[{"_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",6226626,"mediaKeyId","3504251-03167decefab1606da7d1aadb4530a79","parentId",3504251,"title","High Springs appoints two students to mayor’s youth council","audioSeconds",179,"startMs",1551000,"endMs",1730000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504251-03167decefab1606da7d1aadb4530a79&start=1551&end=1730","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504251-03167decefab1606da7d1aadb4530a79/thumbnail_1551000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6226626/High-Springs/Alachua-County/Florida/High-Springs-appoints-two-students-to-mayors-youth-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226626-52b94f84603c16547de3ef392e42dcf8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167039&Signature=EiZOKJ2~CA9txd0HXuHKYPbFilSHMCJxTChzoOYrYgC03~ZUi2kgOSxNCnn6AfikNaViK64kO~C8FVNixlKLD4lbxUJUjH~mEZ8YbW1DES-b4QqttAf8g8lfRnpN-GwL4F~tYgY3ZtczK-Pu68s3ERYFdtQh0uW6~2bs0JKv5D3pl32SgfbVylqO1bRhQS6IJPQP8R1kFCR1Q1jTS3YgXURxnu03V5gb6g7KA-nRpEVRGySb0chTEOyw8Z51FZTO452JMj1KCl9O1iYP71MqC3f~IlL6VznbL8pifgRTPY3iU-HJ5nEsCjCCUnzFq6DolzcowXHCyoxXRG0n7YJL7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of High Springs, FL","date","2025-05-25T12:20:56.617Z","article","The City Commission of High Springs appointed two students to the mayor’s youth council and welcomed them at the dais.

Zach Nickel, an Eagle Scout from Troop 69 who had been recognized earlier in the meeting with a proclamation, was appointed to a full seat. Janelia Avila, who had been serving as an alternate and participated actively in recent events including a career fair, was elevated to a full member.

City staff said the youth council still has one full position and one alternate position open and encouraged interested students to apply. The commission noted that Sam Nickel (Zach’s brother) serves as the council’s vice chair and that outgoing youth council members Camden Treece (chair) and Leila Sealy were graduating.

Commissioners moved and seconded the appointments; both motions were approved by voice vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 22, 2025 City Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The City Commission appointed Eagle Scout Zach Nickel and alternate-turned-full-member Janelia Avila to fill two openings on the mayor’s youth council; one full seat and one alternate remain open.","taxTitle","High Springs, Alachua County, Florida","taxId",54325,"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},6226631,"Suwannee River Water Management District invites High Springs residents to July flood-risk review",336,1013000,1349000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504251-03167decefab1606da7d1aadb4530a79&start=1013&end=1349","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504251-03167decefab1606da7d1aadb4530a79/thumbnail_1013000.jpg","/articles/6226631/High-Springs/Alachua-County/Florida/Suwannee-River-Water-Management-District-invites-High-Springs-residents-to-July-flood-risk-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226631-f1e2b16a5e3c83e67dc2ad0e0ef573ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167039&Signature=hBlfUP1Uysbw9YaxWI8Df5J3SGNysY2SvCyNtecFJPJFDXJYXXDNNQpZzxoogR1Hr6TbLn1eoaMD3TdxpeG8qqVOXPQMAAMs7aI3CYQJLKYVXSTHivUTh0vh0IfQDqetqEYK~pRumeH6yQeb8jz~IOCzFphK2m6y06Lsp1Cdp-Bj5TiHEV1uQKdqadmqkYaodAu98PCRZouTp7sM0maP-RnW-twwzA2CyhL~9Wj6ut4KA-rjYYunzF5l6zIha4Jm6vjKlCUGOWVjZ8a8arpBjpKw2PWLOtMRtpOHUJq1kqX8DE0RJ4Nq~ANG2Zo4d0xuWZajVVaU~h8qkLBK4MkFPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Suwannee River Water Management District representative told the High Springs City Commission that residents and officials should attend a July 1 flood-risk review meeting in Bronson covering updated flood maps for the Wacassassa (Wakassasah) watershed, which touches parts of Alachua, Gilchrist and Levy counties.

Mary Diaz of the Suwannee River Water Management District told commissioners the meeting will explain how updated flood maps were developed, show changes between old and new maps, and let attendees submit comments at the flood-risk review stage without engineering documentation. Diaz warned that once maps go to the preliminary stage, challenges generally require engineering backup. She emphasized the importance of early comment for property owners and developers.

