Government Digest: Oct. 8 - Oct. 14

NP City Manager ousted after Iowa bid

North Port City Manager Steve Crowell resigned his post Oct. 4 after leading the south Sarasota County city the past five years. Crowell, 55, came under fire by city commissioners after it was learned he was seeking the chief executive position of Iowa City, Iowa. He was a finalist, but did not get the job. Danny Shult, the assistant city manager, will run the city while city commissioners search for a new city manager.

Toning down loud commercials

WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Senate passed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act — the CALM Act. The measure requires the Federal Communications Commission to set standards to preclude commercials from being broadcast at louder volumes than programs. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Melbourne, was one of seven co-sponsors of Senate Bill 2847.

Road impact fees may drop more

COLLIER COUNTY — The County Commission has approved an average reduction of 32% in the county's road impact fees that takes effect Oct. 8. A further reduction of 10% will be considered by the commission in December or January pending the results of a study of utility relocation costs, according to county staff. Lower land and construction costs led to the road fee reductions. The cuts follow 2009 road impact fee reductions of an average of 6% for residential construction and 18% for commercial construction.

The commission also approved a cut of 11.9% in the regional parks impact fee and 4.7% in the community parks impact fee. According to the county, the overall proposed decrease would lower impact fees by $4,588 for a 2,000 square-foot single family home; $68,580 for a 10,000 square-foot office building; $82,680 for a 10,000 square-foot retail building; and $31,130 for a 10,000 square-foot general industrial building.

MEETINGS

CHARLOTTE COUNTY

The County Commission will hold a public hearing to amend the impact fee ordinance at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, at the Administration Center, 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte. For more information, contact Marie Pecorella or Jo Ann VonderMuehll at (941) 743-1944.

PINELLAS COUNTY

The Tourist Development Council will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, at the Pinellas County Courthouse, 5th floor Assembly Room, Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court St., Clearwater. For more information, call (727) 464-3485. For more information, call (727) 464-6633.

PASCO COUNTY

The 5th Annual Pasco County Tourism Summit will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, at Saddlebrook Resort, Wesley Chapel. For more information, or to register, contact Colleen Conko at (727) 847-8129, or email [email protected].

FORUMS

The League of Women Voters of Sarasota County will host a forum of Venice City Council candidates from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, at the Venice Public Library, 300 Nokomis Ave. S., Venice.

The League of Women Voters of Collier County will host a candidates forum at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, at the Naples Hilton, 5111 Tamiami Trail North, Naples. Candidates for Collier County School Board, Collier County Commission District 2, and state legislative districts 75, 101 and 112 are invited. For more information, call (239) 263-4656. A forum on the constitutional amendments will be held from 5-6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 12, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 625 111 Ave. North, Naples. A forum for school board candidates will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, at the Collier County commission chambers, 3301 E. Tamiami Trail, Naples.

The League of Women Voters of Sarasota County will hold a breakfast forum with Sarasota County Commission candidates at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 15, at Waterside Estates, 4540 Bee Ridge Road. Reservations are required. For more information, call (941) 921-9778 or email [email protected].