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Public Works director outlines paving, stormwater projects and proposed $1.0M in cuts under 10% exercise
Summary
Director Charles Ramdatt described pavement evaluation (PACER/PASER), stormwater diagnostics, and capital projects including Sherbrooke Road drainage and the Tanglewood outfall; he also proposed possible reductions—deferred painting/elevator work, janitorial cuts, contracted sweeping reductions and shifting eligible items to CRA or stormwater utility funding—totaling roughly $1.0 million.
Charles Ramdatt, director of public works, briefed the commission on departmental priorities and capital work tied to the FY2027 budget and the city’s 90% (10% reduction) exercise.
Ramdatt described the city's adoption of standardized pavement assessment tools and the purchase of stormwater diagnostic equipment to enable proactive maintenance across roughly 54 miles of storm system. "We do video inspections...and they allow us on a proactive basis to look at all 54 miles of our stormwater system and make decisions on repairs," he said. He walked commissioners through capital projects planned for the coming year, including Sherbrooke Road and Katy Way drainage improvements near Winter Park High School, the Lake Spear drain well construction project, and a joint Tanglewood outfall project with Seminole County scheduled to start later this year.
Turning to the city's 10% reduction exercise, Ramdatt said public works’ general-fund target would be about $1,000,000, with roughly $465,000 on facilities and just over $500,000 on public works and transportation. He listed potential measures with estimated savings: deferring non-urgent painting (~$50,000), delaying elevator replacement, negotiating janitorial service levels (possible $240,000 annual savings), reducing contracted street sweeping frequency in residential areas (potential $130,000 savings), and exploring CRA or stormwater-utility funding for eligible projects. Ramdatt emphasized trade-offs and the visibility of service-level changes.
Next steps: staff will refine cost estimates and return with options for commissioner consideration during budget work sessions.
