[0:00] >> MAYOR: WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO THIS GENERAL POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING FOR THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE CITY COMMISSION ON

[0:06] THIS THURSDAY MARCH 28th, 2024. GLAD TO HAVE YOU ALL WITH US. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF TOPICS TO

[0:13] GET THROUGH. WE HAVE VISITORS FROM OUT OF TOWN WITH US. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

[0:17] WE WILL GET THINGS MOVING IN AN EXPEDITED FASHION. MADAM CLERK. >> MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE THE

[0:23] ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR: SO I WOULD ASK --

[0:26] THANK YOU FOR THE MOTION AND THE SECOND. THE ITEM NUMBER 2024-278, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT STAFF IS

[0:36] NOT GOING TO PURSUE THAT TODAY IF WE COULD TAKE THAT OFF, PLEASE. >> I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THAT

[0:43] AMENDMENT. AND THAT'S GOOD. I DID WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE SIT-DOWN WITH STAFF TO FIGURE

[0:47] OUT MORE OF WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT WERE BEFORE GIVING DIRECTION, SO I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

[0:52] >> MAYOR: OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

[0:57] [AYES] ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. WE HAVE AN AGENDA.

[1:00] MADAM CLERK. >> YES. WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

[1:04] >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR: MOTION AND SECOND TO ADOPT THE MINUTES AS

[1:07] DISTRIBUTED. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. [AYES] ANY OPPOSED?

[1:11] ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY AS WELL. >> MR. MAYOR, WE MOVE ON TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS FOR THE

[1:17] AFTERNOON. 2024-297 DISCUSSION ITEM FOR THE GAINESVILLE REGIONAL UTILITIES POTENTIAL REFERENDUM WITH A

[1:27] RECOMMENDATION THE CITY COMMISSION DISCUSS THE GAINESVILLE REGIONAL UTILITIES POTENTIAL REFERENDUM AND TAKE

[1:32] THE APPROPRIATE ACTION. >> MAYOR: AT THE LAST MEETING, OF COURSE, WE DIRECTED THE CITY ATTORNEY TO WORK ON AN ORDINANCE

[1:37] THAT WOULD AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMUNITY BRING FORTH A BALLOT INITIATIVE TO CHANGE GOVERNANCE OF GAINESVILLE REGIONAL

[1:47] UTILITIES. THERE WAS INTEREST AT THAT MEETING TO HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION.

[1:53] THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. ANYBODY -- WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PRESENT. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT

[2:02] WE HAD OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE TO BE HEARD BEGINNING NOW. THIS WILL BE A LONG PROCESS AS

[2:08] WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. I DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN QUICKLY. THERE IS A TIMETABLE IF WE

[2:17] WANTED TO BE ON A BALLOT THIS FALL. BUT WE ARE -- WE ARE HERE FOR FOLKS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND SAY

[2:27] THINGS. COMMISSIONER BOOK. >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM ME.

[2:33] THIS IS MORE JUST TO SEE IF -- SINCE JUST A VERY SHORT TIME AGO FROM THE ATTORNEY, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE MAY HAVE

[2:45] GLEANED OR LEARNED AS A RESULT OF OUR DISCUSSION THE OTHER NIGHT? >> MAYOR: MR. ATTORNEY.

[2:51] >> I'M NOT AWARE BUT I'M NOT AWARE WHAT YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT. ARE THERE QUESTIONS? >> IT IS KIND OF VAGUE, TRYING

[2:56] TO BE DELIBERATELY VAGUE. >> NOTHING HAS CHANGED. >> REALLY, HAS THERE BEEN ANY RESEARCH IN THAT SHORT AMOUNT OF

[3:02] TIME THAT INDICATES -- CAN WE PURSUE THINGS? IS THERE CODIFIED LANGUAGE THAT WOULD CAUSE US PROBLEMS?

[3:09] ANYTHING IN THE LEGAL REALM AT THE STATE LEVEL OR LOCAL LEVEL THAT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO SHARE?

[3:15] >> THANK YOU. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY IMPEDIMENTS TO THE COMMISSION UNDER CHAPTER 166 GOING FORWARD WITH A

[3:22] PROPOSED BALLOT REFERENDUM THAT WOULD SIMPLY AMEND ITS CHARTER EVEN TO THE EXTENT THAT IT AMENDED GOVERNING STRUCTURE SET

[3:31] FORTH IN THE CHARTER BY REFERENDUM. SO ACCORDINGLY, WITH THE DIRECTION GIVEN, I REACHED OUT

[3:41] TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE ASKING FOR THE DEADLINES SO WE CAN START TO PUT TOGETHER A TIMELINE.

[3:47] THE DEADLINES BEING I THINK PRIMARILY -- AND THERE MAY BE MORE. WHEN THE TIME FRAME IS THAT WE'D

[3:55] HAVE TO NOTIFY THE SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE THAT THERE, IN FACT, WILL BE A BALLOT REFERENDUM. THEY ARE GENERALLY ALL THE SAME

[4:04] SORT OF SIZE, THERE'S 75-WORD LIMIT AND SO FORTH. THAT ALLOWS THE SUPERVISOR TO ADD THE PAPER AND PREPARE FOR

[4:12] THE PAGES THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR THE BALLOT. AND I HAVE ASKED FOR THAT DEADLINE FOR BOTH THE AUGUST AND

[4:18] NOVEMBER BALLOTS COMING UP SO THAT THOSE ARE OPTIONS THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED BY OUR COMMISSION. THE OTHER DEADLINES THAT I'M

[4:25] AWARE OF THAT WE'LL NEED TO GET FROM THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS' OFFICE IS WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE ACTUAL BALLOT

[4:33] LANGUAGE. THAT LANGUAGE WILL BE A PART OF OUR ORDINANCE THAT THE COMMISSION WERE TO PASS, OF

[4:39] COURSE. BUT THE DEADLINE TO TRANSMIT THE LANGUAGE TO THE SUPERVISOR, NOT ONLY WITH THE SPANISH LANGUAGE

[4:47] TRANSLATION AND SO FORTH, SO THOSE SORT OF STEPS ALONG THE WAY -- AND I'M NOT AWARE OF THE PUBLISHING DEADLINES ONCE THE

[4:57] ORDINANCE IS PASSED THAT ARE REQUIRED BY STATUTE. AND WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO MEET.

[5:04] THEY HAD AN ELECTION LAST WEEK OBVIOUSLY, THE COUNTY WIDE ELECTION. SO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TIME,

[5:11] I'LL SIT DOWN WITH HER STAFF AND FIND OUT THAT BASIC INFORMATION. BEYOND THAT, IT'S NOT A DIFFICULT ORDINANCE TO DRAFT

[5:22] ONCE WE ARE ENTIRELY CERTAIN THE DIRECTION THE COMMISSION WANTS TO GO INTO. THAT SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION WILL

[5:29] BE SET BY THE COMMISSION. AS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T SET POLICY AND ENFORCE POLICY. RIGHT NOW THE DIRECTION THAT WE

[5:34] ARE GIVEN IS TO DRAFT A CHARTER -- AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD CALL FOR ANY BALLOT REFERENDUM FOR A CHARTER

[5:40] AMENDMENT THAT STRIKES ARTICLE 7 FROM OUR CHARTER. OF COURSE, ARTICLE 7 WAS BROUGHT INTO BEING BY THE SPECIAL ACT OF

[5:48] THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE PREPARING TO DO AND THEN TO PUT FORTH BALLOT LANGUAGE.

[5:57] HOPEFULLY WE CAN BRING TO YOU SOME OPTIONS WITH THE BALLOT LANGUAGE COULD BE. IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO SORT OF

[6:03] WORDSMITH THAT FROM THE DAIS, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE END UP HAVING TO DO GENERALLY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL

[6:09] CERTAINLY HAVE THE OPTION TO DO. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO BRING LANGUAGE FORWARD TO YOU IN THAT REGARD.

[6:17] SO NOTHING NEW. WE NEED TO DO SOME RESEARCH IN THE AREA. I DON'T SEE ANY IMPEDIMENTS TO

[6:27] PROCEEDING DOWN THAT ROAD TO PUT THIS MATTER AT THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSION BEFORE THE ELECTORATE.

[6:35] AS LONG AS YOUR DIRECTION SUBSTANTIVELY STAYS CONSISTENT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PREPARE THAT ORDINANCE AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO

[6:42] REPORT BACK HOPEFULLY RELATIVELY SOON ABOUT OUR DEADLINES. THE COMMISSION WILL ALSO WANT TO DISCUSS WHETHER YOU ARE

[6:49] AIMING -- AND PROBABLY LET YOU KNOW THE DEADLINES, WHETHER AUGUST OR NOVEMBER. CHAPTER 166.01 SAYS A REFERENDUM

[6:58] RESULTING IN SUCH AN ORDINANCE WILL GO ON THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION OR SPECIAL ELECTION CALLED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

[7:03] THE GENERAL ELECTION IS SORT OF A TERM OF ART IN STATUTE ABOUT THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. THE ELECTION IN AUGUST IS

[7:14] PRIMARY BUT I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION COINCIDING.

[7:26] SO WE WANT TO COOPERATE AND GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUPERVISOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROCEED IN AN ORDERLY

[7:37] FASHION. SO YES, THAT'S IT. WE WILL WORK TOWARDS WHETHER YOU WANT TO GO AUGUST OR NOVEMBER.

[7:43] WE'LL GET THE DEADLINES OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE. AND THEN YOU'LL DECIDE WHETHER YOU ARE SET ON THE SUBSTANCE OF

[7:52] WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO PROPOSE TO THE VOTERS. >> SO, SEE, THERE WAS SOME FEEDBACK.

