City Council Highlights – July 17, 2023
Last updated on July 17, 2023
City Council Update 7.17.23
BUDGET WORKSHOP
So much attention is given to government at the national and state level. But what occurs at the local level is important too.
From ensuring our neighborhoods remain safe to offering great parks for residents to enjoy to managing critical services like garbage collection, the work of local government impacts our quality of life every day. We are proud that the City of Orlando provides superior municipal services, programs and amenities that residents, businesses and visitors rely on in a fiscally responsible way.
Today, our Office of Business and Financial Services team will outline a proposed budget that will allow us to continue to serve our community, while also make investments to address challenges that our city faces. Thanks to our strong financial footing, we’re able to do this without raising the millage rate for the tenth-consecutive year.
As our city continues to grow, the proposed budget allows us to add fifty-six new public safety employees, including additional school resource officers, patrol officers and paramedics. It also allows us to move forward with more park and neighborhood center renovations and an increase in funding for streets and stormwater infrastructure improvements.
Commissioners... thank you for your passion, commitment and unique perspectives that help ensure that the City of Orlando continues to serve our community to the high standard for which our city is known. I’m also thankful for the nearly four-thousand City employees who help make Orlando a great place to live, work and visit.
GENERAL ITEMS
Park Amenities and Recreation
Providing great outdoor spaces that all residents can utilize is a priority for this entire City Council. Just last month we opened a new park – The Grove in the Packing District, which is home to the new Orlando Tennis Center. And we celebrated the completion of renovations to Prince Hall and Dartmouth Parks.
And I’m proud to share that our efforts to provide great amenities has been recognized. Orlando has been named the second-best city in the entire country for recreation by WalletHub. This is something that we should all be proud of and I want to thank our staff – from nearly every department – who help ensure Orlando residents have an unmatched quality of life.
ITEMS OF NOTE
B#3 – Digital Wayfinding Signage – Procurement Rankings
Moving on to items of note, on today’s agenda, we further our Future-Ready City Master Plan and build upon our smart parking and mobility investments as we move forward our downtown digital wayfinding system. This new system will add digital signs with real-time information to guide people to open parking garages and curb congestion during major events – ultimately improving the downtown experience, while reducing traffic issues and vehicle emissions.
CRA#4 – Facade Funding for Parramore Building Restoration
Today, we also vote to help restore a building damaged by fire that was home to J. Henry’s Barber Shop, one of Parramore’s long-serving and beloved businesses. Support from the façade program will allow J. Henry and the other building’s tenants to re-open in the space and that is something we are looking forward to celebrating.
Programs like this are vital to preserving and revitalizing vacant or underutilized properties as well as attracting new businesses to open in downtown, and in this case, helps businesses stay downtown and in Parramore specifically.
HEARINGS
Hearing #1 - Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Area Plan Amendment
Mayor asks City Clerk to read the title of the Resolution into the record.
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Orlando, Florida relating to community redevelopment; making findings; approving and adopting a community redevelopment plan amendment; authorizing implementation of such plan amendment; providing an effective date.
Mayor asks City Clerk to submit into the record of this hearing the presentation from item 6 of the CRA meeting related to the Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Area Plan Amendment.
Mayor calls on David Barilla to provide a power point presentation for the Public Hearing
Mayor takes public comment and Mayor closes public comment on the Plan Amendment and Resolution
Mayor requests motion on the following action: Approve the DTOutlook Part II Plan Amendment, adopt the Resolution, and authorize Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem and City Clerk to execute the Resolution, and approve the continued existence of the CRA through January 1, 2042.
Hearings/Ordinance/First Read #1 - Creating CRA Trust Fund
Mayor asks City Clerk to read the title of Ordinance 2023-26 into the record.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ORLANDO, FLORIDA, PURSUANT TO SECTION 163.387, FLORIDA STATUTES (2022); AMENDING ORDINANCES ENACTED JULY 12, 1982, JUNE 18, 1990, OCTOBER 23, 2000, JUNE 25, 2007, FEBRUARY 22, 2010, JUNE 15, 2015 CREATING A COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND FOR THE DOWNTOWN ORLANDO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA; AMENDING REFERENCES TO THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE DOWNTOWN ORLANDO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA TO INCLUDE THE PLAN AMENDMENT APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON JULY 17, 2023; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mayor calls on David Barilla to provide a power point presentation for the Trust Fund Ordinance Amendment Public Hearing
Mayor takes public comment and Mayor closes public comment on the Trust Fund Ordinance
Mayor requests motion on the following action: Approving ordinance 2023-26 on first reading and request that the draft ordinance be presented for second reading and public hearing at the next regular City Council meeting.