March 21, 2008 - City News

Mayor's Message

Dear Friend,

Next week, the City is celebrating National Community Development Week. During the week, we will highlight our Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) and how it increases affordable housing and job growth through the expansion and retention of business.

On Thursday, March 27 at 9 a.m. on the ninth floor of City Hall, we are hosting a workshop entitled “Partnering to Build Community." Non-profit agencies are encouraged to attend and hear success stories from past CDBG grant recipients. Hear from a panel of community-based organizations on how they formed successful partnerships and leveraged resources.

In addition, the City will also be providing multiple foreclosure and predatory lending workshops to help existing homeowners keep their homes. I encourage all residents to attend one of the workshops. For more information and a complete listing of the workshops, visit cityoforlando.net.

This administration is committed to tackling the regional issue of attainable housing and our CDBG program is just one of many innovative solutions meeting the needs of our community.

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.

CDBG Grants for Drop-out Prevention

At Monday’s meeting, the City Council approved $228,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for the Hispanic Resource Link to purchase an office-warehouse to be used for the Yo Si Puedo Youth and Family Learning Center.  Yo Si Puedo, meaning “Yes I Can,” is a drop-out prevention program for primarily Hispanic youth in ninth through 12th grade to help reduce delinquency, promote high school graduation and increase interest in pursuing post-secondary educational opportunities. Keeping teens in school and providing them with educational and career-building opportunities is one of the recommendations of the Safe Orlando Task Force.

OPD to use License Plate Recognition Technology

The Orlando City Council approved a grant from the National Insurance Crime Bureau for the purchase of a license plate recognition system for the Orlando Police Department. 

The device, installed on an OPD cruiser, can tell an officer immediately whether a vehicle has been stolen or has an invalid plate. The software also will register whether the vehicle's driver might be wanted by law enforcement for a crime, a warrant or another reason.
 

Please join the City of Orlando, KOB, KAB and Scott’s Miracle-Gro Company as they kick off the first green space project on Saturday, March 22, 2008 from 8 a.m. – noon. Come out, bring your enthusiasm and get your hands dirty! KOB will provide the tools, gloves and refreshments. Volunteers will receive a choice of giveaways and there will be a kid's activity table. To volunteer or for more information, contact Jody Goostree, Keep Orlando Beautiful Coordinator, at 407.246.2752 or jody.goostree@cityoforlando.net.
 

St. Johns River Clean Up a Success

Last Saturday’s St. Johns River Cleanup brought over 190 people out to Lake Ivanhoe and Lake Underhill to participate in the annual event to collect garbage along the lakes and streets that feed the St. Johns River. Almost two and a half tons, or 141 bags, of garbage was collected during the Saturday morning event. Thanks to all the Orlando residents who came out and made this event a success.


Orlando Ranked as #4 Cleanest City in the USA

“The City Beautiful” isn’t just a slogan in Orlando, as Forbes Magazine recently ranked our City the fourth cleanest in the country. The survey took into account air quality, litter control and water pollution control, among other items. Our Keep Orlando Beautiful program aimed at eliminating litter, preventing pollutants from draining into lakes and implementing other progressive environment programs contributed to Orlando’s high ranking. Florida’s environmental laws and regulations restricting electric utility pollution helped place three other Florida cities in the top ten.

 

City Council Update

At the Monday, March 17 meeting, City Council recognized the recipients of the 2008 Mayor's Educational Partnership Grants. These grants are awarded to community organizations to develop youth and crime prevention programs. These efforts support the City’s Public Safety Initiative to engage youth in positive activites. The grant recipients include Montsho Foundation, Inc., in partnership with Bunche Manor, Clearlake, Hololando Neighborhood Association; Morgan Ministries, Inc. in partnership with Colony Cove Homeowners Association; and Washington Shores Elementary School in partnership with Greater Washington Shores Area Association. For more information on the Mayor’s Matching Grants programs, visit cityoforlando.net/grants.

