City Commission Ceremony: The Oath of Office will be administered to Jack Donovan, Thomas Hawkins and Lauren Poe on Thursday, May 22 at 12 noon. Commissioner Jack Donovan will be starting his second term as District 3 Commissioner and Commissioners-Elect Thomas Hawkins and Lauren Poe will be starting their first terms as one of the City’s two At-large Commissioners and the District 2 Commissioner respectively. The ceremony will be held at the Thelma Boltin Center.

Smithsonian Names Gainesville “Where to Live Next”: Smithsonian.com recently released its initial list of Where to Live Next. Where to Live Next is an online community about captivating places to live aimed at the “culturally-attuned.” Gainesville is one of 15 cities, and the only city in Florida, to land on the virtual map. Gainesville residents are lauded for our commitment to preserving nature, our celebration of the arts and our inviting attitude to all comers. Click here to read about Gainesville on the Smithsonian’s Guide to Cultured Retirement.

Special Assessment for Fire Services: The City of Gainesville is exploring the possibility of a Special Assessment for Fire Services. A separate Web page is now available that will provide information to property owners in Gainesville pertaining to the proposed fire assessment. Information available on the Web page includes a white paper titled What is the Best Way for Fire Services?, contact information, presentations to the City Commission, a tentative schedule and a list of FAQs.

Holiday Closing: In observance of Memorial Day, City offices will be closed on Monday, May 26. Additionally, all RTS offices will be closed and there will be no RTS bus service. ADA paratransit service will not be running on this date, except for dialysis appointments. Gainesville’s curbside residential collection service for solid waste, recycling and yard trash will not be affected by the holiday. Due to the holiday, there will only be one regularly scheduled City Commission meeting in May.

It’s About Opportunity: The City of Gainesville Office of Equal Opportunity launched a public education campaign that will span over the next nine month. The campaign, “It’s about Opportunity,” will educate the public about its role in ensuring opportunity through a series of public service announcements (PSA) and by providing educational information. Equal Opportunity Director Jimmie Williams will also be regularly interviewed on Community 12’s The City Show. The first PSA is now running on Community 12 and can be viewed by clicking on the picture above.

Properties for Sale: The Housing Division is offering three new homes for sale to be built on scattered sites located at 338 SW 8th Avenue, 2406 NE 6th Avenue and 2523 NE 3rd Place. An additional five new homes are available to be built in the Depot Gardens subdivision located in the Porters Community at 303 SW 8th Avenue, 311 SW 8th Avenue, 319 SW 8th Avenue, 308 SW Depot Avenue and 316 SW 8th Avenue.  Interested homebuyers should contact the Housing Division at 352-334-5026.

Public Update on the Cabot-Koppers Superfund Site on May 1: An update will be provided on Thursday, May 1 at 5 p.m. at a Special Joint Meeting of the City of Gainesville and Alachua County Commissions in Room 209 of the County Administration Building. The update will be given by representatives of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department and Gainesville Regional Utilities will present a brief overview of site issues that are of local interest.   The purpose of the EPA presentation is to update the Commissioners and the general public on the status of ongoing investigations, progress and developing a remedial plan for the site.

CRA Assists Targeted Corridors Through Façade Grants: The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has launched its second phase of façade grants for targeted corridors in the College Park/University Heights Redevelopment Area. The Existing Building Façade Improvement Incentive Program, which funds up to 50 percent of construction, costs up to $10,000 per storefront. The maximum grant amount is $50,000. Applicants must match grant funds dollar-for-dollar. The grants will help make significant improvements to building façades located on targeted key corridors. The following information is currently available online: a list of the targeted corridors, a map of the targeted corridors and additional application instructions. The deadline for all applications is 5 p.m. on Monday, May 19.

One-Stop Homeless Assistance Center: Alternative sites for the One-Stop Center are being considered. In the upcoming weeks, an advertisement will be listed in the Gainesville Sun asking property owners or their representatives to contact the city if their property meets certain criteria that will be detailed in the ad. Interested parties should monitor the City's Web site (www.cityofgainesville.org) for information in the near future.

Citizen Feedback Wanted: Survey of 2007 Citizen’s Report Now Available: The Communications and Marketing Office has launched a survey asking citizens for feedback about the online version of the 2007 City of Gainesville Citizen’s Report: My City. The January 2008 release marked the first time the Citizen’s Report was offered as an interactive online report. The online version was created in an effort to be more sustainable and fiscally responsible. The online report can be viewed here and the survey can be taken here before Monday, May 12.

