City Council Highlights – June 25, 2018
Last updated on June 25, 2018
City Council
Watch the City Council meeting online.
General Items
Well Wishes for OPD Officer Kevin Valencia
Each day the men and women of the Orlando Police Department and Orlando Fire Department risk their lives to keep our community safe.
Two weeks ago, we had a tragic shooting and ensuing hostage situation that ended with the shooting of Orlando Police Department Officer Kevin Valencia and four young children. Officer Valencia was critically wounded during this incident.
Please continue to keep Kevin and his family, the family of the children, and all of our first responders and their families in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
World Cup 2026
Every four years the attention of sports fans around the globe turns to the World Cup. This year’s event is taking place right now in Russia and has been filled with memorable moments and passionate support from fans from all of the countries that are participating.
In eight years, our community hopefully will have the opportunity to again host and experience World Cup matches. Earlier this month it was announced that the U.S., Mexico and Canada will serve as joint hosts for the 2026 World Cup. And our Camping World Stadium is one of seventeen U.S. venues being considered as a host site.
Our region has already shown that it’s one of the premier sports event destinations in the country and our entire region would benefit from welcoming supporters from around the world to Central Florida.
Fireworks at the Fountain
Our 41st annual Fireworks at the Fountain event is next Wednesday, July 4th at Lake Eola Park. This free, patriotic celebration begins at 4 p.m. and features live music on two stages including a performance by the Orlando Concert Band during the fireworks finale, a children’s play area, and delicious food and beverages for purchase.
The spectacular 20-minute fireworks display will begin at 9:15 p.m.
If you can’t make it out to the park, you can watch live on ClickOrlando.com, or catch the encore presentation at 10 p.m. on News 6.
For more info, visit cityoforlando.net/fireworks.
Downtown Orlando Information Center Temporary Closure
We are working to evolve our Downtown Orlando Information Center to better serve the people who live, work and visit the area.
To help further that effort, we will be making enhancements to the Center that plan to include new digital and interactive experiences, local retail offerings, local art installments and showcase new things for people to discover and fun ways to get around. To facilitate the renovations, our Info Center will temporarily relocate to the space where CityArts Factory is currently located at the corner of Orange and Pine. We will need to close fully to facilitate this move on Friday, June 29, 2018, at 5 p.m. but will begin temporary operations on Tuesday, July 10 and be open Tuesdays – Fridays from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Renovation completion and the reopening of the Info Center at its original location at 201 South Orange is expected this fall.
Items of Note:
B # 5 – Lease agreement for Rogers Kiene Building w/DAD
Council voted on a proposed lease agreement with the Downtown Arts District that will help them relocate their headquarter operations and further expand arts and culture in our downtown.
The relocation will put them into the historic Rogers Kiene building and help continue the legacy of arts that has occurred there. They have plans to further activate the area, including some internal renovations and plans to enhance the outdoor alleyway immediately next to the building.
Partnerships like this continue to take the arts and culture in Orlando to the next level and benefit the entire Central Florida region.
B # 13 – Demo of City-owned properties (Orange Center)
As part of the City of Orlando’s continued efforts to provide safe and quality housing for residents, we’re beginning the process to make way for some new multi-family developments on Orange Center Boulevard.
City Council voted on an item that will help us move forward with the demolition of the dilapidated apartment complexes on Orange Center Boulevard – and make way for redevelopment there that will create safe, quality, mixed-income housing for the neighborhood.