City Budget 2020: TEMPO Seeks $150,000 in Funding

City Budget 2020: TEMPO Seeks $150,000 in Funding

A new public safety and economic development outreach initiative, Tallahassee Engaged in Meaningful Productivity for Opportunity (TEMPO), was created this year as an additional item in the City’s budget to “connect Disconnected Youth with educational and workforce opportunities.” As of May 2019, the program has engaged 500 participants, with a target population of 1,000 for […]

City Budget 2020: Adopting “Living Wage” Will Cost $50,000

City Budget 2020: Adopting “Living Wage” Will Cost $50,000

The City of Tallahassee FY2020 budget includes a living wage proposal of $12 per hour. The proposal would benefit 26 full-time “Other Personnel Services” (OPS) positions. These employees work a consistent work schedule, but are being paid less than $12 per hour. The City Commission believes this would ensure everyone receives “fair consideration” to be […]

State Transportation Group, Chaired by Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox, Endorses Legislative Priorities

State Transportation Group, Chaired by Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox, Endorses Legislative Priorities

The Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council (MPOAC) is a statewide transportation planning and policy organization created by the Florida Legislature pursuant to Section 339.175(11), Florida Statutes. Why this group is important: The MPOAC assists local transportation planning organizations in carrying out the urbanized area transportation planning process by serving as the principal forum for collective policy discussion. […]

Florida State Senator Responds to NY Abortion Law

Florida State Senator Responds to NY Abortion Law

Joe Gruters, a Sarasota Republican in the Florida state Senate, has filed a bill to outlaw abortions after 20 weeks into a pregnancy. Gruters introduced the “Florida Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” for the upcoming legislative session in response to a controversial vote in New York state which expanded abortion rights. Currently, Florida state law […]

City Commission Hears From Opponents of Public Safety Complex at Retreat

City Commission Hears From Opponents of Public Safety Complex at Retreat

At the recent city retreat, several citizens spoke aggressively against the proposed location of the public safety complex on the Southside of Tallahassee. However, City Commissioner Curtis Richardson defended the city’s decision to support the location. Many residents, most from the Southside community, argued against the police station being placed on the Southside. Cea Moline, […]

CRA Provides Update on Major Projects

CRA Provides Update on Major Projects

The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has contributed to twenty-eight projects in 2018, twenty-four of which are in Frenchtown/Southside and four of which are downtown. At a recent CRA Board Meeting, the Executive Director, Roxanne Manning, summarized the status of the large projects approved over the last two years. The first project, and the largest one […]

Study: Later High School Start Boosts Grades, Attendance

Study: Later High School Start Boosts Grades, Attendance

A recent two year long study done by the University of Washington shows that having later high school start-times boosts grades and attendance. And in 2014, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that middle and high schools delay their start-times to 8:30 a.m. or later. However, according to the National Center For Education Statistics, only […]

City Accepts Affordable Housing Recommendations That Would Change Development Rules

City Accepts Affordable Housing Recommendations That Would Change Development Rules

The Tallahassee City Commission recently voted to accept a report by the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) which included recommendations that would impact how residential developers deal with affordable housing. The list of recommendations are provided below. It is important to note that the acceptance of the report does not commit the city commission to […]