Meet Winter Park City Commission Seat Four candidate Todd Weaver

Why are you running for Winter Park City Commission Seat Four?

Over the past 10 years, I have observed a decline in the willingness of our city government to address the concerns of the citizens. In particular, Mr. Weldon has shown a disdain for those who disagree with him and has ignored citizen preference in his policy decisions both as an advisory board member and as a commissioner.

Over my year-long drive to prepare for Winter Park City Commission Seat Four, I have attended nearly all advisory board meetings, met with staff on dozens of occasions and attended nearly all commission meetings. I have attended 56 group meetings in citizens’ homes and have gained insight regarding citizens’ concerns. I will continue to listen with respect to all citizens and perpetuate policy decisions that benefit the majority of our populace.

What makes you the best candidate?

I am a UCF graduate aerospace and mechanical engineer, a general contractor and a former developer. I own and run two successful Winter Park-based businesses and served on both the Winter Park and Orange County Lakes Advisory Boards over a 10-year period. 

If elected, what is your No. 1 priority?

Citizen advisory board appointees are usually political allies who are appointed by the mayor — rather than the best choices from the impressive talent pool in our city. Winter Park has an enormous reserve of talented individuals willing to serve and advise the city, but most are shut out because they are not “friends of the mayor.” I will work to change this policy. 

Additionally, I will take steps to make city services available to all residents of Winter Park. Many are still on septic tanks, and many are still paying premium rates for electric power from outside providers. These residents are not on the undergrounding plan for the Winter Park Electric Utility. 

The Winter Park Canopy project is taking shape in Martin Luther King Jr. Park. What’s the best way for the city to maintain a balance between the project and preserving the existing park space?

The current plan with the David Adjaye-designed buildings is not appropriate for the space in MLK Park. Although city management is telling the public the project is on budget, the opposite is true. My experience with non-standard architecture is that cost overruns are the norm rather than the exception. The library bond voters were promised a much larger library, a parking structure and a modest-sized event center. The current plan is on track to provide none of these and does not conform to what was promised in the bond advertising. The parking structure has been eliminated — replaced by expansive asphalt surface lots and removal of over 60 trees in the park. The library is barely larger than the existing library, and the event center has swallowed too much of the budget. The bond advertising stated only 1% of additional park space would be consumed. That number is approaching 10%.

How can Winter Park help the traffic situation along major roads within the city?

There is an experienced engineer already on the commission. Many of the traffic initiatives he has proposed over the past few years have been ignored by his fellow commissioners. I will join him to build the relationships with FDOT and surrounding cities necessary to make progress on a regional traffic solution that works best for Winter Park and its sister cities. I will also promote alternative transportation modes to alleviate congestion on our roads. These mobility modes include SunRail, Lynx, bike lanes and paths, electric bikes and scooters and path connectivity to our parks, stations, high density areas and shopping areas.

How much priority would you put on undergrounding power lines over the next three years?

This is a high priority, and progress has been mostly on schedule. The funding of the undergrounding plan is a current challenge, so acceleration is probably not feasible. I will push to include those areas in the city on the undergrounding plan where citizens and businesses are currently not served by the City Electric Utility. 

Winter Park has held the line on the millage rate over the past several years. Should it be raised, lowered or remain the same? Why?

The city’s debt has continued to grow over the last 10 years at an unsustainable rate. The incumbent has recommended an irresponsible decrease in the millage rate all three years he’s been on the commission. In addition, he voted to approve a rebate of $1.2 million to a developer for his infrastructure, which should have been a cost of doing business expense. 

He also is responsible for removing tree fines paid almost entirely by developers. These fines previously funded our ongoing tree-planting program. Although I don’t want to burden homeowners with fines if they must remove a tree, developers must pay.

What can the city do to bring more trail connectivity to Winter Park and make it a more bike-friendly community?

I’m an avid bicyclist, and I know how dangerous our major thoroughfares currently are to bikers. There are a number of opportunities to widen existing sidewalks to accommodate both bicyclists and walkers.

Winter Park is a well-established leader for arts and culture. What more can the city do to support the arts? 

A few years ago, the city of Winter Park committed to give $1 million over 10 years to Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in Orlando. They did this while many Winter Park cultural organizations were starving for funding. … I’d like the city of Winter Park to develop a fair and consistent system to help fund arts and cultural organizations within our own town.