[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6188152,"mediaKeyId","5064099-3fca8980517ec6afadea793ad8539044","parentId",5064099,"title","Winter Haven to request FDEP SRF hurricane-relief funds for wastewater plant consolidation and resilience projects","audioSeconds",368,"startMs",8423000,"endMs",8791000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064099-3fca8980517ec6afadea793ad8539044&start=8423&end=8791","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064099-3fca8980517ec6afadea793ad8539044/thumbnail_8423000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6188152/Winter-Haven-City/Polk-County/Florida/Winter-Haven-to-request-FDEP-SRF-hurricane-relief-funds-for-wastewater-plant-consolidation-and-resilience-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188152-ca8e7f58fd6b68af86c32ce9b00528ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213800&Signature=OVW7KTv62KvJ4pFW~F8pwuLgboLGoT8BS-PxEWQPzeoRsk53VYP6cLzKk91ZRBkJqDbE5PEHIjcQ2atI0RBNaQTfv1kxKkszA-ElEFInhoMzgfbsJzaLjUn6ODfEDYxT~vewYUsxX79i9S9tUOJ1G-eeqe5iRPKTTai0PVXOfuiFkqHNfDZr-kt71tQUI0q6jTkRqIRru~g0o508TfU4QYGAAhrTh8u2hgBU8LH37m6uPMivbuHLmwnP1nUe5OAtiAdDBXhqYgFE9~x7avcg29N-qlrK~GqGnGpLJv4PXL-d9h7eDN~XXoQ71MbveEqf5S4-grEvy2sSs~S3WlSCPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Winter Haven, FL","date","2025-06-25T12:03:58.943Z","article","The Winter Haven City Commission authorized staff to submit an application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for hurricane-relief funding from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), targeting infrastructure projects tied to storm resilience and wastewater system consolidation.

City staff said the funding stems from U.S. EPA supplemental appropriations for hurricane recovery and resilience and would be administered through Florida's SRF programs. Staff ranked three city projects for the application: first, decommissioning Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) No. 2 and building a transfer/master pump station ($33,709,521); second, a new force main from WWTP No. 2 to Lift Station 1050 ($52,701,250); and third, headworks improvements at WWTP No. 3 ($7,880,113). The combined requested amount was $94,290,884.

City Manager (name not specified) said that because Winter Haven's per-capita income qualifies the municipality for high forgiveness potential, the city will seek full loan forgiveness where possible; staff cautioned the state is unlikely to award the full requested sum and estimated an award more likely in the $20 million to $40 million range. The projects are included in the city's five-year capital improvement plan; staff said the application deadline was June 30 and required commission authorization before filing because the commission will not meet again before the deadline.

The commission approved submission of the application. Staff said the prioritized projects respond to hurricane-induced power loss at WWTP No. 2 and the city's policy of consolidating treatment onto the more resilient Plant No. 3. If awarded, grant or forgiveness funds would offset capital costs identified in the five-year CIP.

No financial commitment is required to file the application. Staff will report results to the commission if awards are granted and will bring follow-up actions for each project as needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission Meeting, June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff will submit a ranked application to Florida DEP for Clean Water State Revolving Fund hurricane-relief funding seeking up to $94.3 million across three projects; staff expects a likely award in the $20–$40 million range and prioritized funds for decommissioning Wastewater Plant 2 and transferring flow to Plant 3.","taxTitle","Winter Haven City, Polk County, Florida","taxId",12580,"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},6188157,"City to offer $1.45 million for Cypress Gardens Blvd. property to advance FDOT intersection realignment",350,8025000,8375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064099-3fca8980517ec6afadea793ad8539044&start=8025&end=8375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064099-3fca8980517ec6afadea793ad8539044/thumbnail_8025000.jpg","/articles/6188157/Winter-Haven-City/Polk-County/Florida/City-to-offer-145-million-for-Cypress-Gardens-Blvd-property-to-advance-FDOT-intersection-realignment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188157-b1c59524eccf2706e965e92a9477bd8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213800&Signature=ZhleUcT4fonqAiF8jLVy1BJB1UTwkHzQ7zou1FQdaE3O4~KDyntAC7aSjhZSoZB4Duk7kSjh1o15t4h4yCB5Cz7KK3sftBvPpSwme~WcnVqgJKEu2ecGFc9D2uDKdRU1a1XKsVPccbefcbnsNSWd9u2pk8eGKOGuYzz8QfHHB-LKpP-lJezP86pk2HW7Zk5pAyyI-hkjC5cWsFtZUTiC~sRYiKGIdedCCZn-hq2tnYX84xOFhqNPVZDf7h8iyHjAEv6v1XoZUw-Nswr8qwxCV1Ht85m27tUTMQfTkwqc8cSwztpp11ekF2FYIpakwk9dNNLEsS4SFzQ7CCBMjSQDgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winter Haven City Commission authorized city staff to proceed with an agreement to purchase the commercial property at 801 Cypress Gardens Boulevard for $1,450,000 as part of a multi-year plan to realign Eighth and Ninth Streets and improve a signalized intersection.

