Last week, the Sentinel ran a story on how gas prices were negatively impacting business along 192 in Kissimmee. Two thoughts immediately sprang to mind...
1) Gas prices did it? 192 in Kissimmee has been in decline for years, at least since the hurricanes in 2004.
2) Oh, the Sentinel meant West 192, which is not in Kissimmee. Guess they've been believing all that "Kissimmee means Tourism, Osceola County means Business" silliness being spewed out of certain county offices. Note to Kissimmee commissioners: if this is true, you should start annexing all of those tourism locations that you hold the brand for and resolve the city's tax income problem.
We went back to the Sentinel's online forum later in the week to check in on things, and found a couple of interesting entries (from the same user account) on the issue:
Now, we all know that you just can't trust those online blogs, so we'd like to see some evidence of the 3-9 month permitting process. But imagine for a second that it's true. This seems like a quick fix that can be done Right Now (caps intended). Each department could include in their department goals (which are under review right now by a commission that has probably never read them) "complete needed business permit work within x days per application" and yes, that's days, not weeks, not months.
If someone wants to open a business in our community, provide jobs, pay taxes, and occupy an otherwise vacant building, don't we owe it to them to make the yes/no question on permits as streamlined a process as possible? Or maybe it is more important to give them secret code names instead of improving the process?
Making the process more simplified and less restrictive is Economic Development 101, folks. Feel free to come up with a catchy slogan (or a secret code name) if you really need one.
1) Gas prices did it? 192 in Kissimmee has been in decline for years, at least since the hurricanes in 2004.
2) Oh, the Sentinel meant West 192, which is not in Kissimmee. Guess they've been believing all that "Kissimmee means Tourism, Osceola County means Business" silliness being spewed out of certain county offices. Note to Kissimmee commissioners: if this is true, you should start annexing all of those tourism locations that you hold the brand for and resolve the city's tax income problem.
We went back to the Sentinel's online forum later in the week to check in on things, and found a couple of interesting entries (from the same user account) on the issue:
There's more going on here than just high gas prices. Just look at the 192 strip-it's trashy! The only hotels in Kissimmee are low budget dives that are not particularly a "family atmosphere" but rather look more like a "criminal atmosphere". There's an abundance of pawn shops, check cashing businesses (not that they look bad) and closed up businesses. Many businesses are relocating to Osceola Parkway and the Loop area because it's nicer and more vibrant and partially because the City of Kissimmee's process for putting in new businesses is so cumbersome and difficult that it's not worth the trouble. The City of Kissimmee offers no incentives to attract new businesses and quality lodging that would in turn attract people to patronize other local businesses....and...
There needs to be a balance between the big box stores like Walmart and the smaller businesses that have quality items-there is a market for both. It all goes back to attracting businesses. I work for the City of Kissimmee and know 1st hand how difficult it is to get a business/project approved. The department I work in has had some small projects that required permitting.
It took any where from 3-9 months to jump through all the hoops for permits-and that's for another City department! I can only imagine how difficult it is for an individual or business to get off the ground with all the red tape. Don't get me wrong, I understand the need for approvals because of code compliance, etc. but Kissimmee gets out of hand!
Now, we all know that you just can't trust those online blogs, so we'd like to see some evidence of the 3-9 month permitting process. But imagine for a second that it's true. This seems like a quick fix that can be done Right Now (caps intended). Each department could include in their department goals (which are under review right now by a commission that has probably never read them) "complete needed business permit work within x days per application" and yes, that's days, not weeks, not months.
If someone wants to open a business in our community, provide jobs, pay taxes, and occupy an otherwise vacant building, don't we owe it to them to make the yes/no question on permits as streamlined a process as possible? Or maybe it is more important to give them secret code names instead of improving the process?
Making the process more simplified and less restrictive is Economic Development 101, folks. Feel free to come up with a catchy slogan (or a secret code name) if you really need one.
6 comments:
All this is well stated, even as, sadly, the COK Commissioners and staff go to Tampa to compete in the "All-American" city fiasco.
Vacant businesses, pawn shops, crime along 192 started well before the property amendments.
The homeless, panhandlers are out of control. Drive by the gas station located at the SW corner of 192 and John Young Pky and you will see what I mean.
The Commissioners need to forget about the All-American city tag and get to solving real problems such as jump starting the 192 corridor.
If the All-American city judges happen to drive by and take a look at the city they will probably scratch thier heads, laugh and ask us to leave.
I see where Van Meter and Gemskie are the two commissioners going to the all american city tryouts.
Obviously they are desperate to try and go before the voters in August and tell everyone "see what I brought to the City."
Meanwhile back at the city, 192 restaurants stay shut. And the seedy hotels stay open.
If slums are the new hot spot for tourism, then 192 is the hottest spot in Florida.
Have you heard that van Meter will drop out of County and re-run for City? Please tell me it isn't so. There is a good chance the citizens can elect 3 new faces and turn this city around.
Swan, Van Meter, Gemskie... they all must go. They are all arrogant and condescending.
We need new leaders, a new city manager all with fresh ideas and enthusiasm. The current city manager has been here way to long.
The current officials have had their run and failed miserably.
So to all who read this site. It is time too elect new leaders and not keep the status quo.
What difference does it make where Van Meter runs. She's a loser no matter whether City or County. She has failed misarably and so has Wendell Mckinnon. Their records speak for themselves.
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