City of Gainesville
City Commission Regular Meeting
AGENDA

Thursday, January 05, 2023 at 1:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

City Hall Auditorium

200 East University Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32601

 

Commission Members

Mayor Harvey L. Ward, Jr.
Reina Saco (At Large, Seat A)
Cynthia Moore Chestnut (At Large, Seat B)
Desmon Duncan-Walker (District 1)
Ed Book (District 2)
Casey Willits (District 3)
Bryan Eastman (District 4)

 

The City Commission makes policy and conducts City business in an open forum. For information on how to attend the meeting and submit public comment, visit the City Agendas & Meetings website. 

Neighbors are welcome to attend meetings in person. Seating capacity may be limited. Fill out a comment card and give it to the meeting clerk to request to speak. Speakers will be called to share their comments in the order of sign-up.

 

The City Hall Auditorium and Roberta Lisle Kline Conference Room are equipped with hearing loop assistive listening systems. When using your own hearing aid, you must switch your device to Telecoil or “T” mode. If your hearing aid does not have a Telecoil mode, broadcast staff can provide a headset.

 

If you have a disability and need an accommodation in order to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of Equity and Inclusion at [phone] at least two business days in advance. TTY (Text Telephone Telecommunication Device) users please call 711 (Florida Relay Service). For Speech to Speech (STS) relay, please call 1-877-955-5334. For STS Spanish relay, please call 1-877-955-8773.  For STS French Creole relay, please call 1-877-955-8707.

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A.

CALL TO ORDER - 1:00 PM 

Agenda Statement: The City of Gainesville encourages civil public speech. The Gainesville City Commission expects each person entering this chamber to treat others with respect and courtesy. Speakers are expected to focus on agenda items under discussion and avoid personal attacks or offensive comments. Threatening language is not allowed. Anyone who repeatedly disrupts the proceedings will be asked to leave. Signs, props, posters, food and drink should be left outside the auditorium.

B.

INVOCATION

Saeed Khan, Hoda Islamic Center, Gainesville

C.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA - Includes Consent and Regular Agenda Items

D.

CONSENT AGENDA

2023-03 Interlocal Agreement with the School Board of Alachua County for Joint Use of Lincoln Park (B) 

     Department: Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs

     Description: Renewal of long-standing Agreement to allow public use of Lincoln Middle School’s park during after-school hours.

      Fiscal Note: No funding is being requested. Maintenance expenses associated with the City’s use of Lincoln Park are budgeted through the General Fund.

• Recommendation: The City Commission authorize the Mayor to sign and the City Clerk to attest the renewed Interlocal Agreement with the School Board of Alachua County for joint use of Lincoln Park, subject to the approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality.

2023-04 Resignation of Sophia Corugedo from the City Plan Board (B) 

     Department: Office of the City Clerk

     Fiscal Note: N/A

• Recommendation: The City Commission accepts the resignation of Sophia Corugedo, effective immediately.

2023-12 Gainesville Regional Utility’s Proposed FY24 Budget Calendar (NB)

     Department: GRU Budget, Finance and Accounting

     Description: This is a request for dates to be identified for a series of meetings with the City Commission for the purpose of reviewing GRU’s FY24 proposed budget. The requested timeframe is noted in the full text of this item.

     Fiscal Note: N/A

• Recommendation: The City Commission approve the suggested timeframe and direct the City Clerk to identify and schedule specific dates and times for meetings related to GRU’s FY24 Proposed Budget.

E.

EARLY PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

Members of the public who are unable to wait for their agenda item(s) to be called during the meeting may speak during Early Public Comment. Comment is limited to three (3) minutes on one agenda item or five (5) minutes on two or more agenda items. Speaking during Early Public Comment waives the right to comment during later agenda items.

F.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

Members of the public may speak for up to three (3) minutes per meeting on any item not on the agenda. General Public Comment may be submitted in advance by pre-recorded voice message only (see page 2 for details). The General Public Comment period shall not exceed 30 minutes total.

G.

BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS - AFTERNOON

2023-25 Mayor Harvey L. Ward, Jr., Committee Discussion (B)

     Department: Office of the City Commission

     Description: The City Commission discuss the efficacy and continuation of existing City Commission committees.

