When the City Commission meets and votes to implement a policy, more times than not the policy has been vetted through a Target Issue (TI) committee. The City has five Target Issue committees and two city commissioners set on each of the committees. The committees meet on a regular basis and commissioners and city staff […]
Over the past year or so, the Leon County Sales Tax Committee (STC) has patiently listened to scores of proposals for the use of future sales tax. We could easily have a couple of billion dollars in ideas floating around the community. No doubt, we need infrastructure in this county and we need to expand […]
The County and City Commission approved the Leon County Sales Tax Committee’s recommendation to enter into public/private partnership with Imagine Tallahassee to conduct a community visioning exercise for the economic development portion of the proposed sales tax. On February 1, 2013, the Committee approved a proposal lead by Karen Moore and Jim Murdaugh. The proposal […]
The City of Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board met on Monday and one of the issues discussed was a recommendation to appropriate $50,000 to the Riley Museum. On July 13, 2011, the CRA Board approved a $125,000 grant to the John G. Riley Center/Museum for African American History and Culture (Museum) to assist in the […]
The Capital Regional Transportation Planning Agency (CRTPA) met on Monday and the issue drawing the most attention was the proposal to place a median on North Monroe between 7th Avenue and Tharpe Street. CRTPA board members heard a presentation form a transportation consultant and the opinions of business owners affected by the construction of a […]
During the January 28th, 2013 City Commission Financial Viability Target Issue Committee Meeting, city staff informed city commissioners Gillum and Maddox that fuel costs for the electric utility would decrease by approximately $10.5 million in 2013. However, the commissioners were also told that base rates would have to be increased by approximately $8.0 million. Base […]
I was driving down the street the other day and noticed a yellow bumper-sticker on the back of an SUV that said, “Three Feet, It’s The Law!” The implication being that if you don’t give a bicyclist three feet that you are subject to being cited. As a bicycle rider myself that bumper-sticker made me […]
With the economy still struggling, the importance of creating new jobs is becoming more and more important. Locally, we have heard for years about the impediments of job creation. These obstacles include high electric rates, the challenges at Tallahassee Regional Airport, and the permitting process. With the flow of money so tight, an extra expense […]
After the recent legislative session and Governor Scott’s subsequent vetoes, it is clear that the Great Recession continues to have real economic consequences in Florida. It would appear that reducing expenses while striving for the efficient delivery of services will be the mission statement for not only government, but the private sector for sometime to […]
The COT press release on the 2012 budget reads: “No increase proposed for millage rate – City Manager Anita Favors Thompson today released the recommended $724.9 million fiscal year 2012 budget for review and action by the Tallahassee City Commission. The proposed amount is $2 million less than the current year budget and reflects feedback […]