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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