COUNTY  

Miami Community News 

County commission votes to improve county’s Sustainable Building Program 

The Miami-Dade County Commission recently approved legislation sponsored by District 5 Commissioner Eileen Higgins which updates and improves the county’s Sustainable Buildings Program. Created in 2007, the Sustainable Buildings Program creates a uniform standard for resilience and sustainability of county buildings and infrastructure projects. 

 

Flagler Live 

County Scrambles to Make Budget Cuts of $1.9 to $2.4 Million, and Gets Unexpected $600,000 Revenue  

County government’s top staff burned the midnight oil Thursday and Friday–130 hours combined just those two days–and again this weekend after the County Commission last Wednesday forced its own administration to cut between $1.9 to $2.4 million from the budget by tomorrow (Monday). 

 

News 4 Jax 

Miami-Dade to turn ‘wasted space’ into vibrant neighborhood  

MIAMI – This is the vision: At the western end of downtown Miami, a dense, walkable, transit-centered and family-friendly high-rise district would bloom over eight city blocks. 

 

NBC Miami 

Miami-Dade Commission Ambassador Program Raises Eyebrows  

Miami-Dade County commissioners gave preliminary approval to a budget item that would pay former commissioners $25,000 a year to be county ambassadors. The idea raised eyebrows inside and outside county hall. 

 

BEACH RE-NOURISHMENT 

My Panhandle 

Bay County Commission approves funding for St. Andrews beach re-nourishment 

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

Pensacola News Journal 

Short-term rentals destroy neighborhoods like East Hill  

I live in an East Hill neighborhood of predominantly middle income homeowners. Over the last decade I have witnessed an increase in young married couples moving into East Hill neighborhoods, with many starting families. Houses — rental houses particularly— have been affordable to them, but that is all changing and at an alarming rate due to socioeconomic factors contributed to short-term rentals (STRs), including Airbnb’s and VRBOs. 

 

Orlando Sentinel 

Judge expects to rule next week if Orange County rent control measure can stay on ballot  

Landlord lawyers on Friday tried to convince a judge to yank Orange County’s rent-control measure off the November ballot. 

 

WASTEWATER 

The Daytona Beach News-Journal 

Volusia County awards design contract for wastewater treatment plant work  

As Volusia County grows, so too must its capacity for dealing with waste.