With construction of the long-awaited New Tampa skate park about to begin, city recreation leaders have scheduled two final meetings to receive public input about the project. ...more

February 13, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Moving to appease residents who want Al Lang Field preserved as parkland, the city council decided today to seek community input on the fate of the 10-acre waterfront site if it does not become the new home of the Tampa Bay Rays. ...more

February 7, 2008

AVON PARK — Memorial Elementary School, on schedule to open in August, will be populated with students coming from four existing elementary schools, according to the district's proposed attendance plan. "We've got a boundary that we think is a logical one and hopefully it will be cost efficient," Assistant Superintendent of Business/Operations Mike Averyt said Monday. "We've got two public hearings to adopt the changes in the boundaries so we will be able to get public input at that point." The affected schools, from which some neighborhoods will be reassigned to the new school, are Sun 'n Lake Elementary, Avon Elementary, Park Elementary and Woodlawn Elementary. With the largest elementary school enrollment in the district, Sun 'n Lake Elementary will have the greatest enrollment decrease, Averyt said. The goal is to reduce enrollment at the school from 900 to about 650 students. The details of the proposed redistricting and school attendance zone maps will be released soon and will be presented at the public hearings, he said. ...more

February 5, 2008

It's no surprise that South Florida Community College's President Norman Stephens received a positive evaluation. He's as good as they come in his position anywhere in the nation. The fact is, our area is filled with leaders who do a fine job. Stephens has continued a tradition of excellence at SFCC. If anyone's been critical of his leadership, we haven't heard it. That's amazing because rarely does anyone in a position of power maintain such high regard from so many people. Even many outstanding leaders, due to the tough decisions they have to make every day, generate a few enemies along the way. City managers, county administrators, school superintendents and a number of other key positions are tasked with difficult jobs that require decision making that upsets some people. Often those jobs have a high turnover. A lot of city administrators around the country last about five years and move on, due to their inability to be effective. ...more

February 1, 2008

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under executive director Ken Haddad has done an exceptional job of seeking public input on regulations to manage fish and wildlife, but a recent effort on boating rules might have strayed a bit off course. ...more

January 30, 2008

The National Park Service envisions a prime venue for demonstrations: a broad space at the foot of the Capitol with restrooms, seating, a paved surface, even a stand for the media. ...more

January 20, 2008

Last year's brouhaha over new pavement envisioned for much of South Shore effectively scrapped the proposed South County Transportation Plan, except for a portion of it that discussed road improvements for Wimauma, county planners said this week. ...more

January 17, 2008

For many who lived through Vermont's not-so-civil debate over civil unions, the memories remain painfully fresh: hate mail, threatening telephone messages, tense public meetings. ...more

January 14, 2008

Eager to find new sources of money in the wake of property tax reforms, commissioners narrowly approved a resolution that gives the city the option to charge annual assessments to pay for fire service. ...more

December 19, 2007

State education leaders wouldn't discuss controversial proposed science standards for Florida public schools at a meeting Tuesday, even after a group of parents drove 200 miles to Tampa to give input. ...more

December 12, 2007