City Commission Special Meeting

MINUTES

Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at 1:00 P.m. - 5:00 P.m.

City Hall Auditorium

200 East University Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32601

Members Present:

• Mayor Poe, 
• Commissioner Duncan-Walker, 
• Commissioner Ward, 
• Commissioner Arreola, 
• Commissioner Hayes-Santos, 
• and Commissioner Chestnut

Members Absent:

• Mayor-Commissioner Pro Tem Saco

---

A.

CALL TO ORDER- 1:01 PM

B.

ROLL CALL

C.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

• Moved by Commissioner Hayes-Santos
  Seconded by Commissioner Chestnut

  Motion: Adopt and remove entirely F1, G1, H1 and H2.

  Aye (5)	Commissioner Hayes-Santos, Commissioner Ward, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Poe, and Commissioner Chestnut
  Absent (2)	Mayor-Commissioner Pro Tem Saco, and Commissioner Arreola

  Approved (5 to 0)

D.

BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS - AFTERNOON

D.1

Award of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Project 2022-568 (B)

John Wachtel, Neighborhood Planning Coordinator gave a presentation.

Cynthia Curry, Interim City Manager spoke to the item.

Corey Harris, Housing and Community Development Director spoke to the item.

Public Comment: Jo Beaty, Kali Blount, Armando Grundy-Gomes

• Moved by Commissioner Arreola
  Seconded by Commissioner Hayes-Santos

  Recommendation: The AHAC recommends that the City Commission: 1) Hear a presentation from the AHAC and staff; 2) Approve funding and loan terms for the Woodland Park, Phase 2 Affordable Rental Housing Project in the amount of $460,000.00 from the ConnectFree Program; and 3) Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute any documents necessary to such funding, subject to City Attorney approval as to form and legality. 

  Motion: Approve as Recommended.

  Aye (6)	Commissioner Hayes-Santos, Commissioner Arreola, Commissioner Ward, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Poe, and Commissioner Chestnut
  Absent (1)	Mayor-Commissioner Pro Tem Saco

  Approved (6 to 0)

E.

SECOND READING - AFTERNOON

E.1

Quasi-Judicial – Rezoning 25.38 Acres of Property Located West of Interstate 75 and North of SW 8th Avenue 2022-628 (B)

Public Comment: Jo Beaty, Kali Blount

• Moved by Commissioner Hayes-Santos
  Seconded by Commissioner Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.

  Motion: Approve as Recommended.

  Aye (6)	Commissioner Hayes-Santos, Commissioner Arreola, Commissioner Ward, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Poe, and Commissioner Chestnut
  Absent (1)	Mayor-Commissioner Pro Tem Saco

  Approved (6 to 0)

E.2

Amending the “City of Gainesville Sexual Offender and Sexual Predator Ordinance" Residency Prohibition Regarding Applicability and Geographic Area 2022-600 (B)

• Moved by Commissioner Hayes-Santos
  Seconded by Commissioner Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.

  Motion: Approve as Recommended.

  Aye (5)	Commissioner Hayes-Santos, Commissioner Arreola, Commissioner Ward, Mayor Poe, and Commissioner Chestnut
  Absent (2)	Mayor-Commissioner Pro Tem Saco, and Commissioner Duncan-Walker

  Approved (5 to 0)

E.3

Land Development Code Amendments to Parking Regulations and Minimums 2022-582 (B)

Public Comment: Jo Beaty, Kali Blount

• Moved by Commissioner Hayes-Santos
  Seconded by Commissioner Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.

  Motion: Approve as Recommended.

  Aye (6)	Commissioner Hayes-Santos, Commissioner Arreola, Commissioner Ward, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Poe, and Commissioner Chestnut
  Absent (1)	Mayor-Commissioner Pro Tem Saco

  Approved (6 to 0)

F.

ADOPTION READING - AFTERNOON

F.1

Amend Future Land Use Map from Urban Mixed Use High (UMUH) to Planned Use District (PUD) 2022-536 (B)

Robert Tucker

The planned development is not on a major commercial thoroughfare but is on an internal street with residential housing. Building this 12-story structure with no setbacks just 15' from a single family house that is a contributing structure of the Historical District, means the residents will have no grass, no landscaping, no light, but will likely have more mold for the next 200 years. That’s bad planning.

