October 19, 2007 - City News

Mayor's Message


Dear Friend,

During the City’s budget planning, City Council made a commitment to maintain the same level of funding this fiscal year for human service and community-based agencies and arts and cultural organizations as we awarded last year. These groups provide valuable services to our residents, from youth and senior programs to credit counseling, abuse shelters and other social services.

At this week’s meeting, the City Council awarded more than $2 million to 24 human service and community-based agencies and more than $1.3 million to four arts and cultural organizations. Our Office of Neighborhood and Community Affairs works with these agencies to ensure these services are delivered to our City residents. By funding these organizations, the City maximizes existing resources, therefore enabling these organizations to serve more residents.

In addition to our social services and arts and culture commitment, the City is currently offering faith and community based organizations a chance to receive grant money for youth crime prevention or anti-violence programs. This is one more way that our community organizations can participate in our Public Safety initiative and make Orlando a safer place to live. Additional information on applying for the Mayor’s Faith Based and Community Matching Grant can be found in this newsletter.

I would also like to recognize and thank the residents who called in tips to CrimeLine that ultimately led to an arrest for the murder of Police Officer Alfred Gordon. I encourage all residents to continue calling CrimeLine at 1-800-423-TIPS and providing information on criminal activity.
 

Sincerely,
Buddy Dyer
Mayor


 


This section of City News provides public safety updates on new and ongoing City initiatives and opportunities for citizens to become engaged in their neighborhoods.

Illegal Gun Bounty Update

The City of Orlando’s Illegal Gun Bounty program continues to take illegal guns and the criminals who carry them off the street. Since its start in January, 606 tips involving guns used in crimes have been called in, 23 rewards have been given for information that resulted in an arrest and 79 guns have been recovered.
The Illegal Gun Bounty program is a proactive partnership with Central Florida CrimeLine to reduce the number of illegal guns on the streets and reduce the number of violent crimes. Residents are encouraged to call in tips on illegal guns to 1-800-423-TIPS. Information that leads to an arrest, a gun recovery and a weapons charge will result in a $1,000 cash reward.

ATM Safety Tips

The Orlando Police Department encourages residents to be careful when using an ATM machine and follow the following tips.

• Always look the area over, use well-lit machines that are clear from hedges and other hiding places.
• Try to plan in advance and never use an ATM late at night.
• Have your card ready before approaching the ATM.
• Be aware of strangers or people who approach you closely, especially someone who might be trying to observe your transaction.
• Never turn your back to the street. Stand sideways and use your body to block the view of your transaction.
• Conduct your transaction quickly and immediately conceal your cash. Always take a receipt.
• Never count your money or expose how much you are depositing or receiving.
• If you have any suspicions, immediately cancel your transaction and leave. Call 911 to report suspicious behavior.
• When leaving the ATM, always be aware if anyone follows you or approaches you. Keep a safe distance between you and strangers.
• If confronted by a robber, do not resist. Give up the money. It is not worth your life.

 

Orlando Promotes Green Development

At the October 15 meeting, the City Council approved the Municipal Planning Board’s recommendation to amend City code to allow energy-efficient air conditioners to be placed in the side yard of homes. The amendment’s goal is to promote energy-efficient purchases among residents. Currently, home air conditioners must be stationed in the back yards of homes.

The City Council also approved the zonings for multiple new, mixed-use developments that will promote environmentally-friendly urban density. These developments included the Downtown College Park Office Building that will mix residential, retail and parking on 1.74 acres of space on Edgewater Drive; Mills Park, a 14.1-acre community village that will combine restaurants, retail office and residential space west of North Mills Avenue; and Trocadero Village, a 17.4 acre development that will include retail, restaurants and office space on S. Hudson Street.

Coastal Lake Cleanup

Keep Orlando Beautiful will join communities across the globe in the 22nd Annual International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, October 27. Orlando’s event takes place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at five area lakes.

 

• Lake Ivanhoe – 1236 N. Orange Ave., Gaston Edwards Park
• Lake Lorna Doone – Tampa Ave. and Church St. (west side of lake)
• Lake Lucerne – near 100 West Lucerne Circle
• Lake Underhill – 4355 Lake Underhill Rd., Lake Underhill Park
• Park Lake – 724 Highland Ave. (at pier on the west side of the lake)


Volunteers should meet at any one of the lake locations and expect to participate from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Every volunteer will receive a free t-shirt from the City and Keep Orlando Beautiful. Breakfast will be served. For more information and to confirm group participation, please call Jody Goostree at 407-246-2752.


