Table of Contents
Connect with Commissioner Emily Bonilla
Welcome to the 85th edition of the Newsletter!
I am honored to serve the people of Orange County District 5. From College Park to Christmas, our office is here to represent your interests. We are working tirelessly to meet with as many constituents and community groups as possible in order to learn about your concerns and priorities first-hand. We encourage you to stay informed and voice your opinions as we move forward to improve the quality of life in our district.
Noteworthy
Visit our timeline to see many of our past accomplishments for District 5.
Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) related to Hurricane Ian
On December 12, 2023, the Board of County Commissioners convened to discuss the allocation of $219.7 million from the CDBG-DR in response to Hurricane Ian. Commissioner Emily Bonilla advocated prioritizing disaster mitigation projects, mainly focusing on flooding issues in the area. Approximately $8 million has been earmarked for flooding mitigation activities. The session covered program requirements, steps taken to formulate the necessary Action Plan, public participation in its development, outcomes of an unmet needs analysis, and a preliminary fund allocation based on identified needs. Stay tuned for updates as we can expect the final CDBG-DR Action Plan for adoption at a public hearing on January 9, 2024.
Commissioner Bonilla Advocates Caution in Allocating Tourist Development Tax Funds
The Board of County Commissioners continued deliberations on allocating Tourist Development Tax funds. Commissioner Emily Bonilla highlighted concerns over the decline in tax collections over the past months. Expressing worry about future revenue predictions, Bonilla urged a cautious approach to fund allocation. While discussions revolved around Commissioner Mike Scott’s proposal for a $400-million Camping World Stadium upgrade, Bonilla’s emphasis on fiscal prudence stood out. Stay tuned for ongoing updates on the TDT conversations later this month.
Enhancing Orange County’s Mental Health System: Insights from Commissioner Bonilla’s Miami Model Trip
Commissioner Emily Bonilla recently participated in the Miami Model trip, which aimed to explore evidence-based practices within the Criminal Justice System Sequential Intercept Model. Her key takeaways from the trip present potential improvements for Orange County’s mental and behavioral health system. The experience highlighted the importance of integrated care models like the Miami Model, which aligns with Orange County’s goals for coordinated care. Strategies such as diversion programs, training, collaboration, community engagement, crisis response units, affordable housing initiatives, peer support, and data-driven approaches were vital for improving mental health interventions within the criminal justice system. These insights offer valuable opportunities for Orange County to enhance its policies in this area.
Case Closed!
The constituent, a senior citizen and disabled individual, faced financial strain due to increased utility bills after Winter Park Utilities raised their rates. Despite reaching out to multiple organizations for assistance, they encountered dead ends and were unable to pay their bills. Our office successfully closed the case by connecting the constituent with LIHEAP and securing the necessary aid to address their bill payment challenges. Through diligent efforts, we ensured the constituents received the support they needed during financial hardship, providing relief and stability. We are here to assist you in accessing essential resources and ensuring that you receive the necessary support in challenging situations.
CASE CLOSED!
If you have an issue that needs to be resolved, use our contact form and we will connect you with the right people and resources.
District 5 Videos
You can watch our videos on the YouTube Channel or special content only available on our Roku Channel where you will find full episodes of the Emily Tells All talk show and bonus segments.
Subscribe to the YouTube Channel to not miss any videos and Install the “Emily Tells All” channel on your Roku.
Important Updates and Information
Wetlands Ordinance
Orange County’s Board of County Commissioners has unanimously strengthened wetland and surface water protections with an updated ordinance. We praise the community’s commitment to preserving vital resources. Notable changes include a tiered permitting approach, new mitigation monitoring, a 100-ft buffer, and clearer code language. A two-year collaborative effort ensures a balanced approach.
Join the Eatonville Branch on January 26, 2024!
Acclaimed children’s author Alicia D. Williams, known for her award-winning book “Genesis Begins Again,” will be at Eatonville Branch on January 26, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Join us to read and discuss her picture book, “Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston.” This event is part of ZORA! Festival Education Day is celebrating Zora Neale Hurston.
