Title
Contribution to the Summer House Project (B)
Explanation
On February 14, 2000, the City Commission approved the revision of an earlier commitment to the North Florida Botanical Society, Inc. for construction of the Summer House at the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. The new agreement included an additional contribution by GRU of $15,000 to assist in the completion of this new facility. Since the location of the Summer House is outside the City limits, the City Commission requested that a clause be placed in the new agreement requiring future annexation of the property to the City when legally permissible. The North Florida Botanical Society, Inc. leases the land on which the Botanical Gardens are located from Alachua County. Alachua County objected to signing a three party agreement for the annexation of this property. In addition, Alachua County objected to the annexation requirement because the City did not have a standard policy for requiring annexation agreements from GRU customers receiving special benefits.
In order to address these two concerns expressed by Alachua County, the City Commission on November 13, 2000, approved a Consent to Incorporate Policy that requires all recipients of GRU discretionary benefits be treated the same relative to annexation. In order to eliminate the need for a three party annexation agreement, the City initiated annexation procedures for a parcel of City-owned property which made the County's property containing the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens contiguous to the City limits. Upon annexation of the City parcel, the County could simply annex its property without the need for an annexation agreement. The City's proposal was conveyed to the County on December 13, 2000. The County Manager responded on January 12, 2001, stating that he would support recommending the annexation of the County property pending review by the County's annexation team. This review process has been in process for more than a year.
...
Click here for full text