OUR LITTLE WORLD ~ Maitland, Florida

What's it all about, Maitland? Is it just for the moment we live? What's it all about when you sort it out, Maitland?

What is our little world of Maitland all about? If you were at the Monday night City CRA meeting...you learned about the position and beliefs each of our elected officials has concerning down town development.

And you learned that our City Councilmen and Mayor read their emails and form opinions based on them.

And you learned that there is a body of people who oppose any project that doesn't include a 2 acre park or doesn't match with the 1996 density guidelines or is higher than 2 or 3 stories or involves the sale of city property or...or...or...or...or.

And you learned that there is a body of people who very, very much want and understand the need for our city to include a well developed, artistically designed, fully faceted muli-use, high density, revenue generating, vibrant and distinct DownTown district.

And what you may not have learned is that if you say nothing...that is most likely what we all will get.

But if you WANT this type of project...you best write or call or email or send smoke signals or wire or ham radio or Morse code or sign or speak out at a city meeting and make your wishes KNOWN to our city officials...because decisions are being made NOW that will forever determine the future face of our city.

SPEAK OUT NOW....it's so vitally important that you do.

VIEW THE BROSSIER 3D VIDEO:http://video.orlandosentinel.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=1546669&h1=Three-dimensional%20tour%20of%20downtown%20Maitland%3A%20proposed%20by%20The%20Brossier%20Co.%20%28video%20provided%29&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=122900&LaunchPageAdTag=News&fvCatNo=72079&backgroundImageURL=&activePane=info&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-ormaitland2807jun28%2C0%2C1585827.story&rnd=47595601

READ MORE...ORLANDO SENTINEL:http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-ormaitland2807jun28,0,1585827.story

VOICE YOUR OPINION HERE OR AT:http://www.topix.net/forum/source/orlando-sentinel/T18MMCQ32R16E6080

MAITLAND's VICE MAYOR FLOWERS ~ Speaks Out

Our Vice Mayor Jeff Flowers is doing his best to speak out to our community concerning many important details regarding our Maitland Down Town development.

If you did not receive the following email, I strongly urge you write him asking to be placed on his list (see his email address below).

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Dear Maitland voters

The city is on the cusp of setting the course for all of our future. The decisions that are reached in the next few meetings will determine the shape of our new downtown and tax structure for our future as well as the future we hand over to our children. I am writing to you to share the information I have and to get your feedback on this issue that will affect all of us.

Please email me

jflowers@ci.maitland.fl.us your concerns and comments so I can do the job you gave me.

Taxes

The Florida legislature just mandated lower taxes. This means that our city services will need an additional tax base to cover the cost of our current service level. Building a new town center will create the additional commercial business that can generate sales and other taxes that will help offset this lowered tax rate. This will allow the city of Maitland to maintain the superior services we have come to enjoy and expect.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is essentially tax revenue above and beyond the taxes already being paid to the city. Florida Statutes specify that the TIF income derived from new construction may only be spent on specific things such as infrastructure and not end up in the general fund. So, using TIF revenue to repay infrastructure costs in the town center is actually the only option for that money. Whether infrastructure is built in the town center or anywhere in the CRA, the same portion of TIF revenue still may only be used for infrastructure per the inter-local agreement Maitland has with Orange County.

With the Brossier plan to create a Community Development District (CDD) the city will not be required to guarantee the bonds. The CDD will take out the loans. In other words the city does not have to “co-sign” for the loans to build the town center and will not be financially responsible in any way if a CDD is created. This means that city taxes will never be increased to pay for the downtown’s new infrastructure no matter what, since the city is not financially responsible nor involved in the building of the site. Clearly this is something we have to consider going forward.

City Emergency Services Building(s)

The original plan had this building located next to the Presbyterian Church on George Street. The church objected to that placement so that site is not available. The existing plan saves 30% of the cost to construct a larger Fire House than the earlier plan. It has a central location that will improve our response time. The new plan can be expected to start building late 2007. Our Firefighters deserve our community support now. The existing 'facility' is a shame. Prices to build have increased in the 3 years that we have not built. We need a cost savings to be able to use the funds we have available to get the job done.

