Victoria For Winter Springs Archives - Page 3 of 29

Free Irrigation Evaluations for Seminole County Residents

With summer rain arriving, now is a good time for residents with automatic irrigation systems to make sure they are not watering during or after rainfall. One of the easiest ways to check is through a free service available to Seminole County residents.

Seminole County offers two free irrigation evaluations per year to help reduce water bills and improve irrigation efficiency.

Why It Matters

Outdoor water use accounts for roughly 30 to 60 percent of total household water use for the average Florida homeowner. Most irrigation inefficiencies come from a handful of common issues: improperly set timers, a missing or broken rain shutoff device, leaks, and watering in areas that do not need it.

These problems often go unnoticed until a water bill spikes. A faulty rain sensor is a frequent culprit, and the average rain sensor only lasts about two to three years.

What the Evaluation Includes

A licensed irrigation technician schedules a free visit to your home and completes a visual and operational inspection of your system. That includes checking your meter, timer, rain sensor, and zones, and looking for leaks.

The service also includes adjustments to lower water use, irrigation timer optimization and training, and a free rain sensor replacement if yours is not working properly. Afterward, the technician provides a written report with a custom watering schedule and maintenance recommendations.

How to Sign Up

First, confirm you are eligible by entering your address here and checking the Water Provider line.

From there, you can complete the irrigation evaluation request form or call 407-665-2121 for more information.

More details about the program are available on the Seminole County website.

Victoria Bruce

Winter Springs Commissioner, District 2

Protecting Winter Springs

Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary Across Seminole County

As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, communities across Seminole County are coming together for a season of celebrations, programs, and events honoring this once-in-a-generation milestone.

From historic tributes and cultural programs to concerts, festivals, and fireworks, there is something happening in nearly every corner of the County throughout the summer.

Fourth of July Across Seminole County

The Fourth of July is the centerpiece of the celebration, with events happening countywide. Winter Springs residents can celebrate close to home at the Celebration of Freedom at Central Winds Park on July 4 from 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM, featuring live entertainment, family activities, and a fireworks finale.

Neighboring communities are hosting their own festivities as well, including Star Spangled Sanford along the Lake Monroe waterfront, the Geneva Independence Day Parade, Red Hot and Boom in Altamonte Springs, and an Independence Day Celebration at the Oviedo Mall.

Events Throughout the Summer

Beyond the Fourth, the celebration continues with library programs, historical presentations, art exhibits, and ceremonies across the County. Highlights include the Sanford Jazz Ensemble’s America 250 Tribute, a planetarium show marking 250 years of space exploration, and the “How Far We Are Bound, and Where We Are Free” exhibit at the Museum of Seminole County History.

Explore Local History

To help residents make the most of the celebration, Seminole County has released the Seminole 250 Event Guide. The guide includes a full calendar of events along with a timeline of Seminole County and its cities, highlighting when each community was established and incorporated. Winter Springs is part of that story, originally incorporated as North Orlando in 1959 before being renamed Winter Springs in 1972.

After exploring the guide, residents can put their knowledge to the test with the Seminole 250 Quiz. Participants who complete the quiz will be entered into a drawing to win a commemorative Seminole County America 250 Challenge Coin.

A Community Effort

The Seminole 250 initiative is a collaborative effort involving Seminole County, the cities of Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, Sanford, and Winter Springs, Seminole County Public Schools, Seminole State College of Florida, Orlando Sanford International Airport, the Seminole Cultural Arts Council, and numerous community and cultural organizations throughout the County.

Explore the Full Guide

Victoria Bruce

Winter Springs Commissioner, District 2

Protecting Winter Springs

Winter Springs Is Upgrading Its Water Meters

The Replacement of Water Meters

The City of Winter Springs is inviting sealed proposals for the replacement of its water meters with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI).

Currently, there are 14,808 potable water meters and 2,242 reclaim water meters distributed across a 15 square mile area. The city is looking for ultrasonic metering that includes AMI data collection and an integrated acoustic leak detection solution. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of meter data collection, streamline the billing process, and improve the utility’s interface with its customers.

