City Commission Special Meeting

MINUTES

-
City Hall Auditorium
200 East University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
Members Present:
  • Mayor Ward, 
  • Commissioner Book, 
  • Commissioner Chestnut, 
  • Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker, 
  • Commissioner Eastman, 
  • Commissioner Saco, 
  • and Commissioner Willits 

A.

  

Meeting called to order at 1:00 pm.

  • Moved byCommissioner Chestnut
    Seconded byCommissioner Eastman

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

    Aye (6)Mayor Ward, Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker, Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Eastman, Commissioner Book, and Commissioner Willits
    Absent (1)Commissioner Saco
    Approved (6 to 0)

C.

  
  • Moved byCommissioner Chestnut
    Seconded byCommissioner Eastman
    Approved On Consent
  • Moved byCommissioner Chestnut
    Seconded byCommissioner Eastman

    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.”

    Approved On Consent
  • Moved byCommissioner Chestnut
    Seconded byCommissioner Eastman

    Recommendation: The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.

    Motion: Approve as Recommended.

    Aye (6)Mayor Ward, Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker, Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Eastman, Commissioner Book, and Commissioner Willits
    Absent (1)Commissioner Saco
    Approved (6 to 0)

E.

  

Cynthia Curry, City Manager, introduced the item.

Leslee Highsmith Rogers, Community Reinvestment Area Project Manager III, gave a presentation on the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area Housing Programs Update and Recommendations.

Commissioner Saco joined the meeting at 1:05 p.m.

Corey Harris, Housing and Community Development Director, spoke to the item on the partnership between the Housing Department and the Gainesville Reinvestment Area Department.

Zeriah Folsten, Office of Equal Opportunity Director, spoke to the item on how these programs are moved through an equity lens.

  • Moved byCommissioner Saco
    Seconded byMayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker

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

     

    Motion: 1) Direct staff to obtain a quarterly report of all vendors used in the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA) program; 2) Research how long Heirs Properties have been used by each participant; 3) Allow retroactive payment of back taxes for prior GCRA applicants; 4) Allow My Neighborhood funds to be used for Heirs Property buyouts; and 5) Produce a report in March 2024 with an update on how much funding has been used for GCRA and Heirs Property upgrades.  

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

Morgan Spicer, Policy Research Administrator, introduced the item.

Nicole La Roque, Policy Research Fellow, gave a presentation on Commission Rules of Procedure.

Public Comment: Jim Konish

  • Moved byCommissioner Willits
    Seconded byCommissioner Book

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

     

    Motion: Direct staff to provide a procedural clarification for voting on advisory board appointees.

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

Betsy Waite, Wild Spaces Public Places Director, gave a presentation on the City Hall ponds on a proposed demolition and update.

John Weber, Park Operations Manager, spoke to the item regarding maintenance concerns of the ponds.

Cynthia Curry, City Manager, spoke to the item giving thanks to staff for bringing the plan forward.

Public Comment: Penny Weber, Jim Konish

  • Moved byCommissioner Book
    Seconded byCommissioner Chestnut

    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.

     

    Motion 1: 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)
  • Moved byMayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker
    Seconded byCommissioner Chestnut

    Motion 2: Direct staff to bring back information on adding programmable covered space to Wild Spaces, Public Places work plan, to be presented at a future General Policy Committee meeting.

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

Morgan Spicer, Policy Oversight Administrator, gave an overview of the City Commission General Policy Committee schedule.

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

    Heard
  • Moved byCommissioner Eastman
    Seconded byCommissioner Chestnut

    Motion: Cancel the General Policy Committee meeting for October 12, 2023.

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

Mayor Ward spoke to the item requesting to discontinue this placeholder item.

Public Comment: Jim Konish

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

    Heard

F.

  

Commissioner Willits - Spoke to the success of the Forest Park opening ceremony on September 23, 2023, and thanked Commissioners and staff for their efforts.

Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker - 

1) Thanked Cynthia Curry, City Manager, for her staff's efforts in the Duval sidewalk improvement and inquired about expanding the improvement plan.

2) Mentioned enforcement of the noise ordinance regarding the Hyatt Place Gainesville Downtown and another downtown business. Cynthia Curry, Cynthia Manager spoke to this item.

3) SELVA art exhibition on Friday, September 29 from 7-10 p.m.

4) Concerns about growing workplace friction at Gainesville Police Department between civilian staff and sworn officers. Cynthia Curry, City Manager, spoke to this item.

Commissioner Chestnut spoke about the Sunshine Meeting on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. regarding noise ordinance enforcement in downtown Gainesville.

Commissioner Eastman spoke about Laura Jane Grace receiving a key to the City of Gainesville and mentioned possibly adding a Mayor's Award of Distinction or a Lifetime Achievement award as alternative honorifics.

Commissioner Saco asked about a clawback provision included in the sale of Lot 10. Andrew Persons, Chief Operating Officer, spoke to the item indicating there was not a clawback provision.

Mayor Ward - 

1) Spoke about noise ordinance enforcement in downtown Gainesville and the growing workplace friction at the Gainesville Police Department between civilian employees and sworn officers.

2) Spoke to the upcoming City Commission schedule and mentioned there will be no meetings until October 19, 2023.

3) Mentioned the Gainesville Innovation Summit and is interested in how the City of Gainesville can support startup business efforts locally.

4) Mentioned he attended the Gainesville Housing Authority Choice Grant Kickoff Meeting, and he looks forward to the impacts it will have in the East Gainesville community.

G.

  

Meeting adjourned at 4:27 p.m

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