HomeMy WebLinkAboutII (A) State of the City Address - Mayor Vandergrift Ocoee
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OP 0000` S, Scott Tanetertlt
Mayor
150 N. LAKESHORE DRIVE
OCOEE, FLORIDA 34761-2258
(407)656-2322
FAX (407) 656-8504
Welcome to the 1999 version of the state of the city address reflecting our
accomplishments in 1998. Depending on your perspective this will be the last
report of the 20th century. The next report will be given in year 2000 if all the
doom, computer and otherwise, predicted does not occur and I personally feel
it won't. With our almost new computer system and the confidence in our
computer department I can say we are ready for almost anything.
We remain the fastest growing city in Orange County, averaging more than
one new home per day over the past seven years. Our current population is
approximately 22,800. Which means in the year 2003 it will be over 29,000
and in 2010, we will be nearly 35,000. The City Commission, in partnership
with city employees and countless volunteers throughout the community, has
managed some phenomenal achievements.
The most significant influence on our community this past year was the
ground breaking of the Western Beltway that has been planned and discussed
for more than 30 years. The section between Apopka and Ocoee will be
completed in 18 months. Part "C" from Ocoee to I-4 south of Disney World
is still under study. However it is to the point that a route has been chosen
and much of the engineering has been completed. It is hoped that within 2
years this portion will be started and fmished within 5 years. Part "B" north
of Apopka to Lake Mary, and the Apopka bypass from Maitland Blvd. to
connect to the beltway between Ocoee and Apopka are still under discussion.
The connection and overpasses between the Turnpike, Highway 50, the East
West Expressway, and Maguire Road will be started in March of this year
and will be 4 levels high in places. It will be the highest and largest road
structure in Central Florida.
In recreation, the dedication of the West Orange Trail through our city has to
be right up there with anything in Central Florida most influencing our leisure
time, and that of others all over Central Florida. The trail now covers more
than 17 miles from Lake County to Apopka. Plans will continue it to
Seminole County and interconnect with other similar trails. You will be able
THE PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE
to make an hour trip, day trip, or travel the state or nation when the network
is completed. We in the city need to come up with plans to connect all of our
city to this great trail. The recreation department has broken ground on the
Beech center to be completed by mid summer or earlier. This gymnasium is
part of a regional park that will have all kinds of recreation facilities
contained on 180 acres of land. There will be a soccer field, baseball fields,
softball fields, tennis courts, picnic area, nature trails, and a pool being
financed as we speak. The old Vignetti fife station has been converted to a
recreational facility that has already been in use for several months. We have
active recreation programs from Senior Citizens field trips, to all kinds of
after school activities for our youth, and everything in between.
This past year the various city departments have been extremely busy with
growth and all of the challenges that go along with it. I could write a speech
on each department alone of their accomplishments and challenges for the
future but in the interest of time I will only touch on the significant ones that
represent the tip of the iceberg that their everyday duties require them to
perform.
The most significant change was in our Planning Department with a closer
relationship with the Orange County School District in planning and siting of
schools within Ocoee. At present there is 1 high school, 4 elementary
schools, and 1 middle school being contemplated and planned for the next
10 years in our community. In addition the Ocoee Middle school is to be
rebuilt to be modernized and more efficient within 2 years. This project is
being accomplished through the state and as a pilot project for other school
districts. The funds already earmarked for the project are nearly 27 million
dollars. Not only will the school be modernized but will allow more students
to be accommodated in a better and more educationally conducive
atmosphere than present. The school will be without portables when finished.
The planning department in addition has processed community housing plans
(with a strong sense of environmental protection in mind) for between 750
and 1000 home sites and numerous businesses that wish to settle in our city.
We have currently enough stock in building lots and plans for subdivisions to
make us the 2"d largest city in Orange County by the millennium.
After all of this planning, the Building Department has the charge of making
sure that all buildings are built to code and will withstand the forces of nature
we sometimes endure by living in Central Florida. This Department has,
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under it's umbrella of responsibilities, code enforcement; plans review and
approval; electrical, plumbing, framing, and general inspections of new
homes; mobile homes; arbor ordinance enforcement; and, last but not least,
the new animal control officer devoted to the raising awareness of animals to
our community in all aspects from neutering, to strays, and making us aware
of pet ownership. These dedicated employees have performed over 11,300
inspections in the past year, and we can all feel a little safer in our homes
because of them.
