City of Gainesville
City Commission Regular Meeting
AGENDA

Thursday, February 05, 2026 at 10:00 A.m. - 10:00 P.m.

City Hall Auditorium

200 East University Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32601

 

Commission Members

Mayor Harvey L. Ward, Jr.

Mayor Pro Tempore Casey Willits (District 3)

James Ingle (At Large, Seat A)

 Cynthia Moore Chestnut (At Large, Seat B)

Desmon Duncan-Walker (District 1)

Ed Book (District 2)

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 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.

INVOCATION

Invocation given by Bishop Christopher Stokes, The New Beginning Christian Worship Center, Inc.

C.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

Includes Consent and Regular Agenda Items

D.

CONSENT AGENDA

1.

Approval of Minutes from the January 15, 2026 City Commission Meeting (B)

• Recommendation: The City Commission approve the January 15, 2026 minutes.

2.

2024-556 Informational Item: Upcoming City Events List (NB)

Department: Office of Communications & Marketing

Description: An informational report to summarize upcoming events of interest to the City Commission.

Fiscal Note: There is no fiscal impact.

• Recommendation: The City Commission receive the informational list.

3.

2026-65 Resignations from the City of Gainesville’s Advisory Boards and Committees (B)

Department: Office of the City Commission

Description: Harold Monk was appointed to the Audit Committee on November 4, 2021, for a term ending November 3, 2026. Nickolas Hill was appointed March 2, 2023 to the City Plan Board for a term ending November 1, 2026.

Fiscal Note: This item has no fiscal impact.

• Recommendation: The City Commission accept the resignation of Harold Monk and Nikolas Hill effective immediately.

4.

2026-66 RTS 2026 Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Annual Safety Certification and Adoption (B)

Department: Transportation

Description: Request for the City Commission to review and adopt the updated City of Gainesville Regional Transit System 2026 Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan.

Fiscal Note: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item; however, it is required to maintain eligibility for continued FTA assistance in the future.

• Recommendation: The City Commission: 1) review and adopt the City of Gainesville Regional Transit System 2026 Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan; and 2) authorize the City Manager or designee to sign the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Annual Safety Certification and Adoption.

5.

2026-74 Appointments to the City of Gainesville’s Advisory Boards and Committees (B)

Department: Office of the City Clerk

Description: The City Commission is pleased to receive applications for consideration to the City of Gainesville’s Advisory Boards and Committees, which are tasked with providing feedback to the City Commission and local agencies on a variety of local topics, including affordable housing, planning and development, environmental protection, safety, nature, cultural affairs, transportation and human rights.

Fiscal Note: This item has no fiscal impact.

• Recommendation: The City Commission appoint:
  - Jason Leagle to the Police Advisory Committee for a term ending, January 21, 2030.

6.

2026-86 Policy C-4 Compensation to Employees for Hours Worked During Incident Response (B)

Department: Human Resources Department

Description: Human Resources Policy C-4: Compensation to Employee for Hours Worked During Incident Response is amended to expand coverage from MAPs employees to include all full-time and part-time regular employees of the City of Gainesville – General Government who are not part of a public safety bargaining unit (Fire and Police). The policy will not apply to Department Directors and above.

Policy C-4 currently does not provide provision for compensation to employees deemed essential personnel during a critical incident/emergency when city facilities are closed for regular business. The proposed amendment would provide compensation to those eligible employees that report to work during facility closure on a regular business day.

Policy C-4 currently does not provide direction for recordkeeping of such incidents. The proposed amendment includes a section providing direction for appropriate recordkeeping in preparation for, response to, or recovery from a Declared Emergency/Incident.

Fiscal Note: Fiscal impact will vary depending on the operational needs during the Declared Emergency/Incident. However, compensation provided under this policy may be eligible for reimbursement by FEMA.

• Recommendation: The City Commission approve revisions to Human Resources Policy C-4.

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 on later agenda items.

F.

BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS - MORNING

1.

2026-84 Gainesville Police Department Quarterly Update (B)

Department: Gainesville Police Department

Description: Quarterly update to the City Commission on community engagement, events, data, and statistics of the Gainesville Police Department for October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025 (first quarter of FY 2026).

Fiscal Note: N/A

• Recommendation: The City Commission receive the quarterly update.

G.

RESOLUTIONS – MORNING (Roll Call Required) 

Unless mandated by statute to occur in the evening; may include Advocacy Resolutions and Binding Resolutions.

12:00-1:00 PM Lunch Break

H.

CALL TO ORDER

I.

GAINESVILLE HISTORY MOMENT

To be presented by Mangyne Vivian Filer.

J.

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 on later agenda items.

K.

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. The General Public Comment period shall not exceed 30 minutes total.

L.

BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS - AFTERNOON

1.

2025-356 Advisory Board and Committee Report (B)

Department: Office of the City Commission

Description: The Gainesville Arts in Public Places Trust Board annual report will be presented by the Chair.

Fiscal Note: This item does not have a fiscal impact.

• Recommendation: The City Commission hear a presentation and take action deemed necessary.

2.

2026-85 Gainesville Fire Rescue Quarterly Update (B)

Department: Gainesville Fire Rescue

Description: Quarterly update presentation from Gainesville Fire Rescue for the first quarter of FY 2026.

Fiscal Note: NA

• Recommendation: The City Commission hear a presentation from Gainesville Fire Rescue.

M.

RESOLUTIONS - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

N.

ORDINANCES: ADOPTION READING - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

O.

ORDINANCES: SECOND READING - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

1.

2024-315 Land Development Code Amendment Public Notice and Definitions (B)

Department: Office of the City Attorney

Description: Ordinance No. 2024-315

An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, amending the Land Development Code (Chapter 30 of the City of Gainesville Code of Ordinances) related to public participation and notice and providing definitions for legislative and quasi-judicial decisions, as more specifically described in this ordinance; providing directions to the codifier; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an effective date.

Fiscal Note: N/A

• Recommendation: The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.

P.

ORDINANCES: FIRST READING - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

Q.

COMMISSION COMMENT

R.

ADJOURNMENT

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.