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At the Lakeland City Commission Meeting on Monday, Aug. 17, expansion plans for Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL) advanced, a proposed business park plan was scrutinized, and law enforcement use of electronic surveillance tools were debated.
Commissioners also discussed the impact of the proposed Florida ballot measure, Amendment 3, to be voted on statewide in November.
Lakeland Linder International Airport Set to Expand, $4.8 Federal Grant Approved.
LAL Interim Director Adam Lunn announced Monday that the Lakeland airport won a competitive grant of $4.8 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation, to be used for expansion of traveler terminal facilities, one of three airport-related items on the agenda.
The plans for the terminal holding area include a family restroom with an adult changing station, a service animal relief area, and an interactive play area for children, which is being designed in partnership with Florida Children’s Museum.
Lunn stated that LAL, which is owned by the City of Lakeland, has served 390,000 passengers since passenger service resumed in June 2024 through Avelo Airlines, currently its only commercial carrier.
“Lakeland has had a huge amount of growth in the past few years,” said Lunn. “We continue to build and expand on our operational capabilities at Lakeland Linder (including) through the terminal hold room expansion.”
Two other LAL-related agenda items expansion were approved: to execute a grant for building airplane holding bays and allocate $248,078 in city funds to improve the economy parking lot.
Local budget anxieties come to light as Florida voters consider ‘Increased homestead exemption.’
The City Commission voted to approve a 3-year renewal of the Lakeland Community Theatre’s lease of the Lake Mirror Complex as well as two improvement projects to Joker Marchant Stadium, including replacing the turf and safety wall padding.
During discussions of the Lakeland Community Theatre and the Tigertown Minor League Complex, Commissioner Stephanie Madden and Mayor McCarley both hinted that these types of institutions could potentially face cuts if voters pass Amendment 3 in November.
“It’s a highly subsidized project,” Madden said. “And so are pools and tennis courts and parks and Lake Hollingsworth, so a lot of things are subsidized. But I just want everyone to be thinking about this, and it’s good that this (the theatre’s lease) can be canceled in four months’ time, because after November it may have to be, along with a lot of other things.”
McCarley echoed those concerns about losing an estimated $10 million from the city’s $180 million general fund.
Peregrine Data Analysis Software Approved for Lakeland Police Department (LPD).
City Commission approved an agreement to purchase a data integration and analysis software platform from Peregrine Technologies, part of a larger push by LPD to utilize more AI law enforcement tools.
The total cost for the software platform is $439,000. The purchase will be funded by a reimbursable grant from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) State Board of Immigration Enforcement. There is no cost to the city, according to the agreement.
Peregrine’s platform interprets and manages data from various databases used by LPD, including CAD/RMS, Axon BWC/Evidence.com, and Genetec VMS. It also allows for secure collaboration and sharing of data with other partner agencies using the Peregrine platform.
At Friday’s agenda study meeting, Assistant Chief of Police Hans Lehman said the software will allow officers to more easily identify trends and access records.
When asked about security and access, Lehman told commissioners Friday that, “Peregrine will have a system administrator, and then everything will be permissions based. So, our intelligence unit might have a higher level of access than a standard officer … It’s all CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) compliant, so it’s compliant with FDLE and FBI standards as well.”
North Lakeland Business Park Development Approved.
Reflecting how locals are giving greater scrutiny to potential commercial development, the City Commission discussed a proposed 12.6 acres of Polk County land being incorporated into Lakeland — with two citizens and nearly every commissioner giving comment.
In a 6-1 vote, the City Commission approved incorporation of the land, located north of State Road 33. In a separate agenda item, also approved by a 6-1 vote, the City of Lakeland Future Land Use Map in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan was given ok to be updated. Commissioner LaLonde was the lone no vote on both items.
The 24-page proposal notes that land owner Juan Santiago Garcia intends to contract Sloan Engineering Group to build an approximately 42,000 square-foot warehouse on the land, but specific details of the use or buyer are not specified. “There is no binding contract on what is going in there,” said Commissioner Mike McLeod.
The land rezoning for business-park use (medium-industrial zoning) had been previously approved on May 19.
Both citizens who commented on Monday criticized the proposal’s estimated use of 7,088 gallons per day (GPD) for both water and wastewater. Without the land being incorporated into Lakeland, the only approved use was for 35 single-family homes to be built on the 12.6 acres of Polk County land, confirmed Sam Medina of Sloan Engineering Group, speaking on behalf of the business park applicant, to McCarley.
“Those homes would use more gallons than this estimated use,” said Commissioner Mike Musick. Similarly, referring to the prior-zoned residential use, McCarley said, “That is a lot more water, a lot more cars, and a lot more impact than one industrial use.”
Prior to the motion’s approval, Commissioner Troutman noted that the specific use of the land will still need to be approved by Lakeland City Planning and Zoning Board as well as the Florida Department of Commerce.
Read Monday’s meeting agenda and watch the video.
Newsroom note: This article has been updated to accurately identify Medina’s remarks in the meeting.
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