TAMPA BAY - Here are five things you need to know happening in Florida on Tuesday, January 15.
(1) Pinellas County 911 Priority Dispatch Phase 3 hearing
The Pinellas County Commission will discuss implementing Phase 3 of the 911 Priority Dispatch at the meeting on Tuesday.
The county implemented Phase 1 in April 2009. It consolidated all 911 functions within Pinellas County into one call center.
Phase 2, which reduced ambulance responses, was implemented in December 2010.
The Phase 3 proposal calls for changing the way ambulances and firefighters respond to 911 calls.
Paramedics and firefighters would no longer be dispatched for minor falls and sick person calls. Only ambulances would be sent to these calls.
911 dispatchers would make the decision what type of response a call would receive by asking the caller a series of questions.
The proposal to implement Phase 3 is facing opposition. Belleair Bluffs, Dunedin, Pinellas Park, Safety Harbor, St. Petersburg and South Pasadena have all passed resolutions opposing Phase 3.
There are concerns Phase 3 could put the lives of county residents at risk a 911 operator does not send the type of response a person needs regardless of the answers a caller gives.
Despite those worries, Pinellas County Commissioners decided in December to go ahead and put the Phase 3 implementation on the agenda for today's meeting.
The Commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater.
(2) Carrollwood Walmart rezoning hearing
The Hillsborough County Commission could vote on Tuesday on a proposal to rezone a parcel of land in Carrollwood to allow Walmart and WaWa build stores on the property.
Plans call for a 42,000 square foot Walmart and 6,000 square foot 24-hour WaWa gas station at the corner of North Dale Mabry and Floyd Road.
More than fifty Carrollwood residents living near the property, who have been fighting against the rezoning effort for months, plan to attend today's Commission meeting.
"This is residential. This is not for a big box store. We do not want this,” said Carrollwood community activist Jennifer Fritsch.
They claim the new stores are not needed and will cause traffic headaches.
"It's already congested roads, so they're going to be looking for other ways to get where they're going," said neighbor said Greg Scott. "It'll add to the problems we already have with traffic cutting through our neighborhoods."
The Hillsborough County Commission meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. in downtown Tampa.
(3) Diabetes prevention forum
UnitedHealthcare and the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg are teaming up on Tuesday to host a community forum on diabetes prevention titled "The Preventable Epidemic: Community-Based Solutions for Tackling Diabetes."
The forum is bringing together a cross-section of leaders to raise awareness of the diabetes epidemic that is draining financial and health resources from families, community and country.
Forum participants will discuss community-based solutions to prevent and control the disease.
ABC Action News Director of Community Affairs Lissette Campos is moderating the forum.
Among those taking part in today's forum are Dr. Chet Evans, Chairman, Florida Diabetes Advisory Council; Dr. Catherine Howard, Florida State Department of Health; David Jezek, President and CEO, YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg; Dr. Kenneth Lanier, Winn-Dixie; Kathy Mulcahy, Chair, Florida Alliance for Diabetes Prevention and Care; and Dr. Henry Rodriguez, University of South Florida Diabetes Center.
The forum is taking place from 8:15 to 10:00 a.m. at the University Student Center at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.
(4) Tampa Bay Job Fair
Looking for a new job or a better career? Dozens of companies looking to hire are participating at the Tampa Bay Job Fair at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg on Tuesday.
The one-day event showcases current employment opportunities in the Tampa Bay area, from entry level positions to skilled trade, to health care and even top managerial positions.
Participating companies include: AFLAC, Ashley Furniture, BB&T, Capital One, Courtesy Automotive, Loews Don Cesar Hotel, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, PODS, St. Luke's Cataract & Laser, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Rays, Tradewinds Island Resorts and Vivint.
For a complete list of firms, visit www.tampabayjobfair.com .
Attendees are asked to prepare for success. You are asked to wear proper business attire and bring at least 20 copies of your resume. Admission and parking are free.
The fair occurs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg.
(5) Weekly Twilight Market
Tampa Bay Markets, which operates several outdoor daytime markets in the Bay Area, is opening their first weekly evening market on Tuesday.
The Weekly Twilight Market will offer locally farmed products, organic goods and items from vendors who focus on sustainability.
Among the vendors Tampa Bay Markets has signed up are EcoFarm from Plant
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