Winter Garden City Commissioners on a single evening approved the city’s proposed fiscal 2025–26 millage rate and multiple ordinances, adopted the operating and Community Redevelopment Agency budgets and approved annexations and future land‑use changes for two properties along East Oakland Avenue and State Road 438.

The commission voted unanimously to set an ad valorem millage rate of 4.8565 mills for fiscal year 2025–26, above the rollback rate cited in the ordinance. Commissioners also adopted the city’s operating budget and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) budget for the same fiscal year, which staff presented as balanced against projected revenues.

Why it matters: These votes set tax rates and spending for the coming fiscal year, authorize spending by the CRA and clear the way for pending development actions tied to annexed parcels. Several land‑use votes accepted annexation and future land‑use amendments that staff said will precede planned PUD rezoning applications on the affected parcels.

Key actions and figures
- Millage (Ordinance 25‑30): 4.8565 mills (reported as greater than the rollback rate of 4.2012 mills). Staff said the rate ensures ongoing revenues to cover expenditures.
- Operating budget (Ordinance 25‑31): Staff presented total available revenues of $70,303,710 (ad valorem $30,277,220; other revenues $40,026,490).
- CRA budget (Ordinance 25‑32): Total revenues $3,406,348 (ad valorem $1,742,489; other $1,663,859).
- City appropriations per charter (Ordinance 25‑33): Staff noted the ordinance implements the budgets already reviewed by the commission.

Annexations and land‑use changes
- 15359 East Oakland Avenue: Ordinance 25‑24 (annexation of about 0.66 acres) and Ordinance 25‑25 (future land‑use change from Orange County low‑density residential to city low‑density residential). Staff said the property has an existing single‑family home (built 2005) and the applicant intends a PUD rezoning to create a single‑family subdivision that would preserve and renovate a historic mansion on the adjacent parcel.
- 15373 State Road 438: Ordinance 25‑27 (annexation of about 5.59 acres) and Ordinance 25‑28 (future land‑use change to city low‑density residential). Staff said the site includes two single‑family homes built in 1919 and that the applicant has surveyed trees and hired a licensed arborist; staff said they will require preservation of significant live oaks as part of any future PD rezoning.

Other ordinance actions
- Ordinance 25‑23: Added a new section 98‑1 to address declared emergency restrictions under recently adopted state provisions (identified in staff remarks as relating to a new Senate bill). Staff said the amendment creates a city process to request reverting to earlier land‑development regulations if an applicant demonstrates new regulations are more restrictive.
- Ordinance 25‑34: Amended code to allow homeowners associations to apply for up to two special event permits per year that include mobile food dispensing vehicles (food trucks); staff said the change aims to support HOA events while protecting local brick‑and‑mortar restaurants.

Procedure, votes and next steps
- All listed ordinances and items on the agenda were approved unanimously by voice vote unless otherwise noted. Ordinance 25‑35 (changes to cemetery code) passed first reading; staff said fees were removed from the ordinance text and will be adopted by separate resolution at the October 9 meeting.

Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 25‑30 (levy millage rate 4.8565): approved, motion carried unanimously.
- Ordinance 25‑31 (city operating budget FY2025–26): approved, motion carried unanimously. Total revenues presented: $70,303,710.
- Ordinance 25‑32 (CRA budget FY2025–26): approved, motion carried unanimously. Total revenues presented: $3,406,348.
- Ordinance 25‑33 (appropriations per charter): approved, motion carried unanimously.
- Ordinance 25‑35 (Winter Garden Cemetery amendments): approved at first reading; second reading and public hearing scheduled for Oct. 9.
- Ordinance 25‑23 (land‑development emergency relief procedure): approved, motion carried unanimously.
- Ordinance 25‑24 & 25‑25 (annexation and future land‑use for 15359 E. Oakland Ave): approved, motion carried unanimously.
- Ordinance 25‑27 & 25‑28 (annexation and future land‑use for 15373 State Rd 438): approved, motion carried unanimously.
- Ordinance 25‑34 (HOA special event permits for food trucks): approved, motion carried unanimously.
- Minutes (meeting of Sept. 11): approved, motion carried unanimously.

Background and context
City staff presented the ordinances as the culmination of budget work the commission discussed for several months; the manager and staff were repeatedly thanked by commissioners for their work preparing the budget documents. The annexation approvals were presented as the initial step in a multi‑stage approval process; staff said future PD rezoning applications will return to the commission with detailed plans and tree‑protection commitments.

Ending note
With the votes completed the commission closed public hearings and in several instances directed staff to return with implementation details — for example, the cemetery ordinance’s fees will be set by a resolution at the next meeting. Several land‑use items now move to application or review steps required before final development can occur.