City Manager (name not specified) told commissioners the property was appraised at $1,450,000 on May 1 and that the city has $1.5 million appropriated in the transportation fund for corridor improvements. Staff said Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) supports the realignment concept; FDOT would design and construct the intersection improvements once right-of-way is secured.

The city's planned use would require demolishing the existing structures and dedicating the necessary right-of-way to FDOT. The purchase is contingent on standard due diligence: a Phase I (and if needed Phase II) environmental review and review of property reports already generated by the current owner. Staff said all known underground storage tanks have been removed and a prior Phase I exists, but the city will perform its own assessments.

Closing also depends on a commercial tenant's first right of refusal and a 180-day lease termination clause. City staff recommended not becoming the property landlord; if the tenant uses its full lease-termination rights, the latest possible closing date would be about Jan. 19 of the following year. Staff requested authority to execute the purchase agreement and begin due diligence; the commission approved the motion.

City officials said acquiring the parcel now positions the city and FDOT to move forward when the department schedules design and construction within its five-year work plan. No FDOT construction timeline or state funding allocation for the intersection was announced at the meeting.","The commission authorized staff to pursue purchase of 801 Cypress Gardens Boulevard for $1,450,000 to secure right-of-way needed for a proposed realignment of Eighth/Ninth Street and future FDOT intersection improvements; closing subject to due diligence and tenant lease conditions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6188162,"Winter Haven adopts updated municipal impact fees, parks and library fees rise, police fee falls",529,1419000,1948000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064099-3fca8980517ec6afadea793ad8539044&start=1419&end=1948","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064099-3fca8980517ec6afadea793ad8539044/thumbnail_1419000.jpg","/articles/6188162/Winter-Haven-City/Polk-County/Florida/Winter-Haven-adopts-updated-municipal-impact-fees-parks-and-library-fees-rise-police-fee-falls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188162-6900f687078256b8f29b51c038adf618/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213800&Signature=AJpufjSHkoVdY9igxEQeJ4eQOsFapkGojn6E1lQjNHifL3S0b3TkugyeFCmKGsoOETXLHjPi2tsA9RBhEkbl9VRkjnelpmhCr~FMB1tvCzaJOWo80l7X1npNUF~NrJy0XyO8tjodEAAMOJlspUqRFBjpg~C13liwRVFafthb6vhJQwboNy69XI5qAoytyT50MsD-cMZLBXhh-IyJVar6ByEnlv0aY-hfTzXrc5zs~20NBQIZeEVDc-nB2ISfJ1Awcceu~9WpT219wmFnCuIo0x~IbB0N2SemmC2xfq2lfnNWhY4Am6Z0XI2temKq62BcOaELh4I3xsLlAm3lFHFAFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winter Haven City Commission on Monday adopted Ordinance O-25-25, updating municipal services impact fees based on a rate study by financial consultants Raftelis.

City Manager (name not specified) and Raftelis consultant Joe Williams told the commission the study evaluated capital needs for police, fire, parks and recreation, and library services and recommended fee adjustments to reflect current levels of service and recent growth. Williams said the changes are meant to “provide for reasonable recovery without exceeding the current cost of expansion related capital improvements,” as allowed under the Florida Impact Fee Act.

Under the adopted ordinance, impact fees assessed one time on new construction will increase for fire services, parks and recreation and libraries; police impact fees will decrease. Staff and the consultant emphasized that impact fees apply only to new construction and not to existing homeowners or businesses. The parks and recreation and library fees apply to residential development; police and fire fees apply to residential and nonresidential development.

Williams described revenue implications using a 10-year forecast. He said, under the city's prior parks fee, projected receipts over 10 years were about $11 million; under the new fee schedule that figure would be closer to $40 million — a difference he described as “about $30,000,000 over 10 years just for the parks.” The city manager said staff held two required public workshops and that the new fees would take effect Oct. 1, 2025, after a statutory 90-day window.

Commissioners asked staff for historical estimates and the manager said staff could provide a five-year or ten-year retrospective estimate of fees that would have been collected under the new schedule. The city attorney noted the study was included in the meeting record and that staff had discussed growth and inflationary pressures as the basis for the increases.