The evolution of water meter technology has significantly changed the way utilities operate. In the past, older technology required meter readers to visit individual sites to read meters physically. In contrast, AMI meters enable remote collection of water usage data in real time. This not only supports more frequent billing but also allows utilities to quickly identify excessive water use, which may indicate leaks.

For more information, please visit https://www.winterspringsfl.org/rfps.

Senate Passes Historic $250,000 Property Tax Cut for Florida Homeowners

Proposed Constitutional Amendment Creates $250,000 Homestead Exemption

Tallahassee–Taking a historic step towards eliminating property taxes for Florida homeowners, the Florida Senate today passed House Joint Resolution (HJR) 1-F, sponsored by Senator Bryan Avila (R-Miami Springs), creating a $250,000 homestead exemption on non-school levies for Florida homeowners. The Joint Resolution, a priority of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the current exemption for owner-occupied homestead property to $250,000 over two years and creates a framework for full exemption over time. The amendment will appear on the November 2026 General Election Ballot for approval by Florida voters.

“Owning your own home has been the American dream since our nation was founded 250 years ago. What better way to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary than a massive property tax cut through a $250,000 homestead exemption for Floridians,” said Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula). “I’m grateful to Governor DeSantis for leading the conversation on cutting property taxes and putting forward this robust proposal for the consideration of Florida voters this fall. For our part, the Senate has consistently advocated for an amendment that is significant and straightforward – a $250,000 homestead exemption in honor of America’s 250th birthday achieves that goal and then some.”

“Our nation was forged by pioneer patriots who left everything behind and risked their lives for the dream of living in freedom on their own piece of property. We agree with Governor DeSantis that having to continually pay the government for the right to live on your own property flies in the face of that dream,” said Senator Avila. “This amendment takes a historic step, providing meaningful relief for Florida families, while protecting businesses from extreme tax increases and safeguarding local funding for education, law enforcement, infrastructure, and other essential government functions.”

Reduces the Cost of Homeownership for Floridians

To ensure property tax relief is directed towards reducing the cost of living for longtime Florida residents, HJR 1-F grants the $250,000 super homestead exemption for non-school levies to homeowners who are Florida residents on or before December 31, 2026. New Florida residents will receive a homestead exemption of $50,000 for four years, after which they will be eligible for the $250,000 super homestead exemption.

If passed by Florida voters, beginning on January 1, 2027, homeowners will have access to a $150,000 homestead exemption. The super exemption increases to $250,000 on January 1, 2028, and increases by inflation every year thereafter.

Ensures Funding for Education, Public Safety, and Infrastructure

The amendment does not apply to ad valorem taxes collected by school boards. To ensure funding for critical functions of local government, the amendment requires cities and counties to use remaining property tax revenue for the following:

Public safety, including law enforcement, fire service, and emergency medical service
Education and public schools (additional funds beyond operational expenses covered by school board taxes)
Road and bridge construction and maintenance, stormwater control, and other infrastructure projects
Natural resource projects, including flood control measures
Retirement benefits of local government employees
Bond obligations
Operations and administration of county officers and commissioners and municipalities, and approved expenditures thereof

Protects Small Businesses

To ensure local governments do not pass along the cost of homestead property relief on to small businesses, the amendment provides additional tax savings for non-residential property.

Currently, the assessment increase for a non-residential property is limited to 10% annually. The amendment limits the annual assessment increase to 5% beginning January 1, 2027.

Framework for Total Elimination

Additionally, counties, municipalities, and school districts are required to provide additional ad valorem relief, up to full elimination, through a uniform procedure that will be established by the Legislature. Special districts are authorized to provide up to full elimination of ad valorem taxes by voter approval.

For more information, please visit www.FLSenate.gov.

Why is my water bill so high?

“Thank you for reaching out regarding reclaimed water vs. potable for your irrigation.”

— Commissioner Bruce, responding to a resident question about their water bill

Residents across Winter Springs are opening their water bills and seeing a number higher than they expected. A big reason why often surprises people: if your irrigation system runs on potable water — the same treated drinking water that comes out of your tap — you’re paying premium rates to water your lawn.

