
• July 9, 2025
• August 13, 2025
• September 10, 2025
• October 8, 2025
• November 12, 2025
• December 10, 2025

Agendas & Minutes

To view agendas and minutes prior to October 1, 2024, please visit our Novus platform.

To view agendas and minutes after October 1, 2024, please visit our Laserfiche platform.

Additional Meeting Information

• Presentation from the November 1, 2017 SODO Crime Prevention Meeting
• Presentation from the November 8, 2017 SODO Design and Development Meeting
• Presentation from the December 13, 2017 SODO Orange Avenue and Master Plan Workshop
• Presentation from the January 30, 2018 SODO Division Street Workshop
• Presentation from April 11, 2018 SODO NID – Orange Avenue Update
• Presentation from May 15, 2018 SODO Division Street Update
• Presentation from May 15, 2018 SODO Development Standards Update
• Presentation from the June 4, 2018 SODO Developer Forum – SODO Overview
• Presentation from the June 4, 2018 SODO Developer Forum – Incentives Overview
• Presentation from the September 13, 2018 SODO Main Street Board Meeting
• Presentation from October 10, 2018 SODO NID Meeting – Division Street Final Concepts
• Presentation from October 10, 2018 SODO NID Meeting – Development Standards and Guidelines
• Presentation from August 19, 2020 O-Line Virtual Public Meeting(PDF, 64MB)
• Presentation from October 14, 2021 O-Line SoDo NID Board Update(PDF, 20MB)

• Comprehensive Long-Range Finance Plan
• NID Budget Report
• 2024/2025 Budget Resolution

Since 1978, the City of Orlando has participated in the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program, and every year has received a Certificate of Achievement.

To receive this annual award, a governmental unit must publish an easily readable and efficiently organized Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), the contents of which conform to program standards. Such reports must satisfy both generally accepted accounting principles and applicable legal requirements.

Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFR)

The City’s fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30.

Reports can be viewed here.

To view the city’s annual financial report submitted to the Florida Department of Financial Services pursuant to Florida Statutes 218.32(1)(g), click here.

• Residential property
• Tax Exempt Parcels
• Ownership of four or more parcels
• Ownership of eight or more parcels

The Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District Advisory Council's annual report provides a summary of the mission and requirements of the Advisory Board, board appointments and terms, and major initiatives and significant accomplishments completed during the noted fiscal year. Initiatives and accomplishments may take the form of art installations, infrastructure improvements, marketing the district and building a yearly budget.

• 2019-2020 Annual Report(PDF, 542KB)
• 2020-2021 Annual Report(PDF, 3MB)
• 2021-2022 Annual Report(PDF, 352KB)
• 2022-2023 Annual Report(PDF, 407KB)
• 2023-2024 Annual Report(PDF, 280KB)

What is the DSNID, and why did the City of Orlando create it?

• The Downtown South Neighborhood Improvement District (DSNID) is a special purpose local government. Its single purpose is to support the redevelopment and improvement of the Downtown South neighborhood, an area of approximately 720 acres located south of Downtown Orlando (the District).
• The District’s governing body is the Orlando City Council, but the work of the district is primarily guided by a District Advisory Council consisting of property and business owners within the district.
• The City created the District in response to a 2010 report issued by an Exploratory Committee comprised of representatives of businesses and property owners in the neighborhood. The Exploratory Committee’s report found that a district could help fund capital improvements and instigate redevelopment in the District.

What types of levy and/or special assessment are being considered?

• Under current state statute, a Neighborhood Improvement District may levy an ad valorem tax on real and personal property of up to 2 mills annually, if approved by referendum.
• The DSNID may also impose a special assessment of up to $500 per parcel, per year, if approved by referendum.

Why is the DSNID considering a levy and/or special assessment?

• The referendum is an opportunity to generate funds to pay for capital improvements in the District. Improvements could include sewer, water, storm water or street construction to improve access or support new development, landscaping or streetscape improvements to enhance the appearance of the District, or even marketing or promotional events to attract new customers to the District. The concept is similar to a property owners association that votes to pay for a community swimming pool or a landscaped entry feature to enhance the value of properties within a subdivision.
• If a levy and/or special assessment is approved, the resulting revenue could potentially be combined with city, state, federal, or private funds to advance projects that might not move forward without an additional funding source.
• By agreeing to a levy and/or special assessment, the District is demonstrating a commitment to its future. This commitment may improve the perception, function, appearance and value of the District and convince others to build or invest in the District as well.

What would a 1 or 2 mill levy cost per year?

A mill is equal to $1 of tax for each $1,000 of assessed value. To calculate the levy, multiply the assessed value of the property by the millage rate and divide by 1,000. For example:

• At 1 mill, a property with an assessed value of $100,000 would pay $100 per year. ($100,000 x 1) ÷ 1,000 = $100.
• At 1 mill, a property with an assessed value of $500,000 would pay $500 per year. ($500,000 x 1) ÷ 1,000 = $500.
• At 2 mills, a property with an assessed value of $100,000 would pay $200 per year. ($100,000 x 2) ÷ 1,000 = $200.
• At 2 mills, a property with an assessed value of $500,000 would pay $1,000 per year. ($500,000 x 2) ÷ 1,000 = $1,000.

Who can vote for a levy?

• Freeholders (owners of property within the District not wholly exempt from taxation) may vote for an ad valorem tax on real and personal property. To pass, the referendum must be approved by freeholders representing 50 percent of the assessed value of the property within the district.
• Tax exempt property within the DSNID may be able to vote for an ad valorem tax (“Pilot”) if the City Council approves an agreement that requires an equivalent payment in lieu of the tax for the life of the tax. Orlando Health has agreed to a Pilot for capital improvements contemplated in the DSNID’s Safe Neighborhood Improvement Plan.

