Escambia County Board of County Commissioners Seeking Appointees

The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering for specialized/layperson appointments to County Boards and Committees which may have vacancies in the remainder of 2015.   Appointees serve without compensation and some appointments require filing of Financial Disclosure Forms. 

The Area Housing Commission was established in accordance with Florida Statutes including, particularly, Chapter 421, as amended. Its purpose is to provide decent, safe, sanitary, and economical housing to low- and moderate-income families in Escambia County, and has jurisdiction county-wide with the exception of the town of Century. Commissioners serve a four-year term of office.

The Escambia County Board of Adjustment was established under Ordinance No. 88-16. The Board of Adjustment (BOA) conducts any required quasi-judicial public hearings to grant, grant with conditions, or deny applications for variances, conditional uses, requests for final extension of development orders for site plan approval, requests for the temporary use of a mobile home as a guest residence due to medical hardship and appeals of administrative decisions filed by those persons aggrieved by interpretations or administration of these regulations. Under County Ordinance the Board of County Commissioners can review of the orders of the BOA affirming, reversing or modifying the decision of an administrative official.  Board members serve a two-year term of office and a Financial Disclosure Required.

The Escambia County Board of Electrical Examiners attend meetings to review applications, administer written examination of applicants, issue Certificates of Competency as electricians, and maintain official records of all transactions.  The Board is to consider any charges against certificate holders for willful violations or incompetence. Board members serve a three-year term.

The duties of the Escambia County Contractor Competency Board are to accept applications, administer examinations and issue Certificates of Competency as a certified contractor to those who qualify; record Certificates and issue renewals; make an annual report; investigate and take appropriate action on complaints. Board members serve a three-year term.

The Escambia County Extension Council was established in accordance with Florida Statutes.  The purpose of this Council is to study the needs of the County in developing its natural resources, its families and youth; to provide for the organization of planning committees in various agricultural commodities in youth and in all phases of home economics important to Escambia County; to provide for close liaison between the committees, County extension agents and the Council; and to coordinate the reports of all committees into a single Escambia County resource development program designed to develop the County’s resources and its people through programs for which the cooperative Extension Service has a responsibility for initiating or coordinating.  Council members serve a two-year term of office.

The Escambia County Health Facilities Authority was established in accordance with Florida Statutes. The Authority’s duties are to assist health facilities in acquisition, construction, financing and refinancing of projects. Knowledge of finance and/or health care administration required.  Authority members serve a four-year term of office.  Financial Disclosure Required.

The Escambia County Housing Finance Authority was established in accordance with Florida Law. The Authority’s duties are to assist in eliminating shortages of adequate housing; stop reoccurrence of slum conditions; and stimulate employment and commerce. Knowledge in the area of labor, finance or commerce required. Authority members serve a four-year term of office. Financial Disclosure Required.

The Human Services Appropriations Committee concurrently reviews agency funding requests to Escambia County and the City of Pensacola, making funding recommendations individually to both bodies in accordance with policy and procedure agreements with each.  No members of the Committee shall be a member or employee of, or serve on any board of, any of the requesting agencies reviewed by the Committee. Board members serve a three-year term.

The Escambia County Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) was established by the Board of County Commissioners in 2005. Upon the legislative sunset of the Escambia County Civil Service Board, the MSPB was created to provide a fair and equitable mechanism for the expeditious review of appeals and grievances of the classified employees of the County before a non-partisan deliberative body.  County Ordinance 2005-38 provides the means for a classified, permanent employee under the jurisdiction of the MSPB to appeal disciplinary actions, and that these employees may file an appeal or grievance for perceived violations of the Ordinance or the Rules. Presently, the classified employees under the jurisdiction of the Board of County Commissioners, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Supervisor of Elections are covered under the MSPB.  Board members serve a three-year term.

The Escambia County Planning Board was established under Ordinance No. 88-15. It shall be the continuing duty of the Planning Board to be currently informed and knowledgeable of the conditions and development of the County and to make studies and recommendations relating to County growth management, either initiated by the Planning Board, the County Administrator, or the Board of County Commissioners. The Planning Board shall hear, give consideration to and make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on the following matters in accordance with the requirements of the applicable County Ordinance or State regulation: 

1. Comprehensive planning program including preparation of the Comprehensive Plan or elements or positions thereof for the County.
   1. Coordination of such Comprehensive Plan or elements or portions thereof with the Comprehensive Plan or other appropriate city/town governments and the State.
   2. The monitoring of the effectiveness and status of the Comp Plan adopted by the BCC.
   3. Changes in the Comprehensive Plan as may be required from time to time.
   4. Text change to County ordinances designed to promote orderly development as set forth in the Comprehensive Plan.
2. An application by any person, including the County, proposing the enactment, amendment or repeal of a land development regulation shall be made to the Director of the Planning & Engineering Department on forms provided by the department.  Completed applications will be forwarded to the Planning Board for consideration at a public meeting, and the Board shall make a recommendation to the BCC.  The meaning of land development regulation, as stated in this subsection, does not include a quasi-judicial action on a rezoning request.
3. Applications on the following land use matters.
   1. Proposed County-initiated legislative rezoning of an area of specifically designated properties that does not require a quasi-judicial hearing.
   2. Proposed amendments to the overall zoning ordinance (LDC).
   3. Interpret provisions of the LDC for clarification or determination of meaning and intent, if questions should arise regarding the meaning (more in Section 2.07.01).
   4. Planned Unit Developments (PUD). 

Board members serve a two-year term of office. Financial Disclosure Required.

The Escambia County Tourist Development Council (TDC) was created in accordance with Florida Statutes. The TDC’s duties are to review each proposal for expenditure of funds to determine if it complies with the Tourist Development Plan as outlined, review all expenditures from the Revenue Trust Fund and to report findings to the BOCC and the Florida Department of Revenue. Members shall be owners/operators of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks or other tourist accommodations in Escambia County and subject to the tax, and/or individuals involved in the tourist industry, or who have demonstrated an interest in development but are not owners/operators within the tourist industry. Council members serve a four-year term of office.

The Escambia-Pensacola Human Relations Commission was established by an inter-local agreement between the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and City of Pensacola in April 1978. The purpose of the Commission is to be “responsible for the promotion of fair treatment and equal opportunity to all citizens of the local community.”  Commission members serve a two-year term of office.

The Value Adjustment Board provides for the hearing of all petitions, complaints, appeals and disputes concerning taxable assessment of properties, was established in accordance with Section 194.015, Florida Statutes, which was revised on September 1, 2008.  Board members serve a one-year term of office.

Escambia residents interested in serving on the committees, councils or boards listed above, are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating the board on which they wish to serve by the close of business on Friday, February 27. Resumes should be submitted to Judy Witterstaeter, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502.