[7:59] [LAUGHTER] THE ONE COMMENT THAT I WOULD HAVE IS IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, SINCE IT'S COME UP, ALL

[8:06] THE FEEDBACK WHETHER IT'S IN-PERSON OR VIA EMAIL HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF A BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT DEALS WITH THE

[8:13] REFERENDUM. SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU,

[8:16] COMMISSIONER BOOK. BEFORE I GO ON TO THE OTHER LIGHTS, I WOULD SAY THAT FROM A PROCESS VIEWPOINT, IF WE HAVE

[8:23] ANY -- IF ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY HAS QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, THEN THE PEOPLE TO ROUTE THOSE THROUGH ARE

[8:31] INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS. FOR INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS, THE ROUTE THROUGH IS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY PRIOR TO SOMETHING, YOU

[8:37] KNOW, TO THE ORDINANCE, DRAFT ORDINANCE BEING CREATED IF IT MOVES IN THAT DIRECTION. AND CERTAINLY, THE ONLY TIME WE

[8:45] ARE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT AS A GROUP IS THEN AT MEETINGS. I AM INCLINED BY THE WAY TO AT LEAST AT GENERAL POLICY MEETINGS

[8:55] FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS AN ITEM SHOULD THINGS COME UP, A STANDING ITEM.

[9:02] THE WAY WE DID IT LAST YEAR WITH GRU SO THAT IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY ALREADY SCHEDULED TO

[9:09] DISCUSS THEM. COMMISSIONER CHESTNUT. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

[9:16] I WOULD ASK IF THE ATTORNEY COULD RETURN TO US ON APRIL 4th WITH A SCHEDULE. AND ON THAT SCHEDULE INCLUDE

[9:26] YOUR TIMELINE AND YOUR PATH FOR AN ORDINANCE. INCLUDE THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS' DEADLINE FOR A BALLOT

[9:37] INITIATIVE. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR THE CITY IS IN AUGUST.

[9:48] IT'S NOT? IT IS NOT? YOU ARE SAYING NO? >> THE CITY HAS A REGULAR

[9:54] ELECTION IN AUGUST AND A RUNOFF ELECTION IN -- >> NOVEMBER. >> NOVEMBER.

[10:01] GENERAL ELECTION IS A TERM REFERRED TO IN STATUTES AS THE NOVEMBER ELECTION WITH THEIR PRIMARY ELECTION IN AUGUST.

[10:08] AGAIN, AS LONG AS THE TIMELINE DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH THE ABILITY OF THE SUPERVISOR TO CARRY OUT HER CONSTITUTIONAL

[10:16] DUTIES, I THINK BOTH DATES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU. IT WOULD JUST BE A MATTER OF WHETHER YOU'D HAVE TO BASICALLY

[10:22] CALL FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION THAT COINCIDED WITH THE PRIMARY ELECTION. >> DO YOU THINK YOU COULD RETURN

[10:29] BY APRIL 4th WITH A SCHEDULE, A TENTATIVE SCHEDULE SO WE CAN BEGIN TO LOOK AT WHERE WE WANT TO GO?

[10:36] >> MY PLAN HAS BEEN AND REMAINS THAT AS SOON AS I HEAR THOSE DATES, TO TURN IT AROUND TO YOU PROBABLY IN MEMO FORM, JUST SO

[10:44] YOU CAN HAVE IT TO HOLD AND LOOK INTO. AGAIN, CERTAINLY COMMIT TO GET THAT TO YOU, WHETHER THERE'S A

[10:54] MEETING OR NOT. OBVIOUSLY THE NEXT MEETING YOU COULD DISCUSS THAT AS A GROUP, BUT I CAN GET THAT TIMELINE TO

[10:58] YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AS SOON AS IT'S AVAILABLE. >> HOPEFULLY BY APRIL 4th. >> I HOPE IT'S BY THIS

[11:04] AFTERNOON. [LAUGHTER] >> BECAUSE I HAVE TO WORK FROM A SCHEDULE.

[11:11] AND SO THE LONGER WE SAY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND THIS AND THAT, IT SORT OF IS KIND OF NEBULOUS. BUT I THINK IF WE CAN KNOW WHAT

[11:20] DATES AND WHAT TIMES WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS, IT GIVES US A BETTER IDEA. >> I AGREE.

[11:25] >> OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU,

[11:29] COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER EASTMAN. >> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND, OF COURSE,

[11:35] THAT ARE INTERESTED IN MOVING THIS FORWARD. THEN OBVIOUSLY THIS WILL BE A BIG COMMUNITY DISCUSSION.

[11:39] MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE IF WE COULD, IF WE ARE ALL COMFORTABLE WITH THE BALLOT LANGUAGE AND COMFORTABLE WITH KIND OF THE

[11:47] STRUCTURE OF IT -- WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD, SAY, LIKE AT THE APRIL 18th GENERAL POLICY -- CITY

[11:54] COMMISSION MEETING WITH AN ORDINANCE READING? OR WOULD THAT BE TOO SOON? >> NO.

[12:01] I WOULD EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO BRING BACK TO YOU A COMPLETED ORDINANCE BY THEN. THE QUESTION IS, ARE YOU GOING

[12:06] TO WANT -- IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO HAVE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE WITH PUBLISHING REQUIREMENTS.

[12:18] THERE'S A LEAD TIME. AND I THINK WE USE THE "GAINESVILLE SUN" LESS THAN WE USED TO.

[12:23] THEY ARE REQUIRING LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS. WITH MAIN STREET, THERE IS SHORTER OF A LEAD TIME.

[12:28] WE ARE COMING UP ON THAT ALREADY. SO CERTAINLY -- [INAUDIBLE]

[12:35] WELL, THE 18th OF APRIL WOULD REQUIRE PUBLICATION FOR FIRST READING BY THE 8th OF APRIL WHICH WOULD REQUIRE GETTING IT

[12:44] TO -- SAY IF WE WERE UNDER THE MODEL OF THE "GAINESVILLE SUN" BY APRIL 1st. DOES THAT SOUND -- MONDAY.

[12:52] >> MAYOR: THAT'S MONDAY. >> SO AGAIN, WHAT I THINK IS PROBABLY MORE REALISTIC IS TO BRING TO YOU, IF YOU DESIRE, A

[13:03] DRAFT OF WHAT WILL BE ADVERTISED AT THE APRIL 18th AND THEN WE COULD AT THAT POINT PERHAPS EVEN ADVERTISE.

[13:15] I HATE TO ADVERTISE EVEN THE TITLE UNTIL YOU HAVE THE FINISHED ORDINANCE PREPARED. WE COULD THEN ACHIEVE DIRECTION,

[13:22] ADVERTISE IT FOR THE NEXT MEETING IF THAT'S FEASIBLE. >> OKAY. SO WE'D BE LOOKING AT I GUESS

[13:30] MAY. >> THE CALENDAR. >> MAYOR: THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY IN MAY.

[13:39] >> ALL RIGHT. THE FIRST THURSDAY IN MAY. AND THEN AS IT RELATES TO LANGUAGE, I GUESS IF WE HAVE

[13:47] IDEAS, CAN WE SEND THAT TO YOU? OR IF ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY HAS IDEAS FOR WHAT THAT LANGUAGE WOULD LOOK LIKE, IS THAT THE

[13:53] EASIEST WAY TO SORT OF BRING BACK OPTIONS? AS YOU SAID, HATE TO HAVE TO WORDSMITH UP HERE HOW WE WOULD

[14:00] LIKE TO DO. >> YEAH, I THINK, AS THE MAYOR INDICATED, I THINK OBVIOUSLY ANY SUGGESTIONS WE WOULD RECEIVE

[14:07] FROM THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO HELP US BRING BACK ALTERNATIVES TO YOU. WE WOULDN'T HOLD AN OPEN

[14:13] SOLICITATION OF INPUT FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THAT MIGHT MORE APPROPRIATELY FILTER THROUGH YOU.

[14:18] ULTIMATELY OUR GOAL IS TO TRY TO DRAFT AN ORDINANCE THAT MEETS YOUR DIRECTIONS AND THAT MEETS YOUR SATISFACTION AS A BODY.

[14:26] SO YEAH, RESPECTFULLY, I WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT THE MAYOR SORT OF LED US TO. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INPUT TO

[14:32] YOU, YOU CERTAINLY SEND INPUT TO US. AND WE CAN ENGAGE ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS CERTAINLY

[14:38] WITHOUT SHARING IDEAS BACK AND FORTH. BUT ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS AS TO WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CONVEY AND

[14:44] MAYBE THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE PRESENT BACK WITH PROPOSED LANGUAGE. AND THEN Y'ALL CAN CHAMPION

[14:49] WHICHEVER ONES THAT YOU PREFER. THAT'S THE DIFFICULTY WITH ADVERTISING. THE BALLOT LANGUAGE IS PART OF

[14:54] THE ORDINANCE. SO IT'S DIFFICULT ADVERTISING IT BEFORE WE GET THE ORDINANCE SET BECAUSE I THINK IT'S FAIR THAT

[15:01] WHEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SEE AN ADVERTISED ORDINANCE, THEY ARE ABLE TO COME TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND SEE THE ENTIRE THING.

[15:07] IF IT'S STILL IN FLUX, IS IT REALLY PROPER NOTICE FOR THEM. IDEALLY WE'D HAVE EVERYTHING SET, INCLUDING THE BALLOT

[15:16] LANGUAGE. THEN ADVERTISE IT IN THE PAPER. AND THEN HAVE FIRST READING AFTER THAT.

[15:21] IT CAN BE A CUMBERSOME PROCESS. BUT THAT'S WHAT ENSURES ALL OF YOU ARE HEARD, ALL OF YOU HAVE INPUT AND ALL OF YOU TELL US

[15:29] EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT, ESPECIALLY ON SOMETHING SUCH AS A PROPOSED CHARTER REFERENDUM. >> RIGHT.

[15:33] I GUESS AS SOON AS WE GET THAT OUT, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD JUST SO WE CAN BEGIN TO MOVE EVERYTHING WITH

[15:40] COMMUNITY INPUT, WITH ALL THE DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW WE GO FORWARD FROM THIS.

