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NEWBERRY ‒ Salary talks dominated the Newberry City Commission meeting on Sept. 6 as a lengthy and sometimes heated discussion ensued between the Commission and City Manager Mike New regarding employee compensation. Although all the Commissioners expressed concern about the economics facing the City of Newberry in the coming year, Commissioner Monty Farnsworth expressed the most trepidation about proposed employee compensation amounts.

Recently, six City employees successfully graduated from a two-year nationally-recognized Certified Public Manager (CPM) program at Florida State University's Center for Public Management. A seven percent raise was given to those six employees, and a two-percent cost of living raise was proposed across the board for all employees in the upcoming year’s budget plus an additional small merit increase was proposed based on performance evaluations by supervisors.

Farnsworth expressed concern about adding the cost of living and merit increased on those six employees who earned the seven percent increase due to their achievements in the CPM program. Commissioner Tim Marden also expressed reservations about the upcoming year’s financial situation and what the City can afford.

Commissioner Rick Coleman said that although he’d like to see all the employees get a 15 percent increase, he knew that was not possible. He agreed with the seven percent increase, but not for more than that for those six employees.

Coleman also said he would like to see the City Manager get an increase this year. In past years he has given up his salary increases so the employees could get increases. Lee said that whatever the COLA amount is set by the Commission and the percent of increases, New would get those increases as well.

A question about how the seven percent was determined led to Lee explaining that the City has a policy of salary increases for additional training and education.

A comment was made that the budget included the proposed salary increases while also proposing a millage decrease over the previous year’s millage rate.

In answer to a question by Commissioner Tony Mazon, Lee explained that financial reserves for the City nine years ago was $64 and the current reserve amount is $3.8 million. Mazon said the reserve amount indicates that the City Manager and staff have done a good job and he thought that if the increases were within the salary range for those positions, he didn’t understand why the Commission should question the city manager’s decision.

New said that the employees who participated in the CPM program began the program two years ago with the expectation that they would receive a pay bump for successfully completing the program and that several other employees also have benefitted from the Educational Incentive Program at the City.

New said if the Commission wishes to change the program, that can be done, but not for employees who have dedicated two years to completing a lengthy and time-consuming course while also maintaining their workload at the City. New considered this an eleventh-hour change and indicates to those staff members, “We were only kidding,” when this program was instituted.

New added that if the Commission decides not to provide cost of living or merit increases to those who participated in the CPM program, what the City is saying is “Well, you guys got an increase for going to class so the increases we were planning for all of your teammates, you are not eligible to receive.” He also mentioned that the salary study the City recently received indicated that at least four of the senior staff members were underpaid.

“If [the Commission] were to tell us at the beginning of the budget season that you think senior staff should make a lower percentage increase than our lower paid staff, we’re going to put that in the budget and it’s going to get approved by the Commission, gleefully with staff support,” said New. “But when we go to the eleventh hour after the people took the class, received their pay increase and get to the end [of the budget process] with a balanced budget that has a millage rate reduction and includes every project the Commission asked for, I believe it’s inappropriate to change the incentive program for those employees at this point.”

As Commissioner Mark Clark was not in attendance at this meeting, the discussion was postponed to second reading of the budget at the next meeting scheduled for Sept. 25 to allow all Commissioners to weigh in on the discussion.

Two other items relating to the budget were briefly discussed. The Commission indicated they wanted to remove the $75,000 wage study from the budget and the cemetery fence, which also would cost $75,000. The $75,000 was to adjust employee salaries that were determined to be under market from the results of the recently completed wage study.

Asked about how much this might lower the millage rate, if approved, Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Dallas Lee calculated 0.214 mills. He also pointed out that if those expenditures were removed on second reading, the money could go toward a stormwater assessment or $35,000 for downtown.

A final determination of these items will be address at the Sept. 25 meeting.

