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Citizen Portal News Florida
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Jefferson County is on the verge of a broadband breakthrough, but with $17 million still needed, will residents and businesses get the reliable internet they desperately require?

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#JeffersonCounty #FL #EconomicDevelopment #DigitalInclusion #JeffersonCountyBroadband
Jefferson County hears broadband plan as Tri-County rep says $17 million still needed to reach remaining homes
A Tri-County broadband presenter told Jefferson County commissioners the local portion of the project has connected about 7,200 customers but that an estimated $17 million is still needed to reach all unserved properties; residents and businesses pressed for timelines, pole vs. underground options and contingency plans for FEMA delays.
citizenportal.ai
December 10, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Key West commissioners tangled in a heated debate over a $40,000 emergency fund for local food pantries, leaving many in need without immediate support.

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#FL #FoodInsecurity #FiscalTransparency #CitizenPortal #EmergencyRelief
Key West commissioners debate $40,000 emergency allocation for local food pantries; larger and smaller motions both fail
After debate about need, timing and funding sources, the City Commission rejected a $40,000 emergency relief allocation for food pantries and later rejected a compromise $20,000 allocation; commissioners asked staff to survey need and propose an allocation process.
citizenportal.ai
December 10, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Jefferson County commissioners are gearing up to make crucial decisions on how to allocate a staggering $12 million in Gulf consortium funds, with workforce training and broadband topping the list of priorities!

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#JeffersonCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #EconomicDevelopment
Jefferson County weighs uses for $12M Gulf consortium pot, emphasizes workforce training and broadband
County commissioners discussed options to spend Gulf consortium funds—citing a $12 million Pot 3 allocation and about $3 million in Pot 1—exploring emergency management facilities, roadway sewer extensions, workforce training and broadband, and were advised to prepare SEP amendments in 2026 to line up projects for 2027.
citizenportal.ai
December 10, 2025 at 1:15 AM
The Panama City Community Redevelopment Agency is set to unveil an ambitious three-day charrette for the downtown marina, following a $122,000 investment to shape its future.

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#PanamaCityBayCounty #FL #CommunityDevelopment #UrbanPlanning #PublicParticipation #PanamaCityMarina
CRA backs consultant’s three-day Jan. charrette for downtown marina; board notes $122,000 CRA investment
The CRA voted to follow consultant Dover Cole’s recommendation for a consolidated three-day charrette (Jan. 21–23) for the downtown Panama City marina, with staff noting the CRA previously committed about $122,000 for the project; implementation and community workshops will continue into March.
citizenportal.ai
December 7, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Panama City's Community Redevelopment Agency just approved a $59,300 investment in a virtual small-development boot camp to empower local projects and boost community-driven development!

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#PanamaCityBayCounty #FL #CommunityDriven #PanamaCityDevelopment #LocalCapacity
Panama City CRA approves $59,300 IncDev small-development boot camp and monthly cohort series
The Panama City Community Redevelopment Agency voted 5–0 to contract with the Incremental Development Alliance for a virtual small-development boot camp, a pitch-session add-on and a minimum of six monthly meetup cohorts, with staff citing prior workshops that drew strong attendance.
citizenportal.ai
December 7, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Palm Beach County is considering a major move to potentially acquire the Boynton Beach water utility, impacting 125,000 customers—could this transform the future of water services in the area?

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#PalmBeachCounty #FL #PalmBeachCountyUtility #CitizenPortal #WaterManagement
County to study potential acquisition of Boynton Beach water utility; staff outlines phased due diligence
County water utility staff presented a four‑phase plan for exploring acquisition of the City of Boynton Beach utility (serving ~125,000 customers), estimated initial feasibility work at about $50,000 and 30–60 days for an initial financial review, and requested direction to proceed with phase‑1 due diligence.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The Palm Beach County Board has approved a $54 million housing initiative to boost affordable living but faced heated debates on cost and scoring for other projects.

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#PalmBeachCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #CommunityLeadership #WorkforceDevelopment #PalmBeachCountyHousing
Commissioners approve several housing-bond projects, postpone and deny others amid debate over scoring and leverage
The board approved multiple affordable and workforce projects recommended from the county's housing bond RFPs, denied or deferred others (including CityView denied and Seventh on Haverhill postponed to January) after developer testimony and discussion about scoring, cost-per-unit and tax-credit impacts.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Palm Beach County just approved a groundbreaking update to support local small businesses by simplifying certification processes and enhancing scoring preferences!

