City Commission Regular Meeting

MINUTES

Thursday, January 05, 2023 at 1:00 P.m. - 10:00 P.m.

City Hall Auditorium

200 East University Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32601

Members Present:

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

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A.

CALL TO ORDER - 1:00 PM 

B.

INVOCATION

Saeed Khan, Hoda Islamic Center, Gainesville

C.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA - Includes Consent and Regular Agenda Items

Public Comment: Nathan Skop, Jo Beaty

• Moved by Commissioner Chestnut
  Seconded by Commissioner Willits

  Adopt as Modified.

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

  Approved (6 to 0)

D.

CONSENT AGENDA

• Recommendation: The City Commission adopt the consent agenda.
• Moved by Commissioner Chestnut
  Seconded by Commissioner Willits
  Approved On Consent

1.

2023-03 Interlocal Agreement with the School Board of Alachua County for Joint Use of Lincoln Park (B) 

• Moved by Commissioner Chestnut
  Seconded by Commissioner Willits

  Recommendation: The City Commission authorize the Mayor to sign and the City Clerk to attest the renewed Interlocal Agreement with the School Board of Alachua County for joint use of Lincoln Park, subject to the approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality.

  Approved On Consent

2.

2023-04 Resignation of Sophia Corugedo from the City Plan Board (B) 

• Moved by Commissioner Chestnut
  Seconded by Commissioner Willits

  Recommendation: The City Commission accepts the resignation of Sophia Corugedo, effective immediately.

  Approved On Consent

3.

2023-12 Gainesville Regional Utility’s Proposed FY24 Budget Calendar (NB)

• Moved by Commissioner Chestnut
  Seconded by Commissioner Willits

  Recommendation: The City Commission approve the suggested timeframe and direct the City Clerk to identify and schedule specific dates and times for meetings related to GRU’s FY24 Proposed Budget.

  Approved On Consent

E.

EARLY PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

Public Comment: Nathan Skop, July Thomas

F.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

T. Walters

No sweeps until housing is provided!! It is cruel to treat humans like trash to be disposed of. Provide them with housing. No one deserves to be swept off the street like dirt. Treat people with dignity.

Jianna D'Addario

The city issued a notice on 12/30 attempting to forcefully remove our neighbors from their camps on city land near GRACE. This notice comes amidst a housing crisis, and the city's priority lies in further harassing the unhoused rather than providing housing solutions for all. I am vehemently against the sweeps of these camps, especially without adequate housing alternatives (and in case you didn't know: merely advertising GRACE is not a sufficient housing alternative).

Jersa Jadotte

NO SWEEPS UNTIL HOUSING IS AVAILABLE. Sweeping houseless camps without viable housing alternatives is cruel and unsual punishment. As well as being counterproductive as houseless folk will have to find another place to camp in anyway. Sweeping wont solve the fact that houseless people don't have a place to go.

Chelsea Dunn, Southern Legal Counsel

On behalf of Southern Legal Counsel, a Gainesville public interest law firm that advocates for the rights of unhoused individuals, I urge the Commission not to displace residents who have taken refuge at the former Dignity Village without securing alternate housing for each displaced person. Conducting encampment sweeps just displaces people experiencing homelessness, risks the destruction of property, and inevitably leads to subsequent encampments. Full comment sent via email to the City Clerk.

Robert Mounts, Andrea Rizo, Nathan Skop, Jo Beaty, Rentz Torres, July Thomas, Kimber Tough, Matthew Umanos, Johnny Booth

Commissioner Saco arrived at 1:50 PM.

G.

BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS - AFTERNOON

1.

2023-25 Mayor Harvey L. Ward, Jr., Committee Discussion (B)

Tana Silva

Thank you for bringing this important item up for discussion, Mayor Ward. I hope you won’t make any assignments now and the commission will instead set aside time to thoughtfully review the recent “ballot” on committee structure. Reopening that discussion in the new commission can lead to better use of staff and commission time, more focused priority-setting, and greater collective insights in policymaking.

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

Public Comment: Nathan Skop, Jo Beaty, Tana Silva, Kim Tanzer, Aaron Green

• Moved by Commissioner Chestnut
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker

  Motion: Add Ad-Hoc Public Safety Committee, including Police and Fire; and sunset the Environmental Justice Subcommittee and Digital Access Committee.

