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Auburndale commission approves land-use and zoning changes, accepts donated dock and vendor bid; first reading held on trash-rate update
Summary
At its July 7 meeting, the Auburndale City Commission approved multiple land-use and zoning amendments for Gapway Grove and properties near Pine Street to allow residential and commercial development, accepted a Polk County donation of a floating dock, authorized a developer agreement and a concession contract, and approved a first reading to update garbage rates.
The Auburndale City Commission on July 7 approved a series of land-use and zoning changes, accepted donated recreational equipment from Polk County, and advanced a proposed increase in city garbage rates.
Community Development Director Julie Womble told commissioners the city had received a request to reclassify roughly 0.42 acres at Gapway Road from Polk County’s Residential Suburban designation to the City’s Lakes District Mixed Use and to apply Estate Residential (ER) zoning. The Commission adopted Ordinance No. 1827 on second and final reading, following a 5-0 Planning Commission recommendation earlier this month. The body also approved Ordinance No. 1828 to amend the official zoning map to ER for the same parcel.
The Commission also approved two measures to allow an expansion near Pine Street for George’s Tire & Automotive Center. Officials agreed to reclassify about 0.15 acres at 412 Pine Street from Medium Density Residential to Commercial Corridor and to rezone two parcels totaling approximately 0.37 acres to Commercial Highway (CH). Those changes were adopted as Ordinance Nos. 1829 and 1830 on second and final reading.
In other business, city staff described an increase in landfill fees announced by Polk County. City Manager Jeffrey Tillman said the governor signed the state budget allocating $750,000 for Lake Ariana Park and that Polk County will raise North Central Landfill fees from $36.50 to $46.00 per ton for solid waste and from $22.00 to $36.50 per ton for yard waste effective Oct. 1, 2025, with those fees then increasing annually by 5% for five years. Based on projected cost pressures including the landfill increases, staff recommended and the Commission approved Ordinance No. 1831 on first reading to raise the city monthly garbage rate from $21.72 to $22.15 (a 2% increase) and to apply a 2% annual increase through fiscal year 2031; the ordinance will return for second and final reading on July 21, 2025.
Commissioners asked several questions about landfill use by other municipalities and the cost and lead time for new rear-load trash trucks. Finance Director Christopher Reeder said he would investigate which cities use the North Central Landfill; Public Works Director Andy Stewart said a truck ordered immediately could be delivered by Oct. 1 and noted truck purchases are included in the capital budget.
The Commission approved a developer’s agreement with 220 Recker Highway, LLC to govern construction of a proposed tent-manufacturing facility on about 8.73 acres, with staff noting that new development cannot discharge to the city wastewater system until required utility improvements (Pace Road Master Lift Station and Southern Force Main re-route) are completed and permitted. The Commission voted to accept an interlocal agreement with Polk County donating a second floating dock and related water-ski equipment for the Lake Myrtle Event Lake; the agreement transfers maintenance responsibility to the city and indemnifies Polk County.
On the contract side, the City authorized a three-year concession-services agreement with Four C’s Concessions, LLC, which bid 7% of concession sales and was the only proposer. The City Manager was authorized to sign the agreement with an option to extend for an additional three years.
Directors presented departmental updates including a Police Department Special Enforcement Unit report, Fire Department 2024 incident and training statistics, parks and recreation events, public works recycling and stormwater activities, public utilities infrastructure updates including a roundabout project, and finance and IT software updates. Mayor Dorothea Taylor Bogert and City Manager Tillman acknowledged staff before adjourning the meeting at 8:46 p.m.
Actions taken at the meeting were unanimous where recorded; several ordinances were adopted on second and final reading, one ordinance passed its first reading and is scheduled for final consideration on July 21, 2025.
