December 2010

The holiday season is a special time of year -- filled with family, friends and community. Each year I look forward to celebrating the many cultures and traditions shared by our City residents. I invite you to join me for our annual Holiday Lights Orlando event on Monday, December 6, from 5 to 7 p.m., in front of the new Amway Center at 400 West Church Street. Holiday Lights Orlando is a great way to kick off the holiday season with the arrival of Santa Claus and an evening filled with musical entertainment and activities.

As a part of Holiday Lights Orlando, the City is partnering with XL106.7 “Baby DJ” fund drive. I know 2010 has been another tough year for all of us, yet if each of us can give just a little, we can help many families have a wonderful holiday. In addition to Holiday Lights Orlando, the City has planned a number of other holiday activities; for a complete list go to cityoforlando.net/holiday.

As we celebrate this season and the start of a new year, I want you to know how grateful I am to you and all our other City neighborhood leaders and volunteers who have dedicated countless hours and resources to making and keeping our City neighborhoods great places to live, work and play. I, along with our City Commissioners and City staff, attribute the success of our livable neighborhoods to the partnerships that the City, you and your neighbors have formed and maintained. It is in this spirit that we say... thank you, best wishes for the holidays and a happy New Year!

My regards,

Mayor Buddy Dyer

Strengthen Orlando

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Community Connections Workshop
A Taste of Orlando Main Street – Partnering with Businesses

Orange County and the City of Orlando recognize the important role neighborhood commercial districts play in the overall health of Orlando’s neighborhoods. We encourage community leaders and volunteers to build their neighborhood from the “inside out” utilizing the assets in the neighborhood. This Community Connections Workshop will engage and connect neighborhood leaders with local shopkeepers in one of Orlando’s neighborhood business districts. Learn first-hand from business owners how to engage them to be a neighborhood partner. Listen to Main Street Managers explain how work, play and community thrive in harmony. Then, take a walking tour of downtown College Park, a community that fuses urban with a small town atmosphere. On this walking tour, sample what’s in College Park to get “A Taste of Orlando Main Street”. See enclosed flyer for details. 

Hosted by City of Orlando and Orange County Government
Date & Time: Saturday, December 11, 2010, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Please note the location change.
Location: Infusion Tea, 1616 Edgewater Drive

Registration: To register for this workshop, please call Orange County Neighborhood Services at 407.836.0035 or register on-line at ocfl.net/CommunityConnections.

New Neighborhood Relations Team Members

The Office of Communications and Neighborhood Relations is pleased to announce two new Neighborhood Outreach Coordinators. Cindy Light and James Reginald “Reggie” Colimon joined the Neighborhood Relations team in November.

Cindy Light brings more than 10 years experience in volunteer recruitment, training and management. Prior to joining the City, Cindy was with the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council as the Membership Marketing Manager and the Volunteer Development Manager. She has been in the Orlando area for more than 16 years. Cindy’s expertise is in training, marketing, program management, strategic planning and conflict resolution. Cindy’s phone number is 407.246.3245 and her email is cindy.light@cityoforlando.net.

James Reginald Colimon, who goes by Reggie, moved to the Orlando area with his wife and two children in 2009 from Boston. In Boston, Reggie worked for the City of Boston Mayor’s Office as a Public Relations, Policy Analyst, Senior Community Outreach Coordinator. Reggie brings more than 10 years experience and expertise in community outreach, event planning, public relations, building collaborations and marketing. Reggie is fluent in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and French and has a working knowledge of Portuguese. Reggie’s phone number is 407.246.2070 and his email is james.colimon@cityoforlando.net.

Cindy and Reggie join Susan Harris and Jennifer Chapin in the day to day operations of the City’s neighborhood relations initiatives. Please feel free to call and welcome Cindy and Reggie to the Neighborhood Relations Team.

New Speakers’ Bureau

Effective citizen communication is a high priority of Mayor Buddy Dyer. The Mayor’s Speakers’ Bureau is just one of the many tools we use to keep citizens informed, engaged and knowledgeable about their City government. To make it easier for citizens and organizations to request speakers for the City, we have put the Mayor’s Speakers’ Bureau online at cityoforlando.net/executive/neighborhoods/outreach/speakersbureau.htm. The Speakers’ Bureau is composed of members of Mayor Dyer’s senior staff. When you go online to the speakers’ bureau, you will see a sample of the topics City staff will address and be able to submit your speaking request.

