November 14, 2008 - City News

Mayor's Message

Dear Friend,

This week, more than 4,000 municipal leaders have gathered in our City for the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Congress of Cities and Exposition. This annual conference has long been a great opportunity for municipal leaders from all corners of the country to meet, share ideas and exchange strategies aimed at bettering our cites.

I am honored that Orlando hosted this year’s conference. As part of our host City responsibilities, we conducted 18 mobile workshop tours -- transforming Orlando into an interactive learning lab. Participants had a chance to visit our new green fire stations, see our PKZ program giving children a chance in Parramore, visit our affordable homes and learn about turning wastewater into energy. This was a unique opportunity to spotlight our City's innovative programs and best practices with cities from across the country.

This conference provided a platform for people to exchange ideas and work together to better our communities. The leaders meeting here this week know that the future of our country will be shaped by our cities. We are entering into a special time in the history of our country where the greatness of our cities is going to determine the health and vitality of our country as a whole.

This conference was a powerful reminder that our cities are rewriting the rules for how we produce jobs, build wealth and conserve our natural resources.

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.

Public Safety Update

In 2006, Mayor Buddy Dyer launched a three-year, comprehensive Public Safety Initiative. This multi-year program demonstrated the City’s commitment to enhancing the strength and force of our police and fire departments and other public safety personnel to meet and respond to the challenges we face today and will face in the future. Highlights and updates from this comprehensive approach are listed below.

Initiative: Add 75 additional police officers on our streets.
Status: To date, we have hired 50 new police officers. The additional 25 officers will be on the force in early 2009. All new officers are assigned to patrolling our neighborhoods, making Orlando one of the highest-ranking cities in the nation in terms of police officers per thousand citizens.

Initiative: Build a new police training facility.
Status: Construction for the training facility has begun and is slated to be completed by May 2009. This new facility will be a state of the art training facility, which will serve the entire region’s law enforcement community.

Initiative: Build new police substations.
Status: In 2007-2008, the City opened the following substations: the Lake Nona Community Police Substation, the Southeast Substation and the Southwest Substation. The new Community Police Substations provide residents with quicker response times, enhanced police protection and easier access to the Orlando Police Department.

Initiative: Increase the number of 9-1-1 operators.
Status: Eight new 9-1-1 operators have been hired and trained. The additional dispatchers allow the City to manage population growth while maintaining our high standard for customer service and responsiveness in answering 9-1-1 calls.

Initiative: Build three new fire stations with 45 new fire personnel.
Status: Fire stations in Savannah Park, Lake Nona and the Millennia area opened in 2007-2008 and are fully operational with trained personnel. Special Operations and Technical Rescue teams were decentralized, bringing them closer to neighborhoods and residents. As a result of these stations opening, the City received its first ISO rating of “1”, the highest rating for cities and communities across the nation.

Initiative: Build a new eastside public safety complex.
Status: The eastside public safety complex was opened in 2007 and is home to Families, Parks and Recreation’s administrative offices, Hispanic Office of Local Affairs, OPD’s Community Service Officers and SWAT Team and the Orlando Fire Department’s Training and Special Ops Units.

Initiative: Install new digital radio communications for first responders.
Status: In 2008 OFD and OPD switched to digital radios, providing first responders with the most current technology to more efficiently and consistently communicate with one another, as well as outside agencies, during an emergency.

Initiative: Expand Code Enforcement operations to include seven new positions.
Status: The City’s Code Enforcement Division implemented a multi-family inspection initiative. As a result 68 multi-family properties, consisting of 13,108 individual units were inspected.

Initiative: Strengthen our community partnerships.
Status: In 2008, Innovative Response to Improve Safety (IRIS) was launched in collaboration with the local business community and community leaders to provide security cameras and monitoring in public locations.

Initiative: Develop new programs.
Status: Illegal Gun Bounty: Since 2007, 153 weapons have been recovered and more than $80,000 in tipster payouts have been issued.

Operation Positive Direction: The Orlando Police Department has established a new youth mentoring program, Operation Positive Direction. 100 students have been identified from middle and high schools throughout the City that face social, economic and academic challenges. The program will include mentoring, tutoring, community service, goal setting and incentives for success.

To stay up-to-date on Mayor Dyer’s Public Safety Initiative, visit cityoforlando.net/publicsafety.

