Alachua County Special Meeting

Minutes

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County Administration Building - Grace Knight Conference Room
12 SE 1 Street, 2nd Floor, Gainesville, FL 32601
Present:
  • Commissioner Mary Alford, 
  • Chair Ken Cornell, 
  • Vice Chair Anna Prizzia, 
  • and Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler 
Absent:
  • Commissioner Charles S. Chestnut, IV 

A.
Call To Order

 

The meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m.

City Mayor Harvey Ward, City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut, City Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker, City Commissioner Ed Book, and City Commissioner James Ingle were present.

B.
Welcome

 

C.
Introduction

 

1.
Harvey Ward, Mayor, City of Gainesville

 

Mayor Ward presented comments. 

2.
Ken Cornell, Chair, Alachua County Commission

 

Chair Cornell presented comments.

D.
Adoption of the Agenda

 

Commissioner Wheeler moved adoption of the agenda. The motion carried 3-0 with Commissioners Alford and Chestnut absent.

2nd Commissioner Prizzia

City Commissioner Duncan-Walker moved adoption of the agenda. The motion carried 5-0.

2nd City Commissioner Book

E.
Items For Discussion

 

1.
Cultural Arts Center Discussion

 

Interim City Manager Andrew Persons presented the above item. 

City Commissioners Casey Willits and Bryan Eastman entered at 1:03 p.m.

Commissioner Prizzia and City Mayor Ward presented comments. 

Commissioner Alford entered at 1:28 p.m.

City Commissioner Duncan-Walker, City Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department Roxy Gonzalez, City Cultural Affairs Manager Carol Velasques-Richardson, Chair Cornell, Commissioner Wheeler, Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Prizzia, Chair Cornell, Children's Trust of Alachua County Director Marsh Kiner, Commissioner Alford, City Commissioner Book, City Commissioner Willits, City Commissioner Ingle, and City Mayor Ward presented comments.

City Mayor Ward requested that staff provide the County Commission and staff with the last quarterly programing offered by the City of Gainesville. 

Chair Cornell recognized Kali Blount and a citizen presented comments. 

2.
Food Assistance Update and Food System Initiatives - 25-01021

This item has attachments. 
1.Alachua County Food Assistance Update and Food System Initiatives - 25-01021.pdf
2.ADA - Alachua FFPP Feasibility Study Market Research Report 1.pdf
3.ADA - 25-01021 - Food Assistance Update and Food System Initiatives - BOCC Joint Meeting 12.10.25.pdf

Commissioner Prizzia and Chair Cornell presented comments. 

Agricultural and Economic Development Coordinator Bailey McClellan presented the above item.

City Commissioner Chestnut, City Commissioner Willits, Children's Trust of Alachua County Director Marsh Kiner, Commissioner Alford, City Mayor Ward, Chair Cornell, and Commissioner Wheeler presented comments. 

City Commissioner Ingle exited at 3:17 p.m.

Chair Cornell recognized Kali Blount who presented comments to the Board. 

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

 

Grocery Store

Commissioner Prizzia stated that even though the efforts for a grocery store on the eastside have not been successful she would still like for the County and City to continue to work towards the goal. 

2.
City Commission Comment

 

Presentations

City Commissioner Book stated that food systems are not a topic that he has any expertise, but he found the presentation very educational and thanked the staff for the information. He requested that the City Manager share with the County the geographic map the city produced of stores and community gardens in the City of Gainesville. 

Fresh Food

City Commissioner Duncan-Walker stated that the city brought in Dr. Danzu who provided a wealth of information on the fresh food initiatives. She requested that the city provide the information to the County. 

Dedicated Position to Aggregate Information

City Commissioners Duncan-Walker, Commissioner Prizzia, and City Commissioner Chestnut discussed the possibility of having a dedicated position to provide information and the services to the public to promote gardening and agriculture within the County. 

TD McPherson Meeting

City Commissioner Duncan-Walker stated that tomorrow there will be a meeting at the TD McPherson Recreation Complex to discuss the building renovation and master plan. She encouraged all citizens to attend.

Food Waste Ordinance

City Commissioner Willits stated that the city has a food waste ordinance that requires multifamily facilities to provide for food waste to be collected and composted. There will need to be a way to bring this to everyone and not just those in apartments. 

Homeless Situation

Mayor Ward stated that he feels that with the changes in federal funding for housing it will increase the number of homeless citizens in this country, and all partners will need to work collaboratively to deal with this issue. The City of Gainesville and GRACE Marketplace will not be able to solve the issue. 

H.
Adjourn

 

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 4:14 p.m.

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