Table of Contents
Connect with Commissioner Emily Bonilla
Welcome to the 95th 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.
Rural Boundary Update!
At the July 30th Board of Couty Commissioners, I and all the other commissioners voted to put the Rural Boundary Charter Amendment on the ballot. This huge accomplishment allows you, the voters, to have a say in the future of Orange County! Thank you for your efforts!
VISION 2050 Work Group
On August 7th, I led our second VISION 2050 Work Group, where we discussed community concerns about Vision 2050 and Orange Code, the County’s new comprehensive plan. We were joined by community work groups, their members, and Orange County staff to share and discuss how to shape our future.
Annexation Amendment Update!
I have worked hard with the Board to finalize the language for the Orange County Annexation Amendment. We finalized the language in the last BCC work session and will vote to put it on the ballot for you to vote on at next Tuesday’s BCC!
Thank You, Rev. Dr. Tracie Barrett!
I would like to send a special “Thank You” to Rev. Dr. Tracie Barrett of the University Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for delivering such a moving invocation at our last BCC.
Backpack Giveaway!
I’m thrilled to share that our Backpack and School Supplies Giveaway was a huge success! Thanks to the incredible support from our community, we were able to equip 200 students with the essentials they need for a great school year ahead.
A HUGE thank you to Bishop & Buttrey, Inc. and CrossLife Church for their unwavering support and partnership.
Case Closed!
A constituent contacted us regarding a speed hump request for his community. We connected him with a county traffic engineer who sent out a petition form and fact sheet, the first steps towards making their community safer.
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
District 5 Youth Advisory Council
I am happy to invite you to the District 5 Youth Advisory Council meeting on August 28, 2024, from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM at the Orange County Administration Building, 201 S Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL 32801. This is an invaluable opportunity for you to engage in meaningful discussions, advocate for issues that matter to you, and lead initiatives that impact our community.
District 5 Coffee with the Commissioner
Please join me for coffee on August 28, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Orange County Administration Building, 201 S Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL 32801. This is a great opportunity for us to connect in a casual atmosphere, discuss your concerns, and brainstorm ideas for our community.
District 5 Neighborhood Advisory Council
Circle August 28, 2024, on your calendar! Join us from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Orange County Administration Building, 201 S Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL 32801. Encourage your neighbors and friends to attend this important community event where your input can make a difference.
A Very Special Thank You!
One of our talented office members began a new journey. Sharon went off to start her university adventure, leaving our office behind. We thank Sharon so much for her dedication and hard work; she will be dearly missed. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors!
Past Community Events
Orlando VU
I took a tour of the impressive Vu Orlando Virtual Production Studio. We are working hard to get Orange County a film incentive to help support companies like Vu, which provides state-of-the-art services for our regional media producers.
Valencia College Lake Nona Campus
I visited Valencia College’s Lake Nona Campus, where I toured the biology and chemistry labs. Valencia’s Lake Nona campus has all the features of larger colleges and boasts an A.S. program in Biotechnology Laboratory Sciences.
Upcoming Events
Please click on the Event Title to find more details about the event.
Pluris / Wedgefield Community Meeting
🌟 Wedgefield Residents: Important discussions ahead!
🗣️ Your voice matters in shaping the future of Wedgefield’s utilities.
Join us on August 21 at Wedgefield School, 3835 Bancroft Blvd, Orlando, FL 32833, to hear the latest findings on Wedgefield Pluris and share your thoughts. This is your chance to guide a decision that will impact your entire community.
🗓️ Mark your calendar: August 21, 6 PM, Wedgefield School, 3835 Bancroft Blvd, Orlando, FL 32833.
See you there! đź‘Ą
2nd Annual Spooktacular Candy Bash with Commissioner Emily Bonilla!
Mark your calendars for October 26, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and join Commissioner Emily Bonilla at the Goldenrod Recreation Center in Winter Park, FL, for the second annual Spooktacular Candy Bash! This Halloween event promises to be even more thrilling and fun-filled than last year’s.
Location: 4863 N. Goldenrod Rd., Winter Park, FL
Date: October 26th, 2024
Time: 12 P.M. – 4 P.M.
Register: https://emilybonilla.com/2nd-annual-emily-bonilla-spooktacular/
District 5 Torchbearer
Torchbearer: a person who leads or inspires others in working toward a valued goal
I would like to give a very special “Thank you!” to CrossLife Church, which came out to help pack bags for the giveaway. We couldn’t have done it without you!
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
07/30/2024 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 08/13/24 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 9 AM for the morning session and 2 PM for the afternoon session.
Below are a couple of highlighted agenda items. Click on the agenda number to learn more about the item.