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BY DAVID LIGHTMAN/Alachua Chronicle

NEWBERRY – At their Sept. 6 regular meeting, the Newberry City Commission heard an update on the proposed F-300 AgriFoodTech Research and Innovation Park, a joint venture “startup hub” partnering with the University of Florida, and numerous other entities. 

City Manager Mike New introduced Kamal Latham, CEO of Global Solutions: “Kamal Latham, who works with us in a consulting capacity, has been spearheading our initiative to develop the Newberry AgriFoodTech Park… He probably started helping us out in November, and so we thought it would be a great opportunity to share with the commission our progress through his first year of work.”

Latham explained the origin of the F-300 name and the purpose of the project: “F (is) for Florida, and 300 represents the number of crops, specialty crops, that are grown here in Florida – because the intention of this is that this is a Florida asset that will be based in Newberry, that will benefit the citizens of Newberry and the region, the state, and beyond.

“The purpose of this is simply job creation. Job creation helps to create that economic turn, creates economic activity, and then you have more tax revenue because you have more jobs and you have more economic activity. So that’s the objective with this initiative. What is AgriFoodTech? You have Upstream and Downstream. Upstream is closer to the farmer, Downstream closer to the consumer.”

Latham added, “It will likely be that the type of companies that would be attracted to this Research and Innovation Park would be on the Upstream side of the category because a lot of businesses on the Downstream are internet-based, e-commerce, and sometimes they may not need brick-and-mortar, so when we’re talking about the AgriFoodTech Park and the types of companies and types of jobs, it would most likely be along those companies on the Upstream side of the equation.”

Latham explained, “What is Newberry’s competitive edge? Newberry’s region has the research capacity to be a competitive AgriFoodTech Hub. UF IFAS has spent $278 million on research, and overall, the University of Florida has spent $1 billion from 2021 to 2022.

“UF has one of the fastest supercomputers in the world and is the AI land grant university. That’s one of the big competitive unique selling points for Newberry and the Newberry region. Having the IFAS Extension Office was a big deal… With the leadership that we have at IFAS and the research capacity at UF, particularly with that supercomputer, it’s literally one of the fastest supercomputers on the face of the planet… IFAS has hired faculty specifically to research AI applications in agriculture, and so this is something that is an opportunity that this region can capture for high-technology and high-wage jobs.”

Latham said the F-300 project will facilitate job creation by being a hub of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced energy, and industrial efficiency tech applications in the AgriFoodTech sector: “You have jobs that will be across the spectrum for different levels, and so what this will be is the driver, and as a driver this will help to lead the economic growth, and then to be a lot of different types of jobs at different skill sets and different levels that would have come along with it.”

Latham said over 45 stakeholders have been identified since 2022, and over $75,000 in planning grants have been secured. The next steps will be to complete a feasibility study and business plan for the business incubator in 2024.  

Latham listed some of the stakeholders that have already been identified including The International Fresh Produce Association. “This is a big deal. It’s a big entity,” said Latham. “This is the international association for fresh produce, and so about 90 to 95 percent of all the fresh produce in America, produce and flowers, is touched by at least two of their members.”

Commissioner Tim Marden asked, “What’s our timeline and what’s it going to take to start turning dirt?” Latham said, “To turn dirt, that would probably be a three-to-five-year horizon. Ideally, if you have a private sector developer that would come in and be able to, you know, do development, then that could help move the project forward.”

Mayor Marlowe interjected, “I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes, but I think out of that meeting in November we got a private, a local private sector developer, that is interested, and we may be seeing their application to fold some land into that coming sometime soon, which would vastly elevate that timeline.” 

Commissioner Marden said he wanted to get construction moving as quickly as possible, faster than three to five years. Mayor Marlowe echoed, “We’re gonna get with that private developer, and you know, make it happen, because I agree with Commissioner Marden. We want this thing to happen, we want it to happen right now and right away.”

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HIGH SPRINGS – The High Springs City Commission on Aug. 24 gave approved on first reading to a zoning change requested by Josh Blackford of Turnsole Builders, LLC. The 2.39 +/- acres property is located south of U.S. Highway 441 and west of Memorial Park, and will be rezoned from R-1 (Residential) to C-3 (Commercial).