[15:45] IF THAT'S THE TIMELINE, THEN I GUESS THAT WILL WORK FINE. >> THE FIRST STEP IS WHAT DIRECTION WE ARE GIVEN SO FAR,

[15:54] IT CAME UP AT A MEETING AS PART OF, YOU KNOW, YOUR DUTIES AND UNDER COMMISSION COMMENT -- IS THAT THE DIRECTION OF THE BODY

[16:02] AS A WHOLE? BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, YOU KNOW, THAT THE CHARTER COULD BE AMENDED

[16:07] EVEN WITHIN THIS SPHERE. SO IF THAT'S IT, THAT'S A VERY SIMPLE AMENDMENT, JUST ELIMINATING ARTICLE 7.

[16:16] IT SORT OF REVERTS US TO A WHILE AGO. BUT THAT'S FOR YOU TO DETERMINE AS THE POLICY SETTERS.

[16:24] >> I MEAN I DO -- I THINK THIS WAS KIND OF INSINUATED IN THE LAST ONE, AT THE LAST MEETING THAT I THINK THAT THERE IS A

[16:34] WILL FOR REFORM AT GRU, FOR US TO TALK ABOUT GOVERNANCE IN A MUCH BROADER WAY. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT -- BUT I

[16:43] PREFER THIS BALLOT LANGUAGE IS QUITE SIMPLE AND THEN WE CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION AS TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES GRU LOOK

[16:49] LIKE IN THE FUTURE. IS THERE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OR ORDINANCES THAT WE CAN PASS OURSELVES THAT MIGHT, YOU KNOW,

[16:58] STREAMLINE GOVERNANCE AND MAKE THINGS WORK? AS SIMPLE OF A PROCESS TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE, I THINK

[17:09] THAT'S THE WAY TO GO. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER EASTMAN. COMMISSIONER WILLITS.

[17:13] >> MR. ATTORNEY, WHEN DO CHARTER AMENDMENTS GO INTO EFFECT WHEN THEY ARE FROM A BALLOT MEASURE LIKE THIS?

[17:20] >> IF APPROVED BY THE ELECTORATE, THEN THE RESULTS ARE CERTIFIED AT THE END OF THAT ELECTION.

[17:28] IT'S HOWEVER MANY DAYS AFTER THAT ELECTION. IT'S A BOARD PROCESS. SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION, THE

[17:35] RESULTS ARE CERTIFIED, REPORTED BACK TO THE COMMISSION. AND THEN PROVIDED TO -- THERE'S A STATE AGENCY.

[17:43] IT COULD BE EFFECTIVE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ELECTION. WITHIN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE ELECTION.

[17:48] >> THAT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO PUT INTO THE ORDINANCE IF WE ARE SAYING DECEMBER 1st OR JANUARY 1st?

[17:55] >> PARDON. >> IS THAT SOMETHING WE PUT INTO THE ORDINANCE? SO, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE BILL

[18:00] THAT HAD AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF JULY 1st, BUT THE BOARD ISN'T SEATED UNTIL OCTOBER 1st. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT'S LIKE A

[18:09] BUDGET YEAR. BUT IF THE VOTERS RETURNED GRU GOVERNANCE TO THE COMMISSION, DO WE SET THE DATE WE INTEND THAT?

[18:17] FOR JUST, YOU KNOW, EASE OF TRANSFER? OR DO WE SET IT -- >> MAYOR: IT CAN GO IN THE

[18:23] ORDINANCE. THE EFFECTIVE DATE. >> THE ORDINANCE WILL PROVIDE FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF IT.

[18:27] IT CAN BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON ADOPTION AND THEN PROCEDURALLY I THINK 166.031, WHICH I THINK COMMISSIONER

[18:34] EASTMAN MAY HAVE PULLED UP THERE -- >> MR. CHAIRMAN. >> HE'S CHOMPING AT THE BIT.

[18:40] I THINK IT PROVIDES THAT WE SEND IT OFF TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. SO UPON ADOPTION OF THE

[18:48] AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER, THE MUNICIPALITY BY MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORS VOTING IN A REFERENDUM UPON SUCH AMENDMENT, THE

[18:53] GOVERNING BODY OF SAID MUNICIPALITY SHALL HAVE THE AMENDMENT INCORPORATED INTO THE CHARTER AND SHALL FILE THE

[18:58] REVISED CHARTER. [INAUDIBLE] WHEREAS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THE CHARTER.

[19:08] >> I JUST KIND OF WONDERED IF THERE WAS FEELINGS ABOUT EXACT DATE, IF THERE'S -- SO I'M OPEN TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

[19:15] I JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THAT. >> OR WHETHER THAT CAN BE PART OF YOUR DISCUSSION IN CRAFTING THIS ORDINANCE, WHAT IS THE

[19:21] EFFECTIVE DATE. >> YEAH, WHETHER THAT'S FOR EASE OR QUICKEST OR, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S THAT DECEMBER 1st WOULD

[19:28] BE ENOUGH TIME FOR ALL THE STEPS TO HAPPEN AND WE SAY GREAT. IT INTERESTS ME. IS THERE ANYTHING --

[19:36] MR. ATTORNEY, IS THERE ANYTHING WE NEED TO DO BESIDES STRIKE ARTICLE 7 TO EFFECTUATE GOING BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS?

[19:43] IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT UNDOING THE STRIKEOUTS IN OTHER ARTICLES OR ALL TECHNICALLY IN ARTICLE 7? IT'S JUST STRIKING ARTICLE 7

[19:54] UNDOES THE REST OF IT? >> MR. MAYOR, RESPECTFULLY, COMMISSIONER, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

[20:01] WHEN YOU SAY GO BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS, GOVERNANCE BY THE UTILITY HAS BEEN BY A VARIETY OF WAYS OVER THE DECADES.

[20:09] LAW 23-348 FORMERLY KNOWN AS HOUSE BILL 1645 DID WAS IT AT FIRST DELIGHTED THE CHARTER OFFICE IN 3.06 GENERAL MANAGER

[20:19] FOR UTILITIES. THEN IT CREATED ARTICLE 7 WHICH PROVIDED FOR A NEW GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOR THE CITY'S UTILITY

[20:25] SYSTEM. THAT IS THE GRU AUTHORITY, THE BOARD. AND IT ALSO MADE THE TAIL END OF

[20:34] IT SOME OTHER PROVISIONS THAT RELATE TO SPENDING ON SOCIAL, POLITICAL, IDEOLOGY MATTERS, A LIMITATION THERE.

[20:44] A LIMITATION AS TO THE AMOUNT OF THE TRANSFER ENSURING THAT IT DOESN'T EXTEND BEYOND THE FLOW OF FUNDS THAT IS CONTEMPLATED.

[20:53] AND THAT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE RESOLUTION THAT THIS COMMISSION PASSED LAST YEAR. THE RESOLUTION BEING MORE

[21:00] DETAILED AND ESTABLISHING A FORMULA THAT WAS TARGETED AT MAKING THE TRANSFER BEAR SOME RELATION TO TAXES AND FEES THAT

[21:08] ARE NOT PAID BY MUNICIPAL UTILITY. BUT THAT WOULD BE PAID BY THE INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITY AND

[21:14] FRANKLY THE FORMULA ALSO IS MINDFUL OF REACHING A TARGET TO PROVIDE FOR BOLD MEANINGFUL DEBT DEFEASANCE OVER THE YEARS.

[21:22] SO I THINK EVEN ITS CRITICS WOULD UNDERSTAND IT IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE MODEL OF PAYMENT IN LIEU -- THE TRANSFER HAS A

[21:31] PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES AND FEES THAT MAKES ALL THE ASSUMPTIONS IN FAVOR OF TRYING TO MINIMIZE THAT AMOUNT WITH AN

[21:37] EYE TOWARDS HAVING A REALLY MEANINGFUL 10-YEAR DEBT DEFEASANCE PLAN. THAT'S PART OF A WHOLE OTHER

[21:44] CONVERSATION. SO THE SPECIAL ACT REMOVED THE GENERAL MANAGER CHARTER OFFICER, PUT IN ARTICLE 7 WHICH CREATED

[21:54] THE GRU AUTHORITY BOARD AND TRANSFERRED GOVERNANCE POWERS OPERATIONALLY TO THE GOVERNANCE BOARD.

[22:01] AND HAD SOME PROVISION THAT IS RELATED TO GOVERNANCE, BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY GOVERNANCE IN TERMS OF A COUPLE OF FINANCIAL

[22:07] MATTERS. WHAT HAS BEEN PUT BEFORE YOU, THE DIRECTION WE HAVE RECEIVED NOW WOULD BE TO HAVE A PROPOSED

[22:13] CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT JUST STRUCK ARTICLE 7. SO WHEN YOU SAY GO BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS, YOU GO BACK TO THE

[22:20] WAY IT WAS IN THE '80s. >> SO MY SECOND PART, IF WE WANT TO BRING THE GENERAL MANAGER BACK AS A CHARTER OFFICER, DO WE

[22:30] NEED TO BRING BACK 3.06 AS WELL? DO WE NEED TO DO THAT? >> IF THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD -- THIS ORDINANCE HAS TO BE PASSED

[22:38] BY SUPER MAJORITY, SO IT'S 4/5 OF THE MEMBERSHIP WHICH NOW WITH A SEVEN-MEMBER BOARD CONSTITUTES 6/7.

[22:48] YES, IF THE INTENT IS TO GO BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE A YEAR AGO, THEN THAT WOULD BE REINSTATING SECTION 3.06 AND

[22:57] THEN DELETING ARTICLE 7. >> OKAY. >> IF IT JUST IS DELETING ARTICLE 7, SO WE HAVE A

[23:04] STRUCTURE THAT IS -- AND DIFFERENT MUNICIPAL UTILITIES ARE STRUCTURED DIFFERENT WAYS. IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE

[23:10] MUNICIPAL UTILITIES REPORT WITHOUT A GENERAL MANAGER CHARTER OFFICER. WITH A GENERAL MANAGER THAT

[23:15] REPORTS THROUGH A CITY MANAGER, FOR EXAMPLE. THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF OPTIONS YOU COULD PURSUE.

