Title
Proposed Modifications to the Alachua County Boundary Adjustment Act (B)
The Countywide Visioning and Planning Committee (CVPC) has created a task force for modifying the Alachua County Boundary Adjustment Act (BAA). City staff has reviewed the BAA, and is proposing limited modifications.
Explanation
On January 24, 2008, the newly re-instituted Countywide Visioning and Planning Committee held its first meeting with Commissioners Craig Lowe and Scherwin Henry serving as Gainesville's representatives on the Committee. The CVPC is chaired by County Commission Chairman Rodney Long.
In the effort to collectively look at the BAA, each municipality in Alachua County was asked to provide a letter to Chairman Long with their position on potential changes to or elimination of the BAA. The City Commission discussed this issue at the regular February 25, 2008 City Commission meeting.
At the March 6, 2008 CVPC meeting, each municipal representative on the CVPC presented their particular municipality's position on the BAA and provided the Committee with comments. Based on the input received from the City representatives, the overall consensus was to keep the BAA and provide modifications. Chairman Long appointed a task force consisting of five individuals (two city representatives in favor of the BAA, two representatives against the BAA, and one neutral member) to work on possible modifications to the BAA. The following CVPC members were appointed by Chairman Long to the task force: Jean Calderwood (Chair/City of Alachua), John Glanzer (Newberry), Jim Gabriel (High Springs), Craig Lowe (Gainesville), and Kit Randall (Hawthorne).
The Task Force has scheduled a series of meetings in April with the intent of bringing back their BAA modifications and recommendations to the CVPC during the first week of May.
The current plan for modification of the BAA includes a request from Representative Debbie Boyd that each city have a town hall meeting regarding the modification of the BAA. The information would then be presented to the legislative delegation for consideration in the fall session.
Staff has done a side-by-side comparison of Chapter 171 of the Florida State Statutes, which governs annexation activity in other counties throughout the state, and the Boundary Adjustment Act. In addition, staff has analyzed current annexation procedures in the BAA for potential improvements.
Fiscal Note
None at this time
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a report from staff on possible changes to the BAA, and 2) discuss any other possible changes to the BAA, and 3) approve the Commission's position on possible recommended changes to the BAA that can be conveyed to the CVPC Task Force.
Alternative Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a report from staff on possible changes to the BAA, and 2) discuss any other possible changes to the BAA, and 3) not endorse changes to BAA.