City of Gainesville
CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING
AGENDA

Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 1:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

City Hall Auditorium

200 East University Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32601

 

Commission Members

Mayor Harvey L. Ward, Jr.

Mayor Pro Tempore Desmon Duncan-Walker (District 1)

Reina Saco (At Large, Seat A)

Cynthia Moore Chestnut (At Large, Seat B)

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

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 CONSENT AND REGULAR AGENDA

C.

CONSENT AGENDA

1.

2023-921 First Amendment to Interlocal Agreement between Alachua County and the City of Gainesville for the Acquisition of the Trunked Radio System (B)

Department: GRU, GRUCom

Description: On June 22^nd, 2023, the General Policy Committee approved the “Interlocal Agreement between Alachua County and the City of Gainesville for the Acquisition of the Trunked Radio System.” The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners also approved the agreement, which outlined city and county staff’s fundamental terms intended to develop a purchase and sale agreement that would enable a transaction to sell the Trunked Radio System to Alachua County.

City and County staff subsequently continued negotiating “The Interlocal Agreement for Purchase and Sale of the Trunked Radio System.”

Fiscal Note: None.

• Recommendation: The City Commission approve and the Mayor sign the “First Amendment to Interlocal Agreement between Alachua County and The City of Gainesville for the Acquisition of the Trunked Radio System.”

D.

ORDINANCES: SECOND READING - (Roll Call Required)

1.

2023-754 Deleting Residential Rental Unit Permit Program (B)

Department: City Attorney

Description: Ordinance No. 2023-754: An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, deleting the Residential Rental Unit Permits program by amending Section 2-339 – Applicable Codes and Ordinances and by deleting Chapter 14.5, Article I titled “Residential Rental Unit Permits”; 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.

E.

BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS

1.

2023-922 Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area Housing Programs Update and Recommendations (B)

Department: Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area

Description: Staff will provide a year-to-date update and program recommendations for the following Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area housing programs: My Neighborhood Program, Heirs' Property Assistance Program, and the Neighborhood Paint Program.

Fiscal Note: The Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area funding underwrites these housing initiatives.

• Recommendation: The City Commission hear the presentation and provide direction on staff’s recommendations.

2.

2023-830 Commission Rules of Procedure (B)

Department: Office of the City Clerk

Description: The Policy Research Team will share background information on best practices related to rules of procedure for local governing bodies.

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

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

3.

2023-932 Presentation by Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs on the City Hall Plaza Ponds (B)

Department: Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs

Description: Staff presentation on a proposed demolition and rebuild of the City Hall Plaza Ponds to eliminate water features in favor of paved pedestrian areas and Florida-friendly landscaped greenspace.

Fiscal Note: There are capital, operations and maintenance costs associated with the City Hall Plaza Ponds. Staff is proposing to utilize in-house resources for the landscaping efforts (Park Operations/Tree Mitigation) and utilize Wild Spaces & Public Places funding for the new concrete work.

• Recommendation: The City Commission hear a staff presentation on a proposed demolition and rebuild of the City Hall Plaza Ponds and provide direction as necessary.

4.

2023-839 General Policy Committee Administrative Session (B)

Department: Office of the City Clerk

Description: The City Commission set its General Policy Committee schedule for FY2024 Q1.

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

• Recommendation: The City Commission set its General Policy Committee schedule for FY2024 Q1.

5.

2023-701 Utility Discussion Item (NB)

Department: Office of the City Commission

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

• Recommendation: The City Commission discuss necessary and relevant utility issues.

F.

MEMBER COMMENT

G.

ADJOURNMENT