The property is anticipated to be used as a multi-storage facility. Concerns about the proximity of the site to the City’s three wells were raised, but those issues were quelled by a map that showed the distance of the property to the wells.

In other property action, the site plan for LifeSpring Church was also approved for the construction of a church on 11.71 +/- acres of land located at the unassigned address within the 15,000 block of Northwest State Road 45 (US Highway 41/27). The property is currently zoned R-1A, which allows for places of worship by right. City Manager Ashley Stathatos reported that “The site plan meets or exceeds all City regulations.”

Commissioner Katherine Weitz recused herself from voting on this issue, which passed in a 4-0 vote.

The property’s neighbor, Andrew Weitz, expressed concern about what appeared to be a sidewalk close to the next property, but was told that what he was seeing on the map was an underground utility easement which seemed to resolve the concern.

Vice-Mayor Ross Ambrose said the only thing he would like to see added to the plan was Dark Sky lighting, but he was reassured that there would be very little bright lighting on the property.

In other business, the Commission approved two related agreements related to foreclosure properties. The Commission approved an agreement for online foreclosure property registration services with HERA Property Registry, LLC of Melbourne, Florida, provides for monitoring of mortgage defaults, registration fee collections and late fee/penalty collections. Currently, the City has 28 properties in active foreclosure.

Previously, this service was provided to the City by Property Registration Champions, which is now out of business.

HERA will retain $100 of each registration fee collected and thirty-three percent of late fees. The city attorney recommended that approval of the agreement be contingent on several legal clauses, which were made part of the motion to approve.

The Commission also approved a related agreement for professional services with Break Point Law, LLC to provide property enforcement services for recovery of outstanding foreclosure property registration fees and associated fines and penalties that are over 30 days past due. This will include preparing all necessary municipal lien documents, witness statements/affidavits, invoice statements and/or other necessary documentation to enforce municipal lien/debts.

As part of this agreement, Break Point will retain 33 percent of all fines and penalties recovered on behalf of the City and will remit their fees to HERA Property Registry, LLC. HERA will remit to High Springs’ its portion of the fees in accordance with their contract with HERA.

Break Point, HERA and High Springs each agree to withdraw from these agreements at any time upon 60 days written notice to the other parties.

In other business, the Commission unanimously amended the Mayor’s Youth Council Ordinance to modify the number of Board Members from seven to five and to allow the two alternative Board members to vote. This measure also sets Board member terms to begin and expire in November of each year.

Addressing s variety of issues that had been raised, Assistant City Manager Bruce Gillingham said that the property next to Memorial Park will be kept up in the future. He also said, in response to an earlier question, that all three of the City’s water wells were drilled to the same depth.

In response to a question about opting out of the City’s trash ordinance, Gillingham said City staff had looked into it, but there didn’t seem to be any way for an opt-out clause. He added that signs identifying appropriate truck routes were being created and would be posted as soon as they arrive.

Commissioner Byran Williams asked the City Attorney to look into the possibility of posting a sign requiring visitors to City Hall must wear a shirt and shoes to be admitted.

The next City Commission meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ Alachua County Public Schools is updating its timeline for developing a comprehensive school rezoning plan. Under the new timeline, a revised rezoning proposal that reflects enrollment figures for the current school year will be shared with the School Board and the public in October.

In keeping with a state-mandated timeline for adopting any new policy, including new attendance zones, the Board will hold a first reading of the new rezoning plan on Oct. 17, a public hearing on Nov. 14 and a final vote on Dec. 5.

New attendance zones will still be adopted before the end of this calendar year and take effect for the 2024-25 school year.

The two community input sessions on rezoning postponed due to Hurricane Idalia have also been rescheduled to Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Kanapaha Middle School and Oct. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Santa Fe High School.

The updated timeline, including community input sessions, is posted on the district’s rezoning website at www.sbac.edu/rezoning. New proposed maps and other information will also be posted on that site as soon as they’re available.