The most dramatically changed department regarding physical appearance is
our Fire Department. They have build and equipped 2 new fire stations that
contain the most up-to-date technology that we can afford. Besides the
relentless quest to prevent fires and ensure the safety of our citizens, they
have gone beyond the call of normal duty and helped the state of Florida
with this summer's statewide fire storms and have honored our city with
services to these victims. The Department coordinated a Central Florida wide
live practice and demonstration of fire-fighting techniques that involved
numbers other departments in actual fire fighting.
The engineering and utilities department are continuing to move toward a
city-wide water reuse system that will not only save energy but save you
money in the long run by allowing you to water your lawns with recycled
water at a cheaper rate. The city, under the direction of the Saint John's
Water Management District, raised water rates this past spring with the grand
design of reducing water consumption of our households. It hasn't worked,
and even if it had worked the best estimate and data that our Commission
saw showed only a 3 to 5 percent savings in other cities. The City
Commission has rolled back the rates effective January 1, 1999, and is
endeavoring to get a better system going. Public awareness will be the
cornerstone as well as a full audit of ourselves to be sure all of the figures are
accurate and represent the very best data available. There might have to be an
adjustment in water rates for reasons of conservation, but we pledge to you
that we will not leave any stone unturned in search for better solutions. Your
help is critical in this endeavor so think "How Can I Save Water?", and not
waste money.
The engineering and utilities department are in the second stages of
correcting some of our long-standing drainage problems. If you look around
town or maybe even in your neighborhood you will see contractors hard at
work fixing these nagging issues. In addition to the aforementioned duties,
theirs is to oversee the upcoming road replacements, widening, and four
lanings.
Public works has it's hands full with maintaining of road ways, ditches,
garbage removal, and building maintainenance among other duties that don't
fit into other departments depositions. They have moved the public works
center from Flewelling Drive to the Industrial park and are in the process of
adding back into their portfolio the up keep of all Ocoee fleet vehicles. The
department has continued to update, renew, and add new equipment to better
serve our needs. The parks department has rebuilt several athletic fields
including the Bulldog field, which has garnered raves from visiting teams
when playing here. They continue to spruce up the city and its parks to make
your community a more delightful place to live.
The police department has had substantial changes this past year to better
protect our community with the take-home car plan which allows an officer
to be assigned his or her own car to drive home and be responsible for. At
present eligible officers must live in the city. With this plan police cars will
be parked in our neighborhoods instead of at the police station. After
thorough study of similar programs from other governmental entities, this
program was implemented with the endorsement of our police advisory
board. The commission and the police department will be reviewing
extensions of the program this year. The Police Department sought and won
a grant that will allow us to add 15 police officers in the next three years
which, with our growth, will keep us in the upper percentile of officers per
populace compared with other local governments. Currently we have 61
sworn officers. The new Fire Stations are police sub-stations also that should
enhance safety of the public. Our bicycle patrol seems to be popular with the
public and allows our officers to communicate more directly with our law
abiding citizens to encourage cooperation. Crimewatch members are keeping
an eye out for you and if you don't belong or have a group in your
neighborhood you should. Call the police department for more information.
The Police department is processing grant applications of more than one
million dollars. The department responded to over 28,000 calls this year, and
yet we still have the second lowest crime rate in Orange County, only
following our neighbor Windemere.
The finance department has been outstanding in their resourcefulness in
adapting to the new computer system for reporting our income and expenses
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over the past year. For the 10`h year in a row they have received a Certificate
of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting given by a national
accrediting agency of governmental organizations. To meet our transportation
needs the finance department was responsible for all of the paperwork and
reports that successfully got us a more than 19 million dollar bond. They are
currently working to reorganize our bonding structure to allow us to refinance
12 million dollars to get lower interest rates as well as about 4 million dollars
extra to build a pool and meet other needs of the city.
The personnel department is the heartbeat of our city employees, with hiring,
transfers, promotions, insurance responsibilities, and all things relating to our
more than 270 employees. In addition this department is in charge of the
youth art display at city hall.
