Infrastructure Surtax Citizen Oversight Board

Meeting #:

Date:

Monday, April 29, 2024

Time:

5:30 P.m. - 7:30 P.m.

Location:

County Administration Building - Grace Knight Conference Room

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

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1.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m..

Alachua County Members Present:  Jill Cunningham, Eric Drummond (Vice-Chair), Steve Howard, Jack Kulas, and Nancy Wilkinson (alternate)

City of Gainesville Members Present:  David Ruiz (Chair) and Makyla Mafi 

Incorporated Cities (not Gainesville) Members Present:  Ross Ambrose

Members Absent:   David Yorkowitz (alternate)

Staff Present:  Gina Peebles

Other Municipal Staff Present:  Betsy Waite

Outside Counsel:  Patrice Boyes

2.

Public Comment (3 Minutes)

None.

3.

Introduction of New Members

Makyla Mafi, Nancy Wilkinson, and Ross Ambrose introduced themselves and shared their interest in volunteering on the Oversight Board.  

4.

Election of Chair and Vice Chair

All votes of Mr. Kulas were provisional pending a legal opinion on his temporary residency within the City of Gainesville City limits.  Subsequently, staff located Ms. Boyes legal opinion from December 2022 that Alachua County appointees can reside anywhere within Alachua County; therefore, Mr. Kulas can continue to serve as an Alachua County member and his votes counted.

Jack Kulas made a motion for Eric Drummond to serve as Chair; Jill Cunningham seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

Steve Howard made a motion for Jill Cunningham to serve as Vice Chair; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

5.

Approval of the Agenda

Ross Ambrose made a motion to approve the agenda as presented; Jack Kulas second; unanimous approval; motion carried.

6.

Approval of Minutes

David Ruiz made a motion to approve the Feb. 26, 2024 minutes as presented; Jill Cunningham second; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.

Review of Quarterly Wild Spaces Public Places Municipal / County Expenditures for 1st Qtr. (Oct., Nov., Dec. 2023)

The consensus of the Oversight Board was to approve financial reports with no quarterly expenditures in one motion.  Ross Ambrose made a motion to approve the quarterly reports for Archer, Hawthorne, LaCrosse, Micanopy, and Waldo as presented; Steve Howard seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.1

Alachua County

The Oversight Board discussed whether option contract expenditures were surtax eligible if the property is ultimately not acquired; the consensus was that they are eligible as a part of due diligence.

Jack Kulas made a motion to approve the quarterly Alachua County report as presented; Ross Ambrose seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.2

Alachua

Ross Ambrose made a motion to approve the quarterly Alachua report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.3

Archer

7.4

Gainesville

Betsy Waite provided details on the stage improvements at Bo Diddley Plaza.  The Oversight Board discussed their personnel liabilities.  Ross Ambrose made a motion to approve the quarterly Gainesville report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.5

Hawthorne

7.6

High Springs

The Oversight Board discussed the reported pickleball ribbon cutting expenses as well as the insurance expense for the Canoe Outpost.  It was determined that insurance expenses are eligible as the Canoe Outpost was purchased with the Surtax, and State Statute permits operations and maintenance for qualifying counties (of which Alachua County qualifies).

Nancy Wilkinson made a motion to approve the quarterly High Springs report as presented, minus the pickleball ribbon cutting expenses of $117.15 and requested the City to justify how these expenses are surtax eligible; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried. 

7.7

LaCrosse

7.8

MIcanopy

7.9

Newberry

Steve Howard made a motion to table the City of Newberry's report and request more detail on their $2,125 Multipurpose Fields expense; David Ruiz seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.10

Waldo

8.

Review of Quarterly Infrastructure Municipal / County Expenditures for 1st Qtr. (Oct., Nov., Dec. 2023)

Ross Ambrose made a motion to approve the quarterly reports for Archer, Hawthorne, High Springs, and LaCrosse as presented; Makyla Mafi second; unanimous approval; motion carried.

8.1

Alachua County

The Oversight Board discussed the County's anticipated projects including the Housing Strategic Development Coordinator and road projects.  Ms. Boyes reported the County doesn't currently have inclusionary housing and is exploring a community land trust.  Ross Ambrose made a motion to approve the quarterly Alachua County report as presented; David Ruiz seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

8.2

Alachua

Jill Cunningham made a motion to approve the quarterly Alachua report as presented; Ross Ambrose seconded; motion carried with Jack Kulas in dissent.

8.3

Archer

8.4

Gainesville

The Oversight Board discussed the City of Gainesville's proposed Fire Station and Hurricane Hardened Building program projects.  Ross Ambrose made a motion to approve the quarterly Gainesville report as presented; David Ruiz seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

8.5

Hawthorne

8.6

High Springs

8.7

LaCrosse

8.8

Micanopy

Jill Cunningham made a motion to approve the quarterly Micanopy report as presented; Ross Ambrose seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

8.9

Newberry

The City of Newberry is renovating their Historic Power Plant (partially as a museum) with the surtax used to match their Department of State grant.  David Ruiz made a motion to approve the quarterly Newberry report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

8.10

Waldo

Jill Cunningham made a motion to approve the quarterly Waldo report as presented; David Ruiz seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

9.

Other Business

At the Feb. 26, 2024 meeting, the Oversight Board voted unanimously to ask Outside Counsel, Patrice Boyes, to “research the definition of infrastructure for a public space vs. construction of a public facility and provide background for the Board to discuss” in response to the City of Alachua’s and Town of Micanopy’s upcoming projects proposed to be funded via their Infrastructure surtax.  The attached memo was discussed by Ms. Boyes which reveals that 100% of the surtax proceeds can be spent on parks and recreation-type facilities, but no more than 50% can be spent on infrastructure like roads, fire stations, etc.  

10.

Public Comment (3 Minutes)

None.

11.

Attendance Report

12.

Date/Time/Location of Next Meeting

The Oversight Board will next meet on July 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the Grace Knight Conference Room.

13.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.