Metro | City County Commission - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

How one Nov. 8 referendum changes future Alachua County Commission elections

By Aidan Bush | Nov. 14, 2022

Residents of Alachua County voted to enact single-member district voting, meaning County Commissioners will only be voted in by the people they represent. The campaign saw public scrutiny from both sides due to potentially misleading signs and information. The County Commission might challenge it in the future, but for now, the amendment is here to stay.

The Alachua County Sheriff's Office on Southeast Hawthorn Road on Monday, May 3, 2021. (Photo by Mingmei Li)

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office to receive more than $2 million in funding increase

By Aidan Bush | Nov. 10, 2022

In the coming weeks, the sheriff’s office will meet with unions to determine how to divy up the new funding, but said in the meeting payroll increases could come as early as Nov. 23.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County elected officials’ residence requirement problem

By Aidan Bush | Nov. 7, 2022

Alachua County elected officials face legal trouble with Florida's residence requirements. The lawsuit against Wheeler was dismissed in circuit court Nov. 3. The suit was filed by Alachua resident Eugene Garvin.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville’s ‘lame-duck’ period, and how it affects officials until January

By Aidan Bush | Oct. 31, 2022

Gainesville City Commission will see a potential voter majority leave in January, as four commissioners term out. The commissioners mention their priorities for the final months in office, as well as how they look to help the oncoming commission.

Delegates from Poland accept $20,860 presented to them by Mayor Lauren Poe and Commissioners Reina Saco and Harvey Ward, Oct. 26, 2022.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville donates $20,000 to Polish sister city to aid Ukrainian refugee efforts

By Aidan Bush | Oct. 27, 2022

The Gainesville City Commission welcomed delegates from Rzeszów and presented them with $20,860 for their efforts in aiding refugees from Ukraine over the past few months.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County to expand zoning for tourists looking to stay on farmland

By Aidan Bush | Oct. 25, 2022

The Alachua County Commission voted 3-1 Tuesday to adopt a proposal adding farm stays as a new form of overnight accommodation, similar to hotels and bed-and-breakfasts.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission extends e-scooter hours, improves cyclist safety

By Aidan Bush | Oct. 21, 2022

Only the parking ordinance saw a split 4-3 vote, with Commissioners David Arreola, Adrian Hayes-Santos, Reina Saco and Mayor Lauren Poe in favor.

Gainesville city commissioners vote to eliminate exclusionary zoning despite opposition from some residents and elected officials Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville becomes first Florida city to eliminate exclusionary zoning after narrow City Commission vote

By Mickenzie Hannon and Aidan Bush | Oct. 18, 2022

Commissioners David Arreola, Adrian Hayes-Santos, Reina Saco and Mayor Lauren Poe voted in favor of the three ordinances; Commissioners Harvey Ward, Cynthia Chestnut and Desmon Duncan-Walker dissented.

The front of West End Golf Club stands covered in overgrowth Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Environmental benefits keep discontinued golf course green in Alachua County Commission vote

By Aidan Bush | Oct. 17, 2022

The Alachua County Commission voted 4-1 to reject a proposal seeking to turn the now-defunct West End Golf Club into a residential area with a maximum of 70 units. Only Commissioner Raemi Eagle-Glenn voted in dissent.

The Gainesville Police Department building is located at 545 NW 8th Ave.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

City Commission meeting on K-9 unit delayed for second time

By Omar Ateyah | Oct. 13, 2022

The meeting was originally slated for Sept. 20 before getting delayed to Wednesday. It’s now scheduled for Nov. 15 — almost two full months before it was originally scheduled — according to the city’s agenda.

Mayor Lauren Poe reads a proclamation from the city declaring Oct. 10 Indigenous Peoples Day Monday, Oct. 10, 2022.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day

By Alexa Herrera | Oct. 12, 2022

Mayor Lauren Poe read a proclamation at City Hall Monday recognizing Oct. 10 as Indigenous Peoples Day.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville lawsuit against Florida’s anti-riot law clears first hurdle with long journey ahead

By Aidan Bush | Sep. 26, 2022

The city of Gainesville won its first victory in what’s expected to be a prolonged battle against Florida’s anti-riot law championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville’s new budget goes into effect Oct. 1: what that means for residents

By Aidan Bush | Sep. 23, 2022

Gainesville city commissioners voted Thursday to implement the new budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30, 2023. Some major changes include increased funding to improve transit methods across the city and decreased funding for the city’s publicly owned utility branch, Gainesville Regional Utilities.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville housing project passes first vote despite split commissioner, citizen support

By Aidan Bush | Sep. 19, 2022

The Gainesville City Commission voted 4-3 Sept. 15 to turn the lot on the corner of Southwest Second Avenue and Southwest 10th Street into a 12-story housing complex and standalone five-story building. The proposal was made by real estate firm CA Ventures.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville residents debate exclusionary zoning as key issue before mayoral race

By Allie Sinkovich | Sep. 12, 2022

As Gainesville residents anticipate the runoff mayoral race in November, the aftermath of the city’s elimination of exclusionary zoning is heavy on their minds.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler sued for alleged residency violation

By Aidan Bush | Sep. 11, 2022

Eugene Garvin filed a lawsuit Sept. 8 against Alachua County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler, accusing her of not residing within District 2 during her Aug. 23 election against Democratic opponent Charlie Jackson.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville single-family zoning elimination faces pushback from Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

By Aidan Bush | Sep. 9, 2022

The department's letter argued creating additional units would only serve the city's renters, which primarily consists of UF students, not the majority of residents.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Alachua County Commission asks city to delay vote on elimination of single-family zoning

By Aidan Bush | Sep. 2, 2022

Gainesville’s contentious single-family zoning elimination faces opposition again — this time from members of the Alachua County Commission.

Gainesville city commissioners listen to residents express approval or opposition toward the city’s plan to eliminate exclusionary zoning Thursday, Aug. 4, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gainesville City Commission approves zoning changes despite resident outcry

By Mickenzie Hannon | Aug. 5, 2022

Gainesville will be the first city in Florida to eliminate exclusionary zoning after a 4-3 vote Thursday. Hundreds of residents crammed into City Hall, for the meeting, which the city scheduled to finish at 10 p.m. Going nearly two hours over the allotted time, the vote finally came shortly before midnight.

Gainesville residents attend the Shady Grove Primitive Baptist Church to voice concerns about the city’s plan to eliminate exclusionary zoning Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2021.

METRO | CITY COUNTY COMMISSION

‘The fight will continue’: Gainesville community rallies against citywide zoning changes

By Mickenzie Hannon | Aug. 4, 2022

Gainesville residents attend the Shady Grove Primitive Baptist Church Wednesday to voice concerns about the city’s plan to eliminate exclusionary zoning.

Metro | City and County Commission