Winter Park Commission to consider how to fix storm flooding
The idea of floating new bonds emerged at a work session last month, but an increase in stormwater fees already in motion may do the trick
Nov. 22, 2024
By Beth Kassab
When commissioners meet next month for their final meeting of the year, they are likely to consider one of the city’s most pressing ongoing problem: how to control flooding highlighted by a series of major storms in recent years.
City staff is finishing recommendations for where to start when it comes to a list of as much as $40 million worth of proposed fixes in Winter Park and, in some cases, extending into neighboring Orlando, Orange County and Seminole County.
Those include running new pipes to connect lakes to better manage heavy downpours, replacing culverts and expanding ditches.
Such projects may not make for the most compelling City Commission debates — they are the kind of thing most residents don’t think about until they can’t drive down a street because of flooding or until they can see lake levels rising and threatening homes and businesses.
But it’s that nitty gritty of local government that has proven crucial to hurricane recovery and quality of life, especially in the wake of Hurricane Ian in 2022 and then Milton and Helene this year.
“There is politics and people can disagree on politics,” said Charles Ramdatt, director of Public Works and Transportation at a City Commission work session last month. “But science is science and what we observe is reality. And there’s no disagreement that we’re getting more frequent storm events. We have more frequent major events as well.”
Specific projects and estimated costs were identified in three studies the city paid for to determine ways to improve how stormwater is stored and managed.
They include $4.6 million to add a pump station and expand Lake Mendsen at MLK Park just outside the Library & Events Center. Surrounding neighborhoods have routinely seen flooding after storms. There’s also the idea of running a pipe (estimated at nearly $600,000) to connect Lake Mendsen to Lake Rose, the former Winter Park sinkhole just a few blocks away at the corner of Fairbanks Avenue and Denning Drive, which is known to flood at times.
Also on the list are about $600,000 worth of improvements to Lake Killarney. And there are multiple proposed lake connection such as from Lake Knowles to Lake Maitland (at $2.2 million) and Lake Grace to Lake Forest and Lake Sue (at more than $2 million).
In some cases, neighboring Orlando or the counties could contribute to the cost of the fixes.
Mayor Sheila DeCiccio said at the recent workshop that she wants to make sure the projects truly make a difference in the places where people have experienced storm flooding.
“I’m very concerned because I’m not sure how these fixes are going to fix the flooding on Morse (Boulevard) or Denning … into streets and homes,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s enough.”
Ramdatt said aging infrastructure is also part of the problem and told commissioners his department will soon have its own diagnostic equipment to help locate leaky underground pipes or other concerns.
“It’s like doing a cardiac cath,” he said, likening the investigations to when a doctor examines heart valves for leaks or blockages and makes fixes to improve the patient’s health and heart efficiency. “So we’re going to do that analysis to understand those and fix those.”
Commissioners also considered how residents will pay for the improvements.
In some cases, the newly expanded Community Redevelopment Agency — which is allowed to hold on to tax dollars that would otherwise go to Orange County — can pay for some projects, particularly on the west side of the city near Fairbanks and Interstate 4 and in the central business corridor.
Some commissioners said they were in favor of also asking voters to approve issuing new bonds to cover the expenses. But there likely wouldn’t be enough time to get the question on the March ballot, when two commission seats are also up for election and voters will decide on whether to keep the ban on gas-powered leaf blowers.
Knight said it’s possible the higher stormwater fees already approved by the commission will be enough to pay for the projects. Residents started paying an extra penny last year and will go up again by a penny next year. Those payments generated $700,000 the first year and an estimated $1.4 million this year.
The fees are calculated on the amount of impervious surface (generally concrete) on a homeowner’s lot at 7 cents per square foot this year.
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Increase the tax base by raising the assessed values of the flooded properties.
Call them “lakefront homes.”
This problem was caused by maximum FAR infill building with no thought given to our antiquated drainage infrastructure. We are reaping the consequences of this shortsightedness.
After no flooding for 45 years, the street drainage suddenly started flooding my entire property in 2013. It has continued since then, despite a massive street drainage project in 2020.
In 2022 and 2024, the city inexplicably started adding raw sewage overflow to the flooding that inundates my property. A further drainage project to augment the first one has been slow-walked since 2020 and is not even permitted yet.
Every storm season since 2013 is a panic of dread and cleaning up hazardous waste.
I have been complaining to the city about this for years. They are very aware. But evidently new Christmas lights for Park Ave. are more important.
Back when Ken Bradley was mayor 2010-2014, he approved the building on the corner of Morse and Denning to use MLK Park for their floodwater mitigation since their building plans way violated codes.
Then his pal Mayor Leary approved the library and events center be built in close proximity and in the same park. (City workers dug up more pond space for these privileged developers.).
In fact, Leary served as commissioner when the Bradley scheme for using parkland to benefit a larger development sailed through
Pay close attention voters or else negative consequences will be the end result. Always.
Sadly, Florida has a glut of bad politicians.
Do something so I can sleep at night when there is heavy rain. Going to bed not knowing if your house is going to be surrounded by a lake and you’ll have a small pond inside is unsettling and stressful.
I agree that this flooding needs a first priority. Our Christmas decorations are lovely and we should spend no more on them. Spend the money on dull but essential projects like the flooding problems.
Hats off to City Manager Knight! Yes, let’s use the Rain Tax hike to pay for the the 98% of the flooding that is not threatening structures. The Basin Studies Report ($700,000) is pretty clear: The streets that temporarily flood are adjacent to water; Isle of Sicily, Kraft Garden, Lake Knowles, Forrest Road, etc. If you drive on a street and you’re level with the lake, chances are good it floods during a major storm. According FSU Florida Climate Center, average Orlando rain total for last 24 years (’99-’23) is 50 inches. Through Sept. 2024, Orlando total was 31 inches. I bet ORL won’t reach 50 inches this year even with the 2 hurricanes in October. Any property owners that are in danger of structure flooding need help but let’s not use a sledgehammer to pound a small nail.
No question increased flooding will be a fact of life for Winter Parks future! The real question is way the hold up has been to resolve the problem? MONEY !!
One has to questions:
1. Why has the council’s priorities been focused on property purchases that have consistently benefited developers?
2. Because their development increases the tax base and escalates surrounding property values thus more tax dollars at their disposal. The central theme of the bureaucratic society of our times!
3. The recent purchase at the corner of Deming and Fairbanks is a perfect example and more than likely end benefiting a developer with the help of the Cities 4.4mil purchase!
4. A 75 day comment period took place with little to no citizen engagement! Why?
5. Clearly we need funding to solve the flooding problems we now are facing and frankly should have had enough funding in place had we not been succumbed to outside ,special interests because of their involvement.
6. If my memory serves me this new budget equals to Approx $7100.00 in annual taxes equated to every citizen registered as residence in our little town! Which I think is more than enough for services we require!
In conclusion, what has surfaced during this past election cycle is a demand for greater fiscal responsibility at all levels of government . We all need to wake up and smell the coffee!