How do you plan to deal with development in Winter Springs? Once a land owner/developer has a permit from the water management district, what can or would you do to minimize the impacts from that development-on the environment, on our roadways, on the sprawl we’ve been experiencing?
Trees: The City has the rights to the Trees. Therefore, I would make sure that the Trees are incorporated into the development; and the natural landscape is priority – more green space; more OLD trees.
Drainage: Make sure the drainage engineers are done right (Chao Medical- currently has issues and it was just developed)
Planners: The City of Winter Springs currently does not have a Planner and outsources it to the East Regional Planning Council; I will have a qualified expert in-house working directly with the landowner/developer on future site plans. This includes access roads, emergency exits, etc…. The current Aldi Development entrance by Chipotle is not acceptable. The Rise so close to the street! Hickory Grove, only saved 3 trees out of 1,000.
Most importantly, I want to be helpful to the landowner/developer; not giving them a run around (like what is currently happening at City Hall). I want to make it an easy process to work with The City; but also understand the high standards of working with the City of Winter Springs. Currently to get a permit to have a shed takes several steps with several departments. The residents are fed up with the red tape bureaucracy and want an efficient process!
At the City Commission meeting held on Monday, July 11, 2022, our Mayor and City Commissioners approved the 2022-2023 Property Tax Rate. The millage rate for the City of Winter Springs, Florida for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 is set at 2.4100 mills. The tax rate remained the same as the previous fiscal year.
However they also claimed they are saving us money, when actually since our property values have increased, the amount of taxes we will be paying will increase too. They city could have rolled back the mileage rate, something that is not done often, but they could have done that and really saved us money. If they had rolled back the rate, they really would have saved us money since the approved budget is 9.2% above the roll back rate.
The City of Winter Springs payroll has ballooned from $7M only a few short years ago, to $9M today. Our City Manager almost makes more money than our Governor. Our longest standing City Commissioner Cannon has kicked the can on our water systems, body cams and what else? It’s time for change in City Hall.
FACTS:
The City of Winter Springs has adopted a measure to increase its property tax levy from $6.8 million to $7.6 million for this upcoming year.
This represents a 10.5% increase of taxes over the prior year.
The tax increase was passed by the commission unanimously, with all commissioners voting in favor of increasing taxes.
This vote directly contradicts the tax-payer funded social media campaign in which the commission wrongfully claimed they are “Saving you money”, when taxes are in fact being increased. (See tax increase notice Winter Springs placed in the Orlando Sentinel which was required by the State)
The City of Winter Springs has allocated $197,000 tax payer dollars for an election year marketing spree, which has included misinformation sites touting a science center which doesn’t exist, and the video below which claims the tax burden on residents was decreased (i.e. “Saving you money”) when the public notice above states taxes were in fact increased (i.e. “Notice of Proposed Tax Increase”).
Thanks to the brilliant minds of The Friends of Lake Jesup, we are now in discussions of a potential mitigation bank.
“Site 10” is owned by The City of Sanford, this 1,000+ acre parcel would be an excellent preservation/restoration project to clean up Lake Jesup! I am currently working with the Former Mayor of Sanford and environmental consultants to look into restoring this property to the benefit of Lake Jesup. I am excited to collaborate on this possible win-win solution for our environment and the economy.
Site Details:
3.2.3 CITY OF SANFORD “SITE 10” FACILITY The Sanford Reuse Land Application Facility (“Site 10”) is located on the northeastern shore of Lake Jesup. Site 10 is approximately 1,868 acres, of which 1,252 acres are in the Lake Jesup Basin. Agriculture (pastures and citrus groves) and wetlands are the major land uses on the site. The City of Sanford NPDES permit allows discharge to a permitted capacity slow-rate reuse system on Site 10, including reclaimed water storage on site in two holding ponds. The water from the ponds is used to irrigate the hay fields and citrus groves on the site. In addition, the previous permit identified Site 10 as an area where land application of residuals occurred and this application began in May 1997 (CDM, 2007). Residuals application on Site 10 was discontinued in 2009 and the current permit prohibits land application of residuals on Site 10. As noted above, the TMDL only accounted for the surface runoff loads from the site and did not estimate the TP loads associated with the reuse water and residual application activities. During the BMAP process, the stakeholders requested that the total loading from Site 10 be determined. To help accomplish this, two studies were conducted: one by CDM as a consultant for the City of Sanford (City of Sanford Site 10 Data Evaluation) and one by the FDEP Ground Water Protection Section (Ground Water Assessment Report for Site 10). CDM and FDEP used two different models with different assumptions and EMC values, which resulted in different loading estimates. Details on both of these studies can be found in Appendix G. The purpose of the CDM analysis was to model runoff from the site with revised land use information. This analysis estimated that the site has a stormwater loading of 883 lbs/yr of TP or 573 lbs/yr of TP with BMPs in place (CDM, 2007). The FDEP assessment focused on shallow ground water conditions on Site 10. The purpose of this assessment was to provide current information for shallow groundwater in the hay field areas that drain to Lake Jesup. The TP concentrations from the monitoring wells ranged from non-detect to 5.3 mg/L, with a median for the four hay fields of 0.76 mg/L. A portion of the TP concentration was also attributed to natural conditions in the area (FDEP, 2008).