I want to explain what that means, why it matters far beyond your monthly bill, and exactly what the city is doing to fix it — neighborhood by neighborhood.

The hidden reason your bill may be higher than it should be

If your irrigation system runs on potable water, that water goes through the same treatment process as what comes out of your kitchen tap — purified, tested, pressurized, and delivered to your home. Using it to water your lawn is effective, but it comes at a cost that many residents feel every month.

Many Winter Springs residents are already connected to reclaimed water for irrigation — and if you are, you’re in good shape. But a significant number of households are still on potable for their irrigation, and that’s what the city is actively working to change.

Beyond the bill, there’s a deeper issue most residents don’t know about: something called a Consumptive Use Permit, or CUP.

What is a CUP?

A Consumptive Use Permit is a state-issued authorization that sets a hard limit on how much water a city is legally allowed to draw from natural sources — aquifers, rivers, and springs. Florida’s water supply is finite. The more drinking water Winter Springs uses for irrigation, the faster we burn through our CUP allocation — and the closer we get to a day when the state could restrict our ability to grow or serve future residents.

Winter Springs has been planning around water supply constraints for decades. The city’s existing artesian well infrastructure and augmentation sites near Lake Jesup are part of that longer story — a serious, long-term investment in protecting our water future.

Lake Jesup Reclamation Plant — What it means for Winter Springs

Learn how the city’s long-term water augmentation infrastructure near Lake Jesup supports our ability to meet community demand while protecting natural water sources.

In other words, using potable water for irrigation isn’t just a personal expense — it’s a community resource challenge. Every gallon of treated drinking water used on a lawn is a gallon that can’t support drinking, cooking, or future growth.

Reclaimed water changes that equation entirely. It’s highly treated water that’s safe for irrigation but not for drinking — which makes it perfect for lawns, golf courses, and parks. Using it for irrigation frees up our drinking water supply, reduces our CUP draw, and costs residents significantly less.

When demand exceeds supply — a real example

The reclaimed water system has a finite amount of water available every day, determined by how much wastewater the city’s treatment facilities actually receive and process. During unusually hot or dry stretches — when irrigation demand spikes — that balance can be disrupted.

Many residents experienced this firsthand during the summer of 2023, when reduced rainfall led to a surge in reclaimed water demand that temporarily outpaced supply, causing low pressure across parts of the system. It was a visible reminder of just how interconnected our water infrastructure really is.

Reclaimed Water System: Low Pressure — August 2023

Commissioner Bruce explained what caused the pressure issues that summer, what the city did to mitigate them, and what residents can do to support the system during high-demand periods.

Expanding reclaimed water access to more neighborhoods directly reduces that risk — the more residents we move off potable irrigation, the more resilient the overall system becomes.

Where we are right now — and where we’re headed

The city has been steadily expanding the reclaimed water system. Here’s a snapshot of projects either completed, underway, or in the pipeline:

Project details reflect the city’s current infrastructure plan. For the latest status on your neighborhood, contact the Public Works department or reach out to my office directly.

Tuskawilla Crossings

Completed

Veterans Park · 12″ RWM Extension

Completed

Hickory Groves

In construction

Winter Springs Village

In design — conversion underway

The Highlands (southeast section)

Planned — connection pending

Wildwood

Planned — connection pending

Seminole Crossings

Planned — in design

The Landings at Parkstone · Chestnut Estates · Chestnut Ridge

Planned — existing services or connection pending

Glen Eagle + Seneca Blvd · Connect East & West Plants

Future phase — long-run extensions planned

What this means for you

If your neighborhood is on the list above, you’ll be hearing from the city as your area approaches its connection date. The transition to reclaimed water for irrigation is expected to lower your water costs while helping protect Winter Springs’ long-term water supply.

If your neighborhood isn’t listed yet — it doesn’t mean you’re forgotten. The system is being built outward, and more connections will be added as infrastructure allows. The goal is to get as many residents off potable irrigation as possible.