  Aye (7)

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

  Approved (7 to 0)

2.

2022-274 Recruitment Plan for Charter Officers (B)

Laura Graetz, Director of Human Resources gave a presentation.

Public Comment: Jo Beaty, Tana Silva, Monica Frazier

• Moved by Commissioner Saco

  Motion: Make Anthony Cunningham the permanent GRU General Manager.

  Died for lack of second
• Moved by Commissioner Eastman
  Seconded by Commissioner Willits

  Motion: 1) Allow Commissioners to interview; 2) Have a public reception; and 3) Bring back on February 16, 2023 for decision on each charter to vote to retain or readvertise.

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

  Failed (3 to 4)
• Moved by Commissioner Chestnut
  Seconded by Commissioner Eastman

  Recommendation: The City Commission (1) approve the recruitment plan for filling the five Charter Officer vacancies and (2) authorize the Human Resources Department to engage the services of an Executive Search Firm(s) to initiate the search for each Charter Officer vacancy.

  Motion: Approve as Recommended.

  Aye (6)	Mayor Ward, Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker, Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Eastman, Ed Book, and Commissioner Willits
  Nay (1)	Commissioner Saco

  Approved (6 to 1)
• Recess - 3:03 PM

  Reconvene - 3:10 PM

3.

2022-767 Charter Officers’ Annual Performance Evaluations and Pay Increases (B) 

Laura Graetz, Director of Human Resources gave a presentation.

• Recommendation: The City Commission: 1) review the performance of each Charter Officer; 2) establish appropriate performance ratings; and 3) consider pay increases for FY22. 
• Moved by Commissioner Chestnut
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker

  Motion: 1) The City Commission review the performance of each Charter Officer; and 2) Apply the 2.5% increase to the Charter Officers, other than the City Auditor.

  Aye (7)

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

  Approved (7 to 0)

4.

2023-11 Update on Winter Energy Usage and Billing and Staffing (B)

Anthony Cunningham, Interim GRU General Manager introduced.

Eric Walters, GRU Chief Sustainability Officer gave a presentation.

Kinnzon Hutchinson, GRU Chief Customer Officer gave a presentation.

David Warm, Director of Communications gave a presentation.

Laura Graetz, Director of Human Resources spoke to the item.

Anthony Carroll, GRU Energy Delivery Officer gave a presentation.

Chad Parker, GRU Energy Measurement and Regulation Manager gave a presentation.

Public Comment: Tana Silva

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

  Heard

5.

2022-177 Commissioner Chestnut - Reinstate Single-Family Future Land Use and Zoning Categories, and other related changes (B)

Erik Lewis

Please move forward with the reinstatement of single family zoning.

Adam Gurske

I am a REALTOR and affordable housing advocate and am opposed to reinstating the 3-unrelated tenant occupancy limit. Please think about affordability when deciding this and not act only from the student perspective/fear. Utilize existing code enforcement to control this. Often times tenants need another roommate to pay the bills and we need more inventory for tenants. HUD even says 2 people per bedroom is reasonable. This is a small measure of infill within the community with a positive impact.

Vishnu Malhotra

City Commissioners, I call upon you to reject this measure to reinstate mandatory single-family zoning in most of the city. This move will worsen our housing affordability crisis, worsen sprawl, and increase our forced car dependency. Furthermore, this move exempts Gainesville from the $85 million that will be doled out to cities who end exclusionary zoning laws as part of the federal government's recent omnibus spending bill. I call upon you to oppose this measure.

Daniel Nee, Interim City Attorney spoke to the item.

Sean McDermott, Senior Assistant City Attorney spoke to the item. 

Public Comment: Robert Mounts, Carrie Parker-Warren, Aaron Green, Casey Fitzgerald, Tana Silva, Peggy Carr, Kim Tanzer, Chuck Rois, Monica Frazier, Kali Blount, Evelyn Foxx, Jo Beaty, Faye Williams

• Moved by Commissioner Chestnut
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker

  Recommendation: Direct staff to initiate petitions to reinstate single-family future land use and zoning in the city in all the areas where those designations existed prior to the adoption of the Ordinance Nos. 21357, 21358, and 21359, as well as to reinstate the other related changes made by those ordinances.

