Referendum on gas leaf blower ban could be conducted by mail
The vote along with money for flood fixes and a new policy to sell ads and sponsorships for the Parks & Rec department will be considered at Wednesday’s City Commission meeting
Dec. 10, 2024
By Beth Kassab
So far the two seats on the City Commission up for election next year have attracted just one candidate each. That’s left city leaders contemplating how to conduct a referendum on whether the city should keep its ban on gas-powered leaf blowers.
On Wednesday, Commissioners will consider authorizing the referendum to be conducted by mail and, possibly, at a later date if the races for seats 3 and 4 remain unopposed when the official qualifying period ends on Jan. 21.
The referendum was scheduled to appear on the March 11 ballot with those two races. But, as of now, Commissioner Kris Cruzada is running for re-election to Seat 3 without a challenger. And Warren Lindsey, a first-time candidate and local criminal defense attorney, is the only person to file for Seat 4 since incumbent Todd Weaver opted not to run again.
According to a staff report, “The benefit of moving to a mail ballot, for this single question, would be a reduction in the expense of conducting the election and potentially an increase in voter turnout.”
The memorandum also notes that the commission’s approval would give “flexibility to reschedule the referendum to a later date,” though it doesn’t specify when that could take place.
Naming rights for Parks & Rec?
Soon Winter Park may try to capitalize on its extensive parks and recreation programs, including events, with official sponsorships, advertising and naming rights, according to a plan up for consideration on Wednesday by the City Commission.
City staff estimates the new advertising and sponsorship policy could generate at least $200,000 each year with efforts mostly focused on the city’s two golf courses, the tennis center and “other parks with significant foot traffic.” Notably, Central Park — the flagship green space that runs along Park Avenue — would not be included among the public places where advertising or sponsorships would be sold.
“Today, financial and in-kind support is even more critical as the investment needed to sustain and improve the parks, facilities, and programs continues to rise,” says the staff report. “Like other park and recreation departments across the nation, the parks and recreation department is pursuing more sophisticated business partnerships with the for-profit and non-profit sectors, in the form of events, programs, projects, and site sponsorship along with limited advertising.”
$4.6 million for flooding fixes
After more than a year of study commissioners will consider finalizing the first priorities in a long list of projects needed to shore up Winter Park’s stormwater and drainage system in the wake of major storms and flooding.
Commissioners discussed the projects highlighted by the studies last month and are now poised to approve $4.6 million for the first batch of them.
About $1.6 million is already allocated for the fixes in this year’s budget. Another $3 million will come from the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency.
The list of specific projects can be found here and here.
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I would hope that if the City considers going down this “ sponsorship “ road for City facilities and events that they tread very lightly. Most every facet of our lives has become over commercialized, and forces seem to want to wring every Dollar out of every possible thing. Go to a Magic Game, and I think they have a sponsor for the air in the arena, it is a commercial assault on the senses .
Welcome to Phelps Park, presented By Chick-fil-A . $200,000 a Year sounds nice, but is that after they hire a staffer to manage sponsorships and Commercial relationships. Not thrilled with this idea.
The leaf blower thing could be so easily solved by enacting a day/time blowing schedule ——like we have for trash pickup and lawn watering. This way there could be peace and quiet during set times. Plus, if you’re really triggered by the noise you have a set time to return to the office or work from Panera, go run your errands, or use your noise cancelling headphones. If you really can’t handle the noise might I suggest a 5 or 10 acre homestead out in Lake County.
Really?? I am in my mid 70’s and i have lived in Winter Park for over 60 years, and built my home myself where I have lived on the same corner for 49 years. One of the main reasons I built here was the peaceful quiet neighborhood.
I retired 12 years ago and often can’t sit on my porch with coffee due to the incessant roar and odor of gas fed machines every day except Sunday. And you suggest that I adjust my schedule, or ask the city to create another law defining a “blowing schedule”, or move to Lake County? I maintain my fairly large property and converted to battery powered equipment years ago mostly because of the noise reduction and safety factor (no gasoline). The City has been very accommodating with delays in implementing this very reasonable solution that will improve the quality of WP life.
