Brooksville council adopts annexation, conditionally opts out of Live Local Act; several ordinances advance

The Brooksville City Council approved a package of ordinances and appointments at the meeting, including a second‑reading adoption of a voluntary annexation, first readings on two land‑use ordinances and a conditional opt‑out resolution related to the Live Local Act.

Ordinance 1007 (second and final reading) — Annexation: Council adopted Ordinance 1007 by roll call vote to annex approximately 1.3 acres east of South Main Street (about 660 feet south of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) into the city. City planning staff recommended approval as the area is surrounded on three sides by the city and described it as a logical inclusion.

Ordinance 1008 (first reading) — Sign code rewrite: Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 1008, a rewrite of the city’s sign regulations that consolidates sign standards (including the historic overlay), prohibits certain pole signs as monument signs and adjusts spacing for feather/tomahawk signs. Second reading is scheduled for 01/05/2026.

Ordinance 1009 (first reading) — Camps and ADA standards: Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 1009 to reclassify camps as conditional uses in several zoning districts and require camps to provide ADA‑compliant restrooms and bathing facilities tied to city sewer. Second reading is scheduled for 01/05/2026.

Resolution 2025‑31 — Live Local Act opt‑out (conditional): The council adopted Resolution 2025‑31, which conditionally opts the city out of the Live Local Act property tax exemption if a delayed University of Florida (Schimberg) housing report later shows the city qualifies to opt out. Staff said the housing report was delayed because of a federal shutdown; the resolution preserves the city’s right to opt out pending the report’s findings.

Reappointments and consent: The council reappointed advisory board members where no competing applications were received, including Joe Merritt to the Cemetery Advisory Board; Richard Ross to Planning & Zoning; Amanda Cunningham Rudd to Parks & Recreation; Kelly Wooldridge as an alternate to the Housing Authority; and Regina Martin to the Firefighter Pension Trust Fund, among others. The consent agenda and these personnel actions were approved by roll call 5–0.

What this means: The annexation is effective and the city’s land‑use code changes will return for second readings. The conditional opt‑out preserves the city’s legal option pending state report confirmation; if the report later confirms eligibility, the opt‑out will take effect per the resolution’s language.

This article summarizes council votes and public‑hearing actions recorded during the meeting.