Dissent at Orlando's city council is a rare thing. In fact, it's so rare that we can list every single no vote over the last 18 months or so, starting when the interlocal agreement between Orlando and Orange County for the new arena, performing arts center and renovated Citrus Bowl passed. That day — July 23, 2007 — only commissioner Phil Diamond voted no. Actually, he did it twice. Here are the rest:
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Aug. 6, 2007: Commissioner Patty Sheehan votes against a proposed rezoning of a planned development.
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Sept. 10, 2007: Commissioner Robert Stuart opposes an ordinance to limit blue-box panhandling to daylight hours.
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Oct. 15, 2007: Commissioner Daisy Lynum votes "no" on a consent agenda item ranking consultants for the venues project.
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Dec. 3, 2007: Diamond logs another vote against the new arena, this time voting against a use agreement.
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Feb. 4, 2008: Stuart votes against an industrial park rezoning. Also, Diamond's proposed amendment to an affordable housing ordinance — he wanted the city to study the impacts of subsidized housing before doing it — gets shot down 6-1.
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Feb. 14, 2008: Diamond opposes city incentives for a downtown development. Stuart votes no on adding town homes and a hotel to an existing MRI building at the Orlando Medical Plaza.
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March 3, 2008: Lynum votes against the appointment of Michael Grandstaff to the Downtown Development Board. Diamond votes no on converting an existing commercial lot into three lots with a road, and also against an amendment to the city's growth management plan. Stuart votes against hanging banners for the Bright House Networks Fiesta Medina 2008.
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May 5, 2008: Lynum votes against an agreement to construct a new police training facility.
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June 2, 2008: Diamond opposes a new apartment complex near Boone High School.
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June 23, 2008: Diamond votes against an ordinance increasing fees for various permits.
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July 21, 2008: Diamond, and Diamond alone, opposes raising property taxes.
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Aug. 4, 2008: Commissioners Diamond, Stuart and Tony Ortiz oppose the construction of another mixed-use high-rise downtown. The mayor votes to break the 3-3 tie and move the project ahead.
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Sept. 8, 2008: The same high-rise passes on second reading, with only Stuart and Diamond opposed. Also, Sheehan, Ings and Lynum vote against a motion to defer a hearing regarding Eola Park Centre. The mayor, again, broke the tie.
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Sept. 15, 2008: Stuart votes against the Eola Park Centre's conditional agreement.
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Nov. 3, 2008: Lynum opposes a parking staffing services contract to Lanier Parking Solutions.
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Nov. 17, 2008: Ings opposes a $30,000 contract with a law firm to represent the city in its appeal against the First Vagabonds Church of God over the failed homeless feeding ordinance.
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Dec. 8, 2008: Diamond votes against budget amendments needed to close out the former fiscal year's budget.
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Dec. 15, 2008: Diamond votes against the downtown movie theater completion agreement, which would give the developers a $6 million loan.
