FAC News Clips – May 24, 2023

Keys News 

County OKs ‘starter charter’ plan  

KEY WEST — The Monroe County Commission has agreed to change the way it governs by pursuing a charter form of government as a way to generate revenue for critical infrastructure programs without having to raise property taxes or go to the state Capitol to ask for funding. 

 

Ocala Star Banner  

Jeff Gold: Two-term county commissioner is resigning  

Marion County Commissioner Jeff Gold has decided to move on. 

 

WTXL 

Leon County Commissioners making strides to address homeless  

Out of the 801 people in the Big Bend experiencing homelessness, 720 are in Leon county. That’s according to the Big Bend Continuum of Care’s Point in Time count. 

 

WCJB 

An international sporting event may be held in Alachua County in 2025  

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – The new sports complex at Celebration Pointe is already drawing international attention. 

 

Florida Today 

Brevard County moves to shift cost of lifeguards to beachside cities  

Beachside cities in Brevard County will eventually have to pick up the tab for the cost of lifeguards after the County Commission Tuesday voted to renegotiate the cost split going forward. 

 

TC Palm 

Martin County rural lifestyle: DeSantis, others reverse judge to support plan  

MARTIN COUNTY — The controversial rural-lifestyle land use, which was passed here in September but held up by a challenge at the state level, will move forward after state officials ruled Tuesday that it complied with the county’s Comprehensive Plan, reversing a state administrative judge’s decision. 

 

Florida Politics 

Citrus County seeks path to solving road repaving challenge  

Citrus County Commissioners have a road problem. Actually, miles and miles of road problems. 

 

WASTE MANAGEMENT  

Miami Today 

Miami-Dade eyes rail to carry away solid waste problem  

As Mayor Daniella Levine Cava tells county commissioners that she is looking into new ways of handling Miami-Dade’s solid waste and the Transportation Planning Organization is seeking a rail revival in the county, a county resolution seeks to look at using the new rail service to haul solid waste. 

 

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT  

Click Orlando  

Seminole County braces for hurricane season as residents continue recovery 

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – With hurricane season less than two weeks away, Seminole County is taking action to help some families still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s storms. 

FAC News Clips – May 22, 2023

COUNTY  

Naples Daily News 

Despite Hurricane Ian, Lee County has gained thousands of jobs 

The jobs picture is mixed in Southwest Florida. 

 

Observer  

County poised for $201 million Housing and Urban Development grant 

Sarasota County is developing a plan to put disaster recovery funds to use in order to qualify for the grant. 

 

LEGISLATION 

Daytona Beach News-Journal  

How Miami-Dade County influenced Volusia County beach patrol takeover  

For those wondering why the Florida Legislature approved legislation that would change the face of law enforcement on Volusia County’s beaches, they can find the answer in a long-running fight in Miami-Dade County. 

FAC News Clips – May 17, 2023

COUNTY 

Palm Beach Post 

Palm Beach County FL population: What is its growth ranking?  

With Florida’s population on a steady incline since 2021, the sunshine state became the fastest-growing in the nation last year. In 2022, Palm Beach County welcomed more than 13,000 new residents. 

 

TC Palm 

What we may learn from appeal of Martin County ‘rural lifestyle’ case  

Is ex-football star Tom Brady entitled to a Wawa in his Martin County neighborhood? 

 

WJHG 

Bay County Commissioners help flooding victims through buyout program  

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Bay County can add eight new homes to its Voluntary Buyout Program. 

 

Cape Coral Breeze 

Lee Commissioners accept state grant funds to help people who are experiencing homelessness  

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to accept $407,750 in grant funds from the Florida Department of Children and Families for housing and services for people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. 

 

Tampa Bay Times  

Pasco likely to keep current tax rate but still expects double digit revenue increase  

Pasco County commissioners got their first look at the potential 2024 spending plan Tuesday, built on an unchanged property tax rate but with a long list of growing expenses which would need to be funded by increasing property values and new growth. 

FAC News Clips – May 16, 2023

Keys News 

Monroe County Commission to discuss ‘charter government’  

Faced with millions, if not billions, of dollars in future infrastructure projects, the Monroe County Commission will discuss a way to raise money without having to raise property taxes or go to the state Capitol with their hands out. 

 

Cape Coral Breeze 

FEMA approves nearly $6 million for Lee County beach work  

LAKE MARY, Fla. – On April 6, FEMA Public Assistance approved a grant of $5,978,207 to reimburse Lee County for emergency work after Hurricane Ian at Fort Myers Beach. 

 

Islander News 

“Our kids make sand castles in the same sand people use as ashtrays,” ban of beach smoking set for County commission vote Tuesday  

Planning to visit the beach at Crandon Park or along the Rickenbacker Causeway this summer? 

FAC News Clips – May 15, 2023

COUNTY 

Local 10  

Miami-Dade mayor wants to talk about heat – not basketball  

MIAMI – Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava wants to talk about heat — but not The Miami Heat’s upcoming basketball game. She wants to talk about life-threatening temperatures. 

 

The Daytona Beach News-Journal 

Volusia County permitting could see changes under County Council  

It’s been about five months since current Volusia County Council members started working together, and last week they set a new slate of goals for the county. 

 

Business Observer FL 

Sarasota County reinstates full EDC funding  

The Sarasota County Commission has fully restored the county’s portion of funding to the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County for the next fiscal year, with conditions. 

 

Citrus County Chronicle 

County commissioners approve angling streaming show sponsorship  

County commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to approve a recommendation from the Citrus County Tourism Development Council (TDC) to take $18,000 from its special-projects fund to pay for a sponsorship opportunity on Waypoint TV, a streaming television channel for hunting and fishing programming. 

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING  

Herald-Tribune 

Affordable Housing in Sarasota: Live Local Act has solutions, problems  

A new state law that provides historic investment in affordable housing could bring relief to the severe crisis that is squeezing thousands of Sarasota County families and businesses. 

 

LEGISLATION 

Fl Keys News 

DeSantis asked to veto bill blocking new local fertilizer bans  

Environmental groups and local governments are battling state legislators over the fate of the fertilizer in Floridians’ lawns. The outcome could sway the health of Florida’s beaches and waterways, which have been plagued by fish kills and algae blooms. 

FAC News Clips – May 12, 2023

COUNTY 

Bay News 9 

Water taxi service coming to Manatee County 

TAMPA, Fla. — In Manatee County, both the number of residents and tourists is on the rise, and that combination impacts traffic, particularly the east-west routes to and from the beaches.   

 

Citrus County Chronicle 

County to seek raises for county employees 

The majority of Citrus County government employees are being paid less than market conditions, according to a consultant’s study. 

 

Tampa Bay Newspaper 

Pinellas hears another Corps ‘no’ on beach-erosion fix  

The Army Corps of Engineers has denied a waiver that would have let a massive, already-behind-schedule beach renourishment project move forward in Pinellas County. 

 

WATER  

Florida Politics 

FWC orders more work on Weeki Wachee Spring protections  

Enhanced protections for the Weeki Wachee Spring remain far off as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) kicked the issue back to agency staff and asked them to work out a plan with Hernando County officials. 

 

AROUND THE COUNT(R)Y 

Route-Fifty 

Prediction: 2023 Will Be a ‘Very Active’ Hurricane Season 

COMMENTARY | Forecasters expect the number of major hurricanes this year to be similar to 2017, which saw the extremely intense hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.