Council Highlights – October 5, 2020
Last updated on October 05, 2020
Council Update - October 5, 2020
General Items
COVID-19 Update
As we head into another week, we want to thank everyone who continues to do their part in protecting our community during this global pandemic.
Together by wearing our masks, washing our hands and social distancing we can continue to control the impact this virus has on our community.
Items of Note
B#13 & B#15 – Bowman Group & Bethune Contracts
Last week we joined together with Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón to announce the Community Trust & Equity Initiative, the City of Orlando’s next phase of action to continue to further community policing and reform in an effort to address racial inequity in the Orlando community.
On today’s Council agenda are two items that will help move this next phase forward.
First, a contract with The Bowman Group, who will perform a thorough independent third-party analysis and make recommend reforms on Orlando Police Department policies, training, operational practices, accountability systems and technologies. This analysis will be led by Dr. Theron Bowman, a former police chief and deputy city manager for the City of Arlington in Texas, who has more than 30 years of experience leading and managing public safety operations. His team also includes partnerships with two national nonprofits committed to excellence in policing – CNA Institute for Public Research and Effective Law Enforcement for All. Together, this team brings extensive knowledge in procedural justice, mental illness and crisis de-escalation and backgrounds that include serving as federal monitors, serving as a member of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and serving as Managing Director of the Policing Reform Campaign at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
The second, is a contract with Bethune-Cookman University Center for Law and Social Justice to launch a unique community engagement program in the Parramore and Washington Shores neighborhoods to utilize interactive training for Orlando Police officers together with Orlando residents, youth and community leaders. Dr. Randy Nelson, a nationally-recognized law enforcement trainer focusing on community policing and engagement, will help us in leading this effort.
Community engagement and input will be critical in the Community Trust & Equity Initiative and we encourage Orlando residents to visit orlando.gov/equity to sign up for updates and learn about future opportunities to be involved in this process.
Through this new initiative and together, as a city, we look forward to continuing to further our commitment to make meaningful change and take the next steps in building a more equitable city for every person who calls Orlando home.
EDV#23 – Renewal of Orlando Main Street & Market Street District Agreement FY 2020-2021
As many of you know, our ten Main Street districts are considered some of the most popular areas in the city to live, work and play. Because of COVID-19, our districts and their businesses have suffered a loss of revenue, loss of foot traffic and in some cases the closing of locally owned shops and restaurants.
However, we could not be more proud of the determination and resilience exhibited by each district as they work to support their businesses and help them on their path to recovery. From creating “District Dollars” programs to providing “We’re Open!” signs and ensuring these businesses know the opportunities available to them through the local, state and federal government, they have played an important role in supporting our small businesses.
Today, we will vote to renew their agreements, which includes a reduction in the amount each district has to raise for the year in order for them to continue putting necessary resources toward our businesses during these difficult times.
CRA#4 – CRA Small Business Rental Assistance Program
Also as a result of COVID-19, many of our small businesses in the Downtown core have suffered the devastating ripple effects of the economy and are vulnerable to closing permanently.
The Community Redevelopment Agency remains committed to the economic growth and vibrancy of downtown Orlando and on today’s agenda is an item that will approve a rental assistance program that will provide financial assistance to further the retention and continued operation of existing businesses.