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May 16, 2008 - City News |
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Mayor's
Message |
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Dear Friend,
I wanted to take
this opportunity to update you on the status of
Central Florida commuter rail. As many of you
know, the Florida Legislature did not approve
some legal requirements necessary to give the
green light for commuter rail for Central
Florida during the recent legislative session.
We are disappointed with this recent setback;
however this does not stop the project. If
anything, it serves to rally more support to
make commuter rail a reality.
Funding for
commuter rail is still in place at the local,
state and federal levels. The only “piece of the
puzzle” outstanding is the legal liability
issue. We have until June 2009 to accomplish
this last piece and will continue to work
diligently to make this project a reality for
our community.
The commuter rail
project represents a historic level of
partnership and cooperation between four
counties, the City of Orlando, our congressional
delegation, Central Florida Partnership,
MetroPlan, LYNX, Florida Department of
Transportation and Metro Orlando EDC. Our group
of partners remains committed to moving this
vital project forward.
Commuter rail is
critical to the future of Central Florida – and
the entire state – providing a new option to
accommodate our community’s transportation
needs. Addressing our region’s future needs is
essential to our economy and our continued
growth.
Sincerely,
Buddy Dyer
Mayor
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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.
Are You Prepared for Hurricane Season?
Hurricane season begins June 1, 2008 and
is predicted to be an active season. The reality is that no matter how
many hurricanes are forecasted, it only takes one storm to cause
devastation. Orlando residents should be reviewing their hurricane plans
and preparing disaster kits. For helpful tips, visit
http://cityoforlando.net/emergency/getting_prepared.htm.
The Orlando Fire Department's Office of
Emergency Management works throughout the year to ready the City for
hurricane season and they are recruiting volunteers for our Citizen
Information Line. During an emergency, this phone bank provides
information to residents and is a crucial part of the City’s emergency
operations. Residents interested in volunteering should visit the
Emergency Management website for more information.
http://www.cityoforlando.net/emergency/prep/volunteer.htm.
The recent fires that have burned
thousands of acres and destroyed many homes in Central Florida
demonstrate the need to be prepared year round. The Orlando Fire
Department offers Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training,
which provides citizens with the basic skills needed during an
emergency. This training allows graduates to respond to the immediate
need of their family and community in the aftermath of a major disaster
- the time when emergency services may not be readily available. By
working together, CERT members can assist in saving lives by
implementing the basic techniques taught in this course.
To learn more about CERT or to register
for a class, visit the City’s Web site
http://www.cityoforlando.net/fire/Division%20of%20Public%20Relations.htm
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Bike to Work Day
 On Friday, May
16, Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orlando citizens and City
employees participated in National Bike to Work
Day. Gathering at the College Park Starbucks,
they rode into Downtown Orlando ending at
Orlando City Hall.
Designated a Bicycle Friendly Community since
2000, Orlando promotes bicycling as a form of
transportation by incorporating complete streets
policies to make roads safe and accessible to
all users;
giving away locks, lights, helmets and
reconditioned bikes; starting the Pedal for
Pride bike ride with the Parramore Kidz Zone;
and working directly with the Orlando Police
Department to provide education, safety training
and enforcement for bicycling.
Robert Bowden at EPCOT
International Flower and Garden Festival
 Leu Gardens' Director Robert
Bowden will be at "Garden Town" in EPCOT for an
informative and fun filled presentation on the
best plants for your weekend
landscaping projects. Discover how plants with
unusual colors, forms and textures make an
attractive and enjoyable home landscape.
Presentations are free with regular EPCOT park
admission on May 16, 17, and 18 from 12 p.m. to
3 p.m.
For more
information on the International Flower and
Garden Festival, visit their Web site:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/specialEvents
?id=EpcotInternationalFlowerandGardenFestivalSpecialEventPage
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BLUEPRINT Job Fair and
BBQ
Join Mayor Buddy
Dyer, District 2 Commissioner Tony Ortiz,
District 5 Commissioner Daisy W. Lynum and
Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez at
the BLUEPRINT Job Fair and BBQ, Saturday, May 31
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Englewood
Neighborhood Center (6123 La Costa Drive).
