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

Chair Chestnut called the meeting to order at 11:03am

Commissioner Cornell moved approval of the agenda. 

2nd Commissioner Wheeler

The motion carried 5-0.

 

  • To approve the Agenda. 

Assistant County Manager Tommy Crosby gave a brief overview of what will be presented regarding the above item. Alachua County Budget Manager Maureen Rischitelli gave a presentation.

 

Commissioner Cornell, Gina Peebles Assistant County Manager Chief of Staff, Commissioner Prizzia, ASO representative, County Manager Lieberman, Commissioner Wheeler, Commissioner Alford, ASO representative, Commissioner Prizzia, Commissioner Cornell, Commissioner Alford, Julie Johnson Director for Animal Resources, County Manager Lieberman, Commissioner Cornell, ASO representative, Commissioner Alford, Julie Johnson Director for Animal Resources, County Manager Lieberman, and Commissioner Cornell presented comments. 

 

Commissioner Cornell moved to direct staff to move forward with sheriff proposal and work on bringing back a discussion to the Board on the issues discussed regarding  how things would operate. 

2nd Commissioner 

The motion carried 4-1 with Commissioner Wheeler voting "Nay"

 

Public Comment

Tamara Robbins

 

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

 

Assistant County Manager Tommy Crosby presented the Proposed Budget to the Board.

 

• Recommendation to reduce General County Millage Rate from 7.6180 Mils to 7.6000 Mils.

• Recommendation for MSTU-Law Enforcement Millage Rate to remain at 3.5678 Mils.

• Total County Manager Budget $944,325,780

• General Fund: Final Property Valuation: $25,306,534,348 which is 6.85% increase over last year’s valuation

• MSTU Law Enforcement: Final Property Valuation: $10,321,903,874 which is 7.2% increase over last year’s valuation

• Law Enforcement is funded 54% MSTU-LE & 46% General Fund

 

Set Assessments

• Fire Assessment

Tier 1 $132.47 per parcel

Tier 2  $7.28 per Equivalent Benefit Unit (EBU).

• Sugarfoot Assessment

Remains the same at $10.00 per month per household.

• Hospital Assessment

Presented FY25 Estimate

• Stormwater Assessment

Remains the same $60.00 per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU).

• Solid Waste Assessments

Tipping Fee remains the same at $65.00 per ton.

Residential and commercial rates remain the same.

 

County Wide Proposed Budget Information Revenues

• REVENUES =$944,325,780

• Taxes: $285,784,210

• Permits, Fees & Assessments: $42,282,629

• Intergovernmental Revenue: $61,292,410

• Charges for Service: $99,746,373

• Judgments, Fines: $412,700

• Misc. Revenue: $22,784,065

• Other Sources: $433,023,393

 

County Wide Proposed Budget Information Expenses

• EXPENSES =$944,325,780

• Personal Services: $132,499,229

• Operating: $198,404,238

• Capital Outlay: $265,028,549

• Debt Service: $12,963,141

• Grants & Aid: $40,393,567

• Other Uses: $295,037,056

 

Growth Management

  • Revenues: $4,676,092
  • Expenses: $7,261,095
  • Budget Requests: $0

 

Code Administration

  • Revenues: $96,500
  • Expenses: $1,058,408
  • Budget Requests: $0

Community Support Services

  • Revenues:$34,238,590
  • Expenses:$63,741,783
  • Budget Requests: $0

Solid Waste & Resource Recovery

  • Revenues: $40,368,460
  • Expenses: $32,467,531
  • Budget Requests: $300,000 Land Preparation for Disaster Debris Site at NE Landfill

Public Works

  • Revenues: $88,505,409
  • Expenses: $118,136,246
  • Budget Requests: $1,126,813*
  • * PW selection may adjust based upon final Dept. of Revenue estimates related to gas tax
  • $113,384 Scanning Project; $20,700 Pavement marking Retroflect meter; $489,191 Trucks, Trailers Excavators; Fleet $503,538 Forklift, Drive On Lift, Corner Lift and Vehicle 

Court Services

  • Revenues: $287,200
  • Expenses: $13,956,224
  • Budget Requests: $0

Human Resources

  • Revenues: $0
  • Expenses: $2,093,380
  • Budget Requests: $0

Equal Opportunity

  • Revenues: $0
  • Expenses: $827,967
  • Budget Requests:$0

Community & Administrative Services

– UF/IFAS/AG Extension

– Visit Gainesville/Tourism

– Economic Development

  • Revenues: $23,619,392
  • Expenses: $20,044,420
  • Budget Requests: $7,667 reclassification for UF/IFAS due to Retirement

Animal Resources

  • Revenues: $434,720
  • Expenses: $5,846,006
  • Budget Requests: $56,000
  • $31,000 Salary adjustments and $25,000 Consultant Vet and Shelter Assessment

Information & Telecommunication Services

  • Revenues: $328,000
  • Expenses:$9,690,367
  • Budget Requests: $0

Parks & Open Space

  • Revenues: $1,849,758
  • Expenses:$13,506,372
  • Budget Requests: $149,500
  • $9,500 Reclassifications; $80,000 Jonesville Tennis Building Repairs; $60,000 Progator Sports Turf Spray Unit

 

Commissioner Prizzia, County Manager Lieberman, Commissioner Cornell, Public Works Director Ramon Gavarrete, Commissioner Prizzia, Julie Johnson,  and Commissioner Alford all presented comments. 

 

Commissioner Cornell exits meeting at 11:59am

Commissioner Cornell returns to the meeting at 12:04pm

 

Commissioner Wheeler exits the meeting at 12:21pm

Commissioner Wheeler returns to the meeting at 12:23pm

  • Provide direction to staff for any adjustment to the County Manager’s budget or proposed millage rates.

Commissioner Prizzia, and Director of Community Support Services Claudia Tuck presented comments. 

 

Commissioner Cornell moved staff recommendations to approve the change orders to allow the necessary additional work to proceed at both locations. Approve the budget amendment and approval for the County Manager or her designee to sign all related documents. 

2nd Commissioner Prizzia 

The motion carried 5-0.

 

 

 

  • Approve the change orders to allow the necessary additional work to proceed at both locations. Approve the budget amendment and approval for the County Manager or her designee to sign all related documents.

Chair Chestnut recognized Mark Vansburg who presented comments. 

Commissioner Wheeler inquired about if the foster grandparent program was gone or not.

Claudia Tuck stated at this time they are not sure of the answer on if the program is gone or not. What she can report is that the corporation for national services has reduced staffing to three individuals nationwide and that takes in Americorp, rsvp, and all volunteer programs. Indications are that the program could be discontinued. There has all been a significant decrease in the ability to enroll volunteers. Ms. Tuck states they have been working with the current staff and all of them have been placed within the department in other positions. Currently they are working halftime in the foster grandparent position and half in their new position. The county did get a cost extension that will last through September 30th. 

 

Commissioner Cornell stated he was able to see the FAC draft for innovation day and he thinks it is really good. 

Commissioner Cornell stated he received a request to have the Gainesville City staff talk with him about GCRA.

County Manager Lieberman stated the City is asking to meet with each  County Commissioner to discuss the GCRA and if interested they will get with Executive Manager Latoya to have the meetings coordinated before the next joint meeting.

 

Commissioner Prizzia would like to refer to staff to look into hourly basis rental for the Veterans Park facility buildings and others vs the current daily rates including cleanup fees. 

Commissioner Prizzia requested a report on the impact to the communities on the federal changes for programs such as Snap, Medicaid FEMA and others. 

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 1:12p.m.

  • To adjourn the meeting. 

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