Kissimmee updates incentives, adopts 2026 legislative priorities including police evidence-room and stormwater funding requests

The Kissimmee City Commission on Oct. 7 approved amendments to the city’s economic development incentives and then adopted a package of legislative priorities for the 2026 state session.

Economic Development Director David Rodriguez said staff rewrote incentive language to emphasize performance-based payouts (payments made after investments and job creation) and to target priority sectors — including the Medical Arts District and an Aerospace Advancement Initiative. Staff also proposed caps (including a 10% cap on capital expenditures for certain incentives) and recommended shifting away from up-front waivers to ensure public funds follow private investment.

After a public comment from resident Alex Alemi supporting the changes, commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the amended incentives.

City Manager then presented recommended legislative priorities for the upcoming session, anchored by three appropriation requests: $750,000 for a funding gap on the police evidence room construction tied to expansion of Kissimmee Police Department headquarters; funding to rebuild the Berlinski Community Center (the old facility was deemed unsalvageable); and a request for state support to cover half of an over-$1 million North Kissimmee stormwater improvement project in a 100‑year floodplain. The list also included continued pursuit of aviation and Gateway Airpark infrastructure funding, FAA-related airport tower construction funds, cybersecurity funding and monitoring of pending property‑tax reform discussions.

Commissioners voted to adopt the legislative priorities. Staff noted that, following earlier public comments about Areas of Critical Need licensure, the commission would work to draft language to add that item to lobbying priorities.