Diaz summarized the timeline and regulatory context: responsible entities must submit additional projects and management strategies to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) by Jan. 14, 2026, to comply with a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) milestone or face potential departmental enforcement. She described flood zones shown in the presentation, noting the 1% annual-chance flood (historically called the 100-year flood), the X zone with flood depths less than 1 foot, and the 0.2% annual-chance (500-year) zone. Diaz said the district’s data show no new buildings in the City of High Springs are being added to the 1% flood zone in this update, but other property changes may still affect owners’ decisions.

The district will provide slide decks, watershed dashboards and a recording after the meeting; staff will be available at the event to review parcels and file comments on behalf of residents who cannot attend. Diaz brought flyers and a QR code directing residents to the map and comment tool. She said the flood-risk review meeting had been rescheduled to July 1 after a pause earlier in the spring to coordinate with FEMA and cooperating technical partners.

Commissioners expressed interest in having an official city representative attend the Bronson meeting. Diaz encouraged attendance by city officials and residents and said the district typically remains at meetings until late in the evening to meet one-on-one with citizens.","A Suwannee River Water Management District representative urged High Springs officials and residents to attend a July 1 watershed flood-risk review for updated Wakulla/Wakassassa maps; the stage permits public comment without engineering evidence and the DEP BMAP milestone requires additional measures by Jan. 14, 2026.",{"_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},6226636,"High Springs approves special magistrate contract to handle civil code and red-light-camera appeals",518,3730000,4248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504251-03167decefab1606da7d1aadb4530a79&start=3730&end=4248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504251-03167decefab1606da7d1aadb4530a79/thumbnail_3730000.jpg","/articles/6226636/High-Springs/Alachua-County/Florida/High-Springs-approves-special-magistrate-contract-to-handle-civil-code-and-red-light-camera-appeals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226636-90ef9fb2595e4ea666c2a5830bca71c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167039&Signature=ilUoaYDxpx-nAQAzU~AavX1ZMExFZYVou~5rHnRjmGa75SdecYnAlCH4a1rV5Z5XxiYAfwjZCeZtZ3WhRZqZj3EB0P95dZ5wpsidneGLvWJpESaiBffZf8ZYUW2D2DGcn-FPpJ-8qm7AplkeUsWCaWl~qAzpTcNBxgZd9FnMePbI2aj1k0s0kydNFETnmALwK-yGKefyBqdytSYC6X19SXedZ1Wh6IXV0bbBVJw9R8u4-nuxTRVvc0z~DVbhxaKdGpieyUSV7-kpNFHV9zwtwiomUTa~Snx2Iqx51YNbl2nDxL~~J1L9zoOgIQ44pAiG4zWE~pewPNPFgoG1KJ5duw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Commission of High Springs adopted a resolution approving an agreement with the Gilchrist Law Firm PA to provide special magistrate services for municipal civil processes, including a small backlog of pending civil cases related to codes and automated-enforcement citations.

The resolution (read as Resolution No. 2025E) authorizes the mayor to execute the agreement and directs the firm to provide magistrate services. City staff said the magistrate arrangement will allow the city to hear and resolve approximately seven to nine pending civil cases; uniform traffic citations that are criminal in nature will continue to be heard in county court.

City Attorney Danielle Pryor and city staff negotiated the agreement and presented it to the commission. Commissioners discussed how magistrate services would affect red-light or automated-enforcement appeals and how the magistrate would be funded. City staff said funding for the magistrate is included in the general fund within planning and codes; the chief of police and staff also indicated the possibility of future ordinance adjustments to accommodate court-fee structures tied to automated enforcement revenue.

A commissioner moved to accept the contract; the motion was seconded. The commission conducted a roll-call vote for the resolution; Mayor Tristan Grunder and commissioners on the dais voted in favor and the resolution passed.

