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City Commission to discuss legal representation, impact fees and 55-home development

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A typical stormwater retention pond in a Florida community is both a visual amenity and a poorly functioning pollution control device. New standards were supposed to make the stormwater system more effective, but the Florida DEP removed their teeth.
Florida’s stormwater cleanup promises deserve more than paper credits
Florida’s approach to stormwater pollution is drawing criticism over whether credits sold to developers will represent measurable improvements in water quality. For Apopka, the debate raises questions about protecting local waterways and sustaining Lake Apopka’s restoration. more
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Mayor Nick Nesta at the Apopka Homeless Resources Town Hall in September 2026
Nesta: Progress takes time, but the work has started
Apopka Mayor Nick Nesta says his first six months in office have focused on improving communication, supporting city employees, and reorganizing City Hall. In this op-ed, he addresses residents’ concerns about sidewalks, roads, traffic, and water service while outlining plans to review utility finances and impact fees. more
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Dirt bike riders line up for a race at the Pax Trax MX motocross track in Bunnell. Volusia County officials want to build their own motocross track on land that was bought for conservation. The owner says the new Volusia track would put Pax Trax out of business.
Volusia County motocross proposal sparks fight over conservation land
Volusia County’s proposal to build a motocross facility on land purchased with conservation funding has drawn opposition and a lawsuit. In this commentary, Craig Pittman examines the environmental concerns, financial questions, and competing interpretations of what voters intended the land-buying program to accomplish. more
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In this opinion column, Apopka Mayor Nick Nesta says that protecting taxpayers and supporting city employees are compatible goals. He outlines his rationale for restructuring leadership and urges a thorough review of spending before reducing services residents depend on.
Nesta: Taking care of Apopka means taking care of our employees too
In this opinion column, Apopka Mayor Nick Nesta says that protecting taxpayers and supporting city employees are compatible goals. He outlines his rationale for restructuring leadership and urges a thorough review of spending before reducing services residents depend on. more
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Energy decisions should work like other choices families and businesses make based on their needs, priorities, and budgets, according to Lake Apopka Natural Gas District CEO Brent Haywood. During Public Natural Gas Week, Haywood argues that preserving natural gas infrastructure gives current and future Apopka residents another option rather than requiring them to use it.
OP/ED: Energy choice starts with giving people options
Energy decisions should work like other choices families and businesses make based on their needs, priorities, and budgets, according to Lake Apopka Natural Gas District CEO Brent Haywood. During Public Natural Gas Week, Haywood argues that preserving natural gas infrastructure gives current and future Apopka residents another option rather than requiring them to use it. more
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Pine Island is a coastal area in Lee County that retains a rural flavor and lots of natural beauty, but developers want to change that.
Florida county officials try to eliminate public comment on development
Lee County residents organized against a sweeping growth-plan rewrite they said was rushed, poorly publicized, and designed to diminish their influence over development. Their successful opposition is especially relevant in Apopka, where the placement, livestreaming, and official recording of public comments have sparked controversy. more
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Apopka Historical Society President Maribel Brinkle welcomes the vision presented in Building Downtown Apopka but argues that the city cannot afford to spend another seven years planning its future. She calls for a proposed downtown museum complex designed to generate activity and revenue.
Letter to the Editor: Downtown Apopka needs action, not another seven years of planning
Maribel Brinkle welcomes the vision presented in Building Downtown Apopka but argues that the city cannot afford to spend another seven years planning its future. She calls for immediate economic-development leadership and consideration of a proposed downtown museum complex designed to generate activity and revenue. more
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Downtown Apopka 2033? Apopka should use the CRA’s proposed seven-year extension to plan and pursue a transformative civic complex without placing it ahead of urgent public-safety projects. A modern library, events center, history center, and civic plaza could become the defining destination, connecting downtown’s existing investments and encouraging private development.
Opinion: Could a civic campus become downtown Apopka’s missing centerpiece?
Apopka should use the CRA’s proposed seven-year extension to plan and pursue a transformative civic complex without placing it ahead of urgent public-safety projects. A modern library, events center, history center, and civic plaza could become the defining destination, connecting downtown’s existing investments and encouraging private development. more
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Downtown Greenville, SC: Cities near Apopka’s size have transformed their downtowns by concentrating public resources around distinctive parks, cultural facilities, and civic destinations. Their experiences show that Apopka must move beyond disconnected improvements and decide what kind of downtown it intends to create.
