Victoria For Winter Springs Archives - Victoria for Winter Springs

Florida’s New PFAS Sampling Requirement Under HB 1019

House Bill 1019, signed into law June 16, 2026 as Chapter 2026-158, Laws of Florida, created a new quarterly sampling requirement for certain public wastewater facilities. The law, known as the Joe Casello Act, targets perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across two areas: a phased ban on aqueous film-forming foam used in firefighting, and the wastewater sampling requirement below.

Under the amendment to Section 403.086, Florida Statutes, public entities disposing of domestic wastewater biosolids and treated effluent with a designed average daily flow of 25,000 gallons per day or more must, effective July 1, 2026:

Sample biosolids and treated effluent at least once per quarter for PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS
Submit results to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on the facility’s discharge monitoring reports
Follow DEP-SOP-001/01 and EPA Method 1633A, or an approved equivalent, per the department’s updated sampling procedures

First quarter results are due by October 28, 2026. DEP will issue a minor permit revision adding these parameters directly to affected facilities’ monitoring reports, so no separate application is needed.

For now, the results are informational only. Until the EPA sets PFAS water quality standards and DEP adopts them, findings cannot support an enforcement action.

Facility-specific questions go to the appropriate DEP District wastewater regulatory permitting office. DEP has also published background on its broader PFAS efforts.

The same bill phases out aqueous film-forming foam on a longer timeline. Nonemergency use ended in 2026, sales and distribution are prohibited starting July 1, 2027, and possession and use is banned outright by July 1, 2029, with limited exceptions for airports, military use, and true emergencies.

Water quality compliance is one of the areas we help clients navigate across Florida, and PFAS monitoring is a clear example of how that landscape keeps shifting. Utilities meeting the 25,000 gpd threshold should confirm their sampling program is in place well ahead of the October deadline, since DEP is applying this requirement through permit revisions rather than a separate approval process.

Winter Springs 2026 Legislative Session Recap

The 2026 Florida Legislative Session has wrapped up, and I want to share a recap of what happened and how it affects Winter Springs. I want to thank our city lobbyist, Andrew Kalel of Sunrise Consulting Group, for briefing the Commission on this session and for the information behind this recap. The session was originally scheduled to run from January through the first week of March, but it extended well beyond that timeline, requiring three special sessions on redistricting, the state budget, and property taxes. In total, 1,926 bills were filed and 237 passed, a 12.3 percent pass rate, down from 13.5 percent last year.

The State Budget

The Governor proposed the Floridians First Budget, and the House and Senate each proposed different spending levels before reaching a final agreement during Special Session E. The final budget settled at $114.4 billion, below both the Governor’s and the Senate’s initial proposals.

Funding Sought for Winter Springs

Our legislative delegation worked to secure funding for two important local priorities this session. Representative Smith pursued $500,000 for the Sheoah Asbestos Cement Water Main Replacement, and Representative Plakon pursued $300,000 for the Water Treatment Plants SCADA Upgrade. Both were ultimately vetoed. We will continue pursuing this funding in future sessions.

Property Taxes and Special Session F

During Special Session F, the Governor released a ballot referendum proposal offering a phased approach to homestead exemption increases rather than full elimination of property taxes. The proposal creates a new $150,000 homestead exemption in 2027, increasing to $250,000 in 2028, and indexed for inflation beginning in 2029. It requires 60 percent voter approval to take effect, and school taxes are not exempt from the proposal.

Senate Bill 4F, passed during this special session, also establishes higher approval thresholds for local governments seeking to exceed the rolled back millage rate. Rates up to 110 percent of the rolled back rate now require a two thirds vote of the governing body, and rates above that threshold require a unanimous vote, a three fourths vote for larger boards, or voter approval through referendum.

HB 4083, the Winter Springs Local Bill

This bill would require a municipal charter referendum in November, decrease overall elected commission membership from six to five, and make the Mayor a voting member of the commission. It was heard in its first House committee but was not heard in any subsequent committees this session.