The Mayor’s Speakers’ Bureau is managed by the Office of Communications and Neighborhood Relations (OCNR). You will get a reply to your request within three business days. This service is free of charge and we ask that you submit your request at least two weeks prior to the day you need a speaker. For more information or if you have any questions, please call Susan Harris, Neighborhood Relations Manager at 407.246.2779 or email her at susan.harris@cityoforlando.net. We encourage you to utilize our Speakers’ Bureau at your next meeting

Best Practices --- What’s Working in the Neighborhoods

Here are highlights of best practices, events and projects conducted by City neighborhood organizations that are working and building successful organizations. Send your neighborhood organization projects, events and practices to Cindy Light, Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator, Office of Communication & Neighborhood Relations at 407.246.2169 or cindy.light@cityoforlando.net.

Using Printed Meeting Agendas
The Windsor Cove Tenants Association is very successful at keeping their business meetings to one hour because they distribute and follow an agenda at the meeting. By distributin and following the agenda, the association is able to cover business in one hour. The agenda enables members to see what business will be discussed at the meeting and helps the president and officers to keep the meeting on track.

Fund Raising
The College Park Neighborhood Association hosted their 20th Annual Historic Homes Tour showcasing nine homes in the neighborhood on Sunday, November 14 from 12:30-5 p.m. Hundreds of people paid $15 to tour the homes. The association also uses this event to encourage members to pay their annual association dues. This annual event is held the second Sunday in November of each year. The Historic Homes Tour is a successful fund raiser for the College Park Neighborhood Association. It also helps to promote the neighborhood and get more neighbors involved in the association.

Annual Meeting in the Street

The Spring Lake Neighborhood Association hosts its annual meeting and picnic on the second Sunday of every November. The association gets a permit to close a street and conducts its meeting in the middle of the street. The turnout is great because it is right in the neighborhood and very convenient. There is plenty of food, refreshments and fun activities for kids. The annual meeting in the street is a tradition of the neighborhood.

The Spring Lake Neighborhood Association hosts its annual meeting and picnic on the second Sunday of every November. The association gets a permit to close a street and conducts its meeting in the middle of the street. The turnout is great because it is right in the neighborhood and very convenient. There is plenty of food, refreshments and fun activities for kids. The annual meeting in the street is a tradition of the neighborhood.

Building Citizenship in the Community: Back to Basics

The City of Orlando relies on its citizens to help with identifying and reporting code violations. This partnership is critical to maintaining strong neighborhoods. The mission of the Code Enforcement Division is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Orlando, and to preserve the aesthetic character of Orlando through the enforcement of Housing, Lot Cleaning, Parking and Land Development Codes.

Housing Violations - The City Minimum Housing Code requires that all residential property be maintained to prescribe minimum standards. Common violations include peeling paint, rotten wood, broken or missing electrical and plumbing fixtures, plumbing leaks, roof leaks and other violations that are typically indicative of poor maintenance or neglect. Occupied residential properties must be connected to power and water utilities and must be maintained secure whether occupied or not.

Disabled/Junk Vehicles - A disabled vehicle is defined as any vehicle in an evident state of neglect or disuse, which includes debris or overgrown vegetation under the vehicle, no valid license tag and major parts damaged or dismantled.

Lot Maintenance - The Lot Cleaning Code prohibits the excessive accumulation of overgrowth, weeds, garbage, stagnant water and unsightly or unsanitary materials.

Zoning or Land Development Code Violations – Enforcing a broad spectrum of city ordinances that govern the use of property. Most of the sections applicable to homeowners are found in City Code Chapter 58 – Zoning Districts and Uses. This code generally is intended to ensure that adjacent property uses are compatible, or when in conflict, those conflicts are reasonable mitigated. This code also prohibits parking in the yard.

Parking - Parking standards are enforced by complaint only. Violations typically include parking in the street for more than 72 hours or in the right-of-way, blocking fire hydrants, driveways and mailboxes.

