The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will meet Feb. 8-9 at the Plantation on Crystal River, 9301 W. Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, Florida 34429.
The meeting both days starts at 8:30 a.m. Both sessions are open to the public and the public will be provided opportunities to speak.
For the full Feb. 8-9 agenda and links to background reports, go to MyFWC.com/Commission and select “Commission Meetings.”
Those unable to attend can follow live coverage at Twitter.com/MyFWC (Twitter handle: @MyFWC) and join in the conversation using the #FWC2017 hashtag. Check the Florida Channel for possible live video coverage at TheFloridaChannel.org.
The FWC welcomes public input at all of our Commission meetings. To accommodate as much input as possible from those attending the upcoming meeting, the Chairman reserves the right to designate the amount of time given to each speaker, including time donation to other speakers.
Meeting
Florida Chief Justice Jorge Labarga holds media availability before Commission on Access to Civil Justice meeting
Who: Florida Chief Justice Jorge Labarga, former president of The Florida Bar and Commission Executive Chair Greg Coleman, immediate past president of The Florida Bar Foundation Donny MacKenzie, and The Florida Bar Foundation Executive Director and CEO Bruce Blackwell
What: Media Availability to discuss the work of the Florida Commission on Access to Civil Justice
When: 10 a.m., Friday, February 3
Where: Hotel Duval Horizon Room, 415 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee
Florida Chief Justice Jorge Labarga will lead a media availability to discuss the continuing work of the standing Commission on Access to Civil Justice ahead of its first meeting in 2017.
The commission works to address the barriers that impede access to civil justice faced by hundreds of thousands of Floridians. Many low- and moderate-income people face the prospect of civil cases related to such things as veterans’ benefits, foreclosures, child custody, debt collection, and other vital matters without a lawyer. A 2015 Justice Gap Analysis found only a quarter of parties in non-family civil cases are represented by lawyers.
The people of Florida have limited access to do-it-yourself legal forms and guides, pro bono representation and formalized legal aid services. These are commendable, but inadequate. The Access to Civil Justice Commission has initiated a pilot program and undertaken other efforts to help determine the best way forward to expand basic access to the civil justice system. Chief Justice Labarga will address reporters on their vital role in providing information about both the problem and solutions. In addition, representatives of The Florida Bar Foundation will share information about a study showing the economic impact of the pro bono work Florida’s lawyers provide.
Please note: The full Commission on Access to Civil Justice meeting is scheduled for 1-4:30 p.m. in the same location. It is open to the public.
Highlights from Board of Governors' Meeting, January 26
Board Chair Tom Kuntz’s State of the System Address, a workshop on how to
strengthen Florida’s 2+2 Articulation Program, and a presentation on the
impact of student counseling services are among the highlights of the
January Board of Governors’ meeting at Florida Polytechnic University.
Joined by new Board member Sydney Kitson, the Board of Governors this week advanced a number of strategic initiatives designed to enhance accountability, make higher education more affordable, and ensure students have every opportunity to be successful.
Chair Tom Kuntz outlined the Board’s progress on those initiatives during his annual State of the System Address. In the past year, Florida has made strides toward aligning degrees with jobs, raising the State University System’s research profile and enhancing Florida’s 2+2 Program. Chair Kuntz also discussed the need for more mental health counselors on campuses due to the soaring demand.
“Florida universities consistently win awards for their quality and affordability, but there are also opportunities to spark meaningful improvements,” said Board of Governors’ Chair Tom Kuntz. “By focusing on enhancing the profile of our universities and helping our students succeed, we’re raising the value of a college degree from Florida despite remaining the lowest in the country on price.”
The Board also heard a presentation on the impact of campus mental health services, including increased academic success, improved mental and behavioral health, and reduced risk to self and others. Counseling centers also appear to have a positive impact on student retention and graduation.
“The need for mental health services around the country has simply outpaced the ability of our campuses to keep up,” said Norm Tripp, chair of the Board’s Academic and Student Affairs Committee. “Many of our students are coming to our counseling centers with very serious issues, and we want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to help them address those problems, graduate, and live productive lives.”
