City Commission Regular Meeting

MINUTES

Thursday, February 01, 2024 at 10:00 A.m. - 10:00 P.m.

City Hall Auditorium

200 East University Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32601

Members Present:

• Commissioner Book, 
• Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut, 
• Commissioner Duncan-Walker, 
• Commissioner Eastman, 
• Mayor Ward, 
• Commissioner Saco, 
• and Commissioner Willits 

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A.

CALL TO ORDER

Meeting called to order at 10:01 a.m.

B.

INVOCATION

Pastor Beth Snarr, First United Methodist Church

C.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

REGULAR AGENDA UPDATES:

2024-101 Years of Service Recognition for Community Builders (B) Item Removed, Explanation: Requested by the City Manager

2024-124 Gainesville Police Department FY24 1st Quarter Update (B) New Item, Explanation: Mentioned at Agenda Review that the item would be added

2024-136 Agenda Item - State Legislative Update (NB) New Item, Explanation: Requested by the Mayor 

• Moved by Commissioner Eastman
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut

  Motion: The City Commission adopt the modified regular and consent agenda.

  Aye (7)

  Commissioner Saco, Mayor Ward, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut, Commissioner Eastman, Commissioner Book, and Commissioner Willits

  Approved (7 to 0)

D.

CONSENT AGENDA

• Moved by Commissioner Eastman
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut

  Motion: The City Commission adopt the modified regular and consent agenda.

  Aye (7)

  Commissioner Saco, Mayor Ward, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut, Commissioner Eastman, Commissioner Book, and Commissioner Willits

  Approved (7 to 0)

1.

Approval of Minutes from the January 18, 2024 City Commission Meeting (B)

• Moved by Commissioner Eastman
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission approve the minutes from the January 18, 2024 meeting.

  Approved

2.

2024-20 Appointments to the City Commission Advisory Boards and Committees (B)

• Moved by Commissioner Eastman
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission Appoint:
  
  Fernando Garcia to the City Beautification Board, for a term ending 11/01/2026;
  
  Claudia Garcia and Penny Wilson Weber to the Nature Centers Commission, for a term ending 11/1/2026;
  
  Frances Williams, Evelynn Foxx, Norbert Dunkel, and Simone Liang to the Police Advisory Council, for a term ending 01/21/28;
  
  Taite Miller to the Public Recreation and Parks Board as a Student Member for a term ending 06/30/24;
  
  Megan Atwater, Mary Lou Hildreth and Michael Pellett to the SHIP Affordable Housing Advisory Committee for a term ending 12/31/2025;
  
  Erick Smith and Ryan Klein to the Tree Advisory Board for a term ending 01/17/2027.

  Approved

3.

2024-103 Resignation from the Police Advisory Council (B)

• Moved by Commissioner Eastman
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission accept the resignation of Milford Griner, effective immediately.

  Approved

4.

2024-81 City Clerk Employment Agreement (B)

• Moved by Commissioner Eastman
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission approve the employment agreement of Kristen Bryant.

  Approved

5.

2024-119 Latoya Richardson o.b.o. GH, a minor, v. City of Gainesville, Florida; Case No. 2022-CA-3390; Eighth Judicial Circuit, in and for Alachua County, Florida (NB)

• Moved by Commissioner Eastman
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission authorize the City Attorney to enter into a settlement agreement to resolve the claim of Latoya Richardson, on behalf of her minor son G.H., arising from an incident that occurred on or about February 24, 2022 when G.H. had his ear bitten off during an altercation with another passenger on a City bus.

  Approved

6.

2024-121 Request for Qualifications Award Recommendation for Continuing Construction Management Services for Minor Projects (B)

• Moved by Commissioner Eastman
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission: 1) Request for Qualifications Award Recommendation for Continuing Construction Management Services for Minor Projects to 14 firms, as listed in the Explanation section of this agenda item, for a period of 4 years, with the option to renew for an additional 1-year term, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality.

  Approved

E.

EARLY PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

F.

BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS - MORNING

1.

2024-110 Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area Community Partnership Grant Program Update (B)

Daniel Blumberg, Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) Project Manager II, gave a presentation on an update of the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area Community Partnership Grant Program.

• Moved by Commissioner Book
  Seconded by Commissioner Eastman

  Recommendation: City Commission hear a presentation and approve the recommended Community Partnership Grant Program modifications.

  Motion: Approve as Recommended.

  Aye (7)

  Commissioner Saco, Mayor Ward, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut, Commissioner Eastman, Commissioner Book, and Commissioner Willits

  Approved (7 to 0)

2.

2024-124 Gainesville Police Department FY24 1st Quarter Update (B)

Nelson Moya, Assistant Chief, Gainesville Police Department, recognized officers for achievements and gave a presentation on the GPD FY 24 1st Quarter Update.

Deyaneira Morales-Mejias, Tele-Serve Operator, and Dr. Shefali Tripathi, Senior Police Planner, were recognized as Civilians of the Quarter; Sergeant John Mazzuca, Patrol Operations, was recognized as Supervisor of the Quarter; Corporal Matthew Quinn, was recognized as Officer of the Month for October.