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ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua City Commission voted 5-0 to approve Ordinance 23-04, amending the City’s Land Development Regulations (LDRs) to increase options for buffering and distancing of warehouse and freight movement uses. The move, sought by Abbfortis Strategies, LLC, amends section 4.3.4(L) of the LDRs, which regulates the development of lands used for parcel services, truck or freight terminals, or distribution and warehouse storage.

The reduction in separation distances could only be permitted when an intervening arterial or collector street exists between the proposed warehouse and freight movement use and school, daycare center, residential use, or vacant land in a residential district.

The revision reduces the minimum separation from 250 feet to 100 feet where an arterial or collector street exists between uses. The separation could be as low as 50 feet when both a street between uses exists and an enhanced landscape buffer is provided. Where there is no collector or arterial street between the uses, an applicant proposing a warehouse or freight movement use could only seek a reduction to 100 feet, and only when an enhanced landscape buffer is provided.

In no event would the proposed use be permitted closer than 150 feet from the nearest exterior wall of an existing residential dwelling. While the prior standard required a minimum of 250 feet between warehouses or freight movement uses and any schools, day care centers, residential uses, or vacant land in residential districts, the applicant was only required to install one canopy tree every 25 feet and one understory tree every 40 feet as landscape buffering.

The new standard would require twice the density of canopy and understory trees if the proposed site is granted reduced separation standards. The applicant seeking the reductions is not guaranteed that the request will be granted as the amendment merely increases the options that the City may implement as deemed appropriate based on site-specific conditions, adjacent uses, and input from neighbors.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ Alachua County Public Schools has announced that due to the ongoing shortage of bus drivers and the negative impact on bus schedules and school attendance, the district is making changes to its bus transportation system. The School District says the changes are necessary to significantly reduce late and non-arriving buses, increase on-time arrivals and departures, and use public funds more effectively.

Under the new system, ‘courtesy’ bus routes and magnet and school choice programs stops will be revamped. The “courtesy” bus routes for all students except those attending the highest needs elementary schools will be eliminated beginning Jan. 8.

“Courtesy” buses are those provided to students who live within two miles of their zoned school and are not ESE (Exceptional Student Education) students. Currently, courtesy routes require 16 buses at an annual cost of about $1.8 million, for which the district receives no reimbursement from the state. About 1200 students in the district currently receive courtesy busing.

Instead of courtesy busing, the district will offer parents the opportunity to request transportation if their student’s walk to school meets the state’s legal definition of a ‘hazardous walking condition.’ More information on the application process will be provided to the parents of courtesy riders in the near future.

The district will also be revamping the current system for transporting more than 1,600 students who attend magnet and other choice programs not located at their zoned school. The current ‘hub’ stops at which buses stop to pick up those students will be updated to increase efficiency and reduce the number of buses needed to transport magnet/choice students. Currently the district runs 26 magnet/choice buses at a cost of about $1.8 million.

The revised magnet/choice changes will also take effect Jan. 8 for magnet/choice students.

The School District says that the conservative estimate of the money saved by making these changes is between $750,000 and $1.4 million per year, not including the cost of drivers. The district does not plan to eliminate bus driver positions. Instead, the district’s driver shortage will be significantly reduced, which means there should be enough drivers to fill routes that don’t currently have a permanent driver and fill in for absent drivers.

The district is looking at other possible strategies to improve the efficiency of its transportation system, including the recruitment and retention of drivers. School start times may also be adjusted in future years to reduce delays and to comply with a new state law on start times.

The district’s chief of operations Maria Eunice and Transportation Director Dr. Dontarrius Rowls will be presenting the changes to the transportation system at a School Board workshop on Sept. 20 at 9 a.m. This will be an informational item only, as the School Board does not vote on bus route changes.

A district spokesperson says that information about these changes was sent to the families of bus riders Tuesday afternoon, with more details specific to magnet, choice and courtesy riders to follow in the near future.

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