Opinion: Successful downtowns begin when cities decide to build something consequential- Part 2
Cities near Apopka’s size have transformed their downtowns by concentrating public resources around distinctive parks, cultural facilities, and civic destinations. Their experiences show that Apopka must move beyond disconnected improvements and decide what kind of downtown it intends to create. more
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The Apopka CRA has completed meaningful trail, housing, park, and pedestrian projects while accumulating approximately $6.13 million in reserves and carryover funding. As the agency seeks seven more years to complete its work, it must connect those investments through a measurable strategy centered on creating a recognizable downtown destination.
Opinion: Apopka’s CRA has the money... now it needs a transformative mission - Part 1
The Apopka CRA has completed meaningful trail, housing, park, and pedestrian projects while accumulating approximately $6.13 million in reserves and carryover funding. As the agency seeks seven more years to complete its work, it must connect those investments through a measurable strategy centered on creating a recognizable downtown destination. more
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Apopka’s elected officials want to keep the millage rate low while preserving community programs, filling staff vacancies, and addressing years of deferred needs. Eventually, they must acknowledge that rejecting recurring revenue means cutting services, drawing on reserves, or letting today’s problems become tomorrow’s more expensive emergencies.
The Price of Saying No: Apopka cannot have a bare-bones budget without feeling the cuts
Apopka’s elected officials want to keep the millage rate low while preserving community programs, filling staff vacancies, and addressing years of deferred needs. Eventually, they must acknowledge that rejecting recurring revenue means cutting services, drawing on reserves, or letting today’s problems become tomorrow’s more expensive emergencies. more
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The Apopka CRA has completed meaningful trail, housing, park, and pedestrian projects while accumulating approximately $6.13 million in reserves and carryover funding. As the agency seeks seven more years to complete its work, it must connect those investments through a measurable strategy centered on creating a recognizable downtown destination.
Opinion: Apopka’s CRA has the money... now it needs a transformative mission - Part 1
The Apopka CRA has completed meaningful trail, housing, park, and pedestrian projects while accumulating approximately $6.13 million in reserves and carryover funding. As the agency seeks seven more years to complete its work, it must connect those investments through a measurable strategy centered on creating a recognizable downtown destination. more
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Social-media reactions, headlines, and popular opinion cannot replace a careful understanding of the consequences of government decisions. True leadership means remaining grounded in faith, treating residents and businesses fairly, and accepting that doing what is right may sometimes require standing alone. OP/ED by Apopka City Commissioner Nadia Anderson.
Leadership Beyond the Likes: When Doing What is Right Means Standing Alone 
Social-media reactions, headlines, and popular opinion cannot replace a careful understanding of the consequences of government decisions. True leadership means remaining grounded in faith, treating residents and businesses fairly, and accepting that doing what is right may sometimes require standing alone. OP/ED by Apopka City Commissioner Nadia Anderson. more
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After being challenged to exclude and denounce members of the LGBTQ+ community, Matthew’s Hope founder Scott Billue reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to serving everyone without discrimination. He argues that Christian faith is demonstrated not through judgment, but through unconditional compassion and a willingness to do difficult work.
At Matthew’s Hope, service comes without conditions
After being challenged to exclude and denounce members of the LGBTQ+ community, Matthew’s Hope founder Scott Billue reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to serving everyone without discrimination. He believes that Christian faith is demonstrated not through judgment, but through unconditional compassion and a willingness to do difficult work. more
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Street-safety advocates in Ivins, Utah, faced a series of unusual restrictions that eliminated many traditional options for making a school-area roundabout safer. Instead of abandoning the effort, they focused on the underlying goal of slowing traffic and developed a less expensive pilot project using painted curb extensions.
Small town street-safety project offers lessons in working around local constraints
Street-safety advocates in Ivins, Utah, faced a series of unusual restrictions that eliminated many traditional options for making a school-area roundabout safer. Instead of abandoning the effort, they focused on the underlying goal of slowing traffic and developed a less expensive pilot project using painted curb extensions. more
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The test track seen in this aerial photo was built outside Naples 40 years ago for the Ford Motor Co., but since then has been surrounded by preserved lands. Now a company called Hyper Club wants to turn the track and the 530 acres around it into a motorsports-themed development, smack dab in the middle of panther habitat.
