- The Alachua City Commission rezoned 182 acres for the Farmlands Commercial development, expected to include a Walmart, by a 3-1 vote.
- Utility rates for water, wastewater, and electricity will increase, costing typical residential customers about $53 more annually.
- City Manager Rodolfo Valladares received an outstanding annual performance rating with a score of 9 from the commission.
The Alachua City Commission finalized rezoning ordinances on Monday for the controversial Farmlands Commercial development and approved utility rate increases on second reading. It also approved City Manager Rodolfo Valladares’s annual performance evaluation.
With Commissioner Jackson Youmas absent, the commission voted 3-1 to rezone the 182-acre project that’s expected to bring a Walmart to Alachua. Commissioner Jacob Fletcher dissented from the vote because he felt the applicant’s traffic studies weren’t sufficient.
Vice Mayor Jennifer Ringersen said she voted for the item with an understanding that more details on the traffic plans would come back before the commission in the next phase with the site plan.
The commission used the same 3-1 vote to approve increases for water, wastewater and electric utilities. During the Aug. 12 meeting, staff said residential customers would pay about $53 more per year, while the capital facility charge for building a new home would increase by $218.
Typical residential customers would pay $4.44 more per month (3% increase) for water, $1.24 for wastewater (2.5% increase) and $2.39 for electricity. Non-residential customers would see monthly increases of $4.08 for 33,000 gallons of use and $2.21 for 11,000 gallons of irrigation.
The City Commission unanimously approved City Manager Rodolfo Valladares’ annual evaluation, rating his performance “outstanding” with a score of 9 on a 0-to-10 scale.
The commission voted to install Valladares as interim city manager in June 2025 following former City Manager Mike DaRoza’s resignation. The city has since awarded Valladares a three-year contract in January as full-time city manager.
Valladares received an evaluation with input from each commissioner on performance traits such as reflection of city values, team management, community involvement and goals.
Fletcher emphasized that his favorable vote on the evaluation was purely procedural and not directed towards Valladares’ performance. He gave Valladares a 6.40 “Below Expectations” rating, while the city manager scored in the 9s and 10s from the rest of the commission. Youmas did not submit an evaluation.
“It goes without saying, we have an exceptional city manager,” said Commissioner Shirley Green Brown.