Thank you to everyone who participated in the Lee Road Safe Neighborhood Community Clean up on October 20th! We would like to give a special thank you to Pastor Tom and his staff at Calvary Chapel Orlando Church who allowed us to use their facilities for the event. At the end of the day, with the help of Advance Disposal and the Environmental Protection Division, we collected a total 14,640 lbs. of bulky items, trash, debris and household hazardous waste.
Goldenrod Area Community Meeting
Please join Commissioner Emily Bonilla for the Goldenrod area community Meeting. Constituents from the Goldenrod area (32792) will be able to share their concerns and priorities for the region.
Developing a Rural Boundary Protection Plan
Join Commissioner Emily Bonilla of Orange County District 5 for a community meeting to discuss the development of a Rural Boundary Protection Plan.
Bithlo Town Hall
Join Commissioner Bonilla for a Town Hall meeting with Orange County Sheriff Office, Orange County Health Services, and Orange County Family Services. Each department will provide a briefing on current programs that affect the community. Residents will also be able to discuss crime and other concerns with Orange County officials.
Inside the Courts
The Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, serving Orange and Osceola counties, presents Inside the Courts: a four-night program held at the courthouse that is dedicated to teaching those interested in the operations of the judicial system. Participants will learn processes and roles of the courts, as well as roles involved within the judicial system, the challenges local courts face today and the future of the judicial system. Opportunities to ask questions will also be provided. If three out of the four sessions are attended, the court will award a certificate of completion.
New Solar Co-Ops Information Session
Orange County has partnered once again with Solar United Neighbors and the League of Women Voters to launch two new solar co-ops – one in East Orange County and one in West Orange County (the West Orange one will officially open for registration in April). Check Event Calendar for upcoming information sessions. Additional meetings will be announced on SolarUnitedNeighbors.org.
Cabinet, governor to hear Lake Pickett Case
The vote played a large role in Commissioner Ted Edwards’ loss to one of the most vocal project opponents, Emily Bonilla, in that year’s election. Shortly afterward, the other proposed development in the area, Lake Pickett North, was voted down by the commission. Bonilla had wanted the original vote on The Grow to be reconsidered following the judge’s ruling, but Mayor Teresa Jacobs argued it was only a recommendation and wanted to wait for the Cabinet process to play out.
Urban Trees and Stormwater Community Meeting
Orange County was one of only three communities in Florida selected to participate in a 7-state study to find ways to better integrate urban trees into stormwater management programs. Orange County’s participation in the study was funded by a grant from the Florida Forest Service. Holding a final community meeting is one of the requirements of the grant. EPD took the lead for the project, but several other Divisions/Departments were involved, including Planning, Parks and Recreation, Zoning, Public Works, Facilities Management, and Cooperative Extension/IFAS. During the community meeting, Green Infrastructure Center (GIC), the consultant for the study, will summarize some of the key findings and recommendations. The meeting will provide an opportunity to provide some information to interested residents and get their input.
Orange County opens to proposals to salvage from Sanford Burnham center
Jacobs harshly questioned Florida Hospital over having developed at least the beginnings of its proposal in long-term private talks with Sanford Burnham that left the county and other public stakeholders literally locked out. Commissioner Emily Bonilla later said that she already prefers the UCF proposal, and she believes other commissioners do too.
Orange County plans to limit airboats on St. Johns ramp
As many as seven independent airboat operators have used the ramp, some of them for decades, often warily co-existing with Airboat Rides at Midway across the highway. Independent owners have said they’re worried they could be put out of business if the county went out to bid for permits, while Midway owner Derrick Lockhart said rival boats were operating without oversight. Commissioner Emily Bonilla said she would prefer expanding the limit at S.R. 50 to five boat operators to make sure there was some level of competition.