Session 2 Recap: Quality of Life & The Budget Process

Session 2 focused on Quality of Life, featuring the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and the Budget Process, focusing on the Administrative Services Department. The site of Session 2 was Morningside Nature Center, Gainesville's premiere nature park. The session began inside the half moon schoolhouse on the Living History Farm.

Cultural Affairs Manager Coni Gesualdi presented an overview of the diverse operations of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. The Department provides a variety of active and passive recreational activities for all City and area residents. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs also maintains the landscape of all City parks, recreational facilities, parking lots, streets medians and rights-of-way. A general overview of the Department is available on the Citizens' Academy Web page.

Following the presentation and questions, participants were split into two groups. Each group had a chance to tour the Living History Farm with our host, Recreation Leader Kate Devine who dressed in period clothing and shared a number of insights into what life was like on a Gainesville Farm in the late 1800s.

The second tour focused on the preserve areas in the park with Habitat Naturalist Don Musen. Don explained the importance of prescribed burning in the park. Morningside Nature Center is one of the last remaining examples of fire-dependent longleaf pine woodlands in the area. More than seven miles of trails wind through sandhill, flatwoods, cypress domes, and areas where native vegetation is being restored.

Following the park tours the Academy participants experienced a sample nature education program from dynamic Nature Operations staff members Sally Wazny, Program Coordinator and Hollie Greer, Nature Assistant.

Last on the session's agenda was an overview of the Administrative Services Department and the City's Budget process by Administrative Services Director Becky Rountree. A general overview of the department as well as the PowerPoint presentation given by Ms. Rountree is available on the Citizens' Academy Web page. Given the complexity of the budgetary process we plan on offering a second mini-session on the budget at Session 5 on November 30.

REMEMBER: Session 3 will be held at the Public Works Compound, located at 405 NW 39th Avenue, on Friday, November 2 from 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Please wear comfortable clothes and closed toed shoes suitable for walking. Questions? Please call the Communications and Marketing Office at (352) 334-5017 or e-mail parmeleeka@cityofgainesville.org.We look forward to seeing you next week!

Session 1 Recap: Governing the City

Thank you Citizens' Academy participants for your participation in Gainesville 101, the 2007 City of Gainesville’s Citizens’ Academy! We truly hope that you will receive the more insight into how your government operates on a daily basis and that you enjoy your experience.

Following each session we will post a blog entry recapping the session highlights and resources available on Gainesville 101: Citizens’ Academy Online, our Web page. Although we encourage attendance at every session, we understand that you may not be able to attend one of the sessions (if you need to miss a session, please e-mail us at parmeleeka@cityofgainesville.org). We hope this blog and the Web page will keep you informed and receive the most from your experience. If you have any questions or topics that you would like to see discussed, please feel free to post them here and a staff member will respond as soon as we have an answer. We look forward to serving as your “tour guides” throughout City government over the next few weeks.

Last Friday’s session covered “Governing the City”, where you met the honorable Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan and the Charter Officers. The Overview and Organizational Chart distributed to participants is also available on the Web page. Here is a brief recap of the session and information on additional online resources:

Communications and Marketing Staff Bob Woods, Communications and Marketing Manager, and Kate Parmelee, Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist, outlined the goals of the program. We then asked all participants to introduce themselves and describe why they enjoy living in Gainesville. Responses ranged from “I like how it is so green” to “I like the small town feeling,” to “The people are just so nice”. Many participants mentioned that they wanted to learn more and possibly become more involved with their City government.

The Honorable Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan discussed the role of the Mayor and City Commission, and explained the differences between different local government systems. She compared the Tallahassee City Government with the Gainesville City Government, explaining that the power really rests with the City Commission, of which the Mayor is a directly-elected member. More information on the role of the Mayor and City Commission is available on the City of Gainesville’s Web site here.

City Manager Russ Blackburn explained the role of the City Manager and the vision and values of the organization. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation given by the City Manager is available on the Web page here and you can also view the 2006 Citizens’ Report.

Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) General Manager Karen Johnson explained how GRU works and how they provide more than just electricity and discussed and how GRU is addressing power needs and consumption. She also recommended reviewing the GRU Web site (http://www.gru.com/). On the Web site, you can create an account and see how much energy you are consumed per month, as well as learn ways to further save energy and the price of your utility bill. More GRU resources are available on the Web page, including the Presentation given by Ms. Johnson, Residential Customer Rebate Information, Business Customer Rebate Information, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Tips and Storm Central – Hurricane Preparedness Information.

Litigation Attorney Liz Waratuke spoke on behalf of City Attorney Marion Radson and the City Attorney’s Office. More information on the role of the City Attorney’s Office is available on the City Attorney Web page.

Equal Opportunity Director Jimmie Williams provided an overview of the Office of Equal Opportunity. More information on the Office of Equal Opportunity is available on the Equal Opportunity Office Web page.

Kurt Lannon, Clerk of the Commission, gave an overview of the role of the Clerk of the Commission’s Office. More information on the role of the Clerk of the Commission is available on the Clerk of the Commission Web page.

City Auditor Brent Godshalk provided an overview of the City Auditor’s Office. More information and resources on the City Auditor’s Office is available on the Auditor’s Office Web page.

In addition to reviewing session information you can also access other important information on Gainesville 101: Citizens’ Academy Online, including information on how to get involved, community issues and the latest session information and maps. Remember to use the login information provided to you via e-mail and at the session to access all materials for each session. If you cannot login, please e-mail parmeleeka@cityofgainesville.org.

REMEMBER: Session 2 will be held at the Morningside Nature Center, located at 3540 E. University Avenue, on Friday, October 19 from 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Please wear comfortable clothes and closed toed shoes suitable for walking. Questions? Please call the Communications and Marketing Office at (352) 334-5017 or e-mail parmeleeka@cityofgainesville.org.

We look forward to seeing you next week!