Mayor Demings' Speech

Good morning and welcome to my first State of the County address.

• To the Orange County Board of County Commissioners.
• To my fellow Orange County Citizens.
• And to every member of the Central Florida Community.

Thank you for the opportunity to come and share an optimistic vision of what can be achieved when we begin building our community together.

The theme for today’s address is We will Build Our Community Together. The three pillars on which we will build are innovation, collaboration, and inclusion. It is with these three central pillars in mind that I ask you to join me in making Orange County the experimental prototype community of tomorrow. Our individual contributions will achieve a collective impact that counties, cities, and communities across our nation will look to as an example of excellence and a beacon of hope.

Our County’s fiscal health is strong evidenced by healthy reserves and outstanding bond ratings.

Our current budget is $4.4 billion and because of our very strong local economy, I have no intention of increasing property taxes now or in the near future. My plan is to continue to be fiscally prudent and transparent in our approach to managing the budget in a way that we can mitigate unanticipated changes in our economy.

Our ultimate goal is to ensure our fiscal health as the economy continues to grow. With this in mind, I am confident that the state of Orange County will remain strong.

Orange County is experiencing tremendous growth and it is projected that our population will grow by a net of nearly 1,000 new residents each week. The Orlando International Airport had more air travelers than any city in the State of Florida with a record breaking number of 48 million in 2018. This means the demand for new housing and commercial projects will grow. In the first half of this fiscal year, we have issued permits for nearly $350 million in new apartment construction exceeding all of Fiscal Year 18 by over $100 million.

As we build our community, it becomes necessary to increase our housing units, build our roadways and expand our businesses. Orange County must improve its permitting processes.

Our goal is to reduce residential permit turnaround times to 14 days or less and for general trade permit action to be handled within 24 hours.

As we build our community together, we want Orange County to be known not only as the premier place to do business, but ground zero for the entrepreneurial spirit and a hub for innovation. We want to be intentional about fostering a culture of top notch customer service in our Orange County Government operations. Meet Pamela Tucker, the Director of Engineering with KGP, and here’s her story.

As we prepare for the 2020 Census, building our community together includes making sure everyone is counted and no one is left behind. During this last decade, there was over $400 billion federal dollars made available on an annual basis and $4 trillion since 2010. We want to be sure we receive our fair share of federal funding.

In an effort to ensure a proper count we have launched a Complete Count Committee. The committee plays an integral role in ensuring a complete and accurate count of the community. Success of the census depends on community involvement. I ask everyone to encourage your friends and loved ones to participate.

I would not be able to do my job without the vision and support of our Orange County Board of Commissioners. They are all passionate and committed to the constituents we serve. I’d like to acknowledge a few of the initiatives they are working on.

In District 1 Commissioner Betsy VanderLey is leading an effort to break ground on a new park in Horizon West. This park will prove to be a model for other parks in the future and will be a county-wide amenity. The planned 220 acre park will be a third of the size of New York’s Central Park when completed.

In District 2, Commissioner Christine Moore successfully secured $1 million in state funding for a new entrance to Wekiva Springs State Park and other traffic improvement projects that will relieve major traffic issues in the area.

In District 3, Commissioner Mayra Uribe is focused on introducing a Summer Literacy Program to Title 1 schools in her district. This program is designed to improve the youth literacy rate.

In District 4, Commissioner Maribel Gomez Cordero has championed the construction of Fire Station 87. Because of her efforts this station will be ready for service in July 2020.

In District 5, Commissioner Emily Bonilla participated in a ground breaking with Advent Health in Waterford Lakes and another in Bithlo where the community has a great need for medical facilities.

In District 6, Commissioner Victoria Siplin is leading the charge on construction of the Orange County Cultural Center. The new center will be a vibrant addition in Pine Hills, featuring a computer lab, offices, a catering kitchen, meeting and event space as well as social and educational services to help meet the needs of the community. 

I am fortunate to serve with a talented team of community leaders. Let’s give our Commissioners a round of applause.