RTS Announces UF and SFCC Break Reduced Service Schedule: RTS began the summer 2008 service schedule on April 28. From April 28 through May 11, RTS reduces summer service on City Fixed Routes 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 34 and 35. There will be no service on City Fixed Routes 21, 29 and 36. On May 4 and 11, Routes 9/12, 13, 16 and 20 will follow their regular, Saturday Schedule. There are time point changes on City Fixed Routes 1, 5 and 15 and a new routing on Route 11 due to the opening of the new Wal-Mart. There are no changes in service on the remaining City Fixed Routes. Routes 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 24, 43 and 75 will follow the regular summer 2008 weekday and Saturday service schedule. There is no Saturday service on Routes 17 and 43. There will be regular ADA Service. From Monday, April 28 through Sunday, May 4, there will be no Later Gator, Campus Route 121 (Commuter Lot) or Lake Wauburg service. RTS will provide reduced campus service on the following campus shuttle routes – 117 (Park-N-Ride 2), 118 (Park-N-Ride 1), 120 (West Circulator - Fraternity Row), 122 (UF North/South Circulator), 125 (Lakeside), 126 (East/West Evening Circulator), 127 (East Circulator - Sorority Row). Service on Route 119 (Family Housing) will not be reduced. During summer service (April 28 through August 17), RTS will not provide Saturday and Sunday service on Route 126 - UF East/West Evening Circulator. RTS will provide regular service on the remaining nine Sunday, City Fixed Routes. Visit the RTS Web site www.go-rts.com for more information.

Road Work/Closings Posted on City Web page:  Details about City of Gainesville, Alachua County and Florida Department of Transportation road work/closings are available at: http://www.cityofgainesville.org/pubworks/

Communications and Marketing Office Receives Three Public Relations Awards: On April 16, the Communications and Marketing Office received three awards from the North Central Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA): an Image Award and two Judges’ Awards. The annual competition recognizes outstanding public relations programs and promotes public relations professionalism. The Image Award was received for Pathways, the City’s employee magazine, in the printed tools category. The first Judges’ Award was received for the 2007 Citizen’s Report in the annual report category. The second Judges’ Award was received for Gainesville 101: the City of Gainesville Citizens’ Academy in the public service category. Judges’ Awards are awarded to outstanding programs that achieve maximum results while using a minimum amount of money.

National Citizen Survey Results: The City of Gainesville has received the results of our citizen survey which was conducted by The National Research Center. Survey questions covered the spectrum of municipal services. A very telling component of the survey was the knowledge, responsiveness, courtesy and overall impression of City of Gainesville employees. Compared to other jurisdictions in Florida the overall impression of City employees was at the 67th percentile, a higher rating than two thirds of local governments in Florida. Employee responsiveness was the highest City employee score, coming in at the 88th percentile when ranked against other Florida cities. We are very pleased with these results; an important component of success in any organization is its employees. Our vision is to set the standard of excellence for a top ten mid-sized American city; recognized nationally as an innovative provider of high quality, cost effective services. As Gainesville residents have indicated, City of Gainesville employees are doing a fantastic job. To read more, please visit the Citizen Survey Web page.

New Episodes of The City Show Now Airing on Community12: Episode 20 of The City Show began airing on Community12 last week. This informative episode features a tree planting at Girl Scout Park to celebrate Earth Day, an interview with Assistant City Manager Paul Folkers and Deputy Fire Chief Gene Prince about the proposed special assessment for fire services, an interview with Strategic Planner Lila Stewart about the results of the National Citizen Survey , a visit to the Split Rock Conservation Area and the Hippodrome's 35th Birthday Light up the Night Event, which also celebrated the new energy efficient lighting enhancement funded by the Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency.

