Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Kissimmee City Commission Meeting Summary – January 6, 2026

City Commission — Tuesday, January 6, 2026

BodyKissimmee, Florida

SessionCity Commission

DateTuesday, January 6, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

Meeting Thumbnail

⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

4:48

Thank you.

4:49

Hello, everyone.

4:50

Happy Three Kings Day.

4:52

Today's a day to celebrate.

4:54

It's a wonderful day to follow tradition.

Unassigned speaker

4:57

So we'll get this meeting started.

Speaker 1

5:00

So we'll call the meeting to order.

Unassigned speaker

5:03

Oh,

Speaker 2

5:04

I'm sorry.

Unassigned speaker

5:06

As

Speaker 1

5:06

a courtesy to others, please silence all electronic devices during this meeting.

Unassigned speaker

5:11

Citizens desiring to speak under hear the audience shall submit a request card from the city clerk prior to this meeting.

Speaker 1

5:17

Forms are available at the door or to my right with Madam Clerk.

5:22

We'll now proceed with a moment of silence and a pledge of allegiance led by Commissioner Alvarez.

Speaker 3

5:45

I

Speaker 4

5:45

pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

5:49

And to the 12th for which it stands one nation under Godus with liberty and justice for all.

Speaker 1

6:00

Thank you, Commissioner.

6:03

Proclamations and special presentations, City Manager, we will do the proclamation now for community risk reduction week.

6:10

Thank you,

Speaker 5

6:10

Madam Mayor.

6:11

Commissioners, if you would join uh Fire Chief Jim Walls and uh Deputy Chief Doneman on the floor of the chambers and battalion chief Eric Chad.

6:33

This is a proclamation.

6:36

Oh, yeah.

6:36

This is a proclamation for community risk reduction week, whereas community risk reduction is a data-driven process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by coordinated efforts to reduce their recurrence, impact, and severity through education, engineering, enforcement, and emergency response, and economic initiatives.

Unassigned speaker

6:55

And

Speaker 5

6:55

whereas community risk reduction week is recognized annually to support and highlight the life-saving efforts of fire departments and other public safety entities and community organizations committed to reducing preventable injuries and deaths.

7:06

And whereas fire prevention efforts include smoke alarm installations, home safety checks, fire extinguisher training, and evacuation planning, significantly reducing the number of residential fire injuries and fatalities.

7:17

And whereas child passenger safety is a vital to protecting our youngest citizens, ensuring proper car seat use and installation through certified inspection programs greatly decreasing the risk of injury or death in motor vehicle crashes.

7:32

And whereas community risk reduction week provides an opportunity to raise awareness, promote collaborative prevention efforts, and engage all community members in building a safer, healthier, and more resilient future.

7:43

Now, therefore, the city commission of the city of Kasimi hereby proclaims the week of January 19th to the 25th, 2026 is Community Risk Reduction Week in the City of Kissimmee.

Unassigned speaker

7:59

So

Speaker 3

7:59

is all honor acceptance

Speaker 6

8:01

proclamation.

8:02

When we went through the accreditation process uh two years ago, one of the things we really were driven home about was community risk reduction, uh reducing the risk in our community.

8:11

So we've been very proactive in making that approach.

8:15

John Rooney, our accreditation manager, pub ed director, has done a great job.

8:19

We've done open houses, we do uh safety car seat checks, infected car seat checks.

8:23

John, we're getting ready to do one in January 21st.

8:27

So in two weeks, we're getting ready to do another one at Station 12.

8:30

Uh our open houses, we do uh seatbelt checks, we do smoke detectors, so we can install smoke detectors batteries.

8:37

So we're here for our community to risk every we're trying to put ourselves out of job.

Unassigned speaker

8:41

Um,

Speaker 6

8:42

and we do that by reducing the risk of the community to you guys.

8:45

So thank you for this.

8:46

And uh if you're not doing it, please follow us on Facebook, X, or Instagram.

8:50

We post a lot of our messages, our safety messages, and our events that are coming up.

8:54

So thank you very much.

8:55

We appreciate it.

Speaker 1

9:41

We'll continue with employee of the month for January, City Manager.

Speaker 5

9:46

Thank you, Madam Mayor, Commissioners.

9:48

Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce to you our employee of the month for January the first of 2026 from the airport, Daniel Brady.

10:26

So

Unassigned speaker

10:27

all

Speaker 5

10:27

this hullabaloo for Daniel, who's only been with us for two years.

10:31

But it's remarkable that we have somebody up here that's only been working here for two years.

10:36

Daniel is an operations coordinator too for the Kissimmee Gateway Airport.

10:40

And for those that are not aware, when you go to an airport, you typically worry about the pilot or the uh service people that they're working on the aircraft to ensure safety.

10:49

But a lot of people don't remember that there's folks on the ground that work for the airport that make sure that uh every aspect of the airfield is safe, that the runway is clear of obstructions, that the perimeter fence is secure so that there's no intrusions within the airport uh property, uh, that uh the traffic uh within the airfield is done in an orderly manner, and uh Daniel exemplifies uh the push for safety and the concern to ensure that the traveling public and our aviators within our community are handled in a safe and efficient manner.

