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

A.
Approval of Agenda

 

Vice Chair Chestnut Called the meeting to order at 1:37pm

 

Commissioner Prizzia moved to approve the agenda. 

2nd Commissioner Cornell

The motion carried 4-0 with Chair Alford not present. 

 

Commissioner Wheeler moved to allow Chair Alford to participate via zoom under extraordinary circumstances due to illness.

2nd Commissioner Cornell

The motion carried 5-0.

  • To approve the Agenda. 

B.
Items for Discussion

 

1.
Agricultural Land Protection Strategy - Development Update - 24-00500

 

Land Conservation Program Manager Andi Christman presented an update on the above item to the Board. 

 

Owners or residents would need to nominate the property for review and the entire process will require owner cooperation. 

 

Land Acquisition Process

Property Nomination (Anyone) - Property Evaluation (Staff & willing Landowner) - LCB Review (Citizen Board) - Eligibility Pool (Citizen Board) - Priority Pool (Citizen Board) - Active Acquisition List (BOCC) - Appraisal and Negotiations (Staff)- Contract Approval (BOCC) - Due Diligence (Staff) - Closing (Staff & Willing Landowner)

 

The County Attorney's Office has determined that acquisition of conservation easements is an allowable use of Local Government Infrastructure Surtax funds, as conducted in accordance with FL Statue 704.06

The following requirements are established:

- Easements are perpetual

- Allows for continuation of current or historic agricultural uses

- Activities must be in accordance with BMPs

 

Commissioner Cornell, Commissioner Prizzia, Chair Alford, Commissioner Wheeler, Commissioner Cornell, Assistant County Attorney Dave Forziano, Commissioner Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, Commissioner Cornell, Chair Alford, Commissioner Chestnut, Land Conservation Program Manager Andi Christman and Chair Alford presented comments. 

 

The county has 1,712 farms with 197,906 acres of agricultural land. 

 

Commissioner Cornell exits the meeting at 3:26pm

Commissioner Cornell returns to the meeting 3:27pm

 

Public Comment

Commissioner Chestnut recognized a citizen, Patricia Lee, Wesley Hucker, Shiya, Patricia R, Lany H, and Evan who all presented comments.  

  • Hear presentation (Exhibit 1)

2.
CareerSource Consolidation Interlocal Agreement Discussion - 24-00526

 

Assistant County Manager Tommy Crosby presented the above item. 

 

The interlocal agreement will create a six-person Council to oversee the new CareerSource territory, with each county appointing a commissioner to serve on the Council. Each member of the council may appoint another county commissioner to serve as his or her alternate if the member is unable to attend the meeting. The agreement will require all six members to create a quorum and vote during the meetings. Everything has to be unanimous. 

Assistant County Manager Tommy Crosby recommends adding in language that if a county designee fails to appear for two meetings, then that member is suspended, and the rest of the Board may take votes and continue with the meeting. 

 

Commissioner Cornell moved staff recommendations for the draft interlocal with the changes recommended by Assistant County Manager Tommy Crosby. 

2nd Commissioner Wheeler 

 

Commissioner Wheeler, Assistant County Manager Tommy Crosby, Assistant County Attorney Dave Forziano, Commissioner Chestnut, and Chair Alford presented comments. 

 

The motion carried 5-0.

  • Discuss CareerSource consolidation Interlocal Agreement recommendations and provide direction to staff.

C.
Closing Comments

 

1.
Public Comment

 

Commissioner Chestnut recognized Patricia Lee who presented comments. 

2.
Commission Comment

 

Commissioner Prizzia moved that the Board write a letter of support to the office of justice programs for Cure Violence Global grant application. 

2nd Commissioner Wheeler

The motion carried 5-0. 

D.
Adjourn

 

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.

  • To adjourn the meeting. 

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