January 24, 2024

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

New Animal Resources shelter

The commission directed staff to negotiate a lease with the University of Florida to build a new animal shelter, located off Southwest 23rd Terrace, on a 12.6-acre site.

The project includes a one-time lease payment of $3 million, with UF performing all environmental studies (and remediation if needed), architecture studies, and demolition of current buildings. The county will oversee architect and engineering procurement.

The board will vote on the final agreement at a later date.

Read the complete highlights for this meeting.

A new episode of Alachua County Talks featuring an interview with Alachua County Animal Resources Director Julie Johnson is now available. The program focuses on Animal Resources programs including public education, adoption, sheltering, and enforcement.

The interview is available to watch on YouTube now. It is also available on Alachua County’s AC TV app on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV. It premieres on Community12 TV on Cox Cable on Wednesday, Jan.17, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.

“Alachua County Animal Resources’ commitment to the animals and people of Alachua County is truly exemplary,” said Alachua County Talks host Mark Sexton. “Through their work, the county achieved a live release rate of 94% for 2023."

For more information visit the Alachua County Animal Resources website or call 352-264-6870.

The center will kick off its Introduction to Archery class on Feb. 10 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for those who want to try out the sport or simply hone their skills, while getting a better understanding of equipment and safety.

The class is $25 for adults and $15 for those 10-17. Children participating in the class must be accompanied by an adult who isn’t required to participate.

The center is also offering a Family Camp Out event on April 5-7 for those who want to experience all Cuscowilla has to offer. Accommodations include a half cabin for families or groups of up to six people. The cabins include air conditioning, heat and full bathrooms. Available activities for the three-day adventure include walking trails, fishing, kayaking, campfires and grilling. 

The cost for the Camp Out is $150 each night.

"Both programs are a great way to learn new skills, enjoy the outdoors and explore all that Cuscowilla has to offer,” said Cuscowilla Manager Jamie Bass.

Learn more and register online.

Alachua County Accreditation and Grants Manager Ashley Baird was recently appointed as the new president of the Association of Pretrial Professionals of Florida (APPF). 

Beginning in 1989, as the Florida Association of Pretrial Service Agencies (FAPSA), APPF’s mission is “to enhance professionalism through training and utilization of evidence-based practices that promote non-secured release and public safety.” 

APPF provides members and pretrial practitioners with professional abilities to serve the courts and the community in pretrial investigation, jail diversion and community supervision. APPF also assists with expanding, educating, and enhancing pretrial programs in Florida. 

Read more about the appointment.

The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department (ACEPD) is offering the Florida Stormwater, Erosion, and Sedimentation Control Inspector Training and Certification Program on Jan. 30 and 31 at Gainesville Regional Utilities (4747 N. Main St., Gainesville).

Participants learn why preventing construction site sedimentation from polluting local water bodies is important and become familiar with techniques to minimize erosion.

This certification program was developed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and is team-taught by numerous professionals. This class is co-sponsored by the Gainesville Clean Water Partnership.

Qualifying participants can earn eight continuing education units for their contractor’s license and/or eight professional development hours for their Florida professional engineer’s license.

The training is free, but participants must register online by Jan. 29, 2024.

The Alachua County Public Works Department announced today that motorists can help reduce traffic congestion, decrease their commute times, and improve overall road safety by using the “zipper merge” technique. Most drivers merge early as shown above. Early merging is acceptable for light traffic conditions, but zipper merging can reduce congestion by 40% when used during periods of heavy traffic volumes.

Zipper merging is simple, yet highly effective. As traffic begins to slow during rush hour, divers should begin to use the full length of the merging lane and then take turns merging into the open lane, alternating just like the teeth on a zipper.

Watch a zipper merge video demonstration.

Ideal locations for zipper merging on county roads are where two lanes are reduced to one. For example, NW 23rd Ave. at NW 58th St., NW 39th Ave. at NW 98th St., NW 43rd St. at Talbot Elementary, and Tower Road at SW Eighth Ave.

Artist Conference Accepting Presenter Applications

The Alachua County Arts Council is pleased to announce the third annual Artists Conference on Friday, May 3, 2024. The conference committee is accepting applications from those wishing to present. Sessions should interest the arts community and should be approximately 30 minutes (with 15 minutes for questions/answers). Interested presenters should complete and submit the “Call for Presentations” form by January 31, 2024.

The Alachua County Arts Council’s mission is to “improve the quality of life of Alachua County residents by increasing exposure to the arts, expanding opportunities for creative expression by local artists, and increasing community resources for the arts.”

Arts Council Chair Chelsea Carnes stated, “The Arts Council is pleased to host our third annual Artists Conference, bringing relevant information and education to our artists.”

For more information, contact Alachua County Assistant County Manager – Chief of Staff Gina Peebles at 352-538-8265 or gpeebles@alachuacounty.us.

​Alachua County is hosting an upcoming community meeting to seek input from Southeast Gainesville residents for its Kincaid Loop Trail project.

The meeting will be held on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. at the TB McPherson Center (1717 SE 15th St, Gainesville). Light refreshments and bike safety gear will be provided, while supplies last.

Plans for the 3.34-mile trail include a 10-foot-wide multi-use path and stormwater improvements that extend from:

• Boulware Springs entrance on Southeast 15th Street to Southeast 41st Street
• Southeast 41st Avenue to Southeast 27th Street
• Southwest 27th Street to Hawthorne Road

The county is tentatively planning to begin construction of the $2.8 million project in 2025 and is eying a completion date in mid-to-late 2026.

After the meeting, attendees have the option to participate in a group bike ride along the Kincaid Loop Trail.

Volunteer as a Crisis Line Counselor

The Alachua County Crisis Center seeks volunteers to become crisis line counselors. The next training class begins on Saturday, Jan. 27. After the initial session, training continues for eight weeks on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:30 p.m. There is no fee for training and applicants do not need to possess any specific degrees or certifications. Training is held online and can be done remotely. After training, the Crisis Center asks for a commitment of 24 shifts. Each shift is four hours long.

Volunteers learn active listening, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, community disaster response, and more. Volunteering is an opportunity to impact the lives of fellow community members and gain life-enhancing communication skills.

Learn more at the How to Volunteer website. 

For more information, contact Alachua County Crisis Center Training Coordinator Kevin Sosa at 352-264-6781.

Alachua County seeks volunteers to serve on advisory boards. Those looking for a volunteer opportunity that allows them to give back to their community and participate in their county's decision-making process should consider serving on one of the many board vacancies currently open. 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 Advisory Board openings.