City Council Highlights – October 6, 2025
Last updated on October 06, 2025
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
LGBTQ+ History Month Proclamation
Next week, our community will host the best Pride festival in the entire nation: Come Out With Pride. It’s a great showcase of Orlando’s vibrancy and commitment to inclusion. And it’s fitting that it’s held in October, which is L-G-B-T-Q-plus History Month. Commissioner Sheehan, we want to thank you for your leadership and thank our entire community for being committed to ensuring Orlando is welcoming to all.
Luis Martinez from our Office of Community Affairs will share more about recognizing this month.
GENERAL ITEMS
Michelle McCrimmon Farewell
Commissioners, we want to start our Mayor’s Update by recognizing Michelle McCrimmon. After providing fifteen years of leadership within the Office of Businesses and Financial Services, Michelle’s final day at City Hall is next week.
Michelle started her career with the city in 2010 in the Controller position, before moving to Deputy Chief Financial Officer and then serving as our CFO. Her expertise and guidance have helped ensure that the City of Orlando has been able to continue to provide critical local services that residents and businesses depend on… in a fiscally responsible manner.
Michelle… thank you for your leadership and service to our community. We wish you and your family the best as you start the next chapter in your lives.
Kia 15th Anniversary
It’s hard to believe, but last week marked Kia Center’s fifteenth anniversary. Since opening in 2010, Kia Center has brought our community together for major sporting events, concerts, graduations and family shows... while creating thousands of jobs and driving significant economic impact by attracting visitors to our region. Kia Center is a tremendous source of pride for Orlando and has played a big role in creating a more vibrant city.
We want to thank our Venues staff and all of our partners on providing residents and visitors with countless legendary experiences.
Election Day Approaching
Election Day is just around the corner. On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, voters will head to the polls.
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot to be mailed is October 23, at 5 p.m. Early voting in-person will start on October 27 through November 2 at the Supervisor of Elections Office at 119 West Kaley Street.
To learn more about the election, visit orlando.gov/election.
ITEMS OF NOTE
3A#2 - City of Orlando Poet Laureate – Camara Gaither
Orlando is a community that sees the value of the arts and recognizes that arts and culture make our city a stronger place to live.
This includes literary arts. Which is why the City of Orlando introduced our Poet Laureate position in 2017 to foster appreciation of poetry for residents. Our inaugural Poet Laureate – Susan Lilley – is here today. Susan, please stand so we can recognize you.
Our city’s second Poet Laureate – Shawn Welcome – just finished his four-year tenure. Shawn has been a great ambassador for our community. He’s worked with our Office of Community Affairs to continue the Words and Wonders poetry contest and has shared his love of writing with young residents. Shawn… thank you for serving as our Poet Laureate and for showcasing Orlando’s vibrancy. Please stand so we can thank you.
On today’s agenda, we will vote to approve our new Poet Laureate: Camara Gaither. She is a spoken word poet and mental health therapist. Over the years, she has led a variety of poetry groups, won slam competitions across the state and represented in our community in a national poetry event.
We want to thank the members of our Poet Laureate Search Committee, who spent hours reviewing the nominations. Several committee members are here today. Please stand so we can share our gratitude.
We'd now like to invite Camara to the podium to share one of her poems.
3A#4&5 - Funding Agreement with the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and Homeless Services Network
The City of Orlando remains committed to continuing with regional partners and non-profits to find effective solutions that address the needs of people experiencing homelessness. There are two items on today’s agenda that further our efforts.
We’re providing funding to the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida to provide overnight accommodations to individuals living on the streets. And we’re assisting the Homeless Services Network as it does the important work of coordinating the region’s homeless response system.
3D#2 - Loch Haven Park for Angel of Hope Bronze Statue
Also on today’s agenda is the approval of an Angel of Hope statue in Orlando’s Loch Haven Park.
The Angel of Hope serves as a symbol for parents who have endured the loss of a child. It represents hope and provides a place to reflect, grieve and heal.
This project is being brought forward by two women dedicated to offering comfort and hope to families facing such loss: Cindy McCree Bodine, in honor of her son Matthew and Susan Chapin, in honor of her daughter Blair.
3F#2 & CRA4D - Mariposa Grove Affordable Housing – Emily/Caylah
As an AARP Age-Friendly Community, we envision an Age‐Friendly Orlando in which safe, appropriately designed housing options are available and affordable to older adults, including housing with services to help them age in place and to enjoy their home.
Today, we will consider providing funding for Mariposa Grove, to expand our housing inventory for seniors at low, very low and extremely low-income levels. All 138 apartments will be reserved for residents at or below 70% of area median income.
The development will be located in downtown Orlando near premium transit, amenities, shops, grocery and medical, providing easy access for those that may not have a personal vehicle and supporting active, independent lifestyles for our seniors.
Through our Orlando Unlocked housing initiative, we are modernizing zoning, streamlining approvals and offering real incentives like density bonuses, impact fee waivers and permit rebates and we’re making it easier for developers to deliver the residential units our community needs.