Plans Moving Forward for Midtown Food Truck Park

Dec 14, 2018 at 2:32 pm

The city still has plans for a food truck park in Midtown, however after a seven-month delay another company has stepped in to help develop the project on a half-acre, city-owned site at the northwest corner of North Massachusetts Avenue and East Parker Street.

The concept is to provide food trucks, craft beer and public events – at least 12 a year – in a family-friendly, backyard-style setting that includes an indoor-outdoor performance venue and a 2,500-square-foot building with restrooms and a bar.

While there is space for four food trucks, the company expect to have one or two onsite daily, Alis Drumgo, CRA interim manager, told city commissioners when they gathered Friday morning for committee meetings and an agenda study session. More

City Hall/ Politics

Videos: City Commission Candidates Introduce Themselves

Dec 7, 2018 at 3:19 pm Vimeo: City of Lakeland

The three candidates running in the Jan. 15 special election for Lakeland City Commission introduce themselves in videos produced by the city communications department. The candidates are asked to talk about their background, campaign themes, time management and why a citizen should vote for them. Video links:

City Hall/ Politics

Meet the Three City Commission Candidates

Dec 3, 2018 at 8:22 am

Mike Ferguson, The Ledger’s new City Hall reporter, profiles the three candidates running in the Jan. 15 special election to fill the remaining three years on the southwest district seat on the Lakeland City Commission. The seat was left vacant by Michael Dunn’s resignation in October. The candidates are:

Patrick Jones, 53, who is focusing on expanding high-speed Internet to bridge the digital divide and increasing entertainment opportunities.

Sara Roberts McCarley, 47, who is focusing on making the city more attractive for young people to return to or stay.

Bill Watts, 53, who is focusing on streamlining code enforcement and permitting, areas where he believes the city has overreached.

City Hall/ Politics

Three Qualify for City Commission Race

Nov 30, 2018 at 1:05 pm

Three candidates have qualified to run in the Jan. 15 special election for the Lakeland City Commission seat vacated by Michael Dunn: Patrick Shawn Jones, Sara Roberts McCarley and Bill Watts. More

City Hall/ Downtown

Southern Heritage Group Sues to Halt Monument Move

Nov 20, 2018 at 4:15 pm

Save Southern Heritage, an organization that has been a vocal advocate for keeping the Confederate monument in Munn Park, has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to keep the city of Lakeland from moving the 108-year-old memorial to Veterans Park. More

City Hall/ Downtown

Reaffirmed: Red-Light Camera Funds Will Move the Monument

Nov 19, 2018 at 10:33 pm

After casting the deciding vote today that will allow the city to proceed with plans to move the Confederate monument out of Munn Park, Commissioner Stephanie Madden said it was the power of personal stories that persuaded her. More

City Hall/ Downtown

Commission Continues Monument Discussions Today

Nov 19, 2018 at 8:04 am

The divisive issues around moving the Confederate monument from Munn Park to Veterans Park continued to divide Lakeland city commissioners Friday, with some suggesting voters should have a say during a January special election and others insisting they were elected to make tough but potentially unpopular decisions that benefit the community.

Commissioners discuss the monument again today when they will be asked toward the end of their 3 p.m. meeting to make a budget transfer to facilitate the monument move. More

City Hall/ Politics

Candidates Lining Up for City Commission Seat

Nov 9, 2018 at 7:38 am The Ledger

Five candidates have already expressed an interest in running for city commissioner in the Jan. 15 special election to select a replacement for Michael Dunn, who resigned last month. Candidates can qualify to run the last week of November, but one has already prequalfied: Sara Roberts McCarley, former director of Polk Vision. Four others have picked up campaign packets from the city clerk: Jorge Fonseca, Shawn Patrick Jones and Pablo Sologaistoa, all of whom ran for city office last year, and David Hardy, a political newcomer.

City Hall/ Downtown

Wiggs, Others Chastise Commission for Monument Move

Nov 6, 2018 at 7:21 am The Ledger

During public comments at the end of their regular meeting Monday, city commissioners faced a barrage of criticism (and a bit of support) for their 4-3 decision three days earlier to use red-light camera funds to move the Confederate monument from Munn Park to Veterans Park. Former Mayor Howard Wiggs said it was disingenuous to claim the funds collected from fines “do not belong to our citizens.” An assistant city attorney said commissioners will be asked to make a formal vote on the red-light camera appropriations at their Nov. 19 meeting. ALSO: Video of the monument discussion

City Hall/ People

Fancelli Foresees Another Strong Mayor Attempt

Nov 4, 2018 at 9:48 am Podcast: Low Down With Bump

In a wide-ranging discussion with podcaster Bump Galletta, real estate investor Gregory Fancelli says he envisions another push for a strong mayor for Lakeland. “I firmly believe that the opportunity to do this again will present itself pretty soon,” said Fancelli, who spearheaded last year’s unsuccessful attempt to change the city charter to allow an elected chief executive for the city of Lakeland. The next attempt will need a broader group backing it, he said. The mayor discussion begins 33 minutes into the podcast.