Thomas Center Recognized in The Knot Best of Weddings 2008 Magazine: An annual survey of recently married couples in Gainesville revealed the top wedding vendors. The Thomas Center is pleased to announce it has been selected as a 2008 pick for The Knot Best of Weddings magazine, a coast-to-coast, guide to the top wedding sites, photographers, florists and more in over 40 key cities across the United States. The Knot conducted its second annual survey of over 20,000 recent brides to capture detailed feedback on every business that couples hired for their wedding celebration. Gainesville’s newlyweds contributed their raves and reviews on the area’s wedding professionals. The newlyweds were asked to rate their vendors on multiple criteria, from creativity to professionalism, and to comment on their experiences. The resulting ratings—and detailed feedback—were aggregated by the editors of The Knot to create this one-of-a-kind publication highlighting the best wedding resources in each region according to local brides. To reserve the Historic Thomas Center for weddings or other events, please call Kerstin Sapp, Facilities Coordinator for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, at 352-393-8539 or email her at sappkm@cityofgainesville.org.

NEW GRU Assistant General Manager for Energy Supply: John Stanton has been selected as GRU’s new Assistant General Manager for Energy Supply, effective June 2. Stanton comes to GRU with more than 20 years experience with Florida Power & Light (FPL) Company. He was part of the senior management team at FPL Energy, Inc. as Vice President of Operations. Stanton was responsible for startup, commissioning, maintenance and profitable operation of 13 FPL energy plants on the east coast. He was the team leader and primary architect for FPL Power Generation’s Reliability Management Program and has negotiated Purchase Power Agreements valued at more than $750 million. Stanton earned his Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of Florida and his MBA from Nova Southeastern University.

Downtown Festival & Art Show Call to Artists: Cultural Affairs is calling all artists! Artists are invited to apply for the 27th Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show, which is recognized as one of the top fine art shows in the nation. Artists will display and sell their artwork to more than 100,000 visitors on the beautiful, tree-lined streets of historic downtown Gainesville on November 8-9, 2008. The festival features artwork from 250 of the nation’s finest artists. Guests will enjoy artwork in every medium: ceramics, fiber, glass, graphics, jewelry, mixed media, paintings, photography, sculpture and wood. Artists will display their work and compete for more than $14,000 in cash prizes and $4,000 in purchase awards distributed during the show. Applications for the Downtown Festival & Art Show are available online by clicking here. The application deadline is May 16, 2008.

Mayor’s Energy Challenge Halftime Report: Mayor Hanrahan traveled to Tallahassee in April and met with Tallahassee’s mayor to unveil the “Halftime Report” for the energy challenge between the two cities. In November 2007, Gainesville and Tallahassee began the Energy Conservation Challenge, to determine which city has the most energy-efficient utility customers. As of the halftime report, the cities were tied with the following stats:

Efficiency	Gainesville	Tallahassee
CFL Distributions	13,808	20,027
Solar PV kW Installations	175 kW	54 kW
Solar Water Heater Installations	19 Units	7 Units
Ceiling Insulation Installations	133 homes	503 homes

The final results of the competition will be announced prior to the 2008 UF/FSU football game on November 29, 2008. What does the winning community get? The big winners will be the citizens of both Gainesville and Tallahassee, who will save energy, money and help reduce the carbon footprint of Gators and Seminoles in Florida. The winning Mayor? Bragging rights, of course!

Did You Know You Can Recycle Your Shredded Paper?: The City of Gainesville and Alachua County began curbside collection of mixed office paper and junk mail for recycling in February 2008. Did you know that you can also recycle your shredded paper as long as it is contained in a brown paper bag? Enclosing the shredded paper in a brown paper bag keeps the paper from flying all over our beautiful streets. Next time you want to get rid of your shredded documents or your junk mail, don’t forget to recycle them in your orange bin! A recycling information booth will be at the Chamber of Commerce’s Business Showcase from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15.

TREE-mendous Appreciation Day Tree Giveaway Is Saturday, May 3: The annual TREE-mendous Appreciation Day event will be held on Saturday, May 3, at GRU’s Millhopper Training Facility, located on the corner of NW 43 Street and NW 53 Avenue across from Hunter’s Crossing Shopping Center. Plants are distributed to customers on a first-come first-served basis beginning at 7:30 a.m., and the event continues until all plants are given away. Parking is available nearby at Trinity United Church where customers may enter from NW 53 Avenue and follow the driveway past the church to the rear parking lot. GPD officers will be on hand to direct traffic.
Participants must be GRU residential electric customers. Apartments and businesses are not eligible. Each customer can pick up two three-gallon trees or shrubs, absolutely free. It should be noted that customers cannot pick up plants for multiple properties, or for any property other than their own residence. A photo ID and a recent GRU residential electric bill must be presented. Click here for a list of available species.