Permits – City code and State statute require that permits be obtained for many repairs and for most significant alternations to any building, including construction of storage sheds, replacement of windows or doors, re-roofing, room additional garage enclosures and many other alternations to property.

To report a code violation, you may contact Code Enforcement by phone at 407.246.4444 or online at cityoforlando.net/economic/codeenforcement/index.htm.

Many other issues are addressed in City code and county and state rules. For more information about these and any other city ordinances, please visit municode.com. You can also log complaints, check their status and obtain lien information by calling 407.246.4444 or going on-line to cityoforlando.net/ceonline.

Neighborhood Champion Award 

In recognition of the many unsung heroes that work hard to keep their neighborhood a great place to live, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer created the Neighborhood Champion Award, which he will present at the annual Neighborhood and Community Summit held in the spring of each year. This award is geared towards City of Orlando residents, 18 or older, that demonstrate exemplary dedication and commitment to neighborhood improvement and sustainability. These individuals are the kind of citizens that consistently make a positive impact in their neighborhoods through their volunteer efforts, neighborhood organizations, or Citizen for Neighborhood Watch groups. Nominations may be submitted throughout the year by completing the online nomination form located on our website, cityoforlando.net. The nominee’s efforts will need to have occurred between February 1, 2010, and February 1, 2011, to be eligible. We will contact the nominator and the nominee after the selection process has been held in March of 2011. For more information, please contact Jennifer Chapin at 407.246.3846 or Jennifer.chapin@cityoforlando.net.

Buy Local Orlando

Buy Local Orlando connects Orlando's businesses with the buying power of our local community. Visit buylocalorlando.net to register for and print your FREE Buy Local Orlando consumer card and start saving money through special offers and discounts offered at Buy Local Orlando merchants. For more information, visit buylocalorlando.net or call the City’s Economic Development Department at 407.246.3109.

Keep Informed about your City – Subscribe to “City News”

City News is the City of Orlando’s weekly electronic newsletter delivered to your e-mail every Friday.

City News keeps you up-to-date on what is happening in Orlando by featuring a message from the Mayor, City Council updates and information on City programs, services and events. If you would like to receive City News, please go online to cityoforlando.net/elected/subscribe2/index.htm.

Social Media

If you use Facebook or Twitter to keep in touch with your friends and organizations, then you want to follow the City of Orlando as well. Listed on our website, the City has several Facebook pages, including the main City fan page, the Mayor's Office, the Emergency Management Office and the Amway Center. Postings include everything from events and announcements to concert ticket giveaways. The City's YouTube channel features videos of City events and programs. Greenwood Cemetery tweets about historic Orlando residents each day and the City's twitter account promotes a variety of City events.

Public Safety Update

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The holiday season is upon us and we will all be shopping for our family and friends. As we get ready to celebrate the season, please take a moment to review the following holiday safety tips. Crime does not take a holiday. We can never be too careful, prepared or aware.

SHOPPING

• Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes.
• Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied.
• Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows and doors of your home.
• Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.
• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
• Even though you are rushed, stay alert to your surroundings.
• Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, bus stops and on buses.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Keep cash/wallet in your front pocket. Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible.
• Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.
  After placing and concealing parcels inside your vehicle, get in and park in another location in the parking lot before reentering the store or mall.
• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, con-artists may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

ATM

• If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a police station, mall or well-lighted location.
• Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.
• Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.

VEHICLES

• Keep all car doors locked and windows closed while traveling in your car.
• Set your alarm.
• Park as close to your destination as possible.
• Never leave your car unoccupied with the motor running or with children inside.
• Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your car. This is temptation for thieves.
• Keep a secure hold on your purse and parcels. Do not put them down on the top of car in order to open trunk or door.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

To assist you in making this an enjoyable, memorable experience, my Crime Prevention Unit has prepared a brochure that contains helpful tips to protect your property. Please read the information and pass it on to your friends and family. May you and yours have a safe and wonderful holiday season. See enclosed brochure.

