Metro: City and County Commission - The Independent Florida Alligator

Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe takes a selfie with city workers in front of Gainesville City Hall, located at 200 E. University Ave., on Thursday. Poe and city commissioners gave flowers to thank workers for helping after Hurricane Irma.

Metro

Mayor Lauren Poe announces campaign for reelection

By Dana Cassidy | Nov. 13, 2018

The mayoral and City Commission District 4 seats will be on the ballot March 2019

Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe cuts a ribbon at a ceremony commemorating the completion of improvements to Southwest Sixth Street. He is joined by city commissioners and members of the planning team.

Metro

City of Gainesville finishes redevelopment of Southwest Sixth Street project

By Dana Cassidy | Nov. 8, 2018

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Thursday.

Metro

Pilot program to phase out prison labor in Gainesville

By Dana Cassidy | Oct. 30, 2018

Gainesville uses 30,720 hours of labor that costs about $230,000 a year.

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The Alligator’s endorsements for Constitutional amendments and referenda

Oct. 23, 2018

For the second day of early voting, The Alligator is releasing its endorsements for amendments to the Florida Constitution and local questions. We base our recommendations on how each would benefit Florida’s citizens and the environment. As a rule, if the intent of the amendment isn’t clear when reading it, we’d recommend voting no.

Metro

City commissioners aim to power Gainesville on 100 percent renewable energy

By Dana Cassidy | Oct. 21, 2018

Power would come from things like solar energy and biomass

Tom Petty's brother and daughter, Bruce and Adria Petty stand behind the podium at the dedication of Tom Petty Park on Oct. 20, 2018. Both gave made statements and thanked the community before the unveiling of the new sign.

Metro

More than 300 fans come out to celebrate Tom Petty’s birthday with a park dedication

By Kat Antunes | Oct. 21, 2018

Tom Petty’s daughter and younger brother also made speeches.

Julie Waldman, president of the Leadership of Gainesville Association, makes her close remarks at the GRU Bill Forum where a panel: Mary Alford, the chair of the GRU Utility Advisory Board; Darin Cook, the CEO of Infinite Energy; State Sen. Keith Perry; and Harvey Ward, a Gainesville city commissioner discussed the implications of the Gainesville Regional Utilities Referendum.

Metro

Community leaders weigh in on GRU Bill

By Alyssa Ramos | Oct. 17, 2018

The bill, on the November ballot, asks how GRU will be controlled

Metro

City Commission to consider pursuing 100 percent renewable energy resolution

By Jessica Curbelo | Sep. 29, 2018

Currently, about 28 percent of Gainesville’s energy is renewable

New scooter parking is being constructed near the Chemistry Lab Building and is supposed to be open for the first day of classes, according to student body president Smith Meyers, to provide additional parking to the Library West scooter area.

Metro

City proposes new scooter rental program

By Jessica Curbelo | Sep. 25, 2018

The new program would let people rent scooters through an app

Calie Michael, a 21-year-old UF marketing and telecommunication senior, plays games with 7-year-old Nevaea on Saturday at the Downtown Latino Festival in Bo Diddley Plaza. “We just passed it on our way home and wanted to check it out,” Michael said.

Metro

Over 4,000 people come out to 16th-annual downtown Latino festival

By Alex Camargo | Sep. 23, 2018

Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe gave a speech in Spanish for the first time.

The preservation encompasses almost 600 acres and is located on the Putnam County line near Lochloosa Lake, said Sandra Vardaman, the land conservation program supervisor for the county’s Parks and Conservation Lands Program.

Metro

Alachua County drops $1.3 million on new nature preserve

By Fotini Sisois | Sep. 16, 2018

The 597-acre land will primarily be a nature preserve but will also have spaces for the public to use.

Metro

Landmark 250-year-old tree saved by neighbor

By Angela DiMichele | Sep. 11, 2018

When an apartment developer planned to cut down a 250-year-old live oak, the neighbor took a stand.

Metro

Goodbye 2 a.m. final call? City commission to talk Midtown hours with SG

By Gillian Sweeney | Sep. 4, 2018

It's the first time city commission has attended an SG meeting since January 2017

A gas worker for Gainesville Regional Utilities, digs around a broken gas line.

Metro

Former City Commissioner files lawsuit against GRU referendum

By Jessica Curbelo | Aug. 22, 2018

The referendum would alter how GRU is overseen, taking some control away from the city commission

Metro

GRU bills will be higher in October

By Angela DiMichele | Aug. 17, 2018

GRU bills will raise in price after a tied vote from the City Commission.

Metro

City Commission discusses community ID program

By Angela DiMichele | July 23, 2018

On Thursday, Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe and the City Commission discussed a possible community ID program that could provide the homeless, ex-prisoners, immigrants and refugees in the Gainesville community with a valid alternative to state IDs.