OPD Violent Crime Commander

Mayor Buddy Dyer and Chief Val Demings are committed to fighting violent crime in the City of Orlando. As Chief Demings continues to evaluate OPD resources to combat violent crime, she, with the approval of Mayor Dyer, is creating a management position to focus solely on violent crime. This sworn manager will coordinate violent crime initiatives with an emphasis on illegal guns.

Chief Demings has selected Lieutenant Victor Uvalle, a 28-year veteran of the Orlando Police Department, to coordinate violent crime initiatives between the Orlando Police Department and local, state and federal agencies to include the State and US Attorney offices. Lt. Uvalle will attend legislative sessions, the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Summit and other crime related summits to advance and enhance our efforts to remove illegal guns from our streets.

The number one focus at the Orlando Police Department continues to be the reduction of violent crime with an emphasis on illegal guns. For up-to-date information on the Orlando Police Department, visit cityoforlando.net/police.
 

Reliable Plaza is Open for Business

OUC - The Reliable One - unveiled Reliable Plaza, the utility’s new green downtown customer service and administration center on Tuesday, November 11. Reliable Plaza is one of the most energy and water efficient buildings using 28 percent less energy and 40 percent less water than a similar sized structure built to standard code. These energy and water saving features make this the first commercial building in Central Florida designed and built to meet a Gold level LEED certification.

Some of the building’s green features include:

• A 3,200 square foot solar photovoltaic (PV) system supplies about 2.5 percent of the building’s energy.
• Solar hot water panels provide hot water.
• Raised flooring helps cool and heat more efficiently.
• A 30,000 gallon cistern collects rainwater and air-conditioning condensate for irrigation.
• Florida-friendly, drought-resistant landscaping (xeriscaping) uses 50 percent less water.
• 75 percent of construction waste was recycled.
• 10 percent of materials have recycled content and 20 percent of materials are manufactured regionally.

Reliable Plaza also boasts improved customer features. Drive through payment lanes and one-stop shopping for developers and commercial customers are a few of the improvements. The customer education center in the lobby features an interactive touch screen TV that shows customers how to conserve energy and water and save money in their own homes and businesses.

To learn more about this facility and the new customer service features, visit ouc.com.

Recycle Your Old Cell Phones

Did you know there are nearly 200 million wireless subscribers in the US today? With an average lifespan of just 18 months, wireless phones are discarded at a rate of 130 million per year. A recycled wireless phone can often be refurbished for reuse. If not, it has valuable, recyclable components that can be used to make copper plumbing pipes, gold and silver jewelry, automotive bumpers or dashboards and rechargeable battery packs.

In recognition of America Recycles Day on Saturday, November 15, the City of Orlando is hosting a collection of used and unwanted cell phones and accessories. Bins will be located at Orlando City Hall (400 S. Orange Avenue) in the rotunda on the first floor. The bins will be available until Friday, November 21. There will also be a cell phone recycling bin at the City of Orlando facility at 1010 Woods Avenue. The bins will be right inside the glass double doors.

Make sure to cancel your phone service and delete all personal data before dropping them off. A free tool to help erase personal data from a phone can be found online by visiting recellular.com/recycling/data_eraser.

For more information, please contact Keep Orlando Beautiful at 407.246.2752 or via e-mail jody.goostree@cityoforlando.net.

Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orlando District 5 Commissioner Daisy W. Lynum spoke to more than 60 residents and business owners and provided an update on the progress of the Community Venues project. Highlights from the meeting included:

Events Center
Overall construction is on schedule. The foundation work is nearing completion and is visible to passersby. Structural concrete work will continue over the next few months and eventually, hundreds of workers will be seen on site.

Dr. P. Phillips Performing Arts Center
Designers are in the middle of preparing design development documents which will then become construction documents. The facility is expected to break ground at the end of 2009. In addition to the Performing Arts Center, open space, restaurants, businesses and hotels are planned for development.

Citrus Bowl Renovations
HNTB and Baker Barrios have been selected as the architect/designer for the renovation project. They are in the planning/budgeting stage to prepare the renovation design. The Citrus Bowl will remain open for the bowl games this year.

To keep you informed throughout this historic undertaking, the City will provide ongoing communication with neighborhood residents and businesses. For the most up-to-date information, visit CityofOrlando.net.

Events Center Webcamm

Watch the progress of the construction of the new Events Center with the Events Center Webcam. Showing a bird’s eye view of the two blocks south of Church Street and west of I-4 which will become the home of the City’s new venue for sports, music and entertainment, this camera takes a picture every 15 minutes and saves the photos so viewers can watch the progress like a movie. The webcam can be found online.