When it comes to water management, everything is interconnected. The city is diligently addressing flooding challenges, maximizing water quality, and protecting our water supply — all at the same time. This is one piece of a much larger puzzle, and it matters.

Have questions about reclaimed water in your neighborhood? Reach out to my office — I read every message.

Victoria K. Bruce

Commissioner, District 2 · City of Winter Springs · (407) 327-7585

A Boardwalk Along Lake Jesup Could Be Coming to Central Winds Park

Central Winds Park is already one of Winter Springs’ most active community spaces. It hosts events, sports fields, nature trails, a walking loop, picnic areas, and direct access to the Lake Jesup shoreline. A proposed project now in the early planning stages could add something new to that list: a public boardwalk extending along the lake’s edge.

What Is Being Proposed

The City of Winter Springs is pursuing a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant to fund a boardwalk along the Lake Jesup shoreline within Central Winds Park. The project is in the funding application stage, with a construction timeline contingent on grant approval.

The proposed structure would be approximately 12 feet wide, elevated above the shoreline, and designed to connect with existing park facilities and trail systems. It would include railings and dedicated viewpoints along the route.

The total estimated project cost is $562,500. The city is requesting $450,000 through the RTP program, with a local match of $112,500.

Why the Grant Funding Matters

Projects like this one illustrate how the city can expand public amenities without placing the full cost burden on residents. Recreational Trails Program grants are awarded through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and are specifically intended to support public trail and outdoor recreation infrastructure.

If the grant is approved, the city’s direct contribution would represent roughly 20 percent of the total project cost. The remaining 80 percent would come from state funding.

What It Would Mean for Residents

Lake Jesup runs along the northern boundary of Central Winds Park, but direct public access to the shoreline is currently limited. A boardwalk of this design would give residents a dedicated, accessible path to experience the lake up close, with built-in viewpoints for wildlife observation and passive recreation.

The elevated structure is also designed with the natural environment in mind. Raising the boardwalk above grade allows water to flow naturally beneath it, protecting the wetland shoreline rather than disrupting it.

Combined with the park’s existing nature trails and walking loop, the boardwalk would expand the overall trail experience at Central Winds and create a more connected outdoor recreation network along one of Seminole County’s most significant natural water bodies.

What Comes Next

The project is currently moving through the RTP application process. Design and permitting work would follow if funding is approved, with construction scheduled after those milestones are complete.

Commissioner Bruce will continue to share updates on this project as it advances through the process.

Victoria Bruce Files for Reelection to Winter Springs City Commission District 2

After nearly four years serving Winter Springs residents as City Commissioner for District 2, Victoria Bruce has filed for reelection to seek a second term.

Since taking office in November 2022, Bruce has been part of some of the most significant infrastructure and policy decisions the city has faced in recent memory. From wastewater plant expansions to environmental grants, stormwater planning, and public safety improvements, the work has been substantial and in many cases years in the making.

What the First Term Involved

The most visible milestone of Bruce’s first term is the March 2026 Commission vote approving the Guaranteed Maximum Price for the East Water Reclamation Facility expansion, a $65.8 million project with construction funding fully secured and groundbreaking expected in June 2026. The project represents years of advocacy around wastewater accountability and compliance that predates her time in office but accelerated under her watch.

Beyond wastewater, the city secured over $30 million in infrastructure funding during her tenure, including a $19.2 million package through the American Relief Act and supplemental hurricane appropriations. Twelve lift stations were elevated for flood resilience. A $600,000 grant was secured for the East Wastewater Reclamation Facility, and an $8 million hazard mitigation grant covered a police safe room and public works generator.

On public safety, the Winter Springs Police Department recorded three consecutive years of crime reduction, with reported incidents falling from 860 in 2023 to 698 in 2025, a nearly 19 percent decline. The department maintained an average emergency response time of 3 minutes and 23 seconds in 2025.

Environmental work during her tenure includes a $580,000 federal grant for creek and waterway restoration and protections ensuring the city’s tree and arbor fund is used exclusively for planting and maintaining public trees.

A full record of accomplishments is available on the results page.

