City Council Highlights – October 9, 2023
Last updated on October 09, 2023
City Council Update 10.9.23
GENERAL ITEMS
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
Our city staff has been hard at work transforming the City Beautiful into a world-class, economically vibrant, sustainable city with multi-modal transportation options for residents and visitors alike.
We continue to look for ways to create more transit options, which includes the expansion of SunRail to the airport and beyond. To provide us an update today on the Sunshine Corridor and what the future holds for commuter rail, we will hear from our partners at the Florida Department of Transportation. But first we start with City of Orlando Transportation Director, Tanya Wilder to give us an introduction.
POST - AGENDA REVIEW
Laurie Nossair Retirement
Before we depart, there’s someone deserving of some recognition.
This will be the final City Council meeting for our Deputy City Clerk, Laurie Nossair. After 21 years with the City of Orlando, Laurie is retiring this week.
Laurie, please know that we are so grateful for your more than two decades of service to the City of Orlando and wish you the best as you start the next chapter in your life.
CITY COUNCIL
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
LGBTQ+ History Month Proclamation
In Orlando, we are committed to putting inclusion and equity at the forefront of all that we do. That includes celebrating the diversity that makes our city more vibrant and recognizing the past that has helped shape our city.
As we look ahead to the annual Come Out With Pride Festival in a few weeks, the City of Orlando is recognizing LGBTQ+ history month. We’re fortunate to have a trailblazer who has helped Orlando become a welcoming community for all with us on the City Council. Commissioner Sheehan, thank you for passion, advocacy and leadership.
Luis Martinez, our Office of Multicultural Affairs Manager, will give us an overview of this recognition.
CVI Grant Presented by Congressman Frost
The next item is an important federal grant that was just awarded to the City of Orlando - and to make the announcement is Congressman Maxwell Frost whose hard work and support helped secure this grant for one of our key city programs designed to reduce community-based violence through our Community Violence Intervention program. We’d like to turn it over now to Congressman Frost.
GENERAL ITEMS
Israeli-Gaza Conflict
This morning, our city is sending its support to the people of Israel as they face horrific acts of terror that have resulted in hundreds of lives taken. We stand in solidarity with Israel and also are offering love and compassion to Orlando’s Jewish community during this difficult time.
Main Street Awards
Tomorrow, we kick off a year-long celebration of the anniversary of one of the City of Orlando’s most successful economic development programs. Fifteen years ago, we approved the Orlando Main Streets, a program aimed at revitalizing and preserving our local neighborhood commercial districts. Today, we are the proud home of 12 Main Streets that provide residents and visitors with one-of-a-kind experiences like culinary offerings, arts and cultural events, shopping and entertainment that create a sense of place for everyone.
ITEMS OF NOTE
B#1 - Affordable Housing on Roberto Clemente Road
We would like to highlight one item on the agenda today, as we look to approve the purchase of a vacant lot on Roberto Clemente Road, in Commissioner Ortiz’s District 2 using Housing Ready Project funds for the future development of affordable apartments, including senior housing. This acquisition and future development help further our goal as a city to increase affordable housing stock and address the financial burden affecting our most vulnerable populations.