[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6265275,"mediaKeyId","3092766-3e61ce5436e069747684dcdb774a8d9d","parentId",3092766,"title","Orlando details digital‑inclusion push: hotspots, 'tables of connection' and Paramore Wi‑Fi design","audioSeconds",1046,"startMs",1981000,"endMs",3027000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092766-3e61ce5436e069747684dcdb774a8d9d&start=1981&end=3027","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092766-3e61ce5436e069747684dcdb774a8d9d/thumbnail_1981000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6265275/Orlando/Orange-County/Florida/Orlando-details-digitalinclusion-push-hotspots-tables-of-connection-and-Paramore-WiFi-design","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265275-87e24b4702b483ac990e132a0cd455b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201111&Signature=lod~8~kyC1GvMXpK89khoJxsdCJOxGhH2URejMzSWpTPo6stutT4zr54RHvjY2Ga5Oe96AZQaI0Im1n~l2m0MuCmYnuBVncmnYbeA~soFQ0i2JkgPLIQg~UzYRPDQNoaqnJVGJTp7q86Pjey0ZZ-Q~xoLGv5Bva-6VmVkzCPa5hvtIcn2UMw9PMl53n5XQI8MYqh5MoOpx1RAQ3CMHW0A36q7KKKanRYaB-wFVQ8abfXynlQ7e5LLZsrLHagLsaU2WS2LuZQsj6IyxGv8DyXUIk~Si5Gl~VIellwO5qHQxWZwhGJ5FBL62HGnKsa4kBfYROFu4LFqFqJALWuLNBPSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Orlando, FL","date","2025-04-23T13:37:14.637Z","article","City staff presented a suite of digital‑inclusion and Future Ready projects to the Orlando City Council on April 21, including an expanded device checkout program, solar‑powered \"tables of connection,\" neighborhood Wi‑Fi in Parramore and a senior virtual‑reality pilot.

Evan Novell, Future Ready initiative manager, said roughly 20% of Orlando households lack high‑speed Internet access and the office aims to connect 10,000 additional households. Novell described a relaunch and expansion of a hotspot and tablet checkout program to 17 city locations; the program will also include laptop donations for qualifying residents and a free digital‑literacy training component. \"If you've just recently gained access to the Internet or one of these digital tools, you may not know how to use it effectively,\" Novell said.

Novell also described \"tables of connection,\" solar‑canopied picnic tables that provide wireless and wired charging and a Wi‑Fi hotspot. The city has two tables in operation (Prince Hall and Willows Park) and expects to install 12 additional tables across the city with representation in each district. Staff acknowledged the Prince Hall pilot experienced failures after an unusual flooding event and said the scaled roll‑out will raise sensitive components above known flood levels and include an increased maintenance budget for the first five years.

The nut graf: Staff said Parramore will receive a more comprehensive Wi‑Fi overlay design (intended to put most residents within a 3–5 minute walk of a signal), while the checkout program and tables of connection will extend access elsewhere across districts. Novell also showed a senior VR pilot at Callahan Neighborhood Community Center and described digital wayfinding as an initiative to integrate parking, congestion and event routing with real‑time messaging.

Councilors sought operational clarity and urged equitable rollout. Commissioner Sheehan pressed staff on utility and Internet‑provider pushback against municipal efforts, saying, \"I think we need to do more to advocate for rooftop solar\" and warning that some private providers resist city initiatives that reduce their customer base. Commissioner Burns and Commissioner Stewart asked about maintenance and device availability; staff said some elements are in procurement or design and that the hotspot device vendor agreement was on the council agenda that day.

Ending: Staff said they will continue phased implementation, pursue grants and private funding where federal awards are uncertain, and refine maintenance plans for table and hotspot deployments before broad roll‑out.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Orlando - Workshop April 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Future Ready staff outlined efforts to close the digital divide—expanding a hotspot checkout program, deploying solar‑powered Wi‑Fi picnic tables, designing a Parramore public Wi‑Fi overlay and piloting senior VR—while councilors raised maintenance and equity concerns.","taxTitle","Orlando, Orange County, Florida","taxId",2968,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6265280,"Orlando highlights renters energy pilot, building benchmarking and municipal clean‑energy targets",517,1461000,1978000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092766-3e61ce5436e069747684dcdb774a8d9d&start=1461&end=1978","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092766-3e61ce5436e069747684dcdb774a8d9d/thumbnail_1461000.jpg","/articles/6265280/Orlando/Orange-County/Florida/Orlando-highlights-renters-energy-pilot-building-benchmarking-and-municipal-cleanenergy-targets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265280-483ea4e6bd923df0a0420b881690a139/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201111&Signature=NBu8n~EC65nqAIyxTZudhjCeHIeaFzwsFBwlqxdj1gWoo2PezYo4NtRIeVaa31IKWC-~RlH7IJ3u1SwpTb7-utj-WXzopLOrC8ZfYsphIGPRrgl0DK8-xu29ab~eVLkL-2m3cZ~52YWT4q9XpBqDG34noZyu6ALBXH7eNuZtGdr4ypPqF8TVbKpVU~sAQgaCdflORIh0lkpQv7ZfyGsNpnOJr4rGd7AFPnvpA9Dy6~iMte7XR27zn~RpobH6gdPyGfIh92F6ONH9Qe5l85VuDrBEuMO7EvUoEX8PJ~4SPp7dZyJ7gOPmp4tRd6FPm6HKM6QeHc-87WAEQ2XUQYrHDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City sustainability staff told the Orlando City Council on April 21 that Orlando is pursuing long‑term clean‑energy goals while piloting energy‑efficiency programs aimed at renters and municipal buildings.