Robert Mounts

My comments in opposition are included in my recent guest column in the Gainesville Sun at the link below. This is my second attempt to comment and obviously the first did not take. https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2022/09/28/robert-mounts-gainesville-needs-moratorium-development/8091557001/

Jenny Tucker

The proposed high-rise buildings would be just 10 feet away from my property, separated by a one-lane public alley. The city’s existing comprehensive plan requires a 100-foot compatibility buffer from the historic district, which my property is part of. The current city code has height and density requirements for the proposed project site. The developers wanted you to disregard these plans and requirements under the pretense of “affordable housing.” Please deny the petitions and protect me.

• Moved by Commissioner Hayes-Santos
  Seconded by Commissioner Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission 1) The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance, or 2) continue to the regular City Commission meeting scheduled for January 19, 2023.
  

  Motion: Continue to January 19, 2023. (Approved at the adoption of the agenda.)

  Approved

G.

FIRST READING - AFTERNOON

G.1

Rezone from Urban Transect Zone U9 to Planned Development (PD) 2022-537 (B)

Robert Mounts

See comments in my guest column below: https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2022/09/28/robert-mounts-gainesville-needs-moratorium-development/8091557001/

• Moved by Commissioner Hayes-Santos
  Seconded by Commissioner Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission 1) The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance, or 2) continue to the regular City Commission meeting scheduled for January 19, 2023.

  Motion: Continue to January 19, 2023. (Approved at the adoption of the agenda.)

  Approved

G.2

Revisions to Ch. 14.5 titled “Miscellaneous Business Regulations” of the City Code of Ordinances adding Article IX Fair Chance Hiring, and amending Ch. 2, Sec. 2-339 titled “Applicable codes and ordinances” listing Article IX of Ch. 14.5 2022-617 (B)

• Moved by Commissioner Arreola
  Seconded by Commissioner Hayes-Santos

  Recommendation: The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.

  Motion: Approve as Recommended.

  Aye (6)	Commissioner Hayes-Santos, Commissioner Arreola, Commissioner Ward, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Poe, and Commissioner Chestnut
  Absent (1)	Mayor-Commissioner Pro Tem Saco

  Approved (6 to 0)

H.

SECOND READINGS - EVENING

H.1

Land Use Amendment for Property Located North of U.S. 441 and both East and West of SR 121 2022-591 (B)

• Moved by Commissioner Hayes-Santos
  Seconded by Commissioner Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission 1) The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance, or 2) continue to the regular City Commission meeting scheduled for January 19, 2023.

  Motion: Continue to January 19, 2023. (Approved at the adoption of the agenda.)

  Approved (5 to 0)

H.2

Quasi-Judicial – Rezoning Property Located North of U.S. 441 and both East and West of SR 121 2022-602 (B)

• Moved by Commissioner Hayes-Santos
  Seconded by Commissioner Chestnut

  Recommendation: The City Commission 1) The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance, or 2) continue to the regular City Commission meeting scheduled for January 19, 2023. 

  Motion: Continue to January 19, 2023. (Approved at the adoption of the agenda.)

  Approved

I.

MEMBER COMMENT

Commissioner Arreola - Thanks to all for their work today.

Mayor Poe - Wants to appoint a temporary Mayor-Pro Tem.

Commissioner Duncan-Walker - Thanks to all colleagues for work they do and what it takes to do that work. Request for colleagues - wants to secure a way that the Commissioners could hold themselves accountable.

Public Comment: Jo Beaty, Armando Grundy-Gomes.

• Moved by Commissioner Arreola
  Seconded by Commissioner Hayes-Santos

  Motion: Appoint Commissioner Ward as Mayor Pro-Tem for the rest of the year, until January 5, 2023.

  Aye (6)	Commissioner Hayes-Santos, Commissioner Arreola, Commissioner Ward, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Poe, and Commissioner Chestnut
  Absent (1)	Mayor-Commissioner Pro Tem Saco

  Approved (6 to 0)
• Moved by Commissioner Duncan-Walker
  Seconded by Commissioner Chestnut

  Motion: Staff bring back research on what's being done across the country to censure removal for a few days for Commissioners, when there's misconduct or misbehavior in the office.

  Aye (6)	Commissioner Hayes-Santos, Commissioner Arreola, Commissioner Ward, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Poe, and Commissioner Chestnut
  Absent (1)	Mayor-Commissioner Pro Tem Saco

  Approved (6 to 0)

J.

ADJOURNMENT - 2:32 PM