Consent Agenda
- 24-1146 Approval to award surplus county properties appropriate for affordable housing development to non-profit organizations. Districts 2, 3, 5, and 6. (Housing and Community Development Division)
- 24-1178 Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between City of Orlando, Florida and Orange County, Florida to serve individuals or families from the City of Orlando and Orange County. All Districts. (Housing and Community Development Division)
- 24-1161 Approval and execution of Proportionate Share Agreement for Wise Colonial PD / Commercial Carwash E. Colonial Drive Colonial Drive by and between K2 Colonial Dr LLC and Orange County for a proportionate share payment in the amount of $143,680. District 5. (Roadway Agreement Committee)
- 24-1164 Approval and execution of Transportation Impact Fee Agreement regarding an alternative impact fee calculation for AutoNation Winter Park and Orange County. District 5. (Transportation Planning Division)
- 24-1168 Approval of commercial refuse license for Environmental One, LLC to provide solid waste hauling services to commercial generators in Orange County for a five-year term. All Districts. Solid Waste Division.
BZA Recommendations
- 24-1147 July 18, 2024 Board of Zoning Recommendations. There is 1 case in District 5
Public Hearings
- 24-1089 Adoption of Future Land Use Map Amendment and Ordinance a. Amendment SS-24-04-013 Rebecca Wilson, Office (O) to High Density Residential – Student Housing (HDR-Student Housing); District 5 And b. Ordinance for Proposed Amendment
- 24-1137 Adoption of Ordinance amending Orange County Code Chapter 37, Article I, entitled “Orange County Water, Wastewater and reclaimed water service rules”; amending Section 37-5 to update the level of service standards for water and wastewater; and providing an effective date; Countywide
- 24-1177 Submitting to referendum a proposed amendment to the Charter of Orange County, Florida; providing for an exclusive method of municipal voluntary annexation; providing for preemptory land use regulation; calling a referendum on the proposed Charter Amendment; providing the ballot title and ballot summary for the referendum; conditioning the effectiveness of the Charter Amendment on voter approval at the referendum; providing for other related matters; providing for severability; and providing for effective dates; Countywide
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
- Orange County commissioners to vote on controversial rural boundary amendment: District 5 Commissioner for Orange County Emily Bonilla said there needs to be stricter regulations when it comes to annexations, especially since cities don’t need county’s permission to annex properties at the moment.“This causes problems because we’ve worked so hard on different land use regulations in order to prevent urban sprawl and control our environmentally sensitive lands by development and by having the cities just come in and take it over, it tosses away all that hard work,”.
- Orange County Commission to explore film incentive program: The charge is being led by Commissioner Emily Bonilla. “People in arts and culture do it for passion,” she said at the May meeting. “The arts in our community help with mental health. … It brings people together. It’s so needed in our community. Film is an art, and I think that’s forgotten sometimes. … Film is suffering here in Orange County, and it needs support. The economic development benefits have an immediate impact. … It’s a no-brainer. … We can so easily become the next East Hollywood. I am so excited about this, where it’s going to go and where we are going to be in a couple of years.”
- Update: County will send a mailer to property owners in proposed Rural Area: Commissioner Emily Bonilla said it’s about “controlled growth.” “You know, if we don’t do that,” she said in a telephone interview Monday, “then all of these developers are going to look for the cheapest land which is usually the land that is used by agriculture or is environmentally sensitive.” Bonilla is leading the effort to get it on the November ballot since the state Legislature canceled the local Charter Review Commission’s authority to do it.
- New student housing communities approved near UCF: “We want redevelopment,” said Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla. “I’ve also been encouraging them to get closer to the school so that we have the shuttle ability because we don’t want more traffic on the roads.”
- Orange County considering stronger review process for annexations: The Charter Amendment would give the County more power in the annexation process, and aims to protect land in the rural boundary.
- Starliner Mission Update, County vs. Cities Rural Boundary Debate, Polaroid Portrait Pop-Up: On the other side of this issue, Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla oversees District 5 which much of the rural area or the unincorporated Orange County land concerns in this issue. The commissioner, who was leading an effort to get the rural boundary amendment approved, sat down to speak with us.
- Rural boundary ballot measure approval tops July county action: The County Commission approved unanimously adding a charter amendment to the November ballot establishing a rural area and rural boundary at its Tuesday, July 30, meeting. The proposed amendment will give voters in Orange County a chance to restrict development in rural areas.
- Is Orange County’s rural boundary ballot initiative in jeopardy?: In late May, Commissioner Emily Bonilla, who won her seat eight years ago ousting an incumbent who voted for urban-style development in rural east Orange, appealed in a memo to colleagues to act quickly on the proposed rural-boundary charter issue.
- Developer plans to replace aging apartment complex with UCF student housing: The project, which recently won approval from the Orange County Commission, is one of many student housing developments planned for the UCF area.
