Title
Infrastructure Funding Outside of Community Redevelopment Agency Areas (B)
This item requests the City Commission to refer the issue of Infrastructure and Redevelopment Funding Outside of Community Redevelopment Agency Areas to the General Policy Committee for Discussion; and to consider the Northwest Urban Core Area as a “Pilot Program” for future infrastructure projects.
Explanation
On August 6, 2015, the City Commission considered creating a new Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Area in Northwest Gainesville. At that time, the City Commission voted 7-0 to not create a new CRA Area. On December 17, 2015, the Commission instructed staff to gather additional public input regarding the infrastructure needs of the area.
In addition to reviewing the public comments from several previous infrastructure projects, staff used two information gathering tools-they conducted an Open House in the area and they developed an informational webpage and survey.
The Open House was held on Wednesday, March 15, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at Stephen Foster Elementary School. The Open House provided an opportunity for citizens to speak directly with staff from the City’s Departments of Public Works; Doing (Planning); and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, along with Gainesville Regional Utilities. Each of those departments staffed an informational table that provided relevant maps, plans and contacts. In addition, citizens had the opportunity to complete the survey, either online on mobile devices provided by the City, or on paper copies provided by the City.
The City used several methods to notify the public about the meeting. Those methods included sending postcards to all property owners within the study area, issuing a media release and sending emails to addresses gathered from several area projects. In all, 93 citizens attended the Open House.
Additionally, a total of 61 surveys were completed by respondents, with 44 identifying as a...
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