>> mayor: good morning,
everyone.
welcome to the gainesville cit
y
commission.
as we speak, there are three
americans and a canadian on
their way to the moon from
florida.
from right here in the sunshine
state.
one of those americans is a
black man piloting the ship.
one is a woman for the first
time, it's the first time a
black man or a woman have gone
to the moon.
we should take note of this, and
it gives me hope that if we as
a
nation and a world are able to
send people to the moon --
again, from the sunshine state,
not anywhere else, that we can
do some great things for our
folks right here in this room
today.
madam clerk?
>> mr. Mayor, we have the
invocation, given by reverend
katherine dearlove.
>> thank you.
I invite you to pray or reflect
with me.
let's pause for a moment of
reflection.
grounding ourselves in the
shared reason that brings us
today.
we come from many shared
experiences, some of us name t
he
sacred as god, the spirit,
creator or source of life.
some of us find meaning in hum
an
connection and justice and
compassion.
or in the quiet wisdom of
conscience.
whatever our path, we are united
in the responsibility serving
the common good.
may this gathering be guided b
y
wisdom.
the wisdom to weigh decisions
carefully, and seek
understanding even in
disagreement.
may we be guided by courage, t
he
courage to act with integrity.
to stand for what is right and
just.
and to make decisions that ser
ve
not only the present but the
future.
may we be guided by compassion
,
that every policy, every
discussion, every vote touches
the lives of the real people I
n
our community.
especially those whose voices
are too often unheard.
and may we be guided by
humility, recognizing that non
e
of us holds all the answers, b
ut
together we can move through a
more just and inclusive and
thriving community.
in this spirit, let the work
begin today with open minds,
steady hearts and a dedication
to the well being of all.
amen.
>> mayor: thank you, pastor.
>> we are on to the agenda, we
have the update list on the
screen.
>> mayor: commissioner willit
s?
>> I'd like to pull 2026-024 -
-
>> what number?
>> number ten on the consent.
>> let's move that to item one
on the morning.
>> that sounds good.
>> s
changes.
>> mayor: before we move on.
is there public comment?
>> there is no public comment.
>> I would point out to you tha
t
on the consent agenda, are a
multiplicity of items that the
audit committee considered and
passed on to us, if anyone has
any questions about those, our
city auditor is here, and I
would encourage you to make tim
e
to speak with him offline.
about that, they all received
unanimous vote, all two of us,
from the audit committee.
I don't want those to go
unnoticed.
but I'm glad we can keep them
the consent agenda to receive.
that said, madam clerk, all in
favor?
>> aye.
>> mayor: any opposed?
that passes unanimously.
>> mr. Mayor, 2026-234, oak par
k
public housing development
disposition letter of support.
for rehabilitation of oak park
development in gainesville,
florida.
>> mayor: commissioner willits,
you had the question?
>> mr. Harris remind us abo
what support we've provided to
this project in particular,
through gainesville housing.
>> mayor: certainly.
mr. Manager?
>> good morning, mr. Mayor, to
the commission.
our support has been related t
o
our connect free funds as a par
t
of the sale applications.
so it's a grant for 37,500, so
they can apply for the sale
program.
>> okay, and this is a park
which is going to be -- these
are all single units.
my understanding of, it's not
our project, it's the
gainesville housing authority'
s
product.
>> if you don't mind, the
developer is here, gha is here
.
I'm going to allow him to talk
about the project.
>> that was who I was looking
for real quick.
if you can give us the 30 second
reminder.
>> malcolm kynes.
oak park is a six story
development, off main street a
nd
8th avenue.
we have 1 two bedroom, 60
studios and 401 bedroom units.
this is a total redevelopment o
f
the oak park building.
it needs a lot of love.
it was -- I think it opened in
1968 or '69.
and so you can imagine how many
individuals and families that
building has serviced over it'
s
56 or so year life.
total development costs are in
the range, I don't want to
misspeak, in the range of 38 t
o
$39 million of this developmen
t.
we have hired a relocation
specialist, similar to our
woodland park project, which
will help enable those
individuals to relocate.
they will walk them through it
,
they have certain rights
assigned by the federal
government, we ensure those
folks are taken care of.
once the building has been
totally redeveloped.
this letter is basically a
letter saying that the city of
gainesville supports us in
redeveloping the property, and
it's provided to hud, it's a
form letter we sent over to th
e
manager's office.
>> thanks.
a few comments on this before w
e
move forward.
we support gainesville housing
authority in different ways,
sometimes big chunks, sometimes
small chunks.
this is something that app
for our larger chunk, affordabl
e
development housing funds that
were leftover from arpa and to
general fund.
did not receive, but we did hav
e
at least the small amount.
our community has a lot of
expectations on how we spend o
ur
affordable housing dollars,
there's currently some concerns
,
I know that commissioner dunca
n
walker, speak of the devil --
speak of the commissioner,
excuse me.
some on going concerns, maybe
this is out of frustration,
general housing crisis or at
least tightness in the market,
where below 100% of ami, we
really need more units, more
affordability, so that -- I
think it's part of our --
tension we're feeling, we're
looking at all of our partners
to achieve at their highest and
best.
but that also means not just
the -- I'm a big fan of new
units, existing units about the
quality of them, and how peopl
e
live in those -- how our
neighbors live in those homes,
I
want to bring it up as a conce
rn
of mine.
and when we put our stamp of
approval on the letter and cas
h
funds, the auditor, I spoke to
the auditor recently about, how
on some of our grant funding, w
e
don't have a strict policy abo
ut
the ability to audit, at least
the funds we give of our
nonprofit partners, that is
something suggested by the
auditors, something we need in
every time we give money.
because we are responsible for
the money we give.
to our taxpayers, to our
residents, to our neighbors, I
bring this up as a concern I'm
hearing in the community about
the long term relationship
between the city and gainesvil
le
housing authority and that it
goes forward.
again, I say some of this to m
y
colleagues is about the tension
we feel, the angst we feel,
we're trying to figure out eve
ry
last thing we do, limited
budget, but how we spend it wit
h
whom, which partners, we have
several partners, some of them
are private developers who we
provide a substitute and it's a
subsidy per door that brings t
he
prices down, even up to 120% of
ami.
mr. Kiner thank you for being
here.
it's a comment to my fellow
commissioners how we spend our
money.
there's some concerns about the
balance between having to keep
enough money in all of our
partners pockets so they can
build new housing or do
renovations, what happens in th
e
meantime between now and then.
how our neighbors have to live
w they're being serviced by who
by whohey pay thr rent to.
that's all I got.
[ inaudible ]
>> our board has challenged us
,
we just completed a new
strategic plan that will take u
s
from 2025 to 2030.
has challenged us to bring bac
k
on line 600 housing
opportunities.
and an additional 100 through
our instrumentality.
that's our goal, we're
aggressive pursuing that,
through things like the choice
program, and also through rfa'
s
at the state level
>> mayor: very good.
we have multiple lights,
commissioner chestnut.
>> this facility is in my
neighborhood, and as I recall,
the only thing that's been
renovated there has been the
parking lot.
but it is in very dire need of
renovation, and I think that t
he
residents totally welcome this
.
and it's the facility that has
a
mixture of residents, and I
think that's what's very good
about it as well.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner chestnut.
>> how many units?
>> it's 101 units.
it's a 60/40 split between one
bedrooms and studios.
>> thank you.
I missed your initial comments
,
but I can certainly prern what
I'
I've heard thus far from my
colleagues, I would like to ask
this.
when was the last time that we
had a meeting with gha?
was it about two years ago,
three?
>> spring of '23?
>> it was april 4, 2023.
>> april 4 of 2023.
>> that was the date the
decision came out for the
choice.
>> I would like to see us meet
a
little more frequently.
>> no problem.
>> I think there is -- clearly
we field a lot of questions tha
t
we can't or shouldn't even
attempt to answer, but also, I
n
light of our partnership, how I
t
may be expanding or what your
desires are, I feel the need t
o
expand our opportunities to
speak with you, so I am curious
about my colleagues and what
your thoughts are on maybe
literally slid fig an annual
meeting at least.
maybe something in -- with roo
m
to do something every six month
s
or quarterly, if you want to.
but I certainly would like to
touch bases with gha on an
annual basis.
>> beginning as soon as
possible?
>> absolutely.
and that will be a motion.
>> mayor: would you like to
include that with a motion for
staff recommendation or --
>> sure, let me refresh my
memory on that.
and as you see I'm just sittin
g.
thank you.
so I move that the city
commission authorize the mayor
to send a letter supporting the
gainesville housing authority'
s
application to the u.s.
department of housing and urban
development for the dispositio
n
and rehabilitation of the oak
park development, and arrange
for a meeting to take place at
least annually with the gha to
check in.
>> second.
>> mayor: we have a motion and
a
second.
we have one more light, then
we'll go to public comment.
>> I support the development.
clearly for oak park, it's in
dire need as you said, mr.
manager, I don't know who
executes the letter, but the
letter itself, very minor, it
doesn't have language, it
doesn't bring the full city
commission behind it, just the
mayor at this point.
so whoever executes the letter
,
make sure that will benefit gh
a
for an amendment to the
template.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> thank you, commissioner book.
>> I did too want to be specific
in my comments about this
particular development, thank
you for your attention to it.
I believe, and I said this
before from the dais, that it
is
a beautiful facility.
that needs some shining up, the
atrium at the bottom is such a
n
asset.
I can't wait to see what you a
ll
do with the greenery down ther
e.
I have obviously been through,
and I've seen the severe need
for the renovation, so I'm
looking forward to that.
mr. Kiner, can you speak to wha
t
we should expect.
can you speak to what we should
expect in terms of the overall
renovation?
>> we're taking down to the
studs.
>> okay, thank you.
>> oak park needs love, it needs a lot
a lot of love.
we've dealt with a lot of
systems issues.
and it's hoard to keep up on
sustaining maintenance on a
property like that.
we redid the parking lot, we p
ut
a new roof on it about 10 years
ago, some exterior coating, but
down to the studs, new elevator,
every apartment, every community
amenity will be redone.
somewhere in the area of --
between 39 and $40 so million o
f
redevelopment on oak park.
new building, but good bones.
just like you love the building,
lovitz design, it just needs
some love.
>> every unit?
>> every unit.
>> I will say that you probabl
y
faced an issue with some water
intrusion in there.
>> we face many issues.
>> I'm glad to hear we're going
down to the studs.
>> total redevelopment.
>> thank you.
>> mayor: commissioner eastman
.
>> it's in district 4, it's a
great society era, '50s, '60s
era.
>> whatever, mid modern.
>> '68 I believe it was built.
>> it definitely needs some
love.
I'm glad to see you guys put
some work into that.
can we get a reread of what the
motion was?
I'm always happy to have joint
conversations with other
governmental bodies, I want to
know what we're committing to.
>> I can reread it, approve --
as recommended and set a joint
meeting for both boards to recu
r
annually.
>> I am happy to have a joint
meeting.
I am more receipt sent to set u
s
up for something that we're now
structuring for an annual
amount, if there's something
that's more ad-hoc if we have
something to discuss.
I don't think we really --
setting this up for an annual
meeting, I think might be a bit
much at this particular time, a
s
opposed to scheduling a meeting
in the future, is my only
reticence about it.
>> mayor: thank you.
>> the gainesville housing
authority has a number of
facilities within its portfolio,
and I think we would have a lot
to talk about.
they have a lot of new projects
they're bringing online, I thi
nk
there's always one meeting per
year.
I don't think we'll struggle
with an agenda.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you.
mr. Duncan walker?
are there any public comment?
>> no public comment.
>> mayor: all in favor?
>> aye.
ma
>> mayor: that passed
unanimously.
we will get that letter
procsed as quily as
possible.
>> mr. Mayor, I did neglect to
call for early public comment,
but there is none, so we're mov
e
on to f1, 2026-164 discuss cit
y
manager recruitment time line.
>> mayor: let me preface real
quick.
I appreciate you bringing this
forward and look forward to my
colleagues comments.
I will say, as I have said
before, it's going to cost us
between 50,000 and $100,000 to
do a search.
and given the free state of
florida, given lots and lots o
f
things, have a hard time
believing we're going to spend
$100,000 and come out with a
different product than what we
have in front of us right now.
I do not believe this process I
s
necessary.
I think we should stick with
what we have, frankly.
that's my thought, I wanted to
preface that.
>> good morning, laura gretz,
human resources director of
gainesville.
happy to be before you today, a
s
you'll recall.
sorry, let me grab this real
quick.
just a bit of background on
october 20, 2025, mr. Andrew
persons was named as the interim
city manager by the commission
.
we met on october 23 of 2025 t
o
discuss what a recruitment
search would like like if the
commission opted to go in that
direction.
and during that meeting, we
agreed to come back.
it was in march, but we shifted
it to this meeting, here we ar
e
april 2nd to discuss it.
just a brief refresher on how w
e
got here.
this is a reiteration of some o
f
the talking points that we
discussed back in october.
some of which -- some of the
uncertainties may be a bit
clearer is my best way to say
that, but at the time, we had
not received from the state of
florida --
[ inaudible ]
and have some more insight fro
m
what their findings were.
there was a gru referendum tha
t
was currently in litigation, I
t
remains in litigation, in
addition to what we discussed I
n
october, as we're all well
aware, there was some actual
state legislation that has bee
n
passed by house and senate, but
remains at the desk of the
governor currently.
we talked about the need for
momentum and stability.
and I think I heard a series o
f
meetings since mr. Persons too
k
on this role that that is
something we've been able to s
ee
materialize.
and as a reminder, and the may
or
just discussed that, there is a
cost associated if you chose t
o
move forward with the
recruitment, and could range
anywhere from 22 to just shy o
f
$100,000.
as a reminder, the process tak
es
16 to 20 months.
and when we had met back in
october, we talked about
consideration the budget
preparation we do here at the
city as well as upcoming
commission elections in august
.
so I did not share this
information at the last meetin
g.
and it's just a reminder to kin
d
of walk you through the
different steps in the process,
I think it will help in our nex
t
slide of discussion.
the key point to remember is,
it's about in the 3rd or 4th
month when the commission would
select candidates to bring
forward and interview those
candidates.
I think that's relevant as we
talk about the options.
so in october.
I just brought one visual for
you all to consider.
based on the discussions and
comments from the commission
october, I brought forth
two options based on the
feedback we were hearing when w
e
last met.
option one looks at starting t
he
search in august.
you can see our fiscal year for
october, for fiscal year 27
begins in october.
and if there were runoff
elections that would be needed
that occur in november, it giv
es
a smidge of time for any
commissioners to be part of th
at
final selection process.
the second option is below,
where commission elections occ
ur
in august.
at that point if the comment
commissioners are re-elected a
nd
there's no runoff needed we kno
w
who they are, and they can be
part of the process from the
beginning, if there are runoff
s,
they're able to be candidates a
s
part of the selection.
so I will leave it to you all
to
discuss at this time.
>> mayor: very good.
thank you.
commission eastman?
>> thank you.
mr. Mayor.
so the -- so it -- the last cit
y
manager, we did a public search
around 2020 --
>> I believe it was for the
acting city manager.
>> yes, I'm just a little bit -
-
>> for the -- so cynthia curry
came in, she had come in, I
think we selected her, there w
as
not an active search for that,
correct?
>> yes, mayor and commissioner,
I wasn't in this role at the
time, I recall there was a
search, I believe it was for t
he
acting position, and then miss
curry was selected as the actin
g
city manager and was
subsequently appointed after a
period of time.
>> okay, and then prior to that
,
we did, we had an acting, but
then we had a public search, I
s
that correct?
>> I believe that's correct,
yes.
>> we ask all of our employees,
I guess we have hr here.
generally speaking for our
employees, we do panels, public
services, I'm sure there are
instances where you may select
someone to come into the city
that is not through that
process, that's generally the
process, correct?
>> correct.
our employee process says
generally, we will conduct a
search for our positions.
there are circ umstances in whi
ch
we elect direct hires, it's
usually based on the can dwi
date's specific experiences.
what the needs are of the
organization at the time, if I
t
seems to be a good match,
sometimes a decision is made t
o
conduct a direct hire.
>> I think our system of
government is a funny one, the
re
are seven of us here, we're the
legislative branch, we don't
communicate with one another.
so the city manager ends up
being a strong mayor type role
,
but working for the seven of u
s
as it goes forward.
it is far and away the most
important decision we make as a
city.
it -- I would say our city is
more defined even by which cit
y
managers we had at various tim
es
and who we have sitting in the
se
seats.
I think having a public search
for something as important as
this makes a lot of sense for
our employees otherwise, I lik
e
the idea of looking around
the -- and I think it ends up
coming into that role, whether
it be our acting or not our
acting, however it goes.
it gives legitimacy that they
went through the same process
every other city did.
they've been selected by the
city commission, and meeting t
he
community, introducing
themselves, I think that's a
good process, I don't -- I thi
nk
when cynthia curry was coming I
n
before us acting.
we're going through a period
where we needed someone to com
e
in, step into the role, we are
now in a place where -- there's
always uncertainties, this
question as to what the future
holds.
where we stand now, I don't see
this getting any better.
I think the process is what the
process is, and we should
probably go forward with our
standard process.
>> thank you, commissioner
eastman.
commissioner chestnut?
>> and I think we owe it to the
public to do a search, a
thorough search.
so that they can see the
competition, whose available o
ut
there, but a public search is
something that I totally
support.
and I would look at option one
in terms of time.
time line.
I just don't see delaying the
beginning of the process to
october.
I'll be happy to place that as
a
motion later on if others wish
to comment.
>> mayor: thank you.
commissioner willits?
>> there's always uncertainty,
and I was looking at option 2.
if the legislature passes a
constitutional amendment on
taxes, people who have applied
may be like, no, that's not a
battle I want to fight, about
how you completely refigure
local government while everyon
e
in the state is also doing it.
we have a little more recent
knowledge of communities not
having to make these decisions
recently.
I think elections should have
consequences.
that like voters should be abl
e
to vote for things, and every
decision a city makes should n
ot
be shielded from democracy, in
a
way that's like, we're going t
o
make all these decisions right
before an election, as opposed
to, okay, since we're already in
this range, where it's like, o
h,
maybe it could be done after,
decisions could be made
afterwards, so if this is a big
issue, then elections can
matter -- you know, people
that -- our voters can talk
about like, this is what we wan
t
in a city manager or city staf
f,
city charters in general.
we ran two elections here, whe
re
we wanted the elections to
matter, where the voters wante
d
to bring gru back under us.
someone's changing the rules a
nd
making it this impenetrable,
nothing can happen.
doesn't matter how you vote, w
ho
you elect, nothing can happen.
I like option 2 just for the
sake of, if this is something
that is so important or off,
that people need an election, t
o
say, no, no, we really want mor
e
candidates, x candidate or just
generally, we want a city
manager, the whole process, I
lean toward option 2.
I like this idea of having thi
public search, I'll remind us
the budget is $466 million
total.
the idea of spending 22 or
99,000 on a search for -- as
eastman said, it's our most
consequential decision.
and sometimes we make it quick
and fill in the gap of what we
need immediately, and sometimes
we can make it looking forward
into the unknown.
I like option 2 particularly
because of the opportunity to -
-
if the voters, the legislature
and the voters pass a ballot
measure or to a very large
degree.
I would hate to be in option o
ne
and then all our candidates dro
p
out right at the end, as oppos
ed
to, they may drop out in
november, and then we know a
little more of where we're at.
I lean toward option 2.
and also to commissioner
chestnut's point, we owe it to
the public, it may very well be
,
I you is suspect if the
candidates say, their current
interim is about taking names,
they themselves probably won't
apply.
why am I going to apply for
something where it looks like
it's going well.
they will be able to see the
names we can't see.
other city managers mand
say, no, no, no this is
something I offer, that --
>> I support option 2.
because of both elections, and
then also the consequence of
knowing a little bit about
whether there's going to be a
measure.
I suspect there may be a ballo
t
measure of some sort, which one
it is.
in a month or two.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> thank you, commissioner
willits, commissioner ingle?
>> I would say, in general the
idea of doing a search -- I
think the last time we did a
public search for a city
manager, the city was in prett
y
rough shape, we've been cycling
through a lot of people, we we
re
looking for someone who could
change the direction things wer
e
going.
and it worked pretty well. We
we found someone that did an
amazing job.
I don't think we're in that sam
e
situation.
right now, things have been
steady, I think we kind of bui
lt
on that stability.
so I feel like we're in a
different situation, and I'm n
ot
entirely sure we need to do a
search, if we have a qualified
person that's already doing tha
t
job.
I'm not 100% on that one way o
r
another.
I could see the advantage of
putting that out there, and
looking at, that's not a hill
I'm going to die on.
I can see both sides of it.
I would say, I am a bigger fan
of option number two.
mostly because as we said, thi
s
is going to be a very
consequential decision.
starting the first part of
january, we're going to have a
t
least one new commissioner and
potentially four new
commissioners.
so I would think if we're
looking at a long term --
something that's going to have
that big of an impact, I think
it makes sense to wait until
we've got the new commission
seated and those people that are
goin
goin to be dealing with this
new city manager potentially n
ew
city manager.
have the ability to weigh-in o
n
that.
regardless of whether there's a
runoff or not, those new
commissioners will not be part
of this board until january.
so that option 2 makes a lot o
f
sense to me, and I think
commissioner willits makes a
good point, a whole lot of
things change in november,
depending on what goes on on t
he
state level.
I'm sorry, I said that option 2
makes more sense, plus, we're
pushed past budget season.
that's where I am.
>> thank you, commissioner
ingle.
commissioner book?
>> thank you.
hr manager, I'm in agreement
with several of my colleagues,
as it relates to legitimacy and
trust, you follow process, and
you've had to do that for many
other employees across all
ranges in an organization,
that's how you instill to them
we follow the same rules at the
same time for the same group, I
think that's really important.
this is notwithstanding the fac
t
that the interim city manager I
s
doing an excellent job.
that's a fact.
I think that's not arguable
but that's different from when
we follow process.
miss manager, if you were to
pursue a process in hire, do yo
u
have a preference for one of
these options?
>> mayor and commissioner, we
could make either of those work
.
because we're in april right
now, we have ample time to
prepare for that, we should be
fine.
I appreciate the consideration.
>> well, I was thinking about
that, and also the last two
processes we did for charter
officers, our city leaders, we
did go through the process.
we followed process, and we had
internal candidate, and here's
the internal candidate.
and we had an external
candidate, and there he is
sitting at the back.
we had tremendous skill and
continuity, as commissioner
engle was talking about very
different than we were in 2022
,
and I like what you said,
commissioner eastman.
you want to make sure that
employees feel that we're doing
the same thing.
so I do favor a process, I thi
nk
it's probably the best way to
instill the legitimacy and
trust, and I hope the candidates
rise to the top, that's what you
want.
internal or external.
I don't have a preference for
option, but doi o support the
external process.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner book.
is there any public comment?
>> yes, ron rawles.
>> mayor: welcome, pastor
rawles.
>> I think we should definitel
y
have a search.
I think communication is
extremely important from our
side when we're dealing with th
e
city, and so sometimes what you
feel you have, the relationshi
ps
you feel you have, you may not
find you have those
relationships until you need
something.
and so recently, we tried to
assist one of our senior
citizens.
I had a horrible experience
trying to deal with a person I
n
permitting, and so I walked it
up the ladder, didn't get
response from the director ove
r
in permitting, tried to walk it
up the ladder, couldn't get a
response from the city manager'
s
office.
and so we need more than a
smile.
I need to know if we need to communic
communicate with you to get som
e
clarification that we have tha
t
ability.
not your previous city manager,
but the one before that that w
as
a horrible experience. Th
the previous manager was a goo
d
experience.
you could communicate, walk it
up the ladder and follow the
process.
as citizens, we need to have a
n
input to see who it is that
applies, the credentials and
have a feel that we're heard
from our side.
this is no complaint against mr.
persons, but I do feel that we
need to have a -- for our
comfort and our ease, to make
sure that it's nothing you get
from entitlement or a few peopl
e
like you.
it's because the community
trusts the leadership that we'
re
about to spend $55,000 on a
private company to make sure
that they can be sustained.
we're about to give away $55,000
to a private entity that's for
profit, definitely we could
spend $100,000 to make sure we
have a great leader.
>> mayor: thank you, pastor
rawles.
>> that was our last speaker.
>> mayor: commissioner duncan
walker?
>> my comments are brief.
I support the public process fo
r
most of the reasons most of us
have stated up here today.
I have had the opportunity to
watch the community really
enjoy, and not just get
something out of, but be able t
o
provide what I consider valuable
input to us, when they've had
the opportunity to interact wit
h
those individuals who were
applying for this position in
the meet and greets and in the
varying ways they can when the
process is public.
it's accessibility, it's
transparency, and it's the kin
d
of trust we need to continue t
o
build with the public, so
certainly I support that.
I'm on the fence about the tim
e
frames, because while part of m
e
would like to jump into it.
another part of me thinks from
the perspective of where we may
be down the line, and that lev
el
of just not knowing who will b
e
here, and I remember some
comments by some of my
colleagues who are here with u
s
now about wishing they had had
the desire to be a part of the
process n making a selection
that occurred just before they
got here.
I'm sensitive to throws types o
f
things, if I put myself in that
situation, where I had just
missed that opportunity and
literally the individuals who
were a port of that process,
were no longer at the dais, tha
t
would really be something.
I'd like to get down to
business, absolutely, but I als
o
am sensitive to the fact that
whoever is sitting at this dai
s
should be a part of making tha
t
decision in who they will have
the opportunity to work with,
when they're seated here.
I'll conclude my comments with
that but the public being
involved in this process is
really my most important piece
.
>> thank you, commissioner
duncan walker.
commissioner eastman?
>> thank you.
before I spoke on doing the
public process, before I do
that, I want to say, mr. Mayor
in the last process that we ha
d,
where we were deciding about -
-
when you first came into office
,
there was a slew of -- everyon
e
was interim at that point.
one permanent.
you made the recommendation to
ma
make all of those -- to move
from interim to the permanent
positions.
that was brand new in the role.
I would say you were 100% right
abou
about that. We
we had no idea what we were
about to go through.
there's no way we could have
told the future, I was thankful
for you for taking that kind o
f
a stance, and in this instance
,
I -- I still feel now as I do
then, that this is an important
process to go through.
but just to give some credence
to what your point was at the
time.
I am in favor, but I didn't get
into option one or option two,
I
support commissioner chestnut's,
what you said about option one,
I think there's always going t
o be
be more questions, more thought
s
as to where we -- you know, that
we could hold this off for
longer, I think it's important
to get someone in that is
permanent and get this done as
opposed to have this holdout for
a while.
regardless of what we do, I'll
point out this ends.
if you look at the time line, we
are interviewing folks, and this
comes to a decision point in
december.
we do the final employment
agreement in week 16, we selec
t
the charter officer week 14 and
15.
there's ample opportunity for
whoever runs and wins, which m
ay
end in august, aas opposed to
november and december.
even if there is a runoff for
that person to come in and hav
e
a say in that.
I would rather just have this.
I would rather get this done,
have this off the table and be
able to move through to other
priorities.
I would support option one.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner eastman,
commissioner willits?
>> thank you, mayor.
new commissioners may have a
say, which I like input, but a
say is a vote, you know, and t
he
thing is, we go with option 1,
you can literally have a
majority of this commission
that's not going to work with
this new manager.
not people who lose an electio
n
are going to say -- oh, I'm
going to stick you with the dud
or something, but they won't
have to face the consequences of
working with the next manager.
and I have a lot of trust in m
y
colleagues, we try to do what'
s
right, kind of for the long
term, not necessarily what an
individual needs or wants, wha
t
the community needs or wants.
that's why I lean toward optio
n
two, I get a -- I don't always
think that we should have to
like -- there's always going t
o
be an election, an issue, if w
e
were doing this last fall, wou
ld
I have said yeah, let's get it
done right there.
in my mind, we're close enough
,
looking out that, okay, make
this that process, and the new
commissioners would be able to
in january -- even in october,
they will know who applicants
are.
by december, know who the
finalists are, there's a
process, and they can hit the
ground in january, having
conversations and be able to
vote, that's what I lean toward
too.
thanks.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner chestnut?
>> yes, I just want to add,
commissioner eastman was elected
in august and could not be
seated until january.
we involved him in each -- he
was invited to sit at the table
in each discussion, so that he
was involved in the process.
while he did not have a vote, h
e
had a voice.
and we heard his voice.
so that's why I was going with
option one, because I think --
I
suspect all of you will be
re-elected in august, except f
or
one --
[ inaudible ]
and you'll be at the table unt
il
we begin that process in
january.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you.
commissioner chestnut, I
appreciate your optimism, but I
do want us to be mindful that
because of what we've said, thi
s
is likely -- or at least
potentially to become a campaig
n
issue if we do it with option
one.
I don't think you want to chose
a city manager by ballot, that'
s
not our system.
I'm not saying it's a bad
system, but that's not what our
system is supposed to be.
I for that reason would be more
comfortable with making it
option two.
if there are four new people
here, I want to make sure they
get a vote.
the one we know is going to be
different, gets a vote on who
they're going to be working wit
h
as city manager.
I'm generally open to the other
one, but the politicization of
it leads me to option 2.
and I want to say, also,
commissioner willits, I hear
what you're saying about the
property tax vote and that sor
t
of thing, anyone who might app
ly
who is anyone we want to hire
is
already watching that they're
already on it.
and if they're not again,
they're probably not someone w
e
want to hire.
everything that we take for
granted because we're in the
middle of it, people from the
outside are saying, is that
something I want?
but I would just caution us wit
h
that.
and again, that probably seeks
better to option two.
I'm open to option 2.
>> I'll try not to say the sam
e
thing twice.
I would like to throw another
reason on why I'm in favor of
option 2.
is that, just the other things
going on at the time.
in august you were looking at
elections that I think a lot o
f
us would be focused on, and the
n
september you were going to be
looking at the middle of budge
t
season, which is probably one o
f
the most intense things we do.
and it seems like a lot of
overlap to start this process I
n
the middle of.
if this is going to be a long
process, I just assume it be t
he
focus of what we're doing, I
think option two puts the bulk
of
of that work into a time that w
e
usually got the ability to foc
us
on that issue, instead of
looking at the budget, looking
at all these other things that
are going on.
I'm an option 2 fan, but that'
s
where I stand on that.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner ingle.
commissioner book.
>> just hearing so many comment
s
makes me lean toward the first
option.
and the reason for that, I
always like to depoliticize
anything we're doing.
I know people will know we're
looking at decisions, whether I
t
benefits us or doesn't benefit
us.
the least political decision w
e
can make, we always have
tremendous amounts of other big
things going on.
I think the fact that anybody,
even if I'm not rerunning, for
example, you -- I feel like I
will have a voice regardless.
I'm going to support either
option, I think the process is
much more important than any o
ne
of us.
but I think taking any of the,
who's going to be elected and
who's going to be sitting up
here out of the equation is
possible, even though people
will give, they will think tha
t
we may have explanations that
lean toward one or the other I
s
important.
that's just me.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner book.
does someone want to make a
motion, commissioner chestnut?
>> it looks like we would have
support, total support for
option two, so I will move tha
t
we begin the search process and
start that process beginning I
n
october.
hopefully to conclude in
february.
>> second.
>> mayor: we have a motion and
a
second.
all in favor?
>> aye.
>> mayor: any opposed?
that passes unanimously.
thank you all for the excellent
conversation on that.
and miss gretz you have your
work ahead of you.
>> we're on to 2026-225 public
works department update.
>> mayor: welcome.
>> good morning mr. Mayor,
commissioners.
this is our very first public
works departmentwide update.
and I know there are a lot of
slides -- it will be a longer
presentation than what we'll d
o
in the future, but we'll try to
keep it rolling through.
I want to talk about the
origination of public works,
started in 1933, with the new
deal and the public works
administration, and the civil
conservation core.
streets, highways, bridges,
hospitals, even though the pwa
was short lived it shut down in
1944, it created a lot of
infrastructure, including the
hoover dam, which I think I hav
e
the right pointer.
>> mayor: I was going to ask you
what district that was in.
>> and the reason why I -- the
hoover dam started in 1931, so
before the public works
administration, it was finished
with the help of pwa.
I chose to use that photo,
because it was named after
herbert hoover.
we also have some gainesville
area, early public works, and
that includes the bullwart
springs, it started in 1891, a
nd
it was part of the city's first
municipal water utility, until
1913, and then it later
functioned as an auxiliary wat
er
source.
now it's an historic place.
I included in a smaller level,
the apwa acronym, so we
are --
[ inaudible ]
it was founded originally in
1937, and we've been a long
accredited member, what does
that mean in short terms?
it means we follow a certain
standard of policies and
procedures, and we implement a
best management, standard
practice of work that meets the
pwa standards.
we go through an accreditation
process for years.
we're one of 172 agencies in
north america and canada that
are credited.
and 27 in florida.
we're currently going through
the reaccreditation process no
w.
just real quick on our public
works mission, it's to basically
enhance the quality life for
gainesville community by
maintaining and managing our
infrastructure and solid waste
services.
we do have a lot of assets tha
t
we manage, that includes 401
center line miles of road.
sidewalks, 205 miles, we hav
some significant assets out
there.
traffic infrastructure, we hav
e
251 interconnected traffic
signals, we maintain the entire
traffic signals for the county
,
that includes ourselves, dot,
alachua county, and what we cal
l
the seven cities.
if I can remember them all,
archer, alatch way, high
springs, micanopy, waldo, and I
think I hit them all, newberry.
and that's a large revenue
source for us too.
over a million dollars, I think
it's over 1.3 or $4 million tha
t
we get from seven cities, from
the dot in alachua county.
we are a city of creeks, some
of
our major creeks being hog tow
n
possum creek, sweetwater branch
,
and we have other little creek
s
that are tributaries to the
larger creeks.
so a lot of water quality
concerns and issues, a lot of
water quality and flood plain
type concerns and issues.
we manage all of this on a $57
million budget, and this is kin
d
of a breakdown of the budget,
solid waste being our largest
component.
but then general fund, storm
water fund and we go down from
there.
public works does come in lots
of sizes, right?
some public works might only
have an operation section.
some might have an engineering
section, some might have
utilities, we are five
divisions, we have our
operations team led by mr. Jar
ed
lloyd, we have our engineering
team led by dr. Chase knight, w
e
have facilities management, led
by mr. Derry kaufmann.
our administrative team is led
by miss anissa booth who was
unable to be here today.
and our technology team is led
by steve rossi.
I wanted to include slides on
overall performance for us.
we have -- these are some raw
overall scores -- raw overall
numbers for the entire
department that represent
service requests that come in,
service requests that are close
d
and work order centers that ar
e
open, work orders that are
closed.
one of the things that I want t
o
make sure I note, the reason why
the service request here in th
e
blue and the orange seem low I
s
because there was a period of
time where solid waste was onl
y
going into gru's utility
software, then they changed int
o
a different platform.
we don't have those numbers
available to us right now.
you'll see that we have a sudde
n
increase in the service reques
t,
but that just reflects what
we're doing in city works, whi
ch
is where we track everything.
and the overall trend for us,
for service request is up, we
basically averaged in fiscal
'24, an average of 53 service
requests a day, we're currently
up to 76 a day.
those are basically every singl
e
day we get approximately that
many service request calls.
that's basically called -- it
doesn't mean we do any work
associated with it, that's
different than the work orders
which is the green and lighter
blue on the top.
in general, with those, those
are accurate for all of the
departments, all the groups,
from fiscal '21, we started wit
h
42.6 work orders a day, and now
we're at 51, we've gotten as
high as 58 per day.
so a lot of work going through
the department.
these ended up a little smaller
than I anticipated, but I wante
d
to kind of also reflect the
total cost of the work orders.
you'll see we have a steady
trend up, that's something to d
o
with -- we also have increasing
number of work orders, it also
has to do with the cost of
things going up, asphalt,
concrete, supplies, thing wez
need to do the actual work.
and then the last slide really
just speaks to more of the
service request and work order
s
and where we are in terms of
efficiency, what I call
efficiency, how many are we
closing through the fiscal year
.
so we're going from -- the blu
e
line is service requests, and
how many we're closing, but you
can see, if you remember, the
numbers were going up a lot for
service requests, we were
averaging 76 per day right now,
you can see our efficiency is
kind of decreased a little bit.
because our staff is the same
number, so it's harder to get to ever
everybody.
as quickly.
as we go through, as the
division manager goes through,
there are individual groups and
teams and what they're doing,
they'll be touching on the
strategic goals as we go along
through there.
and I'm going to turn it over,
first to garrett kaufmann our
facilities manager.
>> mayor: welcome.
>> good morning.
I'm gary kaufmann, the
facilities manager, and
facilities division of public
works, I'm here to give you a
brief overview of what we're
doing in the facilities
division.
first of all, I want to give y
ou
guys a rundown of what our
department looks like, we have
24 1/2 fte in our department,
including myself.
I am the manager, we have an
assistant manager, we have two
supervisors, we have seven
mechanical staff covers,
mechanical electrical plumbing,
which is hvac and firearms, we
have three structural personnel.
it's a very lean subdivision o
f
our department.
we have two carpenters and one
painter.
we have nine custodial staff I
n
our department, and one capital
projects manager, and then the
second part time -- temporary
part time capital projects
manager.
our department is broken down
into several different
categories, operations and
maintenance, which basically
covers a wide variety of
maintenance on roofs and walls,
operations, that's for
structural, and we do
mechanical, we do a lot with
firearms.
operations and maintenance and
custodial, we do custodial wor
k
for a few of the buildings in
the city's portfolio, we do not
take all of them, we take care
of all the major ones, I think
I
shared this with you guys
previously.
the police department, the fir
e
department, parks takes care o
f
most of themselves.
operations and maintenance
administration, we take care,
make sure that we watch after
our budget and prepare for
purchase orders, do a lot of
administrative work that way.
capital preservation, do a lot
of small projects for
replacement of structural
components.
replacing doors, rollout doors,
fire departments.
hvac systems, we go a lot of
replacements, fire alarms, fir
e
alarm panels, different things
like that.
I'll say we do facilities
restoration and expansion.
we do some remodeling work.
we did the lobby out here with
the security improvements, stu
ff
like that.
we do large projects, involve in
the new construction of fire
station number three, number 9
and the eoc, all the projects
that falls on our department t
o
take care of those things.
>> as far as our portfolio of
buildings, we eliminated some
buildings, touch on that you I
n
a minute.
we have greater than 135
buildings, we have over 200,00
0
square feet of buildings that
are older than 50 years old, w
e
have a lot of very old
buildings, and a lot of old
equipment.
so our staff stays quite busy
trying to keep up with it.
this is the list of buildings.
we reduced it last year, we hav
e
taken away the boltin building
in the northeast complex.
that should help our department
get a little more efficient.
we have quite a bit to do with
these buildings, keeping up wi
th
the maintenance on them.
facilities capital projects, o
n
the left we have 21 projects
that our staff is currently
working on, and I'll break tho
se
down a little more in a minute
.
those are small projects, but
are very important, they inclu
de
things like hvac systems, fire
alarm replacements.
this building specifically is
getting two new chillers.
we're also working in the next
couple weeks to start replacing
the fire alarm, so we're reall
y
excited about that.
>> that will be fun.
>> let's hope not, let's hope
we
can keep that uneventful.
>> on the right, we have the
large projects shown again, the
gpd property and evidence
building, public works,
safety -- southwest safety
annex, and hurricane hardening
for the hurricane works comple
x.
of the capital preservation
projects that were on the bigge
r
list on the page prior.
six of those currently are
completed.
300 in construction, we have 1
0
with equipment, including the
chillers, we're hoping to get
those shipped to us late april,
so we should be starting work o
n
that, hopefully may, june, we'
ll
have those completed.
once we get the equipment in,
that stuff should move really
fast.
we were finalizing, the time w
e
create the slide, we were
finalizing procurement on the
project.
one of them is a phased project
where we're doing some further
stud byes, we're waiting on
finalizing the report on that,
so we can continue on with that
process.
not included in that last slid
e,
we're also working on four
different roof projects, one o
f
them is completed, one of them
is completed today.
we were doing the flat roof
portion of that.
this week we're supposed to
start the td mcpherson roof.
we're waiting for the insulatio
n
to come n that's being torn off
and getting ready to get
started.
.
that was not on the list, but I
just want to point that out, w
e
have quite a bit going on.
street stations --
>> mayor: commissioner chestnut
?
>> yes.
in replacing the roof, are we
using our own team or are you
contracting that out?
>> we're contracting it out,
these are relatively small
roofs, you probably haven't see
n
these, they fall within our
purchasing guidelines.
they're small roofs.
they fall under our agreement t
o
make things happen quickly.
street stations and strong
foundations, the gpd property
business building, we should s
ee
the walls of the old building
start falling down.
construction should start
beginning -- it should be in
may, actually, for the gfr
administration, the eoc parking
lot, the fire station number 9,
number 3, we should start site
work on that early in may.
public works hardening, we have
design completed, and that
project is pretty much on hold
at the moment, but we are
anxious to get that one going
to.
kpi's, primarily on kpi's, we
are looking at how many work
orders we received, and how fas
t
we can get them done, our
efficiency in getting them done
.
you see in 25, we had almost
5600.
and we set a goal for 55 00 thi
s
year, for a total number of wor
k
orders, right now at the end o
f
fiscal year 56 quarter one,
we're at 11 00, we're on track
with what our goals are, and a
s
far as the actual numbers
completed, we're probably just
a
little bit behind on that our
completion rates, you see on
this slide are at 89.5% at the
end of our first quarter, and
our goal was 95% at the end of
the year.
we should be a little better off
on that, a lot of the
incompletion rates have to do
with things like that.
average days of getting work
orders done.
this is something we're trying
to speed up in getting work
orders addressed, and get them
completedagain.
this has to do a lot with
waiting on parts and materials,
that kind of thing holds us up.
I think we've done a pretty goo
d
job of improving this, and you
can see that our goal was for
ten days and we're at about 18
for the first quarter.
and we're moving in the right
direction, we're much better
than what our actuals were
showing last year, but we have
a
little bit of work to do on
that.
that completes everything that
I
have to share with you guys, I
want to hand this over to jared
lloyd, the operations manager
for public works.
>> mayor: thank you.
welcome.
>> thank you.
good morning mr. Mayor,
commissioners, jared lloyd,
operations manager.
with the operations division,
there's 7 of us on the
administrative team that runs
operations.
two of which are currently
vacant working on fixing that.
I would love to have a full tea
m
to assist.
in the operations team, there's
129fte's, we're currently
sitting at roughly 20 1/2%
vacancy, but in operations, I
know I've been up here a lot
about solid waste, but I also
oversee construction, drainage,
right-of-way,ing urban forestry
,
mosquito control as well as
solid waste, and a small engine
mechanic that we have at our
warehouse.
>> mayor: apology there, in
your -- maybe you'll address
this going-forward, of that
20.5%, is there a particular
department that's heavier with
vacancies than others.
>> no, not necessarily, it's a
lot of your workforce, grounds
workers, it's a high turnover
position, we're constantly
restocking employees in those
positions.
>> mayor: okay, thank you.