Community Voices: Why Your Input Matters
Your fellow Orange County residents are sharing their thoughts on the Disaster Recovery Plan. Join the conversation during the public review and comment period through January 11, 2024. Comments about the draft CDBG-DR Action Plan may be submitted in writing during the public comment period via email or mail. Click here to learn more!
U.S. Department of Justice Announcement
The 2024 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) is OPEN! 
Comprehensive funding for American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes supporting crime prevention, victim services, and community responses. Administered by OJP and COPS. The application deadline for CTAS is March 5, 2024, at 8:59 p.m. Register here!
Past Community Events
MetroPlan Orlando Board Meeting & Press Conference
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the MetroPlan Orlando Board Meeting & Press Conference! In the coming weeks, my office will actively support and promote Vision Zero and Best Foot Forward for Pedestrian Safety. Ensuring the safety of our community is our top priority, and we are committed to safeguarding the well-being of our residents. Stay tuned for upcoming updates and initiatives!
New Image Youth Center Holiday Party
Attended a remarkable event on Dec 14th, witnessing the impactful work of the New Image Youth Center in our community. Commissioner Bonilla’s team left with a great understanding of their efforts. This Holiday Party brought joy to the children of the Parramore neighborhood. I am proud of the Junior League of Greater Orlando’s partnership with New Image Youth Center, which has fostered dreams and well-being for nearly two decades.
Upcoming Events
Please click on the Event Title to find more details about the event.
New Year, New Gear: Supply Restock Giveaway
Join Commissioner Emily Bonilla for the New Year, New Gear: Supply Restock Giveaway! The event, open to all, offers 500+ backpacks, supplies, food boxes from Second Harvest, and interactive tables by local nonprofits. Beyond the giveaways, participants can engage in activities and champion a movement for childrenâs education, emphasizing community spirit and inclusivity.
Location: Goldenrod Recreation Center, 4863 N Goldenrod Rd, Winter Park, FL 32792
Date: Saturday, January 6, 2024
Time: 1:00 pm â 3:00 pm
Register: Click here!
Register: Click here!
Career Toolkit Workshop: Mastering Resumes & Interviews
The Sustanee (Lake Pickett North) proposal is to change the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) designation of approximately 1,317.61 acres from Rural/Agricultural to Lake Pickett to allow up to 1.789 single-family detached dwelling units, 90,000 square feet of Community Space and amenities, a multi-purpose trail, and sites for a middle or K-8 public school and a fire station.
Location: Corner Lake Middle School Cafeteria, 1700 Chuluota Rd, Orlando, FL 32820
Date: Thursday, January 11, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm â 7:00 pm
Career Toolkit Workshop: Mastering Resumes & Interviews
Welcome to the âCareer Toolkit Workshop: Mastering Resumes and Interviewsâ â your gateway to unlocking career opportunities in Orange County! Join us for an empowering workshop designed to enhance your job application skills. Whether youâre a recent graduate, a career changer, or looking to improve your employment prospects, this workshop is for you.
Location: Orange County Administration Building, 201 S. Rosalind Ave., Orlando, FL, 32801
Date: Friday, January 12, 2024
Time: 6:30 pm â 8:30 pm
Register: Click here!
District 5 Youth Advisory Board
We welcome all teens to our inaugural meeting of the District 5 Youth Advisory Board! Weâre excited to launch this platform for passionate young minds to let their voice be the driving force behind a brighter and more connected future for our county. Join us as we embark on a journey of volunteerism, engaging discussions, and hands-on deep dives into critical local legislative topics. Together, letâs empower the next generation to be active contributors and positively impact our community.
Location: Orange County Administration Building, 201 S. Rosalind Ave., Orlando, FL, 32801
Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Time: 3:30 pm â 4:30 pm
Register: Click here!
Join us for âCoffee with the Commissioner,â a community event offering you a chance to share ideas, ask questions, and gain insights into local initiatives and plans directly from the commissioner. Itâs an opportunity to foster connections, voice concerns, and collaborate in a relaxed atmosphere while savoring delightful coffee blends. Come sip and discuss the future of our community!
Location: Orange County Administration Building, 201 S. Rosalind Ave., Orlando, FL, 32801
Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Time: 5:00 pm â 6:00 pm
Register: Click here!
