APOPKA, Fla. — Apopka city leaders received the results of hundreds of surveys filled out by city employees after tensions between the mayor and commissioners.

A majority of 300 employees who responded said they felt satisfied or neutral over several matters asked about in the survey.


What You Need To Know

  • The tension involves city commissioners voting to fire the city attorney and then his resigning

  • And an upcoming vote that could potentially censure Mayor Bryan Nelson

  • The survey asked city employees about 16 different topics ranging from their wellbeing to their benefits

  •  When asked about management working with employees to solve organizational issues, while 64% of employees responded positively, 36% said city managers need to work on solving those issues that come up

The survey asked city employees about 16 different topics ranging from their well-being to their benefits. The city has delt with many conflicts in the past year, including the city commissioners voting to fire City Attorney Michael Rodriguez in April, and then Rodriguez suddenly resigning in May.

Now, there is a vote to potentially censure Mayor Bryan Nelson on Aug. 2, stemming from the former city attorney’s employment status after his resignation. 


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Out of the nearly 330 surveys filled out, the questions that showed the most dissatisfaction among city employees involved city leaders. When asked about management working with employees to solve organizational issues, 64% of employees responded positively, while 36% said city managers need to work on solving those issues that come up.

“It’s getting away from a feelings-based approach and getting toward a fact-based approach,” said Apopka Commissioner Kyle Becker. “The feelings of our employees are absolutely necessary, but we as leaders need to see the facts — what is actually causing them to be dissatisfied or satisfied in the role that you’re playing.”

Apopka city leaders say this initial survey will provide a baseline of data about where they need improvement. They will send out surveys to employees each year, and they hope to see positive progress in future surveys.