By Reggie Connell, Managing Editor
It's been over a year since I called on the Apopka City Council to be proactive on five specific issues. Now, 13 months later, I can report that one item is complete, but two more take its place.
It's the proverbial "one step forward and two steps backward" adage.
Let's start with a bit of good news...
Economic Development Director
Although new businesses have yet to come to Apopka directly related to the new department, Michelle Boykin, the new director, is laying a foundation for that to happen. I disagreed with her assessment that restaurants and retail businesses will only come to a community once more employers are in town. Still, I'm also not an economic development expert and respected her plan to build that base first.
I was also pleased to see her display enough confidence to change course, point out the revenue leakage Apopka is experiencing by not pursuing retail and restaurants, and start a plan to go after them.
Boykin was a good hire, and the administration and city council deserve applause for starting an economic development department and bringing her on staff.
Unfortunately, that's where the praise ends.
Apopka City Center
I encourage Boykin to reach out to Taurus Southern Investments, the developers of the Apopka City Center, and ask them when they are planning on, you know, creating a city center.
Now, in year eight of a 10-year plan (contract), Taurus has brought Apopka a grocery store, a hotel, the Highland Manor (which existed decades before), and an affordable housing apartment complex that the City later tried unsuccessfully to stop. There is also a Miller's Ale House.
That's hardly the city center anyone envisioned when Taurus presented its plan in 2016.
At this point, and after an eight-year track record of limited success, it might be best to simply let the clock run out on this failed project, but it would still be a show of pro-action to call Taurus and have them give another presentation on what they will do in their remaining two years... or have them account for their inaction before the whistle blows in 2026. So far, the most current news from the Apopka City Center is that Taurus put Highland Manor and the Hilton Garden Inn up for sale a few months ago.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion can be many things to many people.
It can be the misunderstood theme for an ugly debate. It can be a ceremonial group that puts its name on concerts, festivals, and other events with an ethnic theme - like the Hispanic Heritage Festival, Juneteenth, or Pride Parade. It can be a watchdog and press businesses and governments to hire an equitable number of minority and disabled employees.
However, the most effective use of a DEI Committee is for them to actively foster an inclusive environment where all residents feel valued and respected, which includes identifying and addressing systemic inequities in city policies, services, and opportunities, ensuring diverse representation in decision-making processes and promoting equitable access to resources.
An influential DEI Committee could engage with various community groups, encourage dialogue, and create initiatives that celebrate cultural differences while addressing disparities in housing, employment, and education.
The DEI Committee should frequently speak at City Council meetings, assessing progress and being transparent in building trust and creating meaningful improvements. It should have a small budget and be an asset to Apopka, not an afterthought.
South Apopka Annexation
Some have accused me of beating a dead horse on this issue, but South Apopka is far from a deceased carcass that's not worth the effort.
I'm well aware the workshops were poorly handled and seemed designed to make residents of South Apopka prefer Orange County to being a part of the City. I'm also not sure that a straight-up vote among the Apopka City Council to annex South Apopka would pass.
Of course that's not how annexation works, but floundering support among the Council makes it all the harder to follow up on what was discussed as next steps.
However, one of you was willing to take $10 million out of general fund reserves to annex South Apopka, and also called for a five-year plan to make it happen.
There was also discussion about bringing in a consultant to better educate Apopka and South Apopka on what annexation would look like.
I know you have a lot on your plates, but maybe that's because you keep stacking your plates with issues that you never complete. It's like you're at an all-you-can-eat buffet, stuffing your plates with food... but then never eating it and just walking away.
Like DEI, annexation needs a committee, an outside consultant, and a small budget to do the things this Council promised.
Charter Review
Like so many other initiatives, the Apopka City Charter Review workshops got off to a good start and had significant momentum, good ideas, buy-in from residents, and a plan to move forward.
...right up until it didn't.
Outside of City Attorney Cliff Shepard referencing the charter every couple of meetings, it's as if the City Council abandoned the idea of a charter review.
I'm not sure I need to explain the importance of improving a document that governs the City, much like the Constitution governs the United States, but I will give you two examples in the charter that are incredibly vague:
- The role of a city commissioner is not defined.
- It's not clear who can terminate a city administrator, attorney, or clerk.
I know the idea of switching city elections from March to November, and thus creating higher voter turnout might scare some of you on Council. I know discussing the merits of a Town Manager versus a Strong Mayor form of government might be more than some of you can stomach. Still, many of your residents, voters, and taxpayers invested a lot of time and effort in attending those workshops. It's disrespectful to them to start something so important and then let it die down like an unattended campfire.
Moratorium on Development
In the last few meetings, at least three commissioners have discussed putting together a limited moratorium on development in Apopka. It's an idea that many cities have implemented.
Shepard counseled you on at least two occasions about specifics. He is qualified to write an effective moratorium for Apopka. It seemed as though you were angling for a workshop on the issue. But somehow, like so many other issues, it seems to slip your minds until Shepard reminds you during his City Attorney Report at the end of the meeting.
Used effectively, a reasonable moratorium might allow Apopka an opportunity to take a breath, tap the brakes on unbridled development, enable the City to create a plan to keep the infrastructure on pace with growth before Apopka collapses under its own weight, millage rates, and utility charges increase to the point that the City is no longer affordable for its residents.
If you keep using the "approve development now, ask questions later" plan, you will turn Apopka into something you don't recognize and don't like. Don't become like so many cities that are both unlivable and unsustainable.
The 2024-25 budget was a difficult and sobering challenge that all of you endured, but that is now in your rearview mirrors. It's time to take care of unfinished business and move the City forward. Bring all five issues to a close or get them on a positive track before another five issues take your attention elsewhere.