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#PalmBeachCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #LocalBusinessSupport #ProcurementReform #EconomicDevelopment
Palm Beach County adopts revised small-business ordinance to streamline certification and scoring
The Board of County Commissioners approved revisions to the Office of Small Business Development ordinance to simplify certification, move procedural details to policy, and standardize an SBE evaluation preference representing 15% of bid points; board vote was unanimous.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Palm Tran's pilot program has seen nearly 200,000 trips, but new changes are set to reshape how riders connect with fixed routes—will it enhance transit access or just shuffle rides?

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#PalmBeachCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #CivicAccountability #TransitImprovement
Palm Tran to tighten PonTran pilot: zones split, vouchers cut to $5 and trips capped
Palm Tran staff told the Palm Beach County commission the on‑demand 'PonTran' pilot generated nearly 200,000 trips and about 5,000 unique riders; the board approved changes to split the oversized East Central zone, cap riders at two subsidized trips a day and reduce vouchers from $8 to $5 to encourage fixed‑route connections.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Palm Beach County commissioners are setting aside $40 million to boost for-sale housing options, addressing a critical shortage after discovering only eight for-sale units among over 2,100 approved.

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#PalmBeachCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #HomeownershipIncentives
Palm Beach County commissioners agree to protect minimum $40 million for for‑sale housing, direct staff to revise RFP
After hearing that 70% of approved units were affordable rentals and only eight were for‑sale, commissioners directed staff to protect at least $40 million for for‑sale housing, ask for a modified RFP after the new year, and work with industry partners to incentivize ownership projects.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Palm Beach County commissioners approved several workforce and affordable housing projects under a $200 million bond, but the fate of one major proposal hangs in the balance as debates on funding fairness heat up.

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#PalmBeachCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #CivicAccountability
Commissioners take mixed action on $200M housing bond RFPs; several projects approved, some denied and one deferred
Staff recommended conceptual approvals for multiple workforce and affordable housing projects funded by the county's $200 million housing bond. The board approved a subset, denied some projects due to cost/leverage scoring and deferred at least one (7th on Haverhill) for resubmission after clarifications. Commissioners asked staff to ensure cost breakdowns and underwriting detail before final approvals.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Palm Beach County commissioners are reshaping the future of homeownership by prioritizing $40 million in housing bond funds for for-sale projects while still allowing one last chance for rental developments.

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#PalmBeachCounty #FL #CommunityInvestment #CitizenPortal
County commissioners protect at least $40 million for for‑sale housing while allowing one more RFP round
Palm Beach County commissioners directed staff to allow one more RFP for rental projects, then to direct remaining (underwriting‑returned) bond funds toward for‑sale housing; the board discussed protecting at least $40 million (some favored $50 million) of the unallocated bond pool and approved two workforce projects and impact‑fee assistance earlier in the meeting.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Lake City Council has taken a bold step to resolve a contentious land-use dispute tied to Lakeshore Hospital, but concerns about the hospital's deteriorating condition have sparked heated public debate.

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#LakeCityColumbiaCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety
Lake City adopts chapter 164 resolution to resolve dispute with Lakeshore Hospital Authority; public raises concerns about hospital safety and councilmember rec
The council adopted Resolution 2025-166 to conclude a Chapter 164 dispute with Lakeshore Hospital Authority and to support a conveyance and conditions tied to Meridian Behavioral Health; the measure passed with Councilwoman Harris recused because of employment ties to Meridian and public commenters protested the hospital's condition and a late exhibit addition.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Residents are demanding immediate action to revitalize the deteriorating Cody River Landing, urging the council to prioritize infrastructure improvements instead of waiting for private development.

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#PortRicheyCityPascoCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #CommunityDevelopment
Residents urge action on Cody River Landing; council schedules January workshop
Residents at the Port Richey town hall urged the council to revive the Cody River Landing roads, sidewalks and lighting project instead of waiting for a private development to finish; organizers set a workshop for Jan. 23 to discuss zoning, funding and next steps with county and property owners.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Ritchie FM is revolutionizing emergency communication in Port Richey with solar-powered broadcasts that keep residents informed during power outages and support local businesses.

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#PortRicheyCityPascoCounty #FL #PortRicheyEmergency #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety
New hyperlocal station Ritchie FM pitches emergency broadcasting and small-business support in Port Richey
Ritchie FM founder James Stahl told the Port Richey town hall his 107.9 station is designed to stay on air during prolonged outages using solar and battery backup, offering hyperlocal emergency updates, shelter and resource messaging as well as low-cost promotion for small businesses.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Pasco County is set to transform lives with a groundbreaking $205 million disaster recovery housing program, but residents must navigate strict eligibility rules to secure vital assistance.

