The Gainesville Alachua County Regional Airport Authority
Community Participation Plan (CPP)[1]
1. Administration
The purpose of this CPP is to ensure that stakeholders or communities affected[2] by the Gainesville Alachua County Regional Airport Authority (“GACRAA”) projects or operations at Gainesville Regional Airport (“GNV”) can be informed and participate and have their input thoughtfully considered in the key stages during airport planning efforts, regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, age, or disability (hereafter, the “protected bases”). This plan is provided in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) and related authorities.[3] This plan and associated reports regarding our CPP efforts will be communicated to the public in formats accessible to persons with disabilities and to limited English proficient (LEP) individuals.
The individuals primarily responsible for implementing the GNV CPP are:
| Responsible Official | Title, Office, and Responsibilities |
| 1 Suzanne Schiemann | Manager, Communications & Human Resources |
| 2 Lynn Noffsinger | Grants and Contracts Administrator |
Responsible officials’ contact information is shared with the public through the following methods:
| Website, In-person, and Other Communication Methods |
| 1 https://gra-gnv.com/flygainesville.com/administration/gnv-staff-contacts/ |
In addition, GNV will ensure that members of the public are advised of our nondiscrimination obligations. This includes how to file discrimination complaints with GNV and the FAA. We will also conspicuously display the FAA-provided Unlawful Discrimination Posters at airport facilities. See Notice section of GNV’s Title VI Plan.
GNV also makes this CPP available through the following methods when engaging members of the public concerning planning efforts:
| Website, In-person, and Other Distribution Methods |
| 1 https://gra-gnv.com/flygainesville.com/community-participation-plan/ |
| 2 In-Person at community and pre-bid/pre-proposal meetings |
| 3 In-person at the Airport’s administrative offices |
2. Goals and Objectives
This CPP applies to all airport planning and decision-making efforts, whether or not directly supported by Federal assistance. This includes surveys, public meetings (e.g., airport commission meetings), and hearings, not only meetings for a project requiring an environmental impact statement (EIS) or environmental assessment (EA).
GNV’s planning processes that lead to decisions for projects or operations or those of any sub-recipients are:
| Planning Processes |
| 1. General Aviation Terminal – Design |
| 2. Commercial Apron Expansion Design (issued a Categorical Exclusion by FAA, no environmental or community impact, including noise and traffic impact) |
| 3. Baggage Handling System Design |
| 4. Baggage Handling System Construction |
| 5. Airport Master Plan and Storm Water Master Plan |
| Public Input Methods |
Planning Process(es) that use each Method |
| A. Community leaders in all affected communities are notified via postcard and notified of the time and place for community meetings about specific projects. Comment is invited at the meeting and also in advance in writing. (See Attachment 1 – Sample Postcard and Community Meeting invite.) |
#1, 3-5 |
| B. Community and neighborhood meetings are held as needed, depending upon the specific project impact. |
#1- 3-5 |
| C. The Airport’s Public Relations Manager attends community-based meetings, such as the Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Development Council, and reports on upcoming projects. |
#1-5 |
| D. Meeting notices and agendas for the Facilities and Planning Committee and Board Meetings are published in the Gainesville Sun and notices are sent out to interested parties based on a list of interested parties kept by the Airport. Public participation is invited. |
#1-5 |
GNV seeks public input for the above processes through the following methods:
3. Identification of and Focused Outreach to Affected Communities
See Community Statistics section of GNV’s Title VI Plan, for detailed discussion of Affected Communities.
The specific steps GNV will take to communicate with, inform, educate, consult or solicit input from, and expand opportunities for engagement with each Affected Community,[4] are provided below.
