Have Your Voice Heard: Serve on a Government Advisory Board

Home » Government

Posted February 22, 2024 |

As a citizen, taxpayer and voter, it can sometimes feel like government moves along without you. But, in addition to contacting your board and council members, you can also have a voice in local government by helping out on a volunteer board. Maybe you’re an expert in commercial real estate; maybe you know a lot about small business marketing. That expertise can help you, your fellow citizens and local government if you want to help out on a board.

Here is a new monthly listing of current vacancies for cities in Marion County and the county itself.

City of Dunnellon:

Police Officers & Firefighters Defined Benefit Plan

1 vacancy for a city resident

Description: The duty of the Board of Trustees is to operate and administer the Fire and Police Pension Plan in accordance with the direction of the City Council. Duties include, but are not limited to, administration of the plan assets.

Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the second month of each quarter at 8:30 am.

For more information, visit dunnellon.org/government/boards-commissions/police-officers-firefighters-pension-board

Planning Commission

1 vacancy for a member

Description: The Planning Commission has an administrative review function whereby the Commission reviews all changes to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, by amendment, evaluation, addition and appraisal for consistency with the existing Comprehensive Plan, and reviews all land-related/zoning ordinances to determine consistency to the Comprehensive Plan. With regard to its administrative review function, the Commission makes recommendations to the City Council. The Planning Commission holds quasi-judicial hearings with regards to land planning/zoning cases, site plan reviews, variances, special exceptions, and review/appeal of administrative orders, and forwards its findings/recommendations to the City Council.

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm.

For more information, visit dunnellon.org/government/boards-commissions/planning-commission

~~~~~

City of Ocala:

The City Council appoints individuals to serve on over 20 boards, advisory committees, and commissions. These volunteers are from all over Ocala, and their experience, knowledge and expertise help influence decisions affecting the City by providing advice and feedback to City leaders and Council.

If you have questions, contact clerk@ocalafl.gov or call the Office of the City Clerk at (352) 629-8266. The main page is ocalafl.gov/government/city-departments-a-h/city-clerk/boards-and-commissions  and each board has its own page and application link.

All are welcome to submit an application for consideration to a board or commission. Many boards have specific requirements, such as living within the city limits, being a qualified city voter, or owning real property within the city limits. These requirements, if any, are detailed for each board on their page.

North Magnolia Redevelopment Advisory Committee

Description: The committee shall advise the Community Redevelopment Agency on redevelopment efforts of the established subarea pursuant to Chapter 163, Part III, Florida Statutes.

Vacancies: 1 current vacancy; 0 terms expired; 2 terms ending soon.

Size:  7 Members

Term Length:  4 years

Term Limit: n/a

Planning & Zoning Commission

Description: The Planning & Zoning Commission is responsible for advising City Council on current and long-range planning, review and permitting of land development within the City of Ocala. Make recommendations to City Council relating to zoning and land use and ensures that changes proposed are consistent with City’s Comprehensive Plan.

Vacancies: 1 current vacancy; 0 terms expired; 2 terms ending soon

Size:  7 Members

Term Length 3 years

Term Limit n/a

West Ocala Redevelopment Advisory Committee

Description: The committee advises the Community Redevelopment Agency on redevelopment efforts of the established subarea pursuant to Chapter 163, Part III, Florida Statutes.

Vacancies: 1 current vacancy; 0 terms expired; 1 term ending soon

Size: 9 Members

Term Length:  4 years

Term Limit n/a

~~~~~

Marion County:

As of February 7, 2024, Marion County has vacancies on the following boards: Board of Adjustment, Code Enforcement Board, Industrial Development Authority, Rainbow Lakes Estates Advisory Board, and the Tourist Development Council. These are volunteer positions and have specific qualifications and criteria depending on the board’s focus.

The county commission plans to appoint members on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 or as soon thereafter as possible.

An online application can be downloaded here: https://www.marionfl.org/my-commissioners/advisory-boards  and can be printed or saved as a PDF. Please email completedforms to commissionadmin@marionfl.org upon completion. Applications can also be obtained at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners’ Office located at 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala, Florida or by calling 352-438-2323.

Board of Adjustment (1 Alternate Member – Unexpired Term 06/2026)

Qualifications/restrictions: No member of the Board of Adjustment shall hold any other public position or office in any municipality or county government in Marion County. Members of the Board of Adjustment shall be residents of the county and registered voters.

Responsibilities: Review and make decisions under the Marion County Land Development Code regarding citizen requests for variances or special exceptions. Hear and decide appeals concerning interpretations of the Land Development Code by the Zoning Department Manager. Alternate members may act in the temporary absence or disability of any regular member or may act when a regular member is otherwise disqualified in a particular case that may be presented to the Board of Adjustment.

Code Enforcement Board (1 Alternate Member – Unexpired Term 02/2026)

Qualifications/restrictions: Members shall be residents of Marion County and should have experience or interest in zoning and building control, and, whenever possible be in the field of architecture, engineering, general contracting, or subcontracting.

Responsibilities: Members shall have the power to adopt rules for the conduct of its hearings; subpoena alleged violators & witnesses to its hearings; subpoena records, surveys, plats & other documentary evidence; take testimony under oath; issue orders having the force & effect of law, commanding whatever steps are necessary to bring a violation into compliance and establish and levy fines pursuant to county ordinance.

Industrial Development Authority (2 Full Members – Full Term 03/2024)

Qualifications/restrictions: Applicants must be electors and residents of Marion County.

Responsibilities: Includes considering industrial and manufacturing projects with appurtenant facilities and determine the appropriateness of financing such projects through the issuance of an industrial development board’s ordinance.

Rainbow Lakes Estates (1 Full Member – Unexpired Term 12/2024)

Qualifications/restrictions: Applicants must be registered electors residing in within the Rainbow Lakes Estates Municipal Service District.

Responsibilities: May participate in the preparation of annual budget request; review and comment on programs, activities, goals and objectives and make recommendations on these and other issues as directed by the county commission.

Tourist Development Council (1 Full Member – Full Term 02/2028 – Collector)

Qualifications/restrictions: Applicants must be a registered voter of Marion County & must be an owner or operator of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks, or other tourist accommodations in the county and subject to the tourist tax.

Responsibilities: The TDC meets at least once a quarter & may make recommendations to the county commission for the effective use of the tourist development tax revenues.

Note, the City of Belleview does not list board/committee vacancies on its website. The listings page is here: belleviewfl.org/151/Boards-Committees