City Of Newberry Gives Nod to County Single Member Ballot Measure

NEWBERRY – The Newberry City Commission on Feb. 28 approved a letter of support for House Bill 1493, sponsored by State Representative Chuck Clemons. The action is in support of a measure before the Florida Legislature to place a referendum on the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot allowing the Alachua County electorate an opportunity to vote on whether they do or do not want single member districts for the Alachua County Commission.

This legislation would change the current County Commission at-large representation to five single member districts. Elected members would be required to live in one of the five county districts, and each commissioner would be nominated and elected by the people living in the same district. The Alachua County Commission and the City of Gainesville Commission have voiced their opposition to the idea of putting the issue to a vote.

In other business, Newberry Commissioners are tackling the City’s Urban Service Area (USA) boundary. On Jan. 10, a public workshop was held to allow members of the public, as well as Commissioners, to markup maps to show their suggested USA boundary. The USA will help identify areas where services are intended to be provided in an attempt to focus development in areas where governmental services will be available to the development.

“Although the location of the urban service area appears as a boundary on a map, it is most often used to implement a growth management strategy designed to direct growth over a projected time horizon (typically 20 years or more),” said Thomas.

He presented five proposed USA options, some of which reduced the current USA boundary and some which expanded it. Commissioners whittled down five proposed options to three and postponed further discussion until the full Commission was in attendance. The amendment process can take approximately six months to go through all of the required steps, reviews and hearings.

In other City business, the Commission approved three projects by giving authorization to the Utilities and Public Works Department to proceed. The Newberry Lane Forcemain and Watermain Project #2021-12 was approved and the go ahead was given to City Manager Mike New to execute a contract for $370,558 for the total of the base bid and a Deductive Alternate in the amount of $8,440 with Andrews Paving, Inc.

The Commission also approved the State Road 26 Forcemain and Watermain Project #2021-13. Commissioners authorized New to execute a contract for $994,239 for the total base bid with O’Steen Brothers, Inc. The authorization is conditioned upon the completion of the land rights process.

The third project authorized by the Commission is the Southwest 4^th Avenue Sidewalk Project #2022-01.   New was authorized to execute a contract with Andrews Paving, Inc. for the total of the base bid of $48,757. The developer is paying for half of the project and street lights will be installed after the sidewalk project is completed.

The City of Newberry is looking for an experienced planner as Principal Planner Wendy Kinser-Maxwell retires after 15 years as a grant writer and city planner. “It will be difficult to find someone as experienced to fill Wendy’s shoes,” said Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas.

In honor of her retirement Mayor Jordan Marlowe read a proclamation into the record during the Feb. 28 Commission meeting honoring Kinser-Maxwell and naming March 3, her last day with the City, as Wendy Kinser-Maxwell Day in Newberry. He also presented her with a plaque and an award for her years of service and wished her well.

In one of her last acts prior to her retirement, Kinser-Maxwell introduced Ordinance 2022-19/LDR 22-02 on first reading. This item is an amendment to the City’s Land Development Regulations to allow electronic message signage at city-owned public facilities, specifically City Hall.

“The electronic signage provides a public service through better and increased communication with the public about upcoming city events and important announcements that can affect the community’s health, safety and welfare, such as emergency or hurricane safety alerts,” Kinser-Maxwell said. In addition, for those residents who do not use the internet, a changeable copy electronic message board offers a consistent, straightforward way to gain information. “It is a practical means of communication that will give the City another tool to share important information with its residents,” she said.

Because City Hall is within the Historic District, the proposed amendment to the current city sign regulations is necessary and will not compromise the intent of the district. Kinser-Maxwell pointed out that public hearings were held before the Historic Architectural Review Board and the Planning and Zoning Board. In both cases the vote was unanimous to recommend approval.

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