Rich guys with racecars want to roar into Florida panther habitat
Developers want to transform a former Collier County automotive test track into a private motorsports club with resort amenities and up to 100 residential units. Environmental advocates warn that the project would fragment vital Florida panther habitat near several public preserves. more
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Strong Towns Apopka plans to plant native shrubs along the West Orange Trail as part of its fall community project. The effort reflects a broader movement encouraging property owners to replace portions of their lawns with native plants that support birds, pollinators, watersheds, and the food web.
Growing a healthier Apopka, one native plant at a time
Strong Towns Apopka plans to plant native shrubs along the West Orange Trail as part of its fall community project. The effort reflects a broader movement encouraging property owners to replace portions of their lawns with native plants that support birds, pollinators, watersheds, and the food web. more
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Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is calling for residents and community stakeholders to help shape the next round of Tourist Development Tax investments. A citizens advisory task force will evaluate legally eligible proposals before presenting recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.
Demings calls for local voices to guide Orange County tourism-tax spending
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is calling for residents and community stakeholders to help shape the next round of Tourist Development Tax investments. A citizens advisory task force will evaluate legally eligible proposals before presenting recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. more
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The Skytrax facility in Auburndale is where the Florida DOT plans to test its “flying car” technology — if it ever gets any.
Instead of installing more EV chargers, Florida DOT dreams of flying cars
Florida transportation officials reportedly want to use $197 million in federal electric-vehicle charging funds to develop an “Aerial Highway Network” with 32 aircraft landing and charging sites. The columnist argues that the proposal would divert money from urgently needed EV infrastructure to a technology that is not commercially available and would primarily benefit affluent travelers. more
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Farmworker Association of Florida organizer Jeannie Economos contends Orange County’s decision to replace mailed paper sample ballots with a QR-code mailing for the primary election could disenfranchise thousands of voters. In this guest opinion, she urges the Supervisor of Elections to resume mailing paper sample ballots to every registered voter.
Opinion: Will this year’s primary election be compromised?
Farmworker Association of Florida organizer contends Orange County’s decision to replace mailed paper sample ballots with a QR-code mailing for the primary election could disenfranchise thousands of voters. more
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Former City Administrator Jacob Smith warned in 2024 that Apopka’s revenue was not keeping pace with expenses and that every city department was inadequately funded. Two years later, the commission has tentatively returned to nearly the same millage rate it adopted in response to that warning.
Two years after Apopka’s financial wake-up call, the alarm is still ringing
Former City Administrator Jacob Smith warned in 2024 that Apopka’s revenue was not keeping pace with expenses and that every city department was inadequately funded. Two years later, the commission has tentatively returned to nearly the same millage rate it adopted in response to that warning. more
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The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary helps protect the world's third-largest coral reef system. Now it’s being tainted by effluent from shallow wells on Stock Island.
Wastewater injected beneath Stock Island is bubbling into a marine sanctuary
An environmental group says treated wastewater injected into shallow wells beneath Stock Island is rising through the porous limestone and entering nearby Safe Harbor. Testing reportedly detected a wastewater tracer at several upwellings, where cameras captured manatees drinking. more
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Florida voters will decide on a major property tax amendment this November.
Florida’s proposed property tax amendment will require trade‑offs – and some residents could end up with higher costs
Amendment 3 would substantially expand Florida’s homestead exemption and limit annual assessment increases on non-homestead properties. While homeowners could pay less, the projected $11.8 billion annual revenue loss could lead to higher taxes and fees elsewhere or cuts to local services. more
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The Apopka City Commission will meet Thursday for a third attempt to set its proposed property-tax rate after twice failing to reach agreement on a recommended 0.75-mill increase. If the city misses its Aug. 4 deadline, Florida law would prohibit it from levying more than the 4.2510-mill rolled-back rate.
Third Times the Charm? After two delays, Apopka’s millage debate reaches a legal, financial, and critical crossroads
The Apopka City Commission will meet Thursday for a third attempt to set its proposed property-tax rate after twice failing to reach agreement on a recommended 0.75-mill increase. If the city misses its Aug. 4 deadline, Florida law would prohibit it from levying more than the 4.2510-mill rolled-back rate. more
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Apopka City Commissioner Nadia Anderson.
Commissioner Anderson: Apopka cannot afford to keep postponing essential investments
Apopka resident Rod Olsen is urging Commissioner Nadia Anderson to support the proposed 0.75-mill interim increase while the City Commission continues reviewing the budget. Olsen argues that years of deferred infrastructure, staffing and operational needs have left the city with problems that can no longer be postponed. more
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