[23:22] AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING NOW, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT THIS PROPOSED BALLOT REFERENDUM CHARTER AMENDMENT

[23:27] WOULD BE. >> CORRECT. I THINK FOR SOME PEOPLE, WHEN THEY SAY GO BACK TO THE WAY IT

[23:31] WAS, SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND SOME OF EVEN US, YOU KNOW, WE REMEMBER MR. CUNNINGHAM SITTING DOWN HERE

[23:38] AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS. AND SO I DON'T KNOW ABOUT MY COLLEAGUES. TO GO BACK TO STRAIGHT THE WAY

[23:44] IT WAS, IT WOULD INVOLVE BRINGING BACK 3.06. IF WE ARE LOOK FORGET THE MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD RETURN, SIMPLE

[23:53] RESET, REWIND SOUTH THAT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND, THAT'S EXACTLY. I THINK MAYBE MEMBERS OF THE

[24:00] COMMUNITY WANT PERHAPS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THEY MAY WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

[24:03] THE STRAIGHTEST VERSION, IF WE ARE GOING TO SAY WE VALUE THE ABSOLUTE STRAIGHTEST RETURN, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO BRING

[24:09] BACK 3.06. I THINK THAT'S MY OPINION. BUT THEN IF WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A COMPLETE -- IF WE ARE

[24:16] LOOKING FOR SOME CHANGES, I HAD A QUESTION. AND I DON'T KNOW IF MAYOR PRO TEM CHESTNUT COULD ANSWER THIS

[24:22] OR COMMISSIONER BOTTCHER. BUT IN THE 2020 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, WERE THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS OF ANY KIND OF SMALL

[24:31] CHANGES THAT WERE REQUIRED TO BRING BEFORE THE REVIEW COMMISSION? LIKE WE CHANGED THE TITLE OF THE

[24:39] CLERK. NOT HUGE, SMALL. WAS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT WAS A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT?

[24:48] DO YOU REMEMBER, COMMISSIONER CHESTNUT? OR COMMISSIONER BOTTCHER. >> ACTUALLY THERE WAS DISCUSSION

[24:54] AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE WANTED THE GENERAL MANAGER AS A CHARTER OFFICER. WE WERE LOOKING AT CHARTER

[25:01] OFFICERS AS WELL AT THAT TIME AND LOOKING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CHARTER OFFICERS. AND I THINK SUSAN MAY SPEAK TO

[25:07] IT AS WELL, I THINK WE JUST ENDED UP KEEPING IT AS IT WAS. BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IT.

[25:16] >> MR. MAYOR, IF YOU CAN ALLOW. >> FORMER COMMISSIONER BOTTCHER, IF YOU COULD COME UP. >> TELL US YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF

[25:23] THAT DISCUSSION. >> MAYOR: AS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION. >> YES, AS A MEMBER OF THE

[25:31] CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION WHICH WAS 2019 TO 2020, WHEN WE HAD THE EXPERTS COME IN AND TALK TO THE FULL CRC, THEY SAID YOU GUYS

[25:40] HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF CHARTER OFFICERS. AND SO WE HAD A VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION ON AT LEAST TWO, IF

[25:47] NOT THREE DIFFERENT MEETINGS -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, COMMISSIONER CHESTNUT -- THAT WE WOULD DO AWAY WITH THE GENERAL

[25:55] MANAGER AS A CHARTER OFFICER. NOT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO FIRE ANYBODY, BUT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO THEN KIND OF DO WHAT

[26:03] TALLAHASSEE DOES. THEIR MUNICIPAL UTILITY IS A DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY AND IS UNDER -- IT'S A DEPARTMENT UNDER

[26:10] THE CITY MANAGER. AND SO THEY HAD A DEPARTMENT HEAD THAT RAN THE UTILITY. THAT PERSON WAS NOT A CHARTER

[26:18] OFFICER. AND MY RECOLLECTION, AGAIN CORRECT ME IF I'M REMEMBERING THIS WRONG, WE WERE GOING IN

[26:29] THAT DIRECTION. WHAT HAPPENED IS THE PANDEMIC HIT. AND BECAUSE OF NOT JUST IN THIS

[26:34] COMMUNITY, BUT WORLDWIDE THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, CONFUSION AND FEAR AND ALL THIS, WE HAD A NUMBER OF THINGS ON THE CRC

[26:44] AGENDA THAT WE WERE GOING TO PUT FORWARD TO THE COMMISSION, TO THE CITY COMMISSION TO SAY WE ARE RECOMMENDING THESE CHANGES

[26:50] TO THE CITY CHARTER, AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IS WE LOST OUR POLITICAL WILL BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH ELSE THAT EVERYBODY WAS

[26:59] IN A NEAR PANIC OR AT LEAST HIGHLY CONCERNED AND WORRIED ABOUT, THAT WE FELT LIKE IT'S PROBABLY BETTER NOT TO TAKE THIS

[27:09] VERY TUMULTUOUS TIME IN OUR COUNTRY AND IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN HIT THE VOTERS WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT

[27:19] WOULD HAVE REQUIRED A LOT OF EFFORT TO EDUCATE THEM ON AT A TIME WHEN OUR HANDS WERE TIED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

[27:28] SO PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN IF WE WERE TO HAVE THE CRC AGAIN TODAY, I WOULD VOTE TO REMOVE THE GENERAL MANAGER AS A CHARTER

[27:37] OFFICER AND PUT THAT POSITION UNDER THE CITY MANAGER AS ITS OWN SEPARATE DEPARTMENT. >> DID IT EVER COME UP FOR A

[27:45] VOTE AMONGST THE COMMISSION, THE CHARTER COMMISSION? >> I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT CAME TO A VOTE.

[27:50] AGAIN, THE PANDEMIC HIT. AND IN DISCUSSION WE JUST SAID WE'RE TABLING THIS, WE'RE TABLING THIS.

[27:55] >> GOT IT. >> WE TABLED PROBABLY SIX OR SEVEN THINGS THAT WE WERE GOING FORWARD WITH.

[28:00] AND IT JUST KIND OF DIED BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC REALLY TOOK THE WIND OUT OF OUR SAILS. >> THANK YOU.

[28:07] >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CHESTNUT HAS SOMETHING TO ADD. >> I WOULD SAY, COMMISSIONER

[28:12] WILLITS, IT WAS MOVING MORE TOWARDS HAVING THE PERSON AS A GENERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE BECAUSE WE WERE CONCERNED WITH

[28:24] JUST THE SHEER NUMBER OF CHARTER OFFICERS GAINESVILLE HAS. AND WE HAVE MORE THAN JUST ABOUT ANYONE ELSE IN THE STATE.

[28:35] AND SO WE WERE LOOKING AT HOW TO STREAMLINE THAT. >> OKAY. SO IF WE DON'T BRING BACK 3.06

[28:44] AND GRU WOULD BE MANAGED UNDER THE CITY MANAGER, DOES THEN THAT -- WHOEVER THAT MANAGER OF THE UTILITY IS, DOES THAT CHANGE

[28:51] HOW WE -- CONTRACTUALLY CHANGE HOW THAT PERSON IS HIRED BY THE CITY? IT IS LESS OF A --

[28:59] [INAUDIBLE] I MEAN THE SAME KIND OF LIKE THEY ARE HIRED AND HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW -- THEY ARE NOT NEGOTIATING

[29:06] WITH US CLEARLY ABOUT SEVERANCE OR WHAT NOT. DOES IT CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THOSE KIND OF CONTRACTS?

[29:12] >> ABSENT FURTHER AMENDMENT TO YOUR CHARTER, THEN THE GENERAL MANAGER OR WHOEVER THAT TITLE WOULD BE -- I THINK AT SOME

[29:22] POINT IN THE '80s IT WAS GENERAL MANAGER. IT WAS AT SOME POINT ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OF THE UTILITIES,

[29:30] WOULD BE UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER. AND WOULD DETERMINE COMPENSATION FOR THOSE POSITIONS.

[29:41] >> I THINK THAT ANSWERS IT FOR ME. I LIKE THE IDEA IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE THE STATUTE IS SAYING

[29:47] THAT'S THE GENERAL ELECTION, EVEN THOUGH OUR CITY ELECTIONS SOMETIMES ARE DECIDED IN NOVEMBER -- I MEAN IN AUGUST,

[29:52] BUT REALLY IT'S KIND OF OUR VERSION OF A PRIMARY TO NARROW IT DOWN TO WHOEVER IS GOING TO BE THERE IN NOVEMBER.

[29:59] I THINK IF THE IDEA IS WE WANT TO BRING IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE OF GAINESVILLE, THE LARGEST POOL OF VOTERS POSSIBLE, THIS WOULD

[30:05] BE IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR. THAT MAKES ME FEEL THE BEST ABOUT IT. LIKE THE DECISION ABOUT GRU, BIG

[30:12] PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, HIGHEST TURNOUT POSSIBLE. I LIKE THE IDEA OF NOVEMBER. I LEAN BOTH WAYS ON LIKE A

[30:24] CLEAR -- GOING BACK TO THE PAST WOULD INCLUDE 3.06 TO HAVE THE GENERAL MANAGER AS A CHARTER. THAT'S WHERE I LEAN TOWARDS, BUT

[30:30] I CAN HEAR ARGUMENTS ABOUT LIKE IF THE CRC HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PUSHING MORE TOWARDS THAT, I APPRECIATE THAT AND I CAN

[30:37] DEFINITELY BE CONVINCED THAT, YOU KNOW, UNLESS OUR CITY MANAGER OR OTHER ASSOCIATIONS OF CITY MANAGERS TELLS US NO, BUT

[30:45] IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF PLACES DO HAVE THAT UNDER THE CITY MANAGER. SO I CAN DEFINITELY BE OPEN FOR

[30:51] THAT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CHESTNUT, FOR FILLING US IN A

[30:54] LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PAST. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WILLITS. SO COMMISSIONER EASTMAN, I'LL

[30:58] GET TO YOU IN A MINUTE AND GO BACK AROUND. I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. WE'LL GO TO COMMISSIONER EASTMAN

[31:03] AND TALK TO ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WHO IS READY TO DO SO. AND WE DON'T HAVE ACTION TO TAKE TODAY, BUT I DO THINK IT'S

[31:10] IMPORTANT TO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE WE MOVE ON FOR THE REST OF THIS AGENDA.

