Leon County Commission Meeting Briefs: December 10, 2024

Below are the news briefs from the Leon County Commission meeting held on December 10, 2024.

The Board approved Consent Items 1-8,10-13,16-19.

The consent items included approval of procurement awards related to Fiscal Year 2025 Insurance Coverage Renewals and approval of an agreement for security guard services.

Consent Items Pulled for Discussion

Item 9 – Consent item pulled for discussion by Proctor: After an explanation by staff about the agreement, the Board 7-0 voted to amend the existing Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Standard Grant Agreement for the Advanced Septic Systems Pilot Project, to extend the term for the County to fully expend the grant funds to March 31, 2026.  The project provides funding to offset the costs to residents in the Wakulla Springs Priority Focus Area that wish to upgrade conventional septic systems.  The extension of the agreement will provide the time necessary to upgrade the final two septic systems, resulting in the conversion of more than 80 septic systems.

Item 14 – Consent item pulled for discussion by Proctor: After comments by Commissioner Proctor, the Board voted 7-0 to accept acceptance of the 2024 Annual Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Report of Recommendations, and adoption of the Resolution in support of the proposed revisions to the County’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership Local Housing Assistance Plan.

Item 15 – Consent item pulled for discussion: After commissioner questions and comments, the Board voted 7-0 to accept the status report on transitional housing in Leon County for homeless individuals and families.  The item specifically defines transitional housing as recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, identifies current transitional housing programs in the community, efforts to secure funding for transitional housing through the Big Bend Continuum of Care, and the County’s continued commitment to address homelessness primarily through investment in permanent housing.

General Business

Item 19: The Board voted 7-0 to accept the after-action report on Leon County’s preparation, response, and recovery efforts related to Hurricane Helene which made landfall on September 26, 2024.  The after-action report serves as a summary of actions taken to date by Leon County in response to the hurricane and provides findings and recommendations from the emergency activation. This item also seeks Board adoption of revisions to Policy No. 24-1, “Grant Application Approval Process”, and ratification of disaster grant funding agreements with the Florida Division of Emergency Management to receive Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement for recent Presidentially Declared Disasters.

Item 20: The Board voted 7-0 to award three-year grant funding to five Tourism Legacy Events for Fiscal Years (FY) 2025 – FY 2027:  Springtime Tallahassee Festival, LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival, Market Days, ASG Capital Cup, and Florida State Invitational-Tottenham.

Item 21: The Board voted unanimously to appoint Commissioners to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (Maddox), Apalachee Regional Planning Council (Minor), Canopy Roads Citizens Committee (O’Keefe), Children’s Services Council (Cummings), and the Leon County Research and Development Authority (Minor).

Item 22: The Board voted unanimously for the recommended appointments of citizens to the Audit Advisory Committee, Canopy Roads Citizens Committee, and the Joint City/County Bicycling Workgroup.