[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6288077,"mediaKeyId","2544910-494ad1e8a40abf564388b41a4d18081d","parentId",2544910,"title","Votes at a glance: March 10 Leesburg City Commission","audioSeconds",794,"startMs",2818000,"endMs",3612000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2544910-494ad1e8a40abf564388b41a4d18081d&start=2818&end=3612","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2544910-494ad1e8a40abf564388b41a4d18081d/thumbnail_2818000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6288077/Leesburg-City/Lake-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-March-10-Leesburg-City-Commission","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6288077-4fe646a347111e38d93a46b0b77f2246/orig.mp4?Expires=1776641343&Signature=IvtJ96mVh9V2v8tzpzaKpKei9ReOPiWfzYa10NdQXsXs4~I5lubJjLhapvxin5BZk9ieR4r7tttdgDTBECWS5dGrDZF2qIn3Z-fJ4RK4Tv88Cv6GETR4JufCtCAIOskKCeECt4Qy8roVRiZS1poSeFQ1-MkvyKlfJCWmUOflq4pzW5BmuKcL9NgVx-RWiVMrtEceJ1S9mxLW89rcKCKV0hKbXV6jZl2wqk2P0TzqR5pBB4oiI~gXS~6Gb0oISEc~ExVdb6QugslACTw9kYXZkie8hEglWoPMVcWMLloTKNdOQqDo5p~U-rj~Xt9D7ptOlYO2q9hiIT1Ymf7idy2B~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Leesburg, FL","date","2025-03-11T11:18:13Z","article","The commission recorded votes on several agenda items during the March 10 meeting. Key outcomes:

John L. Johnson Park restroom construction (Resolution authorizing a construction services agreement with GSB Construction and Development, Inc.): motion to approve passed on roll call. Staff said the contract copies matched existing restroom designs (800 square feet) used at other sites; estimated total project cost was in the previously adopted budget. Recorded roll call indicated unanimous approval.

Beautification Advisory Committee appointments (Resolution appointing members): the commission approved nominees to fill five positions on the new committee. Nominees approved included Diane Veneta, Lisa Humphreys, Dr. Erica Jasper, Paula Jordan and Demani Nettles.

Susan Street Park revised plan (discussion item moved to action): the commission approved a motion to proceed with the revised Susan Street Park plan that shifts the main entrance to the Williams/Penn intersection and retains the larger field layout; staff said the change saves roughly $300,000 compared with the U.S. 27 entrance concept. The motion passed by recorded roll call 3–2.

Vote details and formal motions are listed below in the order they were recorded at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Leesburg Commission Meeting March 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Key formal actions taken at the March 10 meeting: restroom construction contract at John L. Johnson Park approved; appointments to the new Beautification Advisory Committee were approved; the Susan Street Park revised plan with Williams/Penn entrance was approved.","taxTitle","Leesburg City, Lake County, Florida","taxId",4692,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6288081,"Habitat for Humanity reports Woodland Park ‘Spruce Up the Block’: 18 households applied, 15 to receive exterior work",625,661000,1286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2544910-494ad1e8a40abf564388b41a4d18081d&start=661&end=1286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2544910-494ad1e8a40abf564388b41a4d18081d/thumbnail_661000.jpg","/articles/6288081/Leesburg-City/Lake-County/Florida/Habitat-for-Humanity-reports-Woodland-Park-Spruce-Up-the-Block-18-households-applied-15-to-receive-exterior-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6288081-c3617d2d4e3456486dbd2693d0e7f7bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1776641343&Signature=fIUW1e4IE1BAYOB5V94SR2NRKUmAj7HWTDW-nck~SPYuTc8cuJbk04CI8xF3~bFCbbiKBOCvGuoFf--TOSv7yiOg0SBSH0adaPQtQfuVpWBtbmvCghaw~TplM6r~GXXeeO0dxy1Fc3z1ePJOc23oTI4Qd076GivgXMfxXsSKTUdSXBzKu1wOG~pF3RJQvn7HThkUEAMqurSlt6CUNmQic6BfMAK6ZZO5pw4~nPg7qluSYS-tB7gv40ZTlJXElofHv3aPk8p83V4DH4RhS~0r4kG8TW-7hQWkAYN0JNoXPak42YgiRyXQNspNucM7bC4ZH90vAtoPrg9fpudlEFoBkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Veronica Troxell, program director for Habitat for Humanity Lake and Sumter, briefed the Leesburg City Commission on the organization’s Spruce Up the Block program and on a current project in Woodland Park. Troxell said the program adopts a neighborhood block for exterior repairs and beautification rather than selecting individual households by income.

