FAC News Clips – April 24, 2024
COUNTY
Herald-Tribune
Manatee County implements emergency drone and baby box pilot programs
Manatee County is set to begin the first pilot program in the nation for emergency drone operations aimed at responding quickly to time-sensitive medical incidents such as cardiac arrest and opioid overdose.
Bay News 9
Manatee tourism tax increase could be decided by residents
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Residents in Manatee County could decide if the county’s tourist tax increases from 5% to 6%.
LEGISLATION
Florida Politics
Gov. DeSantis announces investments in Wildlife Corridor, red tide mitigation
For the second day in a row, DeSantis focused on environmental investments.
PUBLIC CAMPING
Route-Fifty
Justices debate whether cities can make sleeping outside a crime
Cities worry they could have to “surrender” public places if an Oregon city’s anti-camping law is struck down by the Supreme Court, while advocates say the city rules criminalize being homeless.
FAC News Clips – April 23, 2024
PUBLIC CAMPING
Florida Phoenix
U.S. Supreme Court appears to lean toward Oregon city in complex homelessness case
WASHINGTON — A majority of U.S Supreme Court justices Monday seemed inclined to side with an Oregon town’s law that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, in a case that could have broad implications for local ordinances related to homelessness across the country.
Tampa Bay Times
Tiny homes for Tampa’s homeless welcome first residents after delays
TAMPA — Tucked between the interstate and the railroad tracks, woven into the industrial sprawl of Tampa’s eastern edge, 99 tiny white homes sit in a sunbaked lot.
COUNTY
Suncoast News
Pasco County Commissioner Bradford dies
First-term Pasco County Commissioner Gary Bradford died on Sunday after battling leukemia, a diagnosis that he announced not long after he was elected. He was 65.
WINK
The future of the Lee County government is in the hands of voters
The decision to change how the Lee County government works could be placed in the hands of the voters. The Lee County government is considering transitioning into 5 single-member districts.
The Gainesville Sun
Single-member districts may be brought back to a vote this election
Alachua County commissioners are looking to eliminate single-member districts by creating a ballot measure for 2024 that would ask voters to decide whether they want to keep the single-member districts 51.5% of them voted for in 2022 or move back to an at-large system.
St. Pete Catalyst
County considers increasing puppy regulatory requirements
When a once-unthinkable partnership between SPCA Tampa Bay, a puppy broker and a local retailer dissolved due to public backlash, some Pinellas County commissioners suggested reassessing local regulations.
News-Press
Lee County, Cape Coral get 30 more days to save flood insurance discount
FEMA granted Lee County and Cape Coral an additional 30-day extension to save their flood insurance discount, but crews are working 12-hour days, seven days a week to get the work done.
WATER
Orlando Sentinel
Florida plans $850 million in Everglades restoration projects
Florida officials and environmental advocates on Monday touted major progress toward Everglades restoration, which has been advanced by dozens of state-funded projects.
SHORT-TERM RENTALS
TBN Weekly
St. Petersburg, Pinellas County seek to rein in short-term rentals
Pinellas County and St. Petersburg officials have been watching a boom in short-term vacation rentals driven by growing corporate interest, and they’ve come to a similar conclusion: They need to keep a closer watch on the industry.
FAC News Clips – April 22, 2024
PUBLIC CAMPING
Vox
What’s at stake for homeless people this week at the Supreme Court
This week, the justices will hear the biggest case on homelessness in decades.
NY Times
The Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness
Can cities make it illegal to live on the street?
BROADBAND
Route-Fifty
Initial funding for digital equity plans is available. But how do states plan to use it?
Some have identified creative solutions to address affordability, digital skills and accessibility issues. But one approach—reliance on the federal internet subsidy that is about to expire—could force some states back to the drawing board.
FAC News Clips – April 19, 2024
SHORT-TERM RENTALS
Fox 13
Pinellas County leaders consider regulations for short-term rentals
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – In Pinellas County, commissioners are considering new ways to crack down on short-term rentals.
COUNTY
WUWF
New artificial reefs program set to begin with project off Key West
A new artificial reefs program that scientists hope will help reduce stress on the Florida Keys’ fragile marine ecosystem has started this month — with the first project off Key West already in the works.
Lehigh Acre Citizen
Lee County, municipalities, seek extension for responding to FEMA on insurance downgrade
Lee County has asked FEMA to extend its 30-day deadline to provide additional information before the federal agency eliminates its 25% discount on flood insurance policies.
WINK NEWS
Charlotte County condos and co-ops may soon see a change to inspections
A potential new Charlotte County law will impact many condos and co-op owners.
FOX 13
Pinellas County leaders weighing new regulations for pet stores
- PETERSBURG, Fla. – Joy Smoak and Kristen Rodricks bought their puppies on the same day from a pet store in Pinellas County two years apart. The women have eerily similar stories.
Tampa Bay Times
Hillsborough leaders greenlight carbon capture proposal
County commissioners approved the measure in a 5-2 vote. Environmental groups issued a final warning.
FAC News Clips – April 17, 2024
WFLA
Hillsborough County school funding at risk as tax revenue is redirected
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A half-cent community investment sales tax in Hillsborough County expires in 2026, and commissioners are expected to decide how they want to renew it on Wednesday, April 17.
Tampa Bay Times
Here’s how Florida’s tourist tax, big for Rays and beaches, works
Budget season for local governments is around the corner, and with it the usual talk of property values and the tax bills local homeowners can expect to face.
Naples News
Lee County FEMA fight over flood insurance discount, unpermitted work
Lee County announced Tuesday that it asked FEMA for an additional extension of time in order to respond to its information requests in order to preserve its 25% National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP) discount.
Orlando Sentinel
Orange County Mayor: Sales tax hike is ‘best long-term prospect’ to fund transit
Demings indicates his proposed transportation tax, abandoned last week, will be back in 2026
ENVIRONMENT
WGCU
Florida appeals U.S. District Court ruling in wetlands permitting fight
TALLAHASSEE — Florida has quickly launched an appeal after a U.S. district judge rejected a 2020 decision by the federal government to shift permitting authority to the state for projects that affect wetlands.
FAC News Clips – April 16, 2024
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Route-Fifty
‘Artificial intelligence is not innovation,’ it’s a tool. How governments use it will vary.
Some state and local governments may embrace AI wholly, while others may take a more measured approach. Either way, experts said, the competition to be first is moot.
HURRICANE SEASON
News-Press
2024 hurricane season compared to 5 similar years: Lessons to learn
All the early predictions are calling for a very active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
LEGISLATION
Click Orlando
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs 14 more bills into law. Here’s what they are, when they take effect
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed 14 bills into law that cover a variety of issues, including tax collection, home construction warranties and swimming lessons for children.
Route-Fifty
Feds move to make gov websites more accessible to people with disabilities
It’s the first time the federal government has ever issued rules clarifying how the more than 30-year-old Americans with Disabilities Act applies online. But the new rules come with a hefty price tag for state and local governments.