The 632 lbs/yr of TP that was calculated as the surface runoff load (refer to Section 2.5.2.2) was included in the allocation table as the starting point load for Site 10, which provided the basis for the required reduction. Since the load from the reclaimed water and residual applications were not originally considered in the TMDL, the 3,489 lbs/yr of TP from these sources was not included in the BMAP allocations. However, the City of Sanford has proposed projects to reduce the loading from these sources on Site 10 and also monitoring to determine water quality improvements. The projects to address these loads are discussed in Section 4.1.2 and the proposed monitoring efforts are discussed in Section 5.1.3.4. In the next cycle of the TMDL, the monitoring data will be used to provide a better estimate of the total load from Site 10 and this information will be incorporated into the TMDL and allocations.
Didn’t Winter Springs Commissioner Kevin Cannon make campaign promises to STOP development in Winter Springs?
Although Commissioner Cannon (elected 8 years ago in 2014) made campaign promises to stop development, here is a partial list of projects which have been passed while he has been in office since 2014, all of which a) he has voted to advance at some point or b) have passed through a commission whose votes he controls, giving him political cover while allowing the projects to continue:
SOME PROJECTS SINCE 2014
Southern Oaks (54 units)
The Blake Apartments (279 units)
Vistawilla ALF (77,000 SFT)
Integra 360 (360 units)
The Enclave at Dunmar (8 units)
Redbug (Morningstar) Self-Storage
Northern Oaks (35 units)
Tuscawilla Crossings (379 units)
Hawthorne ILF (145 units)
The Gatherings (108 units)
Dream Finders (114 units)
The Studios at Tuscawilla
Hickory Grove (132 units)
Winter Springs Marketplace (Aldi’s, etc)
FIRE THE CANNON:
At times the City tries to placate public pressure, “voting down” certain procedural elements, while allowing projects to continue. The most recent example of this is when Winter Springs Commissioner Kevin Cannon made a BIG DEAL “disagreeing” with some aspects of the Hickory Grove townhomes Winter Springs consisting of 132 units about to be added near Town Center, but then voted in favor of the motion to remove up to 1,000 trees, including some specimen trees, in order to allow the demolition project to move forward.
Does this sound like a man who “tried” to stop certain things from happen or a man who is trying to shift the blame for their own broken promises?
First off, I am a Mom of three wonderful girls….I am also a local business owner, concerned resident and advocate for Winter Springs! I spent my entire career protecting natural lands. My father was a city commissioner, and I knew when the time was right I would serve my community. My time is now.
Why do you want to serve the City of Winter Springs and what do you want to accomplish as Commissioner?
I want to serve on the commission because the residents have asked me to get involved. They have asked me to run and represent them. I am running because it is a great honor to have residents, past commissioners and mayors from not only Winter Springs but from the county believe in me and want me to run against someone who has been in office for 8 years and wants another 4 years. I believe in term limits. It’s time for change. I hope to accomplish the following:
Help guide us through challenges of growth and population increases and bring Winter Springs back to the top 10 best places to live.
Listen and respect all citizens.
Bring new ideas and young family perspectives to commission.
Be a STRONG advocate for our water systems (drinking and wastewater).
Bring back respect with other local municipalities.
Promote responsible development by selling a vision of what can be instead of what can’t.
Stop kicking the can on important issues.
What will you do if elected to meet your goals and objectives for the City of Winter Springs?
Once I am elected I will be the biggest advocate for Winter Springs this city has ever seen. First thing I will do is improve government communications. Not just PR propaganda of how great we are, but communication that allows for resident input not only at meetings. Dive into the water systems upgrades and demand that we are compliant 100% with federal agencies. Listen to residents who have issues with their water. I have black stuff coming out of my faucets and that is after a $5k water system. Open up social media comments like the other cities in Seminole county. Push for video at commission meetings so residents can be more engaged. Get with the times. Bring back collaboration with our school board and interlocal partners. Why is Winter Springs looked down on when only 10 years ago we were the crown jewel? Represent all citizens with dignity and class and bring respect back to our local government.
