The Emerging Youth Advisory Council exists to provide opportunities for youth to increase their knowledge of civic education through practical, hands-on experience. The group plays an active role in the community through engaging with City departments, community organizations, and local events. These experiences shed light on procedures, issues, and community relations for the youth to gain insights from and give constructive feedback to positively invest into their community.

During the summer months, the Emerging Youth Advisory Council (EYAC) is touring all of the municipal departments. June 23, 2017, the EYAC were delighted to experience a “behind the scenes” tour of the Haines City Police Department and Haines City Fire Department. The group, along with adult volunteers, had unique and memorable experiences with both departments!

If you are a student or know a student in the 8th grade or above and are interested in joining the Emerging Youth Advisory Council, simply complete an Advisory Board Application and send it to the City Clerk’s Office located at The City Hall, at 620 East Main Street, Haines City, FL 33844. The City of Haines City values the voices of the next generation and wants you to invest in the present and future of your community! We look forward to speaking with you about the possible opportunity for you to gain exponential experience and knowledge by being part of the EYAC. Please call City Clerk Linda Bourgeois at (863) 421-9921 for additional information.

The City of Haines City Information Technology (I.T.) staff is proud to announce improvements to the audio and video systems throughout the organization. These improvements provide quality of life enhancements to citizens and visitors.

I.T. staff worked with The Integration Factory who installed the original system to install a handheld wireless microphone in the Commission Chambers. This microphone is available for those citizens attending public meetings who do not have the ability to stand at the podium to address commission members or other presiding officials at the dais.

In addition to the wireless microphone, The Integration Factory, with the assistance of Haines City’s Facilities Maintenance Staff, installed a second projector and screen in the Commission Chambers for the audience. This provides the audience easier readability of information being presented during public meetings.

November 3rd, 2016, the City of Haines City opened RFP #161001 seeking services for improving the customer experience throughout the Lake Eva Park complex by upgrading and installing audio/video systems. The multi-year plan includes adding audio throughout the Lake Eva Park for the City’s outdoor events including synchronized control rooms in two locations along with eight outdoor speaker zones. Additionally, the plan calls for upgrading the Event Center Audio/Visual equipment to an easier to use and more reliable system and adding both teleconferencing capabilities and digital signage to the Lake Eva Event Center. The City awarded the bid to BCI Integrated Solutions.

BCI began upgrading the A/V system at the Lake Eva Event Center in May of 2017. The new A/V system includes touch panels in each of the three rooms. These touch panels control audio and video inputs as well as the lighting in each room. The Lake Eva Event Center staff is now able to use the A/V system more efficiently during scheduled events.

The Lake Eva Park Stage upgrade includes the installation of four speakers, a touch panel, XLR inputs, and an A/V rack to house the components of the stage. This stage upgrade provides a professional audio system for all stage events.  The new stage speakers ensure everyone on the Great Lawn clearly hears the stage performance.

Additionally, staff and BCI are working this summer to install speakers around Lake Eva Park.  These additional speakers provide audio coverage for stage events from the 3rd Street parking lot to both playgrounds and along the beachfront to the dock.  Future phases of this project will expand the speaker system from the parking lot on Ledwith Avenue all the way to the Event Center. In addition to broadcasting events from the stage, this system allows the City to play music in the park as background music or for other events such as Glitter, Glisten, and Snow.

To provide significant cost savings to this project, City departments are working together and completing aspects of the project instead of outsourcing the work. Parks and Facilities Staff are digging the trenches and laying the conduit. This results in an estimated cost savings for the City of $30,000. 

HCPD - Keeping Up With Public Safety!

Deputy Chief Jim Elensky and Accreditation Manager Tyrone Wilson attended the final review for their re-certification regarding CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies). CALEA is the gold standard in Public Safety. The Final Review is was in Providence, Rhode Island. Deputy Chief Elensky stood before the Board Saturday, July 29, 2017.

We are grateful the Haines City Police Department is taking steps to continue learning and growing in order to make the Haines City area as safe as possible!

A Haines City Utility Operator’s job can be very rewarding. Pablo Correa rescued a large osprey from the Reuse Outlet Structure Saturday, July 22nd. As Pablo was collecting samples from the reuse pond, he noticed the large bird in distress. He realized the bird was trapped and could not get out of the structure. Pablo began talking to the bird to let him know it was going to be okay. He then got a shovel and the bird climbed onto it and was lifted to safety. The bird quickly bonded with Pablo and followed him around, even allowing Pablo to pet him. After drying out and receiving much affection from the staff, the bird flew off to soar once again... Thank you Pablo!!! Check out pictures from the rescue below!