Each month the Orange County Public Works Department sends out an update on the status of ongoing projects occurring throughout the County. This update provides information on the phase of design and construction, as well as estimated start and completion dates for projects. Road, drainage, stormwater, traffic engineering, and transportation planning projects are all included in the report. Below you will find the November Status Report for Public Works projects in District 4. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me at Jennifer.Thompson@ocfl.net or call (407)836-5881.
Jennifer Thompson
Fall Update
It seems like just yesterday we were preparing the kids for a new school year, and now the holidays are upon us. Before we all become busy with holiday celebrations, I want to take the time to let you know about the recent happenings in our district.
Redistricting Update
The Redistricting Advisory Committee (RAC) narrowed down their choices for two map proposals to be sent to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). The maps will be voted on at the November 15th BCC meeting. These final map proposals are the culmination of months of discussion and input by residents and RAC members. The final proposals can be viewed at www.ocfl.net/rac. Because these maps have an impact on all residents of Orange County, I encourage you to review the final proposals and send your feedback to all members of the BCC.
I want to thank everyone who became involved and actively participated in the redistricting process. The input you gave helped guide the RAC to their final proposals. Whether you came and spoke out at a meeting or submitted a map proposal, your involvement in local government makes a difference.
Lake Jessamine Water Study
I am pleased to announce that the Water Quality Study on Lake Jessamine has been completed and we are moving forward to address the issues affecting the lake. The study was conducted by ERD INC. and gave recommendations to improve the quality and integrity of the lake. Some of the recommendations include restricting boating activities to the lobes outside of the main lobe, establishing a public education program to inform residents on the link between the watershed and water quality, and in-lake alum treatment to reduce the internal recycling of nutrients and lateral seepage nutrient contributions.
The Lake Jessamine Advisory Board will review and discuss the recommendations made by the study and take actions in addressing the needs of the lake. The preservation of our natural resources is vital to the well-being of our community. Taking the right steps now to protect our lakes will ensure a solid future for generations to come.
Pine Castle Woman’s Club
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Commissioner Thompson and Chad Lampman
Upcoming Events
Cultural Affairs Committee Meeting
Wednesday, November 9th
6:30pm
Meadow Woods Magic Recreation Center
1751 Rhode Island Woods Circle, Orlando, Fl
RAC Public Hearing at the Board of County Commissioners Meeting
Tuesday, November 15th
2:00pm
BCC Chambers
201 S. Rosalind Ave, Orlando, FL
District 4 Thanksgiving Dinner
TBA
Taft Community Center
9450 S. Orange Ave, Orlando, FL
Charter Review Commission Public Hearing
Thursday, December 1st
6:30pm
Northlake Park Elementary School
9055 North Lake Parkway, Orlando, FL
I want to thank you again for your continued support. I am truly enjoying my time serving as your County Commissioner and am working hard to make Orange County a great place to call home. Please know that my door is always open and I want to hear from you. If you have any questions or concerns please email me at Jennifer.Thompson@ocfl.net or call (407)836-5881.
Summer Recap
Back to school already? The summer proved to be a busy time for your District 4 office. Here’s a quick recap of a few things we have been working on during the summer months.
Faith Community Outreach Committee
On July 19th I hosted our first Faith-Based Community Outreach Committee meeting and was thrilled to welcome over 40 local churches, faith-based leaders, and community members. The purpose of this committee is to establish an ongoing dialogue and to share best practices on how together we will meet the needs of our community. I plan to make this a quarterly gathering, so if you are interested in getting involved, please contact my office.
District 4- Redistricting Public Hearing
We hosted the Redistricting Public Hearing on August 3rd at the Orange County Cooperative Extension Auditorium in Conway. I’m pleased to report that there were over 100 people in attendance, which is the most of any redistricting meeting to-date! I’d also like to offer a special shout out to the Conway Community Council for addressing their concerns pertaining to redistricting as well as the citizens from Pine Castle, Belle Isle, Lake Nona, East Orlando, Meadow Woods and beyond. The RAC meetings will continue through September with the final proposal being due to the BCC on or before October 1st. A full list of RAC meeting dates including all proposed maps can be found at www.ocfl.net/RAC .
First Annual District 4 Back to School Event
Thank you to everybody for making our First Annual District 4 Back to School event a huge success! Your District 4 office collected donations on behalf of Orange County Government and distributed 1,100 backpacks full of school supplies to families in need throughout our community! Our event welcomed over 3,000 people and proved to be a day of family fun with local businesses, county resources, and entertainment. We truly could not have done it without you! I look forward to working with everyone again next year!
Planning Ahead for Better Recreational Options
In response to the overwhelming interest in the single Parks and Recreation Advisory Board vacancy and the need for additional recreation facilities throughout our district, I have formed the District 4 Parks and Recreational Task Force Committee. This committee will help address the needs, concerns, and possible solutions for our district’s park and recreational needs. We held our first meeting on August 16th at the Renaissance Senior Center. If you would like to join other interested community leaders and recreational advisors, I invite you to get involved by contacting Jason Russo in my office or emailing him at Jason.russo@ocfl.net.
I’ve really enjoyed my first eight months as your County Commissioner and am working hard every day to make Orange County a better place to call home. If you have questions or concerns regarding any of the committees, meetings, or events above, please feel free to contact me at Jennifer.Thompson@OCFL.net or at (407)836-5881. As always, I want to hear what you’re thinking, so please feel free to reach out for anything.
