Leon County Commission Meeting Briefs: March 19th

Below are the news briefs from the Leon County Commission meeting held on March 19^th, 2024.

The Board authorized the County Administrator to negotiate with the top ranked firm, Halff Associates, Inc., for the Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) services for the following Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Local Agency Program (LAP) Bridge Replacement Projects:  Miccosukee Road, Springhill Road and Veterans Memorial Drive.

As required by Florida law, the Board accepted the 2023 Annual Supervised Pretrial Release Program Report, and authorized staff to submit the report to the Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller.  Section 907.43, Florida Statutes (F.S.), cited as the “Citizens’ Right to Know Act,” requires that a pretrial release program submit an annual report to the governing body and the clerk of court.

The Board received a status update on the Amazon Fulfillment Center following its initial six months of operation. 

The Board voted 5-1 to establish the Community Human Services Partnership funding level for FY 2025 at $1,445,000 and approve the allocation of $834,000 in one-time funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to support the CHSP homeless services category and establish line item funding for emergency shelters for the FY 2025 – FY 2026 funding cycle ($417,000 each year). Commissioner Caban in dissent and Commissioner Maddox recused.

The Board voted 7-0 to establish the non-departmental maximum discretionary funding level for FY 2025 at $74,500 for special events funding to include $5,000 for Shoes 4 School.

The Board voted 7-0 to establish the Commissioner Office Budgets at $20,500.

The Board voted 7-0 to establish the FY 2025 Outside Agency Contracts with the exception of Whole Child Leon, and authorize the County Administrator to execute the associated funding agreements and any amendments thereto, subject to legal review by the County Attorney; and provide $125,000 in funding for Legal Services of North Florida as part of the County’s statutory Article V obligation.

The Board discussed an item to rename Wahnish Way at the request of FAMU to honor tennis player Althea Gibson. However, the Board realized the County Ordinance no longer allows a single road to be named multiple different names. After further discussion, Commissioner Nick Maddox made a motion for an honorary designation for Althea Gibson starting at FAMU Way Rd and ending at Orange Ave with signage. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board unanimously approved the appointment of Ashley Gilley to the Tallahassee-Leon County Commission on the Council of the Status of Women & Girls, for the remainder of the unexpired term ending September 30, 2024.

During Board discussion, Commissioner Cummings requested staff to bring back an agenda item on the renaming of Courtroom 3A in honor of Judge James Hankinson and requested staff address the fiscal impact of a 5% raise for county employees at the Board’s Budget Workshop. Commissioner Bill Proctor made a motion to direct staff to bring back information on having a formal process of action when a person goes missing. The motion passed unanimously.