Final District Meeting: The final City Commission District Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 6. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, located at 1028 NE 14th Street. District 4 Commissioner Craig Lowe will host the meeting, with Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan delivering welcoming remarks. The series of four district meetings were scheduled by Gainesville's Mayor and City Commissioners as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to increase citizen participation and feedback. The City Commission District Meetings will include short presentations by City staff on municipal and private projects within each district, discussion of key citywide issues and key issues within each district. Finance staff will ask for citizen input regarding the City’s two-year budget process for fiscal year 2009 and fiscal year 2010. Staff presentations will be brief to provide ample opportunity for public comment by members of the community. The City Commission District Meeting for Districts 1, 2 and 3 were held in February, March and April.

Pools Open: The Dwight Hunter (Northeast) Municipal Pool and H. Spurgeon Cherry (Westside) Municipal Pool are both open and the Andrew Mickle Municipal Pool is scheduled to open on Monday, May 26. To keep up to date with the many upcoming events at the pools, please click here. To view the Pools Open PSA, click the image to the right.

Let's Go Downtown “Free Fridays” Plaza Series: From May to October, the Downtown Community Plaza comes alive every Friday night  from 8-10 p.m. as local and regional bands and performing arts are showcased under the stars. Hundreds come out to enjoy the Free Fridays Plaza Series in a family-friendly environment. So grab your blanket and lawn chair and plan to be downtown on Friday night! The scheduled performers for May include:

• May 2: The Imposters – Beatles Tribute Band
• May 9: 6th Street Rhythm and Blues Review - Blues /"Old School" R&B / Jazz
• May 16: Julie Black - Indie / Blues / Jazz.
• May 23: The String Kings - Acoustic / Classic Rock
• May 30: Chuck Levy / Physical Medicine - String Band / Acoustic / Folk

Shorty Cheer Camp Returns: Due to popular demand, additional Shorty Cheer Camps are being offered. Shorty Cheer Camp is a six-week clinic for girls and boys interested in cheerleading. The next camp begins on Wednesday, May 7 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the MLK Jr. Center, located at 1028 NE 14th Street. The third camp will begin on Wednesday, June 25. Space is limited for both these camps, so register early! For additional information about the May camp, please click here.

Aloha! - Mother/Son First Date Night: The 6th Annual Mother/Son First Date Night will be held on Saturday, May 10 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Thelma Boltin Center. This year, the theme is tropical, so hula on over with your sons in your best tropical attire. The evening will feature an island dinner, a photograph of the mother and son(s), hula dancing and lots of other entertainment. Space is very limited so be sure to register early! For more information, please click here.

Mother’s Day Celebration at City Pools: Looking for a great way to let your mother know how special she really is? Celebrate with her in the best possible way! Join us at Westside Pool or Northeast Pool on Sunday, May 11, at noon for our Mother’s Day Celebration. Mothers will get in free at either pool all day long with a paid accompanying child. The first 25 mothers at each pool will receive a special gift. The child admission price at Westside Pool is $2.25, and the child admission price at Northeast Pool is $1.75. For more information, please call the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs administrative office at 334-5067.

Down Payment Assistance Homebuyer Education and Training Workshop: The Housing Division’s monthly Homebuyer Education & Training class for first-time homebuyers is scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2008 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The training will be held at the GRU multi-purpose room.  For additional information, and/or class registration, please contact the Housing Division at 334-5026.

Swimming Lessons: Swimming lessons will be offered at both Westside Pool and Northeast Pool this summer. Lessons are offered for Aqua Babies, Beginner, Advanced Beginner and Intermediate levels for all ages. Morning lessons are offered at Westside Pool and evening lessons are offered at Northeast Pool. Pre-registration is required for all classes. Fees are due at pre-registration. A minimum of 4 participants must be enrolled to hold any class. For more information on swim lessons, please call the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs administrative office at 334-5067.

Adapted Aquatics at Northeast Pool: The Northeast Pool will host the adapted aquatics program over the summer. The goal of this program is to provide a safe and fun environment for participants with special needs to become comfortable and mobile in the water. Instruction includes a maximum of three participants to one instructor. Basic water skills, water orientation, and advancement of individual skills will be offered. This program is offered through a partnership with the University of Florida College of Health and Human Performance. For more information on swim lessons, please call the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs administrative office at 334-5067.

