Announcements
Public Information Officer Andrew Caplan announced the kickoff of Operation Green Light for Veterans Week in Alachua County. The county will light up several buildings green to show support and recognition of veterans.
Also announced was that Alachua County has secured the 2027 World Masters Indoor Athletic Championships. The 2025 event brought in thousands of competitors from nearly 100 countries and had an economic impact of over $10 million in the county alone.
Caplan also announced that Chapter 5 of the Cents and Sensibility series was now published. The chapter, titled “Why Budgets Grow Over Time,” details inflation, population growth, and the need for a stable workforce.
Read the chapter.
The county’s new Human Resources director, Suzy Swain, was introduced and spoke after being confirmed by the County Commission.
Watch the announcements.
Election of Chair and Vice Chair
The County Commission voted Ken Cornell as chair of the commission and Anna Prizzia as vice chair.
Watch the discussion.
Food Assistance for Families
The commission approved a combined $200,000 for food assistance for families in need while SNAP benefits are delayed.
The Bread of the Mighty Food Bank will receive half the funding to bolster its food distribution efforts. At the same time, the other half will support other local organizations that will help ensure residents maintain access to fresh, healthy and affordable food options.
Details about the specific distribution of food by these organizations are being finalized and will be shared with the public as soon as they are available.
Additionally, the commission has requested matching support from the City of Gainesville and the Children’s Trust of Alachua County to maximize the impact of local resources for the nearly 32,000 residents who receive SNAP benefits.
County staff will return to the commission in December with further recommendations to provide food assistance to residents in need.
Watch the discussion.
Hawthorne Industrial Park
The commission approved wetland impacts for the Hawthrone Industrial Park.
After a compromise among county staff and the landowners of the 1,067-acre site, the commission approved limiting impacts to no more than 44 acres of the requested 83 acres for a potential future development. The only impacts allowed within the identified wildlife corridor/conservation area are an east-west railroad spur and access roadway. Additional impacts within the corridor must come back before the commission for review and comply with the Countywide Wetland Protection Code.
Watch the discussion.
Climate Action Plan
The commission adopted the county’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). The purpose of the CAP is to guide, develop, and cultivate environmentally, socially, and economically resilient strategies and solutions to climate change for the community.
The CAP includes topics such as agriculture, food security, energy efficiency, flood management, natural resources, conservation, water protection, and more.
The CAP will be ceremonially adopted at the county’s Climate Festival on Nov. 15.
See the final plan.
Watch the discussion.
Redistricting
The commission opted not to redistrict its districts with new maps and will retain the existing map. Although commissioners are elected countywide, they must reside in the district in which they are elected.
Watch the discussion.
Living Spaces and Thriving Places
The commission approved a workforce housing rental development program under its Living Spaces and Thriving Places program, as part of the Wild Spaces Public Places surtax. They approved using the surtax to fund 10% of the construction costs for the workforce housing units for the future Royal Park Seniors and Oakview Apartments projects.
As part of the motion, the commission also approved a home ownership impact fund program to be funded with no more than 10% of the available surtax budget for housing.
Watch the discussion.
Recognitions
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler proclaimed November as National Adoption Month.
Read the proclamation.
Watch the presentation.
Commissioner Ken Cornell proclaimed Nov. 11 as Veterans Day.
Read the proclamation.
Watch the presentation.
Commissioner Anna Prizzia proclaimed Nov. 7 as Alachua County Forever Day.
Read the proclamation.
Watch the presentation.
See the full Nov. 4 agenda and video.