Thank you for visiting my website to learn more about me. It is a great honor to be here and I am excited for the future of our great city. We are going to launch winter springs and show the world what we can be, not what we don’t want (Walmart). It’s about vision, not restraint. We are on the doorstep of one of the largest and fastest growing universities, we have 2 international airports on either side of us, and we have the space coast an hour away, we have a bright future if we play our cards right! Thank you for your support and vote in November.
Please come join me Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 5:00PM at the Winter Springs Food Truck Event for an evening filled with delicious food and dessert options from a variety of local vendors.
Gather with friends and neighbors for a picnic in the park. Don’t forget to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy this community event. Additional seating will also be available under the Pam Carroll Memorial pavilion. Children can enjoy Mount Trotwood Playground and splash pads.
This event will feature the following food trucks:
Rollin Dough The Knot
Oh My Dogs!
Nonnis Minis
Tao Te Cheese
Wing King
Kona Ice
Rosarios
Gran Arepa
BBQ Brazil Express
Cloud 9 Berries
Thirsty Husky
Jessicas Lemonade
Grandmas BBQ
Tina Whos Cookin
Slam O-cha Thai cuisine
If you live in the event area, please consider walkingor riding a bike, as parking may be limited.
The City of Winter Springs is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. Please contact us at 407-327-6593 or communications@winterspringsfl.org to request disability accommodations. Advance notice may be necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
There will be 7 candidates and each go one at a time. Each will be given two minutes for a persona introduction, and two minutes each on answering the following two questions.
Why do you want to serve or continue to serve the City of Winter Springs and what do you want to accomplish as Commissioner (or Mayor)?
What will you do if elected to meet your goals and objectives for the City of Winter Springs?
Each candidate will have a 3-minute closing statement at the end of the evening in reverse order of their original appearance.
City of Winter Springs Commissioner | Nov 2010 – Nov 2018
Adjunct Professor of Psychology – Stetson University
Seminole County Public Schools | Professor of AP Psychology and Economics 2007 – 2020
Cade Resnick sat down with me to talk about the issues facing Winter Springs. Cade has served on the City Commission before and his experience and knowledge about how the city is incredible. I invite you to view our full conversation below, thank you for watching!
Safe drinking water is a critical component of human life, but pollution threatens many of our water supplies. Agriculture is one of the key causes of water pollution. Industrial activities, overflowing sewers and naturally occurring substances can also contaminate our drinking water. Knowing the signs of water contamination will help you take actions that will keep you and your family safe.
When we turn on the tap, we trust that the water coming out of it is safe, but that’s not always the case.
Everything from agricultural runoff to lead pipes to byproducts of water decontamination can threaten our water’s safety. And the Safe Drinking Water Act that’s supposed to protect our drinking water doesn’t even look for toxic fluorinated compounds known as PFAS chemicals, even though the contaminants have been linked to cancer and birth defects.
The federal government regulates and protects our public drinking water via the Safe Drinking Water Act. The law, which was first enacted in 1974, covers water that comes from public sources, such as rivers, lakes, springs and groundwater wells. It does not cover private wells that provide water to fewer than 25 people.
The Environmental Protection Agency sets national standards for drinking water that include maximum legal limits on more than 90 contaminants. The agency also requires water authorities to perform certain tests for contaminants to ensure the standards are achieved. And it dictates how contaminants should be removed.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Safe Drinking Water Act grants the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to set national health standards for drinking water and to set the legal limits on more than 90 contaminants.
States can set their own drinking water standards as long as their standards are at least as strict as the EPA’s requirements. The EPA and states can also take enforcement actions against water systems that violate safety standards.
Types of Contaminants
Numerous types of contaminants can threaten drinking water. They include everything from chemicals to pesticides to animal waste to industrial waste injected into the ground. Naturally occurring substances, such as arsenic, radon and fluoride, can also contaminate groundwater.
DID YOU KNOW?
Every day, 2 million tons of sewage and other liquid waste pour into the world’s water supply. Contaminated water kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.
Waterborne pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and parasites, can also contaminate water. Between 2013 and 2014, more than three dozen water-related outbreaks were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These outbreaks resulted in more than 1,000 illnesses, 124 hospitalizations and 13 deaths.