Community Venues Construction Update
 

Mayor In The Community

• On Saturday, November 8, Mayor Buddy Dyer and his Veterans Advisory Council honored the courageous men and women of our armed forces by hosting the Orlando Veterans Day Parade.

• On Monday, November 10, Mayor Dyer and District 5 City Commissioner Daisy W. Lynum hosted a community information session in an effort to keep Parramore residents and businesses updated on the progress of the Community Venue projects.

• On Tuesday, November 11, Mayor Dyer participated in the dedication of the greenest building in Downtown Orlando – Reliable Plaza – OUC’s new customer service and administration building.

• Also on Tuesday, Mayor Dyer spoke at the luncheon honoring one of his Veterans Advisory Council members, CMSgt. Richard Ortega, the most highly decorated airman in the U.S. Air Force.

• On Wednesday, November 12, Mayor Dyer delivered the opening remarks at the National League of Cities' Congress of Cities General Session.

• On Friday, November 14, Mayor Dyer joined more than 250 volunteers from Kool-Aid, participants from the National League of Cities 2008 Conference, organizers from KaBOOM! and residents of the local community to build a new playground at the Dr. James R. Smith Center. The new playground’s design is based on drawings provided by children who attended a Design Day event in September.

• Also on Friday, Mayor Dyer was the keynote speaker at the Orlando Business Journal’s annual Downtown Update luncheon. This event brings a panel of experts together to share their views on everything from transportation and economic development to the new Venues expected to change the face of Downtown Orlando.

Did You Know?

The World of John Sloan

The Mennello Museum of American Art is proud to open its newest exhibit, “The World of John Sloan.” Recognized as one of the most important American artists of the twentieth century, the “World of John Sloan” exhibition features works from his Gloucester period that concentrates on the landscape and the coast. It also focuses on his travels though the American Southwest where he records not only native culture, but also the response of the visitor and tourist.

“The World of John Sloan” will be displayed at the Mennello Museum (900 East Princeton Street) from November 7, 2008 through February 24, 2009. For more information call 407.246.4278 or visit mennellomuseum.org.

“Climbing Heights for Lung Cancer” Results

The American Lung Association hosted their second annual “Climbing Heights for Lung Cancer” stair climb at the Bank of America building in Downtown Orlando on November 8, 2008. Fire Chief Jim Reynolds returned as the Honorary Chairman for the second year and is proud to announce his OFD Team, Chasing Andy, took first place in the firefighter category. These firefighters climbed 25 flights of stairs in full gear with a combined finishing time of 12:30. A second OFD team, The Ocho, placed a respectable sixth place in the firefighter category.

The Orlando Police Department was well represented at the stair climb by the SWAT Team. They bounded up the 25 flights, finishing second in the open team category. They were also able to raise a staggering $4,000 for the fight against lung cancer.

The City of Orlando is proud of its police and fire personnel and their selfless commitment to our citizens and the Central Florida community.

Volunteer Opportunities with the City of Orlando

If you have the time, we can use your talent. The City of Orlando is recruiting volunteers for two important events:

Project Homeless Connect
We are looking for volunteers for Project Homeless Connect, Friday, December 5 at the Downtown Orlando Recreation Center, located at 649 W. Livingston Street. Project Homeless Connect is a one-day, one-stop event that offers services to people in need. This is done by connecting them to benefits, medical care, employment opportunities, substance abuse and mental health counseling, social services, food, emergency shelters, transitional housing information and more. The event will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with three shifts for volunteers. Volunteer assignments include intake, donation giveaways, shower coordination, shepherding, etc. Interested volunteers can contact Christine Fontaine at 407.893.0133 ext. 112 or volunteer@hsncfl.org or Traci Blue at 407.246.2082 or traci.blue@cityoforlando.net.

Citrus Bowl Parade Float Building
Did you know it takes more than 600 people and 100,000 pieces of citrus to make our signature citrus floats come to life? Florida Citrus Sports is seeking energetic volunteers to decorate citrus floats for the 2008 Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade presented by Delta Air Lines. No experience is necessary. Volunteers must be at least 10 years of age. Float building will take place from December 26 through 29. Visit orlandocitrusparade.com for more information. To sign up to volunteer, please visit fcsports.com and follow the link for volunteer opportunities.
 

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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