October 31, 2008 - City News

Mayor's Message

Dear Friend,

We are only a few days away from November 4th. This year’s presidential election is shaping up to be a historic and defining moment for our country. No matter what your political ideology or party affiliation, I want to emphasize how important it is that every registered voter cast their vote on or before November 4.

Many residents have changed their traditional voting routines and have taken advantage of early and absentee voting. Although many early voting locations have had long lines, the lines on November 4 will likely be even longer. Early voting ends Saturday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m. in Orange County. Residents will still be able to vote by absentee ballot at the Supervisor of Elections Office (119 W. Kaley Street) from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2.

This year’s ballot contains six constitutional amendments, as well as a full slate of national, state and local candidates. I encourage you to take the time to research and understand the amendments and platforms of each candidate. To print a sample ballot or to find your polling place, visit voteanywhere.org and select the county where you are registered to vote.

Print out a sample ballot, mark your choices and take it with you when you vote. Make sure your voice is heard on Election Day. Every vote counts.

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 Officer of the Year Award

The Orlando Fire Department is proud to announce that Lieutenant Chris Spurlin received the Rotary Club of Orlando’s Public Safety Officer of the Year Award. This award was a direct result of his actions at the Grove Park Apartment complex.

On September 1, 2007, Lt. Spurlin was on his way to work and saw smoke coming from the complex. Stopping to see if he could assist, Lt. Spurlin was directed to a second floor apartment with smoke rolling out of the balcony. He was told two adults were trapped. With none of his regular equipment available, Lt. Spurlin searched for a means to obtain access to the second floor and located wooden pallets, which he set up next to the building. Climbing the pallets, Lt. Spurlin scaled the balcony fence and was met with floor to ceiling heavy black smoke. Searching the apartment, Lt. Spurlin located an elderly female, whom he removed to safety. By this time Lt. Spurlin was feeling the effects of the heavy smoke conditions: however, he re-entered the apartment and located a mentally challenged adult male, who, agitated by the event, resisted leaving his home. Lt. Spurlin persisted until he removed the resident from the smoked filled apartment.

There is no question that without the heroic efforts of Lt. Spurlin, this story would have a tragic ending. Congratulations Lt. Spurlin for being recognized for your heroic actions. The City of Orlando is proud of your dedicated service to our citizens.

OFD Supports “Climbing Heights for Lung Cancer”

Orlando Fire Chief Jim Reynolds is proud to be the honorary chair for the 2008 Climbing Heights for Lung Cancer fundraiser, a 25 floor stair climb event supporting the American Lung Association. Join firefighters from around Central Florida as they take on the Bank of America Center on Saturday, November 8 in Downtown Orlando.

You do not have to be a firefighter to participate in this event. Sign up with friends, family, co-workers or take the challenge on your own. Each team/individual will work to gather pledges to help raise money to support lung cancer research. Not everyone on the team is required to climb. On the day of the event, test your endurance the way thousands of Americans have for years. Take the stair challenge and climb to the top of the Bank of America Center.

Everyone is welcome. It’s a short climb of 25 floors... just 512 steps. Do it for someone you know and love and do it to help find a cure for lung cancer.
For more information or to register a team, visit mrsnv.com/evt/info.jsp?id=1274.

OPD Honors American Disabilities Week

The Orlando Police Department Community Relations Unit hosted three Orange County high school students for a job shadow day. The students had varying degrees of mental challenges/learning disabilities, but all had expressed the desire to be Orlando Police Officers. The students toured the Orlando Police Department and learned about various units within the agency. Sgt. Danny Schad put on a presentation about the K-9 unit and the students were treated to a tour of the Mounted Unit stables by Officer Mike Garcia.

For more information on a career with the Orlando Police Department, visit cityoforlando.net/police.

Halloween Safety Tips
 

Mayor Dyer Launches Green Works LIFE

Do you know how to reduce your monthly electric bill? Are you aware of options to reduce your gas consumption? Do you want to learn what “going green” means? Then Green Works LIFE is here to help.