Across the country, communities are struggling with a shortage of affordable and available rental homes for individuals and families, especially low-income households. According to the recently released Affordable Housing Gap Analysis by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the Central Florida area is now the worst in the nation when it comes to securing housing affordability. This puts unbearable pressure upon low-wage households. The report indicates that an Orange County resident would need to work 82 hours a week at minimum wage – currently $8.45 per hour in order to afford a one bedroom home at fair market rate.

Due to the lack of inventory of moderately priced homes, families are often forced to rent. According to the 2016 American Community Survey, over 110,000 Orange County households are spending more than 30 percent of their gross income for housing – this is a cost burden to our families forcing them to cut back on other necessary expenditures like food, healthcare, transportation, child care, and utilities.

In 2018, it was estimated that the median home sales price for the Central Florida area is approximately $290,000. The average family cannot afford this price point.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, “Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.” Never have his words rang so true than in the situation we now find ourselves. Let me say it another way. If our neighbors and fellow citizens hurt, all of us hurt. It is incumbent upon all of us to arrive at a long term solution to overcome the challenges we face.

Make no mistake; housing affordability is a priority of my administration. And because of our inherent strength as a county, I am confident we will turn this immediate challenge into an opportunity. It is at the heart of what building a community together really means.

The neighborhood of Arbor Bend is an example of what can be achieved when we cultivate a culture of collaboration between public private partnerships.

I convened the first Housing for All Task Force comprised of 39 members from across the Central Florida region and from every walk of life. The goal of the Task Force is to provide practical and lasting solutions to the housing crisis that impacts our region. We are grateful for Allan Keen and Terry Prather for taking on the responsibility of co-chairing the Housing For All Task Force.

Would the members of our Task Force here with us today stand and be recognized? Thank you for your service, and Thank you in advance for helping our community climb to the next level. On the same day as our launch of the Housing For All Task Force I participated in a Fair Housing Bus Tour in recognition of Fair Housing Awareness month. I, along with other elected officials and community leaders were encouraged by what is possible in our community as we visited Brixton Landing, a Senior Affordable Housing development.

In the next month, we will break ground on a new 96-unit affordable housing complex in Pine Hills. Emerald Villas Phase II will provide housing to low-income seniors in Orange County.

Together we will change the narrative around housing affordability, and the landscape of housing inventory for our current residents and for future generations.

We look forward to implementing a comprehensive and unified action plan that addresses existing barriers to create and preserve housing that contributes to stable, inclusive and resilient neighborhoods.

Building our community together requires a renewed focus on Public Safety. We continue to make significant strides in pursuit of protecting our citizens and our way of life. Thanks to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for leading proactive efforts to reduce crime. Last year crime in unincorporated Orange County dropped by 7%. This follows a decade downward trend. I look forward to working with Sheriff John Mina to add street cops to patrol our neighborhoods.

Through the Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Area Security Initiative, we are improving the security and safety of our community. We recently received a 3.5 million dollar award which will enable us to allocate more resources for public safety agencies to train, prepare and respond to a major critical incident.

We are grateful to Senator Marco Rubio, Congresswoman Val Demings and the other members of our local congressional delegation for their work in securing the resources needed to keep our community safe and secure.

Our Orange County Fire Rescue Department is recognized as one of the top organizations in the state for its level of training and expertise in emergency response.  In fact, one of our very own, Fire Fighter Jason Wheat, was recognized as Florida’s 2018 Firefighter of the Year for his work in the training rehabilitation initiative for injured firefighters and cancer prevention.

The Orange County Jail is considered one of the largest in the nation and is nationally accredited by the American Correctional Association. The core mission of the jail is care, custody and control. Our inmate programs serve as part of a community solution aimed at crime reduction. Senior Community Corrections Officer Robert Barnett was named as one of three national finalists in the 2019 Catalyst 4 Change Awards Program. Mr. Barnett was nominated for his efforts of the groundbreaking Inmate Construction Program which is offered in partnership with Valencia College and Goodwill Industries. Through this program, we are providing inmates with the skills and training to find employment in the construction field upon their release from jail.  We’ve conducted 12 sessions and graduated over 200 inmates. 

Now I’d like to have Fire Fighter Jason Wheat and Community Corrections Officer Robert Barnett to stand and be recognized.

