Meeting #:

Date:

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Time:

2:30 P.m. - 4:00 P.m.

Location:

County Administration Building - Grace Knight Conference Room

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

Members Present

• Jeffrey Arnold, 
• Michael Carnevale, 
• Patricia Lee, 
• Linda James, 
• Rick Smith, 
• Tracey Todd, 
• Elliott Welker, 
• and Carrie Bush 

Members Absent

• Marlon Bruce, 
• Carolynn Nath Komanski, 
• Trenton Hightower, 
• and David Wisener 

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1.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 2:32 PM as a workshop due to a lack of quorum. At 2:45 PM, Linda James entered, giving the meeting quorum.

4.

Approval of Minutes

Jeffrey Arnold motioned to approve the January, February, and March meeting minutes. Michael Carnevale seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

5.

EDAC Recommendation of Ecoloop Business Applications

The Committee discussed the March question directed to Green Edge and Sunshine Organics if it was possible to have both businesses at the EcoLoop and have them be economically viable. Representatives of the businesses stated that they did not believe enough organic material was available to support the two businesses.

The Committee recognized that both businesses themselves were potentially viable. Sunshine Organics offered greater sustainability at fewer than preferred jobs per acre. Green Edge was more efficient in its use of land use and would provide more jobs than Sunshine Organics.

Jeffrey Arnold made a motion to support both applicants for the EcoLoop. Michael Carnevale seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

3.

Review of the Agenda

Jeffrey Arnold made a motion to approve the agenda. Michael Carnevale seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

6.

County Proposal to Reorganize for Economic Development

County Staff proposed consolidating county economic development services with tourism services. This combination of skills would create synergies between staff and position the County as a better co-convener and storyteller for economic development. This would make the County a better partner to the municipal, Chamber, and institutional partner groups. A presentation on this will be given to the Board on May 7, 1:30 PM. If the Board has no objections, the proposal will be integrated into the FY25 budget deliberations. The May 7 Board presentation will be emailed to the EDAC membership.

7.

Subcommittee Workshop Meetings for Municipality Engagement 

Staff informed the committee that it has been a challenge for the membership to attend the municipal engagement meetings that are part of the EDAC 2024 Work Plan. If committee members fail to attend these meetings, it counts against their attendance requirements and could cause them to be removed. It was proposed that Staff ask the County’s Legal Office if a subcommittee, rather than the full committee, could attend the municipal engagement meetings in a workshop format. That subcommittee would be composed of committee members committed to attending these meetings. All subcommittee meetings would be run to the same standard, the same as a regular committee meeting, but in a workshop format. Subcommittee meetings would be in addition to the regular committee meetings in the Grace Knight Conference Room.

8.

Members Comment

Patricia Lee expressed frustration with the Chamber for not bringing opportunity to East Gainesville and emphasized the need for solutions to bring businesses to the Eastside.

County Staff informed the Board that the City and County collectively committed approximately $111 million in industrial, commercial, and redevelopment projects on the Eastside. They also recognized that the Chamber is interested in a deeper engagement with the community to meet this challenge.

Rick Smith highlighted the challenges of developable sites on the Eastside and the specific investments by the GCRA being built.

9.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 3:54 PM.