According to the CDC, the leading causes of waterborne disease outbreaks are:
Giardia
Legionella
Norovirus
Shigella
Campylobacter
Copper
Salmonella
Hepatitis A
Cryptosporidium
E. coli and excessive fluoride (tie)
These contaminants can lead to severe illness, including gastrointestinal upset, neurological problems and reproductive issues. They are especially dangerous to the very young and very old and to those with compromised immune systems.
In recent years, there have also been reports of pharmaceutical drugs in the water supply. Fortunately, the concentrations of these drugs are extremely low and unlikely to cause any considerable health effects, according to a 2012 study by the World Health Organization.
Causes of Contamination
Agricultural runoff is one of the biggest sources of water pollution and industrial agricultural operations are some of the worst offenders. Crop production and livestock both generate significant amounts of waste and runoff that can seep into water supplies.
Runoff from agricultural operations can contaminate water with:
Animal fecal waste containing bacteria, viruses and other pathogens
Antibiotics, hormones, salts and heavy metals excreted by livestock
Fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides
Water supplies can also be contaminated through the drinking water disinfection process. Water additives, such as chlorine and chloramines, are used to control the growth of microbes. But when levels are too high, they can cause eye and nose irritation, stomach upset and other problems.
DID YOU KNOW?
Farming consumes about 70 percent of the earth’s surface water and is the leading cause of water degradation.
Water disinfection can also cause the formation of dangerous byproducts, such as bromates, haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes — all of which can increase your risk of cancer. Other byproducts, such as chlorite, can cause anemia and nervous system problems in babies and children.
Even weather can adversely affect water quality. High temperatures and warmer waters can cause harmful algae blooms. Toxic blue-green algae prefer warm, slow-moving water. They’re also triggered by excessive levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
Other potential sources of water contamination include:
Industrial activities, such as mining and foundries
Runoff from soil, air pollution and automobile emissions
Malfunctioning wastewater treatment systems, such as septic tanks
Leaking underground storage systems and pipes
Landfill leakage
Sewer overflows
Radiation leaks from nuclear power plants
Water that’s not properly treated or that travels through poorly maintained pipes can also pose a health hazard. If your water is acidic, corrosion of copper and lead pipes can occur and contaminate your water.
That’s what happened in Flint, Michigan in 2014 when city officials decided to start using the Flint River as an alternative water source until a new water pipeline from Lake Huron was built. The new water was cheaper than the water Flint had previously been pumping in from Detroit. But it wasn’t treated with an important anti-corrosive agent to deter lead contamination.
Soon, the city’s water turned brown and consumers began complaining that it was causing skin rashes, hair loss and other problems. Because officials failed to treat the corrosive river water, it was leaching lead out of the city’s aging pipes and sending it through thousands of taps. Studies later revealed that local children’s blood-lead levels had doubled or even tripled in some cases.
What Are PFAS Chemicals?
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are also generating a lot of buzz. The manmade chemicals have been used for decades in everything from non-stick pots and pans to stain protectants on carpets, clothing and upholstery. They are also used in firefighting foams.
The hazardous compounds are sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in nature or in the body. They’ve also been linked to a wide variety of health problems, including several types of cancer, birth defects, endocrine and immune system problems, and elevated cholesterol.
While two common PFAS — perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) — have been phased out by United States industry, they are still used internationally and imported into the country.
A recent study by the Environmental Working Group and Northeastern University’s Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute pinpointed PFAS contamination at locations in 43 states, including drinking water sites serving approximately 19 million people.
Military sites were among those most affected by the problem. The chemicals likely contaminated the environment and groundwater on military bases when flame-resistant firefighting foam was used during training and emergency response exercises.
Communities near manufacturing sites have also discovered high levels of PFAS contamination of their water supplies.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2016, the EPA issued a non-enforceable lifetime guidance level of 70 parts per trillion for two PFAS (PFOA and PFOS) in drinking water. In Hoosick Falls, New York, some samples detected PFOA levels at 130,000 parts per trillion.
In 2016, the village of Hoosick Falls, New York discovered high levels of the cancer-causing compounds in its public drinking water supply and private drinking water wells. According to the EPA, a person’s exposure level to PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS, in drinking water should not exceed 70 parts per trillion in a lifetime. In Hoosick Falls, some samples detected PFOA levels at 130,000 parts per trillion.
The state of New York has accused two local companies, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell International, of causing the pollution. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics was also implicated in a PFOA drinking water contamination near the company’s factory in Merrimack, New Hampshire.