[31:15] I WANT TO NOTE THAT IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PLACING EFFECTIVELY CHANGING MANAGEMENT OF THE UTILITY TO GENERAL

[31:29] GOVERNMENT, TO THE OVERALL WHEELHOUSE OF THE CITY MANAGER, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE CITY MANAGER WOULD DIRECTLY MANAGE

[31:42] THE UTILITY ANY MORE THAN THE CITY MANAGER DIRECTS THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OTHER THAN OVERALL GENERAL GOOD MANAGEMENT

[31:50] OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. SO IN THAT SCENARIO, CITIES THAT DO THIS DO GO FIND SOMEONE WHO IS EITHER ALREADY ON STAFF OR

[32:02] SOMEONE ELSE WAY AROUND THE WORLD TO MANAGE THE UTILITY. THE CITY MANAGER IN TALLAHASSEE IS NOT A HANDS-ON MANAGER OF THE

[32:10] UTILITY. THEY HIRED AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WHO HAS THOSE TOOLS. SO IT ABSOLUTELY -- AND I KNOW

[32:18] THAT THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE WHO ARE READY TO SAY, OH, THEY WANT CYNTHIA CURRY TO MANAGE THE UTILITY.

[32:23] THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE SAYING. IF WE GO THAT DIRECTION, WE WOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF

[32:32] THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. THAT'S THE WAY THAT GENERALLY WORKS IN CITIES WHO DO IT THIS WAY.

[32:37] SO HAVING SAID THAT, COMMISSIONER EASTMAN AND THEN THE PUBLIC. >> THANK YOU.

[32:41] SO COMMISSIONER WILLITS, I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE CHARTER REVIEW. I WAS ALSO ON THE CHARTER REVIEW

[32:47] COMMISSION AT THE TIME. I ACTUALLY WENT BACK AND WATCHED THE SEPTEMBER 16th MEETING WHERE THIS CAME UP.

[32:52] WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THIS IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE STREAMLINE OUR GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE

[32:58] VOTERS. AND WE WERE LOOKING AT A STRONG MAYOR SYSTEM AT THE TIME. AND WE INVITED TWO FOLKS THAT

[33:04] WERE LONG-TIME CITY MANAGERS TO LOOK OVER OUR CHARTER POINT BY POINT AND FIND ANY ISSUES WITHIN IT.

[33:10] AND REALLY WITH A FOCUS ON SHOULD WE MOVE TO THE STRONG MAYOR SYSTEM OR KEEP THE COUNCIL-MANAGER SYSTEM.

[33:17] WE WERE PRETTY WELL CONVINCED THAT THE COUNCIL-MANAGER SYSTEM IS A PRETTY GOOD BULWARK ESTOPPING AGAINST PEOPLE -- YOU

[33:27] HAVE PEOPLE WITH PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE RUNNING THINGS INSTEAD OF POLITICIANS. BUT WHAT THEY KEPT COMING BACK

[33:30] TO OVER AND OVER AS TALKING THROUGH THE ISSUES WITH OUR CITY IS HOW WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW, IF ONLY GOVERNMENTS, THEY HAD FOUND

[33:37] WHERE THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE UTILITY ANSWERS DIRECTLY TO THE CITY. SOME OF THIS -- AND THEY DID NOT

[33:43] LIVE IN GAINESVILLE. >> MAYOR: TO THE CITY COMMISSION YOU MEAN. >> TO THE CITY COMMISSION, I'M

[33:46] SORRY. WHAT DID I SAY? >> MAYOR: YOU SAID TO THE CITY. >> TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

[33:51] AS WE BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES WITH THE FINANCES WITH GRU, THEY POINTED OUT, OF COURSE, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO

[33:56] HAPPEN AS IT RELATES TO A FUNDS TRANSFER BECAUSE ALL FIGHTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE BROKEN UP BY THE CITY COMMISSION.

[34:02] ANY KIND OF ARGUMENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME DIRECTLY TO US TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THEY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD

[34:11] AND THEY KEPT POINTING OUT THAT THIS WAS JUST -- THIS WAS A VERY BAD SYSTEM THAT WE NEEDED TO FIX.

[34:16] AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SINCE THAT POINT, GRU, OTHER FOLKS WITHIN OUR CITY HAVE LOOKED AT ANY OTHER CITIES THAT

[34:25] ARE STRUCTURED THIS WAY. AND THEY ARE NOT. THEY ARE EITHER AN INDEPENDENT BOARD OR THEY ARE JUST A

[34:30] DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE WHICH FOR MOST OF GRU'S HISTORY THEY WERE. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHEN

[34:35] PEOPLE ARE CRITICIZING GRU IN SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT GOT MADE, A LOT OF THAT CRITICISM HAPPENED IN THAT POST-1988

[34:43] PERIOD WHEN WE WENT FROM MAKING IT A DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE, IT WAS DEPOLITICIZED.

[34:47] IT WAS JUST A PART OF THE CITY THAT WAS OVERSEEN BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF. AND IT WAS MOVED OUT ESSENTIALLY

[34:51] SO THAT THE CITY COMMISSION COULD HAVE MORE OF A HAND OVER WHAT GRU DID. AND I THINK THAT WAS THE BIG

[34:58] GOVERNANCE MISTAKE THAT LED TO A BUNCH OF OTHER ISSUES THAT CAME AFTER THAT. I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF MOVING

[35:04] THIS INTO THE WAY THAT MOST OTHER CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES WORK. I THINK IT DEPOLITICIZES GRU AND

[35:10] PUTS PROFESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF GRU INSTEAD OF COMMISSION OVERSIGHT OF GRU. I THINK IT MAKES US MORE

[35:16] EFFICIENT. I THINK JUST THE FACT THAT IT IS THE STANDARD ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FOR HOW YOU MANAGE A

[35:23] UTILITY. OUR IS SO UNIQUE, I THINK IT WOULD BE FOR US TO GO TO THAT SYSTEM.

[35:28] IT'S HOW GRU HAS FUNCTIONED THROUGH MOST OF ITS HISTORY, UP UNTIL THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES, I GUESS 30 YEARS.

[35:34] I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. BUT IT'S UP TO THIS COMMISSION BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND YOUR

[35:38] POSITION OF, YOU KNOW, BRING IT BACK TO THE STANDARD AS IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IN 2020 BEFORE ALL THIS HAPPENED.

[35:45] BUT I THINK IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IT MAKE THIS REFORM, IT'S AN IMPORTANT REFORM AND ONE THAT WILL SOLVE A LOT OF THE

[35:51] CRITICISMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD ABOUT GRU AND THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE. IT'S SORT OF A MIDDLE GROUND

[35:56] THAT DOESN'T HAVE US DIRECTLY WITH OUR HANDS IN IT AND KIND OF HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN IN-BETWEEN THE ELECTED OFFICIALS

[36:02] AND THE DECISIONS OF DAY-TO-DAY GRU. I THINK IT'S A GOOD WAY TO GO FORWARD.

[36:06] >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER EASTMAN. LET ME JUST MENTION ONE MORE BRIEF THING BEFORE WE GO IN.

[36:10] FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN HOW THE PROCESS OF THE COMMISSION PUTTING SOMETHING ON A BALLOT WORKS, I WOULD SUGGEST

[36:17] TO YOU THAT YOU GO BACK TO THE LATE 2017, EARLY 2018 MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION. AND YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF

[36:26] DISCUSSION AND MANY, MANY VOTES ABOUT PLACING -- ABOUT REORGANIZING HOW WE ELECT CITY COMMISSIONERS, WHAT YEARS WE

[36:36] ELECT CITY COMMISSIONERS AND THE LENGTH OF TERMS. WE HAVE HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

[36:43] AND I THINK THREE DIFFERENT VOTES BEFORE WE EVER GOT TO 6-7 COMMISSIONERS SUPPORTING WHAT FINALLY WENT ON THE BALLOT IN

[36:53] NOVEMBER OF '18. SO I FOUND THAT INTERESTING. I'M SURE THAT COMMISSIONER WARREN FOUND THAT INTERESTING AT

[36:59] THE TIME. AND IF YOU WANT A HISTORY LESSON IN HOW THAT PROCESS KIND OF ROLLS FORWARD UNDER OUR CHARTER,

[37:06] THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO GO BACK AND REVIEW. OKAY. I SEE NO FURTHER LIGHTS, SO,

[37:11] MADAM CLERK, WHAT DO WE HAVE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? >> WE HAVE DR. BOBBY MERMER. >> MAYOR: WELCOME.

[37:20] BY THE WAY, BEFORE WE START THIS CLOCK, ANYONE WHO WISHES TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS, OUR STANDARD PROCESS, IF YOU HAVEN'T

[37:26] BEEN THROUGH IT BEFORE, PLEASE FILL OUT ONE OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT FORMS. TURN IT IN TO MR. CARL OVER

[37:32] HERE. HE WILL GET IT TO THE CLERK AND WE WILL CALL YOU NONE THAT ORDER.

[37:36] >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. LONG TIME NO SEE. WE NEED TO STOP RUNNING INTO

[37:41] EACH OTHER LIKE THIS. SO THE ACLC -- BOBBY MERMER, COORDINATOR OF THE LABOR INITIATIVE.