Setting the Record Straight on Accessory Dwelling Units

I have heard from residents about a bill that would have required Winter Springs to allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, in all single family residential areas. I want to clarify where that stands. SB 48 passed the Senate but did not pass the full Legislature, it died in messages. This language did not make it into the Live Local Act, the development bill, or the building permits bill. Some inaccurate reporting suggested otherwise, similar to confusion that occurred in another Florida county, but as of now, Winter Springs is not required to adopt an ADU ordinance under this bill.

Other Bills Affecting Local Government

Several other bills passed this session with implications for how local governments operate. HB 1329 mandates an annual 10 percent budget reduction exercise and requires local governments to publicly post employee salaries. HB 1389 extends an existing opt-out exemption tied to the Shimberg study from one year of historical data to three. HB 803 makes several changes to building permits and inspections, including prohibiting inspection fees based on total project cost and removing permit requirements for most single family work valued under $7,500.

I will continue to monitor how these changes affect Winter Springs as implementation moves forward, and I will share updates as they become available.

Thank you again to Andrew Kalel and Sunrise Consulting Group for their work representing Winter Springs in Tallahassee this session.

Answering Resident Questions Ahead of the Election

A Winter Springs resident recently reached out with a detailed set of questions ahead of the election. This is exactly the kind of research residents should be doing before an election, and I want to answer them directly.

1. Beyond the projects already approved, what will you do to improve water quality and reliability?

Beyond the projects already underway, such as ION Exchange Replacement, new aerators in drinking water plants, new wastewater plants, lift station replacement, and purchase of generators, my focus is on preventive maintenance and replacing aging pipes and lift stations on a planned schedule rather than waiting for failures. I will keep working to protect our drinking water at the source through conservation and responsible growth, and to keep our wastewater capacity ahead of demand so the system is not strained by new development.

2. How will you ensure the new east water treatment facility is completed on time, within budget, and with public oversight?

The contract is under CMAR, which is Construction Manager At Risk, therefore, we are guaranteed a maximum cost of $65.8 million with Wharton Smith.

3. What measurable standards would you publish so residents can judge whether water quality is improving?

I support publishing the information residents need to judge for themselves, in one place that is easy to find. That includes water testing frequency and results, regulatory compliance status, complaint and response-time data, maintenance milestones, and outage history. Much of this data already exists for compliance purposes. My goal is to make it transparent and usable, not buried. https://www.winterspringsfl.org/475/Annual-Drinking-Water-Reports

4. How will you provide prompt notice to residents during a water quality concern or service disruption?

When there is a boil-water advisory, a regulatory violation, a service disruption, or a major project delay, residents should hear about it quickly, and not from a third party. I continue to push for notice through several channels at once, including text, email, the city website, and traditional notice for neighbors who are not online, so no one is left uninformed.

Online Alert Center: Residents can check the Alert Center for active notices and advisories.

Alert Winter Springs: This system uses Everbridge to send mass notifications via voice and text messages. Residents can sign up through the Everbridge portal to receive these alerts.

5. What is your plan to prevent residents from absorbing infrastructure costs through rate increases?

The property tax is set by the millage rate, and I have recently been pushing to roll it back to equal the amount paid last year.

Water and sewer rates are separate. They fund the utility system itself and are tied to actual infrastructure needs. My commitment is that any rate change comes with a clear public explanation of exactly what it pays for, that we pursue grants and low-interest state financing to reduce the burden on ratepayers, and that fees are never used as a hidden substitute for general revenue. Up until last year the Stormwater account was operating in the red and borrowing from the Winter Springs General Fund. We have to have enough money in the separate accounts.

6. Would you support an independent review or public audit of utility operations?

Yes. That is a great idea. Depending on the cost, I would support more independent reviews and regular public audit of utility operations, maintenance, capital spending, compliance, and water quality results. Transparency has been one of my priorities on the commission, and residents deserve verification, not just assurances. Independent review also tends to catch small problems before they become expensive ones.