Like many communities across America, Orange County has experienced an increase in opioid abuse. As we continue to address this epidemic from a multi- jurisdictional collaborative approach, Orange County will be one of the largest counties in Florida to participate in a federally funded over dose mapping strategy.

This mapping system will help us focus our public safety and drug treatment programs toward neighborhoods most in need.

Last year our county’s first responders administered over 1500 doses of the life-saving medication Naloxone.  Every administration of this drug is an opportunity to save a life. Recently, we partnered with Florida Blue’s Project Opioid that brought together regional leaders to find long-term solutions to put an end to the opioid crisis.

We will build a community that empowers our children to prosper. With the addition of $20 million in our current fiscal year budget, Orange County is now providing $87 million for children’s services.

We must also not turn our back on our residents who struggle with homelessness. Equally important are our efforts to provide a community safety net for the most vulnerable among us. I recently had the opportunity to tour the Samaritan Resource Center, a place where homeless individuals in East Orange County can receive case management, mental health and medical services. Through this public-private partnership, the Samaritan Resource Center has seen over 3,000 unduplicated homeless individuals since the Center opened in 2013.

This year, we received $800,000 in federally funded assistance programs. Orange County provides services to individuals who are focused on improving their lives by participating in career counseling, adult basic education, job training, housing, job placement, transportation and more. The goal is to increase individual employability and strengthen families.

Building our community together means we provide a basic standard for the quality of life for all of our citizens.  With that principle in mind I have decided that Now is the Time to ensure every Orange County employee earns a living wage within three years.  It is my commitment that there will not be any full-time employee who works for Orange County Government who will earn below $15.00 an hour by the end of 2021.  The time is right. The time is now for other employers in our community to join me in this effort.

A week ago, I joined Visit Orlando and tourism leaders in announcing that 75 million tourists visited Orange County in 2018. Tourism has a 70 billion dollar impact on our region. This was a good indicator of the overall economic health of Orange County.

With over 2 million square feet of exhibit space, we are an enviable destination for convention and meeting planners the world over. In 2018, the Orange County Convention Center hosted 184 events, including 1.4 million people with a total economic impact of approximately $2.4 billion.

Companies continue to choose Orange County for their conventions, which tell us– The Time is right to Build. Our investment in capital improvement projects will make us even more competitive. With the 2023 expected completion of a 605 million dollar expansion project – the Convention Center’s North/South building will add a Grand Concourse including an 80,000 square foot ballroom and 60,000 square feet of meeting space. Our new multipurpose venue will add an additional 200,000 square feet of space projected to accommodate 20,000 attendees.

Another example of how we will build our community together is our commitment to providing Arts and Cultural funding grants. Funds derived from tourism help to improve the overall quality of life in Orange County. Working together with our commissioners, we approved nearly $42 million of funding for community projects such as: the Holocaust Memorial Education and Resource Center, the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Live Project, the Orlando Science Center Life Project, the Winter Park Canopy Project and the Orange County Regional History Center.

Recently, the History Center received one of the nation’s highest honors, the 2019 National Medal for Museum and Library Sciences.

I believe funding for these types of projects will stimulate, enhance and support the arts and reach a more ethnically diverse spectrum of our community.

A recent ranking from "Wallet Hub" publication named Orlando the Number One city to start a business in the nation. Luminar Technologies is an example of the caliber of companies we continue to attract. Headquartered in Orange County, the company has grown quickly to become a global leader in LiDAR technology used in autonomous vehicles.

They partner with some of the leading companies in mobility including Volvo, Toyota and Volkswagen.

Thanks to the success of Luminar, 300 jobs have been added here in Orange County, led by Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Jason Eichenholz. Luminar is here because of the bright minds and research emerging from the University of Central Florida and its College of Optics and Photonics.

The local impact of innovation initiatives in our community is astounding. With over 150 Modeling Simulation & Training companies in the region, the central Florida Research Park is the 6th largest research park in the country.

Team Orlando reports average yearly salaries of $82,000 and directly employs nearly 2,800 military and civilian personnel. In total there are approximately 10,000 employees related to Modeling, Simulation and Training. They have over $5 billion in contracting authority.

