Alachua County Special Meeting

Minutes

Monday, March 09, 2026 at 1:00 P.m. - 2:00 P.m.

Gainesville City Hall Auditorium

200 E University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601

Present:

• Commissioner Mary Alford, 
• Chair Ken Cornell, 
• Vice Chair Anna Prizzia, 
• and Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler 

Absent:

• Commissioner Charles S. Chestnut, IV 

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A.

Call To Order

Mayor Ward called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.

B.

Welcome

C.

Introduction

1.

Harvey Ward, Mayor, City of Gainesville

2.

Ken Cornell, Chair, Alachua County Commission

D.

Adoption of the Agenda

Chair Cornell requested that Item 1. Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area be moved to be heard last to accommodate the large public interest in the Literacy Update and the School Board Re-zoning items. 

Commissioner Alford moved adoption of the agenda as modified. The motion carried 4-0 with the Commissioner Chestnut absent.

2nd Commissioner Wheeler

Commissioner Prizzia moved approval of the December 10, 2025, Joint Meeting minutes. The motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Chestnut absent.

2nd Commissioner Alford

E.

Items For Discussion

1.

Literacy Action Plan Update - 26-00155

Center for Nonprofit Excellence Chief Organizational Strategist Dr. Theresa Beachy, Executive Director of Peak Literacy Leah Galione, and Dr. Laurie Gauger presented the above item.

City Commissioner Chestnut entered 1:12 p.m.

City Commissioner Willits entered at 1:20 pm

Commissioner Alford, Chair Cornell, Commissioner Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, Chair Cornell, City Commissioner Willits, City Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Commissioner Prizzia, Dr. Laurie Gauger, City Commissioner Book, City Commissioner Ingle, and Mayor Ward presented comments.

Citizen Comments:

Mayor Ward recognized Kali Blount who presented comments to the Board. 

2.

School Board Re-Zoning

Alachua County School District Superintendent Dr. Kamela Patton and School District Director of FTE/State Reporting Kim Neal presented the above item.

Chair Cornell requested the School District provide the data for homeschool and private school children. 

The current recommendation for school rezoning is as follows:

Recommended Site Closures

• Alachua Elementary
• Irby Elementary
• Foster Elementary
• Williams Elementary

Recommended to Remain Open

• Duval Early Learning Academy
• Rawlings Elementary

Recommended Significant Expansions

• Lincoln Middle School to K-8
• Mebane Middle School to K-8
• Oak View Middel School to K-8

District wide rezoning for elementary, middle, and high schools.

Mayor Ward, Commissioner Alford, Dr. Patton, Chair Cornell, Commissioner Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, City Commissioner Willits, Commissioner Prizzia, City Commissioner Duncan-Walker, City Commissioner Chestnut, Mayor Ward, and Chair Cornell presented comments. 

Public Comments:

Mayor Ward recognized Dayna Williams, Brian Ending, Tina Days, Ted Debracky, Kali Blount, Evelyn Fox, Pamela Hawkins, DeJeon Cain, Byron Harper, and Armondo Grundy-Gomes who presented comments. 

City Commissioner Book and Commissioner Prizzia presented comments. 

Commissioner Prizzia moved to direct County Staff to work with the School Board and provide any growth management information such as planning, zoning, safe streets, bicycle master plan, etc. and support that they need in this rezoning process and moving forward. The motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Chestnut absent. 

2nd Commissioner Wheeler 

City Commissioner Willits presented comments. 

3.

Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA) Update - 26-00188

City Commissioner Chestnut presented comments. 

GCRA Director Rick Smith presented the above item. 

Mayor Ward, Commissioner Prizzia, GTEC Manager Bill Dorman, GCRA Manager Mo Deel, Chair Cornell, City Commissioner Willits, City Commissioner Duncan-Walker, City Commissioner Eastman, Mayor Ward, City Commissioner Eastman, and Chair Cornell presented comments. 

F.

Public Comment

There was no one present who wished to address the Board.

G.

Commission General Comments and Information Discussion

1.

County Commission Comment

There were no comments offered.

2.

City Commission Comment

City Commissioner Willits stated that the city just tore down the old fire station in downtown on Main Street. He inquired if it is possible to make the empty lot available for parking and he thought perhaps the County maybe in need of parking.

County Manager Lieberman stated that the County has leased additional parking till such time as the parking garage on the courthouse plaza is completed. 

H.

Adjourn

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 7:22 p.m.