     Fiscal Note: N/A

• Recommendation: The City Commission discuss and take action deemed necessary.
  

2022-274 Recruitment Plan for Charter Officers (B)

     Department: Human Resources

     Description: Initiate a search for vacant Charter Officer positions.

     Fiscal Note: The anticipated total fiscal impact for recruiting all five Charter Officer vacancies is approximately $250,000. This amount includes an estimated $200,000 in search firm fees, as well as approximately $50,000 allocated for candidate travel and other expenses. This will be funded through Human Resources FY 2023 Operating Budget.

• Recommendation: The City Commission (1) approve the recruitment plan for filling the five Charter Officer vacancies and (2) authorize the Human Resources Department to engage the services of an Executive Search Firm(s) to initiate the search for each Charter Officer vacancy.

2022-767 Charter Officers’ Annual Performance Evaluations and Pay Increases (B) 

     Department: Human Resources

     Description: The City Commission evaluate the performance of the Charter Officers from October 1, 2021 - September 30, 2022, and approve pay increases for the Charters.

     Fiscal Note: Salary increases for the Charter Officers are budgeted in a personal services contingency account. The cost to provide a 2.5% increase to the Charter Officers as budgeted, and pro-rated for length of service during the evaluation period is approximately $31,000. The 2.5% increase was approved in the FY22 budget.  

• Recommendation: The City Commission: 1) review the performance of each Charter Officer; 2) establish appropriate performance ratings; and 3) consider pay increases for FY22.

2023-11 Update on Winter Energy Usage and Billing and Staffing (B)

     Department: Gainesville Regional Utilities

     Description: An unusually cold winter in Gainesville has the potential to increase electric bill totals for GRU customers. GRU staff will address the utility’s approach to reducing costs, assisting customers in lowering their energy usage to help keep their bills lower and other customer assistance during this challenging time. Staff will also provide an update on billing and staffing issues.

      Fiscal Note: The Utility will accrue additional expenses for contracting outside resources and overtime for current employees. These expenses will be absorbed in the FY23 budget.

• Recommendation: The City Commission hear a presentation from staff.

2022-177 Commissioner Chestnut - Reinstate Single-Family Future Land Use and Zoning Categories, and other related changes (B)

     Department: Office of the City Commission

     Description: The City Commission adopted Ordinance Nos. 21357, 21358, and 21359 on October 17, 2022. These ordinances eliminated single-family land use and zoning in the City of Gainesville, and made a variety of other related changes.  This motion directs staff to initiate petitions to reinstate single-family future land use and zoning in the city in all the areas where those designations existed prior to the adoption of the aforementioned ordinances, as well as to reinstate the other related changes. 

      Fiscal Note: N/A

• Recommendation: Direct staff to initiate petitions to reinstate single-family future land use and zoning in the city in all the areas where those designations existed prior to the adoption of the Ordinance Nos. 21357, 21358, and 21359, as well as to reinstate the other related changes made by those ordinances.

2022-178 Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut - Allow Up To One Accessory Dwelling Unit Per Lot and Require Owner Occupancy (B)

     Department: Office of the City Commission

     Description: The City Commission adopted Ordinance 190988 on September 3, 2020. That ordinance changed city laws governing accessory dwelling units, including exempting accessory dwelling units from density standards and allowing two accessory dwelling units per lot or parcel.

This motion refers to the city plan board: allowing one accessory dwelling unit per lot and requiring accessory dwelling units to meet the applicable density standard.

     Fiscal Note: N/A

• Recommendation: Refer the land development code amendments (as outlined in the item report) to the City Plan Board for consideration at its January 26, 2023 meeting.

2022-772 Bid Award and Cooperative Purchasing Contract Authorization – Forest Park Improvements (B)

     Department: Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs

     Description: This item is a request for the City Commission to authorize the bid award to Blackwater Construction Services, LLC for the Forest Park Improvement project, located at 4501 SW 20th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32607, and authorize the City to enter into a Cooperative Purchasing Contract with NGU Sports Lighting, LLC to purchase sports lighting via owner direct purchase for Forest Park.