11:22

Um but beyond that, Daniel goes out of his way.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Community Engagement███████████████████████████27%

Public Engagement████████████████████20%

Land Use Planning██████████████14%

Procedural██████████10%

Fire Prevention███████7%

Personnel Matters███████7%

Arts And Culture██████6%

Economic Development████4%

Affordable Housing██2%

Summary of Proceedings

City of Kissimmee City Commission Meeting – January 6, 2026

The City of Kissimmee City Commission convened on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. All commissioners were present (Mayor Jackie Espinosa, Commissioners Noel Ortiz, Angela Eady, Carlos Alvarez III, Janette Martinez). The meeting included proclamations, public hearings, a consent agenda, discussion items, and reports from city officials.

Proclamations and Special Presentations

Community Risk Reduction Week: A proclamation was presented by Fire Chief Jim Walls, designating the week of January 19–25, 2026, as Community Risk Reduction Week. Chief Walls highlighted the fire department's proactive risk reduction efforts, including car seat checks and smoke detector installations.
Employee of the Month for January: Daniel Brady, Operations Coordinator II at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport, was recognized. City Manager Mike Steigerwald noted Mr. Brady was selected by a peer committee from the city's 950 employees. Mr. Brady expressed gratitude, mentioning his prior 25-year career in law enforcement.
Eric Gentry Retirement Watch: Eric Gentry was presented with a retirement watch for over 24 years of service, having risen from EMT to Battalion Chief of EMS and Safety. The City Manager and Fire Chief Walls reflected on his legacy of implementing community and firefighter wellness programs.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda was approved unanimously (5-0) and included the following items:

HOME Program Agreement (7.A): Execution of a $460,000 HOME grant agreement with Simpson Crossings, LTD. for the construction of a 118-unit development, including 5 HOME-assisted units, to be located at Magnolia Creek Circle. The project carries a 20-year affordability period and a completion deadline of March 31, 2029.
Development Review Fees (7.B): Adoption of Resolution #01-2026 updating the fee schedule based on a cost-of-services study.
Freebee Microtransit Service (7.C): Approval of the contract renewal with Freebee from March 2026 to March 2027. The consent agenda listed the cost at $421,768.
Lancaster Ranch Park Grant (7.D): Budget amendment to include a $1,000,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant for the construction of Phase 1B park amenities, including pavilions, playground, and restroom.
Water Quality Testing (7.E): Approval of a one-year extension of agreements with Advanced Environmental Laboratories, Inc. and Eurofins Environment Testing Southeast, LLC for water analysis services.
Mill Run Park Fire Station (7.F): Authorization of a $93,535 Consultant Services Authorization with The Lunz Group for architectural services during the construction phase.
Berlinsky Community House (7.G): Authorization of a $72,850 contract amendment with Baker Barrios Architects, Inc. for updated design documents reflecting current building codes and utility standards.

Public Hearings

Rezoning 201 E. Dakin St. (Ordinance #25-17): The Final Reading approving a Zoning Map Amendment from Mixed-Use Center (T5-M) to Waterfront (T6) on approximately 13.62 acres was adopted (5-0). The property is slated for a hotel and convention center redevelopment.
Sign Code Update (Ordinance #25-21): The Second and Final Reading adopting amendments to Chapters 14-2 and 14-11 of the Land Development Code to ensure content neutrality per Supreme Court rulings (Reed v. Town of Gilbert) and to streamline regulations using imagery and accessible language was adopted (5-0).
Pain Management License (Pharm Aid Pharmacy): A conditional pain management license was approved (5-0) for the pharmacy at 1341 E. Vine St., subject to 17 operational conditions including background checks, security protocols, and reporting requirements.

Public Comments & Testimony

Mayor Espinosa reviewed decorum rules, prohibiting speakers from naming individual commissioners or officials directly.

Linda Evans (Resident): Raised concerns about a lack of transparency and alleged ethical conflicts regarding the Business Boost 2.0 grant program. She stated she had experienced retaliation and intimidation for seeking answers and requested clear public accountability.
Jeremy Fetzer (Resident, 120 Broadway): Expressed strong support for the commission, praising the city's progress and recent community events.
Maria Virginia Garcia (Small Business Owner, 120 Broadway): Expressed pride in the commission's accomplishments in 2025 and optimism for the city's business climate in 2026.
Wanda Roman (Business Owner, 17 Broadway): Expressed gratitude for the Business Boost 2.0 grant program, stating it materially helped her business. She commended the commission and presented the Mayor with a gift.

Discussion Items

City Commission recessed as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board.

DKCRA Logo Design (8.A): Strategic Communications Manager Josh Daniel presented the results of a public survey on two logo concepts. Of 220 survey respondents, 55% favored the brick-textured design (Option #2). The CRA Board unanimously selected Option #2.
Freebee Contract – DKCRA (8.B) and VSCRA (8.C): The CRA Boards formally approved the Freebee contract renewal, formally incorporating the Downtown Kissimmee CRA (providing 60% of funding, $257,799 share) and Vine Street CRA ($128,900 share) as parties to the agreement, addressing their previous inadvertent omission. The CRA discussion items noted a total contract value of $429,665. Both motions carried unanimously.

