Summary
Visit Gainesville Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grant Workshop
Staff attended a Nature and Culture Enhancement Grant Workshop hosted by Visit Gainesville on March 22, 2019 in preparation for the upcoming grant cycle which funds activities taking place between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020. This grant program supports arts, nature, and cultural activities in Alachua County. At the workshop attendees discussed with County Tourism Development Staff their funding priorities to aid the County Commission in determining grant award criteria for this upcoming 2019 grant cycle.
Wayfinding Initiative
The CRA has contracted with CHW Professional Consultants to develop a Wayfinding System Master Plan for the Community Redevelopment District. CRA and City Staff met with CHW on April 9th to review the scope of the project. CHW will develop a plan that recommends sign types, location and design. A draft of this plan will be brought to the CRAAB in the near future for review. A final draft will be presented to the CRA for approval.
Third Thursday on Main
The March 21, 2019 Third Thursday on Main event marked its one year anniversary. This event has overall been a successful marketing tool to encourage Alachua citizens to visit Main Street Alachua and to attract regional attention. The event has also continued the CRA's efforts to brand Main Street as a vibrant and social space.
The next Third Thursday on Main event will be April 18th, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. and will feature live music by Aunt Jackie Band, an art and craft market, and the Alachua Farmer's Market (sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce). There will also be a visit by the Easter Bunny to pass out candy to children this evening.
2019 Legislative Update
This Florida legislative session, there are two proposed bills, Senate Bill (SB) 1054 and House Bill (HB) 9, related to CRAs. Among other changes, SB 1054 would:
- Provide for the termination of existing CRAs at the earlier of the expiration date state in the CRA's charter as of Oct. 1, 2019, or on Sept. 30, 2039. The governing board of the creating local government entity may prevent the termination of a CRA by a majority vote;
- Expand the annual reporting requirements for CRAs to include audit information and performance data requiring the information and data to be posted on the agency website;
- Provide that moneys in the local government redevelopment trust fund may only be expended pursuant to an annual budget adopted by the board of commissioners for the CRA and only for those purposes specified in current law beginning Oct. 1, 2019;
- Allow a CRA budget to be used for administrative and overhead expenses directly or indirectly necessary to implement a community redevelopment plan;
- Provide that only CRAs with revenue or expenditures and expenses in excess of $100,000 have to do an annual financial audit and providing criteria for such audits; and,
- Require the audit to be included in the financial report submitted by a county or municipality to the Department of Financial Services. Failure to do so will constitute a failure to report.
HB 9 proposes similar changes. Additional information about each bill has been prepared by the Florida Redevelopment Association and the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association and can be assessed on each organization's website.
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