Oviedo may see regulations for bikes, e-bikes and more; annual budget adopted

If you or your children ride bicycles, electric bicycles, motorized scooters, skateboards,electric skateboards, hoverboards or similar micromobility devices in Oviedo, what you can and can’t do with them may soon be changing.

At its Sept. 21 meeting, the Oviedo City Council discussed new speed limits while on sidewalks and paths, where and when electric- and human-powered vehicles can be used, helmet and equipment requirements, and fines.

While no decisions on the actual ordinance were made, as the Council is waiting for neighboring Orange County’s decision on regulations, Council members will be tailoring regulations to the city’s needs over the coming weeks.

“I do think there is value, because we are so close to UCF — we are the closest city limit to UCF — there’s value in harmonizing, or even making identical, our ordinance with Orange County,” Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek said. 

The city had hoped the state would offer regulations last year, Teuchert said, but a bipartisan micromobility safety bill passed by the Florida legislature was vetoed in June by Gov. DeSantis. 

“The best thing we can do is match what our neighbors do,” Deputy Mayor Natalie Teuchert said. “We can’t do nothing, because we [continue] to have issues.”

If and when regulations are implemented, Deputy Police Chief Brian Foley said enforcement is expected to be more targeted than at random.

“Are we, as law enforcement — Oviedo Police Department specifically — going to say, ‘Hey, we need to start enforcing this sidewalk at this location?’” he said. “I really don’t see us doing that. What I see us doing is responding to a specific complaint.”

Potential penalties could include fines up to $250, Foley said. 

The Council is expected to discuss the plan further at its upcoming Sept. 28 work session, and have a public hearing at its Oct. 5 meeting, which will be after Orange County’s plan is expected to be released.

Councilmember Alan Ott said he would like to hear more from residents about the potential regulations.

“I think there are at least three different groups of people that this will impact,” he said. “We heard today from some adult e-bike riders. I think we also need to consider the parents of juvenile e-bike riders, I think we need to hear from them. And I think we also need to hear from people who use our sidewalks primarily as pedestrians, and are going to have these types of micromobility devices going past them, and hear their experiences.”

Amendment 3 webinar

Following its in-person Sept. 16 Amendment 3 information session, the City of Oviedo will be hosting a webinar about the upcoming vote on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

The amendment is also known as “Increased Homestead Exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non-Homestead Property Assessments,” and could lead to cuts to city operations and services if approved by voters. 

You can send in questions beforehand here. 

City adopts budget

The City of Oviedo officially adopted its 2026-27 budget and millage rate at its Council meeting on Sept. 21.

The millage rate of 5.6692 mills, or $566.92 per $100,000 of assessed property value, is a 3% decrease from last year’s rate of 5.8610. An additional rate of 0.1075 mills is for debt service of the 2003 General Obligation Bond, down from 0.1140 in last year’s budget, bringing the total millage to 5.7767, or $577.67 for each $100,000 of appraised value, and will result in nearly $25 million in property taxes as part of the city’s $102 million total annual budget. That total includes  a $986,000 contribution to the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency.

The adopted millage, with increases in property values factored in, will bring in about $231,000 more in revenues than the 2025-26 number, and is expected to accomplish the following, per the city:

• Maintain fiscal year 2025-26 service levels;
• Fund a 4% salary increase for general government employees;
• Fund a salary increase for police and fire bargaining unit employees;
• Fund an increase in benefits costs;
• Fund a 10% increase in workers compensation rates;
• Fund a 10% increase in general insurance rates;
• Fund increases in fixed costs such as leases, telephone, and utilities;
• Fund the vehicle replacement plan;
• Fund capital purchases for IT as recommended by the IT infrastructure and organizational assessment plan;
• Comply with the Government Finance Officers Association best practice of 16.67% target reserve fund balance;
• Complies with the city’s budget and financial policy of maintaining a minimum 15% reserve fund balance
• Fund the following capital items:
  • Fire – Fire Station 44/46 roll up door replacement;
  • Public Works – New flatbed Ford F550;
  • Recreation and Parks – Center Lake Park Veterans Tribute Area repairs;
  • Facility Maintenance – ADA handicap door operators;
  • Recreation and Parks – Aquatic Facility pump room wall holding tank design and repairs;
  • Recreation and Parks – Flood barriers for Riverside Park;
  • Recreation and Parks – Aquatic Facility Big Kahuna Pool filter replacement;
  • Recreation and Parks – Aquatics chemical controller replacements

While the budget was adopted, it does not mean it cannot be changed throughout the year.

“I do hope that as the year progresses, we will maybe do some budget adjustments and listen to residents in ways that we might be able to spend more efficiently, but I love that we are collecting no more [in terms of millage rate] this year than last year,” Mayor Sladek said.