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 b...
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