Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity that allows you to give back to your community and participate in your county's decision-making process? Serving on an Alachua County advisory board offers you this chance. 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.
For example, the Veteran Services Advisory Board currently has eight vacancies. This board makes recommendations to the County Commission regarding the veteran community in Alachua County and assists and advises on future policies and directions concerning veterans.
Current advisory board openings include:
- Affordable Housing Advisory Committee – One vacancy for an actively engaged as a for-profit affordable housing provider.
- Agricultural Land Conservation Board – One vacancy for a citizen at large.
- Alachua County Housing Authority Board – One vacancy for a tenant alternate.
- Animal Welfare Advisory Committee – Four vacancies, including one vacancy for veterinarian (DVM) – Owner or employed by an Alachua County private veterinary practice, one vacancy for citizen at large, one vacancy for a local not-for-profit animal welfare organization and one vacancy for Alachua County law enforcement officer (rank of lieutenant or higher).
- Arts Council of Alachua County – Four vacancies, including one vacancy for a youth member (must be age 16 -21 at time of appointment) and three vacancies for citizens at large.
- Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Board (BPAP) to the Gainesville & Alachua County Transportation Planning Organization (GACTPO), serving in its role as the metropolitan planning organization – One vacancy for a citizen at large/county appointee #4.
- Citizen’s Climate Advisory Committee – Three vacancies, including one vacancy for an alternate and two vacancies for citizens at large.
- Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) to the Gainesville & Alachua County Transportation Planning Organization (GACTPO), serving its role as the metropolitan planning organization – One vacancy for a citizen at large.
- Citizen’s Disability Advisory Committee – Three vacancies for citizens at large.
- Economic Development Advisory Committee – Eight vacancies, including four vacancies for citizens at large, one vacancy for an alternate and three vacancies for actively engaged with economic development organizations.
- Equity Advisory Board – One vacancy for a citizen at large.
- Health Care Advisory Board – Four vacancies, including one vacancy for a doctor or nurse, one vacancy for a healthcare advocacy agency, one vacancy for an alternate, and one vacancy for a dentist or oral health service provider.
- Health Facilities Authority – One vacancy for a citizen at large.
- Historical Commission – Three vacancies, including two vacancies for alternates and one vacancy for a citizen at large.
- Human Rights Board – Two vacancies, including one vacancy for an attorney and one vacancy for a citizen at large.
- Infrastructure Surtax Citizen Oversight Board – Three vacancies, including one vacancy for representative – incorporated cities (not Gainesville), one vacancy for a Florida licensed professional (architect, engineer, or similar), and one vacancy for an alternate.
- Land Conservation Board- Three vacancies for natural resource professional.
- Library District Board of Trustees – One vacancy for a citizen at large.
- Recreation and Open Space Advisory Committee – Three vacancies, including two vacancies for citizens at large, and one vacancy for a youth member (must be 16 – 21 at time of appointment).
- Regional Transit System Advisory Board – One vacancy for a citizen who is one (or more) of the following: Chamber of Commerce representative, member of the environmental community, member of the TPO Citizen’s Advisory Committee.
- Rural Concerns Advisory Committee – Four vacancies, including three vacancies for citizens actively involved in agriculture and/or silviculture, and one vacancy for a citizen residing in unincorporated area outside urban cluster designated in the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan.
- Tourist Development Council – Two vacancies, including one vacancy for a hotel owner/operator and one vacancy for a citizen involved in tourist industry/tourist development.
- Value Adjustment Board – Two vacancies for citizens at large.
- Veteran Services Advisory Board – Eight vacancies, including three vacancies for a citizens at large (veteran), two vacancies for Gulf War veterans and two vacancies for post-9/11 veterans and one vacancy for an alternate.
- Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center Advisory Council – Four vacancies, including one vacancy for an alternate and three vacancies for citizens at large.
Learn more about the duties and meeting logistics or apply online.
For more information, contact Alachua County Senior Staff Assistant Kimberly McKinney at 352-548-3766 or kmckinney@alachuacounty.gov.
