Commissioner Paul Diaz votes against resolution keeping Winter Springs as a city

In an unusual move, the Winter Springs City Commission passed a non-binding resolution Monday that the city was “firmly in support” of continuing as a city – but one commissioner voted against it. 

Commissioner Paul Diaz voted against the resolution in support of keeping Winter Springs as a city. Diaz didn’t address why he voted against the item from the dais.

But in an email to Oviedo Community News, Diaz said Winter Springs isn’t under any real threat of dissolution. He called the resolution “purely symbolic — government theater.”

“To be clear, I am not advocating for dissolution,” Diaz wrote. “I’m advocating for real governance over performance politics. If a serious proposal were ever to emerge in the future, I would evaluate it — as I do everything — based on facts, fairness, and what best serves the long-term interests of residents. But I won’t sign on to blanket political declarations for the sake of appearances.”

Commissioner Paul Diaz, right, voted against a resolution in support of Winter Springs continuing to exist as a city. (Abe Aboraya, Oviedo Community News)

Winter Springs Mayor Kevin McCann said there’s been a lot of “noise” on social media about dissolving the city and absorbing it into the county. He called it a “vote of confidence by the commissioners that they do not want to see the city broken up.”

“There’s rumors been going around for a long time, and some people are calling for it (the city to be unincorporated),” McCann said. 

At Monday’s meeting, Commissioner Mark Caruso asked the city to create a resolution in support of existing as a municipality. 

“I wanted to show the residents we’re keeping our city the way we have it and not just blatantly giving up to the county,” Caruso said. “I wanted to have that reassurance that we’re here to do our job and better our community.”

The resolution, which you can read here, says that the City Commission “is firmly committed to preserving the City’s status as a municipal corporation to safeguard and advance our citizen’s constitutional right to self governance through home rule.” 

Dissolving a city in Florida is not a simple process. According to state law, it would require a special act of the Florida Legislature. It could also be done with a vote by the CIty Commission that would also have to be approved by voters. 

McCann said he would also like to see a resolution in support of keeping the Winter Springs Police Department. 

“There’s a lot of talk about breaking up the police department too and going with the sheriff,” McCann said. 

Diaz also added that the resolution signals how commissioners could vote on a hypothetical future issue. 

“That’s not responsible governance — that’s performance politics,” Diaz wrote. 

You can view the video of the vote here. Check here for contact info for Winter Springs City Commissioners.