FAC News Clips – April 24, 2024

COUNTY 

Herald-Tribune 

Manatee County implements emergency drone and baby box pilot programs  

Manatee County is set to begin the first pilot program in the nation for emergency drone operations aimed at responding quickly to time-sensitive medical incidents such as cardiac arrest and opioid overdose. 

 

Bay News 9 

Manatee tourism tax increase could be decided by residents  

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Residents in Manatee County could decide if the county’s tourist tax increases from 5% to 6%. 

 

LEGISLATION 

Florida Politics 

Gov. DeSantis announces investments in Wildlife Corridor, red tide mitigation  

For the second day in a row, DeSantis focused on environmental investments. 

 

PUBLIC CAMPING 

Route-Fifty 

Justices debate whether cities can make sleeping outside a crime  

Cities worry they could have to “surrender” public places if an Oregon city’s anti-camping law is struck down by the Supreme Court, while advocates say the city rules criminalize being homeless. 

FAC News Clips – April 23, 2024

PUBLIC CAMPING 

Florida Phoenix 

U.S. Supreme Court appears to lean toward Oregon city in complex homelessness case  

WASHINGTON — A majority of U.S Supreme Court justices Monday seemed inclined to side with an Oregon town’s law that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, in a case that could have broad implications for local ordinances related to homelessness across the country. 

 

Tampa Bay Times 

Tiny homes for Tampa’s homeless welcome first residents after delays 

TAMPA — Tucked between the interstate and the railroad tracks, woven into the industrial sprawl of Tampa’s eastern edge, 99 tiny white homes sit in a sunbaked lot. 

 

COUNTY 

Suncoast News 

Pasco County Commissioner Bradford dies 

First-term Pasco County Commissioner Gary Bradford died on Sunday after battling leukemia, a diagnosis that he announced not long after he was elected. He was 65. 

 

WINK 

The future of the Lee County government is in the hands of voters  

The decision to change how the Lee County government works could be placed in the hands of the voters. The Lee County government is considering transitioning into 5 single-member districts. 

 

The Gainesville Sun 

Single-member districts may be brought back to a vote this election  

Alachua County commissioners are looking to eliminate single-member districts by creating a ballot measure for 2024 that would ask voters to decide whether they want to keep the single-member districts 51.5% of them voted for in 2022 or move back to an at-large system. 

 

St. Pete Catalyst 

County considers increasing puppy regulatory requirements  

When a once-unthinkable partnership between SPCA Tampa Bay, a puppy broker and a local retailer dissolved due to public backlash, some Pinellas County commissioners suggested reassessing local regulations. 

 

News-Press 

Lee County, Cape Coral get 30 more days to save flood insurance discount  

FEMA granted Lee County and Cape Coral an additional 30-day extension to save their flood insurance discount, but crews are working 12-hour days, seven days a week to get the work done. 

 

WATER 

Orlando Sentinel 

Florida plans $850 million in Everglades restoration projects  

Florida officials and environmental advocates on Monday touted major progress toward Everglades restoration, which has been advanced by dozens of state-funded projects. 

 

SHORT-TERM RENTALS 

TBN Weekly 

St. Petersburg, Pinellas County seek to rein in short-term rentals  

Pinellas County and St. Petersburg officials have been watching a boom in short-term vacation rentals driven by growing corporate interest, and they’ve come to a similar conclusion: They need to keep a closer watch on the industry. 

FAC News Clips – April 22, 2024

PUBLIC CAMPING 

Vox 

What’s at stake for homeless people this week at the Supreme Court  

This week, the justices will hear the biggest case on homelessness in decades. 

 

NY Times 

The Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness  

Can cities make it illegal to live on the street? 

 

BROADBAND 

Route-Fifty 

Initial funding for digital equity plans is available. But how do states plan to use it? 

Some have identified creative solutions to address affordability, digital skills and accessibility issues. But one approach—reliance on the federal internet subsidy that is about to expire—could force some states back to the drawing board. 

FAC News Clips – April 19, 2024

SHORT-TERM RENTALS 

Fox 13 

Pinellas County leaders consider regulations for short-term rentals 

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – In Pinellas County, commissioners are considering new ways to crack down on short-term rentals. 

 

COUNTY 

WUWF 

New artificial reefs program set to begin with project off Key West  

A new artificial reefs program that scientists hope will help reduce stress on the Florida Keys’ fragile marine ecosystem has started this month — with the first project off Key West already in the works. 

 

Lehigh Acre Citizen 

Lee County, municipalities, seek extension for responding to FEMA on insurance downgrade  

Lee County has asked FEMA to extend its 30-day deadline to provide additional information before the federal agency eliminates its 25% discount on flood insurance policies. 

 

WINK NEWS 

Charlotte County condos and co-ops may soon see a change to inspections  

A potential new Charlotte County law will impact many condos and co-op owners. 

 

FOX 13 

Pinellas County leaders weighing new regulations for pet stores  

  1. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Joy Smoak and Kristen Rodricks bought their puppies on the same day from a pet store in Pinellas County two years apart. The women have eerily similar stories.

 

Tampa Bay Times 

Hillsborough leaders greenlight carbon capture proposal  

County commissioners approved the measure in a 5-2 vote. Environmental groups issued a final warning. 

FAC News Clips – April 17, 2024

WFLA 

Hillsborough County school funding at risk as tax revenue is redirected  

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A half-cent community investment sales tax in Hillsborough County expires in 2026, and commissioners are expected to decide how they want to renew it on Wednesday, April 17. 

 

Tampa Bay Times 

Here’s how Florida’s tourist tax, big for Rays and beaches, works  

Budget season for local governments is around the corner, and with it the usual talk of property values and the tax bills local homeowners can expect to face. 

 

Naples News 

Lee County FEMA fight over flood insurance discount, unpermitted work  

Lee County announced Tuesday that it asked FEMA for an additional extension of time in order to respond to its information requests in order to preserve its 25% National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP) discount. 

 

Orlando Sentinel 

Orange County Mayor: Sales tax hike is ‘best long-term prospect’ to fund transit  

Demings indicates his proposed transportation tax, abandoned last week, will be back in 2026 

 

ENVIRONMENT 

WGCU 

Florida appeals U.S. District Court ruling in wetlands permitting fight  

TALLAHASSEE — Florida has quickly launched an appeal after a U.S. district judge rejected a 2020 decision by the federal government to shift permitting authority to the state for projects that affect wetlands. 

FAC News Clips – April 16, 2024

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 

Route-Fifty 

‘Artificial intelligence is not innovation,’ it’s a tool. How governments use it will vary.  

Some state and local governments may embrace AI wholly, while others may take a more measured approach. Either way, experts said, the competition to be first is moot. 

 

HURRICANE SEASON 

News-Press 

2024 hurricane season compared to 5 similar years: Lessons to learn  

All the early predictions are calling for a very active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. 

 

LEGISLATION 

Click Orlando 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs 14 more bills into law. Here’s what they are, when they take effect  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed 14 bills into law that cover a variety of issues, including tax collection, home construction warranties and swimming lessons for children. 

 

Route-Fifty 

Feds move to make gov websites more accessible to people with disabilities 

It’s the first time the federal government has ever issued rules clarifying how the more than 30-year-old Americans with Disabilities Act applies online. But the new rules come with a hefty price tag for state and local governments.