ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - Alachua County has several advisory boards with an unusual number of openings. These boards, made up entirely of volunteers, advise the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on important issues and programs. Appointments are made by the BOCC, and some positions have very specific requirements.
Below are several open advisory board seats:
Alachua County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
Alachua County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee is looking for citizens actively involved in real estate, the banking or mortgage industry or residential home building. A previous requirement that the citizens also be active in regard to affordable housing has been suspended, as allowed by Florida Statute 420.0976, excerpted below:
“If a county or eligible municipality whether due to its small size, the presence of a conflict of interest by prospective appointees, or other reasonable factor, is unable to appoint a citizen actively engaged in these activities in connection with affordable housing, a citizen engaged in the activity without regard to affordable housing may be appointed.”
The Alachua County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) is mandated by the State of Florida for all cities and counties receiving State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds. The AHAC’s mission is to review the established policies and procedures, ordinances, land development regulations, and comprehensive plan of Alachua County and to recommend specific actions or initiatives to encourage affordable housing while protecting the ability of the property to appreciate in value.
The CHOICES Advisory Board
The CHOICES Advisory Board needs professionals who are willing to volunteer. The Board meets the first Monday of each month at 4 p.m. The CHOICES Advisory Board vacant positions include: An attorney with expertise in health care, one Certified Public Accountant, one health policy professional, one managed care employee, and a small business owner.
At the direction of the County Commission, the CHOICES program is scheduled to continue through 2013. The CHOICES Program is an Alachua County effort to provide primary care and preventive medical and dental services to the working uninsured in the County. The CHOICES Advisory Board provides oversight and ongoing review of the program’s operations.
The Alachua County Human Rights Board
The Alachua County Human Rights Board (formally the Fair Housing/Human Rights Board) is looking for an attorney with experience in the areas of Labor & Employment, and/or Civil Rights Law. The Human Rights Board reviews complaint investigations and makes recommendations to the Equal Opportunity Manager for the enforcement of the Alachua County Human Rights Ordinance.
The Board meets on an as needed basis, usually on the fourth Thursday of the month. Meetings begin at 5:30 p.m.
Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center Advisory Council
Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center Advisory Council has five open seats for its eleven member citizens’ advisory council. The advisory council assists the Center by promoting community awareness of the program, advising the County on future policies and directions, and engaging in an annual review of the program. A citizen does not have to be a survivor of violence to serve on the council. All that is needed is a willingness to invest time in support of the Center’s goal - to diminish the impact of sexual violence and facilitate recovery to victims and survivors of violent crime.
The Alachua County Victim Services & Rape Crisis Center provides services to survivors of interpersonal violence, sexual violence and personal injury crimes. Established in the Gainesville/Alachua County community for more than 36 years, the program is available to support and assist anyone who is a victim or survivor of violence.
Click here and scroll down to apply for any of the County's advisory boards.
For more information, contact Advisory Board Program Coordinator, Mary Lowry at 352-264-6904 or mlowry@alachuacounty.us.