City of Wildwood, Florida

09/16/2026

At its meeting on Monday, Wildwood’s city commission proclaimed September 17–23, 2026, as Constitution Week. Shown here, Mayor Ed Wolf presents the official document to Caroly Karcher and Lin Meeker from the John Bartram Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, September 17, 2026, marks the two hundred and thirty-ninth anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention; and,

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary; and to the patriotic celebrations which will commemorate the occasion; and,

WHEREAS, Public Law 915 guarantees the issuing of a proclamation each year by the President of the United States of America designating September 17th through the 23rd as Constitution Week.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Commission of the City of Wildwood, Florida, that the week of September 17–23, 2026, be, and is hereby proclaimed as CONSTITUTION WEEK and urge all citizens to study the Constitution and reflect on the privilege of being an American with all the rights and responsibilities
which that privilege involves.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have PASSED and DULY ADOPTED this 14th day of September 2026.

CITY COMMISSION
CITY OF WILDWOOD, FLORIDA

09/15/2026

The next golf cart safety class is will be held 9/29/26. This is a great program for both novice and seasoned operators, taught by Wildwood's own traffic safety team.

🚨Registration is open for the Wildwood Police Department’s next Golf Cart Safety Class! 🚨

Join us to learn about local and state laws, equipment and registration requirements, permitted areas, right-of-way rules, traffic signage, and tips for safely sharing the road with pedestrians and bicyclists. We will also introduce our new Golf Cart Motor Vehicle Index (GCMVI) registry program. For more information, please visit https://www.wildwood-fl.gov/405/Golf-Cart-Safety-Class-and-Registry-Prog

📅 Tuesday, September 29, 2026
⏰ 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
📍 Ezell Recreation, 769 Marilee Pl.

Registration is required. To reserve your seat, email [email protected].

Whether you are a new golf cart owner or an experienced driver, this free class is a great opportunity to refresh your knowledge and help keep Wildwood’s roads safe! 💙🚓

09/15/2026

WILDWOOD OFFICIALS APPROVE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE AND BUDGET

Wildwood's city commission last night approved a tentative fiscal year 2027 millage rate and budget. The 5-0 vote followed public hearings on both items.

The tentative millage rate of 2.8282 is the same as the past three years and the lowest in the city’s history. As still tentative, the rate can be reduced and the budget can be subsequently modified before the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1. The public has a second opportunity to weigh in at the commission's Sept. 28 meeting before the final vote.

Per state law, Wildwood must balance its budget each year, meaning proposed expenditures cannot exceed projected revenues.

Because November’s election ballot will include a question regarding property tax exemptions, the amount of revenue the city actually receives may differ substantially. As a result, city officials considered two proposed spending plans during budget workshops in August.

The commission tentatively adopted the plan based on the current property tax structure with the understanding that a budget amendment will be necessary immediately after the November election should the relevant ballot question pass.

"We want feedback," said City Manager Jason McHugh. "Please tell us what you think now, because there is still time to make adjustments if it will benefit our community."

The tentative budget can be found with additional financial information in the city's online transparency center at wildwood-fl.gov.

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09/14/2026

WILDWOOD OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE EMPLOYEE ARREST AND TERMINATION

City of Wildwood officials today announced the arrest and termination of a city employee following an internal investigation into theft of city property.

“This is difficult news to deliver,” said City Manager Jason McHugh. “When an employee betrays the trust of not only their colleagues and supervisors but the public at large, it is beyond disappointing. Those emotions, however, cannot stand in the way of taking immediate action to right the wrong.”

Monday afternoon, Wildwood police took Gabriella Ascione into custody on charges of larceny and unauthorized use of computer. Those charges follow an internal investigation into reported discrepancies in city facility rental documentation involving approximately $23,000.

Ascione had served as the parks and recreation events manager since February 2024. She previously worked as the department’s office manager and had been employed by the City of Wildwood since August 2023.

The investigation and arrest came after Parks and Recreation Director Courtney Kellem received a report last month regarding discrepancies in certain cash transaction records. Kellem promptly conducted an internal review in collaboration with city financial officials and immediately contacted law enforcement upon confirming the abnormalities. Kellem and other city personnel cooperated fully throughout the formal investigation.

City officials will continue a thorough review of past transactions to identify any other potential discrepancies and plan to pursue all available options to recover missing assets. The city has further separated financial tasks within all departments to provide additional controls and oversight. A new enterprise resource planning system is being implemented that offers enhanced security protocols and other safeguards beyond those in the current system.

“The City of Wildwood has zero tolerance for theft and misuse of property,” McHugh said. “We are stewards of public resources and must hold ourselves accountable each and every day. I thank my leadership team and their staff for moving quickly, doing the right thing, and correcting this situation. We will continue to work toward total transparency in all of our conduct and operations, and we will do everything we can to earn and maintain community trust.”

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09/11/2026

Wildwood’s city commission will meet Monday, 9/14/26, at 7 p.m. in City Hall. The meeting will include a public hearing on the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027.

Get the agenda at https://www.wildwood-fl.gov/202/Agendas-Minutes.

The meeting is open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to attend. To log in from a computer or mobile device, go to https://gotomeet.me/wildwood.

09/09/2026

In case you missed it:

COMMISSIONER’S CORNER: MARCOS FLORES

This month, Mayor Pro Tem Marcos Flores shares some insight into how city government works, where to find important information, and how to get involved. He also shares his perspective on recent questions from the community and how he and the city commission are working to position Wildwood as a model for smart growth while serving an expanding, multifaceted population.

What is the difference between the city commission and the city manager? Who does what?

The city’s charter defines the city manager as responsible to the commission for the administration of all city affairs placed in his or her charge.

To put it simply, the city commission hears from residents and community members about concerns or issues and brings them to the city manager, who then addresses those issues in collaboration with his staff.

For example, if someone tells me about a flooded road in their neighborhood, I let the manager know and he works with our public works team to investigate the concern. If they discover a leaking water main in the city’s right-of-way, they repair it. If they discover the issue originates on private property, they address it with the property owner.

That’s a simple example, but the process is similar for more complex issues.
. . Read the entire interview at https://fl-wildwood.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/1023/September-2026.

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09/04/2026

City of Wildwood offices will be closed on Monday for Labor Day.

In the event of an emergency, please call 911.

09/02/2026

Our website, wildwood-fl.gov, is getting a makeover this morning.

In the event you experience a brief interruption in access, we apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

It should be up and looking refreshed soon.

09/01/2026

Read it all at https://tinyurl.com/WWConnectionSep2026

The September 2026 edition of the Wildwood Connection is out! In this issue:

- Commissioner’s Corner: Marcos Flores
- Public Urged to Weigh in on Proposed Budget: Hearings Set for Sept. 14 and 28
- City Looks to New DAVCO™ Plant for Added Capacity While Water Reclamation - Facility Construction Is Underway
- WPD to Host Annual Golf Tournament
- Upcoming Programs and Events
- Upcoming Meetings
- A Look at Wildwood History
- Mondays with the Manager 9/21/26
- City Information

To get future news delivered directly to your inbox or mobile device, go to Wildwood-fl.gov, click on Alerts, and sign up for Wildwood News.

08/20/2026

Wildwood’s city commission will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, at City Hall. Find the agenda at https://www.wildwood-fl.gov/bc/page/agendas-and-minutes-city-commission-cra-and-planning-boards

The public is welcome to attend in person or remotely. To log on from a computer or mobile device, go to
https://www.wildwood-fl.gov/community/page/virtual-meeting-information