Metro | City County Commission - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Collard greens, strawberries and onions: Alachua County debuts plant program

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 15, 2021

The Alachua County Commission announced its Plant of the Month Program Sept. 1 in a county newsletter. It aims to bring community members together and encourage county residents to grow their own food for their benefit. Alachua County Commissioner Mary Alford partnered with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Working Food, a local nonprofit, to plan her idea.

Gainesville City Manager Lee Feldman attends a city commemoration of 9/11 at Reserve Park on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. There have been four resignations of city officials in the past four months — two of whom cited him as a reason for submitting their resignations after an investigation into his conduct. Feldman's termination will be discussed at a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville may terminate both its city and GRU managers

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 13, 2021

The Gainesville City Commission will decide whether to terminate City Manager Lee Feldman at a meeting Thursday. Mayor Lauren Poe also asked Gainesville Regional Utilities General Manager Ed Bielarski to resign Friday.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission special election to be held on Nov. 16

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 3, 2021

The election will take place Nov. 16. Early voting will be open from Nov. 12 to Nov. 14 at the Supervisor of Elections’ office and Millhopper Branch Library from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville residents react to City Commissioner Gail Johnson’s resignation

By Meghan McGlone | Aug. 30, 2021

Many East Gainesville residents relied on Johnson to advocate for positive change on the historically underserved east side of the city.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City Commission special election could be set for early November, Alachua County extends mask mandate

By Meghan McGlone | Aug. 27, 2021

The Gainesville City Commission met Thursday to discuss the enforcement of Alachua County’s newly-renewed seven-day mask mandate and to plan a special election following Commissioner Gail Johnson’s resignation.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commissioner Gail Johnson resigns

By Meghan McGlone | Aug. 23, 2021

In a Facebook post reiterating her speech at the meeting, Johnson wrote that she decided to resign because she found it difficult to do her job of advocating for underserved residents of Gainesville.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Here’s what to know about Alachua County’s seven-day mask mandate

By Meghan McGlone | Aug. 23, 2021

Alachua County residents and visitors now need to wear a mask in public indoor areas for the next week following a vote from the Alachua County Commission. But the mandate doesn’t include UF buildings and facilities.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City Commission mandates COVID-19 vaccines for city employees

By Meghan McGlone | Aug. 14, 2021

All 2,200 city employees will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine, with some exemptions.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville’s City Commission to lead on a lawsuit against “anti-riot law”

By Alexander Lugo | Aug. 6, 2021

Gainesville City Commission approved a motion at a commission meeting Thursday approving a lawsuit against HB 1 law, becoming the first city in Florida to sue over the "anti-riot bill."

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Open container ordinance upheld after spirited debate

By Alexander Lugo | July 21, 2021

Restrictions on the Gainesville Police Department’s ability to enforce open container laws on city property gets further approval from most city commissioners

Graphic of Gainesville City Hall and the County Administration Building

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville’s city hall evacuated due to chemical leak

By Alexander Lugo | July 19, 2021

City hall is operational again after Gainesville Fire Rescue deemed most of the building clear of chemicals

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville residents can expect a spike in parking fees and annual permit rates

By Abigail Hasebroock | July 14, 2021

Gainesville City Commission is implementing parking fee increases to create more spaces for drivers, reduce climate change effects and increase pedestrian safety.

An empty parking lot located at 2286 SE Hawthorne Road on Sunday, July 4, 2021. A proposed new grocery store, called Bravo supermarket, that would buy locally grown food options, may be built in this area.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

A new proposal for a grocery store in East Gainesville leaves community members concerned

By Lucille Lannigan | July 6, 2021

Gainesville City Commissioners are considering accepting a deal to build a new supermarket in East Gainesville, but some community members feel they have been left out of the decision process.

A crane towers over the Evolve apartment complex construction site at 931 West University Avenue on Tuesday, June 16, 2021. Evolve is one of several new mid-rise apartment complexes under construction in midtown and downtown Gainesville.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commissioners approve development notifications for affected residents

By Alexander Lugo | June 16, 2021

Gainesville’s City Commission unanimously passed a motion that will notify residents of any future land development updates. The notifications would be sent to affected neighborhood associations and anyone who voluntarily signs up to receive them.

A "Suburban Heights" sign sits at Northwest 23rd Avenue on Thursday, May 20, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

A zoning change blindsides Suburban Heights residents

By Alexander Lugo | May 26, 2021

Residents of Suburban Heights successfully thwarted plans to build drive-thru businesses behind the neighborhood. But now, they’re worried about the potential for a large housing unit to go up instead.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville sister city program pursues statue construction after initial rejection

By Antonia LaRocca | May 26, 2021

Students from Gainesville and Duhok, Iraq, worked together on an art submission through a virtual exchange program.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County will not be immediately affected by Gov. DeSantis’ new executive orders

By Alexander Lugo and Jasper Wittig | May 8, 2021

Gov. DeSantis signed an executive order invalidating local emergency COVID-19 orders requiring masks and social distancing around the state, but Alachua County will not be affected by the change.

Denise Garcia and Jeffery Davis wear face masks in downtown Gainesville.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County commission keeps mask mandate

By Jack Prator | Apr. 14, 2021

The mandate requires customers to wear masks in businesses to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The commission also voted to add a section to the order barring county officials from asking residents for proof of vaccination.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County commission renames courthouse after late Judge Stephan Mickle

By Jiselle Lee | Mar. 31, 2021

Judge Stephan P. Mickle will now be known not only as a trailblazer for Black students at UF, but as the namesake for the Alachua County Courthouse.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County commission pulls back mask mandate for vaccinated residents

By Jack Prator | Mar. 24, 2021

Residents who have received both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, can visit unvaccinated residents in private without wearing masks or socially distancing.

Metro | City and County Commission