Building our community together will require a laser like focus on connectivity, specifically as it relates to our transportation infrastructure. We are fortunate to be part of a dynamic and vibrant community that is growing. People from all over the world come to our region for an unrivaled vacation experience. Others come to the region to make Central Florida their home. From our new terminal at the airport, the Intermodal Transportation Facility (ITF), to the proposed Virgin Trains USA expansion into Orlando, and the I-4 Ultimate project, our community continues to grow.

While the indicators and fundamentals of our economy are strong, commuters across Central Florida are traveling on congested roads. By the year 2030 we will boast a regional population of 5.2 million. This brings about challenges that we must face.

We all feel the pain of a transportation infrastructure that is over capacity every day. Instinctively we know this is a problem that will only grow more cumbersome.

Our housing and transportation needs are inextricably tied together. The current Housing and Transportation affordability index reports that households in Orlando currently spend 53% of their income on housing and transportation.

According to the League of Women Voters’ most recent transportation report, Central Florida commuters waste an average of 46 hours a year due to traffic congestion.

SunRail does not run as often as needed. LYNX bus routes do not meet the current demand. Half of the bus run every hour with the other half on 30 minute schedules. Lynx has 320 buses yet Pittsburgh which is of similar size has over 700. The total number of buses impacts frequency and connectivity of services. Workers wait in inclement weather to catch a bus and spend hours every day commuting to and from work. This is what Lynx Riders had to say.

Unlike other cities of comparable size, both SunRail and LYNX are devoid of a dedicated funding source for operations. If our goal is to empower every resident and citizen we will need to provide multiple options for transit including more buses, more routes, more trains, and a robust network that supports pedestrians and bicyclists.

The completion of the widening of I-4 is within our reach and we look forward to the planned hi-speed commuter rail by Virgin Trains. New highway construction and rail won’t solve all of our problems. The estimates for our growth over the next decade require us to begin to collaborate on long-term solutions that include public-private partnerships. No generations past or future are more poised than we are to meet the challenges of today.

I am confident that because of our talent we can arrive at a community-wide solution that will work for everyone. We must collaborate across our region on a range of solutions that will alleviate the pressure on our fledgling transportation network.

I am convinced that now is the time for us to seek multi-modal transportation options that will increase frequency of public transit so more people will use it.

Now is the time to invite our community to consider support of a sales tax referendum to prepare for the future today. I look forward to leading efforts to pass a one cent sales tax that will allow us to fully fund a transportation system that can better serve us well into the future.

Over the course of the next few months:

• We will Listen by holding public workshops to gain input from our community stakeholders
• We will Learn the priorities of our citizens and local elected officials.
• And we will build towards a long term solution that works for everyone.

I’ve talked about the State of the County and our challenges and opportunities.

Going forward, we are building an all-star team of 8 thousand dedicated and committed county employees who will play a pivotal role in executing my broad vision for Orange County.

I am confident that our talented employees working together with our citizens can accomplish the tasks before us.

As I close, my commitment as your Mayor is to do everything in my power to move Orange County and Central Florida forward. To this end and for this purpose -- that we might become the experimental prototype community of tomorrow.

• We will build a community that is safe and secure.
• We will build a community that empowers our children to prosper.
• We will build a community that creates housing for all.
• We will build a community with a customer service mindset.
• We will build a community that thrives on innovation.
• We will build a community that welcomes tourists from across the globe.
• We will build a community that is prepared and positioned for future growth.
• We will build a community that efficiently meets our transportation needs.
• Now is the time to move forward and not go back.
• Now is the Time to build a better quality of life not only for us, but for generations to come.

Thank you. God Bless you and these great United States of America.

Mayor Demings Delivers 2019 State of the County to Full House at Orange County Convention Center

On May 16, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings welcomed nearly 1,500 citizens and community leaders to the 2019 State of the County address at the Orange County Convention Center.

“My earnest commitment as your Mayor is to do everything in my power to move Orange County forward” said Mayor Demings at the Linda Chapin Theater in the West Concourse. “Now is the time to move forward, and not go back. Now is the time to build a better quality of life, not only for us, but for generations to come.”