Health Complications of Water Contamination
Contaminated water can cause considerable health problems, ranging from gastrointestinal illnesses to neurological problems to cancer.
In the case of pathogens that cause waterborne disease, the effects are usually noticed rapidly. A person who drinks water containing bacteria or a virus will often develop diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and other acute gastrointestinal symptoms. In severe cases, these symptoms can lead to dehydration and death.
Likewise, ingesting large amounts of copper-contaminated water may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Extremely high amounts can cause liver and kidney damage and even death.
But other types of contamination are more insidious.
Signs and symptoms of lead exposure, for instance, typically won’t appear until dangerous levels have accumulated in a person’s body. The toxic metal can cause lifelong complications. Infants and children exposed to lead may have developmental delays, learning difficulties and behavioral problems.
And the health impacts of PFAS and other contaminants can take years to show up.
Studies suggest that PFAS exposure can lead to:
Fertility problems and hormone suppression
Pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia
Increased cholesterol levels
Immune system problems
A disruption of endocrine levels
An increased risk of certain cancers, including testicular and kidney cancer
Birth defects
Liver damage
An elevated risk of thyroid disease
And increased risk of asthma
Protecting Yourself
If you suspect something is wrong with your tap water, contact your public water utility immediately. You may also wish to have your household water tested. The EPA provides a list of certified laboratories.
Red Flags That Your Water May Be ContaminatedIt Looks FunnyYour tap water should always be clear. If it looks cloudy or milky, set it down for a few minutes to see if it clears up. If it does, your water might have just contained trapped air bubbles. If it stays cloudy or foamy, your water could contain elevated levels of heavy minerals or something worse. In that case, it’s time to get your water tested.It Smells StrangeIf your water has an unusual smell, it could be contaminated, but oftentimes contaminants have no smell. A strong rotten egg smell can indicate that your water contains high levels of sulfur. This is usually not dangerous, but it can be unappetizing. Likewise, if your water tastes like a swimming pool, it may contain high levels of chlorine. A water filter may help eliminate excess chlorine and sulfur.It Tastes FunnyOftentimes, contaminants have no taste, but in some cases they might. In Flint, Michigan, residents said the water tasted strange, smelled bad and had a brownish color.
Your water may be contaminated if it looks, smells, or tastes funny.
According to a 2017 article in the journal Applied Water Science, most contaminants can’t be easily detected and testing is needed to identify them.
If you have reason to believe your water supply is contaminated, switch to using bottled water for cooking, drinking, brushing your teeth and making ice.
In some situations, boiling your water will make it safe to consume. If your water authority issues a boil water advisory, bring your water to a vigorous boil for one minute. This will ensure that all bacteria and other microbes are killed and will make the water safe for drinking, cooking and ice making.
Unfortunately, boiling water won’t get rid of other types of contaminants and may even make the water worse. Boiling water that contains PFAS, for instance, will actually concentrate the chemicals and increase your health risks
On a household basis, there are also a number of things you can do to reduce the pollutionof our water.
You and your family can help keep our water supply safe by abiding by the following do’s and don’ts.
DO Catch Runoff. Use gravel, paver stones and other porous materials to stop the flow of stormwater around your home before it pours into storm drains.
DO Pick Up After Your Dog. Pet waste is laden with bacteria and can easily contaminate storm drains and water supplies. Pick up poop in a recycled bag and put it in your garbage.
DO Maintain Your Car. When your car leaks oil, coolant and other fluids, rainwater takes it right into the groundwater. Keep your car in good condition and also wash it in a commercial car wash. It’s better than discharging polluted water down your driveway.
DO Shop with Pollution in Mind. Reducing your use of harmful chemicals can also go a long way. When possible, choose non-toxic cleaners and pesticides and opt for phosphate-free detergents.
DON’T Use the Toilet as a Trash Can. Don’t flush tampons, baby wipes and other non-biodegradable products. Also avoid flushing old prescription medications and take them to a prescription drug drop-off point instead.
DON’T Use the Sink as a Trash Can. Never dump paint, oil or other household chemicals down the drain. This also goes for fat, oil and cooking grease. Instead, keep it in a jar under the sink and dispose of the jar in the garbage when it gets full.
Finally, if you see someone pouring oil down a storm drain or dumping waste in a stream, report them to the authorities. You may first want to try contacting your local government, but if that doesn’t work, you can contact your state environmental agency. The EPA also has an online form where you can report environmental violations.
