Mayor & Commission Sign Resolution Standing Against Racism and Establishing Community Dialogue Workshops

Mayor and Commission Sign Resolution Strongly Affirming and Strengthening the City’s Resolve Against Racism and Discrimination, and Establishing  Community Dialogue Workshops

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 15, 2020

WINTER SPRINGS, FL – The City of Winter Springs is consistently ranked as one of the top safest cities across the State of Florida.  It is of the utmost importance to the City and the Winter Springs Police Department that our community is inclusive and feels safe and protected.  The recent events that have occurred across the nation remind us that we as a nation must strengthen our resolve against racism and unjust discrimination so all people are afforded equal justice under the law.  We can only achieve the desired results of protecting and serving the public by continuously training at the highest standards and regularly evaluating our performance and processes by engaging in an open and transparent dialogue with our community.

At the July 13th City Commission meeting, the Winter Springs Mayor and City Commission adopted and signed a Resolution “affirming that all persons are constitutionally guaranteed due process and equal protection under the law, free of racism and unjust and arbitrary discrimination in all forms.”  As a matter of policy, the Resolution states the “City’s commitment to continuously and vigorously strengthen and foster within the organization and community at large human dignity, equality, diversity, inclusivity and equal justice under the law.” 

The Resolution also establishes an annual Community Dialogue Workshop.  This annual workshop will be conducted in a round table format consisting of the Mayor, Commission, and citizens of diverse backgrounds.  During these workshop meetings, the City Manager, Chief of Police, and other staff will conduct a self-assessment of the City’s policies and practices by engaging the community in an open and transparent dialogue about successful policies and practices and policies and practices that can be improved.  

The goal of this Resolution is to regularly solicit community input for purposes of developing and maintaining an action plan that continuously improves the City’s policies and practices for the betterment of the overall community consistent with the City’s resolve to vigorously fight against racism and unjust and arbitrary discrimination in all forms.  The City believes that actions, not just words, will achieve positive results.

For more information about this press release or Community Dialogue Workshops, please reach out to Brooke Rissi at brissi@winterspringsfl.org.