From the Gainesville Sunday

By Chad Smith
Staff writers

It's that time of year once again. As the month changes from December to January folks resolve to do such things as stop smoking, start exercising and lose weight.

It's also that time when some newspaper reporters, during the annual slowdown of government goings-on, decide to ask elected officials what their resolutions are for the year ahead.

Here are some of the broad objectives of County Commission Chairman Lee Pinkoson and specific initiatives Mayor Craig Lowe sees Gainesville working on in 2011.

Pinkoson said in the new year, he felt “very strongly that we as elected officials make decisions that make the citizens proud of the commission and that we bring as much credibility as possible to our commission.”

Another goal, Pinkoson said, was to get along with all the county's municipalities.

The largest issue looming, he said, was the ongoing budget crunch and the need to “provide services and use taxpayer money efficiently.”

Lowe pointed to two specific areas he expected the city to move ahead on in 2011.

First, there was economic development; specifically, the implementation of the Innovation Gainesville plan, a joint effort by business groups, local government and the University of Florida to establish more high-tech jobs in the area. Second was the bus rapid transit system city and county officials want to see developed.

Lowe said 2011 should be the year that bus rapid transit advances from the “conceptual” phase to more definitive plans, including funding details.

Referendum-approved changes: Saturday marked a day of change when it comes to the effect of two voter-approved referendums.

The Wild Spaces & Public Places half-cent sales tax approved in November 2008 expired after two years on the books. When all the money is distributed from the state, the latest projection had that tax raising more than $32 million for the construction of recreation facilities and purchase of conservation property.

The expiration of Wild Spaces & Public Places dropped the local sales tax rate from 6¾ cents on the dollar to 6¼ cents.

Also, the 7 pm to 7 am airboat curfew approved last November went into effect Saturday. Sheriff's Office officials have stated that enforcement of the curfew would be a low priority and that the agency does not have the equipment, such as an airboat of its own, to rigorously enforce the ordinance.

Proponents of the curfew have hoped the mere possibility of a hefty fine would be a deterrent. A first violation carries a $250 fine and each subsequent violation carries a $500 fine.

For more local politics, read the County Lines & City Limits blog at citylimits.blogs.gainesville.com and follow twitter.com/suncitybeat.