[37:50] THE ACLC SUPPORTS PUTTING THIS ON THE BALLOT AND IT WAS GIVEN LAST WEEK, STRIKE ARTICLE 7. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN

[37:59] COMMITTEE SAY GO BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS, THAT WOULD INCLUDE RESTORING THE GRU G.M. AS A CHARTER OFFICER.

[38:07] STRICTLY SPEAKING, THAT'S TRUE. BUT WHEN YOU TALK TO THE AVERAGE PERSON, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OR WHEN WE SAY TO THE WAY IT WAS,

[38:17] IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ULTIMATE AUTHORITY OVER GRU GIVEN TO A GOVERNOR-APPOINTED BOARD OR IS IT GIVEN TO THE

[38:27] ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE THROUGH THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

[38:31] SO I DON'T THINK IT'S CONFUSING OR DISINGENUOUS TO JUST LEAVE THAT FIRST SECTION OF 1645, WHICH DELETED THE G.M. AS A

[38:42] CHARTER OFFICER, TO JUST KEEP THAT OFF. KEEP IT NICE AND CLEAN. STRIKE ARTICLE 7.

[38:47] PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT. THE CHOICE BETWEEN A GOVERNOR-APPOINTED OVERSIGHT BOARD OR OVERSIGHT TO A BODY

[38:55] ELECTED DIRECTLY BY THE CITIZENS OF GAINESVILLE. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY WHAT IS MEANT BY GOING BACK TO THE

[39:02] WAY IT WAS. THE AVERAGE PERSON DOESN'T REALLY GET INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY, WHO IS A CHARTER

[39:07] OFFICER, WHO ISN'T. THAT'S NOT WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK ABOUT. THANK YOU.

[39:10] >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK. >> YES. WE HAVE MS. JANICE GARY FOLLOWED

[39:15] BY ALEX HOOD. >> MAYOR: HOW MANY FOLKS DO WE HAVE? >> JUST FOUR.

[39:19] MS. GARY, MR. HOOD AND MR. ENGLE. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. WELCOME, MS. GARY.

[39:24] >> MY NAME IS JANICE GARY. I'M HERE AS AN INDIVIDUAL. THE "GAINESVILLE SUN" IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE IN

[39:32] CONTRAST -- AND THEY HAVE DIMINISHING READERSHIP. IN CONTRAST, THE "MAIN STREET DAILY NEWS" HAS INCREASING

[39:41] READERSHIP. I JUST HAD A MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVE HINSON AND THE MAIN STREET STAFF.

[39:50] THEY ARE MEETING LEGISLATORS DURING THESE LUNCHEONS. I WOULD HIGHLY SUPPORT USING "MAIN STREET DAILY NEWS" FOR

[39:57] PUBLISHING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TO ENSURE THE BROADEST REACH OF READERSHIP. THANK YOU.

[40:05] >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. >> ALEX HOOD. >> WELCOME, MR. HOOD. >> HI.

[40:16] I'M ALEX HOOD. I'M A GAINESVILLE RESIDENT. I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK AT THE LAST MEETING.

[40:23] I WANTED TO GIVE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE DOCTORS A CHANCE TO -- [LAUGHTER] LET THEMSELVES BE HEARD.

[40:28] I'M STILL IN SCHOOL, SO -- [LAUGHTER] I JUST WANTED TO ECHO EVERYTHING THAT THEY SAID.

[40:35] I THINK ALLOWING THE RESIDENTS TO DECIDE WHO THEY WANT TO RUN THEIR UTILITY, IT'S AN OBVIOUS PRO-DEMOCRACY WITH A SMALL "D"

[40:45] CHOICE. I THINK, IF ANYTHING, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN

[40:51] TO BRING SOME SEMBLANCE OF CONTROL BACK TO CITIZENS OF GAINESVILLE. I THINK THE WAY TO DO THAT IS

[40:58] THROUGH A VOTE. I THINK THE SIMPLEST WAY IS JUST TO STRIKE ARTICLE 7 IN ITS ENTIRETY.

[41:02] THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, MR. HOOD. >> JOURNEYMAN JAMES ENGLE AND THE LAST SPEAKER NANCY DARIN.

[41:12] >> MAYOR: SO EVERYONE HAS A TITLE. >> I GOT TO HEAR ALL THE DOCTORS LAST TIME SO I THOUGHT I'D GO

[41:16] WITH JOURNEYMAN JAMES ENGLE THIS TIME. JAMES ENGLE, A RESIDENT IN THE CITY.

[41:22] TWO POINTS. I WANTED TO SAY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND GIVE THE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO

[41:28] WEIGH IN ON HOW THEY RUN THEIR LOCAL BUSINESS. AND TWO, TO MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE.

[41:32] I THINK THE MORE COMPLICATED THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS, THE MORE CONFUSING IT IS FOR PEOPLE AND THE MORE PROBLEMATIC IT

[41:40] BECOMES. I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP IT

[41:45] SIMPLE. THANKS. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. >> YES, WE HAVE NANCY DARIN

[41:52] FOLLOWED BY SUSAN BOTTCHER. >> MAYOR: WELCOME, MS. DARIN. >> HI, NANCY DARIN. FIRST, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M

[42:01] DISTRESSED AND CONCERNED FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED AT THE CITY. AND I HOPE IT GETS FIGURED OUT. AND I WISH YOU ALL SAFETY AND

[42:12] ABILITY TO DO YOUR JOBS AND OUR STAFF BE PROTECTED AS WELL. SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT HAS

[42:22] BEEN SAID. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS BEGINNING DISCUSSION, SO KEEPING IT SIMPLE.

[42:29] GIVE US THE CHOICE. THIS REFERENDUM IS TO CRITICAL TO OUR FUTURE AND HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

[42:38] THIS WAS NOT AN INDEPENDENT BOARD. IT'S AN AUTONOMOUS BOARD WITH A FIREWALL AND THAT DOESN'T SERVE

[42:44] EITHER GRU OR GENERAL GOVERNMENT WELL. I'M VERY CURIOUS ABOUT THE IDEAS AROUND JUST -- WELL, I THINK

[42:55] JUST STRIKE ARTICLE 7 AND HAVE SOME MORE DISCUSSION AROUND THE G.M. AS CHARTER OR NOT. BUT THAT WAS FASCINATING.

[43:03] SO THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, MS. DARIN. COMMISSIONER BOTTCHER. BY THE WAY, IN CASE YOU WONDER,

[43:14] MY GENERAL WAY OF DOING THINGS IS IF SOMEONE IS A FORMER ELECTED OFFICIAL, PARTICULARLY FORMER MEMBER OF THIS

[43:21] COMMISSION, I WILL REFER TO THEM AS COMMISSIONER. >> NO PRESSURE. [LAUGHTER]

[43:27] I KIND OF LIKE MY CIVILIAN STATUS. BUT I UNDERSTAND. SUSAN BOTTCHER.

[43:35] AND I THINK BECAUSE THIS CAN BE COMPLICATED IN THE MINDS OF THE PUBLIC, WHO I LIKE TO REFER TO AS THE NORMAL PEOPLE, THE NORMAL

[43:44] PEOPLE WHO DON'T PAY ATTENTION -- THEY DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF PAYING ATTENTION TO POLITICS AND THE GOINGS ON THE

[43:51] WAY A LOT OF US DO, SO KEEPING IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE I THINK IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. AND IN MY MIND, THE SIMPLE WAY

[44:00] TO -- AND Y'ALL ARE GOING TO CRAFT THE WORDS ON YOUR OWN. BUT KEEPING THIS IN MIND -- AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO

[44:09] DO IS PUT A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT THAT'S GOING TO GIVE THE VOTERS A CHOICE, THE CITIZENS OF GAINESVILLE A CHOICE.

[44:17] DO YOU WANT THE GOVERNOR APPOINTING PEOPLE TO RUN THE UTILITY? OR DO YOU WANT THE PEOPLE WE

[44:25] ELECT HERE LOCALLY TO APPOINT WHO RUNS THE UTILITY? AND THAT LOCAL MESSAGE, THAT HOME RULE MESSAGE I THINK IS

[44:33] REALLY OUR NORTH STAR ON ALL THIS BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF OUTRAGE THAT IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, WHO IN GAINESVILLE CAN

[44:45] DRIVE UP TO TALLAHASSEE, KNOCK ON THE GOVERNOR'S DOOR AND SAY I'D LIKE A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME?

[44:52] IT JUST ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. THAT'S WHY IT NEEDS TO BE RETURNED TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE ELECT HERE LOCALLY SO THAT YOU

[44:58] GUYS CAN DO THE APPOINTING. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. >> ROBERT HUTCHINSON FOLLOWED BY

[45:03] HELEN [INAUDIBLE] >> MAYOR: FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONER ROBERT HUTCHINSON. WELCOME, COMMISSIONER.

[45:09] >> MY BUSINESS CARD SAYS POOL HUSTLER. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK YOUR ATTORNEY TO ALSO

[45:16] OPINE ON WITH RESPECT TO THE ELECTION IS, IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO A SPECIAL ELECTION ON AN ISSUE AND DO THAT BY A MAIL-OUT

[45:27] BALLOT? THERE MAY BE SOME BENEFITS TO THAT, PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT FURTHER CHANGES DOWN

[45:31] THE LINE TO THE GOVERNANCE OF GRU. YOU MAY NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CHARTER TO DO THAT.

