BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Agenda Item #14
Title
Evaluation and Appraisal Report Major Issues for Letter of Understanding with FL Department of Community Affairs on Scope (Amended)
Amount
N/A
Description
The list of Major Community Issues will be submitted to the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) as the basis for the Letter of Understanding with DCA on the scope of the Alachua County Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) on the Comprehensive Plan.
Recommendation
Approve Proposed List of Major Community Issues on the EAR for submittal to DCA as the basis for the Letter of Understanding on EAR scope and authorize Chairman to sign transmittal letter (attached).
Alternative(s)
Do not approve the proposed list of Major Community Issues and provide staff with alternative direction
Requested By
Holly Banner, 374-5249 x 2223
Originating Department
Growth Management
Attachment(s) Description
Proposed List of Major Community Issues for letter to DCA; Transmittal Letter to DCA; Comment Summary from June 2 Agency Meeting; Written comments submitted by St. Johns River Water Management District; Proposed List of Major Community Issues identifying changes from May 6 BOCC/LPA approved list; EAR Statutory Requirements (excerpts from s. 163.3191, F.S.); EAR Work Program and Public Participation Plan approved January 2008; EAR Process Flowchart
Documents Requiring Action
Transmittal Letter to Department of Community Affairs with Proposed List of Major Community Issues attached
Executive Summary
As part of Phase I of the EAR Process, DCA recommends establishment of the scope of work for the EAR through identification of Major Community Issues to address in the EAR. On May 6 of this year the Board and Local Planning Agency approved a preliminary list of issues for review and discussion with local, regional and state agencies at a meeting on June 2. Staff is presenting the list (attached) for review by the Local Planning Agency on June 18 and approval by the Board of County Commissioners for submittal to the Florida Department of Community Affairs as a basis for a Letter of Understanding on the scope of the EAR.
Background
In January of this year the Board of County Commissioners and Local Planning Agency approved a Public Participation Plan for the EAR and staff began holding community workshops and gathering public input through various alternatives including meetings with community groups, County advisory boards, and an online survey on the County website to help identify the Major Community Issues to address in the County’s EAR. This input was provided to the County Commission and Local Planning Agency and synthesized to form the list of 12 Major Community Issues presented to the Local Planning Agency (LPA) and Board of County Commissioners at a special meeting on May 6. Following joint approval by the two bodies, staff distributed the proposed list to various agencies including the County’s nine municipalities, adjacent Counties, the Water Management Districts and Regional Planning Council, and various state agencies for review and comment at the County’s EAR Scoping Meeting held on June 2 at Santa Fe Community College. At the meeting the agencies provided comments including ideas for improved intergovernmental coordination on transportation planning (both within the County and across County boundaries) and springshed and wellhead protections, emphasis on long-term concurrency management and multi-modal transportation options, awareness of changing state standards/planning for threatened and endangered species, and emphasis on low impact development strategies, water reuse and alternative water supply planning (see attached comments summary & written comments submitted by St. Johns River Water Management District). Staff subsequently revised the list of Major Community Issues based on this input (see revised list attached). Staff recommends approval of this list by the Board of County Commissioners for submission to DCA as the basis for the Letter of Understanding on the scope of the EAR. Upon receipt from the County, DCA will review this list and send back to the County a Letter of Understanding. Based on the Major Community Issues and the scope of work, Phase II of the process (see attached flowchart) will be an analysis and assessment of the Plan and how well it addresses the issues identified as well as the applicable provisions of s.163.3191(2)(a)-(p), F.S. (see attached). Phase II will also include development of strategies and recommendations for update of the Plan.
Issues
The List of Major Community Issues will be the basis for setting the scope of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report; DCA will expect these issues, at a minimum, to be covered in the EAR.
Fiscal Recommendation
na
Fiscal Alternative(s)
na
Funding Sources
na
Account Code(s)
na
Attachment: MajorIssues_forChairLetter.pdf
Attachment: EARProcessFlowchart.pdf
Attachment: PublicParticipationPlanApprovedByBoard.pdf
Attachment: EARStatutoryRequirements.pdf
Attachment: MajorIssues_withAgencyInput.pdf
Attachment: ChairlettertoDCA62408.pdf
Attachment: SJRWMDComments_053008.pdf
Attachment: AgencyComments_060208.pdf