The City of Winter Springs does currently conduct independent reviews and audits of its utility operations. According to the Master OM&M Agreement, the city retains an independent engineering firm to perform periodic inspections and performance audits. These audits verify water quality testing, equipment performance, and compliance with permits.

Additionally, a comprehensive sufficiency review of water, sewer, and reclaimed water user rates was conducted with the help of a consultant, as authorized in a City Commission agenda from January 24, 2022.

7. How would you prioritize repairs to aging pipes, lift stations, hydrants, and wastewater facilities?

Aging pipes, lift stations, hydrants, and wastewater facilities should come first. I favor a priority schedule, such as a worst-first, data-driven replacement approach, funded before discretionary projects. Growth should not be approved faster than our infrastructure can support it, and I apply that test to every development that comes before us.

8. What accountability should apply if the city fails to meet its milestones or commitments?

Great question. Accountability should be built in from the start, through public milestone reporting, contract terms that hold contractors to their commitments, and a commission willing to press staff and vendors in open session when timelines or standards slip. Elected officials also answer to residents at the ballot box, which is as it should be.

9. What is your position on eliminating property taxes without offsetting increases elsewhere?

I share your concern about any change that simply moves the burden from one line item to another. Eliminating property taxes entirely is a statewide constitutional question rather than a commission decision. However, our first priority is to protect residents from a hidden or heavier burden while preserving core services like public safety, water, and roads. However, the city will lose $2 million the first year and $4 million every year thereafter if the amendment is approved. How we cut costs or reallocate capital is a big question for the entire state of Florida and something our commission will discuss deeply in Q4 of 2026.

10. What steps will you take to maintain or improve public safety without shifting costs onto residents?

Public safety is a core service, and core services come first in how I approach the budget. I will continue to support the staffing, training, and equipment our police, fire, and emergency responders need, and to pursue grants where they are available, rather than shifting those costs onto residents through less visible charges. We recently improved the pension for the police, provided new vehicles, new body cameras, top tier training, and other important resources available to our police to encourage retention of our seasoned professionals. We also want to fully staff our police force to avoid unnecessary overtime costs.

11. What is your overall approach to growth and development?

My approach to growth is that infrastructure comes before approval. Traffic, drainage, utilities, and public safety capacity should be addressed before new projects move forward, not after. I also believe in protecting our neighborhoods and our remaining rural and conservation land, which is why I have supported conservation efforts and responsible planning rather than growth for its own sake. I also support the Rural boundary in Seminole County.

12. What distinguishes you most from a challenger in terms of leadership and readiness to serve?

What I would point to is a consistent record rather than promises. I answer residents directly, and I have been in the room for the budget and infrastructure decisions that shape this city. I know how these systems work and what it takes to keep them reliable and affordable, and I am ready to keep doing that work. I am professional, diligent, and quick to answer questions. As for my opponent, I would simply encourage residents to Google him.

Residents raising these kinds of questions is exactly what keeps local government accountable, and I welcome it. I will keep working on behalf of District 2 with the same transparency and attention to detail reflected in these answers, and I encourage anyone with further questions to reach out directly.

Victoria Bruce Winter Springs City Commissioner, District 2

Holding the Tuscawilla Assessment Flat for 2027

At its August 24 meeting, the Winter Springs City Commission voted to hold the Tuscawilla Lighting and Beautification District assessment flat for the coming year. A proposed $33 per household annual increase was set aside after the city confirmed that a long running billing error had left the district owed roughly $279,000, with additional savings expected going forward.

What the District is

The Tuscawilla Lighting and Beautification District, often called the TLBD, pays for the entrance monuments, fountains, street lighting, and landscaping along the community’s main corridors. It was established decades ago at the request of Tuscawilla residents and is funded only by the roughly 4,600 households within the district, not by the city at large. Each year the commission reviews the assessment that supports the district’s maintenance and capital projects.

