City Commission Regular Meeting - August 26, 2026

The Winter Park City Commission convened on August 26, 2026, at 3:30 PM for a regular meeting lasting over four hours. Key actions included accepting a $500,000 state grant for Mead Garden, approving proclamations for Arbor Day and the Summer Youth Enrichment Program (SYEP), hearing extensive citizen budget comments, approving a code compliance extension for Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts, approving a minor annexation, and holding a lengthy quasi-judicial hearing on a conditional use request for a synagogue and townhome development at 210 East Morse Boulevard.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the August 12 regular meeting and the August 13 work session.
• Approved a piggyback contract with Fausnight Stripe & Line, Inc. for roadway markings, not to exceed $275,000.
• Approved a new 25-year agreement with the City of Orlando Conserv II Water Reclamation Facility for wastewater treatment, not to exceed $700,000 annually.

Public Comments & Testimony

Citizen Budget Comments (Item 7)

• Hattie Bryant: Accused the mayor of using scare tactics regarding Amendment 3 and property taxes. Proposed cutting the $500,000 sustainability department, arguing its functions were handled previously by other departments and its current programs (composting classes, Earth Day) have minimal public interest.
• Newt Kinland: Urged the commission to find spending reductions, stating the city’s expenditures have doubled over the last seven and a half years. He referenced AI-driven budget analysis tools as a resource for identifying efficiencies.
• Margaret Cozanne: Called for disciplined fiscal stewardship and urged the commission to use Amendment 3 as an opportunity to reduce spending on special interests rather than presenting worst-case scenarios to the public.
• Bonnie Jackson: Criticized several specific city expenditures, including the Seven Oaks Park (costing over $5 million), the library and event center (costing over $42 million), and the communications department (costing nearly $1 million). She asked the city to lobby harder for Tourist Development Tax (TDT) funds for infrastructure instead.

Public Comments on Chabad Conditional Use (210 E. Morse Blvd)

• Proponents (Community Members and Congregants): Molly Losey (53-year resident) highlighted that Winter Park has never had a permanent synagogue. Eric Nissan stated Chabad is a small community with low daily attendance (often 5-7 cars for weekday services) and many members walk on Shabbat. Rabbi Shalom Dubov framed the decision as a historic opportunity to create the city’s first permanent Jewish home. Jeff Berger urged the commission to consider the positive, intangible value of inclusivity. Jason Mendelson testified to Chabad’s community support.
• Opponents/Concerned Residents: Ted Edwards, representing adjacent property owner Frank Santos, objected to the rooftop venue as a commercial use incompatible with the existing residential neighborhood. Nikki Seabold argued the 0.6-acre site is too small for the proposed mix (synagogue, 60-child daycare, five townhomes, and a rental rooftop venue). Marge Fadoule presented a petition signed by ~50 residents opposing the daycare due to current severe traffic congestion on Interlachen Avenue. Leif Erickson criticized the traffic study as limited and insufficient. Janet Robison asked the commission to pause on approving new uses until broader parking solutions for the area are addressed. GG Papa echoed concerns about traffic and parking study bias, stressing that opposition was not against the synagogue itself but its proposed density at the specific location.

Discussion Items

• Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts — Extension of Code Compliance Deadline Todd Weaver (Vice Chair, Blue Bamboo Board) requested a 33-day extension on the two-year code compliance deadline, citing delays caused by the untimely death of the venue’s director and late-arriving materials (tiles, stall dividers) for the second and third floors. Commissioner Sheila De Sissio expressed frustration with the late request given the two-year timeline. The commission approved the extension 5-0 with conditions: the city retains termination rights if the new deadline is not met, Blue Bamboo must reimburse city attorney fees, and the higher annual rent of $276,000 starts September 1, 2026.

Public Hearings: Quasi-Judicial Matters

• Request of Summer Time Management, LLC — Annexation of 915 N. Wymore Road Staff presented a request to annex a 0.07-acre parcel related to a billboard swap agreement. The request included establishing commercial future land use and C-3 zoning. No public comment was offered. The commission approved the annexation, comprehensive plan amendment, and rezoning via three separate unanimous roll call votes (5-0).

• Request of GAI Consultants, Inc. — Conditional Use for Chabad of Greater Orlando at 210 E. Morse Boulevard Project Description: The proposal replaces 35 existing El Cortez apartments (R-4 zoning) with five townhomes fronting Morse Boulevard and a three-story synagogue (including an 80-seat worship center, a 60-student daycare, a basement garage, and a rooftop deck) fronting Knowles Avenue. The project required several waivers (setbacks of 6ft vs. 25ft code, impervious surface ratio of 85% vs. 75%) due to the CBD overlay. Staff and the Planning & Zoning Board (5-0) recommended approval with 12 conditions governing noise, parking, traffic monitoring, re-platting, and a development agreement. Key Witness Testimony: Police Chief Bulkerson testified that the proposed drop-off/pick-up model (park and walk vs. car queue) combined with flexible hours would likely have minimal impact, but emphasized the need for adaptability. Charles Ramdett (Public Works) validated the applicant’s traffic study methodology but acknowledged theoretical projections may require real-time adjustments. Commission Deliberation:

  • Commissioner Lindsay moved to table the item, stating he needed to see specific language on the sharing of parking spaces, limitations on concurrent event uses, and daycare phasing before casting a final vote. Mayor De Sissio seconded the motion, expressing major concerns about event parking spillover, underground garage flooding, and the overall density on the small site.
  • Commissioner Russell and Commissioner Ingram argued for approving the first reading to give the applicant a clear path to refine conditions. Commissioner Crusada strongly supported the project, stating he was willing to accept some parking and traffic discomfort as a trade-off for a major step toward community inclusivity and faith representation. Votes: The motion to table failed 2-3 (Lindsay, De Sissio in favor; Ingram, Russell, Crusada opposed). A subsequent motion to approve the first reading with staff conditions passed 3-2 (Ingram, Russell, Crusada in favor; Lindsay, De Sissio opposed). Mayor De Sissio explicitly directed the applicant to reconfigure the three parallel guest parking spaces to be directly accessible by the townhome owners. The item will return for a second public hearing.

Key Outcomes

• Tabled: The Marywood lot split (Item 15A) was tabled until October 14, 2026.
• Rescheduled: The work session on pocket parks was moved from September 10 to October 15, 2026.
• Blue Bamboo: Approved a 33-day code compliance extension.
• Annexation: Approved the annexation and zoning for the billboard property at 915 N. Wymore Road.
• Chabad Conditional Use: Approved on first reading (3-2). Will return for a second reading with refined conditions covering parking space accessibility and concurrent use limitations.
• Proclamations & Grants: Accepted a ceremonial $500,000 state grant check for Mead Garden from Representative Anna Eskamani and Senator Jason Brodeur. Recognized FY26 Summer Youth Enrichment Program participants. Proclaimed August 26, 2026 as Arbor Day in Winter Park.
• Upcoming Legislation: The mobility ordinance and a resolution supporting the use of TDT funds for infrastructure will be placed on the commission’s next agenda.