COUNCIL WATCH: Liveblogging your city at work for the fun of it

Good afternoon. It seems like only a week ago that we were staring blankly into the beige of another city toe-dip into governance. OH WAIT, IT WAS. Today, your dais with the mostest will be doing its usual song and dance for the first couple of hours of interest, the city (via OUC) is washing its hands clean of the nonexistent, broken-down nuclear power plant in Crystal River; also, some interactive display and bridge decal agreement with the Orlando Magic appears to be of importance. But the real showdown will come later when the city approves its fiscal year budget which will likely bring a 17 percent increase in property taxes, because of the wonderful things that does. (Also, $15 million in other city cuts to things like public safety while simultaneously playing booster for the soccer stadium). Come along for the ride. Well be transfixed by the terrible for a long while today.

2:05 p.m.: Invocation is happening, followed by the Pledge via Sam Ings (thankfully, thats a short little bit of prose).

2:07 p.m.: ITS HUNGER ACTION MONTH. Second Harvest Food Bank was ranked NUMBER ONE for human services in the state of Florida last week, so show some respect. If this budget passes, we all might be needing a bit more food.

2:13 p.m.: NONPROFITPHOTOOP. yawns.

2:14 p.m.: I think were going to have a lot of testimony today, so lets save time for our residents, says Dyer, surely aware that he is having a Marie Antoinette moment.

2:16 p.m.: Theres going to be a QTI incentive approved for 25 new high wage jobs with Solodev, a geek party of sorts.

2:17 p.m.: Sam Ings is up first; seems that OC Sheriff Jerry Demings had a sister who just died over the weekend at the age of 65. This isnt a good day at all.

2:18 p.m.: Ings is throwing a charity golf tournament with red ties involve. Embarrassingly, the people in the audience who are WEARING red (says the mayor) are here for a matter in District 3. Pretty sure were going to be hearing a lot about development in College Park, right in the middle of everything. (Smith, Princeton, Edgewater).

2:21 p.m.: A lot going on in the Southeast part of the city, says Commish Jim Gray. THERES A NEW ASSISTED CARE FACILITY AND A NEW RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE. Again, all the sads today.

2:22 p.m.: Tony Ortizs mustache is going to touch briefly (cough) on some issues he just heard about in D.C. Water, transportation, internet stuff. Whatever.

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COUNCIL WATCH: Liveblogging your city at work for the fun of it