Alachua County Special Meeting

Minutes

Tuesday, August 05, 2025 at 1:30 P.m. - 2:30 P.m.

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 

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A.

Approval of Agenda

Commissioner Alford moved adoption of the agenda. The motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Prizzia out of the room. 

2nd Commissioner Wheeler

B.

Items for Discussion

1.

Advisory Board Discussion, 25-00559

Assistant County Manager Gina Peebles presented the above item.

Commissioner Prizzia entered at 1:37 pm

The following revisions were discussed by the Board:

• County employees to sit on County advisory boards and committees only if a seat is designated in the corresponding resolution. 
• The County Manager to excuse an absence due to an extenuating circumstance.
• Remote participation for extraordinary circumstances.  
• Communication with volunteers to discuss attendance prior to removal from the Board for attendance policy violation. 
• Develop a policy to have one open public comment period at the beginning of the meeting and then at the discretion of the Chair.
• Develop a mechanism for citizens to file a complaint with the Advisory Boards so the public concerns are addressed.
• Develop a training program for the Chairs of Advisory Boards providing expectations for public interaction. 

County Manager Lieberman presented comments. 

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

Commissioner Cornell moved to adopt the attached Resolutions implementing the changes. Motion was withdrawn.

2nd Commissioner Prizzia

Chair Chestnut recognized Kathleen Rupert who presented comments. 

County Attorney Torres, Commissioner Prizzia, Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Cornell, and County Manager Lieberman presented comments. 

By consensus, the Board directed staff to develop policies taking the Board comments into consideration and place them on the agenda in the future for approval.

• Approve proposed changes to Resolution 25-xx and authorize the Chair and Clerk to Sign.

C.

Closing Comments

1.

Public Comment

Chair Chestnut recognized Kathleen Rupert, Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Prizzia, and Commissioner Cornell who presented comments. 

2.

Commission Comment

Advisory Boards Policies

Commissioner Alford stated that she would like to see a clear and formal way for the public to communicate, file a complaint, or raise a concern to an Advisory Board. 

County Manager Lieberman stated that she will work with staff to develop a link on each Advisory Board website to communicate to the Board as a whole as well as the Staff Liaison. 

Commissioner Prizzia would also like a consistent process for how the liaisons handle dealing with their Board Members to get the agenda, backup materials, and minutes. Commissioner Alford stated that she would also like to see citizens be able to be on the mailing list so that they can keep informed on the workings of the Board. 

Commissioner Cornell stated that the changes could be put Under #4 on the resolutions. 

World Masters Event Award

Commissioner Wheeler stated that she has seen that the World Masters Event hosted by the County is nominated for an award. She is under the impression that you have to vote on it and would like to do what we can to encourage people to vote in support of the nomination. 

Farmer's Market Survey and Related Issues

Commissioner Wheeler also stated that there is a survey going around regarding the Farmer's Market she was not sure who was putting the survey out. 

Commissioner Prizzia stated that the County consultant has put the survey out. It seems to be confused with the Food Hub initiative that the County is pursuing. They are two separate projects with some similar goals. 

The Board discussed the Double Your Snap Bucks Program at the Farmer's Market and its cancellation. 

The Board discussed possible cuts to the SNAP Program in the State of Florida. They also discussed two bills in the Federal Government which were the Strengthening Local Food Security Act in the Senate and The Local Farms Feeding Our Communities Act in the House. 

Commissioner Prizzia moved that the Board support the Strengthening Local Food Security Act, Local Farms Feeding Our Communities Act, and the Farm 2 Act and send it to the Federal Lobbyist. The motion carried 5-0.

2nd Commissioner Alford 

D.

Adjourn

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 2:44 p.m.