Oviedo Council Signals Support for Central Florida Pledge, Resolution Planned
At its December 1, 2025 meeting the Oviedo City Council agreed to pursue joining the Central Florida Pledge Business Network and directed staff to prepare a formal resolution for the December agenda. The move, described by Mayor Megan Sladek and council members as a public commitment to dignity and respect and to modeling civil discourse, would make Oviedo the first city in Seminole County to adopt the pledge if approved.
The Oviedo City Council took a preliminary step toward formally joining the Central Florida Pledge Business Network at its December 1, 2025 meeting, signaling support and asking city staff to draft a resolution for the council to consider later this month. Council leaders framed the pledge as a public commitment to treating all people with dignity and respect and to modeling civil discourse in public life.
Joel Hunter, chairman of the Central Florida Pledge, told council members the network was formed in response to rising divisiveness and already counts members from government, law enforcement, education and business. Council discussion emphasized the symbolic and practical value of a municipal endorsement, and noted that adoption would make Oviedo the first city in Seminole County to sign on.
City staff were directed to prepare an action item and formal resolution for the council agenda in December so the pledge could be formally adopted. The procedural step means council members will next vote on language that would place the city alongside regional institutions that have joined the network.
For local residents the potential adoption is primarily about civic tone and community standards. A city endorsement would signal to municipal employees, local businesses, schools and law enforcement partners that Oviedo intends to prioritize respectful engagement and civil discourse. Council members said the pledge would act as a model for public meetings and community interactions, and could influence how the city frames public outreach and interagency cooperation.
The move also reflects a regional response to a wider problem described by the pledge network, where leaders across sectors are seeking shared commitments to reduce polarization and maintain civility. Whether through formal training, public messaging or standards for conduct at public events, the council’s decision to seek a resolution indicates an intent to make those values explicit in Oviedo governance.
The council is expected to take up the resolution during its December agenda, where a formal vote would determine whether Oviedo becomes the first Seminole County city to join the Central Florida Pledge Business Network.