[45:37] AND CAN YOU DO A CHARTER AMENDMENT BY SPECIAL ELECTION, MAIL-OUT BALLOTS? THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING

[45:45] THAT'S AN ISSUE. SO THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY COMMISSION UNDERSTAND THE

[45:58] IMPLICATIONS OF GETTING INVOLVED IN GRU ISSUES RIGHT NOW. AND I'LL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE. LAST NIGHT THEY DECIDED THEY ARE

[46:05] MOVING FORWARD WITH BOND VALIDATION. UNDOUBTEDLY, THIS BOND VALIDATION -- WELL, THIS BOND

[46:12] VALIDATION IS IMPORTANT. AND THEY ARE GOING TO PROBABLY COME TO THE CITY COMMISSION AND SAY DO YOU GUYS AGREE THAT WE

[46:19] SHOULD FLOAT THESE BONDS, DO YOU GUYS AGREE THAT THE CURRENT SITUATION IS LEGAL. Y'ALL NEED TO THINK TWICE ABOUT

[46:25] HOW YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND, IF YOU GET THE BONDS VALIDATED, THAT IS DISASTROUS, DA, DA, DA, DA, DA,

[46:38] MAY OR MAY NOT BE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE FACT THAT YOU ARE DIPPING INTO GRU BUSINESS THAT HB 1645 SAYS YOU

[46:47] CAN'T, IT COMPLICATES THE LEGAL STANDING OF WHATEVER YOU SAY. AND WE DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN YET ANOTHER

[46:55] QUESTIONING OF DO YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING. SO THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX TIME.

[47:04] FORTUNATELY, PART OF THE MESSAGING BEHIND THIS REFERENDUM IS ARE YOU TIRED OF THE CHAOS. AND THAT'S JUST GOING TO PEOPLE

[47:10] WHO ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO IT. THE NORMAL PEOPLE WHO MAY JUST NOT CARE ABOUT ALL THIS INSIDE BASEBALL STUFF WON'T CARE ONE

[47:19] WAY OR ANOTHER. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO TAKE A STANCE THAT YOU WON'T GET INVOLVED WITH THE BOND

[47:27] VALIDATION BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO ASK BOTH THE OLD BOARD AND THE NEW BOARD BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE HAS THE

[47:35] AUTHORITY TO START THE BOND VALIDATION. YOU'RE GOING TO ASK THEM BOTH A QUESTION.

[47:39] I'M GUESSING THEY WILL COME TO YOU ALL AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU,

[47:43] COMMISSIONER. >> HELEN WARREN. >> MAYOR: COMMISSIONER WARREN. >> AND THEN MARY VON DABINSKI.

[47:53] >> I ENJOY BEING ON THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS. REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE COME UP.

[47:58] I WAS ON THE TAIL END OF MY SERVICE WHEN THIS CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS WAS GOING ON. AND IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO

[48:08] CONSIDER CHANGING THE COURSE OF WHAT HAD BEEN PART OF THE PROCESS WITH GRU AND THE CHARTER OFFICER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE

[48:15] CITY. AND TO THINK THAT WE COULD PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF, THERE WAS A STRONG INTEREST IN MAKING THAT

[48:24] CHANGE. AND I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU GUYS SUPPORT A STRUCTURE THAT REPRESENTS OTHER

[48:30] COMMUNITIES THAT OWN THEIR OWN MUNICIPALITY AS WELL BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE -- THOSE WHO ARE NORMAL PEOPLE OR THOSE WHO

[48:39] ARE NOT, IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLICATED, NO MATTER WHICH WAY IT GOES. AND WITH THE CONSIDERATION THAT

[48:44] WE WERE ON COURSE TO TAKE OUT THE GENERAL MANAGER AS A CHARTER OFFICER, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO MAKE THAT

[48:53] TRANSITION. AND ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT I'M HEARING CONSIDERATION OF, THEY WOULD BE SIMILAR TO HOW WE DO

[48:58] OUR PUBLIC WORKS, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOMEBODY IN THERE THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO

[49:07] STAY IN POSITION. I CAN'T TELL YOU -- I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERY CHARTER OFFICER WAS SWITCHED OUT AT SOME POINT

[49:13] DURING MY SIX YEARS ON THE COMMISSION AND SOME MORE THAN ONCE. AND THAT PART OF INSTABILITY IS

[49:21] SOME OF THAT CHAOS THAT WOULD DO WELL FOR US TO GET SOMETHING BETTER IN A LONG-TERM PLACEMENT FOR SOMEBODY.

[49:28] THAT CALIBER OF PROFESSION THAT IS NEEDED TO LEAD THE UTILITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU,

[49:34] COMMISSIONER. >> WE HAVE MARY VON DABINSKI. >> MAYOR: WELCOME. YES, GOOD AFTERNOON.

[49:43] I DID NOT PREPARE ANYTHING. MY NAME IS MARY VON DABINSKI. TODAY I AM SPEAKING MORE AS A CUSTOMER OF GRU.

[49:55] AND JUST AS SOMEONE WHO TRIES TO LIVE A LIFE IN A VERY PRAGMATIC WAY AND DEBT FREE. AND THE WHOLE ISSUE OF GRU IS

[50:05] DEAR TO MY HEART BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR ALL OF FLORIDA TO BE REALLY CONSERVING ENERGY AND

[50:15] USING SOLAR ENERGY AND WIND ENERGY AS MUCH AS WE CAN. FOR ME, GRU IS A MODEL THAT OTHER UTILITIES SHOULD FOLLOW.

[50:25] BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS WHAT'S PRESENTED WITH THE GOVERNMENT WE HAVE IN TALLAHASSEE. SO AS A PERSON WHO LIVES IN

[50:34] GAINESVILLE, I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD THAT PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT THEIR BILLS, OKAY. AND THE DECISIONS TAKEN BY

[50:46] THIS -- IT IS NOT YOU, BUT BY THE COMMISSIONS THAT WERE HERE BEFORE -- AND I DON'T WANT TO INSULT ANYBODY BECAUSE I'M NOT

[50:53] INTO POLITICS THAT MUCH, YOU KNOW. BUT I THINK THAT IF YOU WANT THIS MEASURE TO BE VOTED ON IN

[51:02] NOVEMBER, YOU REALLY HAVE TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING HIGHER BILLS. IF THEY ARE WEALTHY, THEY HAVE

[51:10] ALREADY PUT SOLAR PANELS ON THEIR ROOFS. BUT IF THEY ARE NOT, THEIR BILLS IS A LARGE PORTION OF THEIR

[51:19] INCOME. SO I SUGGEST THAT WHEN YOU PRESENT THIS MEASURE, THAT YOU ALSO GIVE SOME INFORMATION THAT

[51:27] THE NEW GRU AUTHORITY OR BOARD OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT WOULD BE REALLY LOOKING AT HELPING PEOPLE.

[51:37] I'M SURE THERE ARE WAYS TO FINANCE THE DEBT ON ONE SIDE, BUT ALSO TO FINANCE THE BILLS OR TO FINANCE AND PAY THE BILLS.

[51:51] MOST PEOPLE, LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE HOUSE, ANYWAY, THERE ARE WAYS TO DO THAT.

[51:57] SO YOU NEED TO BE INFORMED AND YOU NEED TO REALLY PRESENT THAT TO THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU.

[52:02] >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? >> LAST SPEAKER. >> MAYOR: VERY GOOD.

[52:07] THANK YOU. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING IS WHETHER OR NOT

[52:12] SOMETHING GOES ON THE BALLOT. ONCE WE -- WE MAY NOT PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. IT TAKES SIX OUT OF SEVEN

[52:21] COMMISSIONERS TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT. IF WE DO THAT, THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE CANNOT ADVOCATE OR

[52:26] EDUCATE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IN THIS PROCESS. AND WE WON'T. AS INDIVIDUALS, COMMISSIONERS,

[52:34] WE HAVE SPEECH RIGHTS. AND THOSE INCLUDE POLITICAL SPEECH RIGHTS. BUT AS A COMMISSION AND AS A

[52:42] CITY OF GAINESVILLE, WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADVOCATE EITHER WAY OR EDUCATE EITHER WAY.

[52:48] THAT WILL BE UP TO THE VOTERS AND THE ELECTORATE TO DO THAT WORK. SO I WANT TO SET THAT OUT

[52:54] IMMEDIATELY. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY THINKING OTHERWISE. I ALSO WANT TO -- BEFORE WE GO

[52:59] MOVE ON PAST THIS TOPIC, THE MENTION OF THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR SYSTEM AND CHANGING TO THAT WAS BROUGHT UP AS SOMETHING THAT WAS

[53:07] DISCUSSED IN THE PAST. I DON'T WANT THAT TO GO ANYWHERE EITHER. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY THINKING

[53:11] THIS IS PART OF A MOVE TO DO THAT, BECAUSE IT AIN'T. AT LEAST NOT ON MY PART. I LIKE THE JOB I HAVE.

[53:17] I'M NOT INTERESTED IN MAKING A CHANGE TO THAT. SO I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS. THANK YOU, ALL, FOR YOUR

[53:23] THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION. I APPRECIATE IT. AND, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.

[53:28] >> MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE 2024-293, STATE LEGISLATIVE POST-SESSION UPDATE WITH A RECOMMENDATION THE CITY COMMISSION RECEIVE A

[53:34] PRESENTATION BY STAFF AND ITS CONTRACT LOBBYIST ON THE OUTCOMES OF THE 2024 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

[53:43] >> MAYOR: Y'ALL, THIS IS GOING TO BE FASCINATING. YOU MAY WANT TO STICK AROUND, JUST SAYING.

[53:47] [LAUGHTER] VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. MADAM MANAGER. >> MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE

[53:52] COMMISSION, WE HAVE MR. RYAN MATTHEWS AND ANGELA HERE FROM GRAYROBINSON. THEY ARE OUR STATE LOBBYISTS AND

[53:59] WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE SESSION THAT IS ALREADY ENDED. >> MAYOR: GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH. COME ON UP.

[54:08] >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. SORRY TO DRIVE EVERYBODY OUT OF THE ROOM.

[54:11] [LAUGHTER] BUT WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT OCCURRED DURING THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, GIVE YOU A

[54:18] LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BOTH FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT AS WELL AS THE BUDGET AND JUST TO INFORM YOU OF NEXT

[54:27] STEPS BECAUSE WE HAVE WHAT IS A FAIRLY LENGTHY TIME PERIOD BETWEEN THE END OF THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE

[54:36] BEGINNING OF THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, WE HAVE HAD THE HONOR

[54:44] OF REPRESENTING THE CITY FOR OVER A DECADE NOW IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, WHAT WAS FORMERLY PEOPLES AND SMITH BECAME PEOPLES

[54:55] SMITH AND MATTHEWS IN 2017 WHICH THEN WAS ACQUIRED BY GRAYROBINSON IN 2021. MY BACKGROUND, I AM A LAWYER AND

[55:02] LOBBYIST BY TRADE SO I AM THE BUTT OF EVERY PARTY JOKE YOU CAN IMAGINE. I HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

[55:08] BACKGROUND IN PARTICULAR. I WAS THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNDER GOVERNOR SCOTT

[55:15] SOMETIME AGO. MY PARTNER IN CRIME SINCE 2017 IS ANGELA DRZEWIECKI. SHE HAS WORKED FOR FORMER CFO

[55:29] ALEX CYNC AND HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL BRINGING BACK STATE DOLLARS TO THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE SINCE ABOUT 2016.

[55:38] THIS IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ETHOS OF THE LAW FIRM OF GRAYROBINSON. WE ARE A 15-OFFICE LAW FIRM, 14

[55:45] OF THOSE OFFICES LOCATED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. ONE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WE HAVE OVER 350 ATTORNEYS AND

[55:51] CONSULTANTS. YOU WILL SEE HERE JUST THE MAP OF WHERE WE ARE LOCATED. SO LET'S TALK GLOBALLY ABOUT

[55:58] WHAT OCCURRED IN 2024. YOU COULD SEE SOME STATISTICS THERE. I WANT TO GIVE YOU SORT OF AN

[56:06] IDEA OF HOW THE SESSION PLAYED OUT. AS WITH MOST ELECTION YEARS, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, THERE WAS

[56:20] LITTLE DRAMA AT THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. PRESIDING OFFICERS, PARTICULARLY IN THEIR SECOND YEAR, IN THEIR

[56:27] POSITIONS ARE TERMING OUT, IF YOU WILL AS SPEAKER AND SENATE PRESIDENT. THE GOVERNOR HAD A FAR LESS

[56:33] ROBUST LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IN 2024 THAN HE DID IN 2023. I MEAN REALLY THE PACE OF THE 2024 SESSION WAS FAR DIFFERENT

[56:43] THAN THAT OF 2023. AND SO THE GOVERNOR REALLY LOOKED TO DO JUST A HANDFUL OF THINGS.

[56:50] HE WAS LOOKING FOR AN ADOPTION OF A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR CONGRESS, AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTATION OF TERM LIMITS.

[56:59] THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAD PUT JOINT RESOLUTIONS TO CONGRESS IDENTIFYING BOTH THOSE PRIORITIES OF THE GOVERNOR.

[57:06] HIS OFFICE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN A ONE-YEAR EXEMPTION OF TAXES, FEES AND ASSESSMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY INSURANCE

[57:13] POLICYHOLDERS. THE STATE CONTINUES TO GRAPPLE WITH THE PROPERTY INSURANCE ISSUE THAT WE HAVE FACED OVER

[57:19] THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AND REALLY, OTHER THAN THIS ONE YEAR, THIS ONE YEAR EXEMPTION,

[57:28] THERE WASN'T A LOT OF WORK DONE IN THE PROPERTY INSURANCE MARKET. THE SPEAKER HAD A COUPLE OF

[57:34] PRIORITIES, SPEAKER PAUL RENNER. HIS TOP PRIORITY DEALT WITH CHILDREN AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THAT BILL WAS FILED AS HOUSE

[57:42] BILL 1 AND EFFECTIVELY WAS A PROHIBITION ON ANYONE UNDER 16 UTILIZING SOCIAL MEDIA. THE GOVERNOR ACTUALLY DURING THE

[57:49] WANING DAYS OF SESSION VETOED HOUSE BILL 1 FOR SOME CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES THAT HE HAD SEEN IN THAT BILL.

[57:59] AND MAINLY HIS MAIN OPPOSITION WAS THAT THERE WAS NO PARENTAL OPT IN FOR THOSE CHILDREN WHO WERE 14 OR 15 YEARS OLD WHO MAY

[58:06] USE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE ACADEMIC REASONS, FOR ATHLETIC REASONS, FOR RECRUITMENT, ETC. SO DURING SESSION, THE GOVERNOR

[58:15] ACTUALLY VETOED HOUSE BILL 1 WHICH WAS PASSED AROUND WEEK SEVEN. SO THAT LED TO THE SPEAKER IN

[58:21] THE HOUSE SCRAMBLING A LITTLE BIT. THERE WAS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN HOUSE BILL 3 THAT WAS STILL

[58:27] ALIVE SO IT WAS AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE PARENTAL OPT-IN FOR THOSE 14 AND 15-YEAR-OLDS. AND THEN IT WAS SIGNED.

[58:35] THE SPEAKER'S SECOND PRIORITY LEADS TO A COMMON THEME FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITHIN THE YEAR, THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE

[58:44] SESSION DEALT WITH PROPERTY TAXES. AND SO HOUSE BILL 7017 ALLOWS FOR OR WILL PLACE A QUESTION ON

[58:51] THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR A 3% ANNUAL CPI INCREASE TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR PROPERTY OWNERS IN

[59:00] THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THERE WERE NUMEROUS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS THAT WERE FILED AS LEGISLATION THIS YEAR.

[59:06] NOT ALL OF THEM PASSED. THERE WAS A PROVISION IN A BILL FILED DEALING WITH LOCAL BUSINESS TAXES.

[59:13] AND NOT THE COMPLETE ELIMINATION THEREOF -- AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT SHORTLY. BUT ALSO, A BILL THAT WAS FILED

[59:21] THAT LOOKED AT A STUDY DEALING WITH PROPERTY TAXES IN GENERAL. SO WHEN I SAY THAT THERE WAS A THEME OVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT

[59:30] REVENUES, THERE WASN'T A LOT THAT ACTUALLY PASSED. BUT I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT

[59:36] THREE, FOUR YEARS, THERE WILL BE A MICROSCOPE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUES IN ALL FORMS FROM TALLAHASSEE.

[59:42] SO IT'S SOMETHING TO CERTAINLY BE AWARE OF. WHAT I WANT TO DO NOW BEFORE GETTING INTO A WHOLE HOST OF

[59:50] PIECES OF LEGISLATION IS BRING ANGELA UP, HAVE HER TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET. AND THEN WHAT I'LL DO IS

[59:54] PROBABLY GO OVER 10 TO 12 BILLS THAT HAVE SOME IMPACT ON YOU. I KNOW JOHNA THOMAS WILL COME UP AFTER THAT AS WELL.

[1:00:02] I'M GOING TO PASS IT TO ANGELA AND THEN I WILL BE BACK. >> MAYOR: WELCOME. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

[1:00:09] THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET OR THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR THE

[1:00:16] '24-'25 FISCAL YEAR TOTALS 117.46 BILLION. OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR BUDGET IS 116.5 BILLION.

[1:00:26] AND THAT BUDGET INCLUDES ABOUT 68.1 BILLION FROM TRUST FUNDS AND 49.4 BILLION IN GENERAL REVENUE.

[1:00:33] THE BUDGET HAS NOT BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR YET. ONCE HE DOES RECEIVE IT, HE'LL HAVE 15 DAYS TO ACT ON IT.

[1:00:40] AND HE DOES HAVE A LINE-ITEM VETO AUTHORITY OVER THE BUDGET. THERE WAS A SESSION-LONG EMPHASIS IF YOU WILL OR THEME,

[1:00:49] MAINLY BY THE GOVERNOR WHO IN DECEMBER PROPOSED A $114.4 BILLION BUDGET IN THE HOUSE, ALSO, TO MAKE FISCALLY

[1:00:56] RESPONSIBLE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET SO THAT IT WAS SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM. AND ALSO TO INCREASE RESERVES.

[1:01:02] AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE STATE HAS ABOUT 10 BILLION IN TOTAL RESERVES NOW AND THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDED 500 MILLION

[1:01:09] TO RETIRE OUTSTANDING STATE DEBT. AND PART OF THAT WAS BECAUSE IN RECENT YEARS THE STATE WAS

[1:01:19] BOOSTED BY FEDERAL COVID DOLLARS RELIEF FUNDS WHICH ARE NOW DRYING UP. AND I WILL JUST -- I ALWAYS

[1:01:27] THINK THIS IS INTERESTING TO PUT OUT THERE. EVEN WITH THE MORE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE BUDGET, JUST TO

[1:01:32] GIVE YOU AN IDEA HOW MUCH THE STATE'S BUDGET HAS GROWN IN RECENT YEARS, JUST A DECADE AGO, THE BUDGET WAS UNDER 77 BILLION.

[1:01:39] SO AGAIN, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH IT'S GROWN IN RECENT YEARS. OKAY.

[1:01:45] AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE, THIS IS JUST A BREAKDOWN OF THE TOTAL BUDGET. THE LARGEST BUDGET SILO IS

[1:01:53] HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ACCOUNTING FOR 46.5% OF TOTAL SPENDING. I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND TOO MUCH

[1:02:00] TIME ON IT BUT I DID WANT TO GO OVER A FEW OF WHAT I CONSIDER THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.

[1:02:06] AND IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE AS WELL. BUT THERE'S $100 MILLION

[1:02:11] INCLUDED IN THIS FOR HOMETOWN HEROES PROGRAM. IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT, THAT'S THE PROGRAM THAT

[1:02:16] PROVIDES DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE TO FIRST-TIME INCOME QUALIFIED HOME BUYERS SO THEY CAN PURCHASE A

[1:02:23] PRIMARY RESIDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY WORK. THERE'S ALSO $75 MILLION IN THE BUDGET FOR THE FLORIDA JOB

[1:02:28] GROWTH GRANT FUND WHICH IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROMOTE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND WORKