Commissioners proposed joint‑use or public‑private models to expand community access to school tracks, fields and pools. School officials said fee schedules and liability insurance exist but cited modern security and staffing constraints as barriers to unrestricted public use of campuses.

After an external investigation and a public name‑clearing hearing, the Palatka City Commission voted to restore the city manager to her post and require a 30‑day plan to address findings; Chief Shaw will act as assistant city manager and staff will report to him during the cure period.

Legislative staff presented a draft Polk County School District platform emphasizing student support and accountability items (additional high‑school equivalency options, PM assessment scoring, rolling 3‑year cap for FES awards, algebra midyear data and acceleration points for seals) and funding priorities including BSA increases and categorical/ V

Hazen engineers will present preliminary plans and staging needs for the deep‑well injection component of the new water‑treatment plant. Staff said no commission decisions are required at the workshop; a November decision on final engineering steps is anticipated.

The board approved a sole-source grant to Community Health Northwest Florida to purchase and operate a mobile vision van. Staff said the clinic is an FQHC-led startup intended to be self-sustaining and to integrate vision care with other medical and social services.

County engineer and the Hernando‑Citrus MPO described the county’s Local Agency Program (LAP) sidewalk program, progress since 1997 and a priority shift toward sidewalk projects within two miles of schools.

The trust took individual votes on mental-health provider renewals. The board approved some renewals, asked for additional budget justification for others and gave three providers 30-day extensions while the program committee reviews financial and scope details.

Roger Clark, the city’s planning and zoning director, presented the scope and timeline for a new Parks Master Plan and explained an executed interlocal agreement with Sarasota County that shifts maintenance responsibilities and adds city‑controlled parks starting Oct. 1, 2026.

On Oct. 9, 2025 the City of Palatka City Commission approved the consent agenda, adopted multiple annexation and rezoning ordinances (second readings), approved a tentative budget calendar, and passed first reading of a local sex‑offender and predator residency restriction ordinance matching Putnam County policy.

The Planning and Zoning Board voted to recommend approval of a major modification to an existing planned development (PD) to add a Chick‑fil‑A, Texas Roadhouse and revised commercial standards for outparcels along US‑41; staff said design enhancements and buffers are required.

City staff briefed the commission on several capital projects including the Jenkins Middle School rehabilitation, River Street retaining wall bid opening, Riverfront Play Park accelerated delivery, $4.9M reclamation facility upgrades and a $10M northeast to northwest potable water main replacement starting Oct. 13, 2025.

Attorneys and planners presented a draft update to the interlocal agreement (ILA) covering school site selection, concurrency, proportionate‑share mitigation and a new interlocal treatment of impact fees intended to align the ILA with current Florida statutes and administrative practices.

County planners outlined a significant pipeline of residential subdivisions and millions of square feet of commercial/industrial development in the Rural Highlands and the I‑75/State Road 50 corridor, and said concurrency, utilities and school capacity will require coordinated planning.

Planning staff delivered a near-final draft of Plantation's comprehensive plan (volumes 1 and 2). Board members asked staff to add explicit policy language to reference the Broward Safety Action Plan and the county 'low-stress multimodal master mobility plan' so engineering can apply those design standards.

Candace Brower, regional conflict counsel for Region 1, told senators that the five regional councils saved the state hundreds of millions and now seek minimum pay adjustments, senior-management retirement access for experienced attorneys, and new staff tied to additional judgeships.

HDR and county staff gave an update on the Resiliency and Modernization Program under a $1 million grant. The presentation described a decision framework, scoring criteria and a project dashboard to prioritize over 200 projects; commissioners broadly endorsed establishing a transparent rubric, continuing public engagement and keeping the tools up

The Marion County School Board on Oct. 14 approved the district’s collective bargaining agreement with the Marion Education Association, multiple construction change orders including a Guaranteed Maximum Price amendment for South Marion High School, purchases of new buses, and several student expulsions; votes and motion details are listed below.

Amy Keller Pickford, newly named CEO of AdventHealth Winter Garden, introduced herself to the commission and described an ongoing tower expansion that will add progressive-care beds, a mother-baby unit with NICU capability and a cancer institute.

Commissioners discussed seeking an expanded slow-speed minimum wake zone around the Shad Creek Bridge, reviewed mapping and legal framing, and directed staff to refine language and pursue community input before submitting a formal application to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The housing committee approved item 2C, which included extensions for infill/homeownership projects. Commissioners debated prioritizing county-owned infill lots and using homeownership funds to support duplexes and small multiunit purchases to maximize units and long-term ownership.

Jacksonville City Council approved an emergency appropriation creating a $26 million reserve for public‑safety staffing and related costs, adding language limiting use to personnel and associated expenses; councilmembers framed the move as a show of support for police and fire recruitment and retention.

Charlotte County commissioners chose a new interim expansion approach for the Burnt Store Water Reclamation Facility that favors building components reusable in the county’s planned 2.5-MGD facility and approved an amendment (GMP-style) to buy temporary packaged treatment units to relieve near-term capacity constraints.

Miami-Dade housing committee asked staff for a report on 2023 surtax RFA applicants who fell short of thresholds and amended the request to include a breakdown by commission district for the current year's applications; commissioners discussed prioritizing cost per unit.

Council reviewed its 2026 federal and state legislative platform, affirmed water and utilities extension as the top appropriation priority, and signaled support to continue its current lobbying team with a minor contract shift for state representation.

A consultant review found high automatic-meter-reading failure rates and recommended continued tuning, a propagation study, meter-box upgrades and pilot tests including cellular technology. Commissioners asked staff to evaluate options that could leverage electric meter infrastructure and to pilot multiple metering technologies.