This past year has indeed been one of change, challenge, and achievement for Eustis. So many issues were confronted by the city commission that we probably set a record for the number of workshops and meetings we held. The culmination to the year was a resounding kick off of the city’s 125^th birthday celebration as more than a thousand enjoyed the symphony concert in the park.

The year 2007 quickly brought change to the city with the seating of two new commissioners and a commitment to involve and be more responsive to the community.  Our approach shifted to slower, smarter and quality growth.  Our Finance Director served as interim city manager, and worked diligently with staff as we recruited and hired a new city manager. A new meeting format was developed to afford the public and committees the opportunity to speak at the beginning of meetings and handle agenda items more efficiently.  Despite the challenges that come with change, indeed a heightened spirit of cooperation, community service ! and new ideas can be felt throughout the community and within our proud staff.

Challenges were met in our Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations. In 2007 we ambitiously attacked this issue, hiring a special land use attorney and planning consultants to bring our Plan into compliance and to completely revise our regulations to ensure quality development for the future. To do this, a moratorium on new building was necessary and started in April. The City then faced litigation regarding this, which to the present, tests our political will.  On other fronts, we are faced and challenged with the lack of development on the Lake Community Foundation properties. Yet, we embrace the possibilities for  economic development in our downtown.  And, perhaps our greatest challenge, Mother Nature tested much of the community with tornados and drought.

With a rigorous schedule we met these challenges and then some.  With our planning consultants, our commercial development regulations were swiftly overhauled to end the halt on commercial building. Open space and development guidelines were also established to ensure quality residential growth.  Dialog was initiated with the County to designate and coordinate land use in the areas just outside our city in our Joint Planning Area, and with the State to comply with the Wekiva Protection mandates.

We are now engaged in an ambitious series of projects including a traffic circulation study for downtown, a Community Redevelopment Area update, a Kurt Street transportation study, and a downtown master plan. A downtown parking study was completed showing no immediate need for parking structures, and a preliminary Bike-Pedestrian trail plan for the city was started, intending to connect to a county wide trail system. We have also begun the active tree planting to enhance our tree canopy, and through grant monies improving downtown buildings with new facades. These projects are in line with the four successful visioning sessions we conducted to bring forth the desires of our residents on how the city is to look and grow. To prioritize and implement the many projects, the commission and staff undertook leadership and strategic planning workshops to develop an organizational action plan for 2012 and 2022, incorporating our core beliefs, missions and vision. 

Achievements were many this year.  The City was honored with a special statewide Tree City U.S.A. award, an award from the Lake County Water Alliance for exemplary and timely completion of storm water projects, and awards by the County for arts in our city. Recognizing the importance the arts in our community, the city funded and Ferran Park is now graced with a beautiful heron sculpture, the largest public art form in our county. Also we provided funding for the Trout Lake Nature Center, performing and fine arts, after school activities and sports, and expanded swimming pool hours.

Public Safety always remains a top priority and our police have implemented special community service teams, bicycle patrols and soon officers will have tasers. New equipment has also been purchased for our Fire Department. Also, the commissioners are  equipped with new lap top computers to a reduce paper and increase efficiency in our meetings and agendas.

Even with all the above improvements, given good fiscal management, this city lowered its millage rate by over 14%, kept water rates stable, and, for the eighteenth year received the Excellence in Financial Reporting award by the Government Financial Reporting Officers Association. Likewise, we maintained our strong fiscal position with an AAA bond rating and reserves to cover contingencies.

With such an abundance of activity ongoing and proud of the many treasures and accomplishments in our city, we submitted an essay to the League of Cities Awards program. We can all be proud that Eustis was one of 5 finalists from more than 400 cities in Florida, for the City of Excellence.

Along with the celebration of the city’s 125^th anniversary, the coming year will present us with a new set of hurdles –property tax reform, replacing retiring department heads and city attorney, to name a few.  I have every confidence that Eustis will triumph as a city of treasures as we work to implement our programs and projects, promote the development of our downtown and corridors, while protecting our friendly hometown charm. We have also begun exploring many exciting new opportunities for economic development.

Surmounting the tornados crises, the folks here have demonstrated their mettle and strong cohesiveness as a community of SPIRIT—one that can expect its city commission and staff to excel in  SERVICE,   PROFESSIONALISM,  INTEGRITY, RESULTS, INVOLVEMENT AND TEAMWORK.   I extend my gratitude to my fellow commissioners, city staff, volunteers, and the people of Eustis for their help in making this possible.

- James T. Rotella

  2007 Mayor