Facilitator urges Kissimmee leaders to set aside politics and focus on governance

The KISSIMMEE City Commission began its annual retreat with a pointed call to prioritize governance over politics.

The session’s facilitator told the commission that governing is about long‑term vision and pragmatic solutions, while politics is about short‑term gains. “Good governance is boring,” he said, adding that headline‑seizing conflict can deter investment and damage the city’s bond rating. He urged commissioners to “treat others with respect,” focus remarks on issues rather than individuals and use deadlines and deliverables to drive results.

Mayor Jeanette opened the discussion by asking commissioners to identify three five‑year outcomes and near‑term priorities, emphasizing the optics of visible progress — “I’d like to see dirt moving,” she said, pressing for groundbreakings and clear deliverables that show momentum.

Commissioners and staff framed the day around that tension: they acknowledged an unusually productive year for Kissimmee, citing new development activity, a stronger staffing bench in public works and recent bond issues, while also noting that discord among leaders can stall projects and push away developers and employees.

The facilitator closed with practical guidance: reinforce decorum at meetings, direct public comment to the body rather than individuals, avoid online back‑and‑forth that amplifies conflict, and give staff clear, prioritized direction. He said the commission’s short‑term work should protect the city’s “winning season” and ensure the community sees results.

The retreat ended with the commission completing a prioritization exercise and scheduling a separate governance session to drill into behavior and operating agreements.