Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Greenacres council adopts school speed-detection program, adjusts park hours and extends temporary sign window
Summary
Council approved an ordinance authorizing automated school zone speed detection and a companion contract, amended park hours at Gladiator Park after a lighting project, and extended the temporary noncommercial sign period to 45 days; votes were unanimous or near-unanimous.
The Greenacres City Council on May 19 approved a suite of municipal measures, including an ordinance enabling automated school zone speed detection, a resolution to join a contract for system implementation, an amendment to park operating hours at Gladiator Park and a change to temporary-sign rules for elections.
On its second reading, the council approved Ordinance 2025-02 to establish a school zone speed enforcement program using automated speed detection systems. City manager McHugh and staff said the program stems from a 2023 state law authorizing municipal speed-detection systems for school zones and noted 707 speeding citations and 247 written warnings were issued in Greenacres school zones in 2023. Staff said the program will include an education period before enforcement begins, and that there would be no net cost to the city; revenues from fines will be handled according to Florida law.
Following the ordinance vote, the council unanimously approved Resolution 2025-26, authorizing the city to piggyback on the City of Tampa's competitively awarded contract with Vira Mobility for installation and operation of the school zone detection system. Staff described the piggyback approach as a way to accelerate deployment without city expense.
On parks, Council approved Ordinance 2025-09 on second reading to revise operating hours for Gladiator Park after a public-works lighting enhancement completed in March. Michelle Thompson, the city's director of community and recreation services, said the lighting targets park areas, with minimal overflow, and staff plans to install sensors and timers that will allow lights to be scheduled to turn off at 10 p.m. once delivery issues for those sensors are resolved.
The council also took up an amendment to sign regulations (Ordinance 2025-07), increasing the time temporary noncommercial signs may be displayed before an election from 30 days to 45 days to align with vote-by-mail mailing timelines. Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval 5-0. A member of the public voiced opposition to extending the period, citing concerns about sign clutter and theft, but councilmembers said the change aligns with when ballots are mailed to voters.
Consent agenda items 2 through 8 were approved unanimously with no discussion, and the council closed the regular agenda after the actions were taken.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025-02 (school zone speed detection) ' Approved on second reading, unanimous. Resolution 2025-26 (contract with Vira Mobility) ' Approved unanimously. Ordinance 2025-09 (Gladiator Park hours) ' Approved on second reading, unanimous. Ordinance 2025-07 (temporary signs) ' Approved 4-0.