Get involved in stopping and preventing crime:

Reporting Crime & Suspicious Activity – call 911

Neighborhood Watch – 407.246.2369 - For more information about starting or joining Neighborhood Watch please contact:

Kea Council - Commission Districts 1, 2, 6 - 407.246.3773
Georgeanna Butler - Commission Districts 3, 4, 5 - 407.246.3628

Crime Prevention Presentations/Residential Crime Prevention Surveys – 407.246.2461

Operation Identification – 407.246.2369 – Marking or taking pictures of your property to prove ownership.

Crimeline – 1.800.423.8477 - Available 24 hours a day, taking anonymous tips on any felony criminal activity. Spanish speaking operators available. (If you witness a crime in progress, you should call 911)

Drug Hotline - 407.246.CRAK (2725) – An anonymous hotline for citizens to report drug activity to the Orlando Police Department.

Illegal Gun Bounty Program - call CRIMELINE at 1.800.423.8477. CRIMELINE, along with the City of Orlando, sponsors the very successful Illegal Gun Bounty Program. You are eligible for a $1000.00 reward for information that leads to an arrest, a gun recovery and a weapons charge. You can also remain anonymous.

Green Works Update

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Graffiti Hotline

Residents can call in and report graffiti to 407.254.GRAF (4723). This information clearinghouse, managed by Keep Orlando Beautiful, streamlines the process for graffiti removal by working in tandem with City departments and the OPD Gang Enforcement team to aggressively locate and remove graffiti. Residents can also report graffiti online by going to cityoforlando.net/public_works/graffiti/Graffiti.aspx.

2010 Tree Adoption Program

The next Tree Adoption Program is December 11 at Jay Blanchard Park, 2451 N. Dean Road, Orlando, 32817 at 8 a.m. City of Orlando residents who want to receive two free trees to plant should register upon arrival and provide proof of Orange County residency (such as driver’s license, photo I.D. or utility bill). Trees are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The give-away supply is limited to two 7-gallon trees per household. Trees may not be planted on public property or retention ponds. Orange County/University of Florida IFAS Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand to answer landscape questions. For more information about the program or other dates, please contact the Orange County/University of Florida IFAS Extension Education Center at 407.254.9200.

Mayor Carl T. Langford Park - One of the best kept secrets in Downtown Orlando

Mayor Carl T. Langford Park, located at 1808 E. Central Blvd., features a shady oasis of mature oaks, a butterfly garden, wide sidewalks, birds and plenty of green space. A tot lot for children under the age of 7 provides a safe place to play and a large playground for older children provides an energizing play area for them. Children of all ages will love the swinging bridge over the creek. There are also three covered pavilions with grills available for birthday parties or family and corporate picnics. There is a beautiful gazebo that seats 75 people for a quaint wedding ceremony or small memorial service. In 2010, the Langford Park Neighborhood Center added a 900 square foot room available for meetings and small receptions with access to kitchen facilities. Adjacent to Langford Park is Dickson Azalea Park, which offers another area to have a quaint wedding ceremony under some old oak trees by a trickling creek. For more information regarding Langford Park rentals visit cityoforlando.net/langford or contact Parks at 407.246.2283.

Recycle Your Used Cooking Oil

The City of Orlando’s Wastewater Division wants you to recycle your Thanksgiving cooking oil. Stop by the rotunda located inside City Hall Monday, November 29, between 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. to drop off your used cooking oil.

Pouring oil and grease down the drain is the leading cause of sewer backups in homes. After your cooking oil has cooled, pour it into a shatter proof container and bring it to be recycled. The following types of oils will be accepted for recycling:

• Grease leftover from cooking animal fat (i.e. bacon)
• All Vegetable oil
• Corn oil
• Olive oil
• Peanut oil
• Sesame oil
• Soy bean oil
• Sunflower oil
• Canola oil (Rapeseed oil)

In addition, Orlando residents can recycle their used oil Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at
5100 L.B. McLeod Road.

Holiday Plant Care – Use, Reuse, and Recycle

Learn how to use holiday plants, care for them and reuse or recycle them after the holiday season is over.

Two locations & dates:

Orange County Cooperative Extension
6021 S. Conway Road, Orlando
December 4, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Jessie Brock Community Center
310 N. Dillard Street, Winter Garden
December 9, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free (registration is required)

For more information or to register, please call 407.254.9200 or register online at ocextension.ifas.ufl.edu. Checks or cash must be received with your registration.

