It's an issue that state lawmakers have been working on for months, and now local officials are also trying to tackle the rising property tax problem, but that wasn't the only important item on the agenda at today's gainesville city commission meeting.

With Gainesville's mayoral and city commission elections now over it was back to business. Newly re-elected Craig Lowe sat in for the expecting mother Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan.
 
Inevitably the most heated discussion centered around property tax reform, a subject that hits close to home for commissioners and the public alike. Today's discussion pitted those who are most hurt by high taxes against their neighbors who are fairing better simply by having lived in their homes longer.

And they aren't necessarily going to vote to share the property tax burden. So the commission has decided to appeal to the state legislature through the league of city representatives. Their hopes are to address the flaws in the system and not just the symptoms, said City Manager Russ Blackburn.

The meeting shifted from issues that would cost homeowners money, to saving them money in utilities.
By introducing solar photo voltaic panels to parking lots, GRU is hoping to harness the sun's energy for consumer use, which would save all consumers over the long-term.

"At this point awareness is very important we do have two rebates for solar water heaters if you're interested in using solar energy we do have rebates at the utility to encourage you,"said Gainesville Regional Utility analyst Heidi Lannon.

Fresh on the agenda, what will people see when they look up? The Community Development Committee is looking to set a limit on how high buildings will be able to go up. According to the president of the University Park Neighborhood ASsociation, their initiative is meant for all residents,"It's going to benefit anybody who enjoys the University of Florida, who enjoys downtown Gainesville and the commercial areas in the neighborhoods around, it's going to ensure any new development that occurs is in keeping with the character of the area."