  Motion: Approve as Recommended.

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

  Approved (4 to 3)

6.

2022-178 Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut - Allow Up To One Accessory Dwelling Unit Per Lot and Require Owner Occupancy (B)

Cynthia Curry, Interim City Manager spoke to the item.

Andrew Persons, Special Advisor to the City Manager spoke to the item.

• Moved by Commissioner Chestnut
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker

  Motion: This motion refers to the city plan board: allowing one accessory dwelling unit per lot and requiring accessory dwelling units to meet the applicable density standard. Motion Withdrawn.

  Withdrawn
• Moved by Commissioner Chestnut
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker

  Recommendation: Refer the land development code amendments (as outlined in the item report) to the City Plan Board for consideration at its January 26, 2023 meeting.

  Motion: Approved as Recommended.

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

  Approved (4 to 3)
• Recess - 5:38 PM

  Reconvene - 5:55 PM

7.

2022-772 Bid Award and Cooperative Purchasing Contract Authorization – Forest Park Improvements (B)

Cynthia Curry, Interim City Manager spoke to the item.

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

Zeriah Folston, Interim Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion spoke to the item.

• Moved by Commissioner Willits
  Seconded by Commissioner Saco

  Recommendation: The City Commission:  1) award the bid to Blackwater Construction Services, LLC for the construction of the Forest Park Improvement Project; 2) authorize the City to enter into a Cooperative Purchasing Contract with NGU Sports Lighting, LLC to purchase sports lighting via owner direct purchase for Forest Park and 3) authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contract documents and other necessary documents, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality.

  Motion: Approved as Recommended.

  Aye (7)

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

  Approved (7 to 0)

8.

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

Tana Silva

Thank you, Commissioner Book, for seeking public recommendations in advance of the workshop on public participation in commission meetings.

Public Comment: Jo Beaty, Tana Silva.

• Moved by Ed Book
  Seconded by Commissioner Chestnut

  Recommendation: 1) Move to a future GPC meeting and invite the community to submit written feedback; and 2) Compile information and report at the retreat.

  Motion: Approved as Recommended.

  Aye (7)

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

  Approved (7 to 0)

9.

2023-24 Alachua County Legislative Delegation Public Hearing, January 10, 2023 (B)

Recommendation: The City Commission appoint a City Commissioner to attend the Alachua County Legislative Delegation Hearing. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 1:30 PM.

• Moved by Commissioner Eastman
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker

  Motion: Appoint Mayor Ward to attend the Alachua County Legislative Delegation Hearing.

  Aye (7)

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

  Approved (7 to 0)

H.

RESOLUTIONS - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

I.

ORDINANCES: ADOPTION READING - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

J.

ORDINANCES: SECOND READING - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

1.

2022-566 Petition LD22-000089 City of Gainesville, (Applicant) Requests to Amend the City of Gainesville Outdoor Lighting to Include FDOT Lighting Standards (B) 

Recommendation: The City Commission adopt the proposed Ordinance.

• Moved by Commissioner Chestnut
  Seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Duncan-Walker

  Motion: The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.

  Aye (7)

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

  Approved (7 to 0)

K.

ORDINANCES: FIRST READING - AFTERNOON (Roll Call Required)

L.

COMMISSION COMMENT

4:30 - 5:30 PM Dinner Break

M.

CALL TO ORDER - 5:30 PM

N.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

O.

PROCLAMATIONS & SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

P.

EARLY PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

Q.

RESOLUTIONS - ROLL CALL REQUIRED

R.

BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS

S.

PUBLIC HEARINGS (Including Planning Petitions)

T.

ORDINANCES : ADOPTION READING - EVENING (Roll Call Required)

U.

ORDINANCES: SECOND READING - EVENING (Roll Call Required)

V.

ORDINANCES: FIRST READING - EVENING (Roll Call Required)

W.

COMMISSION COMMENT

Commissioner Chestnut - Refer to the Interim Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: City become more involved with the Chanukah Celebration, Kwanza Celebration and the Holiday Parade.

Commissioner Book - Salary and raises for City Commission.

Clerk schedule a workshop to help train the Commission on land use and zoning.

X.

 ADJOURNMENT - 6:44 PM