The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce continues to track progress on three important topics: Economic Recovery, Single Member Districts and the Orange Avenue Overlay. Here’s the latest news from Wednesday’s City Commission meeting:

• The Commission approved the Task Force’s request for weekend street closures held once per month, November through April, to help stimulate business activity. They empowered the Task Force and City Staff to determine the streets included in the road closures.
• City staff will consider a variety of new bollard systems to recommend at the next Commission meeting, Nov. 11. The Task Force proposed investing in a more cost-effective, efficient and attractive system to replace the wooden barricades currently used for special event road closures.
• For consideration at the next Commission meeting, City Staff will draft a resolution creating a temporary entertainment district inside the boundaries of the CRA district. The Task Force will gather public health data for Commission consideration from cities currently offering entertainment districts. The Task Force proposed a detailed 3-month Festival & Entertainment District pilot program.

• On its first reading, the Commission unanimously approved a single-use plastics policy resolution for municipal facilities with an amendment to create a 1-year trial period.
• The Commission discussed adding a charter ballot question allowing Commission supermajority votes in certain circumstances, but there was no support for further consideration. 
• Both sign ordinances were approved at their first readings. They will revise regulations on permanent commercial signage and temporary signage, such as campaign, free expression and real estate signs.
• City Staff will research Winter Park’s affordable housing needs to present at the next Commission meeting. 
• City Staff will gather from each department head a list of infrastructure needs to discuss at the next meeting.