Through the Blueprint, the City of Orlando is
leveraging the Community Venues projects to make
a significant and long-term, positive economic
impact on the local and minority communities.
May 31 is your opportunity to learn first-hand
how you can benefit from the largest public
building project in Central Florida’s history.
Register onsite for job opportunities with
Workforce Central Florida.
For more
information call 407-246-3721 or e-mail
venues.blueprint@cityoforlando.net
Community Venues Construction Update
• The on-street parking along the south side
of Church Street between Division and Hughey
Avenues is closed. This closure will remain
until completion of the Events Center to
accommodate site work and construction.
Beginning Monday, May 19, on-street parking
along the north side of Church Street between
Division and Bryan Avenues will be closed.
Closure will be approximately 30 days to
accommodate lane shifts related to Events Center
utility relocation work. Additional parking is
available in the Church Street Garage. Parking
validation stickers for this garage are
available for customers from Church Street
merchants located between Terry and Hughey
Avenues. • Also beginning Monday, May 19,
Church Street from Division Avenue to Bryan
Avenue (eastbound direction only) will be closed
for construction associated with underground
utilities installation. The closure is expected
to remain in place until approximately June 30,
2008. A detour will be posted. Please exercise
extreme caution in this area during the street
closure. For more information call Walter
Hawkins at 407-246-3190. |
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Mayor in the
Community |
On Wednesday, May 14 Mayor Dyer attended the
Senior Prom Dance as part of the Senior Expo, a
two-day event with an attendance of over 10,000
seniors.
On Friday, May 16, Mayor Dyer attended the
Richmond Heights Elementary School Read-A-Thon,
a 24-hour read-a-thon encouraging and promoting
literacy for children.
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Did You Know? |
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WMMO Downtown Concert Series
The
WMMO Downtown Concert Series returns on
Saturday, June 14 with Eddie Money and the Spin
Doctors. The free concert begins at 4 p.m. at
City Hall Plaza, 400 South Orange Avenue. Bring
your chairs and enjoy! For more information
visit
http://www.wmmo.com
Historic Preservation Board Needs Your Photos
The City of Orlando Historic Preservation
Board is seeking photographs for the 2009
Historic Preservation Calendar. This 2009
calendar will focus on the architectural
features of the Lake Copeland Historic District.
The general boundaries are Annie Street on the
north, Orange Avenue on the west, Miller Street
on the south, and Osceola Avenue on the east.
The Historic Preservation Board is looking for
hobby photographers to capture the uniqueness
and distinct styles of the historic Lake
Copeland neighborhood in black and white
pictures. The best pictures will be included in
the 2009 calendar.
Photographs must be black and white and
printed on 8” x 10” or 8 ½” X 11” paper with a
white border. Vertical or horizontal photographs
are acceptable. Up to three photographs, labeled
with your name, daytime telephone number and the
address of the subject must be submitted or
postmarked by June 27, 2008 at 5 p.m.
Deliver photographs to the Historic Preservation
Office on the 6th floor of Orlando City Hall,
400 South Orange Avenue or mail them to the
Historic Preservation Office, PO Box 4990,
Orlando, Florida 32802. Please consider donating
your photographs to the Historic Preservation
Office for our files. Please enclose a
self-addressed, stamped 9” x 12” envelope if you
would like your photographs returned.
To see a map of the Lake Copeland
neighborhood, visit
cityoforlando.net. Contact Richard Forbes at
407-246-3350 or Diane Rivera at 407-246-3416
with questions about the calendar.
Free Educational Workshops on Foreclosure
Prevention and Predatory Lending
The
City of Orlando is hosting 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.
The
four-hour sessions will be held on Saturdays,
from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., throughout the City.
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. |
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Upcoming
Events |
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Road Closures |
• For information on
road closures please visit:
our site.
• For up-to-date
information on I-4 lane and ramp closures please
visit:
trans4mation.org
• For the latest
East-West Expressway updates please visit:
http://www.oocea.com/constructionupdate/roadupdates.shtml |
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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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Florida has a very broad public records law.
As a result, any written communication created or received by City of
Orlando officials and employees will be made available to the public and
media, upon request, unless otherwise exempt. Under Florida law, email
addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address
released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic
mail to this office. Instead, contact our office by phone or in writing.
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