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Studio 67FAC News Clips – April 3, 2024
COUNTY
Florida Relators
$910 Million Available for Hurricane Ian Recovery
State leaders said funding for hurricane-damaged homes, new workforce housing and infrastructure repairs and upgrades can help dozens of Florida counties.
Bay News 9
Orange County moves forward with district expansion plan
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orange County Charter Review Commission voted Tuesday to move forward with a proposed amendment that would expand the number of Orange County Commission districts from six to eight.
WGCU
Lee government in a race to try to get decision reversed on federal flood insurance premiums Lee County government is gearing up for a fight with the federal government over its recent decision to severely downgrade its community flood rating, affectively taking away the 25 percent discount policy holders received for their federal flood insurance premiums.
Miami Herald
Miami-Dade ends booking, ankle monitor fees for jail inmates
Jail time in Miami-Dade will soon be free after county commissioners voted to eliminate fees for booking, medical care, ankle bracelets and other detention expenses currently billed to inmates.
Tampa Bay Times
Hillsborough leaders may soon vote on carbon capture proposal. What’s in it?
When Hillsborough County commissioners met in January to discuss a carbon capture pilot program, environmental advocates railed against the proposal.
LEGISLATION
Palm Beach Post
Florida Legislature lets fertilizer ordinances moratorium expire
Florida cities and counties once again may pass new fertilizer ordinances and strengthen existing ones, including summer rainy season bans, since the Legislature did not extend a one-year moratorium on such home rule.
WMNF
A controversial measure that would prevent local governments from imposing requirements on contractors about wages and worker heat-exposure protections was formally sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday.
FAC News Clips – April 2, 2024
FAC
Global News Scanner
ClearGov Named Business Solutions Partner By Florida Association Of Counties (FAC)
The partnership expands access to the company’s innovative budgeting solutions to Florida counties looking to modernize their budgeting process.
COUNTY
WGCU
Lee County, FEMA at odds over compliance to Hurricane Ian rebuilding work, documentation
A flood insurance issue that could end up costing millions for residents in unincorporated Lee County and several of the county’s cities will be aired Tuesday at the Board of County Commissioners meeting.
Orlando Sentinel
Osceola seeks $3 million to remove hydrilla from West Lake Toho
With state funding scarce, Osceola County commissioners on Monday decided to seek $3 million from the federal government to remove the invasive weed that is strangling West Lake Toho.
CYBERSECURITY
Security Boulevard
Strong Passwords: A Keystone of Cybersecurity for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
The White House put out an official letter to governors (March 2024) warning of severe cyberattacks directed at water and wastewater infrastructure across the country. The threats described in the referenced CISA reports should be a strident warning and wake-up call, even to seasoned cybersecurity practitioners.
BROADBAND
Route-Fifty
Without federal internet subsidies, state efforts to offer low-cost broadband could be impacted
The end of the Affordable Connectivity Program will not only impact the 23 million households participating, but also those who live in areas where broadband is being built out.
FAC News Clips – March 26, 2024
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
News Channel 8
Pasco County to vote to opt out of Live Local Act, tax breaks for developers
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (WFLA) — The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners is set to vote Tuesday on whether or not to opt out of the Live Local Act.
WMFE
Orange County Commission to decide on Disney’s affordable housing proposal
The Orange County Board of Commissioners will decide the fate of a Disney-backed affordable housing project that promises more than 1,400 units just west of Magic Kingdom.
COUNTY
Islander News
During her fourth State of the County Address in January at Zoo Miami, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said she will ask voters to approve a $2.5 billion bond in November.
FAC News Clips – March 25, 2024
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
The effort to get Gov. DeSantis to veto short-term vacation rental bill accelerates
Gov. DeSantis hasn’t commented publicly about SB 280.
Orlando Sentinel
Commentary: Public-camping rule will only make homeless problem worse
On April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the case of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which addresses the right of people experiencing homelessness to stay and sleep on public land if no other option is available.
Florida Politics
It was a hot-button issue for many oceanside cities.
COUNTY
Citrus County Chronicle
County eyes grant to combat pollution of Homosassa River
For years, the concern along the Homosassa River has been the leaking of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals into the water.
CYBERSECURITY
Route-Fifty
States warned of ‘recent and ongoing’ cyber threats to critical infrastructure
The EPA and White House acknowledged water systems and other utilities “often lack the resources” to adopt rigorous cybersecurity measures. They want to partner to bolster the current efforts of state and local governments.
FAC News Clips – March 20, 2024
LEGISLATION
Pensacola News Journal
Florida homeless prepare for law banning tents, sleeping in public
‘We’re … going to say no matter what, these public spaces have to be protected,’ the bill’s sponsor said.
Florida Politics
The Governor says the bill will keep streets ‘clean’ and ‘safe’ for residents.
COUNTY
WLRN
Miami-Dade’s push to protect outdoor workers dies after state ban. What’s next?
Outdoor workers in Miami-Dade looking for water, breaks and shade from the sweltering South Florida sun went to their politicians for help. But after powerful pushback from agriculture and construction lobbyists, on Tuesday Miami-Dade County Commission put an end to a landmark bill that would’ve protected 80,000 outdoor workers.
WGCU
Lee Commissioners accept ResilientLee Recovery and Resilience Plan
The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to accept the ResilientLee Recovery and Resilience Plan, a product of the Long-Term Recovery Task Force, which included more than 200 community members.
WJHG
Bay County Commissioner William Dozier announces retirement
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -Bay County Commissioner William Dozier announced Tuesday morning that he is retiring.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WGCU
Biden plans affordable housing aid for Fla and elsewhere
There may be hope yet for Floridians trying to find affordable housing.
FAC News Clips – March 19, 2024
WUSF
A Florida bill could clear the way for farmworker housing
Florida’s agriculture industry hopes a newly passed bill that would limit local regulations on farmworker housing will bring in more non-immigrant foreign workers.
News Pub
State preemption bills have a good year at the Florida Legislature
The 2024 Florida Legislature passed a number of bills that would take away authority from local governments. Known as preemption bills, they were cleared for issues ranging from local wages to vacation rentals to affordable housing. Some of those that failed this year will likely be back next year.
COUNTY
Bay News 9
Osceola County continues free college program for high school graduates
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — On Monday night, Osceola County commissioners unanimously voted in favor of approving their Osceola Prosper Program, a free college tuition program for high school graduates in Osceola County.
The Ledger
Federal package offers $17.5 million for several Polk County road projects
Polk County projects will receive millions of dollars in funding from a package of federal spending bills recently signed by President Joe Biden.
Fort Myers Beach Talk
State legislature approves aid for Fort Myers Beach
The Florida Legislature has approved funds to help aid the Town of Fort Myers Beach in rebuilding its town hall and to replace revenue lost due to Hurricane Ian.
Keys News
County to take up accepting new building allocations
The Monroe County Commission this week will take public input and discuss accepting possibly 8,000 new state-issued building allocations and adding seven additional hours to the hurricane evacuation timeframe.