>> we'll start with our
construction section.
my slides are going to be a
little different than the
previous ones you've seen, on
the left, you're going to see
numbers, they're strictly for
quarter one of this year.
and then I'm providing a pictu
re
that I feel like best describes
the section I'm discussing.
and then I'm really not going t
o
speak to the numbers, I'm going
to talk about the sections
themselves.
and then this picture, this is
really a great representation o
f
the construction team.
you have your sidewalks, you
have your curb inlets, your
curbs themselves, your roadways
,
your signs, your markings, all
of this is done by our
construction team.
so asphalt is one of the
subsections of construction,
it's a 12 person crew, they ar
e
in charge of all the potholes,
all of the full reconstruction
of roadways, that essentially
saves us money from contracting
it out, we do it in house.
and we've got our concrete
subsection which are responsible
for all the pedestrians
pathways, ada compliance for
ramps, sidewalks and curbs
themselves on the roadways.
the pavement preservation
program is done at the
administrative level, but we've
just recently introduced the d
ot
software, which uses the new sb
I
indexes to weight in and
prioritize the roadways with t
he
sbi in mind.
this is a picture putting down
a
binder on the roadway.
it's getting rolled in, two,
three weeks after this, they'll
top it with a micro surface, I
t
gives you a much loaninger lif
e
out of your roadways.
pavement preservation is
important to maintain our good
roadways so that we don't fail
and get to a point where we're
spending a bunch of money.
a lot cheaper to do it this wa
y.
our drainage section, we have a
n
open water course and closed
water course subsection.
the open water course is simpl
y
ditches, retention ponds,
anything that's open to the ai
r,
closed water course is going t
o
be all of your pipes, boxes,
stuff that's buried that you
ca't see.
so this is our open water
course, crew correcting a bridg
e
deficiency that was found by t
he
contractor that inspects our
bridges.
so we have to go in, divert
water, and come in and fix the defi
deficiency so we can pass
inspection.
and then this is a great pictu
re
showing what the closed water
course team does, this is a
project, this is when we put I
n
the new northeast 9th avenue
roadway.
this pipe system was placed,
that's 8th avenue, so we built
9th just behind this, this is
exactly what they do, this is a
smaller team of about 5.
and they just come in, and
really have a ton of pipes.
miles and miles in pipes to
maintain, they do a great job.
very good at their jobs.
so we'll move on to our
right-of-way section, the
picture on the right, you see
this is the mad vac mini-that w
e
had to buy when we started
putting in the one way pavers,
it's been a phenomenal machine.
and then we've got our full
sized street sweepers that run
just curbed roadways.
so the only roadways that will
get swept are curbed.
a lot of people think the street
sweeper is here to clean the
roadways, and they do that.
the main purpose is to pull the
debris out of the roadway, so I
t
doesn't get flushed down into
the pipes and waterways, so it'
s
actually a water quality thing
more than it is a street
cleaning thing.
>> I'll pause you there and pas
s
on something that we heard in a
presentation many years ago,
that was an eye opener for me.
that if you -- if your street I
s
a curb and gutter street, that
is -- if you have a curb, that'
s
part of our storm water
management system.
not every street is part of our
storm water management system,
if you have curb and gutter,
that's part of it.
>> it's very important.
and then the maintenance and
mowing section of our
right-of-way team is extremely
important, they handle the
medians, keeping the medians
nice and clean.
they make sure our sidewalks a
re
edged, cut back to keep our
clearances for the pedestrians
walking the sidewalks.
make sure we got our 7 foot
height on everything, so peopl
e
aren't bumping heads walking
down sidewalks.
this is the downtown detail
crew, we have the mad vac in t
he
streeterry area, they spend 10
0%
of their time in core downtown
,
really cleaning, making sure
they're keeping up with
graffiti, and garbage, any
spills, they're fully dedicated
to downtown, they do a great
job.
we'll move into solid waste.
I want to touch on a couple of
the key strategic goals before
I
get into it.
we're currently in the final
phases of our I.t. Negotiations
.
and we're in the scoring phase
for the food waste rfp.
I can't get too much into it,
just wanted to give you an
update on where we're at with
it.
we'll go ahead and start with
solid waste, as you can see,
this is an issue here with mov
e
n someone didn't plan for the
boxes.
our inspector team is a team o
f
four.
their entire job is to go out
and enforce our ordinances.
and they do a phenomenal job.
this one will I point at the
numbers.
this is impressive.
just in the first quarter of
this year, they've made contact
with 2700 residential and
commercial properties.
out of all of those only 4 wou
nd
up with a civil citation, it
means they're doing a very goo
d
job educating people on the
ordinance, what's required and
the residential and commercial
properties are following them.
our litter crew are up and dow
n
the sides of the roadways,
cleaning up encampments that
have been abandoned, they're
constantly out running, picking
garbage cans up, a very
important part to keeping all of
the city of gainesville clean
our surplus department, this, I
know this -- anyone who's a
fleet freak, this picture may
freak you out, but essentially
this is the storage building f
or
all of the city's no longer
needed items.
so what we do, we turn the
city's trash into treasure with
surplus.
they made, I believe, right at
a
quarter million dollars last
year out of disposed items and
kept them out of the land year
.
quarter one, they turned $57,0
00
out of unwanted city items.
they're very good at what they
do, very passionate.
a lot of times my construction
crews will take a bent form fro
m
a concrete team, throw it in th
e
dumpster, recover it and sell,
and very good at what they do.
zero waste team, we're in a
rebuilding phase on the zero
waste team, we had some
turnover, we just -- we're in
the process of getting our
second and final zero waste
specialist, this team is very
important when it comes to
presenting to the community,
getting out to the community a
nd
let them know what is expected
from our ordinances.
>> how do organizations and
nonprofits and citizens access
that and purchase things?
can you tell us things about
that?
>> how dony purchase --
>> our surplus goods.
>> oh, okay.
our surplus team will post the
goods.
they first will put it back out
to city blo employees and say,
is
there anything here you're
interested in?
and when people come and get
what they want, they'll turn
around, take pictures of it,
they inventory everything, and
put it on a go deals website,
either as a batch, if they hav
e
a bunch of matching chairs or
they have something special, a
computer unit, they'll put it o
n
there, people will bid on, and
buy it.
>> very good, thank you.
>> so then we have urban
forestry.
our tree crew, very important
crew, they're actually -- their
actual title is tree surgeons,
I
thought that was funny until I
saw them with a chain saw and
realized they are true
craftsman.
they can take a tree like this
,
I wouldn't know what to do, the
y
have it cut, pushed, out of
there, before you know it.
they're phenomenal, very
important to keeping the city o
f
gainesville roadways open and
running.
our horticulturalist team loves
to plant trees.
on the right, that's our edibl
e
grove that's in smokey bear
park.
off in the distance, you can't
see, there's one of our
neighbors who picked some fruit
an was eating on the way out.
this team's very passionate,
they would plant a tree where
I'm standing if you would let
them.
they're amazing.
we have the program coordinator
who is the lead liaison to our
tree advisory board, also deals
directly with the public,
sponsoring trees and really is
the -- kind of the outreach
voice for urban forestry.
and then we have mosquito
control, so mosquito control
kind of holds a special place I
n
my heart, this is where I
started my journey with the
city.
so you may or may not know,
mosquitos are the deadliest
animal on the planet, they kil
l
700,000 to a million people
every year.
in my opinion, mosquito control
is one of the best bangs for
your puck that the city has.
in 2016, we had some zeka cases
that came in with transient
students.
and the mosquito control team
had to go out and actually
spray, treat and really make
sure that we didn't take
imported cases and make them
locally acquired cases.
very important part of the cit
y
of gainesville.
the city of gainesville has a
very, very good integrated pes
t
management program, part of tha
t
is biological control, so thes
e
six ponds are on the public
works compound.
we raise fish that are native
species, they're ferocious
eaters.
any time a pond fills up, or w
e
have a new wet area that fills
after the rain, these fish go t
o
work, and they keep the
population down.
proactive treatment is done with
the vectomax, a dual active
bacteria, that focuses on
mosquito larvae, and when they
eat, they are unable to turn
into adults.
this is kind of a really short
sweet breakdown of a really goo
d
integrated pest management
program.
you have your surveillance whe
re
you're really going out there
and looking at what mosquitos
are popping off.
you identify that mosquito, you
say, that's a swamp mosquito, a
container brieeder.
our guys are doing that
continuously, they're removing
tires, buckets they find on the
side of the road or a swamp,
they're picking that stuff up
and physically removing the
environment.
they're treating proactively
with the vectamax granules I w
as
previously speaking of.
on the cattails you see, there's
two different types of mosquitos
that don't have to comment to
the surface for air.
they tap into the roots of
cattails so you can get what
they're eating.
with that, I will turn it over
to dr. Chase knight.
>> mayor: thank you.
I would recommend anyone who h
as
not spent any time with the
mosquito control team, I would
strongly recommend that, we do
some really cool work with tha
t
and it was -- I haven't been o
ut
in a few years, I have to go
back out and take a look.
it's a high-tech use to this,
it's functional.
spend a little time in our
neighbors and one further out I
n
the county, you'll see a
difference.
>> good morning, I'm chase
knight, the city engineer, I
have the honor of leading the
engineering division with the
public works department.
as with everybody else, I start
by reviewing the team.
and I want to pause and make
sure that I recognize the heart
s
and brains of the engineering
division.
our greatest asset, our people
.
because without them, none of
the work or numbers that I'm
about to go through will be
possible.
so the team here consists of
40.5fte's, we're divided into 5
sub teams, it's the capital
projects and development review
,
right-of-way permitting and
inspections, storm water
engineering, survey and traffi
c
management.
so in terms of the high level
overview of some of the more
important kpi's that we have,
and starting with the number o
f
design projects completed for
both roadway and storm water
projects, we're right on track
through quarter one for fy '26,
and one thing I wanted to
highlight here is, the majority
of projects that we're designing
are in house, that's been a key
focus for us, just to be able t
o
build up that expertise in
house, so we can begin to
balance our dependency.
in terms of construction
projects completed, we're on
track with our goal for this
fiscal year through quarter 1,
and just there are two examples
of projects that were completed
during that
during that quarter.
and moving on to review tasks for
for developments, this is really a
a cross function of kpi's, so w
e
have multiple team members tha
t
review plans for development a
nd
building permits, along with
other city departments in
conjunction with the city
departments.
so again, for this one, we are
on track looking at our quarter
one numbers to meet our
expectations for this fiscal
year.
and switching to traffic
operations, again, we are on
track for this particular kpi
looking at the number of traffic
engineers and related service
requests.
our goal for this year is 100
through quarter one.
we're just about on track to
meet that expectation.
we are slightly off our goal o
f
having 100% response time, les
s
than 40 hours, and that
certainly is something that
we'll continue to focus on
improving.
and then just to take a break
from the numbers for a little
bit, I do want to highlight som
e
general collaborations and key
initiatives that we've been
working with other departments
and agencies, with the traffic
engineering side.
so we've continued collaborati
on
with law enforcement partners,
on cctv integration, so we can
get realtime feeds, also,
working with the sheriff's
office as they explore buildin
g
a realtime intelligence center
.
and then we just continue with
preventative maintenance on all
251 traffic signals.
and the number is growing, tha
t
are maintained by the city.
so that helps us to reduce
calls, which saves time and
money.
moving to some numbers for a
survey team.
number of surveys completed.
we're on track here for goal
this fiscal year.
number of right-of-way
determinations, in support of
reactive services for
operations, gpd, code
enforcement.
also on track to meet our
expectation for this year.
likewise on track 4, the numbe
r
of legal descriptions complete
d.
one thing to highlight here tha
t
I show on the slide, basically,
it's not eligible, the picture
s
is an expert from the 42 page
legal description of the city
that our surveyor completed.
I find it hard sometimes to kee
p
up with a half page legal
description, not to mention one
that's 42 pages long.
that's impressive.
moving on to our right-of-way
permitting and inspections
group, so looking at the numbe
r
of permits that I've been
issued, for work in the
right-of-way.
again, right there on track for
what we expect this year.
and then finally, looking at t
he
number of inspections that tha
t
team has completed per month,
and I do want to apologize,
there's an update for this
slide.
so for the quarter one, the fy
'26 quarter one numbers, it is
a
total of 538 on average for
those first three months of the
year.
and that broke down to 173 for
building inspections, building
related inspections and building
permit related inspections.
and 365 right-of-way permit
inspections.
and that concludes what I have
>> mayor: very good, thank I.
I'll pass it on to mr. Rossi.
>> mayor: welcome.
>> steve rossi, computer syste
ms
analyst for public works.
we're one of the smaller
divisions of public works with
only two full time employees,
one of which is standing before
you.
as such, we wear many, many
different hats.
anything from helping staff
provide reportreports, procurem
ent,
how tos, training, anything that
happens to involve technology.
or as we like to think of it,
anything that plugs into the
wall.
the bulk of our workforce in
public works is mobile.
they're in the field all day
long.
they need mobile devices and
communications.
we keep track of almost 300
devices for our staff.
we also manage systems for the
gis system, some are shared by
public works and parks.
and we also maintain our own
cloud environment, where we run
and host these applications,
most of the stuff that our
department is using, we're
providing the front line suppo
rt
and the back end infrastructure
support of it.
our goals with having that man
y
mobile devices is to try to
replace them every four years.
this helps ensure that we have
the latest technology in front
of them, and they also have the
most recent can communications
and good battery life, since
they're going to be in the fie
ld
all day.
we try to make the most use of
our technology assets, we
promote the use of technology,
try to find efficiencies,
anything to help the departmen
t
reach their goals, and we
provide the front line support
for all of our staff, anything
that doesn't get covered by
gru I.t. Is what falls back to
us, most of that is department
specific things are specialized
that only public works would be
utilizing.
and our performance indicators
,
we try to keep our systems
available.
99.9% up time.
that leads to less than 45
minutes of downtown every month
for these systems.
as we refresh the mobile phone
s
with the volume we have,s 25% o
f
them each year, that equates t
o
about 6 devices every month tha
t
we swap out.
and we try to pride ourselves o
n
resolving all of these issues
the first time that staff
reaches out to us, we want to
make sure that they can complete
whatever task they needed, and
not have to defer it or circle
back around.
our success in trying to make
sure that our staff can do the
ir
duties is what helps lead to th
e
kpi's for the rest of the
department.
and that is all I have.
>> mayor: very good.
hold on a second.
commissioner willits?
>> a question about how your
team interacts or fitz into the
burgeoning department under
director nagy.
I know lots of different
departments operate technology.
a little insight on how that's
been working or what our plans
for the future?
>> we've been sharing some of
the efforts that we do within
the department, a couple things
like the enterprise wide
software before the department
existed.
there wasn't anyone else to
maintain and carry it forward.
we've been holding the torch f
or
a couple of the enterprise
contracts.
hoping to eventually be able t
o
turn them over to them, once
they start picking up on that we
don't overlap with what gru I.
t.
does, it may not be on the
horizon for that group yet,
until they take over all of
those duties.
>> that is kind of where I was
getting at.
the gru things, very clearly w
e
think a plan or it's the scope
of director nagy, the nongri, I
was a little less aware of wha
t
our plans are for the non-gru
items, you've been holding dow
n
our other departments where
there's some opportunities,
perhaps where it's easier or
more efficient to house them
under the I. Dd. Department, a
n
enterprise software that needs
to be maintained there, because
he this can be the expert on
maintaining, we can do the work
we need to do.
>> thank you.
>> mayor: thank you.
welcome back.
>> thank you, we're on to the
last division of our team, the
administrative team division.
I think of steve's team and the
demonstrative team as being the
glue that holds us all together.
the administrative team is led
by abeesag walken booth.
she has 18 fte's, they're
helping us with budget prep for
the
grant coordinator coming in
soon, I hope, crossing our
fingers.
grants can be challenging to
make sure you check all the --
all the -- cross all the
t's, so -- and then they help
out with the supply chain.
they oversee one of the
warehouse staff helps us with
that, and then solid waste
customer service, which gets a
huge amount of calls.
their key performance
indicator -- I should have take
n
a drink of water before I came
back up.
for them, largely, we're looking
at a large number of
acquisitions that get processe
d,
purchase orders, around 600 per
year.
last year was a little low, but
we're already up for the
quarter, you can see we're
around 300 for both requisition
s
requested, and the purchase
orders generated.
they do a variety of finance
reports for us, and then proce
ss
thousands of invoices every
year.
and then jared and I are going
to move on to -- just some of
our emergency response
activities, I'll let jared --
he's going to start first.
>> thank you.
hello again, I want to
apologize, I forgot to mention
one of our key strategic goals
for the land ranking.
we're working on.
we've been in collaboration wit
h
prca.
we come to what we feel is a
good place for ranking land for
purchase.
and we will be bringing that t
o
you for discussion and hopefull
y
approval.
>> mayor: very good.
>> on may 7th.
police, fire and public works
are all first responders.
so what kind of kicks off the
operations -- kind of kicks off
the operations, emergency
response here, in the may time
frame, will start doing
preparations where we test out
our equipment by making 10,000
sandbags, and we make 10,000
sandbags, we store them so tha
t
if we do get a declaration of a
n
emergency, we're not starting
from 0, because when those car
s
start lining up, if you're
starting from 0, you're never
ever ever going to give
everybody a sandbag.
that's what you see here on the
left, early preparations on th
e
far right.
those cars are coming through,
we're able to go ahead and sta
rt
handing out those bags.
this is also the handsout phas
e,
but with the addition of the ml
k
property where we have the
self-serve and we have our ski
d
steer on site, make bags as
well.
so people, if they don't feel
like waiting, they can go ahead
and fill their sandbags and we
have folks on site to assist.
storm rolls through, winds die
down, this is the norm.
you have a roadblock with the
tree in the middle of it, what
you can't see, there's power
lines all through that.
we have to wait for gru to giv
e
us the all clear, and our tree
crew strike teams will move n
take that out of the roadway, s
o
people can traverse the featur
e.
the top right picture is one
that took out a light pole.
>> we had to wait under the
daytime comes n we have to wai
t
for gru to clear it.
our nighttime crews will go out
to a tree downcall.
if there's no wires in it, the
y
will cut it, push it out of th
e
roadway and leave.
they have to get to another
call.
our alpha team or daytime team
will come in and collect the
tree debris they left on the
side of the road, and move on t
o
the next location.
this is one where a tree fell o
n
to a car.
we had to get the tree off the
car and out of the roadway, so
traffic could continue to flow
on that road.
>> another part of our emergency
response investigation is the
flood investigation team.
as I mentioned earlier, we hav
e
several creeks in the city, what
we do, as they rise, we will
send teams out to do what we
call measure downs.
we can later use that data to
terpret what storm did we
have.
is there something different w
e
should be looking at in terms o
f
storm water measures.
so very big effort from that
team.
I want to mention to the
administration efforts, as wit
h
any storm event there's a lot o
f
paperwork so we can be
reimbursed by fema.
it's a huge effort to track all
the 211s that we make during th
e
event.
it's a big administrative
effort, and they do a great job
with that.
the last thing we wanted to
mention, our special events, w
e
have a lot of special events we
part in.
we're currently working on
something with uaa and uaf for
live event assistance.
that may be coming through
pretty soon.
the parade efforts are very coo
l
to see.
and motifs, I can't forget the
guys that set it up at the
beginning.
it's really interesting to lea
rn
about some of the groups or the
people that get named for the
street naming.
that's been a super fun part o
f
the experience of public works.
and that is the end.
I would like to give a special
thank you for the leadership
team that support me, they are
a
fabulous group as you just
heard.
there's a lot going onon any
given day withteam,
they're always up for the
challenge, looking to make
things better in the city.
>> mayor: thank you.
>> I have several slides, the
budget for tree mitigation,
that's something, that's just
the full amount of the fund, a
nd
every year we roll it over as w
e
don't spend, correct?
or is that what we're spending
in fy '26?
>> I'm not sure how to get to I
t
quickly.
>> a budget number of 16
million?
>> 6.3 is what it said under
premitigation.
it said fund at the top, so I
imagine it's the whole fund.
>> I pulled that straight off
the adopted budget number
current fund total is higher
than the -- what is that current
total, 15, 16?
>> it's going to be, I would
have to double check, it would
have to be over 12 at this
point, I would have to double
check.
>> is that what we're planning
to --
>> budget expenditure for this
fiscal year, I believe fund
balance at the end of last
fiscal year was in the 15 dolla
r
range.
>> it's a big number, I was
remembering a bigger number, I
was trying to remember if
that -- if we don't close on a
property, we didn't manage it,
rollover to the next year,
hopefully, that's just one
where -- I just wanted to have
the understanding.
thank you.
and then a deeper question abo
ut
under facilities manager, they
talked about custodial, we had
the conversation last week,
about who cleans what
facilities, and because the --
one of the potential bills for
property tax amendment propose
d
wouldn't let us -- first
responders or police -- is that
something where even custodial
service should come back under
public works?
because then we have more
flexibility -- if it's at all
being paid for under fire.
an amendment says you can't
touch fire's budget, well, you
know, and I don't know what the
full amendment will envision,
but just that kind of looking
ahead like do we need to plan
now to have flexibility, becau
se
the voters may pass something
that is quite restrictive in o
ur
ability to build the budget.>>
we're still reviewing the
bills, the way I read them,
there's --
[ inaudible ]
firefighter in accordance with
the definition of state statut
e.
emt in coordination with the
state statute.
my initial read of it is, no,
these employees would not fall
under those definitions.
>> thank you.
>> good job on in house for
roadway, and storm water
projects engineering, it's goo
d
to have capacity within the
city, that's great to hear.
and then technology.
and then on page 68 there's som
e
budget numbers for, I think, fy
'24 that ended in 0, numbers
that end in 0 aren't real.
I will follow up on that
privately.
>> mayor: thank you so much.
commissioner chestnut?
>> I want to compliment you and
your staff on the excellent and
efficient job you do, in
delivering service.
you are a very good face for t
he
city, very friendly face, your
sidewalk people, your streets
people are out there, and peopl
e
really appreciate the work tha
t
is done.
and I can't believe 76 request
s
per day.
that's a lot.
so thank you.
thank you for your service.
>> thank you.
>> mayor: commissioner chestnut,
commissioner duncan walker?
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
and thank you, miss mowry and
staff for really good and
informative presentation.
I want to start off with a
compliment.
a group from public works was
traveling down a particular roa
d
where my mother engaged with
them.
she shared this with me.
she had a wonderful experience
with the tree crew I want to
shout them out and say what a
great service they provided.
tree limbs were over into a
particular yard.
and that's not what they were
out there to do.
but they responded in the mom
to the neighbors, and took car
e
of some tree limbs and some
debris that had fallen into
neighboring yards, thank you
very much for a responsive,
professional and kind team.
thank you.
I have maybe two questions, I
believe.
back to page 7 where your slide
is with regards to the budget.
I believe there was a number o
f
$2 million that's allotted for
resurfacing.
and my question is just this, I
know we do the resurfacing out
at the gas tax as well.
that number is different from
this.
these are two separate pots of
money we chose, where we do our
resurfacing from?
>> yes, we have a pavement
preservation program, every
year, the plan is for us to --
on newer roads.
we'll use rejuvenator product.
that helps extend the life of
that newer section of road.
we'll look at other roads,
that's where he mentioned the
dot software, which we're now
using, it will predict out wha
t
we need to do in terms of road
maintenance.
which roads do we need to look
at --
[ inaudible ]
and we set aside a certain
amount of money for that, which
will involve some sort of
repaving, and we also have par
t
of that 2 million, we'll have
associated concrete work,
whether it's curb or ada ramp
maybe.
>> yes, that's correct, exactly
what we were saying.
the $2 million here for roadway
resurfacing, is a transfer fro
m
solid waste for damage done by
the trash trucks.
this comes from the solid waste
and transfers to the roadways.
>> thank you very much for that
.
this software that we have, am
I
hearing that the software is
doing the prioritization of th
e
streets?
or how are we prioritizing?
>> yes, so we -- basically, the
first cut at it, our pavement
condition index.
the pci, what's the rating of
the road.
we also have the sbi, the socia
l
vulnerability index is also put
into that scenario, so it's a -
-
in the end, it's 80% functional
class, and pci is factored int
o
that and 20% sbi to determine
what we call the krit kalety
score.
and then what the team will do
from there.
we look at it on a map, and loo
k
at it in the field to assess,
and make sure that what's being
predicted by the program is wha
t
we should be doing, and so
generally speaking, as we use
this program multiple years in
a
row, it will become more
predictable, we will be able to
better set or just, where we s
ee
there may be an error in the
program.
it's brand program for us, and
we're still working out some o
f
the bugs.
that is the plan.
>> is it safe for me or this
commission to assume that -- I
mean, obviously, your
professional expertise will
override any glitches that you
see in the system.
because I mean, I -- software I
s
wonderful and it's helpful, but
there is nothing in my mind tha
t
can substitute for a human eye
on a lot of these situations
that hear from community et
cetera.
you all will be making final
decisions, and especially since
this is new, we will be relying
on you now?
>> what will be relying on me
now?
>> in other words, you're not
solely relying on the software
.
you're going to be making these
egs doeses as human beings
first?
>> that is correct.
we will definitely be taking
what the software gives us, and
then, does that make sense, and
ground truth.
and also look at mapping?
where are the numbers hitting,
and trying to make sure we stay
distributed.
but also, incorporating in the
sbi.
>> thank you.
>> you're welcome.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner duncan walker.
madam clerk, do we have any
public commeon this?
>> no public comment on this.
>> mayor: thank you all for wha
t
you do.
we appreciate you spending the
time with us today.
>> thank you.
>> mayor: madam clerk.
>> we're on to our next item,
2026-235 request to amend budge
t
for office of city auditor, to
authorize the office of
management and budget to amend
the city auditor's office
budget.
>> mayor: welcome mr. Auditor.
>> good morning, mr. Mayor,
members of the city commission
.
I'm the city auditor.
I do not have any presentation
slides, I don't intend for thi
s
to be long.
and also, prior to this meeting,
I have held one on one decisio
ns
with each and every member of
the city commission and each a
nd
every member of the city
commission knows my request.
the office of the city is
helping us better carry out the
office.
we're asking for an amount of
$45,000 to do two things.
we would like to be able to use
the services of private internal
audit consulting firms.
in this process, we go out to
ask external auditors to come I
n
and work with us on projects n
an approach we call cost
servicing.
this helps us to move along in
our -- in the incorporation of
the audit plan.
the other thing we'd like to be
able to do with this amendment
is to promote a member in our
office who is now a staff
auditor to the position of
senior internal auditor.
let me pull this up for you to
see.
this is the organizational cha
rt
of the city office.
the red that you see is the
senior auditor position, at thi
s
time it is not funded.
we have it, but it's frozen.
on this side -- what I'm tryin
g
to do is to move the staff
auditor from being staff audit
or
from the position to the
position of senior auditor.
he's been with us for close to
four years now.
he's a good auditor.
during the time he's been with
us, he's been able to get his
auditor qualification.
he's a cia internal auditor.
the qualification is an
international qualification.
international credential.
that means, wherever he goes,
he's recognized as a competent
auditor.
I would like to ask you to
unfreeze the senior auditor
position, to enable me to move
the stuff into that, I would a
sk
you to freeze the staff auditor
position that we continue to
have.
one that is not funded but
available to us at any time.
I would like to mention, again,
I mention that we're asking for
$45,000.
this year, fiscal fy '26, my
office absorbed a 6% reduction
in its budget.
if you approve this request I'm
making now, my office will sti
ll
have absorbed 11.6% in the
reduction of budget from last
year, so we are still in
difficult budgetary times.
but still, 45,000 does does not
mean all of a sudden, we're not
contributing to trying to
ameliorate the problems we're
having in our city budgets.
that is the position we am be,
if you approve this
recommendation.
in the document o taking that I
have, you will find all of this
,
you will find a little bit of
some numbers that we have
alongside our budget office, t
o
show you how much will go towar
d
funding the senior auditor
position if it happens.
you will also find that I
provided some descriptions of
the jobs of senior auditor.
staff auditor.
you have it with you, other tha
n
that.
unless you have any questions,
I
would like to ask for you to
approve my request.
>> mayor okay, any questions o
r
a motion or anything?
commissioner eastman?
>> yes, thank you.
it seems to me like we -- that
this is -- as you said, you've
split this up into two, right?
one of which is about fte's and
how you would like to structure
your fte's internally, which I
think is a conversation that -
-
we froze about 30 positions las
t
time.
do we want to continue to have
those frozen, do we eliminate
these positions, how do we rig
ht
size departments.
having a stock of frozen
positions that are held year
over year, doesn't make a lot o
f
sense, and it would make sense
in the budget cycle to look at
,
what positions do we want
going-forward.
because we're looking at a
budget gap, does it make sense.
setting that to the side, the
other one is the expansion of
the auditor's ability to do mor
e
of the audits, I'll say that -
-
you have a very aggressive aud
it
plan that you guys were looking
at in increasing the
>> that is correct.
we have 10 audit topics on the
awed it the plan.
this time the mayor already
mentioned the fact that we have
some items on the consent
agenda.
two of these items are audits
that we completed.
>> right.
>> we are currently working on
two audits that we hope to
complete by june in the next
audit committee meeting.
we would like to do more.
we have an internal performance
metric of 85% completion of our
audit plan.
that is very aggressive.
we might not be able to hit
that, but we want to be able to
move towards it.
there are certain performance
levels that cause people to
wonder what's going on.
I'll just put it that way.
if you, say, complete only 50%
of your audit plan, this is jus
t
a number I'm just throwing,
compared to, say, 80% of the
audit plan, people might begin
to think -- and by people, I
mean industry experts, people
might think, there has to be
some reason why this is the
case.
when they do that and whethey
have those thoughts, when tito
be audited like
we are here, late last year, w
e
begin to look into that to fin
d
out exactly why that is the
case.
and we don't want that to
happen.
that is why we want to move as
aggressively as we can, as muc
h
as we can.
>> why does a gap between what
we had our audit plan versus
what we were able to accomplis
h
in the audit plan?
is that what you are saying?
>> that is right.
when auditors come, one of the
things they look at is they loo
k
at the audit plan, and they loo
k
at what you have accomplished.
they want to know if you are t
oo
far away from completing your
audit plan, they don't expect
that you complete it.
it's not easy, but they expect
that you heed a benchmark is
85%.
so if you are far from that 85%,
you might begin to wonder, why
is that the case?
and then we don't want to be I
n
such position.
>> right, right.
and so I'll just say, I mean -
-
so we had a reduction overall I
n
the administrative oversight o
f
multiple departments within the
city, right?
because gainesville utilities
moved out from under there.
so a number of departments wer
e
reduced at that time.
we now, I would say that gener
al
government is probably being
audited more so than it had in
the past because it is about 1
/3
of your overall auditing was a
t
the g.r.u. Side.
and then there was a reduction
in overall, but there's still,
you know, a significant amount
of resources going over the
general government.
I guess my point is, as of
yesterday we were six months
into our overall budget.
october 1 was when the budget
started.
april 1 is our six-month time.
and I could consider freezing
the one position, unfreezing
that position, which would put
-- it's 11,000 for the rest of
the year.
it's 22,000 going forward, plus
,
I'd imagine, some amount of
increase that would come from
cost of living.
but I think all of our
departments across the board w
e
have froze a number of
departments and eliminated --
frozen a lot of positions.
I think everyone, we need to
really hold the line on trying
to say the level of service and
what we have agreed to is what
we're going to accomplish withi
n
the budget is what we're
agreeing to, and roll the rest
of that over into the next
budget year.
and so those are my thoughts,
mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: thank you.
commissioner eastman.
and commissioner book.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
just a few questions.
do you know, what was the
position levelling that we have
this in some previous documents
of the auditor's office pre-gr
u
split?
how many positions was that?
>> so it would be 2022 and back
.
>> I believe it was seven.
I might be wrong.
maybe six.
but it was maybe an intention t
o
have a seventh.
>> I see.
I see.
I see your staff nodding their
head.
that is really important becau
se
what commissioner eastman is
talking about is when you move
different pieces away from a
city, we should have appropria
te
reductions to deal with the --
but that was already done in th
e
auditor's office.
and as it relates to the total
figure, we're talking about
$45,000 across these two
different aspects.
one is for services and one is
a
percentage of a year for a
position upgrade is what I loo
k
at.
is that -- has that, the piece
related to the position, been
run through h.r.?
because you have already kind o
f
focused on a specific process
and upgrading a position.
just want to make sure, as
always, are we following the
process there?
and what is h.r.'s thoughts
about that?
>> yeah, and before we can sta
rt
with all this, I consulted wit
h
the h.r. Director.
I also consulted with the budge
t
office, and we made sure that w
e
followed the proper process.
and the process we are following
is within policy.
>> and so if this were to move
forward, there would be no iss
ue
with pre-identifying a person
who was in a position that bas
ed
on their skills and abilities
and probably the job
description, where the job aud
it
itself, and they would, in fact
,
be able to ascend to that
position and creates no problem
in the process.
>> absolutely.
>> okay.
well, I just -- mr. Manager, I
don't know if you want to weigh
in or should weigh in, but fro
m
a standpoint of the 45,000 rig
ht
now at the middle of the budge
t
year, and any thoughts about
where that would come from?
or what that means for us moving
on our potential finances
through the fiscal year?
>> mr. Mayor, I don't have
anything, I guess, specific in
terms of weighing in.
I do -- as the auditor
indicated, he has been meeting
about the budget.
I haven't received anything fro
m
the budget office in terms of
concern about the $45,000, and
I
think that's largely in part d
ue
to the auditor's willingness t
o
swap essentially one position
for the other in terms of
frozen.
>> just the fact we have over
1,200 employees and we've been
scrutinizing them basically
position by position is a reall
y
good thing in different, you
know, in difficult financal
times, that is what we've done
.
that is what has led us to
freeze essentially 30 positions
through the fiscal year that
will probably come up in other
agenda items, but just would
like when equal opportunity cam
e
to forest to mrak slight
adjustment, and we supported it
.
I'm always -- I'm hesitant to
increase things through the
budget year during the budget
year.
on the other hand, our city
leaders should have the ability
to make small and incremental
additions, subtractions that
allow them to be efficient and
tell us what they need, and I
think this is one of those
cases.
as the money comes through
general revenue, I would suppo
rt
it.
but again, we have to be looki
ng
across all positions and across
all charters actually when the
y
come before us.
so thank you for that
information.
>> thank you, commissioner book
.
commissioner duncan-walker.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
thank you for being very, very
thorough and making sure you
covered many, if not all, of th
e
bases in regards to speaking
with h.r., speaking to budgeting
so that you could come to us
with something that was not hal
f
baked but very well thought ou
t.
I do remember our conversation
,
and I could appreciate your
level of thoroughness then jus
t
as I appreciate it today.
I think this is a reasonable
request.
and I think the ability of you
to be having to trade off a
position is something that I
consider very, very important.
I think that the request is
small.
it's reasonable considering what
it is that your office has to
do, and I support it.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner duncan-walker.
commissioner chestnut.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
I support the $11,000 towards
your staff, your senior staff
auditor.
where I have the concern is wit
h
the, I guess the overall $33,00
0
increase.
now, prior to this year, this
year I'll say, for average
number of audits was at six?
>> I would say we moved from
five, six, sometimes four.
>> but it wasn't 10.
it wasn't 10.
>> I don't remember it ever
being 10.
>> no.
it was not 10.
I think we had a reduction whe
n
we moved from having g.r.u. Plu
s
general government, and then I
think you went up from six to
10.
while that's very ambitious and
I appreciate that, I think tha
t
that's what's causing the
increase here.
so I would support the 11,000.
I can't support 44,000.
>> thank you, commissioner
willits.
>> mayor: thank you, mr. Mayor.
I think the fte kind of swap I
s
great.
I think it makes sense partial
ly
because through some budgeting
cuts, we were -- I think as I
remember, some of the practice
was that sometimes an open
position is what we kept froze
or it was cut.
as opposed to firing someone
from a lower position and then
having to go through a process
of hiring an open position.
and so this just seems like, yo
u
know -- this makes a lot of
sense to me.
to structure your office and
because we just have to do it
through the fte budget process,
that makes sense.
partially because you've got t
o
keep your people.
and sometimes you really have t
o
-- as they progress in their
career, it makes a lot of sens
e.
that makes sense.
the other issue, I can
understand the concerns, but I
do encourage my colleagues to g
o
back and if you didn't read
consent agenda item 7 and 8, t
he
reports from audit, and
particularly some of them are
confidential because they
contain security issues.
I was very impressed by just t
he
past, those two, and one
previously this spring.
the ones I've seen this spring
and maybe it was a culminati
of a lot of work and the
findings about where managemen
t
and the office has worked with
you and identified several
concerns to make sure that we
can prevent future fraud or any
kind of security threat.
and so I just -- it reminded m
e
why you have to do these becau
se
all of our departments are bus
y
getting all their work done and
maybe that level of reflection
of process is not the first
thing they do, but our auditor,
that is the first thing you do
.
that's your first concern.
and so I want to pose a questio
n to m
to m colleagues is, was the
level of general government
audit appropriate before 2024?
we can reference the past, but
were we getting enough done?
and we know before fy24 going
back a few years before that,
there were issues with certain
parts of our government that l
ed
to staff transition.
that led to us devolving part o
f
your government away and I'm
talkin
tal
talking about riker house, lik
e
real concerns.
and more of our contracts when
we give money to a nonprofit
partner, that we have some
ability to audit a portion of
what we give to bee to kind
of peel back the onion and loo
k
a little bit.
so that is if -- if we want to
do that, but we don't want to
have a little more budget wiggl
e
room so that the auditor can
hire outside, we need to know
that before we even propose or
put that policy in because we
can't give them more work
without some more resources.
because we have an item coming
up in the afternoon, similar
dollar amount coming out of
proposed to be spent out of
excess fund balance where we
will talk about the ability to
audit the money we give them.
so I will -- it will be hard t
o
understand someone voting yes
and we want oversight over the
$55,000 for heartwood, but not
the money to go track and the
person potentially being part o
f
that audit process.
I don't know where we're going
to land on both of those, but I
just wanted to bring that up.
I have similar concerns about
understanding, commissioner
eastman, about is this
necessary?
is the volume?
but I will say it is hard for m
e
to make that decision right now
without using part of the trust
of the auditor to say this is
what we've been working on.
this is how much gamed out.
this is how many hours of help
I
need as opposed to I need an
extra position mid year.
thank you, colleagues.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner willits.
commissioner ingle.
>> looking at your overall
chart, it looked like a pretty
tight organization.
so I'm assuming the work of a
senior auditor is being done
now.
it's being done by an auditor w
e
are not calling a senior
auditor, is that correct?
>> you could say that pretty
much.
our staff auditor has been
working very hard under the
supervision of our senior
auditor and yourself and our
I.t. Audit monitor.
we do cooperate on every audit
and we do provide that kind of
supervision.
when somebody becomes a senior
auditor moving from staff
auditor position, they need --
they will require less
supervision, thereby kind of
allowing the other auditors to
regulate more time to other
projects.
>> that makes a lot of sense t
o
me.
if that will free up the other
time because this person issed
a
vanced enough in their -- is
advanced enough in their caree
r
they don't have to have that
constant oversight, then I thi
nk
if everybody was given that type
of responsibility, they would b
e
given the pay commensurate wit
h
that.
otherwise, we are just saving
money off the back of one
worker, and I am in no way in
favor of that.
I'm okay with this.
I think it's a relatively small
about of money and the charter
office coming and telling me
this small amount of money is
what it will take to correctly
do it, I am all right with thi
s
for myself.
thanks.
>> mayor: all right.
thank you, commissioner ingle.
is there any public comment,
madam clerk?
>> mr. Mayor, there is no publi
c
comment.
>> mayor: anyone else?
commissioner eastman?
>> I'm make a motion and if
someone wants to make a motion
about the seconart.
as I mention, I support th firspart
firspart that the city
commission authorize the [audio
disruption]
and authorize to amend the cit
y
auditor's budget in the amount
of $11,488.
>> mayor: motion and a second.
all in favor say aye.
any opposed?
all right.
that passes unanimously.
anyone want to approach the
other issue?
commissioner duncan-walker.
>> I vote that we apply the
$33,600 towards the co-sourcin
g
of a selected audit project wit
h
qualified external audit
consulting firms.
>> second.
>> mayor: we have a motion and
a
second.
any discussion?
commissioner eastman?
>> I think that any kind of
change in budgeting that would
change the oversaul scope, I
mean, I'm not a blanket opposed
to it.
obviously we did it in the las
t
one, but I think that is the
purpose of the budget process
that we do starting -- that
we've already started and goes
through the end of october
figuring out where our
priorities are, how that
balances out with other
positions we have frozen or not
kept frozen.
I am not opposed, commissioner
willits, what overall level of
service we want from our
administrative departments
versus public works, versus
parks, and that is what that
overall budget process would be
.
I am comfortable looking at the
overall scope of the audit
department just like I am
looking at everyone else durin
g
that process, not necessarily
during this one.
so I'll vote no on it.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner eastman.
any other comments?
commissioner book?
>> yeah, I'm similarly situated,
mr. Mayor, commissioner eastma
n,
that I think we can address tha
t
and I think that would be
appropriate to put that in the
middle of the fiscal year in th
e
budget process.
I think it would be supported.
it's reasonable.
it's incremental.
I think probably merely because
we're six months in and we nee
d
a little more clarity, we
probably shouldn't do that at
this point.
I think we have another -- jus
t
the fact I look ahead as we all
do and look at the other budge
t
requests that are coming, and w
e
kind of have to weigh them all
collectively and kind of at a
30,000-foot level from what's
best.
so I support it.
I just don't support it today.
and that's because we need to
see what our total financial
picture is.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner book. M
m sorry.
commissioner willits.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
so I have similar concerns abo
ut
the full, how we build out
budget and the level of servic
e,
but I just want to remind folk
s,
when we talk about the core
functions of the city.
this is in our charter.
public safety is in a lot of
different places throughout the
state charter, ordinances, but
the office of auditor and the
job to be done is a core servic
e
of the city.
it is a service to ourselves o
n
behalf of our residents.
and so it is -- it is tough
because, you know, there's a
charter office for a reason.
the voters put it there.
and so yeah, it is tough.
I know it's an amount of money
that doesn't seem like it is t
he
toughest decision in the world,
but I fully understand the
weight of the decision about
this.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner willits.
madam clerk, since this is goi
ng
to be a close vote, call the
roll please so I don't miss t I
.
>> yes, mr. Mayor.
commissioner book.
>> nay.
>> a commissioner chestnut
>> no.
>> commissioner duncan-walker.
>> aye.
>> commissioner eastman.
>> nay.
>> commissioner ingle.
>> aye.
>> mayor pro tem willits.
>> aye.
>> mayor ward.
>> aye.
>> that passes 4-3 with book,
eastman and chestnut in dissent.
madam clerk?
>> all right.
mr. Mayor, we're on to our
2026-235 request to amend budge
t
for office of the city auditor
with recommendation the city
commission authorize human
resources to unfreeze --
>> mayor: no.
>> an I apologize.
sorry.
I'll get there.
hold on one minute.
>> mayor: we're going to
reconsider the whole thing?
>> no.
we are moving on.
sorry.
2025-170, contract for red lig
ht
detection camera enforcement
system between redspeed florida
llc and the city of gainesvill
e.
the recommendation the city
commission approve the contrac
t
with redspeed florida llc and
authorize the city manager or
designee to take up the redspee
d
florida contract and execute a
ll
documents and contracts related
subject to approval of the cit
y
attorney as to form and
legality.
>> mayor: welcome.
>> good afternoon, mayor, city
commissioners, mr. Manager.
thank you for having me today.
this is part of our florida
state statute requirement, whi
ch
mandates that we bring this
contract back to you.
allow it to not go on a consent
agenda so if the public had a
comment about it that they could
make a comment about it.
we did on may 15 adopt the
ordinance 2025-170, and it's
related to, of course, the
contract for the red light
cameras.
this is the contract.
this is the backup items of th
e
scope of services and how we
will move forward, and so we
have been in contact both with
the vendor and lee libby has
helped us all the way through
this because it is new for us a
t
the gainesville police
department.
I'm here for any questions or
any of that, and to allow for
public comment.
>> mayor: very good.
thank you.
>> and I would remind everyone,
this is about the red light
cameras, not about school zone
cameras to be specific.
I know that is easy to conflate
the two.
we're not on school zones
contract just yet.
is there any public comment?
>> there is no public comment.
>> mayor: okay.
all right.
commissioner book.
>> I remain fully in support.
we have taken several votes for
both of these forms of
technology.
it is all about public safety,
and it's definitely not about
revenue.
if anything, it appears that o
ur
analysis shows that it will be
revenue neutral.
I suspect it will probably be
revenue negative for plan
implementation, at least for a
while.
definitely has nothing to do
with fees and definitely has
nothing to do with leveraging
safety and the fact that we
identified some of our most
dangerous areas to pilot it
means that maybe a year down t
he
road if we've not done it well
,
it is not implemented in a way
that gives trust to the
community, then the commission
has the ability to ramp it back
.
that is the whole point of the
pilot.
I say this just as another
bureaucratic step in support,
and so with that, I recommend
approval of 2025-170, approve
the contract with redspeed,
authorize the city manage
areer and
designee to accept the contrac
t,
execute the documents and
contracts subject to the
approval of the city attorney.
>> second.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner book.
commissioner willits?
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
my understanding it is a
three-year contract with two
potential extensions of a year
.
but it can be terminated early?
pursuant to the contract.
how -- what are the terms for
terminating early?
if we only -- if we got a year
into it and we don't like it o
r
a future commission doesn't like
it.
>> so if for some reason we --
if legality in the state level
like the statute went away that
allows us to have them, at any
time we wanted to be able to
negate that contract.
we also put a stipulation in
there.
I think it's 30 days.
letting each other know if for
some reason, maybe the camera I
s
not functional.
maybe we are not getting enoug
h
-- the decision has changed and
is not supported by the
legislative body at that time,
we could ask --
yes.
>> with a simple majority vote
of the commission, this contract
can be and -- and sorry I did
not go look through for
penalties.
just so that I understand, you
know, cancellation, terminatio
n,
for cause, without cause, loss
of funding.
so I just want and maybe this
is
deeper, so it's an attorney
question.
I just want to fully understand
.
if we end up just hating it f
the public hates it, everybody
hates it, whatever, can we jus
t
make a -- for no cause, besides
it is unpopular decision to
terminate what kind of -- I use
the term penalty because I don
't
know any better word.
can we get out of it at some
point before the three years?
>> so all of our contracts with
the city say the vast majority
have a termination for
conveyance.
this one says after ayear.
with 30 days notice, we can
cancel the agreement.
>> a year.
>> and give it a year.
and then if it's just, like,
outside -- now, obviously, les
s
than a year for cause, there's
some listed in the contract.
that makes sense.
if it's really not working and
they really failed and if
there's cause that we can prov
e.
but I'm thinking of the no
cause, merely convenience, giv
e
it a year, and then 30 day,
which makes me feel a little
more comfortable with it so try
it out on just two.
does this contract allow
expansion of the two to more
than two should we want within
this three-year period?
>> it is my understanding from
lee that we would have to enter
into an addendum to the contract
if we were going to do that.
it does allow for some leeway
for that.
>> it would involve the same
steps of, you know, it's got t
o
come before it.
it can't be on continue sent I
f
we do an addendum.
>> I apologize.
that is a legal question I don
't
have the answer to.
>> mr. City attorney?
>> mr. Mayor, this contract, I
think, is for the two
intersections that were
identified.
and I'm not aware of any reaso
n
why they wouldn't be willing t
o
expand fit it if we wanted to
add --
>> my question is, would this
return to us in a similar
fashion?
would it go through the same
process?
>> if you add additional
intersections, it would come
back before you.
>> a yes, statute requires all
approvals from the governing
body to be done on a regular
agenda item for all these
automated enforcement efforts.
the ordinance you adopted liste
d
additional intersections as an
authorization, but the
contracts, yes, would have to
come back and that is for schoo
l
zones and for the red lights.
>> perfect.
I do remember a list.
and the contract comes back.
that's wonderful.
I would just say, I think I'm
going to support this, and
because we are down the road.
we're getting down on this.
but I do like the idea, and my
colleagues agree, that I want a
real one-year deadline that we
bring back and look at it so
that we know and if it's
something we don't like, that w
e
look at data, hear community
feedback, you know, that kind o
f
set in stone that ewith're goi
ng
to do in a year.
>> statute actually requires a
n
annual report with a regular
agenda item on the regular
meeting, not on consent as well
.
>> not everything we do is
mandated by the state
government, but in this case, I
think --
it shows that there is an
interest.
and so I think I can support
this.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner willits.
xhing commissionerening I I
think?
>> this is an issue I really
have beencommissioner ingle?
>> this is an issue I really is
sue
of folks who don't get mail and
move a lot and missing something
like this and turning from a
fine they didn't know they had
into a suspended license and a
bench warrant and all the thing
s
that go along with that.
I really wrestled back and for
th
with those things.
in addition to that, there was
recently a case in south flori
da
where these cameras were
declared unconstitutional.
between those two things, I
would be more comfortable
waiting on actually executing
this contract until we had som
e
word back from the appeal that'
s
going on to that as to whether
or not these are going to
continue to be legal.
I don't want to go into putting
in the expense of getting
special magistrate, getting the
equipment to, or hiring someon
e
to review all the tickets, doi
ng
all the things that we would
have to do to make this
functional, only to find out a
few months from now that it's
not considered constitutional I
n
florida anymore.
I'm also a little, not
concerned, but curious, as to
whether or not the traffic
patterns that we used to make
this decision would hold up if
now that they're talking about
closing stephen foster and one
of the intersections we have
been looking at was the corner
of 6th and 23rd.
I would imagine a good deal of
that traffic was some school
traffic for that.
so I'm a no on this today.
and I would say I would be jus
t
as happy pushing this off until
we've got some real answer as t
o
whether or not this is going t
o
continue to be found
unconstitutional and not barri
ng
the appeal in south florida.
that's where I am on it.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner ingle.
I will continue to be a yes on
this.
I have been through.
I understand the concerns.
the thing that we have not
talked about is the tremendous
danger, and I would almost -- I
won't call it an epidemic, but
close to that, of people runni
ng
red lights.
I watched three of them
yesterday in the space of half
an hour.
they weren't at these two
intersections.
these two intersections are the
ones that the data show us hav
e
the most trouble.
and some weren't even in the t
op
two.
public safety is a thing we ar
e
100%, as you mentioned earlier,
responsible for.
no question about that.
if we are committed to vision
zero, we've got to do something
to lower the number of people
running red lights.
if somebody's got a better idea
,
I'm all ears.
but until a better idea comes
along, I'm a yes on this.
is there any public comment,
madam clerk?
>> no public comment.
>> mayor: we have a motion on
the floor.
all in favor vote aye.
opposed nay.
that passes 6-1 with
commissioner ingle in dissent.
madam clerk?
>> mr. Mayor, that is our
morning agenda.
>> mayor: thank you.
commissioner duncan-walker?
>> mr. Mayor, I do have a quick
question with regards to the
previous agenda item.
thank you, commissioner ingle,
for your concerns.
the police advisory council tha
t
is seated.
is it possible to utilize them
in review of some of these cas
es
as they come through?
because what commissioner ingl
e
was stating is certainly not
anything that's lost on me.
and I wonder if there is a way
for us in an ongoing way as
opposed to at this year point
where we will have to review
this, that if we could kind of
have probably a more consistent
review and/or analysis of the
data that we're collecting, so
e can be more apprised of
what's actually happening.
is that a way it could be used
?
>> commission, sergeant lynn
valdez, traffic unit.
with the statutory requirement,
part of it is they would like
the public forum, but the vendo
r
actually produces reports and
statistical analysis that is
easily available to everybody.
so we could also present to the
police advisory commission.
but part of the formality is, I
believe, they want it in this
public setting on record to be
able to comment about what has
gone on in the previous year.
>> so that happens once per yea
r
is what you are talking about.
>> yes, ma'am.
>> what I am talking about is
the police advisory council tha
t
meets how often?
>> good morning, commissioner.
good morning, mr. City manager,
mr. Mayor.
absolutely. That council is th
ere for
several reasons, one of which I
s
to give us advice.
to have some degree of oversigh
t
to our processes.
I see this as just that.
so if the commission wanted to
give direction to that council,
certainly that would be within
the purview.
and we would make whatever
reported timeline, so on a
monthly, ongoing, status repor
t
because we meet with council
every month, then that is what
we would do.
despite the annual reported
mandate statutorily.
>> I would be interested in
that.
I wonder if it's the appetite
of
my colleagues, but I will make
that motion because I think to
put us at ease, to put the
community at ease, and to make
sure we are staying on top of
what's happening with our
neighbors, I definitely,
especially if it's going to not
be that much of an impact, we d
o
have a board that sits there for
this particular reason, and I
think that a lot of them might
be interested in this as well.
but I move that we enlist the
police advisory council to
provide a monthly, ongoing --
commissioner?
>> sorry.
the only thing that is still
unknown to us.
>> yes.
>> is the impact on how we're
going to capture the data,
right?
the instrument to capture data
is yet unknown.
so a lot of this will be all
hands on deck using our
analysts, using our traffic
personnel, so I don't have a
clear picture yet as to how eas
y
it is going to be.
>> right.
>> so maybe we can have further
dialogue whether it's monthly,
whether it's quarterly, not
sure.
but whatever the commission
arrives at at a reasonable
timeline, I think we can deliver
that.
>> okay.
so let me take the monthly out
now.
I'll take the monthly out.
let me just say it like this.
in response to community need,
in response to a level of
transparency, I'm interested I
n
us being able to provide
additional information.
I'm interested in additional
analysis, okay, that can
apparently be done through our
police advisory council.
now, if that's not done on a
monthly basis, maybe that's
fine.
but maybe a quarterly basis.
because I hear you.
ther are still a number of
unknowns here.
>> commissioner, we can always
as we go along adjust that.
>> yeah, that's what I'm
thinking.
right now let's do quarterly
because maybe that's the lowes
t
burden.
and it allows you a chance to
figure things out.
give your advisory council a
chance to figure things out an
d
you all speaking with them and
as developments arise in terms
of how the data will be
captured, all of that can come
in.
you hear my concern.
I'm trying to cobble this
together on the fly here.
but the motion is essentially t
o
involve the police advisory
council in an ongoing way to b
e
able to analyze this -- the dat
a
that has been captured from the
red light cameras.
>> got it.
>> mayor: is there a second?
we have a motion and a second.
commissioner ingle?
>> I will get it after this
motion.
>> mayor: gotcha.
okay.
mr. Manager?
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
I was going to point out, too,
we can certainly include this
information as we collect it I
n
the quarterly reports and
presentations that g.d.p. Gives
you all, too.
>> excellent.
>> mayor: very good.
commissioner book?
>> yeah, commissioner
duncan-walker, more community
sentiment and evaluation does
not hurt is us in any way.
it is a good thing, and I think
the mayor pro tem was eluding t
o
that, too.
any way we get that and as
things go on, I think is a goo
d
idea.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner book.
all in favor please say aye.
any opposed?
all right.
that passes unanimously.
commissioner ingle, did you hav
e
something to add?
>> yeah, just to throw onto
that.
I think we have talked about I
t
every time this has come up, a
n
issue and the concerns as part
of the report and as part of the
feedback and everything else, I
really want to get some answer
on how many of those red light
tickets are rolling over into
traffic tickets and not just a
civil violation, but actually
rolled over to that.
and I know you said there was
complications in figuring out
where that information was hel
d
and all that, but I want to mak
e
sure as part of the report we
are getting an update of how
many of these civil violations
end up rolling over into the
standard traffic violations.
thank you.
>> mayor: all right.
thank you, commissioner ingle.
all right.
I see no no further lights.
we will reconvene at 1:00.
.
>> mayor: good afternoon,
everyone.
welcome to the afternoon
association of this april 2nd,
2026, city commission meeting.
the afternoon will be just as
packed as the morning was.
madam clerk.
>> mr. Mayor, we have the
gainesville history moment to b
e
presented by ms. Donna waller.
>> mayor: welcome.
good to see you.
>> always nice to see you
folks.
today some of you may remember
that I was, that last time I was
here, I talked about essential
ly
the african american background
of gainesville and own one of
the things I pointed out was t
he
pleasant striet plez --
pleasant
street neighborhood wasn't jus
t
gainesville's first african
american neighborhood but it wa
s
really gainesville's first real
neighborhood, and so today wha
t
I want to talk about is what w
as
actually the first real white
neighborhood in gainesville.
and I want to start and ask you
to sort of consider this fact,
which plays off something else
I
said last month.
which is that in 1860, which I
s
the year when the civil war
broke out, gainesville had 223
white residents according to th
e
1860 census.
so when you think about the
development of gainesville, yo
u
want to recognize that at, sor
t
of the moment of chartering in
many ways, gainesville really
only had what we would think o
f
as a block of permanent white
residents.
and just like pleasant street
and the african american
population grew because of the
war and the railroads, so did
the white population, and you
might recall that I said that
african americans and people o
f
color were majority of this
county.
up through the 1880s.
and it was, it was the railroads
that changed all that.
gainesville was very lucky tha
t
the union armies did not pull u
p
the railroad tracks during the
war.
and by the 1880s, the
railroads had expanded greatly
in florida, but I'm always
learning new stuff, and this I
s
the new one for this time.
I did not properly understand
until last week that gainesvil
le
was essentially the last
railroad stop in central flori
da
until after 1900.
if you wanted to come to florida
and go further south, you had t
o
take a wagon train or some oth
er
kind of vehicle.
so when you think about why we
have that train on our seal up
above the mayor's head, it's
because this town was really
made by the railroads in a ver
y
real sense.
and by the 1880s, what, what
that railroad had done was to
make this area the single
largest producer of sea island
cotton in the entire state of
florida.
and two-thirds of the state's
agricultural products were
shipped out of gainesville.
and so what you kind of have t
o
understand is that after the w
ar
and by the 1880s, people were
moving into the area and movin
g
into gainesville for economic
reasons.
it was really boom time here.
there hadn't been a lot of
damage during the war, and it
was all about cotton and
oranges, and then in the
1890s, there were series of
big freezes that simply wiped
out agriculture, but lucky for
us, by the time that occurred,
florida had begun to be a
tourist attraction.
and again, the railroads broug
ht
the tourists down here.
and what happened around 1900
was the first of the florida
great real estate booms, and
gainesville really benefited
from that, and the specific
neighborhood I want to talk
about today is actually the duc
k
pond.
if you think about the growth o
f
gainesville and those 223
people, most of them lived on
warlz or plantation houses.
if you look at that little hou
se
over on the math eosin propert
y,
that was the original farm
house, and it was up on a hill,
and there was nothing around I
t
until the math matheson's b
uilt
the better house where the muse
ement is and that did not happe
n
until the 1890s.
so beginning in the early
1900s, there was a real estate
boom, and one of the developer
s
is a name that you've heard a
lot from me, mr. William ruben
thomas of the thomas center.
and you'll recall that someone
else started his house, which
was called sun kissed villa, a
nd
he took it over and finished I
t
in 1910 and while that was goi
ng
on, he started developing an
adjacent area to his house,
which is now the thomas center,
and it was called sun sunkist
like the sun kissed villa, and
a
number of the houses in the duc
k
pond that are built in the
1890s are part of the original
sun kissed development which w
as
around thomas' house, but the
real story of the duck pond is
one of his neighbors.
in 1910a man named james
videl -- vidal moved into a
house pretty close to where
thomas lived about a block awa
y
from the thomas estate.
and in 1922, he talked william
ruben thomas into selling him a
lot of the acreage around the
thomas center, and it was to
become a development that came
to be called the highlands
neighborhood.
and in 1926, vidal who was
actually a kind of a sybil
engineer and a city planner
dammed a part of sweetwater
creek and created what was
maybe, there's a contending,
another contender here, but in
1926 what vidal did was to
create the first public park I
n
gainesville.
inside the city of gainesville.
and that was the duck pond.
and if you walk around the duc
k
pond area, you'll see that man
y
of the houses are from the
1920s in the northeast
historic area.
some of them date from the fir
st
wave, the sun kissed
development, but a lot of the
houses in the duck pond were
built in the 1920s as part of
the highland neighborhood.
and it really was in many ways
the first downtown white
neighborhood in gainesville
starting in the -- around 1900
and then with a big growth spu
rt
in the 1920s.
and that was when the duck pon
d
appeared, and in 1980, the
entire northeast historic
district was put on the nationa
l
register of historic places, a
nd
if you walk around the duck
pond, you see a huge range of
architectural styles in these
houses that were essentially
built from 1900 through about
1927 or so.
>> mayor: thank you so much.
appreciate it.
all right.
madam clerk.
>> mr. Mayor, we have early
public comment, but we don't
have anyone signed up there.
we currently have six speakers
for general public comment.
I'm going to say the person
speaking and then a couple of
after so people know who's
coming up next.
margaret delisle followed by
billy rohan and then ryan
bornet.
>> mayor: okay, so before anyon
e
starts let me just give a quick
primer because I know there are
some folks here who are going t
o
want to speak who have not bee
n
regulars here so just as a
reminder, when we call you up t
o
lectern, first of all, let me
say we've had am some folks
soo-- had some folks sign up f
or
general public comment and
that's great.
if you're here to speak to an
item that's on the agenda later
on, we'll call you for that ite
m
as well just please make sure
you fill a form out so the
clerk's office can do that
effectively.
when you come up, there is thr
ee
little lights on the lectern a
nd
a light is green, you have the
,
you'll start off with three ful
l
minutes to talk and I'm not
going to court cut you off
midsentence but if the light I
s
green, you've got plenty of
time.
light turns yellow you want to
start winding down.
when the light turn reds when
you get to the end of a thought
I'm going to ask you to please
wrap up so that's just the
general way of how we do it.
so.
>> so our first speaker is
margaret delisle, also to let
you know room 16 has been opene
d
because we are packed full in
here so we may need to have som
e
time to get people from there.
followed by billy rohan and the
n
prien ryan burnette are on
deck.
>> mayor: all right,
ms. Delisle.
hello, I'm margaret.
I have cept many e-mails of
various topics, but today I cam
e
to talk about the traffic
lights.
I didn't know the first session
was going to be about traffic
lights, so it's a fun
coincidence but as I've driven
around this town and I came her
e
from atlanta and so I've drive
n
through atlanta, I've noticed
how much an impact improperly
timed lights have on pretty muc
h
every aspect of our day to day
lives.
and how strange it is that we'
re
still relying on such as stati
c
way of viewing traffic, which I
s
inherently adaptable and ever
shifting according to condition
s
that include both just how you
r
populous is doing mentally, the
weather, the things that happe
n
on I-75, and so I really came
down here just today to bring u
p
the topic of finding new ways t
o
direct traffic that have more t
o
do with how life actually works
and how we want liev to be
because I understand you know,
the routines that we have
throughout the day are what
causes congestion in the morni
ng
and the evening, but when I was
driving here, today even, I was
stopped at a stoplight on main
street, next to southwest 16
ave., and there were no cars
coming from the other direction
s
but we just sat there for like
about a minute, maybe two, and
that's just not the way that y
ou
most efficiently direct people.
so you asked the question of
what can you do to make people
stop for stoplights, for publi
c
safety, and one of those thing
s
is that you need to build up
that trust between the
individual driving and the
infrastructure itself because a
s
it currently is, I've lost tru
st
in it.
I'm willing to respect the
government because I enjoy thi
s
town.
I enjoy the commissioners.
I love that they have put up
with, you know, some of my
shenanigans, but just because I
have that trust does not mean
that everyone else in the
community is going to maintain
that trust.
whether we're constantly being
left to sit on university and
441 and just not be able to mov
e
when there is nobody on the
way.
so if you really, really truly
do want to address the issue
with the red lights, then we
need to find a better solution
instead of tying every single
aspectf our infrastructure to
three badly timed lights light
s
on 441.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you.
>> billy rohan followed by rya
n
bornet and annie rochelle.
>> mayor: welcome, mr. Rohan.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
[off mic]
greetings and good afternoon,
mayor ward, commissioners
eastman, commissioner ingle,
commissioner desmon walker and
commissioner books and
commissioner willits.
thank you for your time.
my name is billy rohan.
for years I have stood at this
podium in the city hall to
ensure the voices of district 3
are heard.
now I am asking for the
opportunity to bring that same
dedication to the dais.
our neighbors in southwest
gainesville deserve a
representative who prioritizes
fiscal accountability and commo
n
sense solutions.
citizens' concerns about
addressing utility
accountability, addressing the
$1.7 billion gru debt, and
stabilizing rates for residents
of gainesville.
a smart infrastructure, by
fixing traffic, the bottlenecks
along the archer road corridor,
and ensuring pedestrian safety
near haile plantation and tower
road, and finally, through
community investment, protecting
the public spaces and parks
deaght life here in gainesville
,
florida, that we all enjoy.
and gainesville in general.
thank you for your time.
I look forward to serving the
community of gainesville.
thanks for giving me so much
this city has in the last 45
years growing up here from goin
g
to school at duval elementary
school to gainesville high
school to new pathways and
horizons, everything that the
city has offered me, I really
appreciate it.
I hope y'all have a great rest
of your day, and a wonderful a
nd
happy easter.
thank you for your time agod
bless you.
>> mayor: thank you.
>> we have ryan bornet followed
by -- and jim konish.
to.
>> mayor: very good.
welcome.
>> hi.
mr. Mayor and commissione
appreciate your time and
attention.
-- on behalf of multiple
stakeholders when it comes to
the business community, and I
wanted to readdress something,
a
change that took place in
december and in january with
one-way pairs.
I speak on behalf of bagels
company gator beverage which I
s
my business, it's been our
family business in town for 35
years, the sweetwater coffee
company, jungle boys and then
smokeville.
since this change has taken
place, we've seen a significant
impact financially to all of o
ur
businesses in a very negative
way, and it, it certainly has
been a struggle to keep up
with.
access for businesses is very
important.
when I grew up I grew up in a
divorced household.
my mother and father both ran
their own businesses, and they
instilled a philosophy in me
that I carry and credit a lot o
f
our success in the business
scope, which is competition
makes you better.
if it's bad, you turn it into
a
good.
and the reason I'm standing up
here today is I'm struggling
deeply along with everyone in
the business community I
mentioned, with finding the
positive with the changes that
have taken place.
what we've experienced is worse
traffic.
we've experienced the financial
impact, our roadways are now
worse than they were previousl
y
as far as the condition of the
roads.
the neighborhood is suffering.
back in the december 4th
meeting that the community spo
ke
in in a prominent business
leader spoke, everyone spoke I
n
opposition of the changes, and
becauseof this arpa money, it
really came off after the fact
that this was a railroad
project.
this was just shoved down our
throats, and I would love to
find the optimistic side of
these changes.
I watch public safety as a maj
or
issue.
I had a police officer running
down the one way -- wrong way
two days ago because there was
a
criminal on the loose.
and what does that tell me?
that tells me that access to
emergency response is worse.
I'm a bicyclist.
I am the definition of vision
zero, I ride my bike four days
a
week 30 minutes both ways to
work.
and not one time when we had t
he
bike boulevard before the
changes did I ever think that I
needed more bike lanes.
or mike changes to the
infrastructure.
this is a transient community.
we train everyone on the one
ways, wait until august.
we have to train everyone all
over again.
it's -- everyone goes the wrong
way on the one ways.
it's dangerouses, and no one's
,
we're not slowing down drivers
.
we're not changing drivers.
and frankly I think it's very
biased towards all the people
that deserve the right to
drive.
I talk to neighborhood people
all the time and now they're
more inconvenienced than ever.
they can't ride a bike.
they have to drive.
and now they're circling back
five different ways to
accomplish something.
I know I've spoken withyou
individually.
and we've talked about --
obviously that's something tha
t
I would like to continue to mov
e
towards with the commission, but
I just want to be on the recor
d
and open that the two-way was a
successful model and this chang
e
has been very, very harmful to
the businesses in the community
,
and you know at the commission
meeting that you voted against
everyone in the community, tha
t
was also said and now the
businesses are here trying to
also acknowledge that.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you.
so I will ask that we, we
generally try not to clap or
cheer or jeer because the side
you're on right now might not b
e
the side that you're on next
time it happens so please try t
o
keep that from doing that.
>> annie rochelle followed by
jim konish and justin smith.
>> mayor: welcome.
>> thank you all.
unfortunately but fortunately
I'll sorry I have to be here
with this but fortunately I'm
glad I can bring it to you guy
s'
attention.
on 3/9 I was concerned with my
electric bill being so high, s
o
I with gan to research over
maybe -- began to research ove
maybe what could cause it to go
to that level and I realized
that my, the container garbage
container fee on there was not
what I thought it should be.
that I was supposed to be payin
g
for.
so I rirched my bill for march
it was consistent of this year.
for '25 I had four different
fees for that.
20.56, 31.80, 33.50, 41.52.
so I called.
I said that can't be.
and I've had that problem
before, so I called, and I
talked with the young lady.
she said yes, ms. Rochelle.
inconsistency.
let me get back, let me get bac
k
with you so she put me on hold
and said so she said well, som
e
of the prices changed.
something, I could have maybe
overlooked.
so we go on that was on a
monday.
so I said well, I don't need a
bigger container.
I want what I initially started
with.
I moved there 2020.
and so therefore it wasn't the
price that for that retainer.
and -- container.
and so therefore, I said no,
this is not right.
this is just not good.
and so she said okay well I'll
forward it forward.
that was that monday.
tuesday, wednesday, they came
and changed out the garbage can
to what I really wanted.
and so thursday go by, friday
come, I never heard anything
back.
I pick up the phone, I called
them.
and I asked them.
I said hey, what was the deal o
n
this?
what what happened?
they said well ms. Rochelle, I
'm
sorry, there is nothing we can
do because you called before.
I said I did.
and they say, I said yes, about
my, about the rates not being
the same before, consistent
before.
she said no, that was gru
fault.
and so therefore they say I sa
id
well that was warranted then.
and so, and so she said no, you
call before, and I said yeah, I
said I did.
I called back about debris bei
ng
put in my yard, by the city
workers.
and so she said yes, that is
what I'm talking about.
I said, she said because of that
and you did not bring that to
our attention then, we can't
help you now basically.
and I said but that was then a
nd
that was about something else
and this is now.
when I did that, that was in '
23
and '24, october --
>> mayor: I'm going to ask you
to wrap up if you will.
-- manager's office --
>> okay.
well nevertheless, I was told
that there was nothing -- I
don't feel that I should or
anybody else should be
retaliated against for making a
complaint.
I pay my taxes.
I pay my utility fees.
I pay my state taxes.
I do what I'm supposed to, and
I
have a right I did not know that
the city had a limit on the
complaints or a timeline.
>> mayor: so there is clearly a
misunderstanding.
we'll have someone from the
manager's office talk with you
,
okay?
all right.
thank you.
>> thank you.
thank you all.
no that was for them to see.
[laughter]
>> we have jim konish followed
by justin smith and kali
blount.
>> mayor: welcome, mr. Konish.
>> mr. Mayor, jim konish, good
afternoon.
like the overhead, please.
in 1997, alachua county rolled
out a, what was called a
privilege fee.
and everyone that was anyone I
n
intervened, and the honorable
frederick smith an iconic judge
concluded that this was an
unconstitutional tax and that'
s
because when you let a utility
into your right-of-way for fre
e
for 100 years, and they get
comfortable in there, you can't
like have second thoughts about
it and sap a franchise fee
because a franchise fee has to
be negotiated in a contract.
so the city of gainesville and
alachua county commission let
gru enter their rights-of-way
without any kind of contract a
nd
they're going to stay there
forever without any kind of
contract and your franchise fee
that you're discussing is
illegal, sir.
it's a tax, and mr.-- knows
this.
in terms of you meeting your
budget, the first thing you
should do is stop paying for t
he
county street lights.
they're not entitled to any
compensation for gru's use of
their right-of-way and in fact
they have to get on their knees
and beg to save a few live oak
trees because they cannot even
regulate the use of right-of-wa
y
and I want to remind you you'v
e
passed an ordinance purporting
to require gru permits in your
right-of-ways, and they have
ignored it because it's
illegal.
not that they can't impose
franchise fees.
you can't impose conditions on
their occupancy of
rights-of-way, sir, and I'm
abhaized like you're eving --
amazed you're even talking abo
ut
this.
it's settled law, that's just
the way it is.
but the ult of gru to -- abili
ty
of gru to pay you any money is
limited by the legacy costs of
this commission's mismanagement
of gru.
gru loses $46 million a year o
n
european style solar feeder
tariff enjoyed by a former may
or
and her cronies.
four to $6 million a year we're
in year 17 of a 20-year
agreement, sir: gru pays
$1.2 million to -- pollution a
t
depot park, sir, after spending
tens of millions.
gru provides the county with
free fire hydrants.
costs them about a million a
year.
no justification for thithere
is no recognition of it
either.
group -- $2 million a year
because the services they
provide to the city, the county,
and school board do not cover
the costs so you're freeloading
on that level.
private developer got gru to
install a package plant in cro
ss
creek 16 miles from gru -- lin
es
it's failed gru is trucking the
sewage out of there.
weekly at a loss of a third of
a
million dollars and I could go
but I'm out of time.
thank you, sir.
>> mayor: thank you,
mr. Konish.
I would remind everyone that t
he
city commission doesn't run
gru.
>> mr. Mayor, we're onto justin
smith, followed by kali blount
and andrew miles.
>> mayor: welcome, mr. Smith.
>> good afternoon, mr. Chair.
I'm here today on behalf of th
e
community of individuals who
live here downtown.
they have many struggles.
many suffer varying degrees of
mental health challenges, many
are victims of severe trauma a
nd
abuse, sometimes as children,
sometimes in service of our
country.
sometimes both.
often these friends of mine are
struggling to overcome
addictions.
many of them have spent
significant time in prison.
for a host of reasons, most hav
e
no support from family or
friends, and now they are
trapped and living a life on th
e
street.
they are commonly lonely,
afraid, anxious, angry,
depressed, cold.
and hungry.
but there is one message that
nearly all of these folks are
given day in and day out; one
lie that these image bearers o
f
god are constantly told.
they are told that they are
worthless.
that tay don't matter.
that it is the same lie that
many of them have been told for
so long that they've come to
believe it.
mr. Chair, I don't think you
believe this lie anymore than I
do.
and I would like to thank you
and our city for the many
efforts made to support this
vulnerable portion of our
population.
however.
as you are aware, our community
has recently suffered an
incredible loss in services due
to the closure of st. Francis
house.
it is impossible to overstate
the importance of providing
daily hot meals and a shower t
o
people in need.
therefore, I encourage you to
look for and doggedly pursue
future partnerships to help fil
l
this gap as opportunities
arise.
please continue the work of
serving these members of our
community.
my friends on the street.
thank you for your time.
>> mayor: thank you.
>> mr. Mayor, we have kali
blount and then mr. Andrew
miles.
>> mayor: welcome, mr. Blount.
>> thank you.
I attended an event about net
zero the other day at the bloun
t
center, and as is too ovthe cas
e
in -- often the case in the cit
y
outreach events we the public
got to sit and hear
presentations from staffs of
several departments and the we
the public did not get to give
our questions and statements to
the whole room to all staff and
public present.
that is, we were told well vis
it
each table and but that's not
speaking to the room and to
everybody.
so about these, about net zero.
I'm going to rattle off as lis
t
as quick as I can in this time
frame.
all offender ignition interlock
laws, has to do with d.u.I.,
.05% blood alcohol content and
strict penalty laws as far as
revocation for repeat
offenders.
primary front seat belt laws.
primary rear seat belt laws.
speed cameras.
reduced speed limits where
appropriate.
all driver handheld devices
banned.
graduated driver licensing for
teens including younger permit
age.
not younger license but a longer
supervised learning period.
mandatory supervised hours fra
t
learning.
nighttime driving restrictions,
passenger restrictions, this I
s
again with young people.
intermediate license age.
other safety laws.
rear facing carseat law for
small children.
booster seat law.
motorcycle helmet laws.
that one stands out to me havin
g
seen many scrambled
motorcyclistsbrains in the e.r
.
all driver alcohol open
container law.
slow down move over laws.
this list of laws is done in
those states that have the
lowest traffic accident deaths.
so I favor your net zero effor
ts
here but your problem is in
tallahassee.
florida has three of these 17
laws.
and if they care about the
public, in tallahassee, they
ought to be passing these laws.
instead of listening to private
interests that want to limit
these laws.
for instance, motorcycle helme
ts
used to be the law.
and some people put on a
powerful lobbying effort to get
rid of that and in fact the lea
d
lobbyist died of head injuries
in a motorcycle crash.
so these laws are needed to
really reach your goal.
>> mayor: I don't think anybody
here disagrees with you,
mr. Blount.
>> andrew miles.
>> mayor: welcome, mr. Miles.
>> our last speaker.
>> good afternoon, y'all.
I'm here at this particular
point to talk to y'all about
property boundaries on the
northeast side of town.
the properties on the west,
east, south and north side of
all the properties in east
gainesville, it's all by about
five feet.
and on all the sides now, it's
started to affect the residents
because we got lot of new homes
that are being built on the eas
t
side now.
all before when people rur
building their most of it was
residents that was living there
before, and so they didn't arg
ue
with each other and they kind o
f
let people kept their fences up
and stuff like that.
but now there's a lot of new
properties that have been built
by homeowners and they're
measuring the property, and
they're finding that it's five
feet off on all sides all the
way around in fact my property
my front yard goes five feet
into a roadway so half of the
roadway is part of my property.
and I found out that in my
backyard where I had got a
permit to build a garage stora
ge
unit back there, that four fee
tf
that property does not belong t
o
me.
and so it's some problems that
are occurring right now and the
n
find out that property on the
other side of me is right up to
the sliding door glass of a
homeowner and their porch and
all is actually on my property.
so that really needs to be
looked at and see how we can
work some of this out because
it's going to be lot more
problems very soon about this
because in the pas
built the home in '82 after
realizing -- say something abo
ut
it, I came a couple years ago
about it and say something to
the commission.
I talked to the property
appraiser office a couple times
and reported it and ask them
could they look at it.
they came out and did
measurements and now recently
they are doing lot of
measurements but it really nee
ds
to be looked into because it's
going to be a lot of fights and
pushes about who owns what
property and I don't know if
you've been taking care of tha
t
property for 40, 50 years if
that going to give you the right
to still keep that property or
not, but I know this is about t
o
come up real soon because like
I
said four feet of my backyard
has been pointed out to me tha
t
it don't belong to me.
and according to when they com
e
out and shoot the property line
now, it's pretty much actual
what they're saying.
but when they shot it before,
when we got the permit, to bui
ld
a shed there they said
everything was aligned.
so it's going talqestamab a lot
of confusion.
I hope that y'all try to get
this addressed real soon instead
of later because a lot of new
homes been built out on the eas
t
side right now at this present
time.
new that was our last speaker,
mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: very good.
>> we are onto our discussion
items for the afternoon.
2026-92.
heartwood soundstage funding
with the recommendation the cit
y
commission approve allocating
$55,000 from excess fund balance
in the general fund for
heartwood sound' stage funding
request and provide direction o
npreferred option for
disbursement.
>> mayor: all right,
mr. Manager, did you want to --
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
the march 5th meeting you all
asked for us to come back with
options for y'all to consider
about how to accommodate the
heartwood soundstage's request
.
we are recommending that if the
commission did decide to move
forward with, with funding, it
would come from excess fund
balance.
we provided three options for
your consideration, a loan
format, importantly we don't
have terms to discuss and that
may be something that y'all
could discuss if that was a
desired option.
in advance the grant with
required backup documentation
for expended funds and city
audit right to, audit right
languageige there.
that would be a similar to wha
t
the city commission did for the
hippodrome, and then a
reimbursable grant with required
backup documentation right to
audit requirements.
I think importantly, there are
the soundstage I think during
the last presentation gave you
some, some items by which I
think they have some outstanding
debt, some operational
expenses,.
I think for purposes of the
commission's decision we would
want to at least put it on the
record that we would need to v
et
any potential expenditures wit
h
in conjunction with financial
services and the attorney's
office to make sure that any
expenses were sort of public
interest meaning if, if there
was old debt as a private
institution or a private
company, those things would nee
d
to be vetted to make sure that
we could actually expend publi
c
dollars on it versus ongoing
operational expenses, which
would be certainly I think a
more allowable use than paying
for old private debt if that
makes sense.
>> mayor: okay, thank you,
mr. Manager.
did anyone from heartwood want
to make any further
presentation?
or did we want to go straight t
o
discussion?
you don't have to.
I mean, we were all here last
time?
okay.
very good.
all right.
any thoughts from the
commission?
commissioner willits.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
I agree that if, that future
facing needs under the current
structure of the 501(c)3 that
is heartwood now makes the most
sense if that's what it is, it'
s
about what they need now to
continue being, you know,
successful.
but I also understand that the
ir
business model is their rapidly
switching from their for profi
t
to nonprofit structure and
rebuilding kind of rebuilding
the airplane as it's flying to
go off into the future
successful as possible as a, a
n
arts presenting institution in
downtown.
so some of this is a little
confusing to me just about lik
e
because I know the sport is --
it's kind of a general support
kind of a bridge to get to the
future, but at the same time I
do see that we have some
instances of, you know, some
transparency about, you know,
the expenses they have.
I don't feel good about retiring
debt.
I feel much better about,
know, basically paying people'
s
salaries who have been -- and
I'm still a little not sure tha
t
I will support this because of
this midyear, I don't know, it'
s
tough because it is a really
good chunk of entertainment
downtown, and it does make a l
ot
of sense I would prefer it be
normal budget process with
changes to our other program
eligibility.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner willits.
to be clear, this is a
nonprofit, and as they provide
a, an opportunity for a variety
of arts for the community, som
e
of it open to the community,
some of it ticketed talso is a
n
economic development issue, and
that's the way I look at this
100%.
there are businesses surrounding
it that are there because
heartwood is there.
and that is an important
consideration as we move forwa
rd
with this thought.
but commissioner book.
>> yeah, thank you, mr. Mayor.
so when we kind of spoke about
this at length on march 5th
almost a month ago, we were
talking -- what's the current
financial picture?
maybe -- this is a unique one.
I don't think in the time that
I've been on the commission tha
t
we've had a situation for a for
profit converted to a nonprofit
and then we provided them money
to get up and running.
if there is, I'm unfamiliar wit
h
it and so it's really difficult
to consider but I thought what'
s
the current financial picture
for heartwood?
we've had about a month to get
that.
I wonder if any of the heartwo
od
staff would be willing to
provide some updates.
>> thank you, my name is chels
y
karns I'm the executive directo
r
of heartwood sound stage.
so financial picture, I give t
he
full spiel last time but minor
updates since then.
just to repeat for the folks I
n
the audience who weren't here
last time, some of those
numbers, you know, we brought I
n
23,0 concert goers last year,
across 160 events, generated
$864,000 in ticket revenue.
there's a lot of studies that
show that performing arts
centers like ours, the amount o
f
economic activity that happens
around those events that's
people eating downtown, getting
hotel rooms, even the bands who
come in I shop their writers
which are often $1,000 writers
where I'm going to local, you
know, I just put in a $200 orde
r
at paper bag last week for
sandwiches for our, for a big
band that was touring through.
you
you know, so the economic
activity that happens around
these events is like five times
what we're generating internally
not to mention we're providing
jobs for 40-plus local
individuals who work in the art
s
that's steam jobs like sound
engineering and audio teching,
light design, and also
hospitality and event managemen
t
positions.
we have close relationships
with, I don't know how far to g
o
into the spiel but we have clo
se
relationships with uf, santa f
e
college, there is a university
of florida class base a
videoraphy class based on our
campuses, teaching viddography
.
they can go on to do live event
photography and videography, a
nd
you know financially one thing
I
said last time that I was here
and that I'll reiterate is tha
t
this isn't a story of a busines
s
that failed or a project that
you know failed to meet goals.
it's actually the opposite.
we've been incredibly
successful.
the people who founded this
institution four years ago nev
er
imagined that it would grow into
this thing that it is today.
it was a small listening room
for videography and for 100
people to sit and quietly liste
n
to sconsert and now it's a
festival and event space a
performing arts center, a campu
s for
for learning, and a place that
employs again over 40 local
professionals.
so you know, with that growth
comes a need for you know,
better supplies, better
equipment, we're also hitting
our 10-year anniversary so a l
ot
of things were purchased 10
years ago and we need -- we put
$4,000 into lights.
we needed new lights on the top
of our stage so this request
comes from a place of we're
really growing we're really
expanding we're doing our part
to bring people downtown to
support arts and community,
community resilience through t
he
arts, and downtown gainesville
.
making it a place for people's
to feel safe and comfortable a
nd
bring their families.
and supporting the local
businesses around us with our
activities.
so this request is, you know, t
o
so we can continue doing that.
those are kind of a lot but I
don't know specifically if you
want a certain number let me
know.
>> yeah, I think we had -- than
k
you very much for that
synopsis.
I think that probably my thoug
ht
about optimism for
heartwoodicize an economic
driver clearly it is that,
mr. Mayor is that you have
somebody who's come in and the
executive director who has
extensive knowledge about how t
o
manage things just like this.
so that's why I feel good about
heartwood going forward.
what have we raised as a
nonprofit?
we've been a nonprofit for about
seven months?
>> yes, so let me pull those
numbers for you.
so yeah, we've raised over
$5,416 in friends of heartwood
s
donations that's our membershi
p
program since becoming a
nonprofit.
we've raised over 5,000 -- we
have over $5,000 incoming just
in the past few weeks of peopl
e
supporting us, supporting our
upcoming events, mostly like
sponsorship corporate
sponsorship type donations.
from our online giving platform
that we launched when we became
a nonprofit in september we've
raised $3,815 that's just from
a
donate now button on our web
site.
from event sponsors, this is a
lot of this came from our at th
e
end of the year tom petty
weekend last year, we had 25,785
corporate sponsors that was the
very tail end of last year for
tom petty, one of our signature
events.
we received over $4,000 actual
ly
$6,000 total in ira disbursemen
t
since becoming a nonprofit so
that's where you can use your
retirement funds there's a way
to kind of reduce your taxes o
n
your retirement plan by doing a
n
ira disbursement, so yeah,
$6,000 from that.
and then from a single donor, w
e
received $58,000 at the end of
last year, and this kind of ti
es
into you know that donor was o
ne
of the founders of heartwood.
that was kind of where we were
at with this one donor pitching
in heavenally to pick up the -
-
heavily to pick up on slack whe
n
we fell low on things.
this is since september when w
e
became a nonprofit.
that adds up in total to
$94,016.
so we're doing quite well with
sponsorships.
this is another reason that I
say I don't expect to be back here n
here next year asking for this
kind of money, so -- really wel
l
it's just I've inherited some
problems, you know, some debt.
and to address the conversatio
n
about whether it should go
towards debt or future expenses,
either one would do the trick.
it's, I'm we're amenable to, y
ou
know, aplooiing the money where
it's, where it feels best
applies by the commission.
>> thank you.
the figures that you just
provided for what's being raise
d
is another source of optimism
going forward.
that for me, where I struggle I
s
just this morning we stopped
providing money internally at
the city for our own staff
because we said we're in the
middle of a budget process, and
you know, where we can't provi
de
money internally, I really
struggle even though the fundi
ng
sources are different, to
provide those monies
externally.
we have 30 frozen positions at
the city.
these are 30 people that we're
not hiring across various
divisions because we ourselves
are holding the line on some
fiscal restraint, and then I,
what worries me is we just got
another email this week from
another nonprofit that wants t
o
increase their funding.
they may be within one of our
existing processes, but they
want between 50 -- instead of
what they got is $65,000 they
want double that at least
they're hoping that we'll
provide double.
and it's another worthwhile
nonprofit organization.
so these are the things I
struggle with which is funding
internally that we have versus
funding externally even though
again I know the funding strea
ms
are different.
so thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: thank you,.
commissioner chestnut.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
if you could just very
succinctly tell us again what
the 55, what the 55,000 would b
e
used for.
is it your retired debt or
exactly what?
>> sure.
so initially I thought the bes
t
thing to use it for -- well
first I'll say where the numbe
r
55,000 came from.
so the past two years in a row
,
bate end of the budget year,
we've been $250,000 -- we've
needed $250,000 from our
founder'spitched in to keep the
thing going so I have no reason
to suspect that number is going
to be any different this year.
that number will be different
from this year moving forward
because we have reduced expensed
by $100,000.
I got the nature and culture
enhancement grantwhich I
believe we will get a grant
every year through the county's
ed tax so not local taxpayers
paying that money.
it's for events and services
like ours that bring in tourist
s
and fill hotel beds.
so we got $100,000 from that s
o
between the cost that I've
reduced about $100,000 and the
grant that we received of
100,000 that leaves me with the
55,000 that where suspect we're
going to be short this year tha
t
we're tracking to be short on s
o
before we get to the part of
like closing doors or laying
people off or reducing services,
I came to you all to say can y
ou
help me with this 55,000.
and as far as what it will be
spent on?
