In the Cloud, St. Cloud's Quarterly Newsletter

In the Cloud Quarterly Newsletter for the Residents of St. Cloud

Quarter 1, 2022

RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH NEW PROJECTS CITY HALL ATRIUM – City Hall will be getting a new 10,000-square-foot atrium this year. The three-story addition will be built on the front of City Hall in the current courtyard. The first floor will be a secure central entry point to both Building A and Building B. The 2nd and 3rd floors will house offices, conference rooms and related spaces. Construction started in January and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PHASE II – Scheduled to begin work in February, this project involves the reconstruction of Pennsylvania Avenue from 13th Street (US 192) to 9th Street, and 10th Street from Massachusetts Avenue to Florida Avenue. Improvements include: • Reconstruction of the roadway to provide 10-foot-wide travel lanes; removal and re-installation of historic bricks and brick pavers; reconstruction and widening of existing concrete sidewalks; curb and gutter reconstruction; on-street parking; utility relocation; removal and installation of street lighting, signing and pavement markings; and, landscaping and irrigation.

• Drainage improvements include reconstructing curb inlets, reconstructing piping and adjusting existing DBI’s.

• Utility improvements will include replacing all existing water pipes with new 8-inch water pipes.

FRIARS COVE/CANOE CREEK TRAFFIC SIGNAL – Fire Station #33 on Friars Cove Lane will be getting a new emergency traffic signal at Canoe Creek Road to help safely reduce the response time to emergencies. This signal will be able to preempt traffic on Canoe Creek, allowing emergency vehicles to exit Friars Cover Lane more quickly on emergency calls. As part of this project, a pedestrian crosswalk will be added to the intersection. Construction of these improvements is expected to begin this Summer.

ILLINOIS AVENUE PIPE LINING – The metal stormwater pipe on Illinois Avenue has developed rust from the acidic groundwater in the area and has become eroded in some areas. This has compromised the pipe’s ability to carry stormwater efficiently through the system. As a result, the city will be installing a liner in the pipe from US 192 to Lakeshore Boulevard. The liner, which has a life span of between 50 and 75 years, will allow the pipe to function as designed. By lining the pipe rather than replacing it, the city is able to restore functionality while minimizing disruption to the residents who live along the corridor. Installation of the pipe liner is expected to begin this Summer.

1300 9th Street, St. Cloud, Florida 34769 | 407-957-7300 | s StCloudFL.gov @CityofStCloudFL

Tell Us What You Think About the Transportation Proposals for 10th Street

City Hall: 407-957-7300

Video and survey now available The 10th Street Study examines the possibilities for making the street safer and healthier, while benefiting the local economy and bringing the community together.

A video is now available showing proposals for different stretches of 10th Street, from the Medical Arts area to the Historic Core and Downtown pieces, then through a suburban transition toward Narcoossee Road. It also shows how intersections might be improved. View the 5-minute video on the study page here: MetroPlanOrlando.org/10thStreetStudy After you watch the video, we want your feedback on these ideas. By answering the 10-question survey, you can help shape 10th Street for the whole community. The survey will be available through February 2022 at this link: bit.ly/10thStreetSurvey2

City Manager/City Council: 407-957-7301 Building: 407-957-7224 City Clerk: 407-957-7320 Code Enforcement: 407-957-7238 Jobline: 407-957-7272 Parks & Recreation: 407-957-7243 PIO/Communications: 407-957-7303 Planning /Zoning: 407-957-8427 Public Works: 407-957-7344 Purchasing: 407-957-7212 Solid Waste: 407-957-7289 Utilities: 407-957-7344

City Council

Contact Information City Council: 407-957-7301

If you would like to speak with the study team in person, come see us at the Downtown St. Cloud Monthly Market on January 26, 2022, from 5-9 p.m. Contact the project manager for more information: Alex Trauger, MetroPlan Orlando, (407) 481-5672 Ext. 313, atrauger@metroplanorlando.org. The 10th Street Study is a partnership of MetroPlan Orlando, the City of St. Cloud and Osceola County.

Mayor Nathan Blackwell, Seat 1 407-957-8401 | nathan.blackwell@stcloud.org Deputy Mayor Linette Matheny, Seat 2 407-957-8402 | linette.matheny@stcloud.org Council Member Kolby Urban, Seat 3 407-957-8403 | Kolby.Urban@stcloud.org Council Member Dave Askew, Seat 4 407-957-8404 | dave.askew@stcloud.org Council Member Keith Trace, Seat 5 407-957-8405 | keith.trace@stcloud.org

13001300 9th Street, St. St. Cloud, Florida StCloudFL.gov 9th Street, Cloud, Florida 34769 34769 ||407-957-7300 407-957-7300 || stcloud.com @CityofStCloudFL @CityofStCloudFL

Quarter 1, 2022

New St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke, Patrol Division Commander for the Orlando Police Department, has been hired as the new St. Cloud police chief.