| Affected Community | Key Community Reps. (CBOs, unions, leaders, etc.)[5] |
Focused Outreach Steps |
| 1. Brittany Estates | Community Manager | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings |
| 2. Carol Estates South | Becky Runnestrand | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings |
| 3. Cedar Grove II | Helen Harris | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings |
| 4. Debra Heights | Sarah Poll | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings. |
| 5. Duval Heights – Front Porch Fla | Gilbert S. Means, SR. | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings |
| 6. Eden Park at Ironwood | Ironwood Associates LTD. | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings |
| 7. Greater Northeast Community | Miriam Cintron | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings |
| 8. Grove Street | Maria Huff-Edwards | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings
|
| 9. Ironwood | Nancy Testa | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings. |
| 10. Lamplighter | Larry Nicholson (Property Manager) | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings |
| 11. Lewis Place at Ironwood | 4121 NE 15th Street LLC c/o Broad Management Group | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings |
| 12. Northeast Neighbors | Sharon Bauer | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings |
| 13. University of Florida | Linda Dixon | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings |
| 14. Cedar Grove | Octavia Washington, President | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings |
| 15. Ironwood Golf Course Village | Ironwood Homeowners Assoc | a. Postcards
b. Community meetings c. Airport Facilities Committee meetings |
4. Effective Communication
GNV will ensure that public engagement is effective, meaningful, and free of linguistic, economic, historical, and cultural barriers to participation. Every effort will be taken to ensure clear, plain, and effective communication with Affected Communities, including ensuring materials are in accessible formats for persons with disabilities and in languages other than English. See Limited English Proficiency (LEP) section of GNV’s Title VI Plan.
5. Communication Platforms
Diverse communication platforms will be utilized to effectively reach the broadest audience. We will use the following platforms to communicate project details, our nondiscrimination obligations, and points of contact for the public to share project or operational feedback with our office and the FAA.
| Social Media, Monitors, and Other Communication Platforms |
| 1 Website (www.flygainesville.com) Link for public notices on the home page available in 26 languages through website translation |
| 2 Community Meetings – surveys |
| 3 Invitation for written comments via postcards, verbal comments at meetings |
| 4 Postcards |
| 5 Local newspaper |
6. Records
This section includes the procedures GNV will follow to document outreach efforts. Records for steps taken to provide outreach to Affected Communities will be maintained in the following locations:
| Website[6], In-person, and Other Storage Methods |
| 1 Hard copy files in the Airport Administrative Offices |
| 2 Electronic files |
Records will be kept for community input. The records will document how GNV considered, weighed, and incorporated input received. The records will include justifications for any decisions contrary to community feedback. The records will be stored in the following locations:
| Website, In-person, and Other Storage Methods |
| 1 Hard copy files in the Airport Administrative Offices |
| 2 Electronic files |
Records for demographics of participants will also be kept. Requested demographic information will include race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, age, disability, languages spoken, and community membership.[7] Demographic information will be requested by the following methods:
| Demographic Information Collection Methods |
| 1 Voluntary disclosure at Community Meetings and Pre-Bid Meetings |
| 2 Voluntary new employee optional survey |
CPP records will be made available to the public using the same methods for other information outlined within this plan.
7. Reporting Outcomes
Within 30 days of the end of each fiscal year (FY),[8] GNV will create a CPP Report for the completed FY. The report will summarize efforts taken under this CPP in a narrative statement describing:
- The specific steps taken to produce meaningful engagement with Affected Communities during the completed FY,
- The results of those efforts for the completed FY, and
- How the Affected Communities’ comments and views are or will be incorporated into the decision-making process.
The CPP Reports will be included with GNV’s Title VI Plan.
Attachment 1
Sample Postcard and Community Meeting Flyer
[1] See DOT Order 1000.12C, “The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Title VI Program,” Ch. 2, Sec. 4. (Jun. 11, 2021). https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2021-08/Final-for-OST-C-210312-002-signed.pdf
[2] Within this CPP, the term “affected” also means served, in addition to positively or negatively impacted.
[3] Related authorities include the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Sec. 520 of the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982; and the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987.
[4] “Affected communities” means any readily identifiable group impacted or potentially impacted by an airport project or operation, such as the community immediately surrounding a project or a community in the flight path. Note: Each community listed is represented in the Title VI Plan by a Census Tract.
[5] Potential representatives include chamber of commerce, environmental advocacy groups, business leaders, and labor groups. There representatives should have a close association with the community, with particular emphasis on connection to racial and ethnic minority groups within the communities, including limited English proficient populations, as well as other constituencies historically underserved by transportation programs, such as low income populations, and others.
[7] This information is solicited to demonstrate compliance with Title VI and related requirements. See 49 CFR § 21.9(b); 49 U.S.C. § 47123; 28 CFR § 42.406; and FAA Order 1400.11.
[8] The first report is required after the first complete fiscal year, after this plan is adopted. Information for activities during a partial year immediately following adoption of the plan will be included with the first full year’s report.