\"This program's a little different. We are selecting that based on the community, not on individuals,\" Troxell said, describing a model launched in April 2018 that pairs local vendors and volunteers with families to do painting, minor repairs and cleanup. For the Woodland Park effort Habitat said the organization \"adopted the entirety of Woodland Park\" (47 homes total); 18 families applied, 15 are scheduled to receive updates and staff reported that 11 of 13 houses slated for painting were already painted.

Troxell credited local partners including Leesburg High School Construction Academy students, Florida Paints (which donated more than 400 gallons of paint), nonprofit and college volunteer groups and local vendors supplying dumpsters and water. She said 80 volunteers had worked on the project so far and invited commissioners and the public to a community celebration and volunteer session on March 29 with morning volunteer shifts and a later community party.

Several Woodland Park residents thanked Habitat and the city; Christina Foster told commissioners, \"the Hollywood community is looking like Hollywood. It looks good.\" Commissioner Allison Berry was singled out by residents for support. Troxell asked residents and commissioners to RSVP for the March 29 event and said the Construction Academy crew had been instrumental in on‑site leadership.

No formal action was taken by the commission on the presentation; staff and residents discussed ongoing partnership and opportunities to replicate the program in other parts of the city.","Habitat for Humanity of Lake and Sumter updated the commission on its \"Spruce Up the Block\" work in Woodland Park: the group adopted the entire 47‑home neighborhood, received 18 applications and is completing exterior repairs and painting for at least 15 homes; a community celebration is set for March 29.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6288086,"Staff outlines 2026 commission redistricting proposal; recommends villages-centered district",809,1357000,2166000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2544910-494ad1e8a40abf564388b41a4d18081d&start=1357&end=2166","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2544910-494ad1e8a40abf564388b41a4d18081d/thumbnail_1357000.jpg","/articles/6288086/Leesburg-City/Lake-County/Florida/Staff-outlines-2026-commission-redistricting-proposal-recommends-villages-centered-district","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6288086-caaaea443ff9c0d1df6bd41af899b68c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776641343&Signature=VgT~gL7wxCbBCCFcFyRm-dM9gd7J2dSGgzCFYs9sqaVExsHVuHdNYDfmUXt7PB5ljQGDQIpOGUXX35gwcF5OmzT4ZJAyNFPDxNRVhm92u-er31CInxApG-mOk4tPi5TJeJ-3wvjmVFBWip8HCm1wXkQ4cDqj3Vw5P1184K8mi3By15Je3zt2LrEsrtFL-Qm9~NbAxk~z1p-8TNIBcR2C8evWsJ4421Tc-7Di624kvqIEdQNaGrhCqcpW3ZTpmwtTqp4mCi4YUncITTDsmbpzTMgsZDGWJGX1c-g1Fx~L8e-laVCxiQQq3kx0OeO-mXyammp0Yki7AyMsKq03ratj8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a proposed 2026 redistricting plan at the March 10 Leesburg City Commission meeting that redraws the city’s five single-member districts to reflect growth in The Villages and other housing since the 2020 census. Staff said it used census blocks, building permit data and American Community Survey estimates to extrapolate population changes and applied different household multipliers in The Villages (1.9 persons per unit) and elsewhere (2.3 persons per unit).

The presenter described target district population as roughly 6,300–6,700 people and said staff’s total city population estimate was about 32,750, meaning each of five districts should fall within the plus/minus guideline. \"District Number 1 is really tricky because District Number 1 has historically been our minority district, since the mid nineties,\" the presenter said when explaining efforts to preserve a majority-minority District 1 by including two high‑percentage African‑American census blocks in that district.

Staff explained three guiding principles used in the plan: equal population (not voter‑age), continuity with census blocks and natural boundaries, and preserving communities of interest. Commissioners discussed incumbency protection for seats up in 2026 (Mayor Reisman, Commissioner Berry, Commissioner Peterson) and concerns about drawing compact, contiguous districts while preserving communities of interest. Commissioner Canel had worked with staff on a modified map that concentrates undeveloped Village parcels into the villages district to reduce malapportionment in the district that experienced large in‑migration.

