Winter Haven Commission approves multiple ordinances, street renaming and FDOT grant increase

The Winter Haven City Commission on Jan. 26 approved a set of ordinances and resolutions that update local land-use rules, align city code with state law, and accept additional state funding for a local road project.

Ordinances approved on second and final reading included:
- O-26-01: An amendment to the Lake Ashton planned unit development (approximately 54.18 acres) to permit mobile food vending on common-area parcels and rights-of-way. Staff reported no changes since first reading and the commission approved on a voice vote.
- O-26-02: An update to the 2035 Winter Haven comprehensive plan's capital improvements schedule (fiscal years 2026–2030) to reflect the FY2026 operating budget; staff noted the five-year statutory requirement under Florida law. Commissioner Davis asked whether Polk County School Board connections created a conflict; staff and the city attorney advised no conflict requiring recusal was identified.
- O-26-03: Codification of administrative procedures related to subdivision plat approvals required by state law (identified by staff as linked to legislative changes from 2025). The commission approved the ordinance on second reading.
- O-26-04: Amendments to zoning and land-use code to provide reasonable accommodations for certified recovery residences in response to a 2025 state law; staff said the change brings local code into compliance and the ordinance passed on second reading.

The commission also approved Resolution R-26-02 to restore a roughly 400-foot segment of Avenue Y Northeast to its platted name, Ware Avenue Northeast; staff said Polk County E911 will be notified to update emergency response records and that street signs will be installed at a small cost. Resolution R-26-03 approved a revised FDOT Local Agency Program (LAP) agreement for Roosevelt Drive complete-streets improvements, increasing the maximum reimbursement from $926,935 to $1,211,102. Staff noted $145,656 of local design costs already expended and said any bid shortfall would be the city's responsibility.

Most votes were taken by voice vote with no on-the-record roll-call tallies recorded in the meeting transcript. No public testimony was offered on the second-reading ordinances. Several items were advanced for future consideration, including first readings on rezoning (O-26-05), a CDD boundary contraction (O-26-06) and a budget-related appropriation (O-26-08) that will return for subsequent hearings.

The meeting materials and updated ordinances will be posted by city staff; anyone seeking the official vote tallies or ordinance texts should consult the city clerk’s office or the published meeting packet for the formal records.