I thought it made the most sen
se
to spend it on past debts eso
then our monthly expenses payin
g
off of those debts are reduced
and that sets us up month to
month to be saving money on the
z
those debts and interest but I
mean we have single shows comin
g
up where the artist fees are
about $50,000.
so like one, I could use this t
o
pay one artist fee and it would
save us $50,000 that I could u
se
to address other issues.
that's the kind of how the
business works, there's major
expenses, so so whether the
55,000 is spent on past
expenses, whether we applied
donor fees to past expenses and
applied this to labor for the
next calendar year, apply it t
o
artist fees or apply it to we
have some major -- I'll name a
few things I'd love to apply I
t
to.
I mentioned production upgrade
s
so 10 years old with most of o
ur
production equipment and you
know we need computer upgrades
software upgrades, systems
upgrades, we've already begun
that.
like replacing the lights like
we did last week but you know
lighting, seating, electrical
upgrades, our outdoor sound
system, and maintenance to our
current production equipment.
>> so it could be considered a
windfall.
>> a wind -- I'm not sure what
that means.
>> I don't know how to explain
it.
>> mayor: okay.
anything else?
okay.
anyone else?
all right.
is there any public comment on
this, madam clerk?
>> I do not have public comment
on this item.
>> mayor: okay.
would anyone like to make any
sort of recommendation?
commissioner duncan-walker.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
I just have some questions and
then I want to make the comments
because clearly I think so men
a
of us are appreciative of the
work that is done out of
heartwood and I know that when
we spoke, I had a subsequent
conversation with our arts
grants programs, prca.
and of course the question was
you know what is existing there
and what we found was
unfortunately that heartwood d
id
not fit into the neat boxes tha
t
we currently have prescribed a
s
arts presenters and for me tha
t
was a bit of a challenge.
so what I want to say to my
colleagues here is we have I
think a case where we have an
arts presenter that is not
fitting within our definition o
f
arts presenter, and I'm
interested as a board to figur
e
out a way how we might be able
to reconcile that.
now I clearly understand that
those arts organizations that
we're currently funding out of
those buckets of monies fit
within a particular description
but I think that we have to be
mindful and we have to be
responsive when we know that
there are organizations that a
re
doing that thing that we just
haven't considered how we, we
are able to address that, okay
in terms of money so what we
hear is an organization that
needs some help.
and there are a lot of
organizations that need help.
so I'm struggling now with
making sure that there is a fai
r
way as we move forward that
we'll be able to do this in the
future because we're already
getting e-mails.
should we do this, there will
be
more and there will be the
question of well, the city
funded heartwood why won't you
fund us.
and nobody's going to be
concerned.
nobody's concerned with our
budget or bottom line is,
they're just going to say you
funded heartwood.
so for me it's a matter of
making sure our processes can
accommodate what the needs are
artistically here, and I want t
o
have another conversation and
intertain and she's not in her
e
so I don't want to do it right
now, but I think that I'm
interested in coming back to t
he
table with parks, rec and
cultural affairs or the cultura
l
affairs board, whichever entit
y
it is, it's our cultural affai
rs
department is who it is, to ha
ve
a conversation around what we
would need to do to address the
organization's like heartwood.
heartwood is not the only one
but it's the one that's in
downtown that's doing a large
volime of business -- volume o
f
business that is feeding into
the economic development piece
that is important and vital to
the city.
it's just a shame that we da wa
y to fund it right now
through the city.
and flow have to look -- now
have to look at doing this an
alternate way that will be a b
it
controversial.
so I want to say before I make
any comment about the current
request that I'd like for us t
o
look internally at our process
and ask the cultural affairs
council what they would need I
n
order to move this forward, a
definition or grant program that
would include organizations li
ke
what are the financial needs.
who do we need to reach out to?
I did want to ask you this.
have you in any way engaged wit
h
the gainesville community
foundation?
>> gainesville community
foundation?
>> yes.
>> is that the center for
nonprofit excellence?
>> they're a part of that.
>> okay.
>> the center for nonprofit
excellence is a part.
>> we have been in touch with
the center for nonprofit
excellence.
I don't know specifically about
the foundation that you speak o
f
though.
>> mm-hmm.
so what was the outcome of tha
t
interaction?
>> they've been supportive and
you know, they reached out
actually one of the leaders of
our organization reached out
right when we became a nonprof
it
and said hey, you know, we're
here if you need resources and
we reached out back to her to
connect her with our developme
nt
director when we hired him, so
we've been in contact but there
has been no discussion of here'
s
some money we have for you or
anything like that.
>> mayor: so to be clear they'
re
no longer with the north centr
al
florida community foundation?
>> okay.
>> mayor: and their missionis
to help train nonprofits be goo
d
nonprofits --
>> correct I'm definitely
familiar with what the nonprof
it
center for nonprofit excellence
does but I also know that the
gainesville community foundation
has been a grant making
organization so I was wondering
if there was any conversation o
r
any movement in that way.
>> I'll write it down.
I'll definitely reach out.
>> I'll conclude for now.
>> mayor: thank you.
commissioner ingle.
>> so I was not present for the
previous discussion on this, b
ut
I was I can certainly see the
concerns about we strike a che
ck
when the first nonprofit comes
and asks us for money.
there are certainly going to be
a lot of people asking for mon
ey
like this.
I will say heartwood to me, I
greatly enjoy the place.
it's -- but more than that, if
you remember the baird center
prior to heartwood, there was
nothing there.
I mean, there was a one bla
box theater and the old
crosstown was there.
but I'll say it was pretty muc
h
a derelict building so I reall
y
do think that this is an ancho
r
business that is keeping I mea
n
just another half dozen
businesses going and then just
in general adding an awful lot
to the economy of kind of south
main and it's been a kind of a
n
anchor that I feel has drawn l
ot
of things down that way.
it's kind of dove tailed very
nicely with depot park and
really turning that into a muc
h
different economic area than it
was prior to heartwood being
there.
I don't know the best way of
going about supporting them but
I know we've done plenty of
grants for other organizations
that were everything from
picking an area of town that we
want to put some money into mak
e
sure that their, there's options
there for businesses to get --
built up and facades of
buildings to get cleaned to
those types of things to helping
out the hippodrome.
so I would really like to find
some way to move forward with
this.
I think it's, it's important n
ot
only to heartwood but also to
a
lot of other businesses around
there and generally the economi
c
health of the area but whether
that looks like, like a low or
no interest loan, whether that
looks like a grant, whether tha
t
looks like whatever, I think
it's a very important driver f
or
the area that I think it would
be very detrimental if we let
fail.
more than that, like I also
think it is very unique in the
arts community in town that it's
one of the few kind of regiona
l
draws for music in the area.
you know it's not national act
s
but it's larger than local act
s,
and it really does pull in, it'
s
kind of well known I don't kno
w
what you would call it, second
tier stars or whatever, there
aren't quite national touring
acts but are that kind of level
that pulls a lot of people int
o
gainesville.
like I know a lot of people tha
t
are familiar with gainesville
because of heartwood.
they came here to see shows
there.
and that's why they're coming t
o
town.
so I don't know the best way t
o
move forward with it but I thi
nk
it's important we find some way
to move forward with it.
>> mayor: all right.
thank you, commissioner ingle.
commissional willits.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
you know, it's not lost on me
that about a block away we're
trying to sell a property, an
old fire station location.
$55,000 could be the
difference -- I mean a good
functioning business community
on south main street versus one
with a you know a big hole in
it, could be the difference in
how -- how much we sell that
property for.
you know?
so that's, to me it's economic
development and arts.
these are the two things kind o
f
combined.
and so the fact that the count
y
tourism bed tax is being
supported that leads me more
towards hey this is the county
has done their part, can we do
part, and ms. Karns can you
remind me did the full county
commission have to vote on tha
t
grant?
does it go through them or is
it
part of a committee or an
administrative decision?
>> the alachua county arts
council I want to say decides on
the grant, and then they send
that to the county commissione
rs
to approve.
>> okay.
so in the end it is --
>> it was vetted both by the
council and by the commission.
>> okay.
county commission's kind of done
part of their part.
this leads me more towards --
I'm very in the middle.
I don't know.
because it is, it's so importa
nt
to the business development.
if this was ngcra in a different
way or in our arts programs mor
e
aligned out I would feel more
comfortable but I'm looking at
your calendar just through jul
y
and there's all kinds of stuff
on here.
all kinds of great stuff.
ani defranko and juvenile are
definitely national acts.
and rightly so some of the act
s
on here that I'm sure the
florida legislature does about
want to talk about.
blues society presents women I
n
blues showcase if we're allowed
to showcase women in music.
or black -- there is just whole
list.
I do it for my city festival I
n
master class these are things
people in the state legislature
probably don't want us to
participate, but we're free to
do it for now.
so I'm leaning more towards
let's find this 55,000 but in
the best I don't have a
preference on the format or
version.
a zero interest loan is where I
lean towards if we're capable o
f
doing that.
a zero interest loan.
that way they figure out what
they need to do, whether it's
pay off debt or whatever, and
they have less in their monthly
you know costs and they can pay
us back over a period of time.
city manager, I would need a
little more guidance on -- I
know loans are not impossible.
we do it in certain formats, b
ut
this is one where it's a littl
e
out of my -- I was not prepped
for that portion of this today
,
so can you answer a little bit
about loans or somebody?
>> to be honest, this is kind o
f
new territory for the city wit
h
respect to this, the examples o
f
loans that I can give you that
we do do are the connect three
funds are typically structured
as a very low interest loan.
we have certain aspects of our
housing programs.
we are technically a forgivabl
e
loan with a sort of soft side
mortgage that gets forgiven yea
r
after year in a prorated sense
.
I think as I mentioned like we
don't have terms if for this f
or
the, for the loan.
we would look for the commissio
n
if they wanted to be forgivabl
e
or zero interest.
like we could work with them a
nd
then come up with terms.
>> okay.
I mean, by all means, if we giv
e
$55,000 loan with zero interes
t
and forgivable and they're ali
ve
and kicking in three or four
years, great.
we've achieved, you know, the
goal.
so that's, I just ask that but
I'm leaning more towards let's
figure this out and find it as
an economic development piece
with the county already having
put in their portion and then
you know an opportunity.
it is out on the edge of what
I'm comfortable with.
it's a bit of leap of faith not
in you ms. Karns or the
soundstage but a leap of faith
of what the community does and
doesn't support as an entire
whole.
I think that's all I got for
now.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner willits and let m
e
throw an idea out there and the
n
we'll go back around to the res
t
of the lights.
what if we thought of this and
I
am, I don't have a proposal
ready I'm just putting this ide
a
out there.
what if we went in the direction
of a loan very low interest loa
n
that we could then turn into a
revolving loan opportunity for
arts presenting organizations?
so as that is paid back, we the
n
make that available to other
arts presenting organizations on
same sort of basis.
just that's a thought.
that's a way for us to honestl
y
put our money where our mouth is
when we talk about supporting
the arts for arts presenting
organizations and see if maybe
there's an opportunity to use
that as seed money for other
arts presenting organizations.
then we could do that
geographically.
we could -- there are any numbe
r
of ways that we could think
about that.
consider that as we do this.
it would be good to have you
know, options a, b, and c for u
s
to choose from up here rather
than us trying to create a loa
n
package as we go.
but I would like to have that a
s
a, an option.
I would also like us to consider
that there are a bit of a
timeline.
I mean they know there is a
money crunch coming down the
road in summer.
I mean they indicated to us
whether they were here last
time.
-- when they were here last time
so we need to keep that in min
d
as well.
all right, commissioner
duncan-walker.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.to ask
the city
manager, did the city provide,
was what we did with the reggae
shack, was that a loan through
gcra?
>> the related to the -- are y
ou
talking --
>> I know it particular
owner and there were ways the
city interfaced and worked wit
h
this person on I believe a few
different projects.
I don't recall whether it was,
I
do believe it was southern char
m
but I thought it was also regga
e
shack and another one of the
restaurants that they were
trying to do.
the twisted peacock I believe
>> that would've been outside o
f
cra area.
the twisted peacock.I believe w
ithout you know
without having to do some
research, I believe reggae sha
ck
receive received a facade g
rant
for the front of the building
and then the southern charm was
a, you know, was a complete yo
u
know we built a restaurant
essentially for that.
but I don't think that it's an
equivalent in this case.
>> not a loan that the city
created for that.
>> correct.
I would, I just want -- the
opportunity.
I would suggest that the
commission separate creation o
f
a new loan program from this
discussion like because I think
if you all give direction that
that's something you want to d
o
then we would work that into t
he
budget but I think for all the
reasons that you know that have
been listed both in terms of
the, the timing for heartwood,
and then not coming up with
something on a daises separatin
g
the two -- dais, separating the
two, they may both have the
reasons would probably be the
best course in this case.
>> mm-hmm.
andrew, can I ask you this.
you see no reason it can't be
arts specific though, the
discussion you come back with,
correct?
>> from a loan program?
yeah, of course.
I think that would be the focus
based on y'all discussion.
>> okay.
thank you.
I conclude for now, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner.
so for all of you wondering why
didn't they just talk about thi
s
beforehand.
because we can't.
the sunshine law says if we're
going to talk about things tha
t
we're going to vote on, this is
the way that we do that.
and it is, it is uncomfortable
watching the sausage get made I
n
public but this is how it
works.
so commissioner eastman.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
I agree with everything that
commissioner ingle said from
before.
I think that losing heartwood
sound stage would be, I mean,
devastating for south main which
we have invested lot of money I
n
over time to we're seeing the
fruits of that and it is truly
an anchor business that is dow
n
there.
it would be a loss to our music
community which has lost a lot
of its medium sized venue over
the last couple of years.
there are very, very few place
s
that medium sized band or group
would be able to play in here
just in our entire city and
heartwood really serves that
purpose and it's why --
potentially the only one that
serves that purpose right now
within the city of gainesville
.
but I also I mean I agree
withition comer willits and som
e
of the other folks that have
spoken that said, you know, you
also -- because I spent the rest of t
of this time up here on the
commission today arguing about
following processes and that
making one -- when you start
making one off decisions here,
that ends up bek-78ing bec
oming
the process in and of itself.
if people come and ask you mon
ey
and you make an exception,
eventually there is not a rule,
right?
you're now the exception to the
rule.
and so yeah I've struggled wit
h
it in exactly the same way.
so we're now talking about the
needs of heartwood that have
been up until this point kind o
f
spoken about as a, some way tha
t
funding would go straight to
heartwood that would then, tha
t
would work in some way.
and I said at the last meeting
I'll say it this one that
anything like this I think it
has to be focused on what the
community gets from it, what t
he
benefits are, that would to me
mean open community events,
community gatherings that, tha
t
you guys are either doing
currently or that you would be
putting into place that, that
I
mean that is what our taxpayers
expect.
is they expect that our funding
is going to supporting overall
something that benefits the
community, but as someone had
mentioned a, just a regular, n
o
interest loan.
I don't know if that,and you
mentioned, I mean you had a
couple of -- trying to fill a
gap, right, but then too, you'r
e
trying to pay off old debts, a
nd
get rid of the, the interest
that's on that.
I mean, what -- I know just cam
e
up here today, but what are you
r
thoughts overall about it?
a no interest loan for that
amount?
>> I think any of those three
you said the loan, the advanced
grant, or the reimbursable
grant, we could work within the
measures of any of those three
,
and I would want as much as yo
u
all for it to be completely
transparent completely reported
on like I want no, you know, I
'm
not interested in negative press
for heartwood.
I want to be completely
transparent in everything we're
is happy to provide whatever
receipts are needed and you kno
w
to make sure that it's all don
e
above board and nothing's
seedy.
>> right but there is -- one's
a
forgivable loan which would be
I
mean similar to a grant in tha
t
we would give you the up front
money and then over time when
it
could be certain provisions are
met then that is, that gets
taken off of the total amount o
r
it could be just a grant that'
s
on the front end or I guess a
rerebimersable grant doesn't f
ix
the cash crunch in the
short-term because as you said
at the last one, the summer is
where the cash crunch is comin
g
in but the other one would be a
no interest lane loan.
cash eventually that would be
paid back over a point of time
so it's really a loan at that
point.
it's not a grant or some amoun
t
that is spent.
>> that's, less helpful than t
he
other options maybe a band aid
but then we owe you a money in
the year or two so it's just a
s
we're kind of breaking even and
so yeah not -- I would favor t
he
options of a forgivable loan o
r
an advanced grant.
>> I mean, that is what I walke
d
into this discussion with the
idea of the with a forgivable
loan of some amount that would
be forgiven upon the contingen
t
upon having publicly accessible
community events throughout th
e
year at some number that would
be, the over three-year period
is what I had written down her
e
that would just to ensure that
which I think is the best thing
that solves the cash crunch on
the front end and then ensures
that there is some community
benefit to this on the back
end.
but does not solve the overall
question of, of how do you
ensure that this is done
fairly.
we just don't I mean if we're,
if we believe, if we believe
that this is something that
needs to happen immediately,
this has to happen before the
summer, then we don't have
time -- to the mayor's point I
like the idea of having
revolving loans, mr. Mayor,
making sure that we have that I
n
place, you know, to city
manager's point we just don't
have the time for that at the
moment.
but I do think that there is
some kind of a solution we cou
ld
find here.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner eastman.
I do want to point out that
speaking of process, speaking to
process, we have off the top o
f
my head I can name three times
in the last few years when we'
ve
done almost exactly the same
thing for more money. And
and that is got a $75,000 grant
,
came and made a proposal, we
said okay, here is your money.
the hippodrome didn't even make
a proposal just walked up and
said we need $250,000.
we said how about 150 I think
was the number.
and by the way, I voted for
every one of these and I'm
pretty sure that they were all
unanimous so I'm not casting a
ny
apirations -- aspersions here.
and last year we gave bread of
the m$100,000.
now that waserary specifically
to go feed -- not saying that
they're all the same.
they're not.
but I am saying that this is n
ot
out of the ordinary in the
greater scheme of things, and I
think the lesson is that we nee
d
to find a way to make it less
out of the ordinary and find a
way to create actual process s
o
that when people come say hey,
we need money, we say well
there's a process for that ther
e
are right now processes that a
re
very much boxes that are built
and if you don't fit one -- if
you fit one of the boxes you
probably don't need the money I
n
the first place.
but if you don't, then there I
s
really nowhere where we can say
here, go there and do this and
we'll work through it with you
.
so but it is not out of the
ordinary for this to happen a
thing that we are asked of and
that we respond affirmatively
to.
commissioner ingle.
>> I want to say I like the ide
a
that commissioner eastman
floated about having some actua
l
deliverables for the community
that this would be going towar
ds
so there was some accountable
for what that money was --
accountability for what that
money was for.
but then also I would really
like to take a look at what we
could do to establish a kind o
f
long-term program on making som
e
of these loans available both
for economic development and
arts programs and that, it's a
little bit of a cost on the up
front but it should be coming
back and about break even, the
type of thing I talked to a lot
of businesses and developers
that are like well I would rea
l
ay like to be able to do x but
money is 6.5% right now so it'
s
not even necessarily need, not
necessarily that everybody jus
t
needs a check but like the
ability to get some pay backabl
e
money at a reasonable price tha
t
could keep economic development
going in the town if interest
rates continue to explode and
the economy in general slows
down.
so I think it might be a timely
thing for us to take a look at
in general.
like I said as manager mentioned
I don't think you're going to
be
able to put that together to
address this, but I think those
two things in tandem are
something I can probably get
behind.
>> mayor: okay.
thank you, commissioner ingle.
commissioner chestnut.
>> okay.
my question was going to be on
process.
last year for the hippodrome.
the hippodrome was in dire
straits.
they couldn't meet their
payroll.
and we stepped in to help them.
bread of the mighty -- food
stamps.
we had to meet that need
immediately for our community.
trying to think of the other
one.
so that's the one thought.
then I do not like reimbursabl
e
loans or payments because that
really doesn't help the
organization you're trying to.
if they have to put up the money
first, then submit papers to y
ou
to be reimbursed it really
doesn't serve their purpose.
I don't think we can create the
program sitting up here today,
but just -- I'm just thinking
that of course we have the
tourist development council, and
I think that's probably where
you got the money from from the
county was the tourist
development council.
then we have the north central
florida -- community
foundation.
I'm trying to think if there I
s
some kind of program we could
create with them where we could
deposit funds and then let the
m
be the distributor.
I don't know I'm just having,
I'm just having a problem with
this one right here today.
I'm having a -- I'm having a
real problem with it.
maybe something we need to sen
d
back to the manager.
I thought we would -- with som
e
more direction, with some more
direction.
but in the end they really may
generate the $50,000 they need
anyway by summer.
she's gotten part of it.
so I'm just having a problem
with signing off on it today.
I did not support giving money
for an auditor this morning.
for our city program so I reall
y
have a problem trying to fund
this now.
so I probably would not vote t
o
fund it.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner chestnut.
commissioner book.
>> yes, mr. Mayor.
so I'm in a similar place,
right?
I want to stay consistent with
the way that we fund
organizations even those that
have great potential and are
greatly worthwhile, which is
this one.
but it's been a nonprofit for
seven months, and it ran a
deficit for several years, and
the only way I know that is
because their own staff and the
folks who've funded it told us
that.
that it run at deficit for
several years, and it's only
because they've moved to a
nonprofit model and you have
really proactive aggressive
staff that they're in a positio
n
that they're far more
financially solvent now.
so that's a testament to the
folks who are working there, a
nd
the director.
kind of on the back end,
commissioner duncan-walker was
talking about a process that's
more inclusive for arts and
cultural affairs.
I support that.
that might be on the back end
something that comes out.
I think you have a little more
knowledge than I do in that.
that we should in fact move
forward a process to research
that.
because I think is it mayor pr
o
tem is the papi grant that is
the one that is very narrowly
tayered taylered.
well it probably shouldn't be s
o
narrowly tailored at this point
with the, with the plethora of
organizations.
>> you may eat those words.
[laughter]
>> I don't think so.
I won't.
I just think there should be a
second motion that comes out
that deals with allowing the
city to determine better ways
for potentially -- and it may
not even be that grant.
I'm pretty broad thinking in
this regard.
but I do think we need mike sur
e
that we're looking and -- make
sure that we're looking up and
staying up with times and
friends for the way the --
trends for the way those
organizations provide those
types of events and cultural
development to the city.
so that's second.
as it relates to this money
again I voted against providing
money to our own city this
morning.
and I know it's a different
funding source.
but there's no mechanism that
after seven months as a
nonprofit I could say that
that's enough runway to see tha
t
we've done everything, and the
re
are some other options to look
at.
it sounds to me like you
director have actually you're
uncovering quite a few options
and pursuing all those.
couple others have been
mentioned here.
surplus equipment, and I think
we should see what happens in
the coming months, and perhaps
after a year as a nonprofit tha
t
puts us on equal footing with
other nonprofits asking us for
money and other existing fundi
ng
sources and then there are, and
then we're considering them
amongst the other competition
for such good work.
so it is, this is merely about
the same process we are talkin
g
about this morning for me.
thank you.
>> mayor: all right, thank you
commissioner book.
commissioner duncan-walker.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
just a really quick question t
o
staff.
mr. Manager, how quickly, I know
we have a gpc coming up next
week, but how quickly probably
not at that one do you think
staff might be able to come bac
k
with some options for a process
to the commission based on wha
t
you've heard here today?
>> can you be more specific?
like what kind of process?
>> so you've heard us today tal
k
about the, you've heard us talk
about a few things.
you've heard us talk about
grants but you've also heard u
s
talk about loans.
you've heard us talk about pap
I
and I would personally be
interested in entertaining all
of the options.
now what I do understand about
papi is there was a little bit
of 3ugsback -- pushback by sta
ff
of altering that because there
are already major institutions
getting money out of the pot
that max out with that grant
which is why we -- none of us
are the professionals up here
that understand of the financing
behind that, et cetera,
et cetera, so I'm curious if
based on everything you've heard
us say here today from loans t
o
grants and to specifically the
p
api grant so we can be reminded
or informed about what the
restrictions are or what our
options are if we did decide we
wanted tosee staff kind of
revisit and reformat that.
those options and anymore that
staff could come back with, how
quickly do you think we could
have that conversation or an
agenda item?
>> so I guess couple things.
for the papi grants, those are
grants but they're essentially
sort of more baked into your
budget.
there is less of a competitive
process that goes into it.
and my understanding is the
issue that we discussed last
time was that there are for art
s
producing organizations not art
s
presenting.
so there is, so in one sense
it's very easy because we can
just change that to include art
s
presenting organizations as
eligible as well, but then the
re
is the money piece and the
existing organizations that are
already funded, and I think we
would, what we had talked about
last time was potentially if
that was direction from the
commission, we would bring tha
t
any recommendations back throu
gh
your budget process this year.
there is also the outside agenc
y
grant which is more competitive
,
and it has like a larger
diversity of nonprofits that
apply.
of which I believe heartwood I
s
eligible for but that's a
smaller pot of money than papi.
similarly, I think that would b
e
something less of a programmati
c
change and more of a discussio
n
that you would all probably wan
t
to have around the actual total
amount.
I think commissioner willits y
ou
brought up last time that both
of those funding sources have
not been increased in a long
time, so I'm not sure it's
like -- we can come back for
options for programmatic chang
es
that are relatively short but I
don't think that gets to the
commission's point about if yo
u
all want to make room for a
fourth organization to fund,
that's going to be a budget
discussion through your budget
process.
I'm not worried about staff
being able to come up with
something in that sense, but I
don't want it to be a situation
where we rush staff forward and
we're still in the middle of
this existing budget, in the
middle of your budget process.
I would want to wrap that up
with the discussion of
everything else that we're going
to talk about with budget
process this year.
but we can certainly I think
come back with some programmati
c
recommendations through that
budget process and make sure
that that, if that's the
direction of the commission,
that could be something that w
e
discuss during when parks comes
and presents the budget or I
think those are maybe a
nondepartmental right now so w
e
can have
>> thank you.
>> mayor: that leaves us at
zero.
I don't make motions as chair.
I would think what we would --
I
think what we would probably
like is for the manager's offic
e
to come back to us with an ide
a
of what a loan might look like
and what a grant might look
like, and how that would be
possible and if nobody wants t
o
make that motion, that means we
don't want to do this, and
that's okay as well.
commissioner willits?
>> I think I'm getting closer t
o
a motion.
I know delay is not great, but
we do have -- the potential
option to advance was for city
funds and audit rights.
that's where I'm leaning right
now with 55,000.
with some sort of option for -
-
I'm sure you'll open to lots o
f
public things when a nonprofit
is hosting this, that or the
other.
some sort of build in about
public access.
the grant suggests the public
has to be involved somehow,
there has to be an option.
some sort of -- I don't know
what city staff would envision
,s
maybe between now and next week
,
come up with -- yeah, we do hav
e
a need for a location.
we're going to record somethin
g.
commissioner eastman plays
guitar?
banjo, maybe he's going to hav
e
a city commission band who wan
ts
to.
I say that as a joke, but if
there's something we could be
useful for us, it could be
slotted in, public access,
benefiting the city directly o
r
just the public.
I'm leaning toward that secon
option to bring it back next
week.
which I know is a further dela
y, none wants thear.
none wants thear.
my motion is that we look at t
he
next gpc, staff brings back the
option of an advanced grant wit
h
required backup documentation,
with specific funds and
public -- some sort of
expectation of public access
events for a time period or in
a
time period for the full
$55,000.
>> mayor: how about the 23rd
instead of next week.
>> let's do the 23rd.
>> second.
>> mayor: thank you.
>> I did want to hear.
I was going to -- I thought we
needed to make a call on it, I
would be curious what the city
manager had to say.
from my understanding of this
conversation, I don't think
staff thought this was a
complicated thing that it neede
d
to be written, prewritten, we
could have that direction here
today.
you have your light on, is that
right?
>> yeah.
>> I think commissioner willits
motion is clear.
we can take that, what I would
say in terms of the public
facing, if it's open to the
public, that's something that
hartwood is amenable to.
that gives us action, we make
that session here today.
I don't think we need to bring
it back, the only complicated
factor would be if there was -
-
if there was a desire to walk
down the loan front.
then we would need to come up
with repayment terms, et cetera
,
et cetera.
if the commission wants to do
the advance grant with those
stipulations, and the discussio
n
that we had about making sure
that it is for eligible
expenses, on going eligible
expenses, not past debt, I thi
nk
it's -- our preference would
probably be, as miss carnes
indicated, some of the equipment
costs because those are long
term capital investment that I
think would have benefit beyon
d
just necessarily paying for
staffing or salaries or things
like that, that would be our
if that's the will of the
commission, we could decide tha
t
today and give staff enough to
move forward.
>> to me, it's important that I
t
have -- it doesn't feel right
paying for equipment.
it's for a multiprivate
organization.
I think structuring -- whether
it's a grant or forgivable loan
that is based on a certain
number of events that get done
over the course of time.
15 years seems like a bit.
a three-year forgivable loan
that were open to the public,
which I think are pretty much I
n
there, I'm happy to defer that
to staff to kick that over, wha
t
the community expects and what
the city already does, we have
events that are open to the
public that people can come to
.
we -- that is a part of what w
e
do as a community.
this is an extension of that t
o
an organization that does that
very well.
I guess I'm comfortable with
what you have.
I think that gets in the same
direction.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner eastman.
I like the idea of a three-year
forgivable loan.
as opposed to straight out.
>> my original.
>> mayor: commissioner duncan
walker?
>> I was going to ask if the
maker of the motion would be
willing to add that to the
motion?
>> my preference is, it is
forgivable.
we give the money now.
>> to have staff to bring back
loan options so we can see.
>> I side more with commissione
r
eastman, let's get this done
right now.
if it didn't need to come back
,
the motion was clear enough, I
would prefer today.
in my heart of hearts, I like
the had idea of a forgivable
loan.
we get some documentation at
some point and we see some -- I
f
it's four events a year, you
know, then they say yeah, we d
id
this, it was great, it was fun,
at the end, it's a forgivable
loan.
a forgivable loan is less of ou
r
knowledge base, that's why I
lean more toward getting
something done today.
just to be clear, you know what,
I withdraw my motion and we wi
ll
start a new motion.
this is literally how the
sausage is made.
>> that is why I said that, I
like something the mayor
brought up, it would take us I
n
a different direction in terms
of giving us the ability to be
able to regenerate the pot of
money.
so a loan, whatever the options
are
are from all of us.
we're still able to provide a
service, now we don't have the
responsibility of, here we hav
e
to carve this out in the budget
.
I think that's very important
for us, it's part of our
responsibility for the people
who expect us to be able to
support the arts, but also in
these lean times, do it as
fiscally responsible as we can
.
>> we can make the motion.
>> I can definitely make the
motion.
let's see.
I move that staff come back wit
h
options for a loan program tha
t
will support arts organization
s,
not currently served.
and I guess I could put the
period there.
does that cover what we need?
>> second.
>> mayor: we have a motion and
a
second.
anything snels.
>> no, I think that's it.
>> mayor: commissioner eastman?
>> that's fine, we can move on
the current motion.
>> mayor: okay.
we need to ask for public
comment.
we don't have any.
>> I would like to see what the
motion is that we're voting on.
there have been several.
>> mayor: it will take us a
moment to get it on screen.
>> broadcast, I have it up.
there we go.
>> mayor: do you want to put a
n
amount on there?
>> no, I don't want to put an
amount on there.
I want staff to.
>> mayor: do you want to put a
date on there?
>> can you bring it back to gp
c
on the 23rd?
I'm trying to take a little
pressure off from you.
>> that's the second gpc of th
e
month.
we can, yes.
is this to serve heartwood or?
I'm confused.
does this need to be done for
her to apply?
>> well, this is great for the
community, it's not actually
what hartwood was requesting.
we were requesting money we won
the owe you to kind of -- I'm
trying to avoid being back her
e
next year asking again.
so a loan we would have to pay
off doesn't fix that need.
it won't be ready for us in tim
e
for summer.
>> understood.
>> I think it's a great motion
.
>> I think if this is the
direction that the commission
wants to do from a programmati
c
standpoint, then I think that'
s
a separate motion than dealing
with heart wood.
we can do this, we don't need
necessarily, if you all want I
t
on the 23rd for initial
discussion.
I think part of the budget
process, we wouldn't need to
actually put some money in to
the initial loan amount.
and my recommendation would
again be let's do that as part
of the budget process.
but I think if the commission
wants to deal with hartwood,
they're two separate things.
does that make sense?
>> it does.
>> and again n a competitive
way.
>> in a competitive process,
where the city is able to recou
p
their funds.
I have no problem with that
being a part of the budgetary
solution.
we have this one on the table.
but it's not applied to
heart wood.
we need another one going to
heart wood.
>> am I taking the 23rd off?
>> yes.
>> thank you.
>> okay. That is something
that is something we can handl
e
during the -- should we vote
affirmatively on this, that's
something we can do during the
budget process.
we still have the question to
deal with, but is there any
other question about this
particular motion?
all in favor?
any opposed?
that passes unanimously, as par
t
of the on going process.
at some number.
now, that's not a definite
number, and we can work that o
ut
as we go.
I do think that has tremendous
long term potential, even at a
low number.
I think it gets a lot of
organizations over a hump,
without having to put it on
someone's credit card.
the truth,that's what arts
organizations get funded with,
someone's high interest credit
card.
it's rarely a situation with
nonprofits and particularly art
s
nonprofits and for profit, to
make a profit.
and it's harder to be stable
without the community's suppor
t.
that still leaves us with the
question we have on the agenda
today.
commissioner eastman?
>> for the point of this, I'm
happy to review it, I think
there's a lot that need -- how
we're going to make up our
budget gap that we have, I
consider this part of the
overall policy process, and I'l
l
be curious what staff comes bac
k
with.
I hope just to be on the up
front about it, in the same vie
w
as the hippo drome came out for
$250,000 initially?
>> mayor: that's what think
asked, I don't think we gave
them 250.
>> I think in that same spirit
,
I hear what you're saying about
the 55,000.
I move to approve $45,000 to b
e
taken out of excess fund balan
ce
to be forgiven over three year
s,
contingent on continued
operations, and hosting at lea
st
four free community accessible
events per year.
>> second.
>> mayor: okay.
we have a motion and a second.
is there any conversation or
misunderstanding about that.
>> what we're doing right now,
events downtown, about $5,000
per.
so events over a three-year
period, it would be $60,000 for
what we're currently putting o
ut
there.
>> this is less than that.
>> yeah, this is less than that
.
>> mayor: any questions about
the current motion?
all in favor, please say aye.
>> aye.
>> mayor: any opposed?
>> nay.
>> 45,000?
>> yes.
so you were --
>> yes, I just want to make sur
e
we're talking about 45 instead
of 55.
>> yes.
>> and commissioner duncan
walker you were nay?
>> nay.
>> mayor: I'm yea.
that passes 4-3, with book,
chestnut and duncan walker in
dissent.
is that accurate?
>> correct.
>> mayor: all right.
there you go.
>> I want to thank you all for
taking the time to discuss thi
s
in multiple meetings.
we're thankful for your su
heart wood and the arts.
mr. Manager and mr. Attorneys
[ inaudible ]
>> mayor: madam clerk.
>> madam mayor, 2026-226,
northeast 8th avenue corridor
improvements.
the city commission authorize
the city manager to proceed wit
h
the redesign of northeast 8th
avenue from waldo road to loft
en
high school.
return to the city commission
with a construction agreement
with the northeast 8th avenue.
>> mayor: welcome back.
>> we have a presentation today
to show you some proposed
concept you'll concepts of the
northeast 8th avenue corridor
improvements.
this presentation is going to
provide some options, and then
what our recommendations are
currently.
the portion of the road -- I'm
sorry, there's two parts.
dr. Chase and I will be
presenting on the portion of th
e
road that we are designing.
ultimately, we're just looking
for some recommendations for
approval to move forward with
some recommendations that we
have.
>> mayor: good.
>> good afternoon, mona konach
et
with nb5.
I'm going to go through what
informed our options and design
decisions.
for the corridor.
we'll talk about public
involvement, how we got citizen
s
involveds in neighborhood
residents.
I'll go through a general
project overview, where we are,
what we're doing, go through t
he
existing conditions.
some data, traffic and
transportation data.
the options we came up with, a
nd
then our recommendations.
so that's the title.
last year on the 29th of may.
we held a public workshop.
this was an opportunity for us
to present not only the citizens
field revitalization plan for
the site, but as well as our
street scapes plan.
we had about 60 attendees, and
we set up stations so that
residents could come and speak
with us, ask us questions and
tell us their concerns or thing
s
they want to see in their
neighborhood.
some feedback we got on that,
definitely speed was an issue
through some segments of eight
h
avenue.
they wanted bike lanes with the
green pavement markings, some
enhanced pedestrians crossings,
whether that's the raised
intersections and spied humps o
r
flashing beacons and fluorescent
signage.
some landscape medians,
especially west of waldo.
some had concerns with the
median openings along eighth
avenue.
and we also requested -- spoke
about a pedestrians bridge ove
r
waldo road.
>> good afternoon, chase knigh
t
city engineer, based on their
review and analysis of the
corridor, like lana said, and
incorporating some of the
feedback they just spoke about,
they came up with options and
recommendations, staff
subsequently took those
recommended options to provide
information and feedback to the
community.
I do apologize, there's a typo
on the date for the last one, I
s
2026.
so I'll circle back later on I
n
the presentation, after you've
had a chance to see those
recommendations and summarize
what the feedback was at these
events.
>> so project overview, where w
e
are, what we're doing.
so part of our citizens field
site plan, we were tasked with
reviewing the street scapes
along eighth avenue and waldo
road.
our approach to this was using
something called complete
streets and a multimodal
approach.
that's a mouthful.
this approach focuses on makin
g
drive ways -- driving and
roadways safe for not only
drivers, but pedestrians,
cyclists, motorcyclists, and
even people using public
transit.
some examples of street scapes,
you'll see those zippers, green
bike line markings, adding bik
e
lanes, planting trees on
sidewalks for protection.
and shade.
you'll see flashing pedestrians
signs.
updating bus stops with those
shelters, so people are more
comfortable while they're
waiting.
we broke up the corridor.
our focus was really eighth
avenue.
that will be west of waldo and
east of waldo.
so west of waldo, we went from
the round about on 9th to waldo
road.
we shifted gears east of waldo,
we have from waldo road to
northeast 22nd street, that's
where our limits stopped.
and then city of gainesville
staff picked up on northeast
22nd all the way to lofton hig
h
school.
some existing conditions, what'
s
out there now.
west of waldo, you got a curb
and gutter section, have you
landscape medians throughout,
with nice planted trees and lef
t
turn lane openings, there's a 3
5
mile per hour speed limit, the
sidewalks are five feet on bot
h
sides, there are no bike lanes.
east of waldo, so for a segment
of it, waldo road to 22nd, hav
e
you a 30 mile per hour design
speed, it's a little lower, you
have five foot sidewalks as
well, no bike lanes, you have
really wide travel lanes, so
it's about 34 feet of total
pavement width, so 17 -- 16 1/2
foot travel lanes.
and then the segment that city
of gainesville staff worked on
,
that was northeast 22nd to
lofton high school.
the pavement varies, you have
curb and gutter for the first
segment, from 22nd street to
22nd terrace, and then you hav
e
those 34 feet of pavement.
from 22nd terrace to 25th
street, it narrows down to abo
ut
23 feet of pavement.
and then from 25th to lofton I
t
kind of widens a little bit, to
a foot.
also through here, 30 miles per
hour, with your five foot
sidewalk.
I'm an engineer, I like data t
o
inform my design decisions.
we pulled # some traffic data,
looked at how many cars were o
ut
there.
we had counts west of waldo,
east of waldo, we also had som
e
estimated geospatial data that
we worked with the traffic gro
up
to get those numbers, as you can
see for a local road that is
really truly a neighborhood.
there is a lot of traffic out
there, especially around
citizens field which was our
focus area.
you've got cyclists, so again
our focus area was around
citizens field, you have block
s
right there on eighth avenue
west of waldo, a lot of bikes,
a
lot of pedestrians going throu
gh
there.
like I mentioned, 35 miles per
hour west of waldo, 35 miles p
er
hour east of waldo.
you can see west of waldo,
people pretty go at 32.5 miles
an hour, they're following the
speed limit.
east of waldo is where we
noticed -- we start to see an
uptick in speed, they're going
about 38 miles per hour.
and then the city of gainesvil
le
segment, which is 22nd to
loften, it drops to 26, what
people are driving out there
where it narrows.
my least favorite part of the
data is the crash history, so w
e
did a five-year crash analysis.
this is from january 2020 to
december 24.
75 crashes, which may not seem
like a lot in five years, but I
t
is.
you're going through a local
road, a neighborhood.
that's about one crash a month.
there were no fatalities which
was great, but there were four
that resulted in a serious
injury, and six that included
bicyclists, pedestrians or
motorcycles.
ultimately our goal is to make
the streets safe, especially f
or
vulnerable users like
pedestrians and cyclists.
so using this data, we came up
with some options.
our first option here, this is
going to be west of waldo road.
the curb and gutter position
with the medians.
we're proposing maintaining the
existing curbline, maybe
enhancing them a little bit.
but we'd like to say let's add
a
10-foot shared use path on the
north side of the road, and kee
p
the existing sidewalk on the
other.
this gives an option for maybe
cyclists like maybe families o
n
bikes that don't necessarily
feel comfortable riding on the
road.
this makes room for two-way
traffic on bikes, and it reall
y
makes it a gateway to citizens
field.
total estimated cost for just
the resurfacing, and restriping
,
no path, came out to about
$900,000.
and to add the path on the nor
th
was an additional 800,000.
option 2 for west of waldo, thi
s
is complete redesign of the
typical section, you have your
curb and gutter section, you'r
e
taking out those land scape
medians and putting in bike
lanes.
you would have to reconstruct
the road under the medians, you
would add striping.
we do like the idea of the
protected bike lanes, whether
that's with zippers or striping,
and particularly using that
green pavement marking.
that bike lane would be 4 1/2
feet.
and we would propose that share
d
use path.
total cost without the path
would be 1.6 million.
with the path with be an
additional 100,000.
now we're shifting gears, we're
on the other side of waldo roa
d
now.
still a curb and gutter section
with the stripings.
we're going to restripe it to
add the protected bike lanes
with the zippers and potential
ly
add a shared use path on the
north or south side of the road
.
currently there's no shared use
path, it's just sidewalks.
so some challenges with that.
right now on this portion of
eighth, we have really mature,
beautiful large trees on the
north side of the road.
and on the south side of the
road, you have a lot of overhe
ad
utilities, so if you were to
just do the path -- if you were
just to do the road, resurface
the road, restripe it and add
the bike lanes, that would be
1.9 million.
for the traffic calming, you
have your raised intersections
and enhanced crosswalks, that
would be an additional 1.7
million.
if you were to take out those
trees which add a lot of
character to the neighborhood.
add shading and protection to
the sidewalk, that's going to
be
an additional 1.3 million.
on the other side, in order to
underground the utilities, add
lighting and add other
utilities, that would be an
additional $3 million.
some of these, you start to --
I
tried to make it modular, so w
e
could look at it in sections.
here's option two.
we would still maintain the
existing curbline.
we don't want to widen the road
,
there's not a lot of room out
there.
we don't want to reconstruct
things.
we're trying to use what we
have.
here we're proposing two new
landscape medians, there's onl
y
two locations along the projec
t.
I have a slide later so becan
talk about the openings.
there's only two locations whe
re
we can add some landscape
medians and a center turn lane
.
we can add a shared use path o
n
the north, south or no path at
all.
that breakdown kind of
discussing those mature trees,
the utilities and how that's
broken down with the additional
cost
so northeast 22nd.
waldo to northeast 22nd, we hav
e
our proposed option 3.
this is everything.
how do we go through and add
everything we can.
we started with maintaining the
existing sidewalks.
providing two more narrow
medians, it wouldn't necessarily
meet that turn lane width, it
would be a little more narrow.
and then you have -- you would
utilize the curb and gutter to
get a five foot bike lane, and
the travel lanes would be more
narrow, 10 feet instead of 11
feet, like on the other side o
f
waldo road.
same thing here, we broke it
down.
without the path, that would b
e
2.1 million, to add in those
landscape medians, add in those
raised intersections, and
whether we put the path on the
north or south, or whether we
don't at all.
so this was that breakdown I w
as
talking about earlier with the
median openings, so when we
looked at the -- all the drive
way entrances and side street
entrances, you can see there's
a
ton along that road.
it's a lot of -- there's not a
lot of opportunity to put in n
ew
medians without blocking
someone's access, and our goal
was to not impact any access for
homes, churches, businesses,
anything along this road.
