City of Gainesville
General Policy Committee Meeting
AGENDA

Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 1:00 P.m. - 2:00 P.m.

City Hall Auditorium

200 East University Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32601

 

Commission Members

Mayor Harvey L. Ward, Jr.

Mayor Pro Tempore Bryan Eastman (District 4)

James Ingle (At Large, Seat A)

 Cynthia Moore Chestnut (At Large, Seat B)

Desmon Duncan-Walker (District 1)

Ed Book (District 2)

Casey Willits (District 3)

 

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 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

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.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

C.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

1.

Approval of Minutes from the October 9, 2025 General Policy Committee Meeting (B)

• Recommendation: The General Policy Committee approve the minutes from the October 9, 2025 meeting.

D.

BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS

1.

2025-771 Discuss City Manager Recruitment (NB)

Department: Human Resources Department

Description: Discuss City Manager Recruitment

Fiscal Note: There is no fiscal impact at this time.

• Recommendation: The General Policy Committee discuss City Manager recruitment considerations.

2.

2025-662 GRACE Marketplace Property Discussion (B)

Department: Office of the City Manager’s Office

Description: Staff and City Commission discussion on the potential transfer of City-owned Tax Parcel # 08197-009-000 and a portion of Tax Parcel # 08197-011-000 as Surplus Property Not Designated for Affordable Housing for the purpose of conveyance to GRACE Marketplace.

Fiscal Note: Pursuant to the proposed terms, the City would transfer the referenced tax parcels to GRACE Marketplace for a nominal sum of $1 with a perpetual reverter clause limiting the use of the property for a Continuum of Care facility. An appraisal completed by the City in October of 2024 determined the value of the land and improvements at $4.6 million. The City incurs ongoing maintenance and capital expenses, which would shift to GRACE Marketplace as a result of the property transfer.

• Recommendation: The General Policy Committee discuss and provide staff direction.

3.

2025-723 Funding Recommendation for Local Government Area of Opportunity Project (B)

Department: Housing & Community Development

Description: Request for the General Policy Committee to consider approving the use of ConnectFree Program funding to assist an Affordable Rental Housing Project.

Fiscal Note: For Fiscal Year 2024-25, the City has budgeted $460,000 of ConnectFree Program revenue for a Local Government Contribution to a Local Government Area of Opportunity (LGAO) project.

• Recommendation: The General Policy Committee: 1) hear a presentation from staff and the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee; 2) approve funding the Hope @ Debra Heights Affordable Rental Housing Project in the form of a loan in the amount of $460,000.00 with a 5% annual interest rate with a balloon payment at the maturity of the first mortgage, and a 30-year amortization period; and 3) authorize the City Manager or designee to execute any documents necessary to such funding, subject to City Attorney approval as to form and legality.

4.

2025-848 Solid Waste Division Update (B)

Department: Public Works

Description: Status update and recommendations for Food Waste Pilot Program, Food Waste components of the Zero Waste Ordinance, Commercial Franchise Fee Restructuring options, and Ordinance Options for Commercial Haulers.

Fiscal Note: If the Residential Curbside Food Waste Pilot Program is sunset the City would save $163,000 annually for contractual service costs for pickup and processing of food waste and spend $3,380 in tipping fees for the 52 tons of food waste picked up by the program resulting in a savings of $159,620 from the Solid Waste Fund balance for Fiscal Year 2026. The total cost to the public for the Food Waste collection city-wide is estimated to be $4.7 million to $24.2 million annually.

• Recommendation 1: The General Policy Committee directs City Manager to: 1) sunset the Curbside Food Waste Collection Pilot Program effective December 31, 2025; and 2) research and return with options to address staff concerns related to construction and demolition haulers.

• Recommendation 2: The General Policy Committee direct the City Attorney to work with the City Manager to advertise an ordinance to: 1) eliminate multi-family food waste collection requirements; 2) eliminate front of house food waste collection requirements; 3) permit pharmacies to have options other than containers for drug collection; 4) add mandatory reporting requirements of violations for haulers; and 5) require haulers to provide collection container types and sizes.  

• Recommendation 3: The General Policy Committee 1) hear feedback from haulers regarding the commercial franchise fee restructuring; and 2) provide feedback or direction to Staff regarding commercial franchise fee restructuring.

E.

MEMBER COMMENT

F.

NEXT MEETING DATE - November 13, 2025

G.

ADJOURNMENT