Alachua County Special Meeting

Minutes

Tuesday, November 07, 2023 at 1:30 P.m. - 2:30 P.m.

County Administration Building - Grace Knight Conference Room

12 SE 1 Street, 2nd Floor, Gainesville, FL 32601

Present:

• Vice Chair Mary Alford, 
• Commissioner Charles S. Chestnut, IV, 
• Commissioner Ken Cornell, 
• Chair Anna Prizzia, 
• and Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler 

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A.

Approval of Agenda

Chair Prizzia called the meeting to order at 1:30pm

Commissioner Alford moved approval of the agenda. 

2nd Commissioner Cornell

Chair Prizzia recognized Bobby Murmer, Coordinator of the Alachua County Labor Coalition who presented comments. 

The motion carried 5-0.

• To approve the Agenda. 

B.

Action Items

1.

Minimum Living Standards and Energy Efficiency Standards Alternatives Discussion - 23-00719

Assistant County Manager Missy Daniels presented the above item to the Board. 

Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Cornell, Betsy Waite Sustainability Manager with the SEEDS Office, Commissioner Cornell, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Alford, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Cornell, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Alford, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Cornell, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, Assistant County Manager Missy Daniels, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Cornell, Diana Johnson Senior Assistant County Attorney, and Chair Prizzia all presented comments. 

Commissioner Cornell moved to direct staff to evaluate a proactive education program considering dedicated minimum housing staffing needs and consider incorporating the idea of housing navigators and community partners as well as consider other statewide best practices and return with a 2025 budget proposal. 

2nd Commissioner Wheeler

Commissioner Wheeler, and Assistant County Manager Missy Daniels presented comments. 

Public Comment:

Chair Prizzia recognized Kali Blount, Bobby Murmer Coordinator of the Alachua County Labor Coalition, and Leah Cohen who presented comments. 

Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Cornell, Assistant County Manager Missy Daniels, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, Assistant County Attorney Corbin Hanson, Chair Prizzia, and Commissioner Cornell all presented comments. 

The motion carried 5-0.

• Direct staff to

2.

Farmworker Housing - 23-00715

Equity & Community Outreach Manager Diedre Houchen, Jeff Hays Director of Growth Management and Leah Cohen General Coordinator at Agricultural Justice Project (AJP) presented the above item. 

Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Wheeler, and Chair Prizzia all presented comments. 

Commissioner Chestnut exits meeting at 3:27pm

Commissioner Cornell exits meeting at 3:37pm

Commissioner Cornell returns to meeting at 3:39pm

 

Commissioner Wheeler moved to direct staff to continue to move forward with the community engagement. 

2nd Commissioner Cornell

 

Public Comment

Chair Prizzia recognized Robin Willie who presented comments.

 

The motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Chestnut not present. 

• Hear the Presentation and offer direction on next steps.

C.

Closing Comments

1.

Public Comment

Chair Prizzia recognized a citizen who presented comments. 

2.

Commission Comment

Commissioner Cornell stated The City of Gainesville and Childrens Trust recently had a joint meeting. The Childrens Trust has allocated half a million dollars to mentoring and safety. At the meeting Commissioner Cornell mentioned possibly having a joint meeting with the City and County to discuss if there are any available funds related to the gun violence initiative. The Childrens trust put together a request of about $204,000 that could possibly be split between the City and County to help with the gun violence initiative. 

Chair Prizzia stated she would like to have a workshop to discuss what has and has not worked in the Transportation Oriented Design (TOD), Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) and Growth Management process.

D.

Adjourn

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

• To adjourn the meeting.