Thanksgiving Holiday Solid Waste Schedule

Residential Customers
On Thanksgiving Day, there will not be residential collection of garbage, recycling or yard waste. These homes will be served on their next regular collection day. On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, City crews will provide regular garbage, yard waste and recycling service.

Commercial Customers
The City's commercial customers will receive normal scheduled garbage service on both Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving.

Christmas Holiday Solid Waste Schedule

Garbage and recycling will NOT be picked up on Christmas Day. If your pickup day falls on this holiday, your garbage and recycling will be picked up on the NEXT SCHEDULED pickup day. We WILL pick up your garbage and recycling on Christmas Eve day, the day AFTER Christmas, New Year's Eve and on New Year's Day.

Disposal of Christmas trees

Remove all decorations and tinsel from your Christmas tree. Place the tree curbside on your regular yard waste day. If your tree is more than 6 feet tall, please cut it in half before placing it curbside. Because we recycle all yard waste, your tree will be recycled.

Census Participation Results

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that 74 percent of households in the United States filled out and mailed back their 2010 Census questionnaire, matching the final mail participation rate achieved in 2000 Census. The final 74 percent mail participation rate includes an additional 2 percent of households that mailed back their forms after April 27, when the U.S. Census Bureau announced a 72 percent participation rate. You can access the final mail participation rates for the nation, states, counties, cities, towns and neighborhood level by clicking here. Additional participation rates include 74% in Florida, 72% in Orange County and 70% in the City of Orlando.

For more information, please visit: 2010.census.gov/news/releases/operations/final-mail-participation.html.

TOW To GO -- A Partnership Between AAA Auto Club South & Budweiser

TOW To GO offers intoxicated people a free tow, taking both the driver and the vehicle safely home. Since its inception in 1998, TOW To GO has safely removed more than 8,300 drunk drivers from the roads and is celebrating its 10-year anniversary.

FREE and open to both AAA members and non-members (100% confidential).
Call 1.800.222.4357
The AAA tow truck takes the vehicle and the driver safely home.

Anyone who needs this service can call 1.800.222.4357 (which is also their 24-hour emergency road service number.) The caller does not have to be a AAA member and there is no charge. This service is being offered now through New Year’s holiday ending on January 2, 2011. Here is the list of holidays and events TOW To GO serves:

1. Super Bowl Weekend
2. St. Patrick's Day
3. Cinco de Mayo
4. Memorial Day Weekend
5. Independence Day Weekend
6. Labor Day Weekend
7. Halloween
8. Thanksgiving through New Year's Day

TOW To GO program is available throughout Florida and in Metro Atlanta, Savannah and Metro Nashville. For more information and specific dates visit http://www.aaasouth.com/newsandsafety/tow_to_go.aspx.

2011 Historic Preservation Calendars Available

The 2011 Historic Preservation calendar features the Holden-Parramore Historic District with emphasis on the unique architectural characteristics of its historic structures and life in this neighborhood. This year’s calendar is sponsored by the McCoy Federal Credit Union. Since 1991, the City of Orlando has produced the popular Historic Preservation Board Calendar. The photos in each calendar are selected from submissions from community residents as part of a photo competition. The calendar themes are chosen every year by the Historic Preservation Board. You may get your 2011 calendar at any of the following locations until the calendars run out: Orlando City Hall, 400 S. Orange Ave. locations: 2nd floor Office of Communications and Neighborhood Relations and the 1st floor Information Desk; Downtown Information Center, 201 South Orange Avenue, Suite 102; Callahan Neighborhood Center, 101 North Parramore Avenue; John H. Jackson Community Center, 1002 West Carter Street; Orange County Regional History Center, 65 E Central Blvd.; Leu Gardens, 1920 N. Forest Ave.; Wells'Built Museum, 511 West South Street.

Events

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To stay on top of City events, visit cityoforlando.net.
For Community Affairs Events visit cityoforlando.net/oca.
For Harry P Leu Gardens Events, visit leugardens.org.
For Main Street events, visit cityoforlando.net/mainstreet.

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