Infrastructure Surtax Citizen Oversight Board

Meeting #:

Date:

Monday, January 22, 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 5:36 p.m.

Alachua County Members Present:  Eric Drummond (Vice-Chair) and Jack Kulas

City of Gainesville Members Present:  David Ruiz (Chair)

Incorporated Cities (not Gainesville) Members Present:  N/A

Members Absent:   Jill Cunningham and Steve Howard

Staff Present:  Gina Peebles

Other Municipal Staff Present:  Kelly Gillen, Roxy Gonzalez, Leslie Ladendorf, Brian Singleton, and Betsy Waite

Outside Counsel:  Patrice Boyes

6.

Review of Quarterly Wild Spaces Public Places Municipal / County Expenditures for 4th Qtr. (Jul, Aug, Sep, 2023)

6.9

Newberry

Staff reached out to the City of Newberry multiple times for their quarterly report, and did not receive it as of the start of this meeting.  Eric Drummond made a motion to send a strongly worded letter to the City Commission advising them that their quarterly report is past due and, per the ballot language approved by voters, citizen oversight of their expenditures is required for transparency, authorizing the ISOB Chair to sign; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

2.

Welcome & Introduction - Jack Kulas

Jack Kulas was welcomed and introduced himself.  

3.

Approval of the Agenda

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

4.

Approval of Oct. 23, 2023 Minutes

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the Oct. 23, 2023 minutes as presented; Jack Kulas second; unanimous approval; motion carried.

5.

Review of QuarterlyWild Spaces Public Places Municipal / County Expenditures for 3rd Qtr. (Apr.,May, Jun. 2023)

5.1

High Springs

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly High Springs report, now that all outstanding Board questions have been answered satisfactorily; Jack Kulas second; unanimous approval; motion carried.

6.

Review of Quarterly Wild Spaces Public Places Municipal / County Expenditures for 4th Qtr. (Jul, Aug, Sep, 2023)

6.1

Alachua County

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

6.2

Alachua

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

6.3

Archer

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly Archer report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

6.4

Gainesville

The Board discussed the City's expenditure for an adjustable tee system for the driving range and their quarterly administration costs (including payroll, benefits, and workers comp for five staff).  Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly Gainesville report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

6.5

Hawthorne

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly Hawthorne report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

6.6

High Springs

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly High Springs report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

6.7

LaCrosse

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly LaCrosse report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

6.8

MIcanopy

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly Micanopy report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

6.10

Waldo

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly Waldo report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.

Review of Quarterly Infrastructure Municipal / County Expenditures for 4th Qtr. (Jul, Aug, Sep, 2023)

7.1

Alachua County

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

7.2

Alachua

The Oversight Board requested clarification on the City's intended Sr. Center project and their justification for how that is an infrastructure, rather than a WSPP, project.  Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly Alachua report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.3

Archer

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly Archer report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.4

Gainesville

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly Gainesville report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.5

Hawthorne

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly Hawthorne report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.6

High Springs

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly High Springs report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.7

LaCrosse

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly LaCrosse report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.8

Micanopy

The Oversight Board requested clarification on the City's intended Thrasher Museum project and their justification for how that is an infrastructure, rather than a WSPP, project.  Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly Micanopy report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.9

Newberry

Staff reached out to the City of Newberry multiple times for their quarterly report, and did not receive it as of the start of this meeting.  Eric Drummond made a motion to include the Infrastructure report as part of the strongly worded letter to the City Commission advising them that their quarterly report is past due and, per the ballot language approved by voters, citizen oversight of their expenditures is required for transparency, authorizing the ISOB Chair to sign; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

7.10

Waldo

Eric Drummond made a motion to approve the quarterly Waldo report as presented; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

8.

Other Business - Thomas Center Renovations Pre-Expenditure Review

The City of Gainesville requested a pre-expenditure review of proposed historic Thomas Center building renovations.  The 22,000 sf building offers both a museum and event space.  The most immediate need is the tile roof over the art gallery.  Eric Drummond made a motion that the sectional roof partial replacement of the Thomas Center over the East Art Gallery is an approved use for WSPP funding; Jack Kulas seconded; unanimous approval; motion carried.

9.

Public Comment

None.

10.

Date/Time/Location of Next Meeting

The consensus of the Oversight Board was to meet on Feb. 26 to review the City of Newberry's 4th quarter expenditure reports, as well as the City of Alachua and Town of Micanopy's clarification on their proposed projects and Apr. 29 for the 1st quarter (Oct., Nov., Dec. 2023) expenditure reports.

11.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:19 p.m.