Title
Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) Major Issues (B)
The purpose of this item is to provide the proposed Major Issues for the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) on the 2000-2010 City of Gainesville Comprehensive Plan EAR to the City Commission, and to request a Letter of Understanding from the Florida Department of Community Affairs.
Explanation
Florida's local governments are required to evaluate their comprehensive plans once every seven to ten years, in accordance with a schedule established by the Florida Department of Community Affairs. The City of Gainesville's Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) on its comprehensive plan is required to be adopted by November 1, 2010. The EAR is the first step in updating a comprehensive plan. It is intended to: identify major issues for the community; review past actions of the local government in implementing the comprehensive plan since the last EAR; assess the degree to which plan objectives have been met; assess successes and shortcomings of the plan; identify how the plan should be changed; respond to changing conditions and trends affecting the community; respond to the need for new data; respond to changes in State of Florida requirements re: growth management and development; respond to changes in regional plans; and ensure effective intergovernmental coordination.
City planning staff began the EAR process with presentations on the draft EAR Public Presentation Plan to the City Plan Board and City Commission in December of 2008, and in January 2009 to the Plan Board. On April 24, 2009 at the Matheson Museum, the City of Gainesville and Historic Gainesville, Inc. sponsored a well-attended Celebration (of the City's federal designation as a Preserve America city in recognition of Gainesville's historic preservation programs) and Kick-off Event for the EAR. The City Commission held four Town Hall Meetings in May and June in order to receive public input on the EAR (and on the City's budget). Staff made presentations on the EAR to: the University Park Neighborhood Association's Board of Directors on June 2nd; Executive Committee of the Suwannee/St. Johns Group of the FL Chapter of the Sierra Club on June 11th; Builders Association of North Central FL on July 22nd; Alachua County Community Planning Group on August 4th; a combined meeting of Women for Wise Growth, Alachua Audubon Society, League of Women Voters of Alachua County, and the Sierra Club on September 22nd; and to the Chamber of Commerce on October 26th.
The City Plan Board held EAR workshops on March 4th, May 5th, June 29th, and August 19th. On August 28th, a voluntary scoping meeting (in accord with Sec. 163.3191(3), F.S.) was held at GTEC with various state and regional review agencies including DCA, adjacent local governments, and staff from general government and GRU. EAR Major Issues were discussed, data sources were identified, and advice was provided on the scope of review of the City's EAR.
At the October 22, 2009 City Plan Board meeting, planning staff explained that the 15 Major Issues that were presented in various venues in previous months had been consolidated into eight Major Issues. The Board accepted the Major Issues document dated October 15, 2009 and commended staff on the quality of the document. Staff then explained that the next step was to take the Major Issues document to the City Commission, and to subsequently send it to the State (FL Department of Community Affairs) with a request for a Letter of Understanding regarding the Major Issues for the EAR. DCA's Letter of Understanding will help avoid misunderstandings when DCA reviews the adopted EAR for sufficiency.
Fiscal Note
None
Recommendation
The City Commission endorse the Major Issues and direct staff to submit the Major Issues document to the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) with a request for a Letter of Understanding expressing DCA's agreement with the Major Issues.