The Correction

This year’s review surfaced an accounting issue dating back to 2022. A change in Duke Energy’s streetlight rates, combined with a staffing transition in the finance department, meant the district had been charged incorrectly for several years. After months of analysis, staff determined that about $279,000 rightfully belonged to the district and recommended returning it to the district’s fund balance. A related correction is expected to save the district roughly $90,000 a year moving forward.

The Vote

Commissioner Victoria Bruce moved to forego the proposed increase for the coming year, pointing to the restored funds as reason to pause before adding to residents’ assessments. Her position was straightforward. With that money returned to the district and additional savings ahead, the district can continue advancing its priorities, including the planned fountain rehabilitation and entrance lighting, while first demonstrating results with the funds already in hand. The motion passed by a vote of 3 to 2.

Results Residents Can Already See

Residents do not have to look far for an example of what those funds can deliver. The recently completed improvements at the Tuscora Drive entrance, with new landscaping and lighting, drew praise from the district’s advisory committee and from residents at both the district and commission meetings. Work like that reflects the kind of visible, well-managed investment the assessment is meant to support.

Looking Ahead

Holding the Tuscawilla assessment flat this year does not change the district’s long term goals. It reflects a commitment to using existing dollars well, showing residents measurable results, and returning to future decisions with a clear public explanation of what any change would pay for. That is the standard Commissioner Bruce has worked to apply across the city’s budget, and it is the same standard she brought to this vote.

FDEP Warning Letter Issued for the East Water Reclamation Facility

I want to share an update with residents about a warning letter the city received from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection related to the East Water Reclamation Facility. This comes as the city continues work on the facility’s rebuild, one of the largest infrastructure projects in Winter Springs’ history. Here is what led to the letter and what it means going forward.

The warning letter is tied to a spill notification process, not a new spill or a failure to report one. The city’s operator notified FDEP and the State Watch Office of the spill within the required timeframe. The warning letter itself relates to a separate administrative step, a Public Notice of Pollution form, that was not completed on time. That form has since been submitted, and the operator is in direct communication with FDEP to close this out.

The East facility’s aging plants are already being replaced through the ongoing wastewater rebuild, and that work is underway. In the meantime, procedures like this one exist to keep everyone informed when something happens at the plant, and residents deserve to know when that process has an issue, even a minor administrative one.

City leadership has reiterated to the operator the importance of immediate communication whenever a reportable incident occurs, so residents and their elected officials are informed without delay. I will continue to push for that same standard of transparency going forward, and I will keep sharing what I learn as this process continues.

Victoria Bruce Launches Reelection Campaign

I have officially launched my campaign for reelection as Winter Springs City Commissioner, District 2. Four years ago, you placed your trust in me, and tonight I am asking for the chance to keep going. Since taking office in 2022, my focus has been on taxpayer affordability, water quality and safety, environmental restoration, and public transparency.

Clean Water and Infrastructure

Early this year, we secured a $19.16 million infrastructure package on favorable terms, including principal forgiveness and interest-free financing, to fund the replacement of the aging East Water Reclamation Facility. This approach protects local taxpayers from standard commercial interest rates while addressing a long-standing infrastructure need.

Improving Our Drinking Water

We secured a $1.0 million direct state appropriation to build advanced potable water tray aerators. This project is aimed at reducing water contaminants and improving the taste, odor, and safety of Winter Springs drinking water.

Protecting Neighborhoods From Flooding

We secured a $580,000 emergency federal grant through the Natural Resources Conservation Service to clear debris and sediment from Gee Creek and Sheoah Creek. This work restores natural water flow and helps reduce flooding risk in low-lying residential areas.

Storm Resiliency

We used federal Hazard Mitigation grants, which reimburse 75 percent of costs, to flood-proof major sewer lift stations citywide. This included elevating control panels, installing watertight hatches, and adding backup generators.

Public Safety

Working with the Winter Springs Police Department, we have seen three consecutive years of declining crime, with annual reported incidents down 19 percent, from 860 to 698.

Transparent Government

We recruited a qualified, non-partisan administrative team, including a new City Manager, CFO, Utility Director, and HR Manager. We also launched a map-based Public Development Tracker and added closed-captioned broadcasts of Commission meetings to improve public access.

There is more work ahead, particularly as we move into the next budget cycle. I remain focused on securing outside funding for infrastructure, protecting taxpayers, and keeping city government open and accountable to residents.

You can view the full, detailed record of achievements here.

A Look at Stormwater Pond Maintenance in Winter Springs

On February 9, the City Commission received a presentation from Kimley-Horn and Pegasus Engineering as part of the ongoing Stormwater Improvement Program. The focus was pond maintenance, specifically which ponds the city is responsible for and what it would take to expand that responsibility.

Not All Ponds Are the Same

Winter Springs has three categories of stormwater ponds.

Public ponds sit on city owned property and receive stormwater from city roads and public rights-of-way. Hybrid ponds are not on city property, but they still receive stormwater from city roads and rights-of-way. Some hybrid ponds have a recorded easement or maintenance agreement with the city, and some do not. Private ponds are on private property and receive stormwater from private roads only.

That distinction matters because it determines who is legally responsible for upkeep.

368 Ponds Across the City

The city has identified 368 stormwater ponds within its boundaries. Of those, 225 are maintained by other entities, including FDOT, Seminole County, and private property owners. The remaining 143 fall under city maintenance, made up of 48 public ponds and 95 hybrid ponds.

Of the 95 hybrid ponds, 55 have recorded maintenance responsibilities in place. The other 40 do not, which limits what the city can currently do without additional legal access.

What the City Currently Does

Under the current level of service, city maintained ponds receive monthly aquatic vegetation inspections and treatment as needed, monthly mowing, debris removal, minor erosion repairs, and a rapid response when damage is reported. Pond banks and outfall structures receive limited visual inspection.

What a Higher Standard Would Look Like

The presentation below outlined an anticipated level of service that goes further. It includes yearly visual inspections of pond banks and outfall structures, major erosion repairs, and proactive maintenance such as localized sediment removal, outlet protection evaluation, and control structure repair.

What It Could Cost

Based on a 15 year maintenance cycle, the estimated cost per wet pond is 130,000 dollars, covering shoreline restoration, aeration, control structure repair, and sediment removal. The estimated cost per dry pond is 32,000 dollars, covering scour and outlet protection, control structure repair, and underdrain replacement.

Three scenarios were presented to show how expanding the city’s maintenance role would affect the utility rate.

Maintaining the 48 public ponds alone would cost 292,000 dollars a year and increase the utility rate by 1.40 dollars a month. Adding the 55 hybrid ponds with recorded maintenance responsibilities would bring the total to 103 ponds, costing 714,000 dollars a year and increasing the rate by 3.45 dollars a month. Taking on all 143 public and hybrid ponds would cost just over 1,000,000 dollars a year and increase the rate by 4.80 dollars a month.

What Happens Next

Direction from the Commission on how many ponds the city will maintain will shape the staff and equipment costs presented at upcoming Utility Rate Study meetings. That decision will determine both the level of service residents can expect and the impact on future utility rates.

More information on the Stormwater Improvement Program will be shared as the rate study process continues.

What Residents Should Know About Flock and ALPR Cameras

Over the past several weeks, I have heard a lot of feedback from residents and seen a lot of coverage in the news about Flock and its automated license plate reader cameras, often called ALPR. Many of you have raised concerns about privacy, and I want to make sure those concerns are heard.

To better understand how this technology works and why it has been used in our community, I reached out to Winter Springs Police Chief Matt Tracht for his perspective.

Chief Tracht explained that ALPR stands for automated license plate reader. Flock is one brand among several, including Axon, Motorola, and NDI, that offer similar technology. These cameras read government issued license plates on public roadways and compare that information against databases of stolen vehicles, wanted persons, and missing or endangered individuals. According to the chief, the cameras do not monitor personal movements or collect personal information beyond what is visible on a public road.

