Kissimmee City Commission Meeting Summary — June 2, 2026

The Kissimmee City Commission convened on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 6:54 PM in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 101 Church Street, Kissimmee, Florida. Mayor Jackie Espinosa presided, with Commissioners Noel Ortiz, Angela Eady, Carlos Alvarez III, and Janette Martinez present. The meeting featured fair housing and homeownership recognitions, four public hearings on land-use and zoning ordinances, public comment on several city issues, approval of the consent agenda, and a failed motion on a sworn ethics complaint against the Mayor.

Proclamations & Special Presentations

• 2026 Fair Housing Drawing Contest — Housing Manager Frances DeJesus presented awards to contest winners. Prize recipients included adults Kaysa Singleton ($150) and Carisma Marie Buffington ($100); children Emerald Moody ($75), Paris Buffington ($50), and Ezequiel Moody ($25); and Tayshawn Russell received the Artfully Creative Award ($75). The contest was run with Aspire-Helping Others Make the Effort (AHOME) and sponsored by the Osceola County Association of Realtors; drawings will be displayed July 13 at Community Resource Day at the Haven on Vine.
• National Homeownership Month Proclamation — City Manager Mike Steigerwald read a proclamation declaring June 2026 National Homeownership Month. Joe Johnson, chair of the Osceola County Association of Realtors Public Policy Committee, accepted on behalf of the realtors. (The agenda listed CEO Twis H. Lizasuain as recipient, but minutes and transcript identify Joe Johnson.)
• Employee of the Month — Ulises Jimenez, a Facilities Trade Worker in Public Works with eight years of service, was recognized as Employee of the Month for June. Steigerwald stressed that the award is peer-selected by a committee representing the city’s 12 departments.

Public Hearings (First and Second Readings)

No members of the public spoke on any of the four public hearing items.

• Ordinance #26-06 — Final Reading, Future Land Use Map Amendment LUPA-25-0002 (adopted as Ordinance #3137): Changed the Future Land Use Map designation on approximately 18.00 acres (Parcel ID 30-25-29-00U0-0080-0000) from Single-Family Low Density Residential (SF-LDR) to Industrial Business (IN). Staff cited a 2019 South Florida Water Management District/ESA inspection finding hydrological stress on Hoagland Blvd. outparcels, leading to removal of 17.94 acres from the Shingle Creek Mitigation Bank and addition of 29.27 acres elsewhere. The Planning Advisory Board had recommended approval 3-2. Motion carried 5-0.
• Ordinance #26-07 — Final Reading, Zoning Map Amendment ZMA-25-0004 (adopted as Ordinance #3138): Rezoned the same 18.00 acres from Agricultural Conservation (AC) to Industrial Business (IB). The Planning Advisory Board had recommended approval 4-1. Motion carried 5-0.
• Ordinance #26-08 — First Reading, Future Land Use Map Amendment LUPA-25-0009: Changed approximately 157.31 acres across three parcels from SF-LDR to Conservation (CONS) to preserve wetlands and natural resources. The DRC recommended approval February 3, 2026, and the Planning Advisory Board recommended approval unanimously on March 18, 2026. Motion carried 5-0. (The agenda and minutes identify the ordinance as #26-08; the transcript refers to it as #26-02.)
• Ordinance #26-15 — First Reading, Hilliard Isle Community Development District (CDD): Approved first reading of an ordinance establishing a CDD containing approximately 451 acres on the east side of Simpson Road, south of Osceola Parkway and north of Buenaventura Boulevard. The CDD will finance infrastructure for the Hilliard Isle Mixed Use PUD approved January 16, 2024, including stormwater, roads, water distribution, sanitary sewer, landscape, and offsite improvements. Mayor Espinosa and Commissioner Martinez disclosed attending a ribbon-cutting site visit; City Attorney Kalanit Oded advised it did not disqualify them. Motion carried 5-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Olga Carinho raised concerns about the Azure Hotel Convention Center project, saying the city has provided approximately $3 million in public funds and requesting greater transparency, a full accounting, and verification that contractual reporting obligations have been met.
• Ray Parsons, an architect, described difficulty with city permitting. He said a conditional-use application cost $16,340, a fire-sprinkler requirement was estimated at $60,000 for a 2,000-square-foot building, and a parking-lot plan review cost $1,400, urging the city to ease the process. City Manager Steigerwald committed to follow up.
• Jordan Rivera asked for more trash cans, lawn care, and repairs at the Central Avenue park, including a broken guardrail and sidewalks.
• Lillian Evans said a court denied the mayor’s motion, called it an important step forward, and urged the community to stay focused on serving residents.
• Jacqueline Trombley alleged that Lillian Evans ran unlicensed room rentals, influenced her as a child to make statements to police, and was involved in financial and medication-related misconduct. Her three minutes expired before she finished; the Mayor asked whether time could be extended, but the City Attorney advised against it.

