There’s been all kinds of news about change coming to the Disney Company recently — but more important updates could be on the way.

Bob Iger is sticking around as CEO for longer than originally expected, linear networks like ABC could be heading in a different direction in the future, and we’ve seen Iger go from “hero” to “villain” in just a few hours. But there’s more to come — this time related to the former Reedy Creek Improvement District (now Central Florida Tourism Oversight District). Just what’s next for this District and what does July 26th have to do with it? Let’s break it all down.

Board Meeting

For starters, July 26th marks the next major meeting for the District’s leaders — the Board of Supervisors that have been appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis. The meeting will take place at the District’s Administration Building at 9:30AM and we expect a livestream will be available just as it has been in the past.

During the meeting, the Board is set to address a number of issues that could result in some important impacts within the District, so let’s go over the biggest ones.

Lawsuit News

One of the things that will be addressed during the upcoming meeting is the various lawsuits the Board is involved in with Disney. First, there is a federal lawsuit that Disney filed against DeSantis, members of the Board, and more. That lawsuit alleges that the Governor has waged a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” against Disney.

But there is also a state court lawsuit that the Board filed against Disney. This lawsuit focuses on the development agreements Disney entered into with the prior Board (before the DeSantis-appointed one came into power) which the current Board claims stripped them of their power.

Both of these lawsuits are still pending and we’ll address their current status in a minute, but one important thing to note is that after the “regular” business of the July 26th meeting is conducted, the Board is set to have a “closed session” with its Acting General Counsel about the pending lawsuits. Essentially, this will be a private meeting that we won’t be able to watch via the livestream or otherwise.

On the Board’s meeting agenda, it notes that this particular closed session was requested by the Acting General Counsel to “discuss strategy and settlement negotiations” related to the federal and state court cases.

The persons who will attend this closed meeting will be the “Board of Supervisor members, Chair – Martin Garcia, Vice-Chair – Charbel Barakat, Brian Aungst, Jr., Ron Peri, and Bridget Ziegler; District Administrator Glenton Gilzean; Acting General Counsel Daniel Langley and A. Kurt Ardaman; and litigation counsel Paul Huck.”

What’s particularly interesting is that it notes potential “settlement negotiations” could be discussed. That’s not all that surprising as a settlement can often provide a quick and quiet way to end a case. But it is still interesting to see.

In terms of the lawsuits themselves, here’s where things stand. In the federal case filed by Disney, DeSantis and the other Defendants filed a motion (and/or documents in support thereof) to dismiss Disney’s case in late June. DeSantis insisted that Disney can’t sue him for a number of reasons and the Board argued that the case should be stayed until the state court lawsuit is resolved (among other things).

Disney has until July 26th to respond to the motion to dismiss. So July 26th could REALLY be a big day. After Disney’s response, the Defendants will have the chance to reply until August 9th, 2023, and then we could get a hearing set in the matter to see just how the case will move forward (if it’ll be allowed to move forward at all).

In terms of the state court case, Disney filed a motion to dismiss there — arguing that a Florida law signed by DeSantis basically makes the complaint moot. The matter was later set for hearing and that hearing was held on July 14th. Both sides were then asked to provide the court with their own proposed orders on the matter by July 19th. Based on some documentation filed with the court, it seems both Disney and the Board have submitted their competing proposed orders.

Now, it will be up to the Judge to determine how they want to rule. Once an order is issued on this matter, we’ll also get more clarification as to how things will move forward there (if at all).

Firefighter Agreement

July 26th could be important for reasons beyond the Reedy Creek lawsuits though. One of the other matters on the Board of Supervisors’ agenda is to address the Collective Bargaining Agreement with part of the Reedy Creek Firefighters.

Previously, a contract had initially been approved by first responders and firefighters that promised better staffing and pay raises in Reedy Creek. Then, suddenly, contract negotiations were reopened.

Jon Shirey, who leads the firefighters’ union, slammed his union members for sharing the proposed contract, saying that it pressured the new District administrator not to sign it as other public officials started to complain about the deal. He said, “We just shot ourselves in the foot to the tune of millions of dollars that this agreement would have put into the pockets of our members.”

But now it seems things have taken a turn. Within the July 26th meeting agenda is a Collective Bargaining Agreement that appears to have been tentatively agreed to with the Firefighters Association A-Unit.

In the meeting agenda, it says that “It is the intent and purpose of the parties…to establish fair wages, working conditions and benefits and put into practice effective and binding methods for the settlement of all misunderstandings, disputes or grievances that may arise.”

If fully approved by the Board and any final approvals (if necessary) are given by the firefighters union, the agreement would be retroactive as of January 1st, 2023.

More

In addition to those matters, the Board of Supervisors will hear public comments on July 26th — sometimes these can reveal pending issues or concerns within the local community (even including Disney Springs restaurant or store operators) so that’ll be interesting to listen to.

Additionally, there will be a management report presented, a proposed budget and millage presentation, and public hearings on resolutions regarding a fund balance policy and a conflicts of interest policy.

All of these could result in some important updates within the District moving forward. We’ll be listening to the meeting to get the latest info. So, be sure to check back with us for all the latest details.

Click here to see what a poll has revealed regarding the DeSantis x Disney feud