Several volunteer commissions have been established this year to give you,
the citizens, more input into your government and to provide you with an
avenue to get involved to be sure that we, as leaders, take the right directions
on issues. The first was a Charter Study Commission to review our charter to
see if it meets the needs of our community today. After several public
hearings they reported back to the commission recommendations for 3 year
terms for elected officials to reduce the need for elections every year and
give more time to the officials to make decisions on challenges without the
need to campaign every other year. They also recommended some other small
clarifications of wording to allow a better understanding of the document that
is the foundation for our community. These changes will be on the ballot in
March for your consideration and vote.
The Tornado commission led the way for state-wide reforms in tie downs and
other safety measures for mobile homes in our community and elsewhere in
the state of Florida.
The Education commission has the most potential to elevate our community
spirit in the quest to see that our children have the greatest opportunity for a
quality education that our city and the county school board has to offer. In the
few short months of their existence they have launched a dialogue within our
city and with the Orange County school district that has been rewarding and
enlightening to all concerned. Under the direction of Former Mayor Lester
Dabbs, our education czar, new attention has been paid to the community
concept that it takes a whole village to raise a child and a big part of this is
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the child's education as well as parental guidance. I look forward to many
quality suggestions from this commission beyond what the city is doing now
to ensure our children are safe and well educated. One of the innovations
fostered by this commission is the partnershiping with the school board to
locate and secure school sites, giving the joint use of same to the community
and the school board. An example is locating of schools in or near parks to
help defray the costs of playgrounds that are only used 9 months out of the
year.
While speaking of Lester Dabbs, I would like to recognize him for the years
of citizenship he has devoted to our city. Lester is an educator through and
through, not just a teacher, which is where he started upon moving to Ocoee
many years ago. He was until retirement in 1997 a teacher, a middle school
principal, a high school principal, a trainer of principles for the Orange
County school system, and solid citizen and family man in our community.
He has served on many volunteer boards, as a city commissioner, and
mayor. His continued support of our city in spite of an election loss speaks
volumes as to the character of this citizen. Lester isn't here tonight because
he is giving of his time to our city at a conference on employee benefits a
board on which he currently serves. He has former students come up to him
and refer to him as Mr. Dabbs, a sign of respect from years past. I too shall
use that phrase although he never taught me formally in school, I have
learned a lot from hint Although we have not always agreed on every aspect
of life and government, I want to say on behalf of our citizens now and in
the future: Thanks, Mr. Dabbs.
We have added a Community relations director who has moved us forward
with programs of citizen involvement, more education and information
getting out to the populace, and several other areas that have been overlooked
in the past because of too much and too rapid growth. The MVP-Most
Valuable Partnerships is a grant program instituted by the City Commission
to get neighbors involved in enhancing their neighborhoods and thus the
entire city. The program allows for groups to apply for matching grants from
the city up to $2,500 to do good things for the neighborhoods. Founders Day
Fireworks was another project. Another innovation was the Road Shows,
featuring the mayor, commissioners, and all departments going out to each of
the districts to answer questions and inform the public of services that the
city offers.
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Our task as elected officials is to keep you the public informed as to how we
spend your hard earned tax dollars. The city newsletter has been received
with enthusiasm and we intend it to grow with our community. One of the
foremost ways of communication is through live television coverage of our
commission meetings. This is done through the hard work of the television
crews furnished and trained by West Orange High School and West Side
Tech at little cost to our citizens. Our city is the only city in Central Florida
that does it "live." We experimented with call in service but we were unable
to sustain volunteers to answer the phone during the meetings.. You may
watch on Channel 19 on Time Warner Cable the first and third Tuesday of
each month, with reruns in between.
Ahead of the news: last week we hosted a group of University of Central
Florida officials including Dr. Hitt the president and some of his top aides.
The purpose to lure them into placing a satellite campus in our community.
The response was very favorable. Now all we have to do is find the money
and continue to convince them of the worthiness of the project.
In closing I'd like to welcome new citizens and new or enlarging businesses
including CFI, Sysco, the auto auction, and West Oaks Mall - 2 years old and
expanding. We need all businesses and all citizens to help and partnership to
build our community of Ocoee into the very best place to live, work, and
raise a family. So join in. We are here to make Ocoee truly the "CENTER OF
GOOD LIVING" for all of us.
Have a Happy and Prosperous 1999
Respectively Submi
S. Scott Vandergri
Mayor
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