CRA Board adjourned and reconvened as City Commission.

Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Appointment (8.D): Commissioner Martinez moved to appoint Traci Blue (Non-Profit Affordable Housing Provider) to fill the vacancy left by Wendy Ford. The motion passed 4-1, with Commissioner Ortiz dissenting.

Reports from City Officials

City Manager Mike Steigerwald: Reminded the community of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Festival on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Lakefront Park. He provided an update on a pending ordinance requiring background disclosure for candidates, scheduled for commission hearings in February. If approved, the charter amendment will appear on the August 2026 ballot.
City Attorney Olga Sanchez de Fuentes: Reported that the City Attorney's office handled 805 legal matter requests from city departments in 2025, with the Police Department being the highest volume user, followed by Development Services and Public Works/Engineering. She noted that all three attorneys in the office are board certified in city and local government law, a distinction held by only 301 lawyers in Florida, and that she serves as treasurer of the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association.
City Commission: Commissioners discussed the consistent application of meeting decorum rules. Commissioner Ortiz commended the Kissimmee Police Department and Chief Broadway for a reduction in crime. Mayor Espinosa stated the commission stands in solidarity with all law-abiding residents.

Key Outcomes

Public Hearings Passed:
- Ordinance 25-17 (Rezoning) adopted on final reading (5-0).
- Ordinance 25-21 (Sign Code) adopted on final reading (5-0).
- Pharm Aid Pharmacy Pain Management License approved with conditions (5-0).
Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (5-0), including the HOME agreement, fee resolution, Freebee renewal, LWCF grant, and professional service contracts.
CRA Board Actions:
- DKCRA Logo Option #2 approved (5-0).
- Freebee contract renewals approved by DKCRA and VSCRA Boards (5-0 each).
Appointment: Traci Blue appointed to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (4-1).
Upcoming Actions:
- City Manager to present candidate background disclosure ordinance in February 2026 for a potential charter amendment vote on the August 2026 ballot.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day Festival scheduled for January 17, 2026, at Lakefront Park.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you. Hello, everyone. Happy Three Kings Day. Today's a day to celebrate. It's a wonderful day to follow tradition. So we'll get this meeting started. So we'll call the meeting to order. Oh, I'm sorry. As a courtesy to others, please silence all electronic devices during this meeting. Citizens desiring to speak under hear the audience shall submit a request card from the city clerk prior to this meeting. Forms are available at the door or to my right with Madam Clerk. We'll now proceed with a moment of silence and a pledge of allegiance led by Commissioner Alvarez. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the 12th for which it stands one nation under Godus with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Commissioner. Proclamations and special presentations, City Manager, we will do the proclamation now for community risk reduction week. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Commissioners, if you would join uh Fire Chief Jim Walls and uh Deputy Chief Doneman on the floor of the chambers and battalion chief Eric Chad. This is a proclamation. Oh, yeah. This is a proclamation for community risk reduction week, whereas community risk reduction is a data-driven process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by coordinated efforts to reduce their recurrence, impact, and severity through education, engineering, enforcement, and emergency response, and economic initiatives. And whereas community risk reduction week is recognized annually to support and highlight the life-saving efforts of fire departments and other public safety entities and community organizations committed to reducing preventable injuries and deaths. And whereas fire prevention efforts include smoke alarm installations, home safety checks, fire extinguisher training, and evacuation planning, significantly reducing the number of residential fire injuries and fatalities. And whereas child passenger safety is a vital to protecting our youngest citizens, ensuring proper car seat use and installation through certified inspection programs greatly decreasing the risk of injury or death in motor vehicle crashes. And whereas community risk reduction week provides an opportunity to raise awareness, promote collaborative prevention efforts, and engage all community members in building a safer, healthier, and more resilient future. Now, therefore, the city commission of the city of Kasimi hereby proclaims the week of January 19th to the 25th, 2026 is Community Risk Reduction Week in the City of Kissimmee. So is all honor acceptance proclamation. When we went through the accreditation process uh two years ago, one of the things we really were driven home about was community risk reduction, uh reducing the risk in our community. So we've been very proactive in making that approach. John Rooney, our accreditation manager, pub ed director, has done a great job. We've done open houses, we do uh safety car seat checks, infected car seat checks. John, we're getting ready to do one in January 21st. So in two weeks, we're getting ready to do another one at Station 12. Uh our open houses, we do uh seatbelt checks, we do smoke detectors, so we can install smoke detectors batteries. So we're here for our community to risk every we're trying to put ourselves out of job. Um, and we do that by reducing the risk of the community to you guys. So thank you for this. And uh if you're not doing it, please follow us on Facebook, X, or Instagram. We post a lot of our messages, our safety messages, and our events that are coming up. So thank you very much. We appreciate it. We'll continue with employee of the month for January, City Manager.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com