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Belle Isle moves to formal dispute with Orange County over Jetport Drive maintenance
Summary
Belle Isle voted unanimously to begin formal conflict-resolution procedures under Florida law after a long-running dispute with Orange County over who must maintain a damaged, high-traffic section of Jetport Drive. The council directed staff and the city attorney to open the negotiated process and return if liabilities arise.
Belle Isle’s City Council voted unanimously Jan. 20 to initiate governmental conflict-resolution procedures with Orange County over which government is responsible for maintaining a deteriorated section of Jetport Drive.
The council approved Resolution 26-019, directing the city manager and city attorney to seek an intergovernmental settlement under Chapter 164 of the Florida Statutes after staff said the county and city have traded responsibility for repairs for decades. City attorney Dan said state law does not automatically transfer operational maintenance of a road when property is annexed and that the city lacks a written agreement with Orange County assigning Jetport Drive to Belle Isle. “There’s nothing in paper that says this is the city’s road,” he said, summarizing the legal position the city will present in negotiations.
Council members described repeated citizen complaints and ongoing pavement damage created by heavy traffic and large vehicles near the 528 interchange. Public works staff noted a long history of county crews performing repairs and a growing maintenance burden that could be expensive should operational responsibility fall to the city. The public-works director said the street is a maintenance “nightmare” and warned of increasing safety and liability risks if the pavement continues to fail.
The resolution requires staff to prepare a certified copy for Orange County and engage in the statutorily prescribed dispute process. Dan told the council the conflict-resolution path begins with informal meetings among city and county attorneys and public-works directors; if no settlement is reached, the statute provides further nonlitigation steps and, ultimately, a forum for resolving disputed jurisdiction. He also noted that any outcome that would incur financial liability for Belle Isle would return to the council for final approval.
Councilors emphasized the need to document accidents, repeated service requests, and maintenance history as part of the city’s case. The motion was made by Commissioner Bertoldi and passed unanimously.
The next procedural step is staff and the city attorney meeting their Orange County counterparts to attempt a negotiated settlement; the council instructed staff to report back if the county declines or if the process would impose significant cost on the city.
