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.
A community meeting was held Wednesday night to discuss the future of the Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street Heritage Trail.
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.
In its Tuesday meeting, the Alachua County Commission unanimously approved a purchase contract of the West End Golf course by Viking Companies.
Two opposing meetings, one by the city commission and the other by the Gainesville Regional Utilities authority, discussed the future of GRU May 23.
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.
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.
Gainesville City Commission passed its first reading to potentially let voters change how the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority operates in the November election.
In its meeting Tuesday, The Alachua County Commission authorized the advertisement of a Charter Amendment to make county commission elections at-large unanimously.
UF students and faculty joined members of the Gainesville community Friday for a protest against the university’s proposed cut in funding for the Gainesville Regional Transit System, or RTS.
At its meeting Thursday, the Gainesville City Commission approved a plan for the reconstruction of the City Hall Plaza Ponds and revisited a proposed referendum regarding the GRU Authority Board.
At its meeting Tuesday, the Alachua County Commission moved to draft a ballot measure about single-member districts in the county.
The Gainesville Regional Transit System, originally introduced in 1988, provides unlimited bus service for University of Florida students, faculty and staff. To provide this service, UF currently contributes $13.7 million to the system. However, a new proposal beginning July 1 would allow UF to make monthly payments of $570,000, totaling to $6.8 million, and a decreased contribution of over 50%.
A note attached to one of the projectiles was addressed to “Mr. Ward,” and expressed anger toward the city’s commitments to equity and inclusion. The note allegedly contained threatening and racist language, according to a city press release.
Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward addressed the recent vandalism at Gainesville City Hall and the Old Library Building, where Gainesville’s equity and inclusion office is located. Ward’s office window was broken Tuesday night by two projectiles, spraying glass across Ward’s office and leaving two large holes in the window.
In its meeting Tuesday, the Alachua County Commission approved the terms of an agreement consolidating two branches of CareerSource Florida.
In its meeting Thursday, the Gainesville City Commission approved changes to downtown parking and moved to draft a ballot measure about the GRU Authority Board.
The resignations will take in 60 days and were submitted to act as a settlement for the lawsuits, according to the Gainesville Sun.
The City of Gainesville voted 6-0, with Commissioner Desmon Duncan Walker absent, to end Gainesville Regional Utilitity’s right-of-way exemption.
GRU proposed the meeting in January to discuss ways to reduce its debt without cutting the GSC. However, its agenda was broadened to include the power district and any other relationships the two wished to discuss. The meeting ended with no votes, and no action taken.
Solutions by The State News
