Winter Garden City Commission dumps recycling services

The Winter Garden City Commission voted unanimously to approve the second reading of an ordinance that discontinues recycling services during its Dec. 12 meeting. 

Andrew Mudd, Trails of Winter Garden Homeowners Association president, expressed his concern for the elimination of the recycling program during the public hearing at the meeting. He said eliminating the program “gives a perception of not moving forward but moving backward.”

“I do appreciate the city’s concern in not pushing the costs along to residents about the increases,” he said. “My main question is, is the city looking at modifying its recycling program, not just eliminating it, mainly for cardboard, bottles, cans?”

The city was spending more than $1 million to recycle materials. Despite an increased population, the city’s volume of recycled materials was decreasing. About 7% of all waste the city collected is recycled goods, but out of everything collected, only 1% actually is being recycled, according to staff. 

Residents still can continue recycling and visit a local facility within the city’s boundaries that will accept cardboard, paper and aluminum, as well as other facilities throughout central Florida. 

Steve Pash, assistant city manager for public services said the city now will focus on a reduce and reuse campaign. 

“We’ve actually met with some environmental groups who are kind of excited to work with us on establishing new goals, helping businesses and working with the public on ways to reduce and reuse,” Pash said. 

CITY CONSIDERS SPEED-DETECTION SYSTEM

The Winter Garden City Commission approved unanimously the first reading of a proposed ordinance that would establish a school zone speed-enforcement program and the use of speed-detection systems. 

The ordinance will go before the commission for a second reading and public hearing at the commission’s Jan. 9, 2025, meeting.

“The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the use of speed-detection systems within the designated school zones to minimize the unacceptable, hazardous speeding that threatens the life, health and safety of students and pedestrians in the city,” Police Chief Steve Graham said. 

The speed-detection systems will be installed in the school zones for West Orange High; SunRidge and Lakeview middle schools; Tildenville, Whispering Oak, SunRidge, Dillard Street and Maxey elementary schools; and Esteem Academy. 

The systems will be active in the 30 minutes before and after school, using photographs and video to capture violations. People caught driving more than 10 mph over the speed limit during that time will be issued a $100 fine. 

A notice of the violation will be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle. Hearings to contest the notices can be held.

The funds collected from the fines will be distributed as follows: 20% to the Florida general fund; 3% to Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission; 12% to the School Board of Orange County for security, safety and school walking route improvements; 5% to the City School Crossing Guard program for training, recruitment and retention; and 60% to the city for public safety. 

RED-LIGHT PROGRAM MOVES TO SECOND READING

The commission approved unanimously the first reading of an ordinance for the proposed new section of the City of Winter Garden Traffic Light Safety Act. 

The new section would establish a red-light enforcement program within the city, which would allow the use of traffic infraction detectors for red-light violations. 

“The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the use of traffic infraction protectors to promote, protect and improve the health, safety and welfare of our citizens by reducing the number of traffic incidents related to the failure of motorists to obey the traffic control devices,” Graham said. “Studies show these intersections that are controlled in this manner reduce crashes by 21% once they’ve been installed.”

The ordinance will go before the commission for a second reading and public hearing at the commission’s Jan. 9, 2025, meeting.

Violators must pay the penalty of $158 to the city, furnish an affidavit or request a hearing within 60 days following the notification to avoid the issuance of a traffic citation.