The St. Cloud Council meeting Thursday ended with a discussion on whether the city should support establishing the Osceola County Expressway Authority, which is already a part of two bills in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate.

The City Council first discussed the possible expressway authority during its retreat over the weekend. The bills – sponsored by Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, and Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando – would create the county entity to allow for the eventual creation of Poinciana Parkway as well as an extension of Osceola Parkway to Narcoossee Road and beyond and State Road 417 around St. Cloud to the south to connect with Florida’s Turnpike.

Mayor Donna Hart, who was asked to talk with Horner and the city’s lobbyist for more information on the bill, said she was OK with the authority and didn’t think it represented a threat to the city.

“I don’t really think we should be opposing the Osceola Expressway Authority,” Hart said. “I don’t want to get in there and say St. Cloud opposes this.”

Hart argued that, as expressway authorities stood now, the one governing Orange County and Orlando’s roads could build a road through St. Cloud with Osceola County’s permission, without involving the city. Creating a local authority would create rules giving St. Cloud more say in the process.

Councilman Jarom Fertic questioned the funding for the authority, which wouldn’t use the gas tax, but instead, a long-established motor vehicle tax. The 80 percent of that tax, which is retained by the state, would be funneled into the new expressway authority, with the state Department of Transportation handling much of the initial staffing and start-up expenses needed initially.

The language in the Senate’s version of the bill allows for the eventual creation of a regional expressway authority, in which Osceola County would have less say, council members said. If the city pushed for regional authority to include more than just Orange and Osceola counties, the smaller counties could work together to prevent Orange County from overpowering the rest, Hart said.

The council eventually agreed to push for the House version of the bill, which is more favorable to Osceola County given its local sponsorship through Horner, and authorize its lobbyist to ask any questions and obtain as much information on the bill as possible.

CyberSpot referendum

The final language of a nonbinding referendum polling St. Cloud residents for their opinion on the reinstatement of CyberSpot, the city’s public WiFi, was decided Thursday. The referendum, to go on the Nov. 2 ballot, will explain that the public access portion of the service was terminated in February and ask residents to vote in favor of or against reinstatement of the service, given an assessment or tax increase to pay for it.

Council members argued previously that CyberSpot should have its own dedicated funding to avoid the political volleying over its existence every budget season. The council took out language in the referendum that explained the service would cost the city $225,000 annually.

The ordinance to establish the referendum, which can’t legally bind the council to any specific action, passed unanimously.

Bullet signs and pigs

Council members also passed the first reading of two ordinances to grant more allowances within the city.

The first would allow businesses to use one bullet or portable ground sign, no larger than 4 square feet, on their property to promote their specials, services or sales. The proposed ordinance, which would sunset after a provisional 180 days, came after a discussion regarding pervasive use of the signs, with local businesses arguing for their necessity. The council hopes that allowing the signs, which will still have to stay off public rights of way, will help businesses in the difficult economy.

The second proposed ordinance, this one allowing pot-bellied pigs within city limits, passed through its first reading with a 3-2 vote, with council members Mickey Hopper and Tom Griffin voting against it. Hopper said allowing a pig within the city, despite the fact that the breed in question is known for being a good pet, could create a snowball effect to where the council might allow goats and chickens to be kept as pets.

The change to the city’s animal ordinance came about after a St. Cloud family, who has kept a pot-bellied pig for the last five years and unaware it wasn’t allowed, came to the council. The discussion prompted Fertic to question the agricultural zoning designation within the city, which per the animal ordinance would not allow residents to keep wild hogs, even in the short-term for consumption. The council agreed to discuss the issue at a later date.

Each of the proposed ordinances will go through one more public hearing.