Jaime Kurnick, Chief Inspector, Gainesville Police Department, gave a presentation on crime rates of identified peer cities, and the pre-arrest diversion program.

Victoria Young, Police Captain, Gainesville Police Department, gave a presentation on District 1 and 2 operations and interventions.

Lonnie Scott, Jr., Police Lieutenant, Gainesville Police Department, gave a presentation on criminal investigations, and the gun violence prevention initiative.

Lynne Valdes, Police Sergeant, Gainesville Police Department, gave a presentation on traffic crashes, community involvement, details/initiatives, and the co-responder team.

Marquitta Brown, Police Lieutenant, spoke to classroom presentations and career fairs that GPD participated in.

• Recommendation: The City Commission receive the GPD quarterly update.

  Heard

G.

RESOLUTIONS – MORNING (Roll Call Required) 

• Recess: 11:36 a.m.

  Reconvene: 1:00 p.m.

H.

GAINESVILLE HISTORY MOMENT

Ms. Donna Waller

I.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

Kali Blount, Johnny Law, Jim Konish

Cynthia Curry, City Manager, spoke to the item as it related to the State Auditor's findings for the Service Level Agreements among Charter Offices and the city's response.

J.

BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS - AFTERNOON

1.

2024-91 Discussion Item: Mayor Ward – Charter Officer Evaluation Process (B)

Laura Graetz, Human Resources Director, spoke to the item to give context and history of how the current process was developed.

Mayor Ward handed out a printed version of the motion that is attached to the minutes.

Commissioner Duncan-Walker handed out printed samples of charter officer specific evaluation forms, which are attached to the minutes.

• Moved by Commissioner Duncan-Walker
  Seconded by Commissioner Willits

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

  Motion: 1) The City Commission set a deadline of October 31 each year for the Charter Officers to submit their self-evaluations to be submitted to the city's Director of Human Resources; 2) The City Commission set November 30 each year for the commission's written evaluations of each charter officer to be submitted to the city's Director of Human Resources; 3) The City Commission receive the combined evaluations as an agenda item at its first full regular meeting in January of the following year; 4) If written evaluations from any member are not submitted by the deadline, that member's evaluations will not be included in the combined evaluations; and 5) Staff bring back charter officer specific guidelines for the evaluation form.

  Aye (7)

  Commissioner Saco, Mayor Ward, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut, Commissioner Eastman, Commissioner Book, and Commissioner Willits

  Approved (7 to 0)

2.

2024-136 State Legislative Update (B)

John Alexander, Government Affairs and Community Relations Director, introduced the item, and spoke to the item as to Gainesville being on a watch list for its Police Advisory Committee.

Thomas Harrington, Legislative Affairs Coordinator, gave a presentation on the update from the state legislation that had been filed.

Dan Nee, City Attorney, spoke to the item related to HB 601, affecting municipal Police Advisory Councils.

A presentation was given on the State Legislative Update, which has been attached to the minutes.

• Recommendation: The Commission hear a presentation from staff.

  Heard

K.

RESOLUTIONS - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

1.

2024-120 Commissioner Willits – Non-Binding Resolution Opposing Florida House Bill 601 (B)

• Moved by Commissioner Willits
  Seconded by Commissioner Eastman

  Recommendation: The City Commission adopt the non-binding resolution opposing the passage of Florida House Bill 601.

  Motion: Approve as Recommended.

  Aye (2)	Commissioner Eastman, and Commissioner Willits
  Nay (5)	Commissioner Saco, Mayor Ward, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut, and Commissioner Book

  Failed (2 to 5)

L.

ORDINANCES: ADOPTION READING - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

M.

ORDINANCES: SECOND READING - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

N.

ORDINANCES: FIRST READING - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

O.

COMMISSION COMMENT

Mayor Ward: 1) Spoke about meetings with Chair Carter, Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority and Tony Cunningham, CEO/General Manager and that he sat in on those meetings with each Charter Officer; and 2) Spoke about all of the amazing events, including the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire in and around Gainesville.

Commissioner Duncan-Walker: 1) Ibrim Xindi event conversation about Barracund; 2) Hoggetowne Medieval Faire; and 3) Cultural Arts Center discussion with Marshall Davis.

Commissioner Willits: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Cynthia Curry, City Manager, spoke to the PSLF item regarding sharing information.

Commissioner Eastman: Spoke about the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire and what a great event it was, thanked staff.

Cynthia Curry, City Manager, thanked Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs for the Medieval Faire and Marshall Davis event.

Kristen Bryant, City Clerk, spoke to the item related to PSLF.

Commissioner Book: 1) Thank you to staff for help at the Medieval Faire; 2) Curbside pick-up information with sustainable efforts; and 3) Attended the Florida League of Cities Elected Official Institute locally.

Jennifer Smart, Communications Director, spoke to the Medieval Faire item that about 28,000 attendees came to the Faire.

Andrew Persons, Chief Operating Officer, spoke to the item that the city invested $250,000 for the Medieval Faire.

Mayor Pro Tempore Chestnut: Congratulated Commissioner Book on graduating from the Florida League of Cities Elected Official Institute. 

P.

ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 2:58 p.m.