>> it looks like we may have a
little formatting issue here.
I apologize for that.
these next three slides really
represent one overall option
broken into three mini-segment
s.
overall, we're looking at
northeast 22nd street to the
school property line or the end
of the road, as I call it.
so that total estimated cost I
s
$2.1 million, so that
encompasses all three here, not
each slide that we're looking
at.
the first portion here continu
es
from northeast 22nd street to
22nd terrace, where there is t
he
section that continues from tha
t
previous section.
really, this one would just be
matching the proposed option
one, and continuing the
protected bike lanes, through
the end of the curb section at
22nd terrace.
once we get past 22nd terrace,
we move into a narrower, overal
l
narrower pavement with no curb
and gutter.
and the proposal here is to kee
that pavement and add a multiu
se
path on the north side of the
road.
as we move past northeast 25th
street, going toward the end o
f
the road, similarly, the
pavement would remain in
existence, and be resurfaced.
and then the ten foot multiuse
path would switch over to the
south side of the road due to
the alignment of the ditch which
is part of the creek system on
the north side of the roadway.
>> based on all that, we have
our proposed recommendations, s
o
we propose option 1 for west o
f
waldo, so this would be
maintaining that existing
curbline in the landscape
medians, and adding a 10-foot
shared use path on the north
side of the road and keep the
existing sidewalk on the other.
this will be a total existing
cost of 1.7 million.
for waldo road to 27th street,
we recommend maintaining
existing curbline and we do not
propose put youing in a shared
use path because of those trees
and overhead utilities.
that would come to an estimated
cost of 3.6 million.
>> going back to the section
east of 22nd street to the
school to losten school, the
property line, that is the sam
e
recommended option broken into
the three sections at a total
cost of 2.1 million.
>> some other recommendations
are some pedestrians
improvements, especially at som
e
mid block crossings.
>> mayor: commissioner duncan
walker, did you want to ask now
or later?
>> no.
>> mayor: go ahead.
>> some examples of that are
going to be your rectangular
flashing beacons.
your fluorescent crosswalksign
s
with flashing beacons.
they flash, people stop, you can
cross.
we're suggesting raised median
s.
it provides extra safety for
pedestrians, and traffic calmi
ng
for those people that are
speeding.
>> there are two designs alrea
dy
in progress, at northeast 11th
terrace, and in between 13th a
nd
14th which is right around
citizens field and the fire
station location.
east of waldo road, we have a
couple mid block crossings,
which will be your rapid
flashing beacons, and we have a
couple raised intersections.
this would be at 15th, 17th
street, 19th terrace, which wil
l
be a raised intersection.
and 22nd street, which be a
raised intersection.
and then two mid block
crossings, which already exist
would be your rapid beacons.
we also coordinated with rts t
o
see if they were doing any
improvements through here based
on ridership.
they are planning ada
improvements at six bus stops o
n
eighth avenue, these costs wer
e
not included add part of our
scope.
they are also doing an
improvement to the mid block
crossing at waldo road.
>> so we've looked at the
recommended options and what
this slide does is total those
recommendations for the portion
between waldo road and loften
school.
that estimate is $5.7 million,
that would be the resurfacing
project, plus the recommended
improvements that we are
proposing to move forward with
.
and as promised, I wanted to g
o
back to this slide while I
discuss some of the feedback
that we got on the recommended
options.
so first was discussion on
speeding.
there were neighbors present a
t
the meetings that didn't
necessarily feel that speeding
was a concern.
we did reiterate the data that
we have, that shows that there
is an increase speed along tha
t
section of the roadway.
there was also concern about t
he
installation of the raised
intersection, traffic calming
measures, and we did provide t
he
examples of -- and provide the
clarification that these aren'
t
the speed humps, but they're
raised intersections, which are
more gentle than what you
experienced driving over a spe
ed
bump or a speed hump.
the second discussion was
surrounding the bike lanes.
there were neighbors concerned
about the installation of
zippers, and staff did express
that during the design phase.
if we do more forward with the
zippers, the placement of the
zippers would be thoroughly
thought out in consideration o
f
drive ways and access points.
and turning radius.
third there was a discussion o
n
trees.
there were neighbors concerned
about trees causing damage to
the roadway, and falling
branches, and we did express
that would be a consideration
during the design phase.
we could evaluate trees and see
if any of that would need to be
removed, and potentially
replanted.
and then there were drainage
concerns in some specific area
s,
and again those are items that
we would definitely be able to
review during the design phase
and look at ways to mitigate
those concerns.
>> I just want to add a few mor
e
things.
there were some concerns about
the usage of the road through
the corridor and in are a lot o
f
churches along that stretch of
road, that utilize the roadway
for funerals, church events,
things like that, that was one
of the asks from the community.
I know we're going to set up a
second meeting with a couple o
f
the different pastors to talk
about how they generally have
events, and where people park,
because with cycle lanes, you
know, obviously there may be
somewhat of a, do we need to
move people off on to a path o
r
sidewalk.
we're going to be paying
particular attention to and
visiting some of the usages of
the road.
we do have some more meetings
that we have promised to set u
p
to get with folks about what
they see, because as chase
mentioned, there's a differenc
e
of opinion on speeding.
there were some drainage
concerns that we can address,
based on what I saw with my
initial assessment.
and just overall usages, bike
pass.
the general consensus on the
bike pass.
a lot of folks weren't sure if
folks would use a cycle lane, I
f
you don't have one, there's not
an opportunity for that, there
's
only the sidewalk, the zippers
were the big concern.
that was a big note for them.
a big note for a lot of folks.
I think there's -- there's no
design that's been done.
there's no survey, we just nee
d
the general direction of, we're
resurfacing the road with the
comp plan and edcm engineering
design and construction manual
,
we are required to consider
multimodal facilities, that's
prt of our overall requirement,
which is one of the reasons why
you're seeing the bike lanes
proposed.
the last thing I wanteto
mention was, there are medians
on the west side of waldo, and
that was at that community's
request.
I think I may have covered all
that.
and you guys can move on to th
e
next slide.
>> so the recommendation at han
d
is the city commission
authorized the city manager to
proceed with the design and
permitting of the northeast
eighth avenue project from wal
do
road to the western property
line of loften high school, and
return to the city commission
with a construction agreement
for the northeast eighth avenu
e
construction project to the
property line of the loften hig
h
school.
>> mayor: okay.
thank you.
commissioner duncan walker.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor, and
thank you, staff for that
presentation.
I have a couple questions to
begin with.
I'll be very forthcoming in
saying I'm interested in hearing
what the community members who
have shown up here today have t
o
say.
because what has become clear
is, they have not had an
opportunity to weigh-in on his.
my first question is, what types
of notices did you all send ou
t
to the community?
>> for the public workshop?
>> any types of notices that
would have let anyone who's
impacted by this project know
what you're proposing.
>> I can't speak for the may
2025 one, but in terms of the
most recent event, so we first
heard about some concerns with
northeast eighth back in
december at one of our greater
duvall meetings, public works
does participate in a monthly
meeting on the second monday o
f
every month from 12:00 to 1:00
,
it's just a free come and go,
and we chat with whoever's
there, and find out what their
concerns are.
there's also a greater duvall
neighborhood association meeti
ng
on the 3rd monday night of eve
ry
month and we participate in
that.
we had been talking with all
those folks who attended.
we were going to have a
particular meeting, and that w
as
three mondays ago -- maybe thr
ee
mondays ago.
we went ahead -- and had a
meeting on march 25th.
we did not send out flyers or
anything like that we sent out
emails tough the greater
duvall exchange.
we have more work to do with
communication and meeting with
people, and a lot of it has bee
n
word of mouth.
>> so let me -- in the interest
of saving a little bit of time
and being very forthright.
I did share this with you, tha
t
is a hot button issue and a
problem for me.
right now, one of the reasons
that this room is full of peopl
e
from east gainesville, and I
believe a few are also
downstairs, is because they
received no notification.
I'm looking at at least four
people that live directly on
northeast 8th avenue west of
waldo road, who received no
notification.
I know the duncans received no
notification, I know my next
door neighbor received no
notification.
you hear from this commission
just about every commission
meeting now, when we have these
major projects, that
notification is something that
the communi
the community expects, and
something that we expect.
I'm not prepared to make any
kind of decision today on those
grounds alone.
at the end of the day, we've n
ot
had the opportunity to engage
with the people in the way tha
t
we have said we are going to.
and frankly, we can take a loo
k
at what a lot of people have
serious issues with on northwest
eighth avenue, and see why the
re
are a lot of concerns.
I call it the 3c's, what
happened with northwest 8th
avenue, that's brought about
contention, confusion and
congestion.
and the individuals on the
eastside of waldo road and
probably a little bit before
that, but certainly, I've had a
chance to hear from the
individuals on the eastside of
waldo road who do not want to
see that happen, but you have
not engaged with them.
so you cannot properly provide
this commission with any type o
f
information regarding that.
I understand there were some
meetings that were convened, I
'm
glad you went to them.
but a lot of the people in thi
s
room, don't go to those
meetings.
there are people in this room
who didn't receive the emails.
so I am suggesting that until a
much more robust community
engagement experience is had,
this commission is not in
anyway prepared to have this
discussion.
I have engaged with a number o
f
people who are using multimodal
transport.
some of them want bike lanes,
and some of them don't for a
number of reasons.
but you won't know that unless
the table is prepared for them
to come sit with us, and have
that conversation.
I'm going to conclude for now,
because I'm very interested in
hearing what the people who cam
e
to speak to this issue have to
say.
I want to hear what my
colleagues have to say.
but I'm a little more intereste
d
in hearing from them today,
because they've been cheated o
ut
of an opportunity to speak.
I'm not interests in a decision,
I'm interested in a conversatio
n
today that will lead to the
broader discussion that is rea
l
community engagement, and
frankly that I'll probably put
out there, it will probably be
a
meeting that I'll convene.
I'm going to stop talking, mr.
mayor, for now.
I'm happy to hear from my
colleagues, and I'm certainly
happy to hear from the
community.
I'm sorry this has been the
experience.
this is is what we said we would
not do, and I do have this
question, before I release wit
h
my comments.
did we in anyway engage with the
office of governmental
affairs -- government relations
and community affairs, I believe
it is, aren't they now a part o
f
our process?
did we engage with them?
>> they were at the same
meetings as us, yes.
>> no, did we engage with them
to ask them --
>> not to coordinate any
additional meetings.
>> correct.
andrew, let me ask you this
question.
help me understand what our
community engagement process I
s
now with that office?
>> yes, to your point, we are
working on a community
engagement guide going-forward,
that's still in draft form, we
will be finalizing it,ing and
sending it on to the commission
.
it talks about how the
departments do engagement with
my office through the governmen
t
affairs community relations
team.
I do want to -- I think gail m
ay
have touched on this, but I
do -- miss mowry may have
touched on this, this was
originally part of that -- the
overall 8th and waldo process.
the overall engagement.
during that process, there had
been, I think programmed an
engagement workshop just about
the street scapes.
but because of all the changes
that we went through with the
scope and changing the design,
the streetscape portion got
broken out as a separate
project, and it didn't have a
specific engage thamt was part
of the original scope with the
eighth and waldo overall
project.
I do want to mention a couple
things that I think are -- wou
ld
probably be relevant now.
this is still very early on.
so I think the -- to your poin
t,
if there's -- I know staff has
already had additional engage a
m
coming up with community.
certainly, if the commission
provides that direction and
decides to delay any sort of
design vote, that's certainly
the commission's prerogative,
and we would understand that.
importantly too, I do not
believe we actually have
construction funding lined up
for any of this.
right now, all we're talking
about is the $500,000 roughly
for design.
so we would need to identify h
ow
to actually fund construction.
so I do want to make sure,
because we've had a couple roa
d
projects that have been designe
d
a long time ago, and then
finally funded.
I don't want the commission to
think this is one of those
processes where the community
that construction is imminent.
you can make a vote, two months
from now we're going to be out
there doing the work, that's n
ot
the case, we don't have the
funding lined up for it yet.
I do think there's still time t
o
have additional dialogue, and I
f
that's the will of the
commission, in terms of design
on any of the segments and the
options presented today.
>> I'm glad to hear that.
I do not believe that staff
should ever make any
recommendations that have not
been fully vetted through a
process with the community.
somehow that was circumvented,
we missed it.
and we shouldn't be making any
recommendations today at all.
I'll conclude for now.
>> thank you, commissioner
duncan walker, commissioner
chestnut?
>> thank you, I think the
community is still reeling fro
m
the changes that were made on
northwest eighth avenue from
main street to sixth street, t
he
community has not gotten over
that, they don't like it, and I
don't think they want to see
this extended any further.
now, how many bike lanes are
from waldo road to mt. Carmel
church.
we have bike lanes on both sid
es
now currently?
>> no, there's just sidewalks.
>> just two sidewalks.
all right.
that's one.
how many bikers do you have fro
waldo road to mt. Carmel church
?
what do you --
>> there was data past a certa
in
road point for bike traffic.
that there's no count.
I'm not sure what the
intersection was.
>> well, I don't think people
want to see eighth avenue
enter -- how many?
>> no data east of waldo, and
that was a question from many o
f
the folks we talked, to they
weren't sure the bike lanes
would be utilized. >>
>> had now, there are lots of
churches on that stretch.
there are lots of -- I guess y
ou
would call them curb cuts, but
there are lots of drive ways
turning into people's street.
turning into the streets, which
this would just really disrupt.
and just the thought of taking
out trees, as much as
gainesville talks about trees,
you would have to remove trees
here at some point.
the raised intersections, are
you talking about raised
intersection similar to what y
ou
have over on university avenue
,
as you go into target copy?
what would the raised
intersection look like?
>> a couple good use of them,
there's one on northwest 5th a
nd
22nd.
>> okay.
I got it.
I know.
>> so it's a --
>> okay.
>> so the intersection is
elevated.
it's not the increase you get
with a speed bump, it's the
whole thing.
>> I am interested in hearing
from the community.
particularly since what we've
gone through with northwest
eighth avenue to sixth street,
the community has not gotten
over that.
we did not have any input in
that.
and the next thing we knew, our
street was being torn up, bike
lanes were being put in, zippe
rs
were being put in, we had no
input.
now, what we were told is that
the input was several years ag
o,
we did not have input on that.
just as I think these people a
re
here today to tell you they've
had no input.
I would not want to see what
happened to us on northwest
eighth avenue, when we're told
that the public engagement was
held years before, but we did
not have an opportunity to
participate there.
so I have some concerns about
this.
concerns of how this would
disrupt our community.
I have concerns about putting I
n
these bike lanes, and people
have not requested those.
and taking out trees.
so I'll wait to hear what the
community has to say, thank yo
u.
>> thank you, commissioner
chestnut.
commissioner eastman.
>> taking a step back here, what
we're talking about now is,
we -- this road is due for
resurfacing, correct?
>> what we're talking about
doing, is taking a road, and
I'll say, I've tried to ride m
y
bike on every street in the cit
y
of ga
this needs help, I will hear
from the community, but the --
[ inaudible ]
this is a road that has cracks
in it, it is clearly has not
gotten the love that it
deserves.
and that's true with -- just t
o
be candid, a lot of east
gainesville infrastructure, whe
n
we're going through that
process, naturally what happen
s,
how should this be designed in
the future, whether it was has
ty
to come out with recommendatio
ns
or -- this is the process of h
ow
we decide what wire going to d
o
when we're making large
investments, I think it's great
we're making large investments.
this road clearly needs it, you
guys are asking for right now,
I'm hearing -- I know that roa
ds
are the sort of funny thing, y
ou
make plans in the beginning, y
ou
go to the state for grants and
you try to get gas tax out of,
or whatever the pop of funding
is.
you mentioned briefly, what are
you guys looking for?
you wouldn't be coming and
asking us if you didn't want
some sort of direction to move
forward to this investment.
what kind of direction are you
looking for, aside from the --
just overall design you
mentioned, can you repeat that
again?
>> I think in general, the
recommendations are to look at
speed control and do we need t
o
have raised intersections.
I know the graphic proposes
three.
it may not be three, we may not
need three when we start looki
ng
at design.
I don't think anyone had issue
s
with the rfp's or pedestrians
crossings.
bike lanes are tricky, not
everyone thinks those will be
used, do we look at trying to
offer a wider sidewalk you for
certain stretches so folks can
stay on a multiuse trail of som
e
sort.
we do have a multiuse trail fro
m
the end, like 25th terrace on,
there's multiuse trails.
we're looking for simple
guidance in terms of --
obviously, everybody's on board
with the road paving, what do
the bike lanes look like, and d
o
we offer bike lanes or do we
more focus on a sidewalk or
multiuse situation.
I don't know if we have enough
right-of-way to do that.
generally speaking that's what
we're looking for, comp plan
indicates we're looking for
those multimodal opportunities.
when it comes to trees, it
depends if it's a healthy tree
or not.
some of the oaks may be dying
inside, and they were dropping
logs every time it rained.
that was one of the reasons the
trees came up.
we would look at that.
we want long term safety, the
trees are providing shade,
they're dropping limbs, is that
a problem?
>> right.
>> to that point, when we tal
about tearing down the trees a
nd
the bike lanes.
in most of these, we had bike
lanes.
what are you referring to.
those there, that is a question
that is there, whether or not w
e
want to extend that one side,
which for folks that walk, wha
t
we're talking about is a large
r
sidewalk in a lot of ways, of
course it's nice.
yeah, I mean, so when you were
telling us about the time line
,
you said you wanted some kind o
f
direction related to -- I mean
,
kind of the broad swaths,
specifically east of waldo, the
9th to waldo, I don't see as
part of the motion in here.
>> no, we're specifically
looking for more east.
I don't know -- it was a median
,
10 foot wide on --
>> it was conceptual
recommendation for what we wou
ld
say, this is what we would
propose to put out here, if
we're going to do west waldo.
that would be resurfacing and
restriping.
adding a 10 foot top.
>> that's not in the
recommendation I saw in the
back?
>> 00, the last part, no.
>> yeah, for the direction,
which I think would be nice to
gear us in on which portion of
the direction.
that western portion is my
district, be and it's also whe
re
we're about to build citizens
field, and there's a lot of
questions within there.
yeah, I mean, I do think -- you
know, you have duvall, which I
s
now going to remain open it
seems, so this is a place where
kids are riding their bikes fro
m
the surroundi ing neighborhoods
to
[laughter]
>> I think there is lot of
benefit to having these
discussions about this, figurin
g
out what makes sense here and
where that makes sense, and so
yeah, I'm interested in seeing
how we can move forward this.
all right.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner eastman.
commissioner willits.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
so just remind me, so our comp
plan says when we go to
resurface, this type of, you
know, road, we have to
consider.
that's why we're here today,
right?
because our comp plan says, hey
,
if you're going to spend a but
ch
of money on asphalt, is it tim
e
for something that we didn't
envision 30 years ago or 20
years ago or 15 when we last, s
o
this process is not because
someone on staff said hey this
is a good idea or anyone on the
commission.
it's just is that our process
from the comp plan which is, y
ou
know, like the plan for the cit
y
just, it says hey you're about
to resurface, go look at some
other options.
>> yes, our comp plan says tha
t
also our edcm, our engineering
design and construction manual.
the same as you would also
provide ada ramps you know, if
we're doing work like that we
would also upgrade the ramps
along the roadway.
>> right, okay, so I just want
to make sure I understand
because it's been asphalt, are
there safety improvements that
can be done, safety, ada
accessibility, issues.
while we're there.
while we're laying asphalts.
while that makes sense to look
at it.
questions and part of this is
because 8th avenue is this
weer beast because it's got all
these different sections.
just what we're talking about I
s
three different sections.
every section is a little bit
different and it's been cobbled
together over decades, some of
it's disjointed about biking
biking and walking and where
it's easy for buses and where
it's easy for cars and we're
going to continue to struggle
with this because city road and
state road in some sections,
unfortunately.
the thing that stuck out to me
was the traffic data on the
speed.
northeast 9th to waldo so the
western portion, posted at
35 miles an hour, and 8th
percentile is less than that.
yet from waldo to 22nd, posted
35 miles per hour, 38.3 miles
per hour.
that tells me the story of
engineering absolutely matters
because there is -- little
fundamental difference between
the people who are driving eas
t
and west to waldo.
they're people, they're
neighbors.
some of them are going the who
le
route, some of them are turning
at some point.
that tells me the engineering,
and why the people on the the
west side get the benefit of a
slower road.
you can say it's only 6 miles
per hour.
averaged out, that 85th
percentile, there are plenty o
f
people flying down the road,
particularly the section, you
know, between wawltdo and -- so
I think there is some sort of
infrastructure that needs to
happen that slows that down and
makes it safer.
what exactly?
we're going to have lot -- lots
of opinion in the community is
going to give us some.
but it's, you see 34 feet wide?
between wawltdo and 22nd?
waldo and 22nd?
like basically 17-foot travel
lanes.
>> there are segments where it'
s
35 even wider.
>> what did we just agree to
northeast 9th and mr.--
northeast, is it 9th where we
had, we're doing work on that,
9th street, and there was an
argument whether it was 11 1/2
foot lanes versus, do we end u
p
on 11 1/2?
>> 10 1/2 foot lanes.
>> did we end up on 10 10 1/
2?
I thought we ended up on
11 1/2.
so just for some example like I
think those lanes need to be
narrowed some way.
the quick quick easy is you
put
a lane of parking in on the
south side so it's still
available for parking, church,
you know, events, something
needs to happen on that
section.
and and the crash data seem to
suggest that.
what exactly, the idea of a
10-foot path from 22nd and
that street not terrace, right
?
northwest 22nd street.
>> yes.
>> 26th street, yes.
>> there are two houses on that
corner right there on the corne
r
that are, that abut the
sidewalk.
I mean, I don't know, their
stoop is two feet from the
sidewalk, and then there's you
know there's a grass strip
between the sidewalk and the
street but a 10-foot path there
eats up from their front door
it's nothing but sidewalk.
plus 34th feet of or however
many feet of section of asphalt
on the other side so that
doesn't sound pleasant.
so, and what -- so there's no
discussion of maybe we just,
what if you had a two-way cycle
lane on the north side of the
road where you took out the
medians from northeast 9th to
waldo, so that you don't have t
o
create a 10-foot path on the
north side.
I'm trying to think of lots of
different ways, things that we
find in the nack nacto
standards.
that's not a question.
I'm going to keep on moving on
with maybe some more comments
about is there any way that we
could do more envisioning where
we you know go out and put the
cones and show what it would
look like, particularly in wal
do
to 22nd, so what a potential
could look at.
you put out the cones and you
tell the neighborhood, hey, we
just seeing what it would look
like and then people go, oh, I
would like the lane to be
narrower or whatever.
so it's just a thought.
I know this is early in the
process.
when I saw the work of the, the
outreach, I even thought this I
s
rushed.
normally we get outreach and
couple months later, you know,
things have trickled up to us
and we hear some and we go oh
yeah, we're going to drive and
see what people were talking
about.
this feels a little fast.
I don't understand why it's so
compressed getting back to us
after that amount of feedback.
let me see if there is anything
else like a specific.
where they said, you said there
was a lot of trees on one of th
e
sides.
I think they said north side
with the 10-foot path is that
the eastern portion or the
western portion?
>> eastern portion.
>> eastern, oi got that
confused.
thanks for -- and --
>> [off mic]
bullet we would go out there
with an arborist to make sure
they're healthy and not --
>> thank you and the concern
over median opens, again, was
that the section west of waldo
?
so potential median.
okay it was concerns.
it wasn't over existing --
sorry, we are talking about lot
s
of different sections.
>> mm-hmm.
it's a lot.
so each of those little diamond
stick points, that's a driveway
access.
>> right.
>> so nose are all the
openings -- those are all the
openings.
so the medians, those would be
the two options.
in terms of the concerns with
median openings, is that what
you're asking?
>> yeah, I thought -- I that
thought was coming from I think
the neighbors.
>> west waldo.
I'm sorry.
I misunderstood.
>> yeah, so that was the west o
f
waldo section.
is that there weren't enough?
or there -- too many -- I don't
,
what was the concern.
>> some of the median, like the
actual turn lane lengths they
felt were short.
when we did look at the crash
data nothing stuck out to
indicate that they were a
problem.
but I guess as, when I was
driving through there doing sit
e
visits taking pictures, things
like that even just driving
along I could see where someone
would be up comfortable with the
rush to get into a shorter tur
n
lane.
>> well if they were going 38
instead of 32 I can imagine it
felt --
[laughter]
>> so.
>> okay, that helps me
understand a little bit about
that concern because just the
fact that it's so much slower,
six miles an hour on average
slower, on a street that is
signaled higher you know or yit
tells me we did maybe
some -- on that section -- the
other section needs something.
I think that's, I think that's
all I got for -- oh, and just,
oh, just the idea is also like,
is there any opportunity for
quick build things where we,
where we don't spend 3 or
$5 million where we do put in
things that are much more quick
,
temporary, try for six months,
I
just had that, and then, sorry
,
that's -- maybe this is just
conversation for my colleagues
to hear.
and then can you, this is one
you may be able to answer.
why is there hashing on the
eastern portion in front of the
slab basically at 17th.
there is some hashing s. That t
o
keep people from parking there
on the north side?
it's kind of marked off.
it's not parking, but it -- lik
e
I said it's got a hash mark.
is that to keep people from
parking there.
>> because the lane is 17-foot
wide?
>> it's right there by steven
kelly.
>> that was part of an
initiative a few years back to
prevent people from parking
there.
there are no parking signs and
the hatching is just to enforce
that.
>> I think that's my example o
f
that kind of quick build to see
how it goes, does it help, not
the millions of dollars where -
-
where there is -- because that
came I believe from community
feedback originally, right?
>> it came from the community
and gpd it was a request that
was facilitated from them to
public works to facilitate.
>> okay.
I just, I bring that out as an
example where we did a small
intervention to see if it
helped, and I don't know about
the feedback since then, but
because it's 17-foot wide lane
you could do that.
those lanes are way too wide.
one-way or another they need to
be narrowed pee people street I
t
like the -- so that people
street it treat it like the
neighborhood street it is.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: I would encourage
everybody let's not try to
design the road today because
that's not where we are in the
process at all.
there is.
we have three lights and we ar
e
trying to hear from the public,
but we are not in that phase.
>> yes, mayor, I'm not in the
design phase, either, so thank
you to staff and thank you to
nv5 for providing some
conceptual plans and ideas.
it's a great start.
commissioner dunker walker sai
d
that -- duncan-walker.
2700 block of northeast 8th
avenue wants to do all the way
to 9th street, the 900 block,
and so the designs are great.
but there is a number of
faith-based and community and
resident leaders here, and, and
they'll be great opportunity t
o
reach out through those
networks, especially the
churches because there's five
churches right there on the
northeast 8th avenue --
>> northeast 8th avenue.
>> 808.
>> what she said.
8.
so, I was thinking from
northeast from 15th street to
25th street there were five
right there.
did I miss -- there are three
more?
okay.
so to those other three churche
s
sorry because I know there are
five at least.
at least that many.
but -- to get information so I'm
very interested in hearing wha
t
the people who are here have t
o
say about the designs, what the
y
may be interested in and the
mechanisms that we're going to
do to find out more.
at one question for you,
mr. Manager, before we hear fro
m
I hope we go right to public.
they've been waiting for a lon
g
time.
is if all we did today, I felt
no pressure to make a decision
today, none at all, especially
the folks showing up,
if all w did was say okay,
let's get some more robust
information, that would not
require a motion because that'
s
something you would do on in th
e
diseme of things or would you b
e
looking for something from
someone on the dais?
>> I think a motion would be
appropriate.
>> okay.
all right.
well that's something to
consider.
I'd love to hear from all the
people who've probably been
waiting for a while, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner book.
commissioner ingle.
>> just kind of short and sweet
on this.
it certainly sounds like the
community doesn't feel like it'
s
been heard.
look forward to hearing public
comment on this, but in general
my first kind of reaction is
just the inclination to table
this until we've got some bette
r
community feedback.
we don't have construction fun
ds
for it.
there is nothing pressing.
there is no thing going on so
as
far as I can see there is no
downside to tabling this and
getting some better community
feedback on that.
that being said, I'm sure there
are a lot of people here to tal
k
so I will be happy to hear fro
m
them now.
>> mayor: commissioner duncan
and then I've gut a brief
comment and then we will go to
the public.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor, and I
know I said y wasn't going to
say anything until after the
public.
I lied.
but only to say this.
it is important to consider the
functionality of this street.
not just the street where peopl
e
just drive past.
there are a number of activitie
s
that take place on this street,
and what I would've been
interested in hearing in today
's
conversation since your
recommendation is to get us to
do something today that I'm not
interested in doing, I would'v
e
been interested in you telling
us how much on-street parking
there currently is.
because many of the eight
churches that I just told you
there were on northeast 8th
avenue take advantage of that
onstreit parking.
not just for sunday services o
r
saturday services at the 7th
day adventant church but for t
he
mere yatd of services that --
myriad of services they
provide.
many of the residents in that
community utilize thrking -- p
ark
there -- there was a slide in
the public works presentation a
little bit earlier today, and I
don't -- you don't have to pul
l
it up right now, but it was on
page 53.
I wrote it down during your
presentation bots because I
thought about asking the
question then, but I said no
we're going to have this
conversation a little bit later
on today and perhaps I'll be
able to get that information
then.
don't find it now but just kno
w
on page 53 of the previous
public works conversation you
told us about the northwest
1st avenue resurfacing, and
I'm very curious to know how y
ou
incorporated or how you're
looking at a completed so how
did you incorporate multimodal
there.
because don't tell me right
now.
don't tell me right now.
but I want you to show me.
don't tell me.
show me.
northwest 1st avenue is a
tiny street.
northeast 8th avenue east of
waldo road is strange.
and the reason that it expands
is to accommodate traffic -- I
think the engineering there
waserary wise, and I think it
should remain exactly how it is
right now.
because it helps to facilitate
everything that goes on in tha
t
community.
where there is church activity,
the road expands, and where
there are buses, the road
expands to allow for on-street
parking.
and the traffic can continue t
o
move through without
congestion.
and without problems.
keeping safety in mind.
it then narrows again after
duval and I'm glad that it was
noted that yes, duval is still
in play.
it is not closing.
and I don't believe a
conversation with the school
board has been had to learn wha
t
their plans are.
and how we need to incorporate
what those plans are in our
transportation plans for the
street.
I'm going to close my mouth
now.
I have a lot mthat I could
say, but I felt the need to
bring those things before my
constituents had the opportuni
ty
to speak and anybody else who
wants to speak on this because
this is a major issue.
nobody needs to talk about 8th
avenue needing to be
resurfaced.
I think I asked you in our
meeting the other day how long
it's been.
20 years?
it's been a very, very long tim
e
since that road has been
addressed.
if I had a dime for every time
am faal family asked me abo
ut
when that road was going to be
resurfaced, I would be rich.
I'm glad we're going to do
that.
I think that's a given.
that's the no-brainer part.
it's everything else that
everyone else has questions
about.
everyone else even has
questions -- there are a numbe
r
of people who don't want to se
e
the street narrowed.
and we need to hear that.
I understand that there is a
belief that narrowing a road
would control speed.
maybe, maybe not.
but those are the conversations
that you need to have the
opportunity to have with the
people.
I'll conclude for now and then
I'll come back afterwards.
thank you, commissioner
duncan-walker.
so I just have a couple of
comments and then we'll hear
from you all.
so the two things that are dea
l
breakers for me when we finally
get around to voting on
something about actual design,
which is not today, it's a goo
d
way ways off, the two things
that are deal breakers for me
are number one, safety, it has
to be a safer street.
fewer people have to git
has to be the sort of thing th
at
people are less likely to get
hurt on.
I don't have data to corroborate
this but I would bet 41 injurie
s
is more than we would normally
expect on a two-lane street.
over a five-year period.
I want a safer street.
safe dozen always feel like
what -- safe doesn't always fee
l
like what the data tell us, tha
t
safe doesn't always feel like
what we want it to feel like.
slower is safer.
there's no way to argue with th
e
physics of that.
slower is safer.
and talking about a relatively
short road, if it's, if it tak
es
you, takes anybody a shorter a
little bit longer to get where
we're going, a minute or so
longer to get where we're going
,
and people don't die as a
result, twel that's a good
thing.
safer is the number one thing.
I also want to make sure that
whatever gets done adds to the
value of the neighborhoods.
that it does not detract from
the value of the neighborhoods
.
that means we need to save as
many trees as possible because
I
know we have a few realtors in
the room, there is no realtor
that will tell you fewer trees
makes property more valuable.
mature trees add to the value o
f
property so we don't want to
reduce the value of anybody's
property.
we want to increase it, but
mostly we want to be sure that
people don't get hurt on the
road if we can possibly avoid
it.
those are the two deal breaker
s
for me when we finally get
around to voting for something.
that's a long way off.
we need to hear from the
public.
we do have years of data and o
f,
you know, ability to check wit
h
other cities because we're not
all that special.
there are other cities just lik
e
us.
and we can tell what works in
other cities to make them safe.
and what keeps people alive,
what keeps people not hurt on
our streets.
we have plenty of time for all
of that, and I want to make sure
that we include all of that wit
h
also the idea that the longer w
e
take to make it a safer street
the more people get hurt on tha
t
street.
and is it is a street that has
lots of kids on it.
I mean there are just lots of
kids.
we want lots of kids on the
street.
I'm very familiar with 8th
avenue.
and no, they're not all riding
their bike to duval.
we all understand that.
but there are a lot of kids in
the neighborhood, a lot of kid
s
on the street, and we want the
m
to grow up to be adults who can
come to a city commission
meeting.
so those are the things that a
re
foremost in my mind as we move
forward.
so I'm asking you all to step
out of the way and let's hear
from the public.
>> yes, mr. Mayor, and y us
I
just wanted to let every bn
everyone know that everyone who
was down in room 16 has been
able to come up and find seats.
room 16 is empty.
I'm going to say a few names -
-
people who signed up on deck t
o
come up to the podium.
pamela anderson followed by
carolyn eason and then juanita
miles hamilton.
is pamela here?
>> mayor: welcome.
>> afternoon, commissioners.
my respect to all of you.
whether when I first heard a
bout
the plan for the improvements o
f
8th avenue, I just happened to
be there at the time that they
were at the, when the city com
es
out on the second monday at the
clarence kelly center.
I said well, why don't you com
e
to the seniors on the move at
clarence kelly center and
present that to them because
there are so many people that
don't know about this.
so from there we had those two
meetings, and with them, and I
saw some improvements over wha
t
was presented back then as
well.
I was against it, and still am
against the zippers, and the
bike lanes on this eastern
portion of 8th avenue because
seeing it every day and
traveling that corridor and
seeing how it was done over by
chestnut as far as the zippers
and the turn lane, the bike
lanes rather, and I'm going to
c
church twice a week over there
and seeing how dangerous this I
s
so I thought, we can't just --
we got to find out what's going
on and why and we just wile
we're just hearing about this
plan.
I understand safety and the
children, I'm all for children
and everybody being safe
certainly, but I don't think
that when it comes down to thi
s
portion of 8th avenue, I have
my sayings about the other
portion as well that I wouldn'
t
care to be talking about right
now but going threw thet
roundabout at -- through that
roundabout at night, but I'm
just saying as far as the east
8th avenue corridor, and it is
special and yes, there are a l
ot
of things that happen down the
re
on that street that people
didn't take into consideration
and maybe they've looked into I
t
now.
I didn't see that data before
about the accidents and not tha
t
I've heard about that many
accidents on that part of 8th
avenue.
safety is a goal, and it's my
goal.
and there'll be other comments.
I don't want to be redundant b
ut
I was opposed to the bike lanes
, .
the traffic calming what they
talked about, those tables,
first when I saw the first pla
n
it was three of them.
I see it's been cut down to two
proposed median locations.
I am for the flashing lights.
the beacons for crossing the
roadway, put as many as you can
down there.
I am all for that.
but there's those few other
things that pertains to as far
as the traffic flow, that's a
different thing.
as far as those are my, what I
see after 50 years of living
down there in cedar grove, whi
ch
they say duval, my neighborhood
is cedar grove part 1, but wha
t
I see for 50 years of going bac
k
and forth, I've not heard of
that many people getting reall
y
hurt.
that, on that portion of 8th
avenue.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you.
>> carolyn eason followed by
juanita miles -- I apologize.
juanita miles hamilton.
thank you for the correction.
>> mayor: welcome.
>> and kali blount.
>> thank you, juanita miles
hamilton.
and I'm standing today in
support, I hope it was a motio
n,
that there was not proper
community input from the staff
regarding this issue.
transparency, accountability,
and public involvement are
critical in decision making
processes.
gentrification at best, at
best.
I'm standing because of the fac
t
that the northwest 8th avenue
just yesterday I was traveling
a
sloppy.
and it creates a problem I've
sat and monitored the traffic
for several hours several times
a day different times of day
morning, noon, and evening and
pretty much I have yet to see a
bicycle on the bike lane.
and but yet it imposes a
problem.
just yesterday I was coming fro
m
therapy, and the traffic was
flowing good.
it was right at 5:00.
a lot of traffic.
and I was stuck headeeast on
8th avenue at northwest -- the
traffic suddenly stopped bec folk were cr
folk were crossing the lane --
down the street.
stopped abruptly.
several other cars and myself
had to hit the bike lane to
get -- to stop from getting hit
with cars headed north on 6th
street.
the police department.
we were stuck out if the I
n the
lane.
the traffic light changed on u
s
because the traffic had abruptly
stopped.
it's a problem.
it is a problem.
I think that we need to revisit
our comp plan because in that
comp plan it clearly states tha
t
you need to make other changes
to roads when you resurface a
street or do the sidewalks.
we don't, I ride.
I see the children walking,
parents walking, we don't walk
in the streets.
we don't ride our bikes in the
street.
we ride on the sidewalk.
because we were taught not to
be
in the streets and compete wit
h
a car or truck.
this is a community, a
neighborhood.
a neighborhood.
and bike lanes doesn't apply to
the concept that we we will
build it now and they will
come.
this is an existing community
and we need to respect it as
such: there are several projects
if you are looking for project
s
that can be beneficial to us.
one is getting rid of that
recycling plant right on waldo
and 8th avenue that provides
dust to residents of us living
in the community creating healt
h
issues.
folk can't open their windows
boss of because of the noi
se and
air pollution.
that you can relocate that
convenience store on 8th
avenue that you gave permissio
n
to sell beer and wine or
whatever else out of it, and
plaster the signs all over the
window right in front of a
recreation center and a
nursery.
>> mayor: I am a going to ask
you to wrap up.
that's not how we do it.
you know that.
>> and the same thing happens o
n
southeast 4th avenue.
this is, this is not good for
our community.
it creates all kind of problem
s
for our children at they young
age and now you have come in
talking about bicycles putting
them in the streets.
trying to kill them.
>> mayor: ms. Miles hamilton I'm
going to ask you to wrap up.
you're at four minutes.
>> okay, I will, thank you,
sir.
and another thing we can do is
to provide avenues for economic
development, provide
recreational after-school
programs for our kids so that
they can continue to do -- the
city used to do that.
>> mayor: I'm going to ask you
to wrap up, please.
>> we appreciate it and I would
like to say that if you continue
to ignore our safety, our
children, our peace, and our
survival, we will target your
seats.
>> amen.
>> mayor: ms. Miles hamilton, I
would love to schedule a meeti
ng
with you.
please.
>> okay.
thank you.
>> we have kali blount followed
by andrew miles and dejohn
dijon
cane.
>> they brought up removing
trees.
it should be part of the study.
trees really are removable,
which ones are alien.
if you remove the only more
a3w-7bdant abundant trees
will
that clear a path on either sid
e
of the street.
we don't want to expand heat
islands, so you should be
preserving the trees.
and with these street changes
and you're talking later about
utility changes, even if you
weren't putting utilities under
ground, you're dealing with the
surface water drainage, which,
and there's a couple areas whe
re
you have swales on the
roadside.
it would be great to turn that
into level ground over pipe and
no longer have swales.
but that's going to involve the
utilities cooperation.
and since you and gru are now
frien-emies, you need to know
well ahead of time what are the
y
going to participate, what wil
l
be their participation.
and I mentioned earlier when I
talked about the zero project --
the project zero event the oth
er
day, what I think of the quali
ty
of outreach.
too often the outreach is bring
a citizens in, let them hear a
presentations, and they don't
get to speak back to the room
and each other and the staff.
or they just get to take two
cookies and go home or they're
told write your question on an
index card.
that's not good enough.
and that feeds into one giant
apprehension for this
neighborhood.
they've seen what happened in
5th avenue and pleasant street
and porters.
is this a prequell to
gentrification?
they need some reassurance.
and for $500,000, do we get
anywhere into the kinetic part
of this work?
you know, since I've been in
town in '87 I'm sure there's
been 6 or $7 million spent on
consultants and studies that
have given you lots of paper t
o
protect your shelves from d
ust,
but we want to see it become
actual action so does this get
us into -- even if it's just a
coordination with d.o.t., I
think the park west of waldo
might be d.o.t. Concern, or
required testing, maybe a test
soil on where you're going to
pay new, put new pavement make
sure it's good.
so for $500,000, I hope we're
getting into some part of the
kinetic part of this work.
a shovel in the dirt, somewhere
for that $500,000 and not just
a
new pile of paper.
>> mayor: thank you,
mr. Blount.
>> andrew miles followed by
dijon cane and pastor earnestee
n
butler.
>> welcome, how are you doing
again.
I'm coming to talk to you about
the road construction as well.
and I want to go straight to th
e
crash data because the crash
data that they're talking is
about for the safety and so
forth, is somewhat inconclusiv
e
andit don't really related to
speed or to any particular thi
ng
that's why they have all the
incidents.
so we can't exactly say that al
l
of those incidents is because o
f
speed.
first of all.
so that's kind of screwed a
little bit.
the speed tables and the zippe
rs
along for the bike path and so
forth is by biggest objection.
8th avenue definitely,
definitely need to have some
renovation done to so forth but
the speed tables I think is an
unnecessary, little bit
overkill, and we don't have
enough data that directly
relates it to speeding, and so
forth because as far as we know,
it could be from people texting,
it could be from folks talking
on the phone or just not payin
g attent
attentn. So
soforth so a lot of that is the
reason why we have lot of
accidents in the first place
more so than speeding.
the other thing is that some of
the causes that you do have
superspeeding is somewhat could
be related to that on the west
side of 8th avenue before you
cross waldo, the speed limit I
s
35 miles an hour.
so coming across waldo road it'
s
kind of hard transitioning
there.
I drive that way quite a bit a
nd
so forth myself coming back and
forth every day.
a little speed transition coming
through there, but having the
speed tables up on 8th avenue
is going to slow down traffic,
it's going to slow down traffic
so much until I think it's
possibly even make it dangerous
for us that are living there
because we have a lot of traff
ic
that's flowing through that
little -- there and we and
so
forth.
we do want the road to be fixed
and so forth, and some other
ated stuff, and some bike paths
could be some additional stuff
that could be help it a little
bit, but like I said, the
zipper's going to impede a who
le
lot.
even widening the sidwould
make it a little bit better.
some folks don't want -- but I
don't know who if the world
in
the world decided to put large
oak trees in the middle of a
sidewalk that's going to grow
this big around as this table,
and it's going to tear up the
roads, it's going to tear up t
he
sidewalk as soon as you fix the
roads, five, six years from now
,
we have to resurface the road
again because of all of the
roots.