District 5 Neighborhood Advisory Board
The Council has been a project near and dear to my heart and four years in the making! Before I was elected, I was a citizen advocating for my community. When I was elected, my goal was to make sure that I created a system where the citizens could be heard and a part of their local government. I am proud and excited for the citizens that took me up on the offer to join the Council and be part of something that is the first of its kind in Orange County. You can be a part of it too. Hereâs how:
Location: Orange County Administration Building, 201 S. Rosalind Ave., Orlando, FL, 32801
Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Time: 6:30 pm â 8:00 pm
Register: Click here!
Commissioner Emily Bonilla’s Employment Expo
Join us at Commissioner Emily Bonillaâs Employment Expo, your gateway to new career opportunities in District 5. Meet with top employers, discover exciting job openings, and take a significant step toward your professional future!
Location: Renaissance Senior Center, 3800 S. Econlockhatchee Trl., Orlando, FL 32829
Date: Friday, February 2, 2024
Time: 11:00 am â 2:00 pm
Register: Click here!
District 5 Torchbearer
Torchbearer: a person who leads or inspires others in working toward a valued goal
The Right Reverend David Moises Maldonado, Presiding Bishop of Christ International Fellowship, is a revered figure known for his religious leadership and civic advocacy within Latino and African American communities. A third-generation Pentecostal pastor, he began preaching at thirteen, licensed in 1992, and ordained in 1996. Ordained as bishop in 2008, Bishop Maldonado is a distinguished theologian and founder of Christ Institute of Theology. He's a co-founder of Hablamos Español Florida, chairs the Con Fe Council, and teaches at Northwind Seminary. A graduate with a TH.D. from Kairos University, he pastors Christ International Church in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Tia, and four children.
Do you know a person or organization who is an Orange County District 5 Torchbearer? Nominate them to be featured in our email newsletter.
Updates from Past BCC Meeting
12/12/23 BCC Meeting
Watch the Board of County Commissioner’s (BCC) Meeting or download the minutes. After the meetings, the e-agenda is updated with the results of the votes.
Upcoming 1/9/24 BCC Meeting
View the e-agenda of the next Board of County Commissioner’s (BCC) Meeting. The e-agenda for each BCC meeting is usually available online on the Thursday before the meeting.
As always, we do have time before the meeting starts for Public Comment, and for Public Hearings there is also an opportunity to speak. For more information and how to sign up to speak, please go to https://www.orangecountyfl.net/BoardofCommissioners/BoardAppearanceandpubliccomment.aspx#.XppXRFNKgWo
This meeting will start at 2 PM for the afternoon session (there will not be a morning session this time).
Below are a couple of highlighted agenda items. Click on the agenda number to learn more about the item.
Consent Agenda
- 24-035 Approval to award Invitation for Bids Y24-721-GO, Bithlo Rural Area Water Phase 1 West, to the low responsive and responsible bidder, Carr & Collier Inc., for the base bid plus additive numbers 1 through 4. The total contract award amount is $12,604,224. ([Utilities Department Engineering Division] Procurement Division)
- 24-067 Approval and execution of License Agreement between Orange County, Florida and The Shepherdâs Hope, Inc. related to not-for-profit medical clinic utilization for the provision of services benefitting the public and authorization for the Real Estate Management Division to execute amendments and furnish notices, required, or allowed by the License Agreement, as needed for Shepherdâs Hope, Inc. East Side Health Center 12050 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida 32826. Lease File #10265. District 5. (Real Estate Management Division)