Staff and the police chief encouraged residents with concerns about specific automated-enforcement citations to contact Chief Shepherd directly; the commission noted municipal staff would assist citizens with information about payment and appeals procedures.","The City Commission approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with Gilchrist Law Firm PA for special magistrate services to process code enforcement and a small backlog of civil cases, including civil appeals tied to automated enforcement.",{"_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},6226640,"High Springs adopts 10-year parks and recreation master plan",2094,1826000,3920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3504251-03167decefab1606da7d1aadb4530a79&start=1826&end=3920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3504251-03167decefab1606da7d1aadb4530a79/thumbnail_1826000.jpg","/articles/6226640/High-Springs/Alachua-County/Florida/High-Springs-adopts-10-year-parks-and-recreation-master-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226640-0a08d89cd13e7c6ddd6ccbf045ebba02/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167039&Signature=I3DKqGNRpAwJ5EOFzG3j7RqsmRZXxpQpOyTb9a0Xo-ARUqtdkWZwdua8yO46yDLHJn~0~oA3LHC5VNsvRmJEUt5~ws6skwzjeojAt67hSG6IRBn3EXXzc8Gba788c1VAnWaHP76WuRdgUYjiu0bO8cpsacnpvNT5839s6RxPXhlIPxylp0ANmo74BYsYE9Dbila0KuxxZmY8~eMr5LJCpBxmegJwpFnWAjip72k30Vtb0E-24pFSyIdl3jDsx8JK0ypDtP3fhBuWWpYxdmR~zDgNZFnFFPRppTJmg5Yjx3DrPaybjfiXk8OCTeDB7AsK5As9fvRWuHOHqjl7pW4CcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Commission of High Springs voted unanimously to adopt a parks and recreation master plan that lays out a 10-year blueprint for parks, trails and recreation programming.

The plan, presented by Kristen Caborn, director of Parks and Open Spaces at GAI Consultants, recommends short-term (0–2 years), mid-term (2–5 years) and long-term (6+ years) projects, a capital improvement plan spreadsheet for staff tracking, standards for park size and amenities, and strategies to fill park “deserts” in newly annexed and developing areas of the city.

Caborn told commissioners the consultants began working with the city in late 2022 and that public outreach in 2023 shaped the recommendations. “Our assignment when we began the project was really to create a blueprint for the next 10 years of parks and recreation in High Springs,” Caborn said. She described inventory work, GIS documentation of park infrastructure and a public-input process that included on-site workshops and focus groups.

The plan inventories nine parks (the report treats the downtown Farmer’s Market pavilion as a park), and sets level-of-service guidance: neighborhood parks sized roughly 2–5 acres (target minimum 2 acres) to serve a roughly half-mile walking radius, and community parks of about 5 acres serving a roughly three-mile driving radius. The consultants identified unserved areas in the southern part of the city (labeled in the presentation as park areas “b, c and d”) where larger but fewer parks are recommended rather than many small neighborhood parks. The report also recommends preserving unprogrammed open space in parks to allow informal play and multigenerational use.

Specific short-term recommendations (0–2 years) listed in the presentation include upgrades to existing facilities such as Catherine Taylor Park, continued work at the Santa Fe Canoe Outpost, site master planning for James Paul Park, improved park lighting to extend safe evening use, and feasibility work to improve pedestrian and trail connections to nearby county parks such as Post Springs. Mid-term items (2–5 years) include further improvements at the Civic Center Park and sports complex, implementing the James Paul Park plan and planning for a new neighborhood park in an identified northern service gap. Long-term items (6+ years, noted in the presentation as 5–10 years after a typographical correction) prioritize land acquisition and construction of the larger community parks identified for southern growth areas.

Commissioners and members of the public raised implementation details during the presentation. One participant asked whether the Canoe Outpost could include a boat ramp; Caborn said the site likely has space but noted permitting, river access and rules from the Suwannee River Water Management District and state agencies would be the biggest challenges and that civil engineers usually handle ramp design. Caborn also said the city now has a GIS database of park assets that staff can update when improvements are made.

Jennifer (Parks and Recreation staff), who worked with the consultants, was credited during the presentation for implementing several recommendations already. Caborn said the full master plan report and supporting materials will be posted on the city website after adoption to help residents and staff review details and the capital-improvement spreadsheet.

A commissioner moved to adopt the plan and the motion was seconded; the commission voted in favor with no recorded opposition. The consultant emphasized that adoption creates a flexible vision and does not, by itself, obligate the city to the plan’s cost estimates or specific spending schedule.

The plan’s next steps include posting the full report online, using the living CIP spreadsheet for budgeting and grant applications (the consultant cited the Florida development assistance program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund as grant programs that award points for an adopted master plan), and a suggested partial update at year five to reassess priorities and celebrate progress.","The High Springs City Commission unanimously adopted a parks and recreation master plan presented by GAI Consultants that sets short-, mid- and long-term priorities for park improvements, connectivity, lighting, programming and land acquisition to serve growing areas of the city.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

High Springs appoints two students to mayor’s youth council

Suwannee River Water Management District invites High Springs residents to July flood-risk review

High Springs approves special magistrate contract to handle civil code and red-light-camera appeals

High Springs adopts 10-year parks and recreation master plan