Downtown

We don't have one now. We need the economic engine that a viable City Center provides to allow us to build out our QNPs and other city improvements that we all want. The new businesses in the City Center will pay other taxes (utility, franchise, communication, sales tax, etc.) these sources represent 68% of all revenues and can be spent on existing and new city services. Today, we have a single developer and a single plan to consider. This plan is to invest $400,000,000 into our City.

We are at a decision point and I wanted to get these facts to you to get your informed opinion.

Jeff Flowers
Vice Mayor
jflowers@ci.maitland.fl.us

* * * TOWN CENTER MEETING * * *

THIS is the meeting you do NOT want to miss.

Period.

According to Bob Reece's email update (you can receive this news worthy emailing...see link below) - this Monday night the Brossier Company's presentation will help you to "see the future of Maitland come to life in a 3-D ride through your new Town Center."

Wow...we are living in an exciting time for our Maitland.

Now...our fine city may keep it's promise to give us a real and vibrant downtown.

How...will this become a reality ? Attend the next City Council Meeting.

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WHAT ~ Joint City Council/Community Redevelopment Agency Meeting (see link below for more information)

WHEN ~ Monday, June 25th, 6:30PM

WHERE ~ Orangewood Presbyterian Church

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*** READ & LEARN MORE INFORMATION...

Sign Up for Town Center Updates:

http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1101666812786;

Read the City Council Agenda:

http://itsmymaitland.com/agenda-jointRAM.aspx?a=viewPost&PostID=3272

Learn about CRA's (Community Revelopment Agengy's):

http://www.redevelopment.net/crafaq.aspx

Learn about TIF's (Tax Increment Financing):

http://www.redevelopment.net/files/Tax%20Increment%20Financing%20in%20Florida.doc

Learn about CDD's (Community Development District's):

2006->Ch0190->Section%20003#0190.003">http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0190/SEC003.HTM&Title=->2006->Ch0190->Section%20003#0190.003

DUMP FINE ~ $ 182,000

Who wudda thunk...
That by making one dump...
We'd be charged up the wazzoo...
For something we didn't mean to do ?


Okay, it's not so funny that our city is being fined $182,000 for a mistake *we the resident's of Maitland* didn't know about or do - but when one city employee, not even an elected official, made the order...it now effects us all. And so instead of laughing it's really a crying shame that an erroneous "dump" did take place and now WE may have to pay.


But not if our Mayor Doug Kinson has anything to do about it. He thinks we're being singled out and since there's been no water contamination...he doesn't understand the fine.


And neither do I.


It's important to know what's going on in our community, our Maitland.


Read and learn more:


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-sewage1407jun14,0,2382481.story

ELECTION DATE ~ When Will X Mark the Spot ?

I've heard a lot of comments made about our election date in March - the marjority stating that it's just not a good time for voter turn out. Because too many family's are on spring vacation or their energies or elsewhere with family matters, our poles don't reflect the true Maitland consensus.

Now our city can save money by piggy backing on the presidential elections should we move our vote date.

What do you think would be best for our Maitland ?

Learn more:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-elections2007jun20,0,1451272.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-orange

IN MEMORY ~ A Former Maitland Resident

Who are your neighbors ? We cannot possibly know everyone but we can learn about ourselves as we learn about others.

Emma Mae Cottrell, 89, one of our former resident's, passed on this past Monday...but not before giving to others in and around her community.

Read and learn more:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bizdead2307jun23,0,4678315.story

HELP YOUR CHILD ~ Know Your City Ordinances

The following was reported in a recent Orlando Sentinel news article:

State law requires (sexual) offenders to live at least 1,000 feet from where children gather.

In Deltona, Maitland, Oviedo, Leesburg and many other cities, offenders can't live within 2,500 feet -- about a half-mile -- of such places, typically schools, parks and day-care centers. Deltona also puts buffers around bus stops.

Read more:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-sexlaw2207jun22,0,4268144.story

JOIN ~ MAITLAND Town Center UPDATE

If you want to receive information about our Maitland Town Center development diretly from Bob Reece's company...then I suggest you sign up for his newsworthy email update at:

http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1101666812786

or email for more information:

info@brossierupdate.com