Consent Agenda

Commissioner Martinez moved and Commissioner Alvarez seconded; the entire consent agenda was approved 5-0.

• Approved the May 19, 2026 City Commission minutes.
• Authorized Temporary Construction Easement (Contract #20260214) and Perpetual Easement (Contract #20260215) with Self-Storage Portfolio XXII DST for Woodside Drainage & Utility Infrastructure Improvements Phase 2.
• Approved a Consultant Services Authorization with WSP USA Inc. for NPDES permit-program services in the amount of $82,485.81.
• Approved the 3-Year HOME Program Consortia Renewal for FY 2027, 2028, and 2029.
• Adopted an Election Administration Policy.
• Approved the second one-year extension of continuing surveying services contracts with DRMP, Johnston’s Surveying, Hanson Walter & Associates, and KPM Franklin Surveying, extending them to May 17, 2027.
• Approved a construction contract with 8-KOI, Inc. for the Chambers Park Phase 2 Project in the amount of $203,351.00.
• Approved the Tohopekaliga Water Authority Developer’s Service Agreement for the Kissimmee Gateway Airport’s new air traffic control tower.
• Accepted $10,332.19 in FDOT Alert Today Florida High Visibility Enforcement grant funding for pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Discussion Items

• 8.A Sworn Complaint Against Mayor Jackie Espinosa: City Manager Steigerwald said the complaint was received by the City Clerk on May 14, 2026, and staff recommended accepting it but withholding prosecution until the ethics ordinance is redrafted, consistent with prior cases. Mayor Espinosa handed the gavel to Vice Mayor Eady. A public commenter was told the matter was confidential and no public comment would be received. Commissioner Ortiz moved to accept the complaint and hold it until the ordinance is amended; Commissioner Alvarez seconded. The motion failed 2-2-1 — Alvarez and Ortiz aye, Eady and Martinez nay, Espinosa abstaining — so no action was taken on the complaint.
• 8.B Planning Advisory Board Vacancy: With Alex Alemi declining reappointment, the Commission considered six applicants. Commissioner Alvarez moved to appoint Martin Levert, a city business owner; Commissioner Ortiz seconded. Motion carried 5-0.
• 8.C Kissimmee Utility Authority Board Appointment: The Commission interviewed three candidates recommended by KUA at 5:00 PM before the meeting. After discussion, the Commission reached consensus to invite Javin Lopez and Jordan White back for second interviews; the formal appointment was postponed to a later meeting.

City Official Reports

• City Manager: Reported that the legislature approved a ballot measure for an increased homestead exemption — $150,000 in the first year, rising to $250,000 in 2028. Staff is analyzing the fiscal impact and will present budget-reduction recommendations the first week of July in advance of the budget workshop. He also announced the city’s Juneteenth Celebration on June 13, 12-4 PM, at Lakefront Park.
• City Attorney: No report.
• City Commission: Commissioner Martinez reported that an ethics complaint filed against her (case 26-127) had been dismissed and would be official June 5. Mayor Espinosa highlighted the award of a $10 million FAA grant for the new Kissimmee Gateway Air Traffic Control Tower — roughly half the project cost — with a goal of starting construction by January. Vice Mayor Eady thanked Congressman Darren Soto for his support in securing the grant.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted Ordinance #3137 (Ordinance #26-06) — LUPA-25-0002 — 5-0.
• Adopted Ordinance #3138 (Ordinance #26-07) — ZMA-25-0004 — 5-0.
• Approved first reading of Ordinance #26-08 — LUPA-25-0009 — 5-0; it will return for final reading.
• Approved first reading of Ordinance #26-15 — Hilliard Isle CDD — 5-0; it will return for final reading.
• Approved consent agenda 5-0.
• Motion to accept and hold the sworn complaint against Mayor Espinosa failed 2-2-1; no action taken.
• Appointed Martin Levert to the Planning Advisory Board 5-0.
• Postponed the KUA Board appointment; Javin Lopez and Jordan White will receive second interviews.
• Adjourned at 6:54 PM.