City Won’t Oppose Bill to Compensate Man Shot by Police Officer

Feb 23, 2021 at 8:23 am WUFT

Reginald Jackson, 43, recalls the night in 2001 when he was shot in the neck by a Lakeland police officer; he said he still feels a cold numbness in his arm sometimes, Gainesville’s WUFT reports. A jury awarded him $412,500 in 2009, but he received less than a quarter of that from the city. In the past, the city of Lakeland has lobbied against bills filed in the Legislature to recover the rest, but this year it is staying neutral. | LkldNow coverage

City Hall/ Downtown

Mutz Priority List Includes Downtown Density, Publix

Feb 16, 2021 at 5:03 pm

Mayor Bill Mutz presented an ambitious list of priorities at a city strategic planning meeting this morning. Among his goals is increasing residential density downtown to 8,500 by 2030, which he said would lead to another goal: attracting a grocery store, preferably Publix, downtown by 2030. More

City Hall/ Downtown

Developer Close to Deal on 26 Acres Next to Bonnet Springs Park

Feb 12, 2021 at 4:51 pm

The developers of Bonnet Springs Park say they are close to a deal to sell a large tract between the park and Lake Wire to an out-of-state company that wants to build a mixed-use project on the reclaimed property that once housed Florida Tile. More

City Hall/ People

Former City Commissioner Glenn Higgins Dies at 85

Feb 6, 2021 at 9:32 am

Former Lakeland City Commissioner Glenn Higgins has died at age 85. He was described by friends as perpetually upbeat, a good listener and genial with all. More

City Hall

City Removes Criminal History Checkbox from Job Applications

Feb 2, 2021 at 12:29 pm The Ledger

Applicants for jobs with the city of Lakeland no longer have to check a box indicating whether they have been convicted of a crime, Fox 13 News reports. It’s part of a nationwide movement aimed at giving applicants a “second chance,” city officials say. Criminal histories will be discovered through background checks, but not until after qualified applicants have been interviewed, allowing the hiring manager to determine the severity of the crime and extenuating circumstances. | News release | Facebook post and comments

City Hall/ Business

FAA Rule Keeps Amazon Jets Low Over Lakeland; City Wants It Changed

Jan 26, 2021 at 7:10 am

City leaders want to tone down noisy, low-flying Amazon jets, particularly those flying at night and in the early morning. But they admit it will be a long struggle to get federal officials to change rules that keep departing aircraft flying low over Lakeland. More

City Hall/ Neighborhoods

Commission Approves Plan for 300 Apartments in SW Lakeland

Jan 20, 2021 at 8:52 pm

Lakeland city commissioners had to choose Tuesday between two very different visions for 30 undeveloped acres off Airport Road south of the Polk Parkway:

On one side, a developer and city planners envision 300 apartments providing needed housing in southwest Lakeland for young professionals working for a growing number of businesses nearby.
On the other side, homeowners foresee an ugly mass of 14 three-story apartment buildings creating traffic congestion and intrusion on their nearby quiet community.

City Hall/ Health

City Commission Approves Statement Calling for COVID-19 Safety

Jan 20, 2021 at 11:47 am

City commissioners approved a resolution late Tuesday night urging Lakeland residents to wear masks and take other steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The vote was unanimous following the urging of Commissioner Don Selvage, who acknowledged he doesn’t think the measure goes far enough but suggested the commission show a united front. More

City Hall/ Politics

City Seeking Candidates for SE District Commission Seat

Jan 18, 2021 at 11:55 am

The city of Lakeland is holding an election April 6 to fill a temporary seat on the City Commission, and information packets are available from the city clerk for anybody interested in running. More

City Hall/ Health

City Urges Virtual Meetings for Others, But Its Own Meetings Must Be In-Person

Jan 18, 2021 at 6:55 am

Even as Lakeland city commissioners prepare to urge organizations to prioritize virtual meetings over in-person gatherings, the city is still scheduling plenty of in-person meetings at City Hall. But that could change soon, according to Mayor Bill Mutz. More