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 

Vice Chair Cornell called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

Commissioner Prizzia moved adoption of the agenda with the following amendments of moving Item #3 Gun Violence Update and Item #4 Comprehensive Literacy Needs Assessment Report and Recommendations Overview to be heard before items #1 and #2. The motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Chestnut absent. 

2nd Commissioner Alford

CTAC Clerk Bailey called the roll for CTAC Members

Present: Member Lee Pinkoson, Member Tina Certain, Member Dr. Mary Chance, Member Dr. Kamela Patton, Member Cheryl Twombly via ZOOM, Chair Ken Cornell

Absent: Member Dr. Maggie Labarta, Member Dr. Nancy Hart, Member Hon. Susanne Willson Bullard

CTAC Member Pinkoson moved adoption of the agenda with the following amendments of moving Item #3 Gun Violence Update and Item #4 Comprehensive Literacy Needs Assessment Report and Recommendations Overview to be heard before items #1 and #2. The motion carried 6-0. 

2nd Member Certain

CTAC Executive Director Marsha Kiner and Gainesville Gun Violence Intervention Program Manager Brittanny Coleman presented the above item.

Ms. Coleman stated that the steering committee is currently onboarding 4 members the goal is to have 10 members. She advised that the model is to have a city youth steering committee, and the County will have its own steering committee. 

Commissioner Wheeler, Commissioner Prizzia, and CTAC Member Certain presented comments. 

Chair Cornell recognized Carla Lewis, Kali Blount, and Jarell Whitehead who presented comments. 

Director & Research Scientist UF Lastinger Institute Tyran Butler, Assistant Director UF Lastinger Institute Pam Chalfant, and UF College of Education Mary Bratsch-Hines presented the above item. 

The following three recommendations come from the Assessment Report:

  • Enhanced Awareness and Communication
  • Focused Support
  • Expanded Professional Learning

Commissioner Cornell, Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Wheeler, Commissioner Prizzia, CTAC Member Patton, CTAC Member Certain, and CTAC Member Pinkoson presented comments.  

Commissioner Prizzia moved the following:

1. The County Commission earmark a budget of at least $250,000 this year from the County to partner with the Children's Trust and the Non-Profit Center for Excellence to work with key literacy organizations, stakeholders in the community, and the School Board to develop a plan for implementation and evaluation of this reform based on recommendations in this needs assessment. Bring back to the Board within 90 days what a map of that plan is and a formal budget by the end of the budget cycle so that if there is more money needed or if there is other funding needed, we can allocate it before the end of the budget cycle.

2. Write a letter to the School Board asking them to adopt the needs assessment and recommendations in this report. 

Vice Chair Cornell recognized Carla Lewis, Kali Blount, and Aces in Motion Representative Ann, Anna Hyman, Sunshine Moss, Leah Galione, Taylor Gilfillan, and Carrie Parker Warren who presented comments. 

The motion carried 4-0 with Chair Chestnut absent.

CTAC Member Chance exited at 5:55 p.m.

CTAC Director of Program Operations Belita T. James presented the above item and Item #4 Community Foundation Capacity Building in one presentation. 

Ms. James stated that CTAC is working to build capacity within the existing community centers by identifying areas of need such as invoicing or other functions and then connecting them with the assistance they need. 

Commissioner Cornell, Commissioner Prizzia, and CTAC Chief Operating Officer Christy Goldwater presented comments.

Vice Chair Cornell recognized Bishop Stokes, Stacey Merit, Theresa Beachy, Micanopy Mayor Williams, Sara Samario, Ann, Sunshine Moss, City Commissioner Duncan-Walker, and Iris Bailey who presented comments.  

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

Commissioner Wheeler stated she would like the list of young people from Mr Whitehead so that maybe efforts could be made to pair them up with sponsors.

Commissioner Alford stated that a survey went out regarding the need for 24-hour day care. She encouraged all those who receive the survey to take the time to fill it out.

Commissioner Prizzia thanked her fellow Commissioners for their support in these efforts. 

Commissioner Cornell stated that he just remembered the unanimous support the concept of creating the Children's Trust received from local leaders and then seeing the turnout for today's meeting just shows the commitment to the children of Alachua County. 

CTAC Member Patton thanked the Board for hosting the meeting.

CTAC Member Certain thanked the County for hosting the meeting and being concerned about an issue that is not really under your responsibilities. The Board has been willing to invested time, effort and resources to help the children of Alachua County.

CTAC Member Pinkoson thanked the Board for the funding and the efforts that are being made to invest in the families in Alachua County.

CTAC Member Twombly thanked everyone for the opportunities to collaborate to solve the issues of the community. 

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 6:29 p.m.