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Commission approves rezoning, annexation, budget amendment, solicitor rules and multiple contracts
Summary
At its meeting the Winter Garden City Commission adopted several ordinances and resolutions, approved a construction purchase order and a market license renewal, reappointed three CRA board members and authorized a change order for Dyson Plaza.
The Winter Garden City Commission voted unanimously on a slate of ordinances, a budget amendment, contracts and appointments, moving forward multiple land-use, procurement and code-change items with little extended debate.
Key actions (all passed unanimously unless noted):
- Ordinance 25-13: Adopted a rezoning to Planned Commercial Development (PCD) for approximately 4.71 acres at West Colonial Drive to permit four commercial buildings, three for retail/office/restaurant uses and one for Solomon's Auto Body. Planning Director Carson said the new Solomon’s building will orient garage bays to the rear to shield car storage. (Ordinance adoption.)
- Ordinances 25-18, 25-19 and 25-20: Approved annexation of approximately 1.88 acres at Avalon Road into the city (25-18), amended the future land-use designation to city commercial (25-19), and rezoned the parcels to C-3 professional office district (25-20). The applicant intends to convert one existing structure to a commercial/professional office use; any new development will require site-plan review. (Annexation, land-use and rezoning ordinances.)
- Ordinance 25-21: Adopted an amendment to the FY2024–25 budget increasing several funds (utility operating fund $500,000; stormwater fund $314,092; and other adjustments) for a total of $1,302,498 in additional appropriations. Finance Director Zalanca presented Exhibit 1 with the line-item adjustments. (Budget amendment.)
- Ordinance 25-22: Approved revisions to the city code governing solicitors, including a revised definition of “solicitor” (to cover charitable solicitations and commercial surveys), expanded prohibited activities (including prohibiting solicitation in public rights-of-way), a permitting process that requires individuals to apply separately and be at least 18, a waiver option for nonprofit permit fees, and the creation of a police-managed “no solicitation” opt-out list for residents and businesses. The ordinance clarifies that panhandling remains regulated under a separate code chapter. (Ordinance adoption.)
- Resolution 25-06: Adopted updates to the city purchasing manual to incorporate Florida statutory language, city procedures and revised purchasing thresholds; staff said the manual was last updated in July 2011. (Resolution.)
- Purchase order award: Authorized a purchase order to TD Thompson Construction Inc. in the amount of $155,210.54 to remove asphalt and place bricks on two remaining sections of East Joiner Street in the historic district; construction is expected to close each segment during work and take roughly four weeks. City Engineer Monahan said the price covers the planned work; commissioners asked whether unforeseen discoveries were included, and staff said the current contract does not account for unexpected discoveries. (Contract award.)
- Farmers market license: Authorized the city manager to execute and renew the farmers market license with Red Top Productions Corporation (RTP) to operate the Saturday farmers market at Downtown’s plaza between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Economic Developer Hutchinson noted RTP’s role in load-in/load-out and market operations. Kirk Geiss, executive director of Challenge 22 (now a 501(c)(3)), also spoke regarding partnership and event planning. (License/contract authorization.)
- Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) advisory board appointments: Reappointed Carmen Horn, Jamie Holly and Sheree Hodge to three-year staggered terms expiring 07/31/2028, following the advisory board’s recommendation. (Appointments.)
- Dyson Plaza change order: The CRA authorized a change order for the Dyson Plaza shell construction to cover increased subcontractor and material costs after schedule delays; staff recommended approval of a $36,004.46 change order to close out shell construction work. Staff said material and supply costs (lumber, roofing, plumbing, stucco) rose and a structural reevaluation extended the schedule by about 90 days. (Contract change order.)
Why it matters: The package advances multiple land-use and downtown-revival projects, updates procurement rules, and establishes code controls for solicitation — items that shape development, operations and resident experience in Winter Garden.
Votes at a glance: All listed items passed by unanimous voice votes recorded on the dais.
