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News You Can Use...The Apopka Update

Happy Easter Friends! 
March flew by in such a hurry I didn't even have a chance to get the newsletter out. It was a very busy month with weekly travel to Tallahassee. First to share in Mayor Land's recognition by the House and Senate for his many, many years of dedicated service to Apopka. Then several trips to lobby on issues specific to our city and local government. And finally to take a group of Apopka & Wekiva High School students on a field trip to meet their State Representatives and learn about Florida's history and government. 
  
It's also been a very busy month in your city, with lots of exciting new projects underway that encourage economic development and new jobs.  Be sure to read the Economic Development Update below for more details.
  
And be sure to mark your calendars for an annual Apopka tradition...The Apopka Art & Foliage Festival on April 29th and 30th at Kit Land Nelson Park. Always a great event for our community!

 

Until next month, let's stay in touch!

 

Commissioner Kathy Till

407-484-3597
Council Update

At the March 2nd meeting, heard a presentation from Mr. Gordon Hogan regarding the UCF Incubator Program described below. We also recognized several employees for their years of service to our community.

 

At the March 16th meeting, the Council approved a temporary reduction in capacity reservation fess for school concurrency. Below is a brief explanation of this fee:

 

As part of a 2008 Interlocal Agreement between the city of Apopka and Orange County School Board, there are requirements and procedures assuring new residential development occurs when school capacity is available to accomodate new students generated by the development/s. To assure capital funds are available in a timely manner to construct additional school capacity demanded by new residential development, the Interlocal Agreement required a developer to reserve school capacity at the time of the Final Development Plan approval. Reservation of capacity occurs through developer payments equal to one-third of the school impact fees. Each year for a three-year period starting with the date of the approval of the Final Development Plan, the developer pays one-third of a project's school impact fees to retain the reservation.

 

Current local economic conditions have created a need to temporarily reduce the amount of the School Capacity Reservation Fee. Upon approval of the Final Development Plan, the residential developer will pay 10 percent (10%) of a project's total school impact fee for each year for three years. The temporary reduction of this fee runs through January 31, 2012. Thereafter, the previous rate of one-third applies.

Legislative Update
 
SJR 958 - Revenue & Expenditure Cap - has passed the Senate and now in messages in the House. This proposed constitutional amendment would cap state revenues starting in FY 2014/2015 to revenues received in FY 2013-2014 plus a formula for inflation and population growth. A priority for Senate President Mike Haridopolos, the House is expected to release their version of the bill this week.
  
SJR 658 - Assessment Cap - has passed in one committee in both the House and Senate and has been placed on the agenda in both Houses for another committee stop this week. This proposed constitutional amendment would reduce the annual non-homestead property assessment cap from 10% to 3%. The cost to cities is expected to be $2-$2.3 billion each year. 
  
HB 4087 & SB 672 - Traffic Infraction Devices - Repeals 2010 state legislation governing the use of red light cameras. Each bill passed its first committee, however support of the repeal is waning and it is expected the bill will not pass in the Senate. The state is estimated to received $70 million in revenue from these devices in 2011 and $100 million in revenue in 2012.
  
The approximate annual cost to the city of Apopka for 10 current red light cameras is $600,000. To effectively do the same job with a only one uniformed officer at each approach would cost $2.3 million annually.
  
 

ECONOMIC UPDATE...WHAT'S HAPPENING IN APOPKA 

Signs of an economic recovery are starting to appear in our city:

  • Several businesses have "now hiring" signs in their windows again
  • We are redesigning our web site to make it more user friendly with expanded information and easier access to economic development activities
  • The city of Apopka is working on our "Fast Track Permitting Program" that will make it easier and faster for businesses to obtain all the permits they need to open their business in Apopka
  • Further research and planning is being done on our Jobs Growth Incentive Package
  • The City is partnering with the Apopka Chamber of Commerce to host a Job Training and Employment Conference
  • The City is currently accepting feedback from our local businesses about how to improve our services through our on-line survey
  • The UCF Business Incubator Program has been approved
  • Pizzuti, the Master Developer of our Town Center Project is currently working on conceptual designs and will have an update coming very soon
  • The City has created a new committee that is currently reviewing our sign ordinance and will bring recommendations for changes to the Council within the next couple of months.

 

As further details on all of these exciting initiatives become available, I will send out special announcements so you can stay informed of what's happening in your community! 

YOUR OPINION MATTERS!

QUESTION OF THE MONTH.

On March 2, 2011, the City Council approved entering into a contract with the University of Central Florida to locate an Incubator Program in our city.  This program is designed to help new or start-up companies acquire the professional expertise they need to succeed in areas such as finance, marketing, corporate structure, employee management, etc. 

 

The city's obligation is to provide (either through a lease or purchase) and maintain a building and fund staffing for the facility.

 

UCF will provide the training, staff, expertise, management and evaluation of the program and recruit companies that will be housed in the facility.

 

Companies that become part of the program are required to pay market-rate rent for the office space provided. The training is included at no cost.

 

Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 130 emerging companies (including nearly 80 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. Studies also show that 95% of the companies who graduate from an incubator program stay in the community where they are established.  

 

Do you agree or disagree with the city's decision to approve and fund a UCF Incubator in our city? Why or why not?

 

Email me with your comments


 

ATTENTION  APOPKA BUSINESSES

The city of Apopka is taking a business survey to better understand the challenges you face. Click here to take the survey and be sure to visit our web site Discover Apopka to learn more about our economic development initiative!  

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN APOPKA.

City Council Meeting
4/6/2011- 1:30 pm 
4/20/2011 - 8:00 pm
 
Apopka Art & Foliage Festival 4/30/2011- 10:00 am to 8:00 pm at Kit Land Nelson Park 

 
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