- The Alachua City Commission approved a resolution extending Planning and Zoning Board members’ terms to align expirations with April 30 dates.
- The commission voted 3-2 to raise residential and commercial utility rates, increasing typical residential bills by about $53 annually.
- Utility fee hikes are the first since 2010 and aim to avoid sharper future spikes amid budget concerns and an upcoming power contract.
The Alachua City Commission split on several votes during its regular meeting Monday, including measures to revise Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) term cycles and raise utility rates.
The city’s charter currently grants the five PZB members staggered two- and three-year terms starting May 1 and ending April 30. If a member steps down, the City Commission appoints a replacement to finish the term.
Alachua Principal Planner Carson Crockett said the city hadn’t stuck to the spring start and end dates since 2002 and couldn’t figure out why or how it’d gotten off track…