Metro | City and County Commission

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville community discusses affordable housing options

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 20, 2024

The commission voted 4-3 in favor of smaller mandatory minimum lot sizes through its first reading, with Mayor Harvey Ward, Commissioner Casey Willits, Commissioner Reina Saco and Commissioner Bryan Eastman in the affirmative. If passed through a second reading, single family homes could be built on 1/12 of an acre with aims to increase housing density. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

RTS Advisory Board discusses UF funding cuts, green energy federal grant

By Sara-James Ranta | July 18, 2024

The Gainesville Regional Transit System Advisory Board held a meeting Wednesday to discuss UF’s proposed funding cuts, a new federal grant for green energy and persistent app outages.  

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Future of Gainesville RTS system still uncertain following $24.6 million federal grant

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 15, 2024

Following community controversy over RTS funding cuts, the system’s most recent monetary contributions did not come from the university but instead came in the form of a $24.6 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration as a part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City of Gainesville awarded $24.6 million federal grant toward energy efficient RTS

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 10, 2024

The City of Gainesville Department of Transportation was awarded a $24.6 million federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration through the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which aims to achieve zero emissions by 2025. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County Commission reconsiders hosting World Masters

By Morgan Vanderlaan | July 10, 2024

In its meeting Tuesday, the Alachua County Commission discussed the budget for the World Masters Track and Field Championship, which the county won a bid to host in 2025. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County’s initiative to help English-limited residents passed its second phase

By Morgan Vanderlaan | June 26, 2024

The commission unanimously passed the second phase of Alachua’s Language Access Policy, which works towards breaking down language barriers within the community.  

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission passes single room occupancy ordinance through second reading

By Morgan Vanderlaan | June 20, 2024

In its Thursday meeting, the Gainesville City Commission passed an ordinance covering restrictions on single room occupancy (SRO) residences through a second reading.

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville Regional Utilities attorney requests supervisor of elections stop GRU referendum

By Morgan Vanderlaan | June 20, 2024

On June 19, GRU Attorney Scott Walker wrote a letter to Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton debating the legality of the GRU referendum slated to be placed on the November general election ballot. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission passes GRU authority oversight referendum for the fourth time

By Morgan Vanderlaan | June 19, 2024

In a Tuesday special meeting, the Gainesville City Commission unanimously passed the second version of a GRU authority oversight referendum, which will allow constituents to determine where the power will fall in the November general election. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County Commission opposes selective admissions at P.K. Yonge, approves at-large election resolution

By Sara-James Ranta | June 12, 2024

During its Tuesday meeting, the Alachua County Commission opposed implementing a selective admission process at P.K. Yonge Developmental School and approved an at-large county election charter amendment to be placed on the November general election ballot.

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville Regional Utilities fiscal year 2025 budget draws disagreement

By Morgan Vanderlaan | June 12, 2024

The authority failed to fire General Manager, Tony Cunningham, in a vote of 2-3. Additionally, a cut of over $20 million from the proposed budget was authorized while other aspects of the budget still remain unclear. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission opposes selective admissions at P.K. Yonge

By Grace McClung | June 8, 2024

The Gainesville City Commission passed a resolution Thursday condemning a proposal to implement a selective high school admissions process at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City Commission passes first reading of GRU authority oversight referendum again

By Morgan Vanderlaan | June 6, 2024

In its Thursday meeting, the Gainesville City Commission unanimously approved an updated ordinance that will place a referendum on the November 5 general election ballot to determine the source of GRU oversight. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Efforts to complete the Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street Heritage Trail are underway

By Morgan Vanderlaan | June 6, 2024

A community meeting was held Wednesday night to discuss the future of the Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street Heritage Trail. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission special meeting addresses fiscal 2025 budget

By Morgan Vanderlaan | May 29, 2024

The Gainesville City Commission held a special meeting Tuesday to present updates on the fiscal 2025 city budget. The city manager’s office discussed funding for the fire, police, parks, recreation and cultural affairs and public works departments. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County Commission accepts contract to purchase West End Golf Course

By Morgan Vanderlaan | May 28, 2024

In its Tuesday meeting, the Alachua County Commission unanimously approved a purchase contract of the West End Golf course by Viking Companies.

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission GRU oversight referendum causes community debate

By Morgan Vanderlaan | May 28, 2024

Two opposing meetings, one by the city commission and the other by the Gainesville Regional Utilities authority, discussed the future of GRU May 23. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville Regional Utilities new authority takes oath of office

By Morgan Vanderlaan | May 24, 2024

All five directors were appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in accordance with 2023 House Bill 1645, which transferred GRU authority from the city commission to a governor-appointed board.

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission approves second reading of GRU oversight referendum

By Morgan Vanderlaan | May 24, 2024

In its Thursday Special Meeting, the Gainesville City Commission approved the second reading of ordinance 2024-23 for a proposed Gainesville Regional Utilities oversight charter amendment. 

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METRO  |  CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission approves first reading to put GRU board control on the ballot

By Morgan Vanderlaan | May 16, 2024

Gainesville City Commission passed its first reading to potentially let voters change how the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority operates in the November election.