Mike Taylor, sustainability initiative manager, summarized city targets and said the city aims for 100% clean energy citywide by 2050 and has a municipal operations target of 100% clean energy by 2030; staff reported the municipal operations portfolio is about 30% on clean energy today. Taylor also described the citywide energy benchmarking policy and said participation and building performance have increased while greenhouse‑gas emissions measured under the program have fallen.

The nut graf: Taylor and colleagues presented a three‑phase renter efficiency pilot that paired resident‑facing, low‑cost measures with hardware tests. Taylor said Phase 1 included plug‑in solar testing, a heat‑pump water heater and window air‑conditioning units in four homes; Phase 2 scaled installations after a donation of 50 window air conditioners from the 4 Roots Foundation; Phase 3 will evaluate results and look for grant and other funding to scale the program.

Taylor described resident outcomes from Phase 1, saying one home saw roughly a 30% reduction in electric bills (about $40 per month) and another resident became an \"opinion leader\" in their neighborhood after seeing savings. He described a resident whose apartment had only a living‑room air conditioner; the pilot provided a bedroom unit and a heat‑pump water heater and helped reduce interior temperatures. Taylor said the city learned from residents while building the program and will pursue grants and partnerships to expand it.

Staff also noted small operational pilots: four electric bikes have been deployed for internal use between municipal offices to assess cost and mileage savings and possible expansion to the motor pool.

Ending: Council members asked staff to pursue advocacy where necessary and to explore permitting and incentive options for solar and resilient housing; staff said they are also pursuing alternative private funding streams if federal grants are reduced.","City staff updated council on municipal and citywide clean‑energy goals, the energy benchmarking policy and a phased renter energy‑efficiency pilot that included plug‑in solar, a heat‑pump water heater and donated air conditioners.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":46,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6265285,"Orlando expands urban farms, youth hydroponics and garden programs to boost local food access",2308,719000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092766-3e61ce5436e069747684dcdb774a8d9d&start=719&end=3027","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092766-3e61ce5436e069747684dcdb774a8d9d/thumbnail_719000.jpg","/articles/6265285/Orlando/Orange-County/Florida/Orlando-expands-urban-farms-youth-hydroponics-and-garden-programs-to-boost-local-food-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265285-0d171ff95e363df30037e701bf73c8c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201111&Signature=Vlq8if~8MurU1jO8NiBHpeO9uda2g5MIx42JA-tlUl7SrgxaYZv6L56HrovdLjhNm2EXiD8W0SfJXVsseuCcb3T0ZEHkhq8KtQvwTQe4FKjRvYIlIuZd5eZS9dW5ASOwKFOqNO5FxQ-NKCUBBhopso5~rl8X5UgFER4gcG8oEIceevWk0~gK3B1mDVLoNc7OuNEBABYWGIhQZv4al1hWfJh0MXsl-3RzgMOvCbuTGk2bh9eZirOJFR95aaXIwmveo7WtWagY4Ko05wMb7rV8IA6st2B5bkh4wKX-UuiTAK-qdi0DPz6ZK1tuIVRBMyx0wnNk3qxWyFjuIIoZEHOmbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City sustainability staff told the Orlando City Council on April 21 that the city runs two urban farms, a hydroponic shipping‑container project and multiple neighborhood garden and youth education programs that supply fresh produce to residents and community partners.

Alyssa Masaccio, a resilience team staff member, described the McQuigg Community Garden and South Street Urban Farm and said both spaces aim to provide \"access to fresh local produce for our community members and residents.\" The McQuigg site includes more than 40 raised beds available at no cost to residents, a hydroponic shipping container and an apiary; South Street hosts a market garden, orchard and food‑forest beds.

The nut graf: Staff said produce from these sites goes to neighborhood partners, including a partnership with Neighborhood Fridge, and supports hands‑on youth education. Masaccio said the McQuigg hydroponic container allows staff to \"control the temperature, the humidity, the light\" so the city can grow leafy greens during hot summer months and pilot a youth entrepreneurship program in which high school students will run the system and retain proceeds or scholarship funds from sales.

