City of Gainesville
CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING
AGENDA

Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 1:00 P.m. - 2:00 P.m.

City Hall Auditorium

200 East University Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32601

 

Commission Members

Mayor Harvey L. Ward, Jr.

Mayor Pro Tempore Bryan Eastman (District 4)

James Ingle (At Large, Seat A)

 Cynthia Moore Chestnut (At Large, Seat B)

Desmon Duncan-Walker (District 1)

Ed Book (District 2)

Casey Willits (District 3)

 

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.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

C.

BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS

1.

2025-371 FY 2026 Budget Development Workshop (B)

Department: Office of Management & Budget

Description: Staff update on the City’s FY 2026 Budget Development process for the following departments: Fire, Police, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, and Public Works.

Fiscal Note: Impact to be determined as the FY 2026 budget is developed.

• Recommendation: The City Commission hear the presentation from staff.

2.

2025-353 Fire Special Assessment Preliminary Rate Resolution (B)

Department: Office of the City Attorney

Description: Resolution No. 2025-353

A resolution of the City of Gainesville, Florida, relating to the provision and funding of fire services, facilities and programs in the City of Gainesville, Florida; providing for the imposition and computation of fire services special assessments; providing for legislative determinations of special benefit and fair apportionment; describing the method of assessing fire services assessed costs against assessed property located within the City of Gainesville; establishing the estimated assessment rate for fire assessments for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025; directing the preparation of an assessment roll; providing for hardship assistance; providing for method of collection; authorizing a public hearing and directing the provision of notice; providing for application of assessment proceeds; providing for severability; and providing an immediate effective date.

Fiscal Note: At the recommended recoupment rate of 53% of the assessable budget, the estimated revenue to be collected in Fiscal Year 2026 is $12,614,733 which is $317,257 or 2.6% higher than the FY 2025 adopted revenue of $12,297,476.

• Recommendation: The City Commission: 1) establish the Preliminary Fire Services Special Assessment Rates as follows:

  Residential Property Use Categories                                         Rate Per Square Foot  

  Single Family Residential                                                               $ 0.0900                            

  Multi-Family Residential                                                                 $ 0.0892              

  Non-Residential Property Use Categories                                 Rate Per Square Foot  

  Commercial                                                                                    $ 0.1185  

  Industrial/Warehouse                                                                     $ 0.0884      

  Institutional                                                                                     $ 0.2267    

                 

  2) set the public hearing on the Annual Rate Resolution at 5:30 pm (or as soon thereafter as may be heard) on September 11, 2025; and 3) adopt the proposed Preliminary Rate Resolution.                    

   

D.

MEMBER COMMENT

E.

ADJOURNMENT