After voting to approve Blue Bamboo’s plan to reuse the former library building, Winter Park City Commission at its June 26 meeting will hear the first reading of a proposed lease agreement for the arts and culture nonprofit to renovate and occupy the property.
At the June 12 meeting, Mayor Sheila DeCiccio was among the voices in favor of the Rollins Museum of Art plan to renovate the 460 E. New England Ave. building into its new facility; however, the Blue Bamboo proposal for a live music venue with additional facilities to support local arts organizations won over the remaining commissioners along with 22 members of the community who spoke during public comments.
City staff was instructed to negotiated a 20-year lease, which is split into two periods with the first beginning on the effective date and ending in two years. The second period begins at the two-year mark and extends the length of the lease. The annual rate is listed as $132,000 for the first term and $276,000 starting on the second term with a 2% increase every five years. The lease also requires a $25,000 security deposit, one year prior notice for Blue Bamboo to terminate, and five years notice for the city to terminate. Terms also allow for the addition of a 160-seat performance venue on the first floor, and set building operating hours between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. unless otherwise approved by the city. The subleasing of second and third floor accommodations is permitted, but limited to city-approved nonprofit organizations.
Commissioners will cast the first of two required votes on an ordinance to authorize the lease. Unless the item is tabled, the second vote would happen during their July 10 meeting.
Stormwater items
Commission will also vote on two items related to flood prevention. The first – a penny-per-square-foot increase to the stormwater rate assessment for all properties – stems from cost increases related to wages, inflation, and the cost of basin studies that are identifying areas most in need of flood prevention measures. The current 6-cents-per-square-foot fee is listed in the annual property tax bill and is based on impervious property coverage.
According to city documents, basin studies currently show approximately $6 million in potential lake interconnection projects and $4 million in sediment removal projects. The proposed three-year stormwater assessment increase from 6 to 7 cents will result in approximately $1.3 million in Capital Improvement Project funding for the upcoming 2025 budget year that would cover sediment removal measures for canals and creeks.
The second item relates to FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS): a voluntary incentive program that encourages community flood management in exchange for reduced flood insurance premium rates.
Participation in the program was suggested by residents after Hurricane Ian as a measure to improve flood prevention and address the need for affordable flood insurance. City staff was directed to review current stormwater management programs and compare them with CRS goals, and to measure the cost and potential benefits of participation. Commissioners will review the findings and vote on the measure.
The June 26 meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. The full agenda and virtual access registration are available at cityofwinterpark.org/meetings.