I don't care how you trim the
trees, it's going -- some
consideration or replacing tho
se
oaks with some more manageable
trees, possibly would be
better.
but again, my biggest objection
is the speed tables and zipper
ties, but having a path for
bikes, that would be okay
because I ride a bike quite a
bit but I don't have any probl
em
riding bikes over on the east
side of town and so forth and I
have been riding for over 67
years.
over there haven't had any
problems and as I said the
speeding and so forth the data
is too inconclusive and not too
much to say it's directly
related to a speed problem and
so forth.
but I hope you consider making
the changes but some of the
stuff which is zippers and the
speed humps like I said that's
my biggest complaint and so
forth because if an emergency
happened on the east side of
town, it's going to be a probl
em
with all those people trying t
o
get out because it's only so
many exits coming from the eas
t
side of town.
8th avenue, university avenue,
12th avenue.
we used to have 10th avenue
but it was closed off when the
y
put that little place down
there.
so a lot of people coming out o
f
east side of town -- not reall
y
going to benefit --
>> mayor: thank you.
>> we have dijon cane followed
by pastor earnesteen butler and
then corey brunson.
>> mayor: welcome.
>> all right, good afternoon,
commission.
I grew up on the east side.
I'm running for commission in
district 3, which is all of
southwest.
and I preach this all the time
when you're from gainesville y
ou
know gainesville.
and when I heard about this,I
looked it up I was like wow
that's crazy.
I thought about the fune rlt
best thing about -- funerals.
let's think about how those
funerals go -- you're going it
take going to take tha
t away.
they ain't going to have
anywhere to do the funerals an
d
the cars will not know where t
o
park.
the other thing is the amount o
f
money you want to spend on this
when we really don't need it,
you could just do the
reconstruction, we need a
grocery store.
we need better development.
we need better things for the
kids.we have programs called the
outlet.
all that stuff, the city did
post-917 gainesville police
explorers, other programs in
this community, that's what we
need.
but if we going -- it amaze me
that -- amazes me nat we that w
e
spend this kind of money hon
this but we can't get a growsy
store.
that's a problem.
many of you are like wow.
no, it's the truth.
when we say we want economic
development, what do you reall
y
want?
why are you really here?
I know one commissioner can't d
o
it.
because that's her district.
but we got to work together to
do it.
because I'm going to tell you,
this is a mess.
but it's funny to me how we wan
t
to put this infrastructure in
right now when we didn't care
about it 20 years ago.
time comes about change.
but we got to be careful when
we're spending this kind of
money on this.
when we need so much more in
that community.
and it's lacking because guess
what?
we have not made the investmen
ts
over the years.
it ain't just this commission.
blame you.
it's past commissions, past
problems.
it is piled on top of each oth
er
and on top of each other and
people are tired.
these folks are tired.
when is things going to change?
when is it going to get better?
I remember being, you know, in
a
black on black crime task force
at 14, and we had this plan eas
t
gainesville they lied.
we keep lying.
when are we going to do what we
need to do?
when are we going to hear the
need?
when are we going to spark the
change, and whether are we
really -- when are we really
going to serve the people and
I'm going to tell you it is a
big problem we haven't heard
from the community.
that won't happen on any other
side of the town, so why is it
happening with us?
and I think that every
commissioner up there should
listen to what I'm saying.
it don't happen on no other sid
e
of town.
why is it happening on the
east?
so if you're really wanting to
do your job, for the people and
serve the people, vote this dow
n
today.
and when they do the right job
then we can come back and have a
conversation.
we're here for the people.
you're not getting paid to get
paid.
you're working for the people.
let's do it.
it's not hard.
so thank you very much.
I look forward to you hearing
the needs, serving the people,
and sparking the change.
something we're missing in thu
s
community.
thank you very much.
>> mayor: thank you.
I do want to before anybody els
e
comes up I want to point out
that it is right now a
$2 million grant out to help
folks who live in the community
,
invest in that community.
>> yes, mr. Mayor, I tote sale
understand that and respect
that.
my only thing with that is gue
ss
what?
it's a little late.
we need more, I get you --
>> mayor: if not now, when?
>> I been asking you that
question since I have 14 years
old.
>> if not now, when.
>> mr. Mayor, with all due
respect I have been asking tha
t
since I was 14, and --
>> mayor: we're trying, for
goodness sake.
that's what we're doing.
>> let's work together,
mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: come on.
let's get some more folks
talking.
>> all right, we have pastor
ernesteen butler followed by
corey brunson and then mr. Kip
hayes senior.
>> mayor: welcome, pastor.
>> hello.
I've been sitting there for
awhile little stiff.
but the things that they're
asking and talking about on
8th avenue as far as I too can
talk about lots more that we
need on 8th avenue.
but right now I will focus on
the transportation, the streets,
the things that are happening
right now.
and right now one of the thing
s
that I'm seriously against is
the bicycle lane.
yes, we ride our bicycle.
I have a tricycle, and y ride I
t
on the -- I ride it on the
sidewalk.
so yes, that's what we do.
I did sit no one else have any
data on how many bicycles that
go from 8th avenue down.
well guess what?
I was sitting there and every
night then at antioch where
they're talking about, I sat
there and every now and then I
would say there is a bicycle.
there is a bicycle.
I think I counted about two,
ipabout a in about a wee
k's time
of people riding their bicycle
s
out there.
other than that, there was n
and as far as the trees are
concerned -- I love trees.
I garden.
I love trees.
but a water oak is different.
the leaves are slippery when
wet.
how many times I've almost
slipped down just walking acros
s
the street because of the leave
s
and no, we don't have them
coming cleaning as often.
so those oak trees, now they're
water oaks, plant something
else.
some other kind of trees like
they have on the other side on
west side.
they have different types of
trees.
they don't have water oaks.
we do.
and yes, I was sitting there,
and all of a sudden this limb
big limb green fell.
it was like, why?
limb was still green but it
fell.
big limb.
I'm not talking about a little
twig.
so therefore, yeah, there is a
lot of things that are
happening.
no one here would disagree tha
t
it need to be paved or
surfaced.
no one because I'm trying to
dodge potholes as I drive along
,
and to come and just patch one
here and patch one there is a
mess.
and since I am a pastor and I d
o
go to church not that -- is not
my church, but I've had to do
funerals there, can you imagine
if we had to bring the body
around the back because of tho
se
big ugly zippers?
parked out front of the church,
and by the way, I was born and
raised on off of 5th avenue.
I literally got lost the other
day, and I was riding in a
bicycle lane, didn't, it was
like my god, then I had to go
down the wrong road, turn, and
I
literally didn't know how to g
et
back to the new restaurant
that's down 5th avenue.
I didn't know how to get back.
it was like it's too many littl
e
one-way little things, and I w
as
like, but I was born and raise
d
here.
no one told me, no one did
anything, and yes we're still
going through that shock of
having the street redone from
west of main street.
>> mayor: I'm going to ask you
to wrap up, please.
>> west of main street.
so no, I disagree with them
changing things on east --
>> mayor: so again, I'm going to
be clear that we're not voting
to -- there won't be a vote
today to do anything.
>> [off mic]
we don't like it.
>> mayor: yes, ma'am, that's
what we're here to hear, not t
o
decide how to vote on it because there's
there's no vote today on pavin
g
it or on adding speed bumps or
anything else.
who's next.
>> we have corey brunson
followed by kip hayes and ryan
undine who is the last one on
the list.
>> mayor: welcome.
>> hi.
corey brunson, and just speaking
for myself, I also was confused
when reading the item on the
agenda a couple of days ago or
a
few days ago in that it looked
like something was about to be
decided that I had not been
aware of for quite sometime, a
nd
sent a kind of frantic email
suggesting this needs to be
considered alongside the options
that are proposed in this
report.
and so I want to apologize for
acting like I was trying to mak
e
a recommendation to do this
instead of that.
I am glad that this is an
ongoing conversation.
and so I want to emphasize tha
t
I think what I'm going to speak
,
what I'm going to say is more
towards the procedural than
towards the infrastructural.
the community needs to exert the
greatest influence on how this
resurfacing is done.
but the -- but the procedure
sets a precedent that the whole
city is eventually going to fee
l
the impact of.
one thing to be aware of is tha
t
narrowing car lanes from 11 to
10 feet, from 10 to 9 feet,
reduces speeds, which prevents
injury, reduces injury, even if
it doesn't reduce number of
crashes.
motorists can be spect expecte
d
to drive the streets facilitat
ed
by the street and road design,
more lively than the posted
speed limits.
we've seen evidence of that.
and I would say the city stree
ts
nee to be appropriately narrowed
if they are wider than necessa
ry
in general regardless of the
impacts of pedestrian -- on
pedestrians and cyclists.
speaking as a cyclist, bicycli
ng
may not be may not expand at a
appreciable rate unless or unt
il
the infrastructure is improved.
but e-cycling, microtransits,
are going to expand regardless
because they are convenient for
people who can't or won't put
themselves in traffic at a
relatively low speed bicycle.
and so infrastructure
redevelopment needs to
accommodate at least these thr
ee
tiers.
when you separate at the very
least we need to separate
pedestrians from e-bikes.
and that can't be safely done b
y
forcing e-bikes and cyclists
into the same lanes as traffic
.
as car traffic.
my suggestions were just to
narrow the lanes by a foot or
two in each direction, which
would admit plenty of buffers
separating a two-way bike path
which would then reduce the
number of zippers by about hal
f,
the number of -- and cyclists b
y
half by putting all the bike
infrastructure on one side of
the road.
and make it more inviting to
people riding together.
ideally incre use.
>> mayor: ask you to wrap up,
please.
>> that'll be fine.
I'll wrap up there.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you.
>> mr. Kip hayes senior,
followed by ryan undine.
>> mayor: welcome, mr. Hayes.
>> thank you.
thank you for having me.
make this brief.
I'm a property owner of
property, I have property on the
corridor of east gainesville
duval area.
and I own what's called the
slab.
I own the two-story building
that used to be russell henry's
barber shop.
I own the property between the
me and the church of unity.
we split the lot.
I own 10 other slots behind the
slab and behind the other
building itself.
I just got my permits to build
,
to build out the russell henry
building to a restaurant to a
food downstairs.
also applying for the grant to
redo the slab and some of the
parcels behind the slap to put
a
small convenient grocery store
there.
right?
with a pharmacy because we got
a
lot of people in duval, you
know, that need to get to a
pharmacy that's not I think it'
s
either wal-mart or cvs.
so we also need to do something
about the store that's next do
or
to the slab, it's on that
corridor as well.
and I figure if we put a bette
r
product on 8th avenue, better
services, better sort of a
better convenience store but a
small grocery store, it will
eliminate a lot of the things
going on at that store.
I'm saying all that because the
bike lanes even in the future
with the traffic that this
particular project that I'm
working on is, that I'm
developing, there would be no
need, there would be no room for
a bike lane with the traffic
that's going to increase with
the businesses that I'm trying
to set up there.
right?
I agree with the resurfacing.
and I agree with that
wholeheartedly.
we been needing that.
but as far as adding bike lanes
,
now or in the future, to what I
plan on doing, over there as fa
r
as enhancing that community,
putting a better product out
there, having a better service
for the community itself, I
don't see how that's going to
work.
I'm from that area.
I grew up in that area.
I grew up in duval.
my mom still lives over there.
I'm -- the people in the --
sitting behind me they see me
over there every day cleaning u
p
that property.
cleared those lots, those, the
trees, the bushes, overbrush,
all that stuff.
I did all that with my own dim
e,
I bought this property with my
own money.
so I invested my own money int
o
this area because this is my
area.
this is my property.
I hate to see what's going on
over there, but I'm one man.
if the city really wants to
help, help me put a grocery
store on my property.
help me develop it.
help me hire -- you know,
whatever you want to do, as fa
r
as developing that area, getti
ng
rid of the slab, and running
that convenience store out of
business because I don't think
they can be bought out, so let
's
do that.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you.
>> brian undine.
>> question for him.
>> mayor: hold on.
just a minute, mr. Hayes.
come back up.
we have a question for you.
commissioner chestnut.
>> thank you.
thank you, mr. Hayes.
it sounds like you are taking
advantage of the grant that the
city --
>> yes, ma'am, I have a --
>> made available --
>> yes, ma'am, I have a grant
writer on it right now.
we're going to submit it in the
next couple of days hopefully t
o
help with the slab part and some
facade work on the russell hen
ry
building as well.
I just was permitted, thanks t
o
the andrew persons in the offic
e
really helping me get my permi
ts
and stuff going through and
commissioner desmon.
they really helped me because
this permit with the building
department took a year.
and then gun violence helped m
e
up a year on the wastewater --
gru helped help held me up
a
year on the wastewater.
when I got them involved, when
I
got mr. Persons involved and
commissioner duncan-walker
involved, I got my permits.
I got my permits last month and
now they comup with the grant,
so I slowed down on what I was
doing because I'm spending my
own money like I say to apply
for some of that money as well
because I believe if we put a
pharmacy over there with a nic
e
little grocery store, it doesn
't
have to be really big.
it just has to be what the
community needs and a pharmacy
in that put it over there, man
,
and I think we'll do real well.
I think that it'll change the
way it looks.
and the way it feels walking
down the street of east
gainesville.
it doesn't feel good, doesn't
feel safe.
you know, I'm over there all t
he
time and I'm like it's just
don't feel right, don't feel
like home and it's supposed to
be my home, you know?
>> well, I want to thank you f
or
your due diligence and being
steady and applying for the
grant.
>> thank you.
>> so thank you.
>> thank you too.
>> mayor: thank you.
commissioner chestnut, and the
n
commissioner duncan-walker.
>> mr. Mayor, mine is just
simply a comment.
I wanted to also thank you,
mr. Hayes.
we've had numerous conversatio
ns
over quite sometime now with
regards to the type of
innovation that you want to
bring to that area that is, tha
t
is different, and I think
colleagues expect to hear from
him based on a much more recen
t
conversation and a more formal
way in terms of a different typ
e
of proposal that will also
impact that area, and so that'
s
why this conversation is so
important.
I'll conclude right here but
just to be on the look out for
something that I believe is
coming forward.
I think andrew I mentioned it t
o
you as well, so thank you once
again, mr. Hayes, for trying to
be a part of the solution with
regards toic economic
development on 8th avenue.you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner duncan-walker --
>> I d't have a lot to say.
so thank you for resurfacing
that road that is fan fastic,
well needed, fixing the
sidewalk, that will be great.
I would like to point out that
you're seeing differences in
speeding from west of waldo,
they're totally different.
totally different neighbors and
smrkt east of waldo is totally
different than any other secti
on
of 8th avenue because it's a
neighborhood.
that's a neighborhood street.
the reason you're seeing those
speeds is because people are
coming down waldo road and
trying to dodge that
intersection and they come dow
n,
they turn right, and they fly
down that road.
I live on the corner, I own my
home on the corner of 23rd
street and 8th avenue.
that's where I live.
we don't have a sidewalk there
.
don't care.
it can come in and not come in,
I don't care.
the crosswalks is a great idea,
as long as you're not ticketing
people that don't use them
because it's a neighborhood
street.
people are going to want to go
back and forth, right?
it is a neighborhood.
having no intralines telling u
s
how -- extra lines telling us
how we have to use the road is
okay with us.
if you want to cut down the
speed, you have to deter peopl
e
from trying to use that as a c
ut
through.
as far as those trees go, those
trees can be beautiful healthy
trees water oak or not.
they are designed to get heavy
with acorns, load up and break
,
and fall down.
that's how they're evolved and
if we're cutting these close t
o
the trunk they are going to hav
e
rot problems.
and that's the problem we have
.
you send in city crews and
they're destroying the trees.
they get unhealthy and are goi
ng
to fall.
I think I said everything.
oh it food store, yeah.
if we have accidents on the
street people getting hit and
killed that's because they're
coming from across the street
of
the food store stumbling to th
e
clarence thomas center and sit
down and do whatever.
I can't even go to that park no
more, right wmy daughter.
I have a 6-year-old daughter.
that's another thing.
kids on the street, that's whe
re
I taught her to ride her bike.
not on that street.
we don't go on 8th avenue to
go on that street, all right?
if we start putting lines on
there, we got extra laws and
extra enforcement and we alrea
dy
have predatory police trying t
o
fill quotas watching for
teenagers driving slow.
so please, like we don't need a
bunch of extra lines.
it's just a neighborhood.
do you want extra lines on the
road outside of your house?
probably not.
so I hope y'all have a great
day.
god bless.
thank you.
for fixing it and next time I
see you I'll probably be angry
,
who knows, I'm crazy, right?
>> mayor: thank you.
>> we did have another sign up,
arb armando grundy gomez.
>> welcome, mr. Gundy.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
armando grundy gomez.
I guess I want to do a contrac
ts
when it comes -- contrast when
it comes to public works
projects of this nature when I
t
comes to quote, unquote,
complete streets.
I remember the last time a few
iterations ago a few years ago
when we talk about complete
streets, we talk about
university avenue which also
goes also into our community a
nd
district 1.
and in that during that
conversation and that time, the
only real section of university
avenue that's really a complete
street is in and around and by
the definition of a complete
street, I'm talking about for
the department of transportatio
n
and what civil engineers will
recognize as you having a mu
multimodal pedestrian friendly
slowing down of traffic,
et cetera, you have that in and
around the university but if yo
u
have it down in district 1, pas
t
waldo road you don't pretty muc
h
you don't see that too much.
you don't see it slowing down.
of course we have traffic death
s
but we also have traffic deaths
in district 1 too.
so I just find it interesting
that we're having the tale of
two streets.
so it I guess I want to
understand where all this energ
is coming from to want to have
this -- one person would say
we're resurfacing it.
is that really the reiteration
of why we're doing this?
of course we want to have bike
lanes and they're good, but if
that was the case why didn't w
e
complete university avenue all
the way down too and make it a
real complete street?
because it is the same
university avenue if I turn off
of williston road and turn lef
t,
and go toward university of
florida, it's not a complete
street when you come off
williston road.
oh urmy, my my god it slo
ws down
and is beautiful and wonderful
and gorgeous.
so that would be my question why
now.
where is all this and it's not
simply because we're resurfacing
it.
make it make sense.
and what's the total cost of
this?
so but what we would be great I
s
when we're having the
conversation about the 8th and
waldo road project is why is
waldo road looking the same as
it has for 40 years, why are w
e
not having real economic
investment in economic in that
corridor, real economic
investment.
I'm not talking about parts and
piece3450e8ing we're doing
street cafes with gcra money.
I want to have real
conversations about what we ca
n
do to have meaningful impact in
the community that sees
disinvestment from you and not
real investment.
thank you so much.
>> mayor: thank you,
mr. Grundy.
I do want to point out we have
been trying to get the funds
released to do the similar wor
k
on the east end of university
avenue that fdot released to d
o
in front of the university of
florida for a number of years,
some of those times while you
were sitting in the room,
mr. Grundy.
but I would love to be able to
get a safer east university
avenue as I'm on the record
voting for a number of times.
so thank you for that.
anyone else?
>> [off mic]
>> mayor: okay.
as we move forward, I want to
let everybody know that unless
there is a objection we're goi
ng
to move the two land use -- th
e
land use and zoning item forwa
rd
to the end of the agenda becau
se
we clearly don't have time for
them this afternoon.
and again, what we're talking
about here is where do we go
forward as far as more, more
engagement and more planning, w
e
have not had the opportunity t
o
have funding available to do
anything yet as we've said fro
m
the beginning of this item.
so I don't want anybody to thin
k
once again that we are in the
process of rolling out
crosswalks and all that sort o
f
thing right now because it's n
ot
funded at this point.
many, many lights.
before we move on from this
item, so commissioner ingle.
>> I would like to make a motio
n
his item until there
has been community input.
>> second.
>> mayor: would
>> would the maker of the
motion -- well, let me just say
this.
I'm speaking out of turn.
>> mayor: go ahead, it's all
right.
>> in the interest of clarity
I'm going to convene a meeting
as the district 1 commissioner.
I I am going to convene a
meeting.
it is something that I've
already mentioned to staff.
because there is a certain way
that I know that I can convene
a
meeting.
there are certain things that
are important to me about the
way that these meetings should
go but also it's important to m
e
that I can convene this.
understand that when I say I'm
going to convene the meeting t
he
meeting that I'm talking about
is going to be very similar to
what we did over at cone park a
couple of weeks ago and it will
be a robust experience, not jus
t
where you're being provided
information, but where you wil
l
have the opportunity to speak
because that's the whole point
.
so I'm sorry I was going to ask
you to add something to that a
nd
I don't think I need to in lig
ht
of that.
>> all right.
>> mayor: all right.
you good, commissioner
duncan-walker?
>> I think so.
>> mayor: all right.
commissioner willits.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
can staff just read from our
comp plan why it is that we're
doing this?
can it be read just so it's
clear?
I can't find it searching comp
plan.
or comp plan specifically says
when we resurface, I'm trying t
o
remember the type of road, but
there's a specific type of roa
d
that when we go to resurface I
t,
we must begin this process of
considering, correct?
bike lanes, safety improvement
whether that's I think it's the
whole that's why it's here
because if we weren't
resurfacing this would never
come up, right?
so--
>> chase -- city engineer.
I apologize I don't have the
specific comp plan right here.
I do have the engineering desig
n
and construction manual.
>> forget -- I typically say
comp plan because comp plan
references a, does it not
reference the design and
construction manual, the edm?
roughly that's how I
understand -- I said comp plan
so it references.
somewhere there is written
policy that says when we go
forward before we go spending a
bunch of money on paving let's
look and see if the thing we
missed 20 years ago needs to be
done today.
>> yes, in general so
transportation element
underneath the comprehensive
plan, and then the bicycle
facilities underneath our edcm
references pretty close to the
same language but it's bicycle
facilities shall be provided o
n
resurfacing projects if
sufficient right-of-way and/or
pavement with width exists a
nd
on all new roadways and then I
t
references nacto or bike way
standards, et cetera,
et cetera.
and it goes into a little bit
more detail from there.
>> thank you.
I wanted to clarify that's why
we're here.
I agree there is way more
conversation.
I'm still a little confused by
the motion often because it's
sometimes we're doing contracts,
sometimes we're doing, whateve
r,
90% plans.
what does proceed with the
design and permitting of
northeast 8th avenue
resurfacing project from waldo
to the western property line o
f
loftin high school with the
scope as recommended mean?
>> mayor: we're not doing it
anyway.
it's not a motion --
>> okay, because I want to know
the original motion.
that's right.
>> only one motion.
>> you're right.
forgive me.
and so the last thing I will s
ay
is like, just in the future lik
e
I said the easy cheap option I
s
literally a line of parking
either on the north or the sou
th
side of 8th from waldo out
however far.
which does allow churches to d
o
what they need to do with more
flexible street and would allow
potential businesses.
I always envision that corner
anywhere between 15, 17th,
18th as being an idea of our
grant program was it's mixed u
se
sort of commercial maybe theywa
nt, maybe they could use
on-street parking on side
streets so they can actually
have commercial activity becau
se
you need a couple parks spaces.
so the quick and easy cheap is
resurface, repaint your normal
lines, put in a row of parking
,
that gets you now lanes that a
re
somewhere less than 17 feet
wide.
but I want to make sure I'm
adamant that the reason why
people speed there is not
because of magic cut through.
it's because it is a 17-foot
wide lane cut through because
8th on the other side is just
as much of a cut through, but
those lanes are much narrower
with a median, you know curves
that were done however many
years ago.
I just, the people, the east
side deserves frankly they
deserve 32 miles an hour avera
ge
or not average but 85th
percentile instead of 38.
I think they deserve the same
speeds running through their
neighborhood because it is a
neighborhood.
it's a mixed use, you know, old
kind of older school tradition
al
neighborhood format, and it doe
s
not deserve 38 miles an hour a
t
the 85th percentile.
I want to to figure out how w
e
can get it down to 32.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner willits.
thank .
commissioner chestnut.
>> commissioner willits, I think
the key word you keep saying
regarding the comp plan is
consideration.
consideration. Not
not a mandate to do anything. It
it's just to consider it.
and that is the key word.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner.
commissioner duncan-walker.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
what I wanted to say has alrea
dy
been said.
hopefully this motion will
carry, and hopefully we are
sending the message to the
people that we won't miss these
critical steps to pull them in
to
the process in a meaningful way
on something that is so critical
in the future.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner dunk
duncan-walker.
mr. Manager.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
I do have the comp plan policie
s
if you all want to hear them.
so is that a yes or --
[laughter]
I'm getting mixed like faces. Al
all right.
>> mayor: thank you.
commissioner chestnut?
>> yeah, again, I just want to
be sure that the key word in the
comp plan is consider.
>> it is not.
>> it is not?
what is it then?
>> yeah, there's three policies
in your transportation element
.
the first is policy 3.1.5 which
says essentially street
modifications including
restriping or resurfacing shall
not increase the difficulty of
bike transit or pedestrian
travel such changes shall
include safety features for
bicycle, transit and pedestrians
to offset any negative impact
and modification might otherwise
create then policy 4.1.7 says
new cluks, reconstruction,
and -- construction,
reconstruction, and resurfacing
of arterials and collectors
shall be designed using complet
e
streets and context sensitive
street design principles.
and then policy 6.1.4 says the
city shall use street
resurfacing projects as an
opportunity to install or
enhance sidewalks, bike lanes,
raised medians, brick or brick
and printed paver or painted
croswalks where feasible if not
a city project the city shall
recommend to the state or county
make such enhancements.
>> mayor: all right.
thank you, mr. Manager.
commissioner book.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
coincidentally when we did the
comp plan and we needed to get
out information, we had a
flier.
we had a qr code.
we had a couple of forums that
were hosted by two of the
commissioners on the dais here.
and we got tremendous amounts o
f
feedback so it's easy to do and
in this northeast 8th avenue
corridor no matter what segment,
you're talking about, eight
churches, was we said, I learn
ed
it was even more than I thought
,
but you got the school board.
we asked them to come for us f
or
listen we sent out information
to the school board and say it'
s
going to impact them, you got a
number of residents on that
thing.
you have a number of
businesses.
you have the high aff right
there.
so there is plenty of
opportunity for people to come
to any forum hosted by anyone
here through the city manager's
office and when we -- and we a
large multifamily housing
complex right there in northea
st
8th avenue and 17th street.
so I think we're going to get
plenty of feedback, and we'll
all be better for it.
whatever comes, if out, if it
's
merely resurfacing down the
road, that's fine, or if it's
resurfacing plus enhancements,
well we'll know that we have
community backing to do it.
so thank you.
I appreciate the fact that
you're going to host a forum,
and if it comes time to go and
maybe walk or distribute some
information, I'd be happy to
assist in a public way.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner book.
commissioner duncan-walker.
>> thank you, mr. Book.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
I did want to just mention tha
t
as a part of this discussion,
the comp plan will be
discussed.
because we're still within the
time frame where any necessary
tweaks can be made.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner duncan-walker.
so the short answer to the thi
ng
that I heard several people ask
as to why now is because we're
at a point where we need to
spend money on that road.
on that stretch of road.
so if we're going to spend it
money, let's have a conversatio
n
about exactly what it ought to
be.
a place we need to get to as a
city is when we say, hey, what
should we do, is not have folks
understand -- it's a catch-22.
if folks understand it as we
need to do a thing, here's wha
t
we're going to do out front,
then of course people push back
on that.
but usually what it is is when
we put something out, is here'
s
a discussion item.
here's something to get a
conversation started.
because if we just have a, a
meeting and say what should we
do, there will be every from
well, we ought to put an
interstate there to we shouldn
't
do anything.
so the idea is you got to put
something on the table to have
a
discussion about.
if you don't, experience in thi
s
building has taught me you don
't
get anywhere at all and then y
ou
get ten years down the road and
somebody says how come you nev
er
spent any money on this.
we can't be there either.
so when we get to this point,
this is the opportunity to
figure out what it is that oug
ht
to be done, and that vote is n
ot
today.
it never was supposed to be par
t
of today.
we need to have more opportunity
for everybody to weigh in that
uses the road or that lives on
the road for what it ought to
be.
that's where we are.
and that's why now.
that's the answer to why now.
yeah, and I know we're a coupl
e
folks are going with it.
it's always election year.
it's always election year so I
t
ain't that.
this is the opportunity to
figure out what's, what we do
because we're going to spend
some money.
we're fought going to come back
d spend the money again
later.
we need to figure out what the
right way to do it now is.
that's why now.
all right.
so we have a motion on the
table, all in favor, please say
aye.
any opposed?
all right that passes
unanimously.
madam clerk.
>> mr. Mayor, pause just a
moment.
we have 2026-171, appointments
to the city plan board and the
gainesville human rights board
with recommendation the city
commission review and discuss
the applications received for
the appointments to the city
plan board and gainesville hum
an
rights board and take action
deemed necessary.
and mr. Mayor I did want to let
you know one of the application
s
for the city plan board has bee
n
updated and printed and you wil
l
find it in the file folders in
front of you.
essentially there was a questio
n
about a financial disclosure,
and that answer was changed fro
m
no to yes.
>> mayor: very good, thank you
,
and before we move any farther
forward I want to remind
everyone here for the land use
and zoning items that we've
pushed those forward to the end
of the meeting.
so we're not going to do that
before dinner.
okay.
all right.
so we have two folks here for
the city plan board
appointment.
would y'all like to speak?
all right.
so I'm going to ask -- to go
first because we'll do the
alphabetically.
welcome.
>> thank you.
and thank you, mr. Mayor and
commissioners.
my name is jayne moras ki.
prior to my time in gainesville
I complete admasters in urban
and regional planning where I
did comp plan review for iowa
city another university town.
dollar I was a commercial --
there was a commercial real
estate appraiser, actually the
only commercial real estate
appraiser that was a woman in
the state of iowa for men a
years.
>> mayor: in the whole state?
>> in the whole state, yeah.
at the time.
it's changed since then.
but my specialty was low-income
housing tax credits.
since then moving here, I know
many of you in my work as the
director of the homeless shelt
er
called family promise of
gainesville.
I've worked in nonprofits for
the last two decades here.
my specialty was housing and n
ow
it's education as well.
it took a -- gainesville is my
home.
my children grew up here.
went to gainesville high
school.
went to glen springs
elementary.
and I want to be part of the
planning board because one, a
friend asked me to do this
because they knew of my
experience in it, but because
this is my home.
it will continue to be my home
and it's where my family has
chosen to be.
I'm happy to answer any
questions you have about my
background or experience.
and I believe that the sum tot
al
of that experience would make m
e
a good part of the planning
board.
thank you.
>> mayor: very good.
thank you.
mr. Willis.
>> good afternoon, it's a
pleasure to be here today.
little bit about me is I'm
currently civil engineering
student at university of
florida.
I'm a senior.
I currently have a year left,
and I really discovered a
passion for sustainable
development which is why I
applied to be on the city
planning board after the lovel
y
city clerk came to our class a
nd
made me aware that it was an
opportunity.
and which I believe mayor ward
you will be speaking at in a
couple weeks.
so I'm excited for that.
but yes, I want to serve my
community.
I've only been in gainesville
since august, but I really gro
wn
to love it.
been a lifelong gator fan so I
hope to stay here for a long
period of time, and I hope wit
h
this opportunity I can initiat
e
some resilience and
sustainable -- sustainability I
n
this community, and serve as a
lifelong commitment to the
people.
and as we've seen today, it is
important to listen to the
people, so I hope to bring tha
t
along too.
thank you.
>> mayor: very good.
thank you.
all right.
commissioner willits.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
a quick question.
so for, for the clerk first.
for ms. Moraski application I
don't see the, the address has
been blacked out.
I know there are lots of
potential reasons why, but I
just want to really confirm tha
t
ms. Moraski lives inside the
incorporated gainesville city
limits.
>> yes.
I have the map if you would like
to see.
>> I'm a map person.
you already knew where I was
going.
thank you.
and then so then just outside
this I would make a pitch if n
ot
in this vote but into the futur
e
for all of our boards but
particularly even this one
board, we are a community of 6
0%
renters.
I don't know that we have any
renters on the city plan board
right now.
I would have to double check.
but mr. Willis lives in my
district and I'm a little
partial to my district because
my district is 90% multifamily
,
and we're, and in a city that'
s
60% renters, renters and
multifamily are part of whatwe
have to plan for, what we were
gifted from the county in the
case of southwest gainesville,
moving forward so I actually
want to make a pitch that we
need more diversity on some of
our boards, and that includes
income, age, where you live in
this city, and whether you are
an incumbent property owner, you
know or you're a renter so I
just want to make that pitch
because, because we have a
community that is 60% renters
and when all of our policymaker
s
are homeowners and when everyon
e
on our boards are homeowners, o
r
live in a, a family -- a home
owned by their family, where y
ou
don't pay rent, because that's
how homeownership is typically
measured, if you're not paying
rent, you live in a owned home,
a family owned home of some
sort.
anies with just want to make
that pitch out there.
but also understand that
ms. Moraski is pretty well
qualified both with the
knowledge of our community but
also the basics of urban
planning.
though I will say some people
think that we have plenty of
urban planner in the city.
they're called staff.
they're everywhere.
and they guide us a lot so to
some degree that plan board is
still just our neighbors'
knowledge, not necessarily.
we can hire, even more city
planners we could just have a comm
commtee of city planners that
we hire.
so just putting that out there
as conversation.
we've had interesting, deep
conversations today so I just
wanted to throw it out there.
and just to be clear we have a
n
urban planner as our interim
city manager as well, so thank
you, madam clerk, for answering
that question.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you.
commissioner duncan-walker.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
I have a question and it's kin
d
of to your point, commissioner
willits in terms of the
composition but do we currently
have -- we don't have a student
seat on this board, do we?
I don't see one indicated here?
>> we -- the staff liaison
hasn't requested for us to fil
l
it but I do believe that this
is
one of our boards that does ha
ve
a student seat.
we typically don't advertise f
or
those until september or octob
er
when students are back in
session because everyone sort o
f
gearing now towards finals and
graduation and all of those
types of things, so we typically
don't advertise for student
seats until usually it's aroun
d
the homecoming time frame gives
them a chance to get their foo
t
in the door, for the semester,
get their head on their
shoulders about what they want
to do for professional, you
know, experience, and we send
that out to the schools and our
different contacts to get
student applications, and as y
ou
heard, I do speak to college
classes, and wave the flag for
our advisory boards.
>> that's good.
that's good.
because I appreciate
mr. Brantley coming to us today
,
and he clearly is making all
sorts of efforts to educate
himself in this way, and what
I
would say based on how I'm
probably going to vote today, I
s
mr. Willis, I hope you will com
e
back around the time that we
open that application for the
student seat because what when
I
take a look at the experience
that ms. Jayne moraski brings t
o
the board, I have to lean in
that direction.
and you'll get there.
you will get there.
>> [off mic]
[laughter]
good.
and I mean, for me, it is the
diverse wealth of experience
that she brings to this.
and how that can just make tha
t
board so much more robust.
commissioner willits, I am
certainly willing to entertain
a
conversation about the ways tha
t
we can continue to diversify t
he
board.
but I certainly, mr. Willis,
please come back in september or
whenever it is that that we
advertise this again because I
certainly appreciate your
application as well.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner duncan-walker.
so madam clerk, I have a concern
that if we're waiting until
october or sod to aert adverti
se
for a student position, that
means they don't really start
until january, and we may end u
p
putting somebody on the board
that's only here for one
semester.
>> mr. Mayor, it's a point wel
l
taken.
most of the student seats we d
o
with you all in camera in your
chambers, and so we get them o
n
the appointment and on the
consent agenda much more
quickly.
we usually have them on there
with by the end of october ear
ly
november.
it does eat into -- it's just
our experience when we've done
applications for students we
don't get the pool that you all
want to see.
>> mayor: okay.
all right.
thank you.
commissioner ingle.
>> make a motion to appoint
jayne moraski to the city plan
board -- [off mic]
>> sentiments that we you jus
t
stay involved.
more opportunities for you.
>> second.
>> mayor: all right we have a
second.
we did not sahave the giv
e the
other folks an opportunity.
>> oh, whoops, sorry.
>> mayor: that's okay.
I can do that before we vote.
>> neither of those folks
indicate -- they let us know
they weren't going to be able t
o
attend.
>> mayor: all right, well that
makes it easier, doesn't it.
all right.
commissioner eastman, did you
have anything else?
>> I was going do do exactly
what commissioner ingle did.
>> there is no public comment.
>> mayor: all in favor, I rirya
n
aye.
any opposed?
congratulations ms. Moraski.
thank you for being willing.
and mr. Willis, please do stay
involved.
there are many other boards out
there.
okay, madam clerk.
>> mr. Mayor, 2026-203,
application to the audit
committee with recommendation
the city commission review the
application received for
appointment to the audit
committee and take action deeme
d
necessary.
we did have only one applicant
,
who is here with us today, and
he did also attend the audit
committee meeting.
>> mayor: all right, would you
like to speak?
>> just want to say happy frida
y
eve.
I used to travel a lot when I
was down in the rider systems
always rider trucks always
traveled sunday night hated
being away from my family so I
always counted down to fried s
o
I do want to -- friday.
so I do want to appreciate you
all as far as inviting me here
today.
just give you a background of
myself.
my name is mark modus.
I have my cpa license I have a
masters in taxation I'm a
professor over at santa fe
college teach as far as --
courses over there and also
created and put together the
advanced government accounting
course.
prior to coming up here, I was
the head of a accounting -- for
broward county school board, s
o
we were the sixth largest schoo
l
system in the nation, and prior
to that I was over at rider
systems.
my wife asked me why are you
interested in doing this?
because as far as you know
volunteering, and I would say
well two things.
I said as far as being head ove
r
broward county for financial
reporting, was I was conductin
g
meetings with the audit
committee.
conducting meetings with the
board.
every month and with rider
systems it was pretty much the
same thing.
you know what?
this gives me the opportunity t
o
see how it's done on the other
on the other side.
on the flip being professor ove
r
santa fe college, I'm also on
the community connect and
community connect board what
we're doing is reaching inside
alachua county, outside the
county as well, and looking for,
to get that connection,
opportunities for business,
opportunities for governments.
not only for to extend santa f
e
college out more, but also to
help our students as far as we
got a lot of different
apprenticeships that are going
on, and I figured you know
what?
what's a better way to learn
about such a good size city as
gainesville, what the
opportunities are there, and
just -- as you can tell, as I
tell my students and my class, I
talk and never shut up, so the
re
we go.
appreciate the time.
>> mayor: all right, thank you.
commissioner book?
>> this is so easy.
mr. Mayor, so professor modus
has the knowledge, the skills,
the abilities, he's a current
educator so he is going to be u
p
on trends related to auditing
in
the field so under 2026-203 I
recommend approval of professor
mark modus to the audit
committee.
>> second.
>> mayor: we have a motion and
a
second.
commissioner duncan-walker.
>> I was going to simply
support.
that's it.
>> mayor: all right.
commissioner eastman?
>> I called around to some
friends in the city of newberr
y
who -- mr. Modus here has a
great reputation.
you're very involved within you
r
community from what I've heard
.
yob ryan undine been helpful I
n
the -- you've been helpful in
the city of newberry in trying
to work through the of the
financials there so I think
you'll be a great addition to
our audit committee and this I
s
great for your record, we how
long was our last board member
there?
>> several years.
I'm looking forward have to
having you in there, have a
fresh pair of eyes on
everything.
>> appreciate you.
>> I think he's already attended
a meeting.
>> yeah, last week, yes, ma'am.
>> yes, yes.
>> yes, ma'am.
>> mayor: very good.
all right.
thank you, commissioner
eastman.
seeing no further lights, is
there any public comment?
>> there is no public comment.
>> mayor: all right, all in
favor, please say aye.
any opposed?
all righty, that passes
unanimously.
madam clerk.
>> mr. Mayor, we're onto
commission comment.
>> mayor: all right.
I have multiple commission
comments, but I'll save those
for, for the end of the
meeting.
anyone else?
we will be back here at 5:45 o
r
yeah, 5:45.
>> mayor: good evening,
everyone.
welcome to the evening session
for this thursday april 2nd
meeting of the gainesville city
commission.
we are lucky to have with us a
great group of cub scouts and
I'm going to invite you all to
come forward and lead us in the
pledge please.
come on up.
good marching.
so we're going to follow your
lead.
>> start it off.
>> group: I pledge allegiance to
the flag of the united states of
america and to the republic for
which it stands one nation und
er
god indivisible with liberty a
nd
justice for all.
>> mayor: very, very good.
y'all turn around and let's get
some photos.
>> you want to take a picture?
>> get in here.
[indistinct conversation]
>> mayor: between that and the
rocket launch last night, I'm
feeling all kinds of patriotic
.
good work.
[applause]
madam clerk.
>> mr. Mayor, oh, my goodness.
it's a hard act to follow.
>> mayor: yes.
>> oh, my gosh.
[indistinct conversation]
>> give them a minute.
>> they may need just a sec.
mr. Mayor, we have 2026-251,
national public safety
telecommunications week.
>> mayor: whereas the professio
n
of public safety
telecommunicator in alachua
county plays a crucial role in
the protection of life, propert
y
and delivery of public safety
services.
and whereas, each day hundreds
of neighbors dial 911 for help
in emergencies and the
telecommunicators who answer
these calls gather essential
information and dispatch the
appropriate assistance which c
an
often make the difference
between life and death for
persons in need.
and whereas, these well trained
,
highly dedicated and deeply
motivated individuals proudly
and selflessly serve the
neighbors of gainesville 24
hours a day, seven days a week
,
and sometimes during extreme
situations such as hurricanes,
making them unable to be with
their own families or protect
their personal homes and
property.
and whereas, telecommunicators
who are the original first
responders are honored to
receive recognition by the
neighbors and agencies who
depend on them and benefit fro
m
their services.
and whereas, the congress of t
he
united states has proclaimed I
n
support and recognition to the
se
employees and their profession
and the city commission wishes
to publicly recognize the local
telecommunicators who serve the
neighbors of gainesville in suc
hmanner.
now, therefore, I harvey l. Ward
jr. By the authority vested in
me by the city of gainesville d
o
hereby proclaim april 12 throu
gh
18, 2026 as national
telecommunicators week and
invite our neighbors to
recognize our heroes in witness
whereof, I have caused to be
affixed the official seal of t
he
city of gainesville, florida
this 31st day of march, 2026.
thank you, all.
[applause]
and I want to tell you, this o
ne
is special to me.
when I was a kid, my dad was a
radio operator/early
telecommunicator at gpd.
and so I grew up when we had a
n
emergency, my dad was -- it was
a hurricane or whatever, dad w
as
at gpd.
and so I respect what youall do
very much and what your families
offer as well.
>> hello, my name is kristoffer
orwig, I'm at the alachua count
y
training center.
on behalf of my co-workers, I'd
like to thank the chair and
citizens of alachua county for
taking the time to recognize
telecommunicators safety week
2026.
thank you.
[applause]
>> mr. Mayor, we have 2026-197,
child abuse prevention month.
>> mayor: all right.
who is receiving this?
there we go.
whereas, prevention is possible.
every family and child are
filled with tremendous promise.
we all have a collective
responsibility to prevent
adverse childhood experiences,
foster the potential of every
child and promote positive
childhood experiences.
and whereas, families who
receive the support they need
before a crisis occurs are
better equipped to provide saf
e,
healthy and nurturing
environments leading to children
who are safer, healthier and
more hopeful about their
futures.
whereas childhood trauma
including abuse and neglect can
have long-term psychological,
emotional and physical effects
throughout an individual's
lifetime and impact future
generations.
and whereas, we acknowledge that
we must work together as a
community to increase awareness
about child abuse and contribut
e
to promoting the social and
emotional well-being of children
and families in a safe, stable
and nurturing environment.
and whereas, investments in
prevention initiatives are
essential to building safer and
healthier communities for all.
therefore, I harvey l. Ward jr.
as the mayor of the city of
gainesville harborby proclaim
april 2026 as child abuse
prevention month in the city of
gainesville and invite all our
neighbors to join me in
recognizing this month by
dedicating ourselves to the tas
k
of improving the quality of life
for all children and families.
in witness whereof, I have
hereunto set my hand and cause
d
to be affixed the official sea
l
of the city of gainesville,
florida this 11th day of
march, 2026.
harvey ward jr. Mayor.
congratulations.
[applause]
>> thank you, thank you.
on behalf of the alachua count
y
child abuse prevention task
force in partnership for stron
g
families, I want to thank you s
o
much for standing with us in
recognizing april as child abu
se
prevention month.
child abuse prevention needs t
o
happen all year long, but we'd
like to set aside this month t
o
especially recognize it.
and with that, I'm going to han
d
it over to sherry kitchens with
the child advocacy center.