Background

Bruce is a Florida native who has lived in Winter Springs since 2009. She is the founder and CEO of The Mitigation Banking Group, Inc., an environmental restoration company she established in Winter Springs in 2017. With over 20 years of experience in Florida’s environmental permitting and mitigation banking industry, she has managed credit purchases for more than 20 mitigation and conservation banks throughout the state.

Her civic involvement includes serving as an Advocacy Ambassador for the Florida League of Cities, membership on the FLC Legislative Policy Committee on Utilities, Natural Resources and Public Works, and service on the Winter Springs Performing Arts Board of Directors. In May 2026, she attended the Florida League of Cities Leadership Class in Orlando, an advanced program for municipal elected officials focused on leadership, civic engagement, and community impact.

Looking Ahead

There is meaningful work underway in Winter Springs right now. The East Water Reclamation Facility is moving into construction. Stormwater infrastructure planning is underway. Parks improvements are in progress across the city. And the conversations residents care most about, from smart growth to environmental protection and government accountability, continue at every Commission meeting.

Residents who would like to stay connected or learn more can visit victoriaforwintersprings.com.

Winter Springs Has 353 Stormwater Ponds. Here Is the Plan to Maintain Them.

Winter Springs has a stormwater system that most residents rarely think about until it rains hard enough to matter. Behind the scenes, that system includes 353 ponds, miles of drainage infrastructure, and a network of pipes and outfall structures that manage water flow across the entire city. Keeping that system functional takes sustained investment, and for years, the funding has not kept pace with what the work actually costs.

At the May 11, 2026 City Commission meeting, the city’s engineering consultants Kimley-Horn and Raftelis presented a comprehensive stormwater management and rate study. The presentation is embedded below. This post walks through what the study covers and why I supported moving it forward.

How Winter Springs Stormwater Works

Not all ponds in Winter Springs are the same, and understanding the difference matters when discussing who is responsible for what.

The city recognizes three categories. Public ponds sit on city-owned property and receive stormwater from public roads and rights-of-way. The city maintains these fully. Private ponds sit on privately owned property and receive stormwater from private infrastructure. The city has no maintenance role there. Hybrid ponds are the category that affects the most residents: they sit on privately owned property, often within HOA communities, but receive stormwater directly from public roads and infrastructure. Because public water flows into them through public pipes, the city has both access rights and a maintenance responsibility for the infrastructure connected to those ponds.

Of the 353 ponds in Winter Springs, 131 are city-maintained. That includes 43 fully public ponds and 88 hybrid ponds.

What the Maintenance Program Covers

The study presented a detailed operations and maintenance plan that goes well beyond routine debris removal. For hybrid ponds, the program includes yearly inspections of outfall structures and drainage pipes, sediment removal, pipe relining, scour and outlet protection, and control structure repairs. The average cost to fully maintain a single hybrid pond is estimated at $152,000, with a 15-year maintenance cycle across all 88 locations.

For fully public ponds, the program includes monthly aquatic vegetation inspections, monthly mowing, debris and sediment removal, aeration, erosion repairs, and pipe repair or replacement as needed.

The study also includes a creek inspection and maintenance program focused on targeted intervention where blockages and localized issues occur, as well as a series of larger capital improvement projects funded through third and fourth generation sales tax revenue.

The full presentation is embedded below. I encourage residents to review it and reach out with any questions.

The Rate Adjustment

The city’s current stormwater rate is $10.00 per month per residential unit. That rate has not been sufficient to fund a comprehensive maintenance program, and the gap between available revenue and actual maintenance costs has grown.

The proposed rate schedule phases in adjustments over four years: $15.00 in FY2027, $17.50 in FY2028, $19.50 in FY2029, and $20.50 by FY2030.

For context, Winter Springs at $15.00 per month would still be below what residents pay in Apopka, Orlando, Oviedo, Maitland, and Winter Park. The current rate of $10.00 is among the lowest in the region. The adjustment reflects the real cost of maintaining aging infrastructure that serves the whole community.

Why I Supported This

Residents have raised concerns about flooding, pond conditions, and sediment buildup for years. Those concerns are valid. The stormwater system in Winter Springs includes ponds that are decades old, and without a funded maintenance program, the problems compound over time.