Summer Earth Academy Day Camps: The Earth Academy Day Camps will be held for five weeks throughout the summer. These camps fill up quickly, so call Nature Operations at 334-3328 to register today!
June 9-13: Avian Adventure – Florida’s Feathered Friends
June 16-20: All Fired Up! Fire in Florida’s Ecosystems
June 23-27: Fish Finders
August 4-8: All Fired Up! Fire in Florida’s Ecosystems
August 11-15: Fish Finders

2008 Summer Sports Camps: The schedule for the 2008 Summer Sports Camps has been released. All camps will take place at the MLK Jr. Multipurpose Center. The camps focus on a variety of sports including football, cheerleading, indoor soccer and basketball. To view the schedule and for additional information, please click here.

Discover Summer Fun Summer Camp 2008: Discover summer fun at one of the City’s many camp locations, including Eastside Center, Northeast Center, Porters Center, T.B. McPherson Center and Rosa B. Williams Center. Camp begins Monday, June 16 and runs through Friday, August 8. This all day fun is offered for kids ages 5 through 12. Registration for City residents began Monday, April 7. For additional information, please click here.

Summer Camp 2008 C.I.T.s Needed: Interested in getting some experience as a summer camp counselor? If so, we may have a fun summer Counselor in Training (CIT) program just for you. This program has limited enrollment, so please register early. This program is for young adults 15 and 16 years of age. The C.I.T.s work with the Discover Summer Fun Summer Camp. For additional information, please click here.

Camp Victory: Camp Victory is a fun new summer sports camp for girls and boys ages 9 through 13. The camp is for kids who enjoy a wide variety of sports, including basketball, softball, tennis, swimming and more. Campers will be introduced to basic physical fitness concepts, wellness, sport nutrition, safety, teamwork, sportsmanship and more. City residents can register for Camp Victory now. For additional information about this exciting new summer camp, please click here.

2008 Biathlon Series: In April, the 2008 Biathlon Series began. The series will continue over the next months at Northeast Pool and Westside Pool. Each race will consist of a 5K run and an 800M swim. Each event will begin at 8 a.m. The remaining dates for the 2008 Biathlon Series are:
May 24 – Westside Pool
June 21 – Northeast Pool
July 19 – Westside Pool
August 16 – Northeast Pool
September 20 – Westside Pool
For additional information about the series, please read more.

Last Month to Visit the Living History Farm: The Living History Farm comes to life each Saturday through the end of May from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Staff interprets day-to-day life on a 19th century Florida farm. Sample biscuits, fresh butter and a slice of life from 1870 at this free program! Animals are fed daily around 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Register Now for June Madness 2008: June Madness is designed for “around the clock” basketball. This overnight event is for kids 8 to 12 years old and dinner, as well as a continental breakfast, will be provided. Basketball contests include: free throw, knockout, beat the coaches and a 3-point shoot out. June Madness runs from 6 p.m. to 12 p.m. on June 20-21 at the MLK Center. For registration or additional information, please read more.

Camp Aqua-Sport Now Accepting Registrations: Camp Aqua-Sport is an aquatics camp for kids 8 to 12 years old. Campers will receive swim lessons, diving lessons, have free time to swim and do other sports/aquatic activities. Each week will have a theme, with a field trip that ties in with the theme. Camp dates are as follows:
Session 1: June 16-June 20
Session 2: July 7-July 11
Session 3: July 21-July 25
Session 4: August 4-August 8
Click here for additional information or for registration information.

Junior Lifeguard Program: The Junior Lifeguard Program is offered to 12 to 15 year olds who are interested in future employment with the City or in the field of aquatics. Participants must first pass a swim test. As a part of the Junior Lifeguard Program, participants will learn lifesaving skills, first aid and CPR. Registration is currently taking place. Session dates are as follows:
Session 1: June 9-June 13
Session 2: June 23-June 27
Session 3: July 14-July 18
Session 4: July 29-August 1

Gainesville Police Department Community Calendar: Did you know that GPD has a community calendar? The calendar shows meetings like neighborhood crime watch meetings, the Black on Black Task Force meetings and the Homeless Coalition meetings. Click here to find out the dates of these meetings and more!