Goerke replaces Chief Peter Gauntlett, who is retiring at the end of the year after serving as the city’s public safety director and police chief for the past 11 years.

“Chief Gauntlett served our community well in his 11 years here,” City Manager Bill Sturgeon said. “After a law enforcement career that spanned more than 40 years, he has certainly earned his retirement, and we wish him well.”

New Light at Nolte Road and Budinger Avenue In 2021, the City installed a traffic signal at Nolte Road and Budinger Avenue. The intersection had been the subject of numerous requests for a signal as increased traffic in the area caused delays for drivers trying to turn at the intersection. We are pleased to be able to get this project completed to help ease traffic issues. Nolte Road is a major east-west corridor that many motorists use as an alternative to US 192.

Goerke has been with OPD for 20 years, starting as an officer and working his way through the ranks. Before recently being assigned as Patrol Division commander, Goerke served for a year as the Director of Airport Police Services for OPD. He also was a deputy chief of police for a year.

“Chief Goerke has the experience, the training, the formal education, and the vision to guide our police department into strategic growth as the city grows,” Sturgeon said. “He will be able to help make sure that our officers are well-trained and well-equipped to ensure the safety of our citizens, and that they are treated with the utmost professionalism and respect.”

Goerke holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Liberty University and a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and holds numerous certifications in specialized law enforcement training. Chief Goerke will start his new role in January.

New St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke, left, is congratulated by retiring Police Chief Pete Gauntlett

Soccer Field Concession Stand Gets an Update The City recently completed renovations to the concession stand at the soccer field at Stephanie Leigh Rothstein Memorial Park, located at 2701 Missouri Ave. The building houses public restrooms, storage and the concession stand for the Soccer Club of St. Cloud. The City has a user agreement with the soccer club wherein the soccer club provides the soccer program and the City takes care of the turf and irrigation maintenance, building maintenance, custodial services and general maintenance of the facility. The new, color-coordinated metal roof replaces a failing shingle roof. We know the improvements to the building will be a benefit to the hundreds of players and spectators who use the facility each year.

Seaplane Base Update The effort to develop a seaplane base for the City of St. Cloud is well underway. At the end of 2021, the City submitted a feasibility study to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Aviation Office.

This is a required step to establish a new public airport in the state. Since seaplanes use water as a runway and taxiways, there is a greatly reduced cost of airport infrastructure than a conventional airport.

Aviation Office to repair, replace or add infrastructure in the future. At the same time, we will be working with our consulting aviation engineering and planning firm, AVCON, Inc. of Orlando, to design the seaplane docks and fueling system and put that work out for bid. Ongoing throughout this process, we will be meeting with seaplane owners and operators to ensure the facilities we construct will meet the needs of those stakeholders. Of which, more than a dozen have reached out to us. Additionally, the FAA master plan process will include at least one public hearing, and often there is a presentation made to the public several weeks before the public hearing.

Our goal is to integrate the seaplane shore facilities into the ongoing Lakefront Park master planning process to be compatible with all of the uses at the Lakefront. We hope that within a year or less, residents will see some tangible action happening at the lakefront associated with the seaplane base.

Once the study is accepted, we will begin a master plan process.

State law allows seaplane operations on any body of water in Florida that is not otherwise protected or prohibited from that use. This fact allowed the City to previously establish the seaplane lane (runway) on East Lake Toho and receive a mandatory airport license from the State. This ensures that both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control function and other area airports must factor in the existence and airspace needs of our seaplane base in all of their future planning. The base is officially designated as 3FL and is currently depicted on all aeronautical charts and documents. Some seaplane pilots use the lane now for “touch and go” practice landing, and since the lane is a mile from shore, many people are not aware this has been occurring for a year or more.

Unlike other types of master plans, the seaplane base master plan process is an FAA format process, exactly the same as periodically conducted at Orlando International, Kissimmee, or any other public airport.

Receiving state approval of an airport master plan will allow the City to request grant funds from FDOT

Kolby Urban was sworn in on Thursday, Nov. 18, for City Council Seat #3, to fill the unexpired term of Chuck Cooper, who passed away earlier this year. Urban was elected on Nov. 9 in a special general election. A lifelong St. Cloud resident and Harmony High School graduate, Urban holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Central Florida. He is a contractor with Distinctive Homes, Inc. He and his wife have one daughter, who was born in May.