From Staff Reports
Editor's Note: As four members of the Apopka City Commission prepare to take the oath of office on April 28 and then take their seats on the dais for their first meeting on May 6, the city's direction will begin to take shape. The Apopka Voice asked each commissioner, commissioner-elect, and mayor-elect a simple question: What are your top priorities for the coming year? Their responses, presented in this five-part series, offer an early look at how each intends to lead—and what residents can expect as a new chapter begins at City Hall.
In Summary:
Vice Mayor Diane Velazquez outlined her priorities ahead of the April 28 swearing-in, emphasizing the need to address stalled projects and improve transparency in city operations. She pointed to issues such as water meter billing concerns, delays in the downtown center, and the need for updates on projects like Golden Gem Pond. Velazquez also raised concerns about internal communication, calling for more complete and truthful information from city departments moving forward.
*****
As Apopka prepares for new leadership, Vice Mayor Diane Velazquez is zeroing in on a familiar problem: projects that have stalled, questions that haven’t been answered, and a City Hall she says hasn’t always been transparent.
“There is a list of projects still pending and/or stagnated. Where do I start?” Velazquez said.
Related: Still Standing: After 12 years, Diane Velazquez makes her case for another term in Seat #2.
As Apopka prepares for a new City Commission and a new mayor, Velazquez, the most experienced member, framed her priorities less around new initiatives and more around finishing what she believes has been left incomplete.
At the top of that list are issues residents have repeatedly raised, including ongoing concerns with water meter billing and unread meters.
“I’m sure top of the list will be what our residents have been expressing concern [about]—the water meter billing process and the unread water meters,” she said.
Velazquez also pointed to long-discussed projects that she said have failed to move forward, including the city’s downtown center.
“The City Center has been stagnated,” she said, calling for a workshop to bring the full commission up to date and establish “realistic timeframes” to complete projects already approved.
She made similar calls for updates on the restoration of Golden Gem Pond, emphasizing the need for clarity.
“Again, transparency on the cost and timeline,” she said.
Other major projects—including the Wyld Oaks development, the widening of Kelly Park Road, and related agreements—also made her list of priorities, reflecting broader concerns about growth, infrastructure, and execution.
But beyond individual projects, Velázquez raised deeper concerns about how information has flowed within City Hall.
“It has been my experience… the (city staff) personnel have been micromanaged and were held back from providing all the information,” she said.
She added that, at times, she has relied on “social media and the whispers around City Hall” to stay informed during developing issues—something she said should not be necessary for an elected official.
As the city enters budget season, Velazquez said she expects a different approach.
“I’m looking forward to hearing from all the departments providing the whole picture and truthfulness of their department,” she said.
Velazquez, who has served on the commission for more than a decade, has often positioned herself as an advocate for transparency and institutional knowledge, a role she reaffirmed in both her campaign and her priorities for the coming year.
At the same time, she expressed confidence in the city’s incoming leadership, noting her working relationship with Mayor-elect Nick Nesta.
“It’s a new commission board with a new and younger forward-thinking mayor,” she said. “I’m encouraged by it. I have confidence in his ability.”
Velazquez said she also wants to strengthen relationships with the Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce and other longstanding nonprofit organizations, expanding collaboration beyond what she described as limited engagement under previous leadership.
Ultimately, her priorities reflect a focus on execution—moving projects forward, improving communication, and ensuring both the commission and the public have a clearer understanding of how decisions are made.
Key Points:
- Velazquez says several city projects remain “pending and/or stagnated”
- She highlighted water meter billing issues as a top resident concern
- She called for workshops and clearer timelines on projects like the downtown center and Golden Gem Pond
- She raised concerns about internal communication and access to information within City Hall
- She expressed confidence in Mayor-elect Nick Nesta and the incoming commission
