Metro | City County Commission - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville Regional Utilities rate increase disproportionately affects low- and fixed-income residents

By Meghan McGlone | Oct. 18, 2021

GRU’s average cost for electric, water and wastewater went up by 4% in October. The average cost for GRU’s electricity went up about $6, and the total bill rose almost $10. From 2023 to 2027, electrical rates will go up 3% and wastewater will go up 5% yearly, according to GRU.

Dave Trezak (second from the right), Sioux tribe, helps to display a handmade, Native American quilt at Gainesville City Hall on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day

By Meghan McGlone | Oct. 13, 2021

Mayor Lauren Poe introduced a proclamation officially acknowledging Indigenous Peoples Day Monday at city hall. He also unveiled a new sign honoring indigenous people in front of city hall.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City Commission appoints Cynthia Curry as interim city manager

By Meghan McGlone | Oct. 13, 2021

Cynthia Curry was appointed to the interim city manager position after city manager after Lee Feldman resigned Sept. 13, following the resignation of three other city charter officers, including City Commissioner Gail Johnson.

The building that housed Felipe's Mexican Taqueria is seen on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021. The lot will be used for a new student apartment building that will have affordable housing units.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Proposed apartment building to bring affordable housing closer to UF campus

By Meghan McGlone and Jiselle Lee | Oct. 11, 2021

The City Commission will make the final decision this month on the construction of an affordable housing and student living apartment building with 151 housing units, 10% of which will be for affordable housing, according to a Friday city press release.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville’s interim director of equity of inclusion aims for change in new position

By Meghan McGlone | Oct. 6, 2021

Gainesville’s City Commission voted Aug. 19 to appoint Folston as the city’s interim director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion. The office works to improve Gainesville and its businesses through promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, Folston said.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville disparity study seeks to create opportunities for local businesses

By Meghan McGlone | Oct. 4, 2021

Atlanta-based law firm Griffin & Strong is conducting the disparity study in the city, CEO Rodney K. Strong said. The firm will determine if Gainesville is experiencing discrimination within its marketplace.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County mask mandate expires, masks still recommended

By Meghan McGlone | Oct. 1, 2021

The County Commission originally passed the mandate Aug. 18. Because of state law, it could only last for seven days at a time and be renewed up to six times, or 42 days, due to state law.

Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe (left) and City Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos (right) listen to public comment at a City Commission meeting on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City may be fined for trying to require employee vaccines, interim city attorney appointed

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 29, 2021

Nicolle Shalley, who held the position before Nee, resigned Sept. 8 and her last day will be Nov. 12, according to her letter of resignation. She will become Levy County’s attorney, she wrote. Shalley was the fourth city official to resign in the past four months.

Cynthia Chestnut (left) listens to former Commissioner Gail Johnson (right) announce her endorsement of Chestnut's campaign on the steps of Gainesville City Hall on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Cynthia Chestnut launches Gainesville City Commission campaign, earns endorsement from former Commissioner Gail Johnson

By Alan Halaly | Sep. 29, 2021

Johnson publicly announced her endorsement of Chestnut, a 72-year-old longtime Gainesville politician, outside of a City Commission meeting Monday About 30 of Chestnut’s supporters gathered on the steps of Gainesville City Hall for the announcement.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Judge temporarily sides with employees in Gainesville employee vaccine mandate lawsuit

By Meghan McGlone and Faith Buckley | Sep. 23, 2021

Circuit Judge Monica Brasington opposed the mandate and said city employees don’t have to be vaccinated in order to work for the city. The ruling is temporary until the city provides evidence that the vaccine mandate meets court standards.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City cancels commission meeting after non-criminal threat, city clerk retracts resignation

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 17, 2021

After a heated Monday commission meeting Gainesville activist Chanae Jackson made a Facebook post threatening City Commissioner Reina Saco, Gainesville Police Department spokesperson Graham Glover said. City manager Lee Feldman asked GPD to investigate the post, but the comments were not criminal threats. There are no criminal charges pending, Glover said, so it was a city decision to cancel the meeting.

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 city manager resigns, GRU manager keeps position

By Meghan McGlone | Sep. 15, 2021

City manager Lee Feldman submitted his letter of resignation Sept. 13, and his last day in city hall will be Nov. 12. The Gainesville City Commission also discussed terminating Gainesville Regional Utilities general manager Ed Bielarski at the Sept. 13 meeting, but he will be keeping his job.

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.

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 and County Commission