What the May 11 presentation showed the commission is that the city has a plan. It is structured, professionally developed, and tied to a realistic financial forecast. The rate adjustments proposed are incremental, regionally competitive, and directly connected to a defined scope of work.

Supporting this program is consistent with what I have heard from residents in District 2: they want the city to address infrastructure problems, they want to understand what they are paying for, and they want a plan that reflects responsible fiscal management. This study provides that foundation.

The full presentation is embedded below. I encourage residents to review it and reach out with any questions.

Victoria Bruce City Commissioner, District 2 vbruce@winterspringsfl.org VictoriaForWinterSprings.com

Why Water in Winter Springs Is Everyone’s Concern

Water management is often discussed in pieces. Residents hear about stormwater when there is flooding. Drinking water comes up when there are quality concerns. Wastewater infrastructure gets attention when a system needs repair. But these are not separate problems. They are parts of one system.

That idea has a name: One Water. It reflects the reality that drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, groundwater, surface water, and recycled water are all interconnected. How a community manages one affects the others.

Why It Matters Now

Florida has experienced an unusual pattern in recent years. Extended droughts have lowered groundwater levels and contributed to wildfire conditions across parts of the state. Those drought periods are then followed by heavy rainfall and flooding. The extremes are becoming harder to manage in isolation.

Addressing those extremes requires looking at the full water cycle, not just one piece of it. A stormwater pond that is properly maintained does more than reduce neighborhood flooding. It filters runoff before it reaches surface water and eventually groundwater. A well-functioning wastewater system protects the same water sources that supply drinking water. These connections run in every direction.

What Winter Springs Is Doing

The City is actively working to improve its water infrastructure on multiple fronts.

On the stormwater side, Winter Springs is in the process of updating its pond maintenance program. The City manages 122 stormwater ponds, and an ongoing review is determining how best to maintain those systems over time. That work is connected to a broader capital improvement plan that addresses long-term infrastructure needs across the stormwater network.

This investment is not just about flood control. Properly maintained stormwater systems protect local water quality and contribute to the health of regional water supplies. That is relevant in a part of Florida that relies on the Floridan Aquifer and is managing ongoing pressure on groundwater levels.

Regional coordination matters here as well. Effective water management does not stop at city limits. Collaboration between municipalities, water management districts, and state agencies is part of how communities build resilience against the kinds of conditions Florida has been experiencing.

What Residents Can Expect

As the City moves forward with infrastructure improvements and maintenance planning, residents will have opportunities to learn more about what is being proposed and why. Commissioner Bruce has been following the stormwater program review closely and will continue sharing updates as decisions move through the Commission process.

The goal is straightforward: a water system that works for Winter Springs residents today and holds up over time, regardless of what weather conditions bring.

More information on the City’s stormwater program and upcoming Commission discussions is available at victoriaforwintersprings.com.

What the Stormwater Rate Increase Actually Means for Winter Springs Residents

May 15, 2026
Victoria Bruce
Taxes, Victoria For Winter Springs, Water
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The May 12 City Commission meeting was a long one. Residents filled the chamber. The debate was real. And at the end of it, the Commission voted to raise the monthly stormwater rate from $10 to $15 starting October 1, with gradual increases continuing through 2030, when the rate reaches $20 per month.

That is a real increase, and it deserves a clear explanation.

A second and final vote is expected at the June meeting. Before that happens, here is what residents should understand about what this rate increase covers, why the fund needed it, and how the Commission arrived at this decision.

The stormwater fund was already running a deficit

Before any discussion of new services, City Manager Kevin Sweet addressed something residents may not have known: the stormwater enterprise fund has not been self-sustaining for years. Prior administrations moved general fund money into the stormwater account simply to keep existing services operational.

“Our stormwater is an enterprise fund, which means it should be self-sustaining, and it has not been,” Sweet said at the May 12 meeting. “Prior administrations have been moving general fund money into that account to keep it operational. So the stormwater enterprise fund has been running in a deficit, even maintaining existing services.”