The city also runs a garden program at 12 neighborhood centers serving roughly kindergarten through fifth‑grade students, with more than 60 raised beds used for classroom and after‑school education. Masaccio described partnerships that move gleaned or donated produce from regional farms into the city’s distribution network; she said city staff and partners have worked with farms and groups such as the Society of Saint Andrew and Neighborhood Fridge to redistribute produce that otherwise would go unharvested.

City beekeeping and pollinator education support Black Bee Honey, a high‑school program; Tuesday Piper, the city beekeeper, provides training, hive management and honey collection support so students can sell product connected to the education program.

Staff also outlined resilience infrastructure tied to food access: the Reach Mobile Resilience Hub, built by UCF with National Science Foundation support, is solar powered, has satellite Internet and refrigeration and is staged at the emergency operations center for deployment to neighborhoods after disasters. The city plans a USDA cooperative agreement to install an off‑grid community composting system at South Street Farm and a second site; staff said the city won a $100,000 award for that project and will present the agreement to council on May 19.

Ending: The presentation positioned the farms and associated education programs as part of Orlando’s resilience strategy to expand access to healthy food, train students for green jobs and keep produce circulating to residents who need it.","City staff described two urban farms, a hydroponic shipping‑container program, youth entrepreneurship tied to produce sales, neighborhood garden education and city apiaries supporting Black Bee Honey and pollinator education.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6265290,"Orlando updates Greenworks planning, highlights 16‑person sustainability team",469,289000,758000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092766-3e61ce5436e069747684dcdb774a8d9d&start=289&end=758","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092766-3e61ce5436e069747684dcdb774a8d9d/thumbnail_289000.jpg","/articles/6265290/Orlando/Orange-County/Florida/Orlando-updates-Greenworks-planning-highlights-16person-sustainability-team","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265290-12bdb742fec7ac450ffe92188af02558/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201111&Signature=jaZrsX03PgTf2RK67eQKr89ApE2LxcJ5VOwsgVm1D09tWb07ycMTyME6q8UiGxW0Wkqqse5pkIG8-CI81JoV3DoBQn2lBkfKUpar8TRE7C2-iKjpFGc3Sd9cDMDp5M5sV0fLqtwq6jDMAL042P~Fp~JqpP~Mrs1ZUbkfRGVzf~XtznIHyXfwiood3XlxzziPr4JqpbUudtb5WD0zULHI8iuzuD7TunX3r-Y~5SQiswNLvN2RzkFMd2bNX5bWVTHL2pghN3aHZcWDKyUGcBczKfjDL0476T8ZFZ3zTBS4QTcHdrQD2IoeCVi~7kBiaQjsFuVSWbVgRXYfy1VHTaI~MQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Office of Sustainability, Resilience and Future Ready told the Orlando City Council on April 21 that it will launch an update to its Greenworks strategic plans later this summer and has grown to a roughly 16‑person staff.

Mike Hess, director of sustainability, gave the presentation and said the Greenworks initiative has been in place since February 2007 and that the office will solicit a consultant for the plan update. \"We're in the middle of Earth Month. Tomorrow is Earth Day,\" Hess said as he opened the briefing.

The nut graf: City leaders said the update will reframe short‑ and long‑term sustainability targets and that the process will include stakeholder engagement and district representation. Britney Sellers, assistant director, told council members the update will cover both municipal operations and community‑wide goals and that the team will return to a City Council meeting in May to seek approval of the consulting group selected for the plan update.

Hess and Sellers emphasized the office’s small size and cross‑department partnerships. Hess said the office currently counts \"16 ish people, total\" and described Greenworks as a citywide initiative tied to other departments including public works and parks. Sellers said staff will reach out to community members to ensure representation across council districts during the plan update process.

Council members used the presentation to raise process and funding concerns. Commissioner Stewart said the city should do a better job communicating existing accomplishments to residents. Commissioner Stewart said, \"I believe we are [doing a lot],\" but added the city must explain those efforts more clearly so constituents know what is already in place.

Ending: The office did not propose new legislation at the workshop; it asked for council support to proceed with consultant selection and community engagement as it launches the Greenworks plan update later this year.","City staff briefed the Orlando City Council on Greenworks Orlando, the Office of Sustainability, Resilience and Future Ready’s team growth and an upcoming update to the citywide sustainability strategic plans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Orlando details digital‑inclusion push: hotspots, 'tables of connection' and Paramore Wi‑Fi design

Orlando highlights renters energy pilot, building benchmarking and municipal clean‑energy targets

Orlando expands urban farms, youth hydroponics and garden programs to boost local food access

Orlando updates Greenworks planning, highlights 16‑person sustainability team