Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: June 17, 2024
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
THROUGH: N/A
FROM: Tanya Wilson, AICP, Director, Planning, Environmental and Development Services Department
CONTACT: Alberto A. Vargas, M.Arch., Manager
PHONE: (407) 836-5354
DIVISION: Planning Division
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Proposed Voluntary Municipal Annexation Charter Amendment (Planning Division)
body
PROJECT: Proposed Voluntary Municipal Annexation Charter Amendment
PURPOSE: At the May 21, 2024 Board meeting, District 1 Commissioner Emily Bonilla presented a Commissioner’s Report requesting that a Board-initiated Annexation Charter Amendment be included on the 2024 General Election ballot. The proposal generally sought to establish a new process for voluntary annexation petitions, which would include establishing criteria for approval, public notice and public hearing requirements before the Board, prohibiting annexations outside the County’s Urban Service Area with exceptions for existing joint planning area agreements, requirements for interlocal agreements, and establishment of an appeal process. The Board directed staff to perform additional research and bring back a report for further Board discussion.
On July 9, 2024, staff will present its research and analysis regarding the proposed voluntary municipal annexation charter amendment. Key discussion items will include:
-Summary of Commissioner Bonilla’s draft proposal
-An overview of the State criteria for annexations and the municipal annexation process -Issues and challenges resulting from voluntary annexations
-Current annexation review process and Joint Planning Area agreements
-Examples of annexation provisions from other county charters
-Options for a potential charter annexation framework in Orange County
Following the Work Session and depending on Board direction, staff may draft a proposed ordinance which would include the ballot proposal (ballot title and ballot summary) along with draft text revisions to the Orange County Charter. The draft ordinance would be presented at a Work Session on July 30, 2024, with a potential adoption public hearing on August 13, 2024.
BUDGET: N/A