This week, Mayor Buddy Dyer introduced Green Works LIFE, a program designed to provide the tools and resources you need to lead an environmentally-friendly lifestyle. Ultimately, this program will help you save money, conserve energy and reduce your environmental footprint.

You can begin your lifestyle change by signing our Green Works LIFE pledge, promising you will:

• Help conserve natural resources and protect the environment.
• Support energy efficiencies in green buildings, vehicles and materials.
• Foster alternative transportation options.
• Encourage an increase the amount of trees and green spaces in the City.
• Continue to adopt tools, engage in education and share information to become more environmentally responsible.
• Work together as a community to combat the threat of climate change.

To make your pledge, visit cityoforlando.net/greenworks.

2008 Florida Coastal Clean-up a Record-Breaking Success

520 community volunteers including groups from Walt Disney World, Coca-Cola, Eco-Action, Central Florida Pleasure Diver’s Club and the City of Orlando After School All-Stars dedicated their Saturday morning to the twenty-third annual Ocean Conservancy’s Florida Coastal Clean-Up. Volunteers helped by removing 7,200 pounds of trash and debris from the shores of seven Orlando lakes in just two hours. To date, this has been the largest community-wide cleanup event sponsored by the City of Orlando and Keep Orlando Beautiful.

Although Orlando is not directly located on the coastal shoreline, much of the marine debris is generated from areas many miles away. In fact, most of the debris found during past events was attributed to land based sources such as stormwater runoff from our streets, illegal dumping and general littering.

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) presented the City of Orlando with an award for its public-private partnership on the Community Venues project during an awards ceremony at the IEDC’s Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

This year, Orlando - in partnership with Orange County and its Venue partners - undertook the largest building project in Central Florida history. Beyond merely putting up buildings, the City rallied together with Venue partners to support a bold and innovative plan to use these new structures as a way to lift up neighborhoods and provide thousands of jobs for the entire region. The City is leveraging these public projects to expand education, job training and opportunity to its residents. Through the BLUEPRINT, the City is assisting in the development and support of local, small and historically disadvantaged businesses. The plan will establish a workforce program that will train Central Florida citizens for the Venues construction and additional opportunities created by the Venues project.

Parramore Church Partners With Events Center Construction

Just a few hundred feet from the site of the community’s new Events Center, a Parramore congregation will be benefiting from the multitude of construction workers clocking in each morning. Due to its proximity to the construction site and by employing a little creativity, Shiloh Baptist Church on West Jackson St. has opened its parking facilities for workers to park during the work week. The Church has reached a partnership agreement with the subcontractors to receive a nominal competitive fee per two-axle vehicle.

“Our view is that the arena and all improvements are needed. It is truly representative of an expansive and progressive town,” said Pastor Alvin White, Jr., who noted that the additional income is a blessing. “I think that there is certainly a lot more than just brick and mortar going on, there is a sense of excitement for Orlando.”

Events Center Webcam

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 Wednesday, October 29, Mayor Buddy Dyer hosted Green Works Business, a program designed to bring together business leaders in the community who are interested in comprehensive best practices in sustainability and business.

• Also on Wednesday, Mayor Dyer participated in the Orlando/Orange County Urban Area Security Initiatives (UASI) Tabletop Exercise. This exercise assisted public safety responders and key community partners in gaining a familiarity with the UASI Evacuation Plan.

• Finally on Wednesday, Mayor Dyer joined Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty and Central Florida YMCA President Jim Ferber to break ground on a $3.5 million renovation at the Downtown Orlando YMCA Family Center.

• On Thursday, October 30, Mayor Dyer attended “Politics in the Park” sponsored by The Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association. Congressman John Mica was honored for his extraordinary efforts in our nation’s capital to help commuter rail become a reality for the Central Florida region.

Did You Know?

Upcoming Events

Road Closures

City Hall
400 South Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407.246.2221
Fax: 407.246.2842Email: buddy.dyer@cityoforlando.net