>> good afternoon.
mayor, thank you so much for
this acknowledgment.
city commissioners, thank you
for all you do for children
throughout the year.
my name is sherry kitchens,the
director of the child advocacy
center and the chair of the
alachua county child abuse
prevention task force.
you may have noticed if you hav
e
been by u.f. Health children's
hospital since yesterday, there
is a beautiful display of
pinwheels out front.
that is due to the support and
effort of the children's trust
of alachua county and 12
organizations that make up the
abuse prevention task
force, got out there yesterday
.
there were over 50 of us
planting those pinwheels, over
200 pinwheels.
you'll also see them throughou
t
the community.
everywhere where prevention is
happening in the community wit
h
our agencies.
so we really appreciate this
acknowledgment and your focus
and support in taking care of
chinch in our community.
>> and I'm emily mccauley with
the children's trust of alachua
county.
I will echo what has been said
here in that we are proud to
fund and support efforts all
around our community to make
alachua county safer for
children and families.
the pinwheels are a visual
reminder of that role that we
all collectively play.
I'll give a shout-out to the
students at the u.f. Center for
autism and related disabilitie
s
who helped us assemble about 600
of those pinwheels in our offic
e
last week.
and we have 10 different ctac
funded partners who will also b
e
planting pinwheels and it reall
y
is a community wide collective
effort because we all play a
role, wis providing a
sa and supportive
out-of-school time provider to
an individual and the children'
s
trust of alachua county in
supporting our children and
families absolute the county.
>> mr. Mayor, we have 2026-198,
pray then play day.
>> mayor: okay.
mr. Sweger, do you have this
one?
I'm sorry.
all right.
whereas, individuals and
families thrive when think com
e
together in unity, community a
nd
harmony to engage in wholesome
fellowship.
whereas the strength of a city
lies in how well the residents
collaborate and share positive
interactions, commonalities and
bonds.
whereas, pray, then play day I
s
a significant occasion dedicated
to encouraging godly reflectio
n
followed by joyful community
engagement.
whereas, this event promotes
peace, togetherness and holistic
well-being through
christ-centered prayer and
recreational activities to bring
different people of all races,
genders and socioeconomic
statuses to one accord.
whereas the observance of pray
then play day serves as a
purposeful opportunity for
individual families to connect
and celebrate their shared
values, beliefs and ideologies.
I harvey l. Ward jr. By the
authority vested in me as the
mayor of city of gainesville,
florida as pray then play day
and invite all our neighbors t
o
join me in recognizing this
special day.
I have where unto set my hand
and cause to be affixed this t
he
official seal of the city of
gainesville, florida, the 11th
day of march, 2026.
set that aside.
>> mr. Mayor, we have 2026-200.
spring migration season.
>> mayor: all right.
who's got this one?
come on up.
whereas each spring, millions o
f
migratory birds travel thousan
ds
of miles publish flashes of
color and song through
gainesville as they journey
between wintering and breeding
grounds.
whereas gainesville's birding
community and parks, forests a
nd
wetlands make palm point,
sweetwater park and l loblolly
among some of the best birding
locations in florida.
whereas, an observant may catch
the yellow of a prothontory, t
he
inindigo bunting or standigger
as
they because in trees and
wetlands.
students and nature lovers
throughout gainesville celebrate
the fleeting season stepping
outdoors to listen for bird
association arn watch the tree
tops for passing migrants.
whereas, as a city known for
welcoming new neighbors around
the world, gainesville also
welcomes the arrival of these
seasonal migrants who briefly
call our parks, wetlands and
forests home each spring.
therefore, I harvey l. Ward jr.
y the authority vested in me a
s
mayor of the city of gainesville
hereby appoint march 15 through
april 15, 2026 as spring
migration season in the city of
gainesville and invite all our
neighbors to inveto me in
stepping outside and watching
for the flashes of red, yellow,
blue and black that mark this
remarkable season of migration.
I have hereunto set my hand and
cause to be affixed the officia
l
seal of the city of gainesville
,
florida.
if you want to say a few words
.
>> thank you,mayor,
commissioner, for recognizing
birds and nature and
conservation here in alachua g
ainesville.
we are so lucky to have so man
y
preserves, so many parks
throughout the area.
and it's really drawn attention
to the value that we place in
nature here in this community.
I want to give a shout-out to
sweetwater wetlands park and t
he
wonderful habitat that it
provides to wildlife, but also
a
great venue for environmental
education and passive
recreation.
and your may be surprised to
know that sweetwater just in I
ts
short 10 years being open to t
he
public has risen to the very t
op
in popularity of birding hot
spots in the state of florida.
out of over 5,000 it's in the
top 10 now which is phenomenal.
something even more phenomenal
about sweetwater, last year the
bird conservancy just added
sweetwater to its list of the
top 15 most recommended birding
places to go in the entire
united states.
so that's amazing.
and so what that translates int
o
is it shows that gainesville,
alachua county is a place where
we value our nature, where we
value conservation and wildlif
e
and it also translates into an
untold amount of ecotourism
dollars for the things that we
value.
so thank you very much for thi
s.
>> mayor: thank you.
>> mr. Mayor, we are on to
2026-201, national public heal
th
week --
[inaudible]
>> mayor: all right.
this is national public health
week.
pwhereas the week of april 6th
,
2026 is national public health
week and the theme is ready,
set, action.
highlighting that public health
actions occurring through
scientific conferees,
legislation and community
initiatives have significantly
improved the health of all
americans since its inception I
n
1994.
and whereas, racial and ethnic
minority populations of the
united states continue to
experience disparities in the
burden of illness and deaths a
s
compared with the entire
population of the united states
.
and whereas, a person's health
status can differ drastically b
y
zip code due to differences in
environment quality, community
context, access to healthy foo
d,
access to education, and acces
s
to healthcare.
and whereas, efforts to
adequately support public
health, the prevention of
disease and the injury continue
to transform a health system
focused on treating illness and
to a health system focused on
preventing disease, injury and
promoting wellness.
therefore, I harvey l. Ward jr.
as mayor of the city of
gainesville proclaim april 6th
through 12th at national
public health week in the city
of gainesville and invite all
our neighbors to join me in
observing this week by helping
our families, friends, neighbo
rs
and co-workers and leaders to
recognize the contribution of
scientists, loyal city and
community activists including
the public health workers as t
he
theme states ready, set, actio
n.
in witness whereafter I have
here unto caused to be affixed
the official seal of the city
of
gainesville, florida.
>> on behalf of the beta for
recognizing public health and
what it has on our communities
.
and thank you for proclaiming
national public health week.
thank you.
>> mr. Mayor, we have 2026-204.
s landscape architecture
month.
>> mayor: all right.
who's got this wurp?
whereas landscape architecture
encompasses the analysis,
planning, design and stewardship
of the natural and built
environment, translating visio
n
into action to shape places that
are healthy, safe and resilient
.
landscape architecture is a
regulated profession in all 50
states and the department of
business and professional
regulation ensures the highest
standards of professional
competence through education,
experience and examination
requirements.
whereas, during april, landsca
pe
architecture month is celebrated
under the theme landscape
architecture in action, where w
e
recognize the tangible impact
this has on parks, streetscape
s,
campuses across urban, suburba
n
and rural communities.
and whereas, the license to
practice landscape architecture
is a critical safeguard for
public health, safety and
welfare ensuring outdoor
environments are designed with
technical rigor and ethical
responsibility.
whereas landscape architects a
re
nuniquely qualified through
resilient green infrastructure
design strategies that restore
ecosystems and mitigate
environmental hazards and
decrease the long-term disaste
r
recovery on state and local
governments.
whereas the economy of the city
of gainesville is strengthened
by the work of these landscape
architects and the accredited a
t
florida international universit
y
and the university of florida
who together foster tourism,
economic development and
environmental protection.
I harvey l. Ward jr. As
authority of the mayor of
gainesville, florida and invite
all our neighbors to join me I
n
celebrating landscape
architecture in action and the
essential role landscape architects
architects play in the shaping
of resilient, safe environment
s.
I have hereunto set my hand and
caused to be affixed the
official seal of gainesville,
florida this 26th day of
march, 2026, harvey ward jr.,
mayor.
welcome.
>> you're all set.
if you want to hand those to
francisco.
>> mayor: I'll do that.
>> we'll make sure those get
where they need to go.
next mr. Mayor is the early
public comment.
and I don't believe -- no, we
do
not have anyone signed up for
early public comment.
so we are going to go on to our
first discussion item -- I'm
sorry, not discussion item, the
ordinance for the evening.
we have ordinance number
2025-998, an ordinance of the
city of gainesville, florida
amending the future land use m
ap
of the comprehensive plan by
changing the land use category
of approximately .64 acres of
property generally located at
the 800 block of east universit
y
avenue as more specifically
described in this ordinance fro
m
planned use district and mixed
use low intensity to mixed use
office residential, providing
directions to the city manager,
providing severability clause,
providing repealing clause and
providing an effective date.
>> mayor: very good.
thank you for your patience.
>> good evening, mr. Mayor and
commission.
my name is ari rabbinvich, thi
s
is the 800 block east universit
y
project item ld25-000143.
so the parcel seen here located
n the 800 block of east
university avenue, the current
land use designation is planned
use district and mixed use low
intensity with a proposed
designation of mixed use offic
e
residential.
the planned use district land
use designation corresponded t
o
planned ordinance which existed
to enable the restoration and
rehabilitation of the former b
ed
and breakfast use that was at
the property and allowed for
uses that were consistent with
those enabled by the former 02
general office zoning
designation.
the requested designation ofmor
e of mor
would establish a range of
allowable uses and development
consistent with the surrounding
area which is a mix of uses
including offices, residences,
retail, commercial and civic
uses.
so here's a map just showing t
he
current land uses for the
subject parcel as compared to
the surrounding area.
you see largely mor.
versus the proposed land use a
s
requested under the application
.
so looking at the surrounding
uses and land use designations
for the parcels nearby, you can
see that the majority of the --
or all of the abutting parcels
are designated mixed use offic
e
residential with existing uses
that are primarily residential
and multi-family and
single-family.
and so here is an image that
illustrates what the area looks
like.
it's a total of approximately 73
acres of land designated mor
in this area before you hit
waldo road to the east.
so this is a property that is
within an historic district.
the designation pud existed to
restore a former bed &
breakfast.
today it lies in the southeast
district and has one
contributing historic
distributing which is the
mccreary house.
the allowable uses per the pd
were those that were consistent
with the former 02 general
designation with factors like
setbacks and parking determine
d
by the requirements of that
former use category.
so regarding historic
preservation, the historic
preservation officer has
provided some comments on this
project.
she left the comment that land
uses which would allow for
additional infill that adds to
the character of the district I
s
appropriate.
additionally, any new
development that would occur
within any historic district
would be subject to review for
certificates of appropriateness
per land development code
section 30-4.28 which regulate
design and the subject
properties in the surrounding
area.
this is a land use change which
is subject to review against
the set of criteria defined by
the land development code.
we have conducted this review
and conclude that the criteria
of the code are met including
consistency with comprehensive
plan goals, policies and
objectives surrounding the
diversity of housing, retail a
nd
workplace choices encouraging a
mix of uses and discouraging
sprawl towards the periphery o
f
the city and compatibility with
scrownding land uses.
this would encourage a diverse
range ever uses consistent wit
h
what exists in the area today
and impacts on affordable
housing.
this project would enable
residential uses at the site
which is currently prohibited
under the planned development
and pud designation today.
so there may be impacts to
affordable housing in that thi
s
change would allow housing at
that site.
so with that, staff recommends
approval of ld25-000143.
we have a rezoning to follow I
f
you have any questions.
I don't know if the applicant I
s
here to speak on this item.
you can if you'd like to.
>> mayor: ocome on up,
mr. Sweger.
welcome.
>> good afternoon or evening,
mr. Mayor and commissioners.
I'm clay sweger.
glad to be here tonight.
this is a relative
administrative type of
consideration for you all
tonight.
the owners of this property
which includes the mccreary
house, one of the old victorian
homes on east university heavy
has purchased the property and
is putting significant into
revitalizing and bringing it
back to a bread of the mighty
which is very exciting.
but in the weeds on the planning
side it's an expired from the
1980s, that era of pds
doesn't have a reverter clause
so the pd expired and it doesn
't
go back to the office zoning
that it was before.
the action before you is to
address that issue on the land
use map to go to mor in the
zoning to u-4 which would allow
that bed & breakfast use.
but, of course, the analysis by
your staff was to consider all
uses in that area.
properties in essentially every
direction are u-4 for a block o
r
two, so it's very consistent
with the pattern.
this would allow that
revitalization of the historic
structure, which happy to say
that your historic preservatio
n
planner has been involved and
she's integral in the design a
nd
permitting of the improvements.
as you drive by there, you can
see them happening.
so thank you for consideration
on this.
if you have any questions for m
e
tonight, please let me know.
thank
>> mayor: very good.
thank you.
commissioner ingle.
>> so looking quickly at the
map, there's two old victorian
houses there, the mccreary
house and another one right
beside it.
>> yes, sir.
>> is this considering both of
those?
>> no, mr. Mayor.
it's just the one to the east.
>> okay.
>> the owner of the property to
the west, the other home was n
ot
interested in participating in
the application.
>> mayor: very good.
commissioner willits.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
staff, we heard this back in
october.
is there a reason why there's
such a long period between fir
st
and second reading?
>> which item did you hear bac
k
in october?
>> it said we heard the petitio
n
in october.
is that accurate?
>> is this not first reading f
or
this item?
>> this is on for first reading
.
>> mayor: this is first reading.
>> why did I just see a chart
that said we had already heard
it?
>> that may be for the sheriff's
office rezoning that's later.
>> mayor: maybe.
>> I'm looking at the wrong one
.
no, no.
maybe there's a chart
accidentally on the historic
preservation one.
if you tell me it's not, but o
n
one of those slides it says
10/ 16/25.
>> that was an error.
>> in our backup, perfect.
we are looking at different
documents.
>> sorry about that.
>> I didn't think I was --
that's why I was wondering.
but I remember we heard
somewhere in the back of my
brain, we heard something about
this.
but maybe there was conversatio
n
about what's going on and then
I
think staff said something is
coming down the pike.
>> that sounds like it could be
it, yeah.
>> perfect.
so is there -- but all three o
f
the -- well, not parcels, but
lots.
it's basically three lots in a
row.
but it's the middle and eastern
one.
>> right.
>> are we splitting up the pud
then?
are we leaving a remnant?
for the land use, that pud, is
it one pud originally that we
are then splitting and leaving?
>> so the pud that you're
referencing, I think I have som
e
images here.
I believe it counts for both o
f
these properties.
but this proposal is just to
apply to the lot, like you sai
d,
east of the other historic sit
e.
so the pud would still be in
effect for that.
>> that's the land use.
>> right.
>> that's a land use and then
even later on the zoning.
>> the pud would also still
apply to that other piece of
property.
>> even though it is kind of an
old --
>> even still, yeah.
>> all right.
it feels a little weird, but I
t
does make sense.
if everything else is mor aarou
nd it, this is just
returning potential [inaudible]
.
airbnbs have probably taken a
lot of wind out of the sail of
actual b&bs, there could be
somebody living on the site to
help the east side and downtown
have more people living there to
do everything that we want to d
o
in getting more people to live
downtown or close to downtown.
so I just want to be in support
and I'll make the motion.
>> mayor: thank you.
commissioner eastman.
>> yeah, thank you.
I mean this seems like a
no-brainer.
there's mixed use office
residential all around it.
you know, for years, the
community has been asking what'
s
going to happen with this house
.
it is a very stark house.
I believe it is on bo diddley
plaza.
it was originally in downtown,
correct?
it was originally on bo diddley
plaza.
the city had a bit of history,
eminent domain this entire
section of our downtown to
create city hall, bo diddley
plaza and what should have bee
n
a civic center from there.
it was high historic
preservation and moved it to
university avenue.
and people have been curious
what is going to happen to it.
it is a beautiful stately house
that now looks sort of ghostly
and wasn't entirely clear.
I'm glad someone wanted to ste
p
up and do something good with
it.
I'm very happy they came forwa
rd
with it.
it's a really good reminder to
everyone why we should be tryin
g
not to approve pds.
I understand there's reverters
nowadays.
we have learned some thingover
time.
what happens with planned
developments which are these
kind of costly parcels, they
just linger there.
and then the whole code changes
all around it.
and then eventually somebody is
just trying to already put in
enough time and effort to make
the house look nice and hires
eda to come and go for the pla
n
board and I think I saw july
when this first came forward.
just a lot of work for people to
go through.
so it's nice for it to just be
part of the rest of the process
as the code changes.
so I'm very happy to support I
t.
with that, I'd like to approve
ordinance number 2025-998.
>> second.
>> mayor: we have a motion and
a
second.
madam clerk, is there any public
comment?
>> there's no public comment.
>> mayor: anything either staff
or the applicant want to add t
o
the land use?
all right.
seeing no further lights, madam
clerk, please call the roll.
>> commissioner ingle.
>> aye.
>> commissioner chestnut.
>> aye.
>> commissioner duncan-walker.
>> aye.
>> commissioner book.
>> aye.
>> commissioner willits.
>> aye.
>> commissioner eastman.
>> aye.
>> mayor ward.
>> mayor: aye.
that passes unanimously.
madam clerk.
>> mr. Mayor, ordinance number
2025-997, an ordinance of the
city of gainesville, florida
amending the zoning map atlas b
y
rezoning approximately .64 acr
es
of property generally located a
t
the 800 block of east universi
ty
avenue as more specifically
described in this ordinance fro
m
planned development to urban 4
,
providing directions to the city
manager, providing severabilit
y
clause, prov providing repeali
ng
clause and providing effective
date.
>> ari rabinovich, this is the
800 block of east university
avenue.
so the requested zoning
designation is urban zoned 4
which is transect.
this is a zoning designation
that would establish a range o
f
allowable uses and allowable
development which is a mix of
uses including offices,
residences, retail, commercial
and civic uses.
so a map of the current zoning
designations which are both pd.
and the requested u4.
same set of surrounding active
uses, surrounding zoning
designations are both u4 and u
3.
and rooking at that same clust
er
of land it's about 73 acres
that are zoned either u3 or u4
in this area.
same historic considerations.
and same set of review criteri
a
that historic preservation wou
ld
conduct.
and just real quick synopsis o
f
the transect zone.
this is being -- u4 falls withi
n
the designation that consists
of
a wide range of residential
building types with the higher
numbered zones providing for t
he
integration of offices and
neighborhood services within a
n
increasingly urban fabric,
setbacks that vary and streets
with curbs and sidewalks that
define medium-sized blocks.
and the intent of the transect
zoning is to establish
development standards that
encourage a more efficient and
sustainable forum by allowing a
range of housing, employment,
shopping and recreation choices
within a compact and
pedestrian-friendly environmen
t.
comparing the u4 designation
against what was basically
applied within the pd which was
o2 back then, we see that
there's some outdated standards
for things like setbacks where
the o2 require setbacks relative
to the angle of light
obstruction.
o2 disallowed residential uses
so this request would introduce
residential uses and modernize
code requirements to meet the
design and development standards
that are set by our transect
code relating to density,
height, setback, sidewalks.
so staff are required by code t
o
review rezoning against a set o
f
criteria and have found that
this request does meet the
requirements of the land
development code.
this involves compatibility wit
h
the surrounding development, a
ny
changes to the character of the
area that warrant the requested
change and the goals, policies
and objectives of the
comprehensive plan, specificall
y
foes surrounding the
encouragement of diverse
housing, office, retail and
workplace choices as well as the
discouraging of sprawl through
infill development.
so with that, staff does
recommend approval of
ld25-000141.
thank you very much for your
time and I'm here for any
further questions.
>> mayor: very good.
thank you.
I see no questions.
mr. Sweger, did you want to
offer anything?
all right.
very good.
commissioner willits.
>> mr. Mayor, seeing as the
property is immediately across
the street and then to the two
blocks towards downtown are all
that u4, on that kind of half
block abutting the university.
it seems to make sense.
it's a little bit of corridor o
f
u4 that makes sense.
I move the city commission ado
the proposed ordinance 2025-995
quasi-judicial the 800 block
east university rezoning.
>> second.
>> mayor: is there any public
comment on this, madam clerk?
>> no public comment.
>> mayor: would you call the
roll, please.
>> commissioner chestnut.
>> aye.
>> commissioner duncan-walker.
>> aye.
>> commissioner book.
>> aye.
>> commissioner willits.
>> aye.
>> commissioner eastman.
>> aye.
>> commissioner ingle.
>> aye.
>> mayor ward.
>> mayor: aye.
that passes unanimously.
nice work.
>> mr. Mayor, ordinance number
2025-992, an ordinance of the
city of gainesville, florida
amending the future land use m
ap
of the comprehensive plan by
changing the land use category
of approximately 25.55 acres o
f
property generally located wes
t
of southwest 13th street,
south of southwest archer road,
east of southwest 16th street
and north of southwest 16th
avenue as more specifically
described in this ordinance fro
m
urban mixed use high intensity
to office, providing directions
to the city manager, providing
severability clause, providing
repealing clause and providing
an effective date.
>> mayor: very good.
welcome.
>> hello, good evening, mayor
and commissioners.
thank you for having me this
evening.
my name is allison payinger.
I'm a in the department of
sustainable development.
u.f. South campus will consist
of two applications, one for t
he
land use that is legislative a
nd
one for the map change which I
s
quasi-judicial.
this presentation is
specifically for the land use
amendment identified by petitio
n
number.
the applicant is in attendance
and will have a presentation
after the conclusion of staff's
presentation.
this petition is for three
subject parcels equaling in
total approximately 25.55 acres
.
for the record identified as
parcels 1548200000145490000 and
154-60-0000.
the three parcels are south of
the university of florida xuts
and bounded by archer road,
southwest 16th ave.
southwest 13th street and
southwest 16th street.
the current land use category I
s
umuh urban mixed use high
intensity.
the proposed change is for
office.
the subject parcels are
currently developed.
this area is referred to as u.f
.
healthsouth campus.
please note that the three
parcels are not within the u.f
.
campus development agreement
this.
however it is part of the u.f.
master plan and largely part o
f
the u.f. Health shands complex.
the parcels are currently home
to u.f. Health heart and
vascular hospital and u.f.
health shands, and trauma
center.
the purpose of the request is I
n
two parts.
to have the property be
consistent in land use and
zoning designation with other
hospital complexes throughout
the city.
and to bring the existing
hospital facility structures
into conformance and provide
land use and zoning that is
needed for any future
redevelopment and site
improvements as needed.
for additional context, this
area of the city was part of t
he
form-based city initiated land
use change and rezoning efforts
in 2017 with transect zoning.
in this case, it was near the
u.f. Campus in the periphery o
f
downtown.
and the next few slides are jus
t
going to provide some context to
the area before we get into the
criteria of the land use chang
e.
so this is an overhead imagery
showing the area and the
structures.
hihere is showing the u.f. Cam
pus
master plan agreement.
so it's outside of it, but it I
s
directly north of the parcels.
here is just a quick location
map for reference.
so north of the subject area I
s
archer road and then the main
u.f. Health shands facilities.
south is southwest 16th ave
and kind of a mixture of
apartments and restaurants,
office uses.
east is southwest 13th street
and then some multi-family and
restaurant uses.
and west of the subject area I
s
southwest 16th street and then
additional medical facilities
and the v.a. Hospital.
this is just a summary of those,
of what was just described.
and just to kind of give a
visual, so this would be if you we
were on archer road where it
intersects with southwest 16th
street looking towards southwest
13th.
so like the grass and trees
area, that's like the v.a. Are
a.
and then you're staring directly
at the emergency room building.
just to kind of show how large
this area is.
this is at the intersection of
southwest 16th ave and
southwest 13th street looking
at northwest at the u.f.
healthsouth campus and seeing
the majority of the structures.
and lastly, if you are on
southwest 13th street looking
towards archer road which is
past the dna bridge, the trees
on the left are the smaller
parcels that are part of this.
and then just a quick recap of
the petition timeline, so there
was a pre-application meeting,
a
neighborhood workshop, the cit
y
staff review and then it went
before the plan board on
september 18th.
now it's before you today for
the first reading.
and this is just a quick recap
of all the public notice for
those meetings being held
including the neighborhood
workshop.
the plan board meeting and the
city commission meeting
including property signs,
postcards and the newspaper ads
.
so this petition was reviewed
using the criteria outlined in
section 30-3.13 of the land
development code and
corresponding sections of the
comp plan for the city of
gainesville.
the criteria shown on this sli
de
are explored in more detail in
the backup and staff report.
I just have a few quick points
I
wanted to expand on.
just to recap, the proposed
changes to go from umuh to o f
or
office, to hit on redevelopment,
the site is already developed
and has established
streetscapes, multimodal forms
of transportation, vehicular a
nd
pedestrian circulation and
building frontage.
any future development would
retain the pattern per the
submittal by the applicant but
would still be held to office
and the proposed md zoning if
approved in the companion
application.
for compatibility, on this map,
w
we can see directly to the wes
t
where the v.a. Hospital is, tha
t
has the office land use.
so this would let it extend on
to the u.f. Health south campu
s.
on that compatibility, here is
a
table showing other hospital
complex properties in the city
just to kind of show how those
have similar land use and zonin
g
districts of what the purpose o
f
this application is for to have
consistency in that.
so a couple are listed here,
including like north florida,
the v.a. Hospital, hca archer,
showing they also have that
office land use designation.
and with the companion rezoning
application, the medical
services.
and then to touch on conformance
with the land use categories,
this is just a brief summary o
f
some of the differences between
the current land use category
and the proposed one.
this is taken from the future
land use element of the
comprehensive plan.
policy.
so when comparing them with
highlight, umuh which is the
current one has a six-story
maximum, eight stories with
bonus.
office has a five-story maximum
and then it also has the
addition of specifically for
large scale medical facilities
that are located in medical
services zoning, they can go u
p
to 14 stories but they have to
have a special use permit whic
h
is a special review process.
those also go before the city
plan board.
just something to keep in m
with that.
and in addition, this petition
specifically is just for the
land use but I did want to
provide context that the next
petition will be for the zonin
g.
per our land development code
and comprehensive plan, the onl
y
future land use category that
allows for the proposed medical
services zoning is the office
land use.
so just important to keep in
mind for compatibility purpose
s.
and my last point on this is t
he
office land use in our
comprehensive plan does
highlight that it is for like
hospital uses, as one of the
parts that it's for.
in addition to that, the
specific use of hospital is onl
y
permitted in that medical
services zoning which is only
allowed in the office land use
.
so just to connect all the dot
s
on that.
this was just a broader map to
use if needed.
and that brings us to the end,
so based on the review of this
criteria, staff recommends
approval of this petition.
and the city plan board on
december 18th, 2025 voted 6-0
to recommend approval of
petition ld 25-000104 as well.
we are available for any
questions.
and the applicant also has a
presentation.
>> mayor: okay.
>> thank you.
>> mayor: thank you.
the applicant want to come up
and walk us through it?
>> good evening, mr. Mayor,
commissioners.
ryan thompson, mv5, the agency
agent for the applicant.
essentially we're here to allow
this property to develop like
all of their hospital campuses
in the city of gainesville.
when the city went through the
transect zone it was the u9.
the previous zoning district
standards, there's a concern
that there may be some
conformance challenges with th
e
property.
and we just want to make sure
that none of that is the case.
then we also want to maximize
the opportunities on this site
for u.f. Health and our
community.
the first application is -- and
by the way, I do have a combine
d
presentation if that's okay wit
h
this commission.
okay.
the first application is for
comprehensive plan amendment
from umuh to office.
and a rezoning from u9 to
medical services.
and again, we're just looking
for what all other hospital
campuses have within the city o
f
gainesville.
we did properly notice the
public for our neighborhood
workshop.
we had four attendees,
discussions about the zoning
change and what is most
appropriate for this site given
the context of development
that's already occurred.
we have followed the city's
process for small scale
comprehensive plan amendment a
nd
rezoning applications.
the justification for the
request, there's multiple point
s
here that should be made.
one that's not on here is the
demand for hospital beds is
going up as our population age
s.
and they desire -- and industry
trends that are going towards
single occupancy rooms.
so the amount of square footag
e
in the facilities that u.f.
health has currently will reduc
e
the number of people that they
will be able to treat, switching
from multiple occupant rooms t
o
single occupant rooms.
and they are obviously
constrained in their capacity
with their existing facilities.
the south campus is
substantially built and site
constrained.
redevelopment on this site nee
ds
to occur vertically.
and on site hospitals were
permitted under umu2 standards
as I mentioned before.
and this is the only hospita
campus in the city of
gainesville that does not have
the offic land use designation
of medical services district.
and the md zoning district was
specifically intended for these
types of facilities.
this is a context map of the
site.
I will work through these
quickly due to staff's thorough
presentation.
we're bound to the north by
archer road and to the east by
13th street.
and immediately south of the
university of florida main
campus.
it's effectively an extension o
f
u.f. Health facilities there.
this is a close-up of the site.
again, the adjacent roadways.
u.f. Health shands to the north
,
the v.a. Hospital which has the
office land use and medical
services zoning to the west.
and typically, apartments or
auto-oriented retail type uses
to the east and to the south.
we did a little bit of site
assessment on the property.
there are two primary areas tha
t
would develop on this site.
there's a surface parking lot
along 16th to the west and
then a surface parking lot and
one story building along 13th
street.
you can see that this site is
substantially developed.
it's already established.
the frontage and streetscape
along archer road and 13th
street and redevelopment on the
site would continue in that
pattern.
there is substantial pedestria
n
facilities enter into the site
with wide sidewalks, some of
which are even covered and
amenities around the stormwate
r
ponds as well.
u.f. Health has done a
conceptual master plan as
identified these two areas for
development.
this is the existing land use of
the property.
it's umuh high as described in
the comprehensive plan.
it's aligned with multi-family
and commercial uses which
typically abut the university of
florida except in this case.
and the proposed is office whi
ch
is specifically allows hospita
ls
and medical uses.
the existing zoning is u9 which
is characterized in the land
development code for high
density residential and
commercial uses.
and the proposed md zoning
district is the only zoning
district specific for hospitals
.
and it's consistent with all
others in the city.
this is a step back from that
zoning map.
you can see that there are
medical facilities including t
he
v.a. Hospital that are along
this segment of archer road tha
t
share our requested land use a
nd
zoning.
and then looking at the other
facilities, we have north
florida to the north.
we have the v.a. Hospital to o
ur
west.
and we have the new hca facilit
y
on archer road and I-75 all
sharing the office land use and
md zoning.
staff has reviewed the
applications and found them
consistent with the
comprehensive plan.
this, in fact, would discourag
e
urban sprawl being that bewould
redevelop an infill and focus o
n
maximizing this campus.
and staff has also found the
code compliant -- or the
application compliant with the
land development code.
staff has recommended approval
for both the small scale
comprehensive plan amendment a
nd
rezoning applications.
and the city plan board
unanimously recommended approva
l
in december.
so with that, I'm happy to
answer any questions.
I hope I didn't belabor it too
much.
I know staff's presentation was
very thorough.
thank you very much.
>> mayor: thank you.
all right.
commissioner willits.
>> some quick questions for
staff.
would changing this land use -
-
and I guess potentially the
zoning.
I have a couple of specific --
>> mayor: hold on a second.
>> broadcast, we have a screen
that shows we are in recess.
>> the broadcast light is still
on.
>> mayor: yes.
we just need confirmation that
we are definitely broadcasting.
>> there's a thumb's up back
there.
>> I saw the light on.
>> mayor: all right.
if we're comfortable that we
have a thumb's up, go ahead.
>> sorry.
so the changing this to the
office, potential redevelopment
,
would this require -- the answe
r
is probably both the current a
nd
the proposed.
putting an additional sidewalk
on southwest 14th street on
the east side of that?
because right now there's one o
n
the west side closer to hotel
ellio.
but in the undeveloped one,
single story building and
parking lot, there's not a
sidewalk on that side.
I would assume both of these
zonings if redeveloped, they
would have to build a sidewalk
internal to the whole project
but along 14th street.
>> yeah, potentially.
it would come down to the land
development review and the sta
ff
analysis of that.
we'd work with transportation
and evaluate the code
requirements to verify like wh
at
is needed based on the scale a
nd
intensity of what is proposed
for redevelopment.
>> everything that was already
there under the current, you
know, development, there's a
sidewalk on every street
fronting face I believe
almost -- besides a little pie
ce
of 14th ave does not have a
sidewalk next to it.
so I just wondered what will
force -- will that force chang
es
on the opposite side.
so this -- why did we move it t
o
this?
well, we moved to transect
zones.
why that parcel?
how did it kind of get there
instead of being -- I know
decades ago or not that long
ago, there was an old hotel on
the site, which is much more a
n
ofurban use than office.
>> yes.
from my understanding from the
research for this staff report,
we looked back so prior to 2017
it was the umu-2.
and in 2017 when the transect
zoning and associated land use
categories were implemented,
with the comprehensive plan, t
he
umuh written in that category I
s
to use it for research and
development along the periphery
of u.f. Campus along the east
and west.
and I think that's where it ki
nd
of fell looking that way in
terms of the analysis of where
the campus was.
so I think that's why it was
rezoned that way.
that's what we found in the
analysis.
>> mayor: that rezoning, did I
t
happen in between the building
of the cancer center and the
heart and vascular hvn?
I'm trying to remember the
order.
I'm trying to remember when th
at
was done?
are they eight story hospitals
and this opens up to a 14 story
?
>> I'm dial trying to remember.
the built environment is
determined by the rules.
>> certainly, mr. Mayor, thank
you.
so the cancer hospital and the
13th garage were in 2009.
the hvn hospital was --
>> it was before that.
>> they were both under the umu
2 standards.
>> and now looking to the next.
>> mr. Mayor, if I may opine o
n
your previous question.
certainly, they would put
sidewalks there when that
portion of the site is
redeveloped regardless of what
the uldc or land development
code requires.
>> I was wondering because
southwest 14th ave swimming
pools to 14th street doesn't
have sidewalks.
as someone who has walked that
site many, many times as it's
between work and home, it is
frustrating there is not a
sidewalk on southwest 14th.
I understand maybe that's not
where you want people to walk
because that's where the
ambulances are coming in and
out.
but the truth is, you know --
>> I understand.
>> people would prefer to walk
through the middle of a
beautiful campus than down on
some of the arterial roads.
>> certainly.
>> that's why I asked about the
internal because I know I use I
t
to cut through.
it's very pleasant.
fountains and ponds and ducks o
r
whatever.
>> certainly.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> and then so I think that's
it.
this could potentially be a muc
h
larger tower on that southeast
corner.
like it could be a 14 story
hospital or support office for
a
hospital in the future.
>> yes.
and just as confirmation, with
the office land use if approve
d,
they would have to apply for a
special use permit.
that would have to go through
staff review.
there would be public engagemen
t
associated with that, a
neighborhood workshop.
and it would go before the cit
y
plan board.
>> but not before the city
commission because special use
permits are only done --
>> correct, yeah.
>> through the plan board.
well, this all makes sense.
I did see when the sign got
stakeholder and asked city sta
ff
so I got a little head's up
about some of this internal.
I'm glad some members of the
public went to the meeting at
least through zoom or teams.
it is a little weird, but it
does make sense that if office
is more appropriate, like the
other ones.
do you know this personally in
your district?
>> uh-huh.
>> that very little corner.
I don't think they are going t
o
build anything on it.
on my corner, they might.
with that, I would like to mov
e
adoption of 2025-992, u.f.
health south campus land use
change.
>> second.
>> mayor: motion and second.
commissioner -- excuse me,
mr. Manager.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
mr. Thompson answered the
question.
I think I wrote the staff repor
t
back in the day but mr. Thompso
n
answered it.
>> mayor: commissioner eastman.
>> you answered a lot of my
questions.
I was confused similarly why we
would be going down in intense
to medical.
first it says here in permitted
use, hospital not listed.
health services permitted.
I was looking through our code.
is a hospital considered health
services because it's two
different sections of our code.
>> yeah.
that's a great question that w
e
looked into as well.
so for context, urban 9, the
current zoning district allows
for health services.
health services in our land
development code is defined as
establishments primarily engag
ed
in furnishing medical, surgical
and other health services to
persons and pets.
hospitals specifically does no
t
have a definition in our
definition section.
medical services is the only
zoning district that allows by
right the hospital use.
we differentiate the two uses
when it comes down to intensity
mostly.
so we consider like hospitals t
o
have a higher intensity in ter
ms
of use, size, types of health
services that they are offering.
especially when we start
considering like number of bed
s
and patient/outpatient hours o
f
service.
so we mainly scale it down to
intensity for what that
difference is.
>> okay.
because I mean one of the
benefits of u9 is when you hav
e
that flexibility of uses, you d
o
things like you can build a
hotel.
if you are in that zoning
district, hotel ellio, would
that be considered conforming
under the new zoning district?
>> yes.
hotel is also permitted in the
md zoning district.
>> then I guess md is more
flexibility than the title may
suggest.
I'm comfortable with it.
it makes sense.
yeah, those are my questions.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: thank you.
madam clerk, there any public
comment on this?
>> there is no public comment,
mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: I so he no further
lights, let's call the roll.
>> commissioner duncan-walker.
>> aye.
>> commissioner book.
>> aye.
>> commissioner willits.
>> aye.
>> commissioner eastman.
>> aye.
>> commissioner ingle.
>> aye.
>> commissioner chestnut.
>> aye.
>> mayor ward.
>> mayor: aye.
that passes unanimously.
madam clerk, before we go on, I
don't want to let this pass
without mentions this when you
look at the map of the 10 bloc
ks
between basically southwest
23rd street to southwest
13th street along archer road
and southwest 16th avenue, it
repeating that this is
among the most, ifot the most
dense employment area.
it probably in florida, maybe
throughout the southeast
consistently because it is
almost all 24/7 employment.
and it includes everything fro
m,
you know, world-class medical
college to to the associated
hospitals with that and all the
offices that support u.f. Healt
h
throughout and the largest v.a
.
hospital headquarters.
all that is something you don't
encounter in most communities.
we take it for granted but
should not take it for granted
,
not only for the jobs, the ver
y
good jobs that it provides
throughout that sector, but the
opportunity for people to come
and be healed in our community
in a way that other communities
are envious of.
it's important when we have any
opportunity to repeat all that,
so that we don't ever forget I
t.
it's something we should walk
out of here feeling pretty dar
n
good about.
madam clerk.
[inaudible]
>> mayor: that's the theory.
[laughter]
>> mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: yes, we are very
grateful for that. >>
>> we are very grateful.
mr. Mayor, we are on to
ordinance number 2025-993, an
ordinance of the city of
gainesville, florida amending
the zoning map atlas by rezoning
approximately 25.55 acres of
property generally located wes
t
of southwest 13th street,
south of southwest archer road,
east of southwest 16th street
and north of southwest 16th
avenue as more specifically
described in this ordinance fro
m
urban 9 to medical services
providing directions, providing
severability clause, providing
repealing clause and providing
an effective date.
>> mayor: welcome back.
>> thank you.
good evening again.
allison pedder, to preface in
this presentation will be
identical to the previous item
so I'll skip past those and
briefly summarize them.
feel free to stop me if you'd
like me to go more in-depth.
so for the record, this is the
presentation before you now for
the zoning map change which is
quasi-judicial for petition
number ld 25-000106 for u.f.
health south campus.
for this request, the current
zoning designation is urban 9
and the proposed change
requested is for medical
services md.
but nothing has changed in the
m.
this petition was reviewed usi
ng
the criteria outlined in secti
on
30-3.14 of the land development
code and the corresponding
sections of the comprehensive
plan for the city of
gainesville.
the criteria shown on this sli
de
are explored in the backup and
staff report.
I have a couple of quick point
s
I wanted to expand in more
detail.
so this proposal is to change
from urban 9 which is a transec
t
zone to medical services which
is one of the special zoning
districts.
and then as a quick reminder a
nd
recap with the last item being
approved for the change in lan
d
use to office, our land
development code and
comprehensive plan do state tha
t
the only future land use
category that allows for the m
d
zoning is office.
and some other things to keep I
n
mind in terms of permitted use
s,
the use of hospitals only
permitted in medical services
md.
this is a reminder of the
compatibility element of this t
o
bring it into consistency with
the other hospital campuses see
n
around the city that also have
that md zoning.
and this is just a quick
comparison table of the two
zoning districts.
so u9 which is a transect zone
and medical services which is a
special district, a lot of the
se
have already been kind of talked ab
about but the main ones being
the permitted uses, the height.
just a quick glance over that
with the special district
medical services, it's five
stories by right, 14 with a
special use permit for those
larger medical facilities.
other than that, medical
services is a special district
hathat has its own section.
and this is just a broader map
showing the zoning of the area.
and lastly, based on the revie
w
of this criteria, staff
recommends approval of petition
ld 25-000106 and the city plan
board on december 18th of 2025
voted 6-0 to recommend approva
l
of the petition as well.
we are available for questions
and mv5 is also here.
>> mayor: would the applicant
like to add anything to this?
>> not other than having my
presentation from the previous
item reflected in the record.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: absolutely, yes.
thank you.
commissioner ingle.
>> move staff recommendation o
f
2025-993.
>> second.
>> mayor: motion and second.
and commissioner book.
>> yeah, thank you.
this is precisely the type of
presentation that helps us be
prepared to make something lik
e
this. The
the nuances of something like a
health use versus a hospital an
d
the fact that it has different
densities in the same area and
really doesn't change the
overall character of the area I
s
very helpful for this.
so this is very, very good
preparation by staff.
and this was a really -- I
didn't even know why this was
coming before us.
seemed like I would have thoug
ht
that this was a use that could
have been done in that area, b
ut
for the fact that we have very,
very precise land use and zonin
g
standards.
I appreciate staff in this
particular case and support the
motion.
>> mayor: commissioner willits
.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor. Yo
you know, it's like -- it feels
like a small change but in
essence it is also saying
there's less land.
we have just dezoned a chunk of
land that could be --
[inaudible] if u.f. Said let's
build a dorm for nursing
students and now 20 per acre, w
e
do remove some -- the changes
aren't completely minimal.
it does change with the future.
but I think this is more in line
with what u.f. Health is looki
ng
at.
people can't say we never do
anything for u.f. Health.
like this is, you know, a help
for them to build that.
and I just want to also give
thanks to ms. Pager.
I'm glad you're the person here
to do all the research to answe
my questions.
thank you.
>> happy to help.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner willits.
commissioner eastman.
>> thank you.
since I got on my soapbox last
time about pds when making the
change, another thing that is on
that staff looking at that
spreadsheet of all the work th
at
you guys are doing is to look a
t
our allowed use tables.
I have not asked this directly
but I'm guessing the differenc
e
between medical services and
hospitals is the main purpose o
f
this changeover. And
and well, regardless, I think it
is important that we have that,
you know, if there are
allowances that make sense
within certain zoning districts
that we simply make those
updates, we might not have tak
en
a different look since we made
transects.
now we have lots of time and
experience under our belt as t
o
what makes sense where and wha
t
applicants are coming and askin
g
us for.
I'm looking forward to getting
that back whenever the plan
board gets done with that.
I think it's well overdue to
take a second set of eyes.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner eastman.
is there any public comment,
madam clerk?
>> no public comment.
>> mayor: let's call the roll.
>> commissioner book.
>> aye.
>> commissioner willits.
>> aye.
>> commissioner eastman.
>> aye.
>> commissioner ingle.
>> aye.
>> commissioner chestnut.
>> aye.
>> commissioner duncan-walker.
>> aye.
>> mayor ward.
>> mayor: aye. That
that passes unanimously.
madam clerk.
>> mr. Mayor, we are on to
ordinance number 2025-994, an
ordinance of the city of
gainesville, florida amending
the future land use map of the
comprehensive plan by changing
the land use category of
approximately 1.38 acres of
property generally located at
the 1200 block of northeast
8th avenue as more
specifically described in this
ordinance from mixed use
office/residential to urban
mixed use.
providing directions to the cit
y
manager, providing a
severability clause, providing
a
repealing clause and providing
an effective date.