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#PortRicheyCityPascoCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #DisasterRecovery #CommunityAssistance
Pasco County launches $205 million housing program; Port Richey residents warned to document claims
Pasco County has launched a HUD-approved disaster recovery housing program, dedicating roughly $205 million to housing repairs, rebuilds, buyouts and temporary relocation; county staff stressed strict federal income rules and duplication-of-benefit checks and urged eligible residents to complete multi-step applications.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Delray Beach is at a crossroads: local brokers urge the city to revamp its marketing and permitting strategies to attract high-wage employers before they lease elsewhere!

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#DelrayBeachPalmBeachCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #DelrayBeachEconomy #MarketingStrategy #RealEstateReadiness
Local brokers and county economic developers tell Delray to pair marketing with expedited permitting
During public comment and partner remarks at a Dec. 1 workshop, a CBRE broker and Palm Beach County economic development leaders urged Delray Beach to combine proactive marketing and real‑estate planning with faster permitting to land higher‑wage employers.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Delray Beach is gearing up for an economic transformation, seeking to attract high-wage employers with updated plans for expedited permitting and targeted marketing.

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#DelrayBeachPalmBeachCounty #FL #WorkforceHousing #CitizenPortal #DelrayBeachEconomy #CommercialRealEstate
Delray Beach workshop directs staff to pursue expedited permitting, marketing and inventory to attract higher‑wage employers
Delray Beach commissioners heard updated economic data, input from county and redevelopment partners and public comment Dec. 1, and asked staff to return in January with concrete proposals on expedited permitting, marketing resources and a real estate inventory to pursue targeted, higher‑wage employers.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 11:03 AM
The Indian River Lagoon is not just a natural treasure; it generates over $10 billion annually in ecosystem services and supports 128,000 jobs—transforming investments into remarkable returns!

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#MartinCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #EcosystemServices #JobCreation
Consultants tell Martin County commissioners Indian River Lagoon provides billions in annual value and high ROI for restoration
Presenters using the InVEST model told the Martin County Commission the Indian River Lagoon generates more than $10 billion a year in ecosystem service value, supports roughly 128,000 jobs regionally and yields very high estimated returns on restoration spending (about 24x overall).
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 9:04 AM
After a fiery debate over past lease violations and camping regulations, the Martin County Board has approved a controversial 40-year lease for the Fair Association—what does this mean for the future of the local fair?

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#MartinCounty #FL #PublicPolicy #CitizenPortal
After heated debate over prior violations and camping rules, commissioners approve 40‑year lease for Martin County Fair Association
The board approved a public purpose lease with the Martin County Fair Association (10‑year initial term plus three 10‑year renewals) after extended questioning about past lease violations, revenue from a prior unauthorized Buick parking leasing arrangement, overnight camping language in procedures, and infrastructure timelines; the motion passed 3–2.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 8:41 AM
The Guardians of Martin County are raising alarms over a proposed beef processing facility, demanding a thorough review due to environmental concerns and potential noncompliance issues.

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#MartinCounty #FL #PublicInput #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalImpact
Guardians ask Martin County to review Chancey Bay Ranch beef processing plan; commission agrees to add item to a future agenda
The Guardians of Martin County asked the commission to allocate staff resources and schedule a public hearing on a proposed beef processing facility at Chancey Bay Ranch, citing hard‑to‑obtain permitting facts and concerns about water use and pollution; Commissioner Capps moved to put the matter on a future agenda and the board agreed to do so.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Martin County just adopted a new economic development toolkit aimed at attracting major investments, but the controversial vote sparked fierce debate over potential risks and rewards.

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#MartinCounty #FL #CitizenPortal #WorkforceSupport #CapitalInvestment #EconomicDevelopment
Martin County adopts economic development toolkit in 3–2 vote as commissioners debate data centers and tax risk
The Board of County Commissioners voted 3–2 to adopt a new economic development toolkit that creates a suite of incentive tools (Opportunity Fund, Local Closing Fund, expedited permitting, workforce grants, IDA bonds, and ad valorem exemption). Supporters said it helps diversify the tax base; opponents warned of corporate welfare, unclear clawbacks and infrastructure strains for data centers.
citizenportal.ai
December 3, 2025 at 8:20 AM