Who can vote for a special assessment of up to $500 per parcel, per year?

Under current state statute, registered voters residing within the district may vote for a DSNID special assessment of up to $500 per parcel, per year.

How will the levy and/or special assessment be applied to condominium units?

Ad valorem taxes and special assessments apply to condominium parcels, not to the condominium property as a whole. Each condominium parcel is separately assessed as a single parcel (Sec. 718.120(1), Fla. Stat.).

If I own a rental property and voters approve a “per parcel, per year” special assessment (rather than an ad valorem tax), who pays the assessment - the owner or the renter?

Special assessments are made against property (much like property taxes), so the property owner is responsible for paying the special assessment. Under certain circumstances, a lease may require a tenant to pay these expenses; however, the assessment is made against the property.

Will funds raised by a levy and/or special assessment be leveraged with grants and other funds to have a larger impact?

Yes. The District will seek to partner with other agencies, especially when the District cannot afford to construct an improvement alone, when another agency has insufficient funds to build or operate an improvement that would be highly desirable for the District, or when funding from an outside agency requires matching funds. This approach may allow improvements that are otherwise not feasible without partnerships.

If I own an industrial operation, will I be forced out of business?

No. A large portion of District is zoned “Industrial-General” (marked as “I-G” on the City’s zoning maps). This zoning district allows industrial uses. Existing industrial uses can remain and be expanded and new industrial uses can be established in the I-G zone as long as they comply with the I-G zoning and land development regulations. The DSNID does not have approval authority over zoning or land development regulations.

Why would the District pay for LYMMO operations and maintenance? Isn’t that a city expense?

• Funding assistance from the District could make the South Bus Rapid (BRT) Transit corridor financially feasible. It may also help ensure that the LYMMO service in the South BRT corridor remains free or low cost.
• The City of Orlando selected an alignment for the South BRT corridor, but the project is not funded. The South BRT corridor has a 6.2-mile route, with a projected daily ridership of 14,000. The service will operate primarily in mixed traffic, with 10-minute headways during peak hours and 15-minute headways during off-peak hours. The South BRT corridor will connect the Orlando Health Campus, SODO and the Market at Southside Shopping Center to each other and to Downtown offices, businesses, restaurants and cultural amenities, including the new Amway Center, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the UCF Digital Media Arts Center and the Creative Village and the Downtown Lynx station. In addition, the corridor will connect to the Downtown East/West BRT and Parramore BRT (under construction).
• The city will pursue Federal funds to pay for approximately 80 percent of the construction and capital costs, but operation and maintenance (O&M) costs must be paid from local sources. Local sources could include a contribution from the District, special assessments, passenger fares and advertising revenues. No final financing plan is identified at this time. The estimated capital cost of the South BRT corridor is $10.4 million (in 2011 dollars), including stations, stops, terminals, vehicles, and professional services. The estimated annual operating cost for the South BRT corridor is $1.1 million (in 2011 dollars).
• Funding by the District might be appropriate because the South BRT corridor would directly benefit the District. The South BRT corridor would help relieve traffic congestion on Orange Avenue; provide a convenient method for transporting residents, customers and visitors within the District; connect the District to downtown residents, customers and cultural facilities; and facilitate redevelopment within the District.
• For comparison, the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) pays a portion of the O&M expenses for the Downtown LYYMO service. This contribution helps ensure the system remains free. O&M expenses for the Downtown LYMMO are $1.3 million annually. The CRA contribution is approximately $800,000 per year. The balance is paid from the City’s parking revenues.

Why is the DSNID preparing a Safe Neighborhood Improvement Plan?

State law requires that the City adopt a Safe Neighborhood Improvement Plan prior to the levy and expenditure of any of the proceeds of any tax assessment or fee imposed by a Neighborhood Improvement District (Sec. 163.516(9), Fla. Stat.).

Doesn’t the DSNID already have a plan?

The City approved a Downtown South Vision Plan in 2008 for the western 550-acres of the 720-acre area that was later designated the DSNID. The City also approved an Orange-Michigan Vision Plan in 2010 for property within the Orange Avenue and Michigan Avenue corridors. Both Vision Plans addressed land use issues. The DSNID Safe Neighborhood Plan identifies capital improvements and services that could be funded by the DSNID over a 20 to 30 year period to implement the previous plans if a levy and/or special assessment is approved. 

Previous planning studies for property within the District recommended road connections through my property. Is this recommendation included in the Downtown South Safe Neighborhood Improvement Plan?

The Orlando City Council approved the South Downtown Vision Plan in June 2008. The Vision Plan was a long range planning document. It included an exhibit that showed potential street connections throughout the District. The drawing did not regulate property or require new streets. It conveyed the City’s desire for street connectivity if and when large undivided blocks are ever redeveloped, but it did not require specific streets or street connections. The drawing was prepared to demonstrate how traffic congestion could be relieved on Orange Avenue and throughout the District by improving the street network within the District as properties redevelop over the next 20 to 50 years.

How will improvements to the Citrus Bowl be funded?

Most of the cost for improvements to the Citrus Bowl will be paid from Orange County Tourist Development Tax revenues (a tax on hotel, motel and other sleeping accommodations that are rented for a period of six months or less). Tourist Development Tax revenues may only be used to pay for tourist and convention bureau expenses and the acquisition, construction, renovation, operation, promotion and debt service on convention centers, sports stadiums and auditoriums. The Downtown CRA will also pay about $21 million toward the cost of improvements.