Alachua County Special Meeting

Minutes

-
Civic Center Park
19107 NW 240th Street, High Springs, FL 32643
Present:
  • Commissioner Mary Alford, 
  • Chair Charles S. Chestnut, IV, 
  • Vice Chair Ken Cornell, 
  • Commissioner Anna Prizzia, 
  • and Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler 

A.
Call To Order

 

City Mayor Tristan Grunder and Chair Chestnut called the meeting to order at 6:30pm

B.
Welcome

 

C.
Introduction

 

D.
Adoption of the Agenda

 

Commissioner Cornell moved approval of the agenda.

2nd Commissioner Prizzia

The motion carried 5-0.

 

Commissioner Weitz moved to approve the agenda changing item 5 verbiage to a Discussion of Sunday Alcohol.

2nd Commissioner Neal

The motion carried 3-1 with Commissioner Miller voting Nay 

 

  • To approve the Agenda. 

E.
Items For Discussion

 

1.
FDOT Presentation

 

There was no representative to present the above item, so this item was skipped. 

 

Commissioner Wheeler presented comments. 

2.
High Springs CRA Update - 25-00313

 

Amy Bohannon - FRA RP CRA Manager presented the above item. 

HIGH SPRINGS CRA:

FY 2025 BUDGET TOTAL:    $650,228                      
1986 Base Taxable Value          $3,832,000                   
Base Taxable Value                  $27,840,990              
Current Year (2024) Incremental Value    $24,008,990

 

CRA FY 2025 Budget Breakdown

REVENUES:

  • Tax Increment Financing (TIF) = $307,460 (City & County $153,730 each)
  • Rental Income = $12,000
  • Appropriation of Prior Year Funds = approximately $322,700
  • Interest Income Budgeted $1500 (2024 Value is $4000)
  • ARPA FUNDS $10,000 towards Parking Plan


 EXPENDITURES:

  • Capital Improvement Project = $335,000 (planning, professional services, & capital improvement project)
  • Commercial Façade Grants = $40,000 2025  
    ($20,000 Awarded 2024 In Progress)
  • Residential Façade Grants = $20,000
  • CRA Building Maintenance = $15,000
  •  Personnel = $118,500
  • Operating Costs = $85,700 (Beautification, Operating Supplies, Utilities, Etc.)

CRA PROGRAMS AND FOCUS

  •  COMMERCIAL FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM
  • RESIDENTIAL FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM
  •  INNOVATIVE POLICING INITIATIVES
  • FARMERS MARKET
  • DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM
  • WATER TOWER PARKING PROJECT
  • DOWNTOWN PARKING PLAN

Commissioner Wheeler, Commissioner Prizzia, City Manager Marshall, and Mayor Grunder presented comments. 

 

Public Comment

Mayor Grunder recognized Shawn Coles, and Susan who presented comments.

3.
Canoe Outpost Discussion - 25-00431

 

City Manager Marshall briefly discussed the above item with the commission. 

 

The County has set aside $333,333 of its surtax revenue for Municipal Partnership Program grant award to the City of High Springs for both infrastructure and Wild Spaces Public Places eligible projects. The City wishes to apply for the County to jointly own the Canoe Outpost, with the County contributing $333,333 for both acquisition and future capital improvements. The City must submit an application for surtax grant funding and the application was submitted last week. 

 

Commissioner Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, City Manager Marshall, Commissioner Alford, Mayor Grunder all presented comments. 

 

Public Comment

Mayor recognized Rick, and Don Decker who presented comments.

4.
Community Resource Center- Deeper Purpose Community Church - 25-00436

 

Claudia Tuck, Community Support Services Director and Satori Days, Community Stabilization Program Manager presented the above item. 

 

Community Resource Center Definition:

A public location where members of a community gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may be open for the whole community or for a specialized subgroup within the greater community. Community centers can be religious in nature, such as Christian churches, Islamic mosques, Jewish synagogues, Hindu temples, or Buddhist temples; though they can also be secular and in some cases government-run, such as youth clubs or senior centers.

 

Community Resource Centers Surveyed:

 • City of Alachua Recreation and Culture Department- Hathcock Community Center
 • City of Archer-Ollie Mae Robinson Senior Center 
 • City of Newberry-Martin Luther King Community Center 
 • City of Waldo Community Center
 • Community Impact Corporation
 • Deeper Purpose Community Church, Inc
 • Hawthorne Area Resource Center, Inc.
 • Partnership for Strong Families- Library Partnership
 • Partnership for Strong Families-Southwest Advocacy Group (SWAG) Resource Center
 • Pleasant Street Civil Rights and Cultural Arts Center Inc-One Community Family Resource Center 
• The Willie Mae Stokes Community Center

 

Deeper Purpose Community Charities:

19930 N Us Hwy 441 High Springs, FL 32643 Monday- Friday 9:00am to 2:00pm

Target Population: Infants, Children, Adults, Senior Citizens, Veterans

Program Service Highlights: Housing Assistance, Food Assistance, Clothing Assistance, Utility Assistance, Referral Services to Other Organizations, Youth Services, Community Education/Workshops, Employment Assistance, Healthcare Support, Transportation Assistance

Areas of Need: New programs/services, Office equipment, more staff, Vehicles, extending hours, need assistance with grant writing, Permanent Facility, Other: Funding to build/purchase permanent facility

 

Community Resource Guides:

 • United Way 211
 • FindHelp.org 
 • Bread of the Mighty “Find a Food Pantry” Site
 • Alachua County’s Housing Resources Virtual Map

 

 

Commissioner Prizzia, Commissioner Chestnut, Mayor Grunder, and Commissioner Weitz all presented comments. 

 

Public Comment

Mayor Grunder recognized Elder Adam Joy from Deeper Purpose Community Church, and Julie Smith who presented comments. 

 

Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Prizzia, and Commissioner Weitz presented comments. 

5.
Repeal of Sunday Alcohol (blue law) Sales

 

The City and County Commission had a brief discussion regarding Sunday Alcohol sales.

Mayor Grunder, Commissioner Prizzia, City Manager Marshall, Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Weitz, Commissioner Howell, Commissioner Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, and Commissioner Cornell all presented comments. 

 

Public Comment

Mayor Grunder recognized Julie T, Austin Douglas, a citizen, Janet Evans, Mr. Smith, David Linch, Sue Weller, a citizen, Makayla, Shawn Coles, and Kelly Potter who all presented comments. 

 

Commissioner Miller, Mayor Grunder, Commissioner Prizzia, County Manager Lieberman, Commissioner Weitz, City Clerk Angela Stone, and Commissioner Cornell presented comments. 

 

Mayor Grunder passed the Gavel to Commissioner Miller and made a motion.

 

Mayor Grunder moved to repeal the alcohol ordinance in the city limits of High Springs.

2nd Commissioner Howell

The motion failed 2-2 with Commissioners Miller and Weitz voting "Nay"

 

Commissioner Miller passed the gavel back to Mayor Grunder. 

6.
Transportation Projects Impacting the City of High Springs - 25-00474

 

Alison Moss, Transportation Planning Manager presented the above item. 

 

Commissioner Cornell, Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, Mayor Grunder, Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Weitz, and Commissioner Howell all presented comments. 

 

Public Comment

Mayor Grunder recognized A citizen, Sue Weller, Jennifer Applebee, and Shawn Coles who all presented comments.  

 

F.
Public Comment

 

Don Decker, David Linch, and a citizen presented comments. 

 

Commissioner Prizzia, County Manager Lieberman, and Mayor Grunder all presented remarks. 

G.
Commission General Comments and Information Discussion

 

1.
County Commission Comment

 

Commissioner Alford would like to say thank you for welcoming the county to the city of High Springs it was a pleasant and informative meeting. Also, she would like to say thank you to all the citizens for coming out and she looks forward to the next meeting.

Commissioner Wheeler would like to say thank you for having the county out.

 

Commissioner Prizzia would like to say thank you to the commission and the community. She is grateful for a good meeting and appreciate everyone input. 

 

Commissioner Cornell would like to say thank you to the county and high springs staff for all of your hard work and putting everything together. Thank you for inviting the county out to the city of High Springs. 

 

Chair Chestnut wanted to say thank you for having the county out and thank you to everyone for coming out and participating in the meeting. 

2.
City Commission Comment

 

Commissioner Howell would like to thank the county commissioners for coming out and say thank you to the High Springs staff. He believes there are a lot of good things coming to the city of High Springs as long as everyone continues to work together. 

 

Commissioner Weitz liked to thank Commissioner Wheeler for how responsive she was during Hurricane Season; it was really appreciated. Thank you to Mr. Chair for his support. Also, thank you to Commissioner Alford for being accessible to the city of High Springs. 

 

Commissioner Miller recognized April Roberts as the employee of the month and said Thank you to the County for attending the meeting. 

 

Mayor Grunder thanked the citizens, commissioners and staff. 

H.
Adjourn

 

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25p.m.

  • To adjourn the meeting. 

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