Alachua County Special Meeting

Minutes

Tuesday, September 05, 2023 at 10:00 A.m. - 11:00 A.m.

County Administration Building - Grace Knight Conference Room

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

Present:

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

---

A.

Approval of Agenda

Commissioner Alford moved to approve the agenda.

2nd Commissioner Wheeler.

The motion carried 5-0.

• To approve the Agenda. 

B.

Items for Discussion

1.

Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Budget Development Departmental Review 4 - 23-00483

Assistant County Manager Tommy Crosby presented the above item to the Board. Reviewing the County millage rates and GRACE Marketplace.

Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Alford, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, Chair Prizzia, County Manager Lieberman, Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Cornell, Assistant County Manager Crosby, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Cornell, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Wheeler, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Cornell, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Cornell, and Chair Prizzia all presented comments.  

Commissioner Alford moved to approve the $350,000.00 one-time funding for the Street Outreach program directly to GRACE Marketplace for FY24 and for staff to come back to the Board with a plan for a countywide Street Outreach team built in collaboration with stakeholders.  

2nd Commissioner Wheeler

Chair Prizzia recognized John DeCarmine the executive Director of GRACE who presented comments.

The motion carried 4-1 with Commissioner Chestnut voting "Nay."

Commission Aide

Assistant County Manager Tommy Crosby presented back up information to the Board regarding commission aides use in other counties. 

 

Commissioner Alford, Assistant County Manager Crosby, County Attorney Torres, Commissioner Cornell, Commissioner Alford, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Cornell, County Manager Lieberman, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Wheeler, and Commissioner Alford all presented comments.

Commissioner Cornell moved to not move forward with Commission Aides.

2nd Commissioner Wheeler

 

Commissioner Chestnut, Chair Prizzia, Commissioner Cornell, Assistant County Manager Crosby, County Manager Lieberman, and Commissioner Alford all presented comments.

 

Commissioner Alford moved the following substitute motion:

To fund interns for those Commissioners that would want them and have the interns report to the County Attorney office. The interns would be part time hourly employees. 

2nd Commissioner Wheeler

 

Chair Prizzia recognized Evan Smith who presented comments. 

 

County Attorney Torres, Assistant County Manager Crosby, County Manager Lieberman, Commissioner Alford, County Attorney Torres, Chair Prizzia, and Commissioner Cornell all presented comments. 

 

Commissioner Alford moved the amended motion as follows:

Instead of Aides look to fund Interns for those Commissioners that would like to have them and have the Interns report to the Executive Manager. The Interns would be part time hourly employees. 

2nd Commissioner Wheeler

The motion carried 4-1 with Commissioner Cornell voting "Nay."

 

Fire FTEs

Assistant County Manager Tommy Crosby discussed the three FTEs for district Chiefs. 

 

Commissioner Cornell, Assistant County Manager Crosby, and Commissioner Cornell all presented comments. 

 

Commissioner Cornell moved to hire additional District Chiefs as recommended. 

2nd Commissioner Alford

 

Chair Prizzia  recognized James Clifford, local union management unit representative who presented comments. 

The motion carried 5-0.

• Provide final direction for the millage and budget to be advertised and presented at the Public Hearing on September 12, 2023

C.

Closing Comments

1.

Public Comment

Chair Prizzia recognized Mark Dake, and Sterling Grindle who presented comments. 

2.

Commission Comment

County Attorney Torres discussed the PACE funding matter with the Board. 

Commissioner Alford moved the following:

1. Grant authority to the County Attorney to file an intervention in the PACE funding matter and file any other actions needed to exert the County’s Home Rule authority in this matter.
2. The County Commission further makes the determination that there is an immediate danger to health, safety, and welfare. Also that the County’s Home Rule Authority is a significant legal right that will be impacted by this matter.

2nd Commissioner Cornell 

The motion carried 5-0.

 

Commissioner Wheeler stated that Poe Springs was not open over Labor Day weekend due to debris needing to be cleaned up from the hurricane. 

County Manager Lieberman stated it was a high-water issue rising above the stairs as to why the Springs did not open due to safety concerns. 

 

Commissioner Chestnut stated at the previous community remembrance project the plaque was discussed for the daughters of the confederacy. The Remembrance Project Committee voted to give the plaque back to them with no major issue. 

Commissioner Cornell thanked the staff for the EOC prep and would like to ask what the next steps are in regard to the City and Grace moving forward.

The Board agreed the Grace Contract will be discussed at a joint meeting with the city after the budget process is complete and transfer of Chair in November. 

D.

Adjourn

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 12:17 p.m.

• To adjourn the meeting.