University of Central Florida College of Medicine

On Monday, the City Council passed an agreement with the UCF Foundation to assist with the acquisition and construction of the UCF College of Medicine. The development of the Medical School at Lake Nona is an integral part of the development of a biomedical cluster that will include the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, Veterans Hospital and Nemours Children’s Hospital. Another partner in the project, Tavistock, pledged $12.5 million and 50 acres in Lake Nona for the development of UCF’s College of Medicine.

Workplace Giving Campaign

City employees raised more than $321,461.94 as part of the City’s 2007 Workplace Giving Campaign. At this week’s City Council meeting, checks were presented to twelve umbrella organizations, including: America's Charities; Community Foundation of Central Florida; Community Health Charities of Florida; Earth Share; Global Impact; Heart of Florida United Way; Human & Civil Rights Organizations of America; Independent Charities of America; Local Independent Charities -Florida Area; Neighbor To Nation; United Arts of Central Florida; and United Way of America.
 

Mayor in the Community

On Wednesday, Mayor Buddy Dyer joined JetBlue executives for the airline’s announcement of Orlando as its seventh focus city. The designation of Orlando as a focus city means additional flights and destinations, expanded gates at Orlando International Airport, and a JetBlue Crew Lodge.

On Friday, Mayor Dyer and Congresswoman Corrine Brown participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Center for Injury Creation Service. The center will be the first medical research and development facility in the Parramore community.
 

Did You Know?

Don’t miss the chance to become more informed, engaged and involved in your City. The Mayor’s City Academy is a program that offers citizens a unique look inside Orlando City government. Participants will interact with City employees and take part in real life situations, giving them a greater understanding of City operations. They will tour Orlando City Hall and the Amway Arena, interact with the police and fire departments, learn about downtown development and public works, participate in activities with the Families, Parks and Recreation Department and learn more about housing and transportation initiatives.

Classes meet every Thursday from 5:30 – 8 p.m. during the 10-week program. Participants must be at least 18 years old. For more information or for an application, call 407-246-2169 or visit www.cityoforlando.net/cityacademy.
Spring application deadline is March 27, 2008. Classes will begin on April 10, 2008.

Free Educational Workshops on Foreclosure Prevention
and Predatory Lending

The City of Orlando will host a series of seminars designed to educate residents on the resources available to mitigate the impacts of foreclosures and predatory lending practices. A team of experts will speak on the issues of foreclosure proceedings, tax implications, predatory lending tactics and more.

Each household that attends one of the seminars will receive a one-on-one counseling session, at a later date, to discuss issues pertinent to that household, with Mrs. Cora Fulmore, a nationally-renowned expert on housing counseling.

The four-hour sessions will be held on Saturdays throughout the City.

Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m
Beardall Senior Center
800 S. Delaney Ave.

Saturday, April 19, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m
Odyssey Middle School
9290 Lee Vista Blvd.

Saturday, May 3, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m
Northwest Community Center
3955 W.D. Judge Dr.

Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m
Rosemont Community Center
4872 Rose Bay Dr.

Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m
J.R. Smith Neighborhood Center
1723 Bruton Blvd.

Saturday, June 14, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m
Engelwood Neighborhood Center
6123 La Costa Dr.

For additional information,call 407-246-2708 or visit cityoforlando.net.

Register Now For the Neighborhood and Community Summit

Save the date for the Third Annual Neighborhood and Community Summit on Saturday, April 12, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orlando Marriott Downtown, 400 W. Livingston Street. This annual summit will offer a variety of community engagement workshops, best practices and networking opportunities for neighborhood and community leaders and citizen volunteers. For more information, call 407-246-2169 or visit our web site at cityoforlando.net/summit to register.
 

Smackdown at the City Arts Factory

WrestleManiART, hosted by the Central Florida Sports Commission, United Arts of Central Florida, City of Orlando and the WWEÒ, will feature art developed by WWEÒ Super Stars, interwoven with live music, live and silent auctions and heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages. WrestleManiART will be held on Wednesday, March 26^th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the City Arts Factory, 29 South Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando. Admission is $50 per person. Tickets are limited and may be purchased at www.redchairproject.com or by calling (407) 648-4900 ext. 22.  WrestleManiART is sponsored by the Downtown Development Board and Grolsch.

Upcoming Events

Road Closure

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