LEON COUNTY

Chairman Tony Grippa and Commissioner Bill Proctor met in a publicly-noticed meeting on November 27, 2002, at Applebee’s. Also present were Erin VanSickle, Chairman Grippa’s Commission Aide, and Jeff Burlew, reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat.

The meeting began at 12:15 p.m.

Chairman Grippa asked if there were any Boards Commissioner Proctor was interested in serving on. Commissioner Proctor replied that he was interested in serving on the Juvenile Justice Board. He noted that there should be a Committee that deals with Federal and State legislative issues that affect Leon County, especially the procurement of special funding resources.

Chairman Grippa suggested that Commissioner Proctor might want to Chair a Board that oversees Federal and State lobbying efforts. Commissioner Proctor noted that County lobbyists need more contact with the Commissioners.

Chairman Grippa suggested discussing the County Charter and Consolidation efforts. He mentioned that the County Commissioners needed to take a leadership role and resolve the Sprayfield and CRA issues. He noted that County Commissioners needed to focus on citizens’ issues, such as ambulance services. Commissioner Proctor asked about the technicalities of achieving Consolidation and Commissioner Grippa answered that it is a ballot question.

Commissioner Grippa next asked if there were any more Boards that Commissioner Proctor was interested in being appointed to. Commissioner Proctor answered that he would like to find a national development firm with expertise in development issues facing traditionally African-American neighborhoods to develop the Fairgrounds. He mentioned the firm needed to have experience with these specific neighborhoods because in the long-term, the neighborhoods surrounding the Fairgrounds will still be predominantly African-American and their residents will be the people frequenting whatever is built on the Fairgrounds. Commissioner Proctor said it would be a good idea to begin to look for local and national investors for the land while the market study was occurring.

Commissioner Grippa agreed with him and said he believed a private firm should build on the Southside, but that it was definitely not the County’s responsibility to construct buildings. Commissioner Proctor agreed.

Commissioner Proctor suggested a Committee for steering the Fairgrounds Development that might include himself, Staff members, Citizens, and possibly some representatives from FAMU. Commissioner Grippa added that it might be helpful to add local individuals with experience in contracting, development, or building. For example, Commissioner Grippa said, Commissioner Proctor could ask a developer what he, as a private businessman, could foresee at the Fairgrounds site, and how much he would be willing to pay for the property. Commissioner Proctor reiterated that a private industry needed to be established on the site. He said there could be one or two County buildings there.

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Tony Grippa Date Bill Proctor Date