April 24, 2024

These highlights will give residents a quick review of the commission meeting and provide video, agenda, and other useful links.

St. Francis House

The Alachua County Commission agreed Tuesday to move another step closer to purchasing the Sunrise Residence Inn owned by St. Francis House to help address the region’s homeless population.

Earlier this month, the commission asked staff to look into the possibility of purchasing the 35-unit Sunrise Residence Inn to prevent it from being turned into student housing by a private developer. St. Francis House initially explored the sale to alleviate the shelter’s financial struggles.

The commission agreed the complex is a vital component in the county’s ongoing efforts toward addressing homelessness, as it provides HUD vouchers for tenants in need.

As part of Tuesday’s motion, Alachua County will pay a non-refundable $150,000 to the shelter toward the $1.95 million sale. The county will owe St. Francis House another $150,000 if the property is not closed on within 90 days. 

The immediate funding will allow the shelter to reestablish providing meals and other services to residents in need. 

Sunrise Residence Inn is located along Southwest 14th Street in Gainesville, near two recently purchased motels the county is actively turning into housing units for the homeless population. Staff said they hope to partner with the local housing authority to manage all three properties.

Read the complete highlights for this meeting.

On Saturday, April 13, 2024 the Alachua County Commission celebrated the renaming and dedication of the Jill McGuire Lake Santa Fe Park (24500 NE SR 26, Melrose).

Watch a video about the dedication.

Jill McGuire was an environmental icon, a well-known and respected community leader, and longtime president of the Santa Fe Lake Dwellers Association. Jill fought to protect the natural environment and water resources throughout North Central Florida. In 2023, the County Commission unanimously voted to name the park the Jill McGuire Santa Fe Lake Park in recognition of Jill's decades of advocacy for protecting the Santa Fe Lakes, Swamp, and River. She loved the lake, used the park frequently, and lobbied for many of the improvements we enjoy today.

Alachua County's largest-ever solar panel installation is at the Community Support Services/Health Department building. The installation, completed in January 2024, will lower County energy bills by $70,000 annually. Those savings are placed in the Electronic Capital Improvements Projects (ECIP) fund, which will, in turn, be used to fund future solar panel installation projects.

Watch a short video about the project.

One would think it was almost planned for dozens of residents to be hunkered down in one of Alachua County’s safest buildings during a tornado watch to learn how officials respond to local emergencies.

But one thing you can’t control is Mother Nature.

Week two of Alachua County’s Citizen Academy kicked off Thursday at the Emergency Operations Center, at 1100 SE 27th St. in southeast Gainesville, where participants got an up-close look into public safety and how fire rescue, the sheriff’s office and others respond to emergencies and natural disasters.

The eight-week educational course, run by Alachua County Strategic Performance Manager Donna Bradbrook, partners with local constitutional officers, judicial officers, library district, school board and health department to give residents a unique opportunity to learn about various aspects of local government and the daily activities performed by some of the county’s top officials.

“Session 2, like all sessions, builds on what we learned the previous week and shows how taxpayer dollars are put to use with our first responders,” Bradbrook said. “I always enjoy coordinating with our county firefighters, paramedics and the sheriff’s office to take us outside of our classroom-style training and help us better understand their daily challenges in the field and for their willingness to answer an abundance of questions.”

Learn more about session two of the Alachua County Citizens Academy.

Dozens of Alachua County residents voluntarily went to criminal court Thursday for a crash course in the judicial system.

No, they weren’t in trouble.

They were part of Alachua County’s Citizen Academy, where participants were given the basic in-and-outs of how the courts operate from the area’s top elected legal minds.

The eight-week educational course, run by Alachua County Strategic Performance Manager Donna Bradbrook, partners with local constitutional officers, judicial officers, library district, school board and health department to give residents a unique opportunity to learn about various aspects of local government and the daily activities performed by some of the county’s top officials.

“I’ve learned things that I don’t know how else I would’ve found out about without doing some deep diving, things I didn’t previously have an interest in or thought about,” said academy participant Jack Kulas. “It broadens your horizons, and you appreciate the complexity of government.”

Read more about session three of the Alachua County Citizens Academy.