- 24-072 Approval of the Tourist Development Tax Sports Incentive Committeeâs recommendations for sports incentive funding pursuant to the terms and conditions of funding agreements between Visit Orlando and the following applicants and authorization for Visit Orlando to enter into such agreements as follows: (1) $20,000 per year, for a total of $40,000, to GOSC to be used for bid fees for the 2024 and 2025 Easter International Cup; (2) $75,000 per year, for a total of $150,000, to GOSC to be used for advertising, marketing, and labor for the 2026 and 2027 NCAA Menâs College Cup; (3) $75,000 per year, for a total of $150,000, to GOSC to be used for advertising, marketing, and labor for the 2026 and 2027 NCAA Womenâs College Cup; (4) $300,000 per year, for a total of $600,000 to GOSC to be used for equipment rentals and labor for the 2027 and 2028 NCAA Division I Menâs Basketball Championship – 1st/2nd Rounds; (5) $20,000 to GOSC to be used for labor for the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship Spring Festival; and (6) an amount not to exceed $1,584,705 to GOSC to be used for losses attributed to advertising and promotion, labor, and short-term rentals for the 2024 USA Track & Field U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon. (Fiscal and Operational Support Division)
- 24-081 Approval of the Neighborhood Grants Advisory Board recommendations for November 2023 Neighborhood Beautification Grants to Banana Bay ($15,000), Brentwood Club Phase I ($7,525.80), Winwood ($15,000), Bent Oak ($2,000), Breezewood ($15,000), Eden Woods Homeownersâ Association ($3,000), Regency Park ($10,000), Willows on the Lake ($10,000), Brandy Harbor ($11,000), Cascade Oaks ($15,000), Piney Woods ($11,000), Rio Pinar Woods ($7,563), Andover Lakes Phase I ($15,000), High Point of Orlando Condos ($10,200), Eastbrook ($15,000), Evergreen Terrace ($15,000), Hiawassa Highlands Phase II ($15,000), Raintree Place Phase I ($15,000), and Village Green Estates ($6,800) and authorization for the Director of Planning, Environmental, and Development Services to execute the associated grant agreements. All Districts. (Neighborhood Services Division)
Discussion Agenda
- 24-096 Selection of one firm and an alternate to provide Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) Non-Profit Administrator, Request for Proposals Y23-1078-AH, from the following two firms, listed alphabetically: – Habitat for Humanity of Greater Orlando and Osceola County, Inc. – HANDS of Central Florida, Inc. ([Community and Family Services Department Fiscal and Operational Support Division] Procurement Division)
- 24-097 Selection of one firm and an alternate to provide Design Services for Fire Station #31 Replacement – GRANT, Request for Proposals Y24-804-EB, from the following two firms, listed alphabetically: – Bentley Group, Inc. – KZF Design LLC dba KMF Architects ([Administrative Services Department Capital Projects Division] Procurement Division)
- 24-098 Selection of one firm and an alternate to provide Design Services for Orange County Medical Examinerâs Office Expansion, Request for Proposals Y24-823-RC, from the following two firms, listed alphabetically: – Baker Barrios Architects, Inc. – Gresham Smith ([Administrative Services Department Capital Projects Division] Procurement Division)
BZA/PZC Recommendations
- 24-099 December 7, 2023 Board of Zoning Recommendations. There is 1 case in District 5.
- 24-100 December 21, 2023 Planning and Zoning Commission Recommendations. There are 2 cases in District 5.
Public Hearings
- 24-004 Case # CDR-23-09-278 Brandy Seago, lnterplan LLC, Silver City Properties Planned Development (PD), amend plan; District 5
- 24-010 Case # CDR-23-04-130 Brooks A. Stickler, P.E., Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc., Alafaya Trail Student Housing Planned Development (PD), amend plan; District 5
- 24-006 To consider approval of the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Action Plan to support long term disaster recovery programs and activities addressing impacts from Hurricane Ian; All Districts
Upcoming Land Use Cases in District 5
You can find a list of upcoming land use cases and the dates for their community meetings and public hearings at this link: https://emilybonilla.com/blog/upcoming-land-use-cases/
In The News
- Hurricane Ian relief funding exceeds $200 million in Orange County: “Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla said she wants to see an emphasis on disaster mitigation projects to help alleviate areas plagued by flooding. “Areas continue to flood from just a thunderstorm. So we need some mitigation happening. We need some reservoirs happening to prevent these continued floodings,” she said. About $8 million has been set aside for flooding mitigation activities.”
- Orange Co. Commissioners debate proposed $400 million Camping World Stadium upgrades: “Other commissioners raised concerns, including Commissioner Emily Bonilla, who is worried that Tourist Development Tax collections have declined in 6 of the past 7 months. âYes, I’m a bit concerned about the predictions of what you know it’s going to increase to. So I think we have to be very careful about how we dedicate this funding,â Bonilla said.”