     Fiscal Note: Funds in the amount of $3,702,877.00 are available for the Forest Park Improvement project from the WSPP Forest Park Wild Spaces & Public Places ½ cent sales tax project account and Wild Spaces & Public Places fund balance. Please note that $200,000 will be reimbursed to the City through a FRDAP Fiscal Year 2022-2023 grant. Funding above and beyond the construction contract amount with Blackwater Construction Services, LLC and the contract amount with NGU Sports Lighting, LLC is for the following: permit fees (site work, building permit, and utility connections), renovation of the existing restroom building and owner’s contingency. There is an anticipated annual increase in operating and maintenance cost of $90,000 for one additional Maintenance Worker II FTE, the additional lights, irrigation, restroom cleaning, and turf management after the Forest Park Improvement project is complete. There is also an anticipated one-time cost of approximately $62,000 for a truck, trailer, mower and hand tools to service the renovated park.

• Recommendation: The City Commission:  1) award the bid to Blackwater Construction Services, LLC for the construction of the Forest Park Improvement Project; 2) authorize the City to enter into a Cooperative Purchasing Contract with NGU Sports Lighting, LLC to purchase sports lighting via owner direct purchase for Forest Park and 3) authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contract documents and other necessary documents, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality.

 2023-09 Commissioner Ed Book: Discussion Item – Written Community Input Procedure (B)

     Department: Office of the City Commission

     Description: The City Commission will host a retreat on January 13, 2023 and requests that neighbors provide written suggestions for improving community input. All suggestions should be received into the City Clerk's Office no later than January 12, 2023 at noon. Input may be sent via email to [e-mail], US Mail to:

City of Gainesville, Office of the City Clerk, PO Box 490, Station 18,Gainesville, FL 32601-0490 or hand delivered during normal business hours.

     Fiscal Note: N/A

• Recommendation: The City Commission invite the community to submit written feedback.

2023-24 Alachua County Legislative Delegation Public Hearing, January 10, 2023 (B)

      Department: Office of the City Commission

      Fiscal Note: N/A

• Recommendation: The City Commission appoint a City Commissioner to attend the Alachua County Legislative Delegation Hearing. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 1:30 PM.
  

H.

RESOLUTIONS - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

I.

ORDINANCES: ADOPTION READING - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

J.

ORDINANCES: SECOND READING - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

2022-566 Petition LD22-000089 City of Gainesville, (Applicant) Requests to Amend the City of Gainesville Outdoor Lighting to Include FDOT Lighting Standards (B) 

     Department: Sustainable Development

     Description: The proposed amendment to Section 30-2.1 and Section 30-6.12 of the Land Development Code (Chapter 30 of the City of Gainesville Code of Ordinances) will update the City’s lighting standards for consistency with FDOT lighting standards.

     Fiscal Note: N/A

• Recommendation: The City Commission adopt the proposed Ordinance.
  

K.

ORDINANCES: FIRST READING - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

L.

COMMISSION COMMENT

4:30 - 5:30 PM Dinner Break

M.

CALL TO ORDER - 5:30 PM

N.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

O.

PROCLAMATIONS & SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

P.

EARLY PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

Members of the public who are unable to wait for their agenda item(s) to be called during the meeting may speak during Early Public Comment. Comment is limited to three (3) minutes on one agenda item or five (5) minutes on two or more agenda items. Speaking during Early Public Comment waives the right to comment during later agenda items.

Q.

RESOLUTIONS - ROLL CALL REQUIRED

 (Required by state law to be heard at 5:00 pm or later)

R.

BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS

S.

PUBLIC HEARINGS (Including Planning Petitions)

T.

ORDINANCES : ADOPTION READING - EVENING (Roll Call Required)

U.

ORDINANCES: SECOND READING - EVENING (Roll Call Required)

V.

ORDINANCES: FIRST READING - EVENING (Roll Call Required)

W.

COMMISSION COMMENT

X.

 ADJOURNMENT - 10:00 PM OR EARLIER 

If later than 10:00 pm, the Commission may waive the rules to extend the meeting or may schedule a date/time to continue the meeting.