Collectively, the conditions of the proposed "settlement agreement" will accelerate the deterioration of Alachua County's water quality and wildlife, and promote the sprawling, uncontrolled growth pattern that we know will needlessly increase traffic congestion, crowd our schools, drive the continuing decline of central and east Gainesville, and ultimately push up property taxes. As so often happens in the political world, the specific, focused economic interests of a relative few have been elevated above the general interests of the many.

But the public dialog on such issues is one in which people of integrity can disagree, and it will continue in future meetings and political campaigns. Tonight, what is more important is that the settlement agreement before us represents an arrogant disregard for the public policy making process; not due to its specific content, but because of how it was developed.

Years of exhaustive public input received through numerous advertised meetings open to all citizens yielded a thoroughly considered, judiciously balanced, and internally integrated plan for managing growth in Alachua County. That plan, adopted last year, included many major and minor policy compromises based upon input from all competing interest groups, all of whom enjoyed equal access to the policy making table throughout the lengthy process. But one interest group could afford to hire attorneys, and thereby continue the process through legal means to its exclusive benefit long after all other interest groups had been escorted from the room. The product of that process, developed through restricted meetings and private communications, is what we are voting on tonight.

Political ideas and majorities come and go, and public policies can and should change in response to changing public sentiments. But all political factions in a democracy should be able to agree on the paramount importance of a consistent and open political process. The "settlement agreement" flaunts that process, and for that reason alone, should be rejected by this Board.

Meeting Report

July 15 Mediation Vote

Commissioner Byerly's Comments March 20, 2003

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