During his remarks, Mayor Demings said he is prioritizing the needs of local residents to build the community together on the three pillars of innovation, collaboration and inclusion.

“As we build our community together, we want Orange County to be known not only as the premier place to do business, but ground zero for the entrepreneurial spirit and a hub for innovation,” said Mayor Demings. “We want to be intentional about fostering a culture of top notch customer service in our Orange County Government operations.”

Highlights of his speech include reducing residential permit turnaround times and general trade permit action; launching a unified strategy to increase the inventory of affordable housing in the community through the Housing for All Task Force; allocating an additional $20 million for children’s services; increasing the living wage for Orange County Government employees to $15 an hour by the end of 2021; earmarking $42 million for arts and cultural projects; and proposing a sales tax referendum to support a fully funded transportation network.

FISCAL HEALTH

Highlighted in the State of the County address was the strength of Orange County’s local economy — a key factor in propelling Orange County’s bright future. The County’s fiscal health is strong evidenced by healthy reserves and outstanding bond ratings. The current budget is $4.4 billion and because of Orange County’s very strong local economy, Mayor Demings said he has no intention of increasing property taxes now or in the near future. His plan is to continue to be fiscally prudent and transparent in the approach used to manage the budget in a way that can mitigate unanticipated changes in the economy. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure Orange County’s fiscal health as the economy continues to grow and that the state of Orange County remains strong.

A GROWING COMMUNITY

Orange County is experiencing tremendous growth. It is projected that the population will grow by a net of nearly 1,000 new residents each week. This means the demand for new housing and commercial projects will grow. In the first half of this fiscal year, Orange County issued permits for nearly $350 million in new apartment construction exceeding all of Fiscal Year 18 by over $100 million. “As we build our community, it becomes necessary to increase our housing units, build our roadways and expand our businesses,” Mayor Demings said during his speech. “Orange County must improve its permitting processes. Our goal is to reduce residential permit turnaround times to 14 days or less and for general trade permit action to be handled within 24 hours.”

Additionally, as Orange County prepares for the 2020 Census, it is important to ensure that everyone is counted and no one is left behind. During this last decade, there was over 400 billion federal dollars made available on an annual basis and $4 trillion since 2010. In an effort to ensure a proper count, the Complete Count Committee was launched. Success of the census depends on community involvement. Residents are encouraged to participate and invite friends and loved ones to participate. Visit www.ocfl.net/2020Census for more information.

HOUSING FOR ALL

Across the country, communities are struggling with a shortage of affordable and available rental homes for individuals and families, especially low-income households. One of Mayor Demings’ first priorities is housing affordability. Mayor Demings’ Housing for All Task Force held its first meeting on April 12 and is led by co-chairs Keewin Real Property Company owner Allan Keen and LIFT Orlando Chief Operating Officer Terry Prather. They lead a 39-member team consisting of leaders from a diverse group of non-profit organizations, major employers, real estate professionals and resident representatives from all six Orange County districts.

“Housing affordability is a priority of my administration, and because of our inherent strength as a County, I am confident we will turn this immediate challenge into an opportunity,” Mayor Demings said. “It is at the heart of what building a community together really means. Together we will change the narrative around housing affordability, and the landscape of housing inventory for our current residents and for future generations.”

PUBLIC SAFETY

Building the community together requires a renewed focus on public safety. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office continues to lead proactive efforts to reduce crime. Last year, crime in unincorporated Orange County declined by 7 percent. This followed a decade’s long downward trend. Through the Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Area Security Initiative, Orange County is improving the security and safety of the community. Recently, the County received a $3.5 million award which allocates more resources for public safety agencies to train, prepare and respond to a major critical incident. Senator Marco Rubio, Congresswoman Val Demings and other members of our local congressional delegation work continuously in securing the resources needed to keep local communities safe and secure.

Like many communities across America, Orange County has experienced an increase in opioid abuse. In order to address this epidemic from a multi-jurisdictional collaborative approach, Orange County will be one of the largest counties in Fla. to participate in a federally funded overdose mapping strategy. This mapping system will help focus the public safety and drug treatment programs toward neighborhoods most in need.

