Kissimmee City Commission Meeting – October 21, 2025

The Kissimmee City Commission met on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:41 PM in the City Hall Commission Chambers at 101 Church Street, Kissimmee, Florida. Mayor Jackie Espinosa presided, with Commissioners Noel Ortiz, Angela Eady, Carlos Alvarez III, and Janette Martinez present. The meeting opened with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance, included no public hearings, and featured proclamations, fire department promotions, public comments, a unanimous consent agenda, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) discussion items, and approval of the nonprofit funding transition plan.

Proclamations and Special Presentations

• The Commission voted 5-0 to add agenda item 3.F, a proclamation for the National Day of Prayer for Domestic Violence Prevention, presented to Nuevo Sendero, proclaiming October 20, 2025.
• A Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation was presented to Tammy Douglas, Director of Help Now. Douglas thanked the city and invited the community to the October 30 domestic violence rally and walk in downtown Kissimmee.
• Florida City Government Week, October 20-26, 2025, was proclaimed and presented to city officials.
• World Polio Day, October 24, 2025, was proclaimed and presented to Kathy Pierson and Rotary Club of Kissimmee West members. Pierson noted that polio remains in Afghanistan and Pakistan, has no cure, and that Rotary has helped reduce polio cases by 99.9% since 1979.
• Fire Chief James Walls administered the Oath of Office to Kris Klemm (Battalion Chief of Training), Taylor Bruno (EMS Lieutenant), and Jamie Steffen (Lieutenant). Walls credited the new fire assessment with enabling a fourth shift and a 42-hour work week, a first in Central Florida.
• AdventHealth Kissimmee CEO Craig Moore was introduced. He discussed community health investments, including a shower/laundry trailer, an October 25 health fair, hospice care in Osceola County, and AdventHealth being named a top-20 U.S. hospital by U.S. News & World Report.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Osceola High School students and SWAT members Karina Esperanza and Lara Moreira requested a tobacco-free parks ordinance. They cited health risks of secondhand smoke, including 1.2 million deaths per year worldwide among non-smokers, 41,000 U.S. deaths per year, and tobacco use causing more than 480,000 U.S. deaths per year. Esperanza also said almost one in eight adults in Osceola County smoke and one in 16 vape. Deputy City Manager Austin Blake acknowledged the request and will investigate and report back.
• Madelin Casiano of St. Cloud raised concerns about the food truck special event at 1985 South John Young Parkway, alleging it operates beyond temporary event limits in violation of the land development code and Florida Statute 509.102. She alleged the approval process was corrupted, staff were pressured, and a commissioner benefited; she asked the commission to identify the commissioner involved. Mayor Espinosa instructed her not to name individual commissioners or staff, and Casiano restated her concerns without names. No immediate action was taken.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved unanimously, 5-0, on a motion by Mayor Espinosa, seconded by Commissioner Martinez. Approved items included:
  • Minutes of the October 7, 2025, commission meeting.
  • Acceptance of $200,000 from the Department of Children and Families for the LP045 Homeless Services Pilot.
  • Authorization to purchase FY2025-26 city vehicles: 33 units at a budgeted cost of $1,946,534, including 13 Police Department vehicles at $800,300.
  • A 10-year interlocal agreement with the School Board of Osceola County for use of the Bob Makinson Aquatic Center.
  • An access and maintenance easement for Osceola Village Homeowners Association for the privacy wall on Tract F-2.
  • FAA and FDOT grant applications for Kissimmee Gateway Airport Taxiway Alpha improvements, with Phase I in 2026 estimated at $13,172,188 and Phase II in 2027 estimated at $16,181,785, and for a new Air Traffic Control Tower estimated at $18 million; anticipated funding is 90% FAA, 8% FDOT, and 2% Airport.
  • Acceptance of $30,000 in advertising funding from Experience Kissimmee for Kissimmee Gateway Airport.
  • Transition to Off Duty Management for law enforcement off-duty detail scheduling and billing, replacing Power Details.
  • Acceptance of therapy dog Bristol Valor from Valor Service Dogs and implementation of a therapy dog program.
  • A 24-month extension of the janitorial services contract with Halo Building Services.

Discussion Items

Downtown Kissimmee CRA Logo Design

• Strategic Communications Manager Josh Daniel presented three in-house logo concepts for the DKCRA, based on prior research, May workshop feedback, a four-hour internal workshop, and photographs of more than 25 downtown buildings. Commissioners discussed preferences for options 1 and 3, requested adding 1883 to option 3, and asked that the library building graphic be adjusted because the library may relocate. The board reached consensus to direct staff to prepare a public survey featuring modified options 1 and 3; no formal vote was taken.

DKCRA Residential Property Improvement Program Policy Updates

• Redevelopment Planner Benjamin Burnett presented a policy change allowing DKCRA grant recipients to receive multiple grants within five years as long as total awards do not exceed the $5,000 maximum. The average grant request has been $2,500 or less, and the program budget is $100,000. Approved 5-0.

Vine Street CRA Residential Property Improvement Program

• The VSCRA approved a new Residential Property Improvement Program with a $50,000 budget, offering 50/50 matching grants up to $5,000 per household over five years for exterior improvements visible from the public realm. The VSCRA has approximately 2,500 households, including nearly 700 single-family homes. Approved 5-0.

Nonprofit Funding Transition Plan (Safe Haven Connect)

• Deputy City Manager Desiree Matthews presented the transition from the city's competitive nonprofit funding process, used since 1999 with more than $10 million awarded, to an outcomes-based model called Safe Haven Connect. The plan extends existing partner agreements, prioritizes measurable housing stability and supportive services, and supports the Haven on Vine initiative. It includes a Community Engagement Unit funded in part by a $200,000 state appropriation and responds to HB 1365 restrictions on unsanctioned public camping. Funding is $300,000 from American Rescue Plan funds plus $100,000 from the General Fund; the state grant expires June 30, 2026. Approved 5-0.

City Official Updates and Commissioner Comments

• City Manager Mike Steigerwald announced Boo on Broadway on Friday, presentation of the city's legislative priorities to the county delegation on Monday, and a Planning and Tourism Workshop on Monday afternoon.
• Commissioner Martinez announced the Business Resource Showcase on November 13 and reported on a Washington, D.C. trip, including a meeting with the Canadian Consulate about Kissimmee Gateway Airport and customs/border opportunities.
• Commissioner Ortiz praised the Kissimmee Police Department for reduced crime and thanked the Fire Department.
• Commissioners Alvarez and Eady discussed concerns about the federal government shutdown and potential impacts on food assistance. Eady relayed that state Representative Jose Alvarez had not been officially notified of a November 1 EBT cutoff.
• Mayor Espinosa recognized awareness months, highlighted sports tourism, and requested that the Monument of States be cleaned; City Manager Steigerwald confirmed it would be scheduled.

Source Discrepancies

• The agenda narrative for item 7.B lists the DCF contract issue date as 10/14/2026, which appears to be a typographical error; the contract must be expended by June 30, 2026, and the Commission approved acceptance on October 21, 2025.
• The item 8.D agenda explanation says partner agreement extensions remain active through November 30, 2026, while the financial summary says September 30, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• The consent agenda was approved 5-0.
• The DKCRA Residential Property Improvement Program policy update was approved 5-0.
• The VSCRA Residential Property Improvement Program was approved 5-0.
• The Nonprofit Funding Transition Plan was approved 5-0.
• No formal vote was taken on the DKCRA logo; staff were directed to conduct a public survey of modified options 1 and 3.
• Public comments on tobacco-free parks and the food truck park were referred for follow-up or received without immediate action.