Chief Tracht pointed to several cases where ALPR technology played a role in local investigations. These included the Publix parking lot incident on SR 434 that led to three arrests, the safe recovery of a mother and infant child during a crisis situation, and the search for missing person Shakeria Rucker in Orange County. He also cited a case involving a sexual predator who was identified and stopped before entering a July 4th celebration in Winter Springs.

The chief acknowledged that ALPR technology has been misused in other parts of the country. He noted that the department has policies in place to hold officers accountable for any misuse of these systems, similar to safeguards in other professions that handle sensitive information.

I have not made a decision on this issue, and I do not think it would be responsible to do so without hearing more from the people I represent. I do appreciate the chief taking the time to lay out this information so clearly.

Privacy and safety both matter to our community, and finding the right balance between them is not always simple. I want to hear directly from residents as this conversation continues.

I encourage anyone with questions or concerns about ALPR technology to reach out directly, and I will continue to share updates as this conversation moves forward.

Winter Springs Parks Update for August 2026

The next Parks, Recreation, and Mobility Advisory Committee Regular Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. Ahead of that meeting, I want to share a look at how our parks have been used and what maintenance work has been completed and is coming up.

Parks Usage Since May

Since May, our parks have seen strong use across the board, including 986 pickleball reservations, 382 pavilion reservations, and 122 field rentals.

Recent Events

Several community events have drawn strong turnout recently, including the Celebration of Freedom with an estimated 10,000 attendees, the Wesley Seth Foundation BBQ Fest, and Camp Sunshine, which is serving 65 kids per week.

Parks Maintenance Update

Several maintenance projects have been completed recently, including the Pam Carroll Plaque refurbishment, work on the Trotwood Park baseball field, sodded sports turf at Central Winds Park, a dog park renovation, replaced dispensers in all park and city hall restrooms, and cleaning and painting of the upper playground at Central Winds Park.

Upcoming Parks Maintenance

Looking ahead, upcoming projects include Trotwood Park playground surfacing, a restroom refurbish at Trotwood Park, a new swing set at Moss Park, rope and signage refurbishment at Torcaso Park, and river rock installation at the pickleball courts.

I will continue to share updates as these projects move forward. Residents are welcome to attend the Parks, Recreation, and Mobility Advisory Committee meeting on August 5th to learn more or ask questions directly.

Victoria Bruce, Winter Springs Commissioner, District 2

Tuscawilla Adopt-a-Road Cleanup: Sweating the Details

Who Cleans a Road in July? We Do.

“Who schedules a road cleanup in July, in the middle of the day?” 😅 That was Victoria Bruce’s opening line on Tuscawilla this Tuesday — right before she admitted, “Oh wait… that was me.”

Big thanks to everyone who showed up in the heat anyway for our latest Adopt-a-Road pickup with Seminole County’s SERV program. Fourth cleanup since we adopted this stretch back in November 2024.

Here’s what’s changed: those first rounds, we were hauling off plastic bags, car parts, a bunch of larger stuff. These days the heavy items are mostly gone — now it’s microplastics and empty vape cartridges along the shoulder. Beer bottles, Coke cans, and stray car parts still turn up, but vapes have become the new signature litter out here.

Someone asked why we bother when the county and landscapers already maintain the medians. Fair question — and they do look great: fresh mulch, neat mowing, healthy shrubs. But you know what makes good landscaping look even better? No trash in it. When the big things are handled and neighbors take care of the little things, the whole entrance just shines. Cherry on top of a beautiful community.

As Victoria put it: “Good communities take care of the obvious. Great communities have residents who notice the details — who make sure nothing slips through the cracks.”

A clean road and a little extra pride in where we live? Worth every sweaty minute. 💪

Who’s in for the next one? 👇

— Victoria for Winter Springs