That is not a sustainable situation. It means the stormwater system has been maintained at a bare minimum while a backlog of deferred work has grown quietly in the background. Hurricane Ian in 2022 made that backlog visible. Public Works Director Clete Saunier told commissioners that while no stormwater system in Florida could fully handle a storm of Ian’s scale, the flooding that followed pointed to specific infrastructure gaps that had gone unaddressed for too long.

The last time Winter Springs adjusted its stormwater rate before the recent $10 increase was 1992. Nobody in that chamber could argue that costs have not changed in the past three decades.

What the rate increase actually funds

The additional revenue — projected to grow from roughly $2 million annually to more than $4 million by 2030 — is structured to phase in services over time. The financial forecast presented at the meeting shows existing operating expenses holding steady while service enhancements are layered in gradually across fiscal years 2027 through 2030. This was intentional.

In practical terms, the rate increase funds:

A four-person maintenance crew dedicated to stormwater pond work, along with the trucks and equipment they need to do the job. Visual inspections of every public and private stormwater pond in the city. A commitment to higher-level maintenance for the city’s 88 hybrid ponds — ponds on private property that receive public stormwater drainage — with up to six ponds per year receiving full rehabilitation. Capacity to address creek maintenance and sediment removal as tertiary projects, as the fund stabilizes.

The most significant line item is pipe relining — approximately $120,000 per pond, based on an average pipe length of 400 feet at $275 per foot. Engineer David Hamstra walked commissioners through what happens when that maintenance is deferred: pipes crack, joints fail, soil migrates into the drainage system, and what starts as a small repair becomes a very expensive one. In one case Hamstra referenced, a 36-inch pipe replacement in a community development district cost over a million dollars — in a neighborhood only 20 years old.

“These are real numbers,” Hamstra told commissioners. “Averages, yes. But real.”

The rate would also keep pace with what neighboring communities are doing. At $15 per month, Winter Springs remains approximately in the middle of the pack for central Florida stormwater rates.

How the vote came together

The Commission was closely divided. Commissioners Paul Diaz and Mark Caruso voted against the increase, citing the broader financial strain residents are facing. Commissioners Cade Resnick and Sarah Baker voted in favor. Commissioner Victoria Bruce made the motion to approve.

She did not arrive at that decision quickly.

Throughout the discussion, Bruce pressed the consultants and city staff with practical questions. She asked whether stormwater impact fees could be imposed on new development. She asked whether using general fund reserves as a temporary bridge was allowable and advisable. She asked what would happen to staff and equipment if the Commission approved only the first year of increases and revisited the rest annually.

She also asked directly whether the rate schedule could be made less aggressive.

“Is there a way we can modify this schedule, make it less?” Bruce asked during the hearing.

The answer from the rate consultant was that pacing could be adjusted, but that doing so would delay services and leave the program without the sustained revenue it needs to function as designed. Hiring crews and ordering specialized equipment — some with 18-month lead times — requires a multi-year financial commitment. Starting and stopping creates the same deferred maintenance problem the city is now trying to dig out of.

After hearing that, and after listening to the full public discussion, Bruce moved to approve the rate ordinance as staff recommended.

“I want residents to understand that I took this seriously,” Bruce said. “I asked whether we could do less, whether we could slow it down, whether there was another way. The honest answer is that we have already waited too long. Every year this goes unaddressed, it gets more expensive. The families most at risk of flooding are often the ones least able to afford the damage when it happens.”

What this means going forward

The first reading has passed. A second and final vote is expected at the June Commission meeting. If approved, the new rate of $15 per month takes effect October 1.

The rate increase does not cover the 12 large regional stormwater improvement projects identified in the city’s recently adopted Stormwater Master Plan. Those projects — totaling approximately $8.8 million — are funded through the city’s third and fourth generation penny sales tax revenues, not through the stormwater utility rate. The rate increase funds operations, maintenance, and the pond rehabilitation program.

Residents with questions about the stormwater system, the pond maintenance program, or how the rate structure works are encouraged to attend the June meeting or contact the city directly.