The commission approved the ordinance on second reading and final adoption; city staff said the study and fee schedules are on record and the legal framework for the changes is the Florida Impact Fee Act. The city also intends to repeat the fee study within three years as allowed by statute.","The commission adopted Ordinance O-25-25 updating municipal services impact fees after a Raftelis study; increases for fire, parks and recreation and library fees take effect Oct. 1, 2025, while the police impact fee will decrease.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6188168,"Winter Haven commission approves MOA with ICE under Florida Senate Bill 2C after lengthy public comment",5269,1983000,7252000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5064099-3fca8980517ec6afadea793ad8539044&start=1983&end=7252","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5064099-3fca8980517ec6afadea793ad8539044/thumbnail_1983000.jpg","/articles/6188168/Winter-Haven-City/Polk-County/Florida/Winter-Haven-commission-approves-MOA-with-ICE-under-Florida-Senate-Bill-2C-after-lengthy-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188168-59e5cd19f483ac5661fa59b4c0af119e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213800&Signature=cOIcc589tltLxrNOP~orZMf3iTWyIu7GO1Zc5eqgW~HQ7al9abcNAbvkZBnpFFdrHO3OtJC6QNYtTgO7wr6vtwTIV1dmgJQ6w9qaxohKAo72r3xsl0HccZobFJA~UMpyQKrDaCiuJFAxxlndiWFXi5cfsiZktuAL483BnlzIVs69AHqOOoDs8q8RmUDV0rr7cyqfaPeZ2~IHGWFshZnjO1AW~3O2k4LSYMYrGypMV1rmqs2Mq-n9Hddoo9~rdzjD2NPrQTcGP0pTyzc94EmBzYARCsx~rQuBQOweTIdSrdzp3Rb33NN1GzhAUT-FnO0diNCC0G2qsUj1D5ncAcTzGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Winter Haven City Commission voted 3-1 Monday to approve a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that commits the Winter Haven Police Department to procedures for responding to federal immigration requests under Florida Senate Bill 2C.

The ordinance-size MOA, listed on the consent agenda as item 10f, formalizes local processes for honoring lawful ICE detainer requests, asking immigration-status questions during booking, and transferring detainees to federal custody when required by state law. City staff and police leaders said the MOA documents practices the department must follow under state statute and does not authorize street-level immigration roundups.

City Manager (name not specified) told the commission the MOA “memorializes” requirements stemming from the special-session bill signed by Governor Ron DeSantis and described the 287(g)-style partnership as “no different really than what we do with other federal agencies.” Assistant City Manager for Public Safety Charlie Byrd and Police Chief Vance Monroe also described the MOA as a written step in a process that already involved fingerprinting, Polk County booking procedures and ICE coordination.

Public comment was lengthy and strongly opposed. More than two dozen speakers urged the commission to reject the MOA, saying it would erode trust between immigrant communities and police and could lead to racial profiling, family separations and legal exposure for the city. Speaker Matthew Crowley said, “This agreement would allow our local officers to take on the role of federal immigration agents,” and warned it would “make people afraid to call for help.” Several speakers cited local Polk County enforcement data and examples from other jurisdictions to argue the MOA would harm public safety and community trust.

Commissioners debated the legal and fiscal consequences of rejecting the MOA. City staff warned that declining to memorialize the agreement could put the city out of compliance with state law and risk state funding or legal challenges. After discussion the commission approved the motion to accept the MOA by a 3-to-1 vote. The record shows one commissioner opposed and one commission seat was absent for the vote.

The MOA’s language requires honoring lawful detainer requests, asking about immigration status during arrest booking as directed by state law, and assisting in transfers to federal custody. City officials said local officers will not conduct generalized immigration enforcement or “round up” people in the community, and any custody transfers would follow Polk County booking and ICE procedures.

The commission’s approval does not change state law or ICE policy. The police chief and assistant city manager said the department will continue to apply existing constitutional and departmental safeguards when responding to federal requests. The commission did not attach additional local policy restrictions to the MOA at the meeting.

The item drew sustained public attention and drew the commission into a broader conversation about state mandates, local public safety priorities, and community trust. The city manager and police leadership said they will continue public outreach to explain how the MOA will be implemented and how it interacts with Polk County booking procedures.

The commission moved on to other items after the vote; the MOA will be retained in the meeting record and the department will implement the registered procedures in coordination with Polk County and ICE as described in the MOA.","The Winter Haven City Commission voted 3-1 to approve a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that memorializes local implementation steps required by Florida Senate Bill 2C; dozens of residents spoke in opposition during public comment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Winter Haven to request FDEP SRF hurricane-relief funds for wastewater plant consolidation and resilience projects

City to offer $1.45 million for Cypress Gardens Blvd. property to advance FDOT intersection realignment

Winter Haven adopts updated municipal impact fees, parks and library fees rise, police fee falls

Winter Haven commission approves MOA with ICE under Florida Senate Bill 2C after lengthy public comment