Yes really. By demanding I buy pricey lawn equipment, or force my lawn service provider to buy new equipment, you’re really asking me to add an extra expense to my household budget. I’m not retired, I have kids and lots of expenses. You think the lawn guys aren’t going to charge me more now? You are, in effect, forcing me to help finance your peace and quiet with your coffee. Keep in mind the young people both have to work full time now. That is why we outsource our lawn work, because we have to spend most of the weekend doing all the chores a stay at home Mom used to have done before the weekend comes around.
Thank You for helping the self absorbed wealthy to understand that we young hardworking people of Winter Park exist. Maybe we can get a couple of new Commissioners who acknowledge our existence by making it possible for working people to be a part of our local government.
I hope the City does not commercialize our parks with tacky naming rights.
Thank you, Rick Frazee. This naming rights thing is a very bad idea.
“Red Fox Lounge Memorial Park”?
Let’s get the DOGE brothers here for a visit. They could cut 200 grand out of the bloated WP budget in five minutes.
I would like to vote by mail ballot.
Highly unlikely that there will be no challengers in 2025 WP City Commission elections.
Highly unlikely.
Do the math.
30,000 residents.
Somebody else gonna want a seat on the Dias.
Has anyone considered the cost of battery leaf blowers to the mostly very small business landscape companies that serve WP? Why force them to buy equipment exclusively for WP customers? They will continue to use gas mowers, edgers and trimmers. All of these have decibel ranges similar to gas leaf blowers. Run a weed whacker and a gas leaf blower side by side and see if you can tell the difference. I am surrounded by homeowners that have landscape services. For me, it’s not a problem at all. They are “mow, blow and go” in 15-20 minute chunks each spread over 6 days.
I hope enough people vote to uphold this ban. Battery operated equipment is not perfect but the benefits and fewer resulting problems outweigh any negatives. Battery operated blowers can sometimes be more expensive up front (though not always) but they require no gasoline to be purchased on a regular basis, no spark plugs to replace, produce far less noise and emissions. I am open to hearing reasons against this ban but so far I think keeping the ban is a no brainer.
So you can go to Lowe’s or Home Depot to buy a leaf blower but your city wants that outlawed 🤔. Seems that outlawing the combustion engine is a preference of only a few. What’s next? Children / Dogs? This is a city of families as well as retirees. Commission Meetings at 3:30pm in the afternoon tells you who is pushing this. Time for the young working people to show up and vote – let leadership know you have a say. KEEP WINTER PARK FREE VOTE YES TO REPEAL THE RIDICULOUS BAN
Had they written the original ordinance correctly, this would not have been a problem. The restriction should have been for decibels, not type of propulsion. I could care less what is making the noise, just that it is there.
I fundamentally disagree with the people who seem ok with the use of noisy equipment like this constantly. I put up with hours of this every week.
I’d like the rest of the “get off my lawn” (pun intended) type retirees in this city to say the quiet part out loud…..like poster PA did above. It really IS all about the smell and NOISE bothering those at home during the day. Let’s just own that truth, pay for the battery powered cost increases (as if anybody is going broke in this city from a price increase) and move on.
Next up on the city agenda: fines for anyone driving more than 5 mph below the posted speed limit.
I can’t hear myself think. All day, everyday, it’s leaf blowers. I like my natural yard and want to listen to birds and quiet. I want to enjoy open windows when possible. The one positive thing about COVID was the silence outside.
If you want to work in Winter Park, buy an electric leaf blower. Teach your employees not to full throttle and rev. Whatever happened to rakes?
A positive take on Covid tells us all we need to know about your heart. Bless those families who sit without love ones due to Covid and forgive those who can’t think about anyone but themselves. We pray our landscapers are not put out of work in Winter Park because they are thought of as deplorable or garbage.