Arbor Day Celebration

The Alachua County Tree Planting Program, in cooperation with the University of Florida, will host an Arbor Day event on April 27, 2024 at 10 a.m. to plant 25 new street trees. The trees will be placed along Southwest Tower Road’s pedestrian path near the Eighth Avenue intersection. The public is invited to participate to celebrate, beautify and improve the Tower Road neighborhood. Parking is available at 7115 SW 8th Ave., Gainesville. 

Arbor Day is a holiday established over 150 years ago to encourage people to plant and celebrate trees. Trees help moderate temperatures and they help reduce noise pollution. They also help absorb water and air pollution. Trees reduce stress, calm traffic and make neighborhoods safer. Most importantly, trees transform communities and help neighbors feel connected.  

“We’ve been planting trees together with volunteers in communities all over the County,” said Alachua County Arborist Lacy Holtzworth. “It has been our experience that collaborative tree planting projects not only transform neighborhoods but individuals as well. It’s good to be part of the solution.”

To celebrate Earth Day 2024, Alachua County and the City of Gainesville are joining hundreds of other cities and counties worldwide to participate in the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge.

The challenge will take place from April 26-29. 

To participate in this fun activity, download the free iNaturalist app on your smartphone and then go outside and take photos of all the plants and animals you can find in your yard, neighborhood, or city or county parks and preserves. Post the photos to iNaturalist through the website or app. You can also report animal and plant sightings without a photo.

There are field trips at Poe Springs on April 27, at the Springs Festival and at Barr Hammock at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 28. The morning hike at Barr Hammock is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Levy Loop Trailhead (14920 SE 11th Drive,Micanopy). The afternoon hike is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Barr Hammock South (300 SE 175th Ave., Micanopy).

The Nature Challenge is organized locally by the University of Florida IFAS, the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, and in partnership with Alachua County, the City of Gainesville, the Florida Museum of Natural History, and Alachua Conservation Trust. 

Learn more about the City Nature Challenge.

Inaugural Santa Fe Springs Celebration

The inaugural Santa Fe Springs Celebration is on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from noon to 6 p.m. at Poe Springs County Park (28800 NW 182nd Ave, High Springs). This free event is hosted by Alachua County and the Florida Springs Council. 

“The goal of the event is to bring the community together to celebrate our springs, rivers, and aquifer while learning how to protect this water that is essential to our economy and life,” said Stacie Greco, Alachua County’s Environmental Protection Department’s Water Resources Program Manager. 

The event features entertainment for all ages and interests, including:

• Live music by Wax Wings, Uncle Mosie, and Harber Wynn on the main stage. 
• Over 50 educational exhibits and craft vendors.
• A film showcase with accompanying discussion.
• The Plein Air art event featuring renowned local artists.
• Kids’ fishing activity, and more. 

First Magnitude Brewing Company’s beer tent will serve drinks in souvenir Springs Celebration cups (21 and up), and various food truck vendors will be available for food purchase. 

The Santa Fe Springs Celebration is made possible through the support of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Visit Gainesville Alachua County, First Magnitude Brewing Company, WildHeart Outdoors, the Florida Springs Council, and the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department.

Are you looking for the ideal way to get involved and make a difference in our community? Joining a County Advisory Board is the perfect way to discover your ideal volunteer role tailored to your passions and interests. With a myriad of board openings available, residents across the county are invited to explore and uncover the perfect match for their skills and passions. Join us in shaping a brighter future for our community - one volunteer opportunity at a time.

The County Commission relies on input from these boards to make informed decisions and set policies.

Over 250 citizens serve on the advisory boards, advising county government and local agencies on many topics. They include affordable housing, economic development, environmental protection, human rights, county finances, and many other issues. The Alachua County Commission seeks citizen volunteers to serve on several advisory boards.

Find out more about current Advisory Board vacancies.

Justice Mental Health Collaborative Project Subcommittee Seeks Peers with Lived Experience

The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Project (JMHCP) is seeking individuals who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice or behavioral health care systems to apply for its subcommittee of the Public Safety Coordinating Council. 

JMHCP is a grant program that supports innovative cross-system collaboration to divert individuals with mental illnesses or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders who come into contact with the justice system. Its Public Safety Coordinating Council subcommittee provides executive-level oversight of the grant program and its activities. Some of the current activities of the JMHCP include the implementation, funding, and monitoring of the law enforcement and behavioral health co-responder teams. Additionally, the subcommittee hears reports and offers feedback on research activities related to jail length of stay and the diversion of individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system.

Learn more about volunteering on the subcommittee.