 

Traffic Signal Timing

The City Council approved an agreement between the City and FDOT for traffic signal re-timing. MetroPlan Orlando’s major priority has been to make traffic signals throughout the region work in a more efficient, cooperative manner. Years ago, technology limited signals that "belonged" to the County, the City and the State from operating or being timed together. As technology has evolved, signals can now be timed together to allow the flow of traffic to move more easily and efficiently.

This agreement includes re-timing of signals on John Young Parkway from the I-4 interchange to Orange Blossom Trail; on Orange Blossom Trail from Grand Street to Clarcona-Ocoee Road; and on West Colonial Drive from Summerline Avenue to Pete Parrish Boulevard.
 

Mayor in the Community

On Saturday, Mayor Buddy Dyer attended the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church’s Anniversary Gala honoring Pastor Willie C Barnes.

On Sunday, Mayor Dyer welcomed attendees to the Come Out With Pride Festival and Parade at Lake Eola Park.

Mayor Dyer joined Mayor Crotty, action sports stars, as well as representatives from the Dew Tour and Playstation to officially kick off the Playstation Pro for third straight year in Orlando. The AST Dew Tour (formerly the Dew Action Sports Tour) will heat up Orlando with the third annual Sony PlayStation Pro at the Amway Arena October 18-21.

Mayor Dyer spoke at the 37th annual Women's Achievement Awards luncheon hosted by the Women's Executive Council. The City of Orlando’s Director of Communications, Michele Brennan, was one of the eight honorees and was selected for her contributions to Orlando in Communications and Media.
 

Did You Know?


Orlando’s Flood Insurance Level Raised

Floodplain management is a community program of corrective and preventative measures for reducing flood damage. These measures take a variety of forms and generally include zoning, subdivision or building requirements, and special-purpose floodplain ordinances. The City of Orlando’s Public Works Department has worked to improve this program in our community. In September, the City was notified that its ranking has risen from an 8, which is average, to a 6, which puts Orlando in the top 10 percent of all communities that are rated. For residents, this high ranking means that their discount for flood insurance will increase from 10 percent to 20 percent. The overall savings to City residents is estimated at $340,000. For more information on the City’s Floodplain Management program, visit the Public Works Department website.

Mayor’s Faith Based and Community Matching Grants
For more than a decade, the Mayor’s Matching Grants Program has provided resources for neighborhood associations, schools and non-profit organizations to plan and implement projects that address neighborhood needs, improve education and build neighborhood pride.

Application workshops will be offered for nonprofit organizations and neighborhood organizations wishing to apply for a Mayor’s Faith Based and Community Matching Grant. Attendance at an application workshop is required. At least one individual from the nonprofit organization and two individuals who reside within the boundaries of the neighborhood organization must attend. Workshops will review the guidelines, instructions, and application. There is no limit to the number of workshops interested organizations may attend. Each workshop will cover the same information.

Please call the City of Orlando’s Office of Neighborhood & Community Affairs at
407-246-3787 to reserve a seat at one of the workshops listed below:

• John H. Jackson Community Center - Wednesday, October 24, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Wadeview Community Center - Thursday, November 1, 6 – 8 p.m.
• Englewood Community Center - Tuesday, November 6, 6 – 8p.m.
• Orlando City Hall - Wednesday, November 14, 11a.m.-1p.m.

For more information on the Mayor’s Faith Based and Community Matching Grants, visit cityoforlando.net/grants.
 
 

Upcoming Events

click for details
Date Event
 
Oct. 19, 2007 Ghost Stories details
Oct. 27, 2007 Jack O'Lando details
Oct. 27, 2007 Coastal Lake Cleanup details
Dec. 5, 2007 Holiday Lights Orlando details
Sundays Sunday Eola Market details
click for details
 

Road Closure

• For information on road closures please visit: our site.

• For up-to-date information on I-4 lane and ramp closure please visit: trans4mation.org

• For the latest East-West Expressway updates please visit:
  epass.oocea.com/constructionupdate

 
 

City Hall
400 South Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407.246.2221
Fax: 407.246.2842
Email:
 buddy.dyer@cityoforlando.net
 

 

  
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