Other meeting highlights include:
- The Board’s Select Committee on 2+2 Articulation discussed how to further strengthen Florida’s 2+2 Program for students who are transferring from state colleges to universities. Among other topics, the committee considered how to streamline the admissions processes between colleges and universities and ensure that credits transfer smoothly.
- The Board approved a list of facilities to be included in its 2017 Legislative Budget Request, primarily focusing on maintenance and repair.
- Vice Chancellor Jan Ignash presented on the work of the Strategic Planning Committee, which plays an enormous role in steering the State University System toward the state’s highest needs. The Committee’s work, which includes the 2025 Strategic Plan, the Annual Accountability Report, and University Work Plans, has been nationally recognized for its rigor.
- As part of its Think Florida: A Higher Degree for Business campaign, the Board of Governors heard from John Townsend, vice president of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. & T. Rowe Price Services, Inc. about his company’s many partnerships with USF.
For more information, consult the meeting’s official minutes at http://www.flbog.edu/. The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for March 29-30 at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.
Facts about the State University System of Florida and the Board of Governors
The State University System of Florida is a constitutional body led by the 17-member Board of Governors. The system has 12 universities and more than 400,000 students, making it the second-largest public university system in the nation. Responsibilities include defining the distinctive mission of each institution and managing the system’s coordination and operation. The Board appoints a chancellor who serves as the system’s chief executive. For more, visit www.flbog.edu, visit Think-Florida.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Gov. Scott and Volunteer Florida Present Champion of Service Award at Florida Cabinet Meeting
During a meeting of the Florida Cabinet today, Governor Rick Scott and Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman awarded Daniel Clein with the Volunteer Florida Champion of Service Award, Florida’s official statewide volunteer recognition.
Governor Scott said, “I’m proud to recognize Daniel Clein with the Champion of Service Award for his continued leadership and community service. His hours helping children and families in his community has impacted countless lives. I’d like to thank Daniel for his dedication to helping others.”
Volunteer Florida Chief Executive Officer Chester Spellman said, “We are grateful for the impact Daniel has had on the children and families being served at the Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital and the surrounding area. Volunteer Florida applauds Daniel for his civic engagement and celebrates his continued efforts to improve the lives of children and families in his community through service.”
About the Champion of Service: Daniel Clein
Daniel Clein is a 17 year-old high school student in Wellington, Florida. He is the founder of Bricks Busting Boredom, a non-profit that collects new or gently used Legos to donate to children’s hospitals in the Palm Beach County area. Daniel has collected over 500 pounds of Legos over the past year through community support and social media outreach that serve more than 400 children.
Volunteer Florida is the Governor’s lead agency for volunteerism and national service in Florida, administering more than $32 million in federal, state, and local funding to deliver high-impact national service and volunteer programs in Florida. Volunteer Florida promotes and encourages volunteerism to meet critical needs across the state.
Volunteer Florida also serves as Florida’s lead agency for volunteers and donations before, during, and after disasters. For more information, visit: www.volunteerflorida.org.
FDOT hosts meeting to discuss turn lanes at I-75 interchange
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will have a public meeting to talk about adding turn lanes along State Road 200 (SW College Road) in the Interstate 75 (I-75) interchange area, from SW 38th Court to SW 36th Avenue in Marion County, 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the Hilton Ocala, located at 3600 SW 36th Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34474
These improvements will take place within existing right-of-way, so no additional right-of-way is needed. Construction is funded for this project for Fiscal Year 2018.
The meeting will be an open house format. Project information will be available for review and a project presentation will run on a continuous loop. FDOT representatives will be available to discuss the project, answer questions, and receive comments.
Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Laura Turner, AICP, Project Public Involvement Coordinator, by phone at 407-620-5095 or by email at [email protected] at least seven days prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact FDOT by using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).
Media questions should be directed to the public information office, Jennifer Horton, 386-943-5497, [email protected].
