City Services

The City is governed by a City Commission/City Manager system. Five commissioners are elected at-large to serve alternating four-year terms. The Mayor is chosen yearly from among the five. The commission employs a city manager, who oversees all aspects of running our active City. The City and its various departments can be reached at P.O. Box 1507, Haines City Florida 33845 or by calling (863) 421-3600.

The City itself has grown to 18.3 square miles, by annexing thousands of acres in the past five years, to now be recognized as the third largest city in Polk County. To service the growth, the City has increased its staff by 32 positions, for a total of 247 employees, for the 2006-2007 fiscal year. Their 2006-2007 budget of $37,007,045 allows City staff to continue the exceptional level of service residents are accustomed to. Additionally, Community Redevelopment Area funding is being utilized to implement plans to renovate city parks, revitalize the historic downtown and upgrade neighborhood amenities

Public Library
Haines City participates in a cooperative library program with Polk County, greatly enhancing the resources available at the local branch. The library, located at 303 Ledwith Avenue, offers almost 50,000 books, DVD’s videos, audio books and periodicals. Through Polk County’s cooperative online catalog, patrons can access material at any of the other 13 county libraries.

The library is open over 50 hours per week, every day except Sunday. Children’s programs, offered several times a week, cover a variety of informative topics. Library patrons can access the internet free of charge during regular library hours. Call (863)421-3633 for more information.

Parks and Recreation
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department offers programs and activities for residents and visitors alike. Its Community Center houses a modern nautilus exercise center, baskeball court, aerobics center, and meeting rooms. Swim lessons and tournaments are hosted at the adjacent community pool. The Civic Center can be rented out for weddings, reunions and other special events. In addition, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department organizes several annual festivals and events. Refer to the Directory’s Endless Events section for a description and calendar of events or call the department at (863)421-3700 for program details.

Fire Protection
Haines City operates a full-time, paid Fire & Rescue Department out of its main station in downtown Haines City. The 29 employees protect and serve an area of over 19 square miles. Staff responded to over 3,000 calls in 2005, of which 80% were emergency medical calls.

The three platoons rotate 24-hour shifts (24 hours on - 48 hours off duty, averaging 56 hours per week). All employees are state certified firefighters and licensed emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

The department’s Fire Prevention Bureau performs annual fire safety inspections for all occupancies within the City limits (one and two family residential units excluded) and reviews plans for all new construction and developments.

The Haines City Fire & Rescue Department’s short-range plans include a new north end fire station, a new pumper and three additional firefighters. Long range plans include a south end fire station, six additional firefighters and fire suppression vehicle.

Police Protection
In 1992, the Haines City Police Department was the first law enforcement agency in Polk County and the 10th Judicial Circuit to be granted national accreditation by the Commission of Law Enforcement Agency. The department also earned an accreditation from the Commission on Florida Accreditation in 1998. Accreditation acknowledges a high degree of efficiency and dedication to public protection, a hallmark of the local department.

Fifty-five of the 76 employees are sworn officers, blanketing the City with patrol cars, state-of-the-art investigative equipment, crime reduction unit, crime prevention program and school resource officers.

The department operates 24-hours per day out of their new facility at 35400 Highway 27. Their state-of-the-art equipment and enhanced 9-1-1 Emergency System keep the department informed and connected to city and county emergency response units.

Utilities
The City provides water and wastewater services to its residents and several thousand more within the City’s service area. City residents are provided refuse pick-up and recycling along with their City water service. Outside the City limits, Polk County provides refuse pick up and recycling to county residents within the City’s service area. Call (863)421-3600 for City utility information.

In addition to its responsibility of maintaining safe drinking water and treating our community’s wastewater, the City’s public works department follows an aggressive sidewalk replacement and street repair program. The department’s new street sweeping machine will keep the streets litter-free and lessen the amount of debris carried with storm water runoff into our streams and lakes.