This is part of our Voices series with City of Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz, where he breaks down his thoughts about what’s going on in the City – in just one minute. Want to join the conversation?
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As January ends, the Lakeland Commission optimistically anticipates the year ahead. City Manager Sherrouse responded to the request for earlier strategic planning by moving this critical Commission initiative from April into mid-February.

The Commission will then use several successively planned policy workshops to determine answers from our strategic planning and other community-requested matters.

Photo via Mayor Bill Mutz | Graphic via 6AM City

There are several high priority items to have implemented in 2021 that regain some lost ground in 2020.

These include:

Summit Broadband implementation
Elimination of digital divide
Accelerating affordable housing developments
Implementing Lift Lakeland strategies
Establishing easier communication portals from citizens to the City
Launching manufacturing incentives that will attract targeted companies

Regionally, we will stabilize and recover from COVID-19’s distractions, heartaches and losses. And, we will work to re-establish normalcy as we enter the fall months. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve and anticipate 2021 as a year to enhance the quality of life and intentionally extend opportunities and relationships throughout our great community.