>> mayor: very good.
commissioner chestnut.
>> thank you.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
I will be abstaining on this
vote on ordinance number
2025-994 as well as ordinance
number 2025-995.
I have a conflict of interest,
both forms have been filed wit
h
the clerk's office.
>> mayor: very good.
thank you, commissioner
chestnut.
mr. Chen.
>> thank you.
good evening, mayor and
commissioners.
nathan iel chen.
this is the chestnut northeast
8th avenue land use change.
so this is the 1200 block of
northeast 8th avenue with
those four parcels listed.
the existing land use and zonin
g
district allow for mixed use
development.
so it is currently mixed use
office residential or mor and
currently urban 4 or u4 zoning.
as I said, it allows
it is bounded on four sides by
streets, so northeast 8th avenu
e
to the north.
northeast 12th street, northea
st
place to the south, and
northeast to the east.
as I said, it's the 1200 block
of northeast 8th avenue.
approximately 1.38 acres, and
the proposed land use and zonin
g
is mixed use and urban 6.
the site is currently vacant.
here's the subject property on
northeast 8th avenue.
as I said, charles chestnut iii
avenue.
the subject property is in
orange, and the surrounding
developments are called out in
blue.
mainly of course the 8th and
waldo road, located within
walking distance of the subject
property.
and that of course proposes
reutilization of the site,
including improved facilities
and other improvements, and also
note I wanted to point out tha
t
the city-approved rezoning
petitions of this office complex
on the southwest corner of wal
do
and northeast 8th avenue.
that was removing old pud and
going to mixed use, which is
proposed on this site as well.
mixed use office residential f
or
the blue and outlined in orang
e.
the mixed use exists o to the
east of the site.
to the north is of course
citizen's field, and the army
reserve parcel that has public
facilities, pf future land use
,
and to the west is more mixed
use residential use.
and the proposed future use is
urban mixed use.
just comparing a little bit
between the descriptions in the
comprehensive plan for urban
mixed use and the mixed use
office residential category.
here is the mixed use office
residential description.
allowing for more development.
you'll see in the re-zoning
petition, the u6 zoning allows
up to 50 units per acre, which
is requested for the rezoning.
for height, mixed use is limit
ed
to three stories max yum, and
urban mixed use allows four
stories by rate, and five if
granted with a high bonus for
affordable housing or other
bonuses.
here's the description for urb
an
mixed use.
as I said, up to 60 units per
acre.
allows for residential office
retail, essentially more
commercial uses at the site wit
h
urban mixed use.
mor compatibility buffers or
land-use buffers, that identify
minimum requirements for the
separation of land uses, so the
table is read with the a-- or
the subject property on the lef
t
x then the abutting property o
n
the top, so, you'll see that
with the subject property, if I
t
were to be changed to urban
mixed use and the abutting
property having mixed-use
residential, a type-a buffer
would be applied to the
remaining portion.
currently, of course, no come
bability buffers are required
because the whole block is mix
ed
use residential, but with this
change a type a buffer would b
e
applied, and I'm showing some o
f
the detailed language for what
the buffer would entail, which
includes landscaping, shade
trees and an additional
distance, if you will.
staff reviewed and pound it
meets the criteria for future
land use change outlined in the
comprehensive plan, and of the
land development code.
it allows a mix of uses and
supports infill and
redevelopment of the vacant
site.
it is a site that's well
connected to existing facilitie
s
and services, including
sidewalks on both sides o
northeast 8th avenue, and land uses --
mixed use and mixed use office
residential.
[indistinct] there are no
significant environmental
resources or wetlands on the
property as well.
more details on the petition
meeting review criteria found I
n
the staff report.
staff recommends based on the
analysis that we recommend
approval of the petition
ld25-000124, the chestnut ne 8t
h land use change, and at
the city plan board meeting, t
he
plan board recommended approval
of the petition.
the applicant is here and has a
presentation if you'd like, but
I'm here to answer any
questions.
>> mayor: very good, thank
you.
would the applicant want to giv
e
us a presentation?
>> good evening, mr. Mayor, and
commissioners.
I'm clay swayinger representin
g
the property tonight.
I'd like to make com comments a
bout
the land use and zoning, and
answer questions you may have.
this is obviously an area of a
lot of interest.
I was with you in the other room
this afternoon, but it's an
exciting area, and it's an are
a
where revitalization and
investment is a city priority.
see the chestnut family's owned
this property for quite some
time, and we have been engaged
to bring to the city a land-use
map change from mor to umu, and
the change from zoning from u4
to u6.
it's sort of a step up on the
ladder.
this is very consistent with t
he
approval by the commission for
the, what's commonly known as
the former jones edmonds
property.
I'm not sure if the guys in the
back could put this overhead o
n.
I think this helps describe the
area a little bit better.
it's about 1.4 acres in size
outlined in red, so in this are
a
you have jones edmonds property,
changed to umu and u6.
you have city properties to the
north.
the armory, east end eatery, t
he
firefighter union, baptist
church west, and a mix of
residential use to the south.
you have a lot of different
mixed uses.
the properties to the north mul
,
that's one of the older
designations and the zoning tha
t
is mu1, and so obviously back I
n
2017 the city approved the
zonings for properties around
town.
u4 was placed on the property
with the land use designation.
this used to be an mu1 property
and mul property.
some of the older ant ain't ant
iquated
designations.
the owner held back on that
idea.
that was a permitted use for
decades on this property.
the u4 and mor does not allow
that permitted use.
that's something that the
property owner is considering,
just wanted to mention sort of
a
little history and why we're here.
here.
there's a reason why someone's
here before you.
all this area has been chartered
out for a mix of uses for highe
r
density, so we feel like this
increase and change would be
appropriate with the land use
map that you have on the books
,
along with its location along
collector city treat.
so I feel it's very compatible
with that pattern.
as far as building height, lan
d
use and zoning would allow
three-story buildings.
this would allow four-story
buildings by right.
we did hold a neighborhood
workshop in the fall.
we had one community attendee,
and they did not have any
objection to the application.
we sent out notification to the
nearby property owners and the
notification radius, along wit
h
registered neighborhood
associations.
you're plan back in december
recommended approval unanimously
of the change, and your staff I
s
recommending approval.
I preernght that.
I -- I appreciate that.
we've got something put together
that will benefit the community,
benefit the property, and
hopefully bring something
positive to area and continue t
o
build on that momentum.
so, I think with that, I'll
conclude and answer any
questions y'all have tonight.
>> mayor: thank you.
all right!
any questions?
any comments?
is there any public comment?
>> yes, mr. Mayor.
first, we have petria davis.
>> mayor: welcome.
>> good afternoon, mayor, and
commissioners.
I live 30 feet from the parcel
being considered for the futur
e
land use changed from 4 unit p
er
acre to 6 unit per acre.
I am here today to respectfull
y
oppose this change.
increasing the k density open t
he
development far more intense
than currently exists in our
neighborhood.
although the request is tied t
o
a funeral home, this could wou
ld
allow much larger structure,
including the possibility of a
multi-story building extremely
close to my home that would
significantly affect my privacy
,
sunlight, and overall quality of
life.
this area is a family-oriented
neighborhood.
we have children under the age
of 10 who regularly play
outside, riding bicycle, playi
ng
basketball, and kicking soccer
balls in the yard.
introducing a commercial-scale
facility with increased traffic
and frequent visitation would
create safety risks for these
children who use the street and
surrounding area daily.
a funeral home will also be
additional vehicle trips,
deliveries of peak time
congestion within a short time
conflict of our home.
beyond safety, placing a
commercial building so close t
o
my property would negatively
impact my home expral primarily
change the character of the
neighborhood.
for these reasons I respectfull
y
ask you not to approve the land
use change from 4 units to 6
units.
thank you for your time and
consideration.
>> thank you.
>> sharon bower.
>> I have a graphic I'd like t
o
project.
this shows not the zoning, but
the actual land use.
here are the chestnut propertie
s
here.
[indistinct] it's surrounded b
y
all sides by residential, singl
e
family and duplexes.
most of them, or many of them
like 40 feet away.
after december 18th plan board
meeting, our neighborhood
association northeast neighbors
asked why the chestnut familie
s
needed to use 6 zoning instead
of the current 3, and 50 acres
instead of 20 for their
northeast avenue property.
what they were planning that
they couldn't do under the
current zoning.
we got no answer.
then we saw the table of
permitted uses in the code of
ordinances and saw that a
funeral home, which a sign on
the site had announced isn't
allowed in the u4, even with a
special-use permit.
it would be allowed by right I
n
the proposed u6.
now that the land use is being
used to 20 units per acre to
urban mixed use, 50 units with
a
possible 50% density bonus for
things like tree preservation
and an extra two stories for
landscaping and pedestrian
access.
instead of the two units and
three stories allowed, there
would be 90 units -- there cou
ld
be 90 units and seven stories.
the chestnut property's next a
church on northeast 8th avenue,
and it's surrounded on three
side by residences, 14
single-family homes, and three
duplexes.
the people most likely to suffe
r
the most negative impact on
their property values, if a
funeral home or a seven-story,
90-unit apartment building is
built, or the owners of the
single-family homes that were
built in 200 #9 by the housing
and neighborhood corporation.
the only one that has changed
hands was sold in 2024.
I'm sure that you if you lived
in a residential neighborhood,
just single family and d duple
xes,
would you not be happy having a
funeral home there.
that is why we are requesting
that you delay action on this
and hold a neighborhood
workshop.
there's been some confusion.
people didn't understand the
implications and the postcard
they got about today said it
would be voted on as early as
10:00 a.m., so people thought
they were supposed to come thi
s
morning and they couldn't,
because they're working, so
please, please listen to the
people in this neighborhood
because this is going -- you
would not want this across the
street from you.
>> that was our last speaker,
mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: commissioner book.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
such an interesting avenue
because we have so many
components going on, we
discussed it today.
we talking about mlk and the
citizen's field.
the way we develop the roadway
and the resurfacing, and land
use and zoning right in there.
I wish sometimes we were able t
o
consider them all together, and
it's very difficult to do that
because one piece holds up
another piece, and there's a lot
of dominoes in that regard.
I had a couple questions.
this is probably for city staff
,
but in driving down the
ne 8th avenue and looking at t
he
map there are two large parcels,
and it does not affect the
second parcel, and they're
identical.
this is one parcel that's about
1.5 acres plus.
is that right?
>> that's right.
so, there's four parcels in
consideration for the future
land use change in the rezoning.
I'll go back to the map that
shows the parcels, but
generally, it's considered --
there's three parcels actually,
sort of fronting northeast
8th avenue.
>> so the land use clang in this
particular case, as it's
currently situated, could not
have a funeral home and has to
change if that was a potential
use that the applicant was
interested in.
>> that's correct.
so with the current urban 4
district does not allow funeral
homes by right.
it's not a permitted use in u4.
the u6 zoning district does I
law for funeral homes.
>> my last question is more jus
t
a comment.
we talked about engagement.
there's always a big differenc
e
between engagement in the
business area because there's
not a lot of homes around there
.
so the people we get more
feedback in are more intereste
d
in the commercial enterprise,
but the northeast 8th avenue h
as
residents all the way down fro
m
really from here all the way t
o
horizon and to our school there
.
so always want to make sure we
have a really good feedback fro
m
the folks who are most impacte
d.
we had one person attend the
feedback.
we talked about having
engagement related to the
roadway.
I don't want to complicate
things.
it's always good to have that
type of engagement, as far as
people impacted, and this abuts
business and single family.
that's just my comment.
thank you for the work.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: thank you.
commission willis?
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
so this is -- I'm a little
shocked that a funeral home is
not allowed in u4 but allowed I
n
u6.
I would imagine funeral home I
s
almost a very suburban-ish in
nature.
it is not really urban use, in
my mind.
so why is it -- can you chart a
little bit more -- that's later
.
I'll wait for my zoning until
the actual zoning.
so I know that there was
reference that we did change t
he
land use of some of the parcels
or I think a couple of the
parcels in the very far
northeast of this intersection
with waldo and 8th very
recently, but this does feel a
little bit like putting the
carpet before the horse.
everything next door is zoned,
but it's also a big, huge,
mostly vacant parcels, right, t
o
the east right now.
largely vacant?
>> to the east, I believe -- I
can't speak to the current
status of whether they're --
whether they're in use actively
or not, but you're correct tha
t
the land use and zoning did
change from a pud over to the
zones on that corner.
>> I'm sure if the future, to
commissioner book's point, whe
n
we're looking at 8th avenue,
we're looking at some traffic
numbers.
it's not nearly as much as one
of the other sections, but all
of that corner, outside of wha
t
we're talking about today.
if all that developed in a way
that would perhaps have more
housing or commerce or mix, muc
h
more intense, that would chang
e some of
some of the traffic on 8th.
so, I understand this is right
next to it, which that's kind o
f
that sequential.
we did one of these up on
northwest 16th, I believe,
behind the cvs, just one small
parcel, and we barely increased
the
the intensity, and that was
quite a conversation.
that was right next to something
that had been zoned for decades
,
at least two decades, and just
the one next parcel, about hal
f
an acre.
so, seems -- it makes sense if
you're talking about developing
the whole corner, but, I
appreciate that the larger map
that mr. Swageer shows, where I
t
transitions to -- if we could
show that, broadcast that
overhead.
we are the oldest single famil
y
is on the farther west and sou
th
side.
the section, the middle that I
s
mixed office resident -- mor I
s
not -- mixed use office
residential.
that's where it lies.
this helps give me a little mor
e
context for it.
seems like it's a little -- I
would wait until the other
properties got developed to see
what the demand is in the area
for land use because that mixed
op is clearly we're allowed to
have single family in the mixed
use office residential?
>> in urban 4 and urban 6 do
allow dominate.
>> in the mixed use office,
that's why we have some of the
homes in southeast 12th street
.
that's all I got for now.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner willis.
would anyone like to make a
motion?
commissioner book.
>> I'd like to ask one more
question.
this is really for the city
manager.
I hate to complicate things.
is there any benefit in us not
kicking the can down the road,
but getting the same feedback
we're about to get from probabl
y
a lot of people for that
corridor because this is the
exact same stretch of road we're
about to get feedback on befor
e
or from your perspective,
mr. Manager -- [indistinct] two
very different situations, but
they're in the same geography.
>> mr. Mayor, I would say that
really kind of separate, two
separate issues.
I did also kind of want to
clarify one, somewhat wonky
aspect, of the discussion about
the allowance for a funeral
home.
urban 4 zoning in the list of
permitted uses allows for
personal services, which that
definition includes funeral
homes, so actually that urban 4
does allow funeral homes, just
not specific called-out use.
it's a little bit in the weeds
.
not something that jumps out
unless you're reading through
definition.
>> so why do we need the land
use change?
>> -- [indistinct] #
>> mayor: ms. Bower -- you had
your opportunities.
>> the question was important
since you brought it up.
why do we need the land use
change?
>> I'll take a swipe at it.
>> the manager's correct in tha
t
embedded in the definition
personal services, but then
there's the use table that
doesn't have funeral home as a
permitted use in u4, so there's
conflicted information.
so, I'll let the city planning
director say more, but that was
the response I wanted to give t
o
you all.
>> good evening.
thank you all.
director of sustainable
development.
the u6 designation also include
s
crematory, which is an important
adoition that funeral home and
the personal services definitio
n
there.
>> so really largely that u6 I
s
again additional options or
opportunities for those
commercial practices.
>> very good.
>> mayor: commissioner book.
>> I know this merely because w
e
have someone on the dais --
makes us feel a little bit
awkward, but we apply the same
standards regardless of who's
involved, and those standards
are related to the comprehensi
ve
plan.
and if it's substantially in
compliance with the conference
of plan, then by law, not even
by opinion, by law we have to
move forward at least one of
these.
so, with that, I move approval
of 202-5994 and adopt the
proposed land use change.
>> second.
>> mayor: motion and a second.
commissioner willis.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
I know we're getting to zoning
in a minute, but some of this I
s
helping us understand what is
allowed in different land uses.
I will say I think it's crazy
that a crematory's allowed in u
6
and not u4 because higher up t
he
sect is more urban in nature.
does not make a lot of sense to
me, but thank you between the
manager and mr. [indistinct]
clarifying it.
same way talking about hospita
ls
and medical services.
sometimes it's -- the details
are lost in there somewhere wha
t
allowed and what isn't allowed.
thank you for clarifying that.
so, yeah, that is -- I'm still
a
little shocked that we allow I
t,
that our zoning code crematory
in u6 when I was hearing in a
different county, union county,
the conversation was in a rural
area, people thought it was too
close to homes, let alone close
to what -- the rest of u6 is
zoned up to 60 verses or 50
units per acre plus with
potential bonuses, putting a
crematory that close to even
more people.
I'm having a hard time
understanding how this got int
o
that portion of our comp plan,
unless it was completely
ignored.
I would think crematories and
stuff in general should be in
the more rural area you can
make, or industrial areas, chi
which
I know that's common.
thank you.
that's all I have.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner will is.
please call the roll.
>> mayor: that passes
unanimously with commissioner
chestnut abstaining.
good, commissioner book.
>> I want a statement released.
this first half is since we wi
ll
be doing some community
engagement, we already have the
week we've done extensive types
of engagement related to the
northeast 8th avenue, the mlk
center, citizen's field.
when we end up sending out mor
e
information about the northeast
avenue corridor.
certainly not complicating the
matter, providing additional
information about all the
components going on so all the
people want to weigh in.
would that be problematic?
>> I guess, can you clarify wha
t
you're asking that we would
notify about?
>> sure, for the last two years
,
we've been talking about
citizen's field, and we've got
information out many, many times
in many different ways.
earlier today we had the
northeast 8th avenue, the
roadway, and everything we're
doing, and clearly we're going
to focus on what neighbors and
businesses feel like around
there and our faith-based
community, and here we have a
third component right there in
the same area, and it seem to m
e
it would be to our benefit, eve
n
if we're not asking for input t
o
provide as much information
about all the things we know
that are going on in an area.
does that clarify a little bit?
>> yes, I believe so.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner book.
>> mr. Mayor, we're on to
ordinance 2025-995, ordinance o
f
the city of gainesville,
florida, amending the zoning
atlas by rezoning 1.3 acres of
property generally located at
the 1200 block of northeast
8th avenue.
>> this is the rezoning of the
chestnut petition.
so this is the same area we wer
e
just discussing.
the portion that we're
discussing now is the urban 6
area going from u4 to u6, and
same area we are discussing.
here you can see -- I'll pause
for a second to talk about the
zoning districts, so as you can
see in the blue urban 4 being
the subject property and u6
existing on the east side, so
east of the subject properties
to the south, there's more urb
an
4 zoning and to the west is
urban 3 zoning.
to the north with citizen's
field being public service, and
mu1 being to the north as well.
and urban 6 is the proposed
zoning district for this, and
I'll get a little bit into the
table with the permitted uses t
o
explain a little bit more
between u4 and u6, so, for thi
s
table you can see the uses
listed on the left.
those are uses just directly
from the land development code
of what is permitted, not
permitted, or allowed by
accessory, or allowed with a
special-use permit.
you can see the columns with u
u4 -- what's allowed is p with
a
permitted, allowed by accessory
a, and also the column for u6.
so I'll click through some of
these.
I've also highlighted in blue
where with the rezoning going
from u4 to u6.
if it's blue that means it is
now permitted in u6.
if they're rezoning carries
forward.
in the orange it would no longer
be permitted in u6.
you'll see there's all blues a
s
far as the change from u4 to u
6
is considered.
so there would be no, I guess,
loss of a permitted use if you
will, and this just captures t
he
non-residential uses.
I have another table going ove
r
density in the residential
component.
just clicking through.
as I explained previously, u6
zoning allows for more
non-residential uses, including
commercial and retail uses by
right.
so you can see as I click
through things like restaurant
and retail sales would be al
allowed by right with the p?
in
u6 zoning.
going from u4 to u6, that would
be changing from 20 to 50 units
per acre.
just to note that the subject
area that is being considered
for rezoning is 1.38 acres, so,
at 50 units per acre, that's 69
units maximum.
we've discussed the maximum
stories going from u4 allows
three stories by right.
u6 allows four stories by right
,
and five with a bonus for tree
preservation or things like
affordable housing.
maximum height is listed there
as well, and there would be an
increased in required glazing.
changing from u4 to u6 dependi
ng
on the type of project that's
proposed, additional treatments
to the urban forum, like
sidewalk improvements or
material improvements, dependi
ng
on the project, may also be
imposed with different uses
being allowed at the site.
but generally, setbacks,
building placement and buildin
g
frontage, all would remain the
same between u4 and u6, and tha
t
should remain the same.
I can also talk about urban fiv
e
should you have any questions,
have some notes for that, if y
ou
are interested.
so, with the proposed zoning
staff reviewed the petition
based on the criteria in the
land development code.
the u6 zoning district is
compatible with the sownding
uses, and allowed intensity and
density.
u6 zoning exists to the east o
f
the subject property and many o
f
the u6 permitted uses are
similar to those in the u4
zoning district, with some of
those additional non-residenti
al
allowances I mentioned.
the proposed rezoning also
conformed to an additional set
of criteria, the transect zone
criteria.
it establishes a logical
extension of the existing u6 t
o
the exist.
a more urban transect zone is
appropriate considering the
interest in development in thi
s
area, and the improvements the
city's making to the corridor.
if development at the property
occurs the urban transect zone
standards would require
additional glazing, and
depending on the type of proje
ct
more material standards or oth
er
things may also be applied.
I also wanted to mention the u
6
zoning district would come int
o
play with the inclusionary
zoning requirement, so going
from u4 to u6.
u6 is one of the zoning distric
t
that is would require
inclusionary zoning if the
property were developed with
over 50 units.
and I think that is all that I
have to say.
staff recommends approval of
ld25- 000125, and the plan boa
rd
recommended approval of the
petition.
here for any questions you hav
e.
>> mayor: very good.
thank you.
applicant have anything to add
?
if you have questions for me, I'
I'm glad to answer them.
with the umu land use, you nee
d
to consider a new zoning, and u
6
is one of the lower tier,
less-intense zoning options tha
t
you have.
I did want to mention too, in
the back to our previous
conversation a few minutes ago
at our neighborhood workshop, w
e
did make an extra effort to lay
out the table to show what use
s
are allowed, what's not allowed,
what are the changes.
we were clear and announced tha
t
the funeral home is a
possibility.
we're trying to be transparent
about this, but, of course, you
all have to consider all the
uses that are allowed in u6, a
nd
we really think it's compatibl
e
with that overall map pattern w
e
had discussed a few minutes ago
.
if you have any questions for
me, I would be glad to answer
--
one last thing too.
I think the neighbor who was
here and left, if a project
comes sphward they'll have to
--
forward, stl they'll have to d
o a
site plan review, and most
likely neighborhood workshop.
I'm sure this project would tak
e
into consideration local stree
ts
and neighbors and zoning code
allows -- I'm sorry, it require
s
buildings to be fronting the
primary street, addressing the
street, which is 8th avenue, a
nd
so the concentration of any
development on this property I
s
going to be towards the more
primary street and away from t
he
residential area to the south.
certainly aware of that issue.
thank you.
>> mayor: thank you,
mr. Swager.
I would point out also that ha
s
been alluded, it's our decision
tonight to allow a particular
use.
whether to allow the different
zoning.
not what will go in that, on
these lots.
that is for a future question.
tonight's question is, will we
allow the zoning to move forwa
rd
as requested?
commissioner willits.
>> questions about u5 instead o
f
u6.
u5 is allow inside thi
>> it's actually not.
skipping to 6, what about 5. D
on't have my laptop.
it's at it, but I have my
phone -- the better question.
what are the other zonings
allowed?
that's kind of what I was
looking at.
in the urban mixed use zoning
district -- sorry, future land
use category, there are three
sort of allowable zoning
districts to choose from that
would be permitted in that
category.
it would be u6, u7, or u8.
the u5 zoning district is only
allowed in the mixed-use
residential future land use
category, which is primarily
areas like sorority row
surrounding the university tha
t
have a unique set of
circumstances that have
descriptions of the u5 zoning
district if you're curious, but
that is not something that cou
ld
be placed in the urban mixed u
se
future land category.
>> I want to remind -- which
runs are available?
so then, can you tell me the
difference between u6.
typically as you go up, more a
nd
more things are allowed and
permitted, but I wanted to
double check on a few things.
drive-through facility is
allowed and permitted in u6.
is it permitted in u7 and u8?
>> I can check that.
table is limited in its
research.
>> it's one that wasn't allowed
in u4, but it is permitted in
u6.
so I'm trying -- in general, I
know that usually as you go up
more and more things are
permitted, but I think some
things drop out as you get
closer to u9.
>> that's correct.
some uses do drop off as you g
et
to the more intensive united d
t
zoning districts, but
drive-through facilities are
allowed in u6 and through u8.
>> this is where I get to -- t
he
idea of permitting, and I know
we, on the legislative, somewha
t
optional side land use, we
already at least one time
around, made that decision, but
zoning it for that one in
particular in this specific are
a
seems a little crazy that you'd
have a drive-through facility
there, and like a lot of these
other ones, things that don't
make a lot of sense right there
.
so anyways, that's the one tha
t
stuck out to me on the list of
just because it is still jamme
d
in next to not very far away
single-family homes, out of the
quiet corner.
up on 8th avenue it's a little
bit a little more busy and
denser.
makessense.
if you want to build 30 units a
n
acre.
that makes sense to me, put
people close to what's going t
o
be a great park, you know.
anyways, that's just -- that
stuck o out to me.
thank you, mr. Chan.
>> mayor: any public comment?
>> yes, ms. Sharon bower.
>> mayor: welcome, ms. Bower.
>> I know I'm wasting my breat
h,
but I do want to point out tha
t
irrespective of how you have
changed the land use, there is
this parcel where john phlegmi
ng
has put together 7 acres
fronting a highway to put a
development there.
other than the sunny food m
the east end eatery, and the
union hall [indistinct] on the
highway, there is no commercia
l
from here all the way to main
street.
none.
so, the use is residential.
it's all single family and
duplexes, except for -- santos.
he had a duplex and built a
single family.
that's the highest-density
thing, other than the housing
authority down by main street.
you're destroying neighborhoods
.
these are established
neighborhoods.
these are duck pond area.
the appraiser's office calls o
ur
neighborhood duck pond area or
east of duck pond.
so, I just don't understand why
iowa would allow -- you would
allow t
why you would allow these poor
people who dreamed of buying a
home and bought the homes from
the national -- I mean, from t
he
neighborhood housing development
corporation.
these five beautiful homes
there, and single family all
there, and I don't know, a
funeral home.
the table s says you four no, u
6
yes for a funeral home or
crematorium.
you don't care about these
single-family homes.
they're going to have this
40 feet away from them.
it baffles me.
>> mayor: thank you,
ms. Bower.
commissioner eastman.
>> whenever these things come
up, people look at the most
intensive uses one step above.
I think about that as we're
trying to potentially increase
uses.
this allows an alcoholic
beverage establishment.
the highest use.
we have u4 4 across the street
from my house.
I have u6 in the neighborhoods
north of mine right behind the
se
houses.
these more-intensive zoning
districts exist in the very old
neighborhoods, and this is one
of those.
like I said, u6 right next doo
r
to it, which is why I feel
fairly comfortable with where w
e
are with it.
it's a -- there's shops
nearby, and there's no single --
[indistinct] single family ove
r
to where this would be.
so there's a bit of a buffer
there.
and so I feel very comfortable
making a motion for ordinance
no. 2025-995.
>> mayor: madam clerk, please
call the role.
>> commissioner eastman.
commissioner ingle.
commissioner duncan-walker.
mayor ward.
>> mayor: that passes
unanimously with commissioner
chestnut abstaining.
madam clerk.
>> mr. Mayor, we're going back
to ordinances for second
reading, ordinance no. 2025-60.
providing directions to the cit
y
manager, providing severabilit
y
clause, providing a repealing
clause, and providing an
effective date.
>> mayor: thank you, madam
clerk.
commissioner willits.
>> no further questions from m
y
colleagues.
I move adoption on second
reading 2025-760.
>> aye.
>> second.
>> mayor: motion and a second.
any public comment?
>> no public comment.
>> mayor: no for the lights.
let's call the role and give
commissioner walker another shot
here.
>> mayor: that passes
unanimously.
madam clerk.
>> mr. Mayor, we are on to
ordinance 2025-873, ordinance o
f
the city of gainesville,
florida, annexing approximately
26.897 acres, privately-owned
property generally located sou
th
of state road 24, archer road,
west of sw 51st drive, north o
f
oaks, preserved, phase ii, eas
t
of county road sw 24c, as more
specifically describing in thi
s
ordinance as petitioned for by
the property owners pursuant to
chapter 171.
providing for persons engaged I
n
any occupation, business, trade
,
or profession, providing
directions to the city clerk,
providing severability clause,
providing a repealing clause,
and providing an immediate
effective date.
>> mayor: thank you, madam
clerk.
before we roll into this, I wan
t
to apologize for folks who wer
e
here for the entire afternoon
and had to wait for this.
we obviously have a lot going
on, and I appreciate your
patience.
so thank you.
>> thank you, good evening,
mayor, and commissioners.
the item before you is a request
for voluntary annexation
submitted by dogwood acquisiti
on
llc.
>> so this annexation request is
for a total of eight contiguou
s
tax parcels totaling
26.25 acres, and due sw of
butler plaza and I-75.
currently under alachua county,
zoned single family residential
,
and residential estate re1.
staff prepared an urban services
report as attached to the
backup, which detail the city
services provided following
annexation, so the parcels wou
ld
fall under city commission
district 3, with the closest
fire station being station 9,
and would fall under the
gainesville police department
zone papa.
rts route 75 would service the
se
parcels and gru would provide
utility services like electric,
wastewater and gas, and
additionally, public works wou
ld
provide solid waste services, a
s
well as basic maintenance and
repair any building streets.
however, there are no current
street city streets that would
be involved in this annexation
upon approval.
the details of all of the
services that are available in
that urban services report wer
e
provided or were created with
feedback that were provided by
each relevant department as we
ll
as some additional maps that
highlight the locations of
utilities and emergency response
facilities.
according to florida stawlt
chapter 171 -- statute chapter
171, required to meet certain
criteria.
so the parcels must be
contiguous with existing city
boundaries.
they must be reasonably compact
and close together, and must n
ot
create any enclaves or a
non-city parcel would be bound
on all sides by city boundarie
s.
illustrated by this map,
provided by the applicant, the
se
criteria are met allowing the
city to move forward toward
adopting the ordinance.
with that, staff does recommend
approval of agenda item
2025-873.
if you approve today, we would
aim to have the second reading
before you by april 16th, which
would be the effective date of
the annexation.
I am near you have further
questions.
the applicant is also here.
>> mayor: very good.
would the applicant like to mak
e
any presentation?
>> hi, good evening, mayor,
commission.
I don't have much to add.
staff did a great job
illustrating everything.
I wanted to say thank you for
your time.
I'm here with -- to answer any
questions you might have.
>> mayor: thank you so much.
I appreciate it.
commissioners, anything?
commissioner willits?
>> a question for staff about I
f -- when we bring in, this is
one of the bigger chunks, I
think, it's one of the bigger
chunks we've done recently, tha
t
does not have an existing road
network like through it
necessarily, I don't think.
what's the difference between -
-
if this was developed in the
future but still under the
county, would they -- is there
an agreement with the county
that they would have to design
the roads for the existing roa
d
network, any connections to the
part that's already in the cit
y
that's being developed?
I cannot remember if that oak
whatever neighborhood has a stu
b
anticipating out there, but if
it remains in the county do the
y
have to connect that stub or
only by coming into the city a
nd
then they would have the connect
a stub according to our comp
plan?
>> so I don't think I can speak
to if there are any county
requirements that they build o
ut
those roads prior to annexation.
we --
>> no prior.
if it stays in the county and w
e
don't approve annexation, and
someone wants to build and hav
e
a small street networks.
because it's in the county, is
there any agreement with the
county -- will you please
connect to, across the border
line, if wehave a stub on the
city side, will these connect?
have more of -- a comp plan
envisions a grid with a lot of
connectivity?
>> after annexation they would
be required to build out that
road network to meet the lot
requirements for development I
n
the city of gainesville.
if you're asking whether count
y
parcels are required to connect
to city roads.
that I'm not entirely sure of.
>> mr. Singleton.
>> I do want to answer this.
so I can fully understand.
>> chief operating officer, I
used to be employed by the
county --
>> hold that against you.
>> review these type of
applications, networks, county
has a very similar land
development regulations and com
p
plan reg regulations similar to
the
city.
they would connect to the
existing s stubs.
looking at the plat, I don't s
ee
that stub to these parcels, but
we do collaboraten and sure we
have -- and ensure we have
interconnected roadway network.
>> I bring it up partially as
part of the conversation on the
outside edge of the city when w
e
potentially annex, particularl
y
right next to a new development
,
how they interact, the current,
new development, and potential
ly
new annexation.
mr. Singleton, I appreciate
that.
I've had some skepticism in the
southwest largely because of
annexations and changing of
densities because of the amoun
t
of park services in southwest.
I would say we almost bought, w
e
haven't -- I don't know if we
signed the contract yet, rough
ly
14 acres in southwest
gainesville for future park and
reservation land.
that makes me a little more
confident in the future we'll b
e
able to ride that, but that lan
d
is -- of 75, and past 75 there's
continued conversation.
firefighter infrastructure's
gointo go in, great, but in
the end the city or the county
or us combined we need to build
another -- we need to be looki
ng
at longer, 10-15-year plan
larger park, south that is
serves that chunk -- in the end
it's going to serve county and
city.
that's another conversation wit
h
the county: so with that, I'v
e
been skeptical, but I'm very
happy.
I will be supporting this
voluntary annexation.
thank you, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: thank you,
mr. Willits.
>> if there are no further
questions, I move ordinance
2025-873.
>> second.
>> mayor: we have a motion and
a second.
any public comment?
>> there's no public comment.
>> mayor: okay!
>> I'm here.
our firm worked on the oaks
preserve project with the city,
and I can tell you there is a
stub out to this property.
I had to look at it too.
it's in a future phase, but,
yeah, just kind of the very
bottom corner makes a 90-degree
turn.
if this property's built in the
city, lit connect to that
neighborhood.
>> mayor: thank you.
I remembered that discussion.
that was the whole point of
discussion about that issue was
whether or not people came to
talk to us about whether or not
there was going to be
[indistinct] there.
I remember that.
all right!
madam clerk, let's call the
roll.
[roll call]
>> mayor: all right, that
passes unanimously.
yes.
madam clerk.
commissioner willits.
>> I'm not going to go into the
full because it's been a long
day.
I wanted to poke at the
on-street neighborhood parking
permit and some of the zonings
around campus.
we currently charge people hav
e
the privilege of owning a home
far less than we do for people
paying rent.
it looks like we charge $119.25
to homesteaders, people who hav
e
a homesteaded property, verses
looks like $238 for
non-homestead.
I know there's not a lot of
properties that necessarily
applies to.
some of the larger complexes y
ou
may think of around campus are
not eligible for
neighborhood-zoned parking
because those were developed a
s
a denser parking on site and/o
r
it is envisioned not every
person brings their car for some
of the on-street parking on
campus there's always going to
be tension.
the fact we charge renters mor
e
than people who own their home.
I'm sure there's going to be a
lot of arguments why that is t
o
protect homeowners, giving the
m
a space, but a person who rents
that close to there may also --
I feel like they should probably
be more similar, that they
should pay the same amount to
park on the street whether the
y
own the home there or whether
they are renting.
so that's something I'm going t
o
bring in forward in the future
as
fairness to the renters in our
community.
it's only in a couple
neighborhoods that it applies.
I'm going to be asking staff I
f
I can get a -- peer into the
data on the number of people w
ho
have those permits, but at lea
st
digging to understand the cost
of the permits.
that's something I'll bring up
later.
>> mayor: thank you.
commissioner ingle.
>> so there's a zoning issue I
wanted to bring up, actually
some drive-through businesses
have caused some real traffic
snarls in town.
starbucks on 13th street, reall
y
kind of backs some stuff up, a
nd
I know it's the new coffee sho
p
down on 16th, I forget the nam
e
of it, 7 brew, also caused a l
ot
of snarls around there and
people trying to get in a
drive-through line, backing all
the way out into traffic.
I would really like to see wha
t
options we've got on tweaking
our zoning to either prohibit
drive-through things on major
thoroughfares like that or wha
t
options we've got to kind of
regulate some of that to make
those more compatible to those
areas.
just plopping them down I've
seen them cause real traffic
problems with just a line of
people out in the street waiti
ng
to get into a business.
and I think there's got to be
some way we can avoid doing tha
t
in the future.
so talked a little bit to the
city manager, but I'd really
like to have some options
brought back on what it is we
can do in those areas.
>> it looks like the director I
s
chomping at the bit to come talk
about this.
[laughter]
>> thank you, mr. Mayor,
commissioners, halfway there.
I realized I had a little bit o
f
regret that maybe I should
probably not start walking, but
anyhow, certainly any time it's
a use in the way that a use is
really playing out is something
that we can look at through
zoning code.
what we had done to date for
those uses.
the starbucks on 13th has
been -- has had issues for qui
te
some time.
the 7 brew you're speaking of,
but we've had them in a couple
other locations that are drive
throughs.
the zaxby's, popeyes when they
had their fried chicken
sandwich, that was an issue, a
s
you might understand, but what
we've done for the code
enforcement side of sit gone o
ut
and worked directly with the
businesses to adjust their
business model to make sure the
y
can or if they could actually
fit these uses on their
property, which is required by
code.
we've worked with them to be
able to do that.
some of you may have seen at t
he
starbucks or the chick-fil-a
where some of the staff started
getting tablets and walk to you
r
car and order.
and they direct you through tha
t
area.
that allowed them to both have
more users on site, but process
them quickly and really we
helped them with their own
businessodel.
now, of course if that -- in
some cases, continues to spill
out in the roadway, then we've
started to go down the code
enforcement path.
gpd is engaged in some of these
businesses.
I cannot speak in detail for
what gpd has doan done, but
they've been involved in the
conversation and working with
the businesses.
in several cases we've seen vas
t
improvements just by working
with the practices
>> I appreciate that, and I
think it's a good way to addre
ss
the issue in places that alrea
dy
exist, but I don't want to
continue making more work for
code enforcement and gpd,
clearly we're setting ourselves
up for a problem and trying to
fix it instead of seeing if we
can't find ways to eliminate t
he
problems.
it's frustrated me.
I talked to a lot of people who
get frustrated with it,
especially on major
thoroughfares.
when we look at major
thoroughfares through places,
I'm very concerned about
continuing to set up the type o
f
businesses that are going to
limit themselves to have code
enforcement involved or have
work around to make them
function well as neighbors.
>> add to what -- was saying o
ur
code requirements.
during the process as we're
seeing the newer drive through
s
come in, we request a queuing
analysis from the applicant.
we do look at that.
I would say the 7 brew was a
surprise to all of us.
we didn't expect that to queue
up and backup that far.
I'm not aware of that trying t
o
do that, but I'm not down in
that area regularly, so -- so
codes has been monitoring it.
but the drive throughs that hav
e
gone in recently, we've not bee
n
seeing on that anymore, like
what the exception of 7 brew
first opened, but we are
actively working with developers
and doing a queuing analysis a
s
the drive throughs come through,
as required by code.
>> mayor: anything else?
very good.
mr. Manager, was that toward
this?
>> it was towards this?
>> we would want a motion and
add it to the list and send you
a new list of code pieces.
>> I'd like to make a motion w
e
add to that the list.
>> second.
>> adding it to the list.
>> mayor: all right.
is there any public comment on
that?
>> mr. Mayor, is there like a -
-
[indistinct]
[laughter]
emotion added to the list?
>> mayor: definitely.
>> I'll get with the city
manager and find out the
specific terms.
>> mayor: very good.
all in favor please say aye.
any opposed.
that passes unanimously.
mr. Manager.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor.
this is unrelated to drive
throughs or zoning for that
matter.
I did want to give you all an
update.
we had an individual come at
public comment and talk a litt
le
bit about the st. Francis
closure.
I did get an update this
afternoon from mr. Mann who's
the city's liaison and coc.
to date, th there three remaining
families in sherlt at
st. Francis that we have not
connected.
we, being the city, the cnd the
coc, connected with
housing.
believe will be connected with
housing as early as tomorrow,
leaving two remaining families
and one individual.
those are the only remaining
folks that were in shelter tha
t
have not been able to find new
housing.
so, we're continuing to work o
n
the list and be able to
successfully place everybody I
n
shelter that was in shelter
before the closure of
st. Francis hospital.
>> mayor: excellent.
I appreciate that.
I don't see any other lights,
but I have a few items try to g
o
through as quickly as possible
here.
first of all, on a somber note,
yesterday's news we learned tha
t
coral springs commissioner and
vice mayor, nancy bowen, was
murdered, and what appears to
have been a domestic violence
attack.
I mentioned that not only
because she is one of our own,
but to remind everyone that
the -- we don't know what's
happening in somebody else's
house.
we don't know, and domestic
violence can happen anywhere I
n
any home, and I have talked
about this a couple of times
this year.
it is something that I want us
to, as a city, as an entity,
find ways that we can be more
supportive of organizations
fighting domestic violence.
and sometimes that is as simpl
e
as talking about it.
that's why I wanted to bring I
t
up.
not for action, but I want to
think about how we might
approach the issue differently,
d
d nigd we can all -- anything
we can all do is talk about
domestic violence more
frequently and let folks know
who we may not realize are in a
difficult situation, that we a
re
here for them.
the city is here for them.
we as individuals are here for
them.
and all we can do for this
commissioner and vice mayor is
offer prayers and thoughts,
which is a hollow thing right
now, but it was important to
mention that.
try to get less somber as I go
down the list here.
I have heard recently that there
is potential of the northwest
boy's club, the existing
northwest boy's and girl's clu
b.
that property being up for sal
e
and all sorts of things there.
it is in the county.
it's not in the city, but it I
s
important to me, and I think t
o
this community, that that
remain, if it can't be boy's and
girl's club, then at least
remain athletic fields for tho
se
purposes
that matters a lot to this
community, I think.
not only from historical
perspective, but that kind of
use is dwindling.
I am normally 100%, 150% for m
u new
places to live, but that is a
place that's dwindling rapidly
when it is not a school use, a
nd
that one is not.
I would like to put that messa
ge
out there.
it is in the county.
were it to be in the city, I
don't think my mind would change
own that.
just put that out there.
a thing that I would like us to
be thinking about, we don't nee
d
to take action on it tonight,
but if you would think about
this.
I am interested in us getting
into the community and out of
the building more as a body.
I was talking with city clerk
yesterday about the idea of
doing one gpc meeting a quarter
off site somewhere, in an ada
accessible city facility,
wherever possible, certainly a
n
ada-accessible facility
regardless, whether it's city o
r
not, and get into each district
once a year.
there's -- I'm sure there's
reasons to be uncomfortable with
that, but I think it's good for
the community and the city as a
n
organization and us as a
commission to be out of the
building when we can.
I fully respect the idea we've
got to be not only personally
accessible with ada compliance,
but also available for people to
be able to watch and hear the
meetings, and that is something
that matters that we will
follow, but I would like to us
think about that as we move
forward, please.
last thing, I want to thank you
all for your wisdom and patienc
e
and good humor over the course
of this very long day, and I
hope to see many of you at the
mlk prayer breakfast tomorrow
morning, bright and early.
commissioner ingle.
>> I just wanted to throw some
support behind that idea of
maybe having meetings off site,
not only because it might be
interesting to be in all the
areas of the city, but the ide
a
of gpc is a little easier to
hash out.
I don't think this is the
easiest format to have
conversations about things.
so, being able to get around a
table somewhere or a little bit
different format where -- I like
to have a look at somebody whe
n
I'm talking to them.
a round table may be conducive
to have better conversations a
nd
see if we can't get those type
of topics on the agenda for whe
n
we might be in a format more
conducive to the conversations
.
>> I noticed there's a workshop
.
>> mayor: thank you,
commissioner ingle.
no further lights.
we are adjourned.