There was no vote; staff asked for input and said the next step would be to draft ordinance language for adoption and set an effective date timed to candidate qualifying in the next election cycle.","Leesburg staff presented a proposed redraw of five single-member commission districts for the 2026 election cycle that consolidates The Villages into a single district and uses updated population estimates; commissioners offered feedback but took no formal action.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6288091,"Commission approves revised Susan Street Park plan, shifts main entrance to Williams Street",2399,3600000,5999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2544910-494ad1e8a40abf564388b41a4d18081d&start=3600&end=5999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2544910-494ad1e8a40abf564388b41a4d18081d/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6288091/Leesburg-City/Lake-County/Florida/Commission-approves-revised-Susan-Street-Park-plan-shifts-main-entrance-to-Williams-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6288091-b3e23707ceabfd3072f2ee5fbd656527/orig.mp4?Expires=1776641343&Signature=SKnOtfG1uGUHMldJuM-ggeyUvv1aKLJ8W~Ioghgv5DF0jvJrQLzel-EU~8yoh03k7QTQvTy4iWQ7FgBnjIafMSnspTwDjiI~Ez7SsAy1OIseVxC3tnwAqV3nJzHTDroxFOh1uispU9NKaTg4bIwUQj~x30GhEPe1~1uToHKCCg-rQknkIhN0zrmqatiY0oKfzPTzcUelhYsvA8YGkxL96FZRjA2UMmXtAmN433xDIXZ6hIiQE01Uv0o9sktFkEle9NaCcThl-FzlTpwJmbgvLwugzbA~xahfBevq-YmBps1DHABS6biphqWQSCU39xnBppK61KIYBcNOWcexRBM~Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its March 10 meeting the Leesburg City Commission voted to approve a revised plan for the Susan Street Park sports complex that routes the main entrance off Williams Street (Penn/Williams intersection) rather than from U.S. 27, after negotiations with adjacent property owners failed to secure access from the highway.

Supporters described the project as a multi-use youth and sports tourism complex and stressed available outside funding. Staff showed three options: the original tourism-oriented plan with championship turf and larger fields (about $10.5 million total, with approximately $3.5 million in city funds), a reduced $5 million version focused on rectangular football/soccer fields, and not building at all. \"So it's about a $300,000 savings, going to that to that William Street entrance,\" staff member Travis said when presenting the revised entrance option.

Why it matters: commissioners and members of the public framed the project as an investment in youth recreation and possible sports tourism revenue. Public commenters, including Chuck Johnson and Roger Croft, urged the commission to build the larger complex now rather than a reduced version. Staff and the city manager said the revised Williams entrance keeps the original layout intact and preserves the option to re-open negotiations for a U.S. 27 entry later.

Commission discussion focused on access, neighborhood impacts, cost and phased build alternatives. Commissioners noted the project has multiple outside funding sources identified in staff materials (state legislative grant, county TDC, CRA funds and federal funds) and that the city’s share is roughly one-third of the total. After debate the commission moved and seconded the revised plan to proceed with the Williams Street entrance; the motion passed by recorded roll call. City Manager Al said he would instruct staff to issue a notice to proceed to the contractor and report back to the commission.

Supporters argued the larger project could attract tournaments and long-term economic benefits, while skeptics questioned the price and neighborhood routing for event traffic. Staff emphasized the revised entrance does not require redesign of the fields or major plan changes and preserves the option to reconfigure access if property owners along U.S. 27 later agree to an easement.

The commission directed staff to proceed under the revised plan and to return with any necessary contract or budget updates if costs exceed the city manager’s spending authority.","Leesburg commissioners approved a modified plan for the Susan Street sports complex that moves the primary vehicle entrance off Williams Street after owner access from U.S. 27 proved unavailable; the project remains about $10.5 million with roughly $3.5 million in city funds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: March 10 Leesburg City Commission

Habitat for Humanity reports Woodland Park ‘Spruce Up the Block’: 18 households applied, 15 to receive exterior work

Staff outlines 2026 commission redistricting proposal; recommends villages-centered district

Commission approves revised Susan Street Park plan, shifts main entrance to Williams Street