Title
Presentation by Alachua County Commissioner Rodney Long on Entrepreneurial Charter School Initiative (B)
This item, to be presented by Alachua County Commissioner Rodney Long, is a follow-up to the City Commission's review of the Interlocal Agreement regarding the Academy of Business Ownership on January 22, 2007 and presentaitonn by Alachua County Commissoner Long on April 7, 2007
Explanation
On January 22, 2007, the City Commission reviewed an Interlocal Agreement designed to institutionalize the relationship between Alachua County, the City of Gainesville and the Alachua School Board regarding implementation of the Academy of Business Ownership. The City's proposed responsibilities under the Interlocal Agreement are to provide partial funding of mentoring services associated with the Academy of Business Ownership program and partial funding for a future business loan fund for graduates of the Entrepreneurial Charter School.
Following review of the matter by the City Commission, three general questions remained (see communication of said questions to Alachua County staff in back-up) unclear and the Commission asked that these questions be clarified prior to moving forward on the Interlocal Agreement. These questions are:
· Whether future Entrepreneurial Economic Development Trust Fund dollars will be made available only to City residents;
· What the specific mechanism is by which the Entrepreneurial Economic Development Trust Fund will be administered to future applicants;
· What the nexus is between the Academy of Business Ownership and the Entrepreneurial Charter School in administration of the Entrepreneurial Economic Development Trust Fund dollars and the future management relationship between the Alachua County School Board, Alachua County, the City of Gainesville and the Entrepreneurial Charter School Board
The City Commission did approve the transfer of $11,075 to Alachua County to secure mentoring services for the students presently enrolled in the Academy of Business Ownership. This transfer of funds has occurred as of mid-April.
Subsequent to the January 22, 2007 meeting, Alachua County Commissioner Long produced a written response to City Commission questions as well as those emanating from Alachua County and the Alachua County School Board. Alachua County Commissioner Long asked that he be given an opportunity to address the City Commission on his response and to share the current status of the program. Alachua County Commissioner Long's April 9, 2007 presentation to the City Commission was continued due to time constraints.
Fiscal Note
The City's contribution of $11,075 from the City Commission to Alachua County for mentoring services has been processed. These funds had been previously transferred from the Commission contingency into the Economic Development Fund. Funds ($50,000) associated with the proposed Entrepreneurial Economic Development Trust Fund are being retained in the Economic Development Fund and future disbursements await approval of an Interlocal Agreement and development of the appropriate business assistance funding mechanism.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) continue a presentation by Alachua County Commissioner Long on the status of the Entrepreneurial Charter School; and 2) adopt the Interlocal Agreement with requirement that business assistance funding mechanism be drafted by staff and reviewed by the City Commission at a future date.
Alternative Recommendation #1:
The City Commission: 1) continue a presentation by Alachua County Commissioner Long on the status of the Entrepreneurial Charter School; and 2) direct staff to amend the Interlocal Agreement to define the business assistance funding mechanism and bring back the amended Interlocal Agreement for review by the City Commission at a future date.
Alterative Recommendation #2:
The City Commission: 1) continue a presentation by Alachua County Commissioner Long on the status of the Entrepreneurial Charter School; and 2) deny the Interlocal Agreement.