General Policy Committee Meeting

MINUTES

-
City Hall, Roberta Lisle Kline Conference Room (Room 16)
200 East University Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601
Members Present:
  • Mayor Ward, 
  • Commissioner Book, 
  • Commissioner Chestnut, 
  • Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker, 
  • Commissioner Eastman, 
  • Commissioner Saco, 
  • and Commissioner Willits 

A.
CALL TO ORDER - 1:02 PM

  

          

B.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

  

Public Comment: Jo Beaty

  • Moved byCommissioner Chestnut
    Seconded byCommissioner Eastman

    Motion: The General Policy Committee adopt the agenda. 

    Aye (7)Commissioner Saco, Mayor Ward, Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker, Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Eastman, Commissioner Book, and Commissioner Willits
    Approved (7 to 0)

C.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

  

D.
BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS

  

1.
2023-109 Infrastructure and Wild Spaces / Public Places Surtax Update (B)

  

Betsy Waite, Director of Wild Spaces and Public Places gave a presentation.

Roxana Gonzalez, Director of Parks Recreation and Cultural Affairs spoke to the item.

Leslie Ladendorf, Assistant Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs spoke to the item.

Phil Mann, Special Advisor on Infrastructure spoke to the item. 

Andrew Persons, Special Advisor on Sustainable Development spoke to the item.

Joseph Dixon, Fire Chief spoke to the item.

Public Comment: Bob Cohen, Penny Wilson-Weber Donald Shepherd, Alexander Hood

  • Recommendation: The City Commission: 1) receive a presentation from staff; and 2) approve staff recommendation for the FY 2023 Surtax Work program.

  • Moved byCommissioner Saco
    Seconded byCommissioner Willits

    Motion: Approve as Recommended.

    Aye (7)Commissioner Saco, Mayor Ward, Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker, Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Eastman, Commissioner Book, and Commissioner Willits
    Approved (7 to 0)

  • Recess - 3:09 PM

    Reconvene - 3:20 PM

2.
2023-86 Notification Requirements for Rent Increases and Lease Terminations (B)

  

Morgan Spicer, Policy Oversight Administrator Introduced and gave a presentation.

Katherine Pearson, Fellow gave a presentation.

Public Comment: Bobby Mermer

  • Recommendation: The General Policy Committee hear a presentation from staff and discuss.

  • Moved byCommissioner Saco
    Seconded byCommissioner Willits

    Motion: Staff 1) move forward with preparing an ordinance reflecting 60 days' notice for increases of rent above 5% or termination of leases, without -- not for terms; 2) look at our options for enforcement, and what that would mean. Staff to enlist a way to find out and present multiple options on the enforcement factor given their capacity and explore the creation of educational materials on all of our options on rental protections, and how one may exercise those rights.

    Aye (7)Commissioner Saco, Mayor Ward, Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker, Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Eastman, Commissioner Book, and Commissioner Willits
    Approved (7 to 0)

3.
2023-09 Commissioner Ed Book: Discussion Item – Written Community Input Procedure (B)

  

Morgan Spicer, Policy Oversight Administrator gave a presentation.

Omichele D. Gainey, City Clerk spoke to the item.

Public Comment: Jo Beaty, Debbie Martinez, Ernesto Martinez, Bobby Mermer, Ed Jennings

  • Recommendation: The General Policy Committee hear an update from staff and discuss.

  • Moved byCommissioner Book
    Seconded byMayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker

    Motion Part 1: Adopt the provisions as presented via the 2023-09 Community Input Procedure memorandum and direct the Charter Officers to carry out those action items.

    Aye (1)Commissioner Book
    Nay (6)Commissioner Saco, Mayor Ward, Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker, Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Eastman, and Commissioner Willits
    Failed (1 to 6)
  • Moved byCommissioner Saco
    Seconded byCommissioner Willits

    Motion Part 2: Ask the City Attorney to amend City Commission Rules 2 and 10 to double the time for speakers who enlist translators/interpreters including sign language and have staff come back with options including guardrails on how to permit more time for subject matter experts to speak.

    Aye (7)Commissioner Saco, Mayor Ward, Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker, Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Eastman, Commissioner Book, and Commissioner Willits
    Approved (7 to 0)
  • Moved byCommissioner Book
    Seconded byMayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker

    Motion Part 3: Ask the City Attorney to bring back language change for the City Commission Rules to add a general public comment period at the 5:30 pm/evening session of City Commission meetings with no restriction on whether or not someone has spoken in earlier sessions and only when the City Commission meeting includes an evening session.

    Aye (3)Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker, Commissioner Chestnut, and Commissioner Book
    Nay (4)Commissioner Saco, Mayor Ward, Commissioner Eastman, and Commissioner Willits
    Failed (3 to 4)

E.
MEMBER COMMENT

  

F.
NEXT MEETING DATE - February 23, 2023

  

G.
ADJOURNMENT - 6:12 PM

  
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