Last year, Orange County’s first responders administered over 1,500 doses of the life-saving medication Naloxone. Every administration of this drug is an opportunity to save a life. Recently, Orange County partnered with Florida Blue’s Project Opioid that brought together regional leaders to find long-term solutions to put an end to the opioid crisis.

QUALITY OF LIFE

To build a community that empowers children to prosper, funding must be put in place for children services. The addition of $20 million in the current fiscal year budget, Orange County is able to provide $87 million for children’s services. Equally as important are efforts to provide a community safety net for the most vulnerable among us. This year, Orange County received $800,000 in federally funded assistance programs to provide services to individuals who are focused on improving their lives by participating in career counseling, adult basic education, job training, housing, job placement, transportation and more. The goal is to increase individual employability and strengthen families.

Mayor Demings also announced that now is the time to ensure every Orange County employee earns a living wage within three years. “It is my commitment that there will be no full-time Orange County Government employee who will earn below $15 an hour by the end of 2021,” Mayor Demings said. “The time is right and the time is now for other employers in our community to join me in this effort.”

Visit Orlando and tourism leaders recently announced that 75 million tourists visited Orange County in 2018. Tourism has a $70 billion impact on our region – a good indicator of the overall economic health of Orange County. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, Orange County is an enviable destination for convention and meeting planners around the world. In 2018, the Orange County Convention Center hosted 184 events, including 1.4 million people with a total economic impact of approximately $2.4 billion. Companies continue to choose Orange County for their conventions, indicating that the time is right to build. The investment in capital improvement projects will make the Convention Center even more competitive. With the 2023 expected completion of a $605 million Capital Improvement Plan, the Convention Center’s North/South buildings will add a Grand Concourse including an 80,000 square foot ballroom and 60,000 square feet of meeting space. The new multi-purpose venue will add an additional 200,000 square feet of space projected to accommodate 20,000 attendees.

Funds derived from tourism help to improve the overall quality of life in Orange County through investments in the arts and other cultural amenities. Working together with commissioners, the Orange County BCC approved nearly $42 million of funding for community projects such as: the Holocaust Memorial Education and Resource Center, the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Live Project, the Orlando Science Center Life Project, the Winter Park Canopy Project and the Orange County Regional History Center.

“I believe funding for these types of projects will stimulate, enhance and support the arts and reach a more ethnically diverse spectrum of our community,” Mayor Demings added.

INNOVATION

A recent ranking from Wallet Hub named Orlando as the No. 1 best large cities to start a business in the nation. Luminar Technologies is an example of the caliber of companies Orange County’s continue to attract. Headquartered in Orange County, Luminar Technologies has grown quickly to become a global leader in LiDAR, used in autonomous vehicles. Over the last few years, Luminar has achieved significant economic growth to Orange County by adding almost 300 jobs in this cutting-edge technology field. Luminar is in Orlando because of the bright minds and research emerging from the University of Central Florida and its College of Optics and Photonics.

The local impact of innovation initiatives in our community is astounding. With over 150 Modeling Simulation & Training (MS&T) companies in the region, the Central Florida Research Park is the sixth largest research park in the country. Team Orlando reports average yearly salaries of $82 thousand and directly employs nearly 2,800 military and civilian personnel. In total there are 10,000 employees related to MS&T with over $5 billion in contracting authority.

TRANSPORTATION

By the year 2030, Orange County will boast a regional population of 5.2 million. This brings about challenges that the community must face. The pain of a transportation infrastructure that is over capacity is felt by residents every day.

“I am convinced that now is the time for us to seek multi-modal transportation options that will increase frequency of public transit so more people will use it,” Mayor Demings said. “Now is the time to collectively arrive at a comprehensive solution that will foster an environment where a transportation network is fully funded. I invite our community to consider support of a sales tax referendum to prepare for the future today. I look forward to leading efforts to pass a one cent sales tax increase that will allow us to fully fund a transportation system that can better serve us well into the future.”

Over the next few months, Orange County will hold public workshops to gain input from community stakeholders, learn the priorities of citizens and local elected officials, and build towards a long term solution that works for everyone.

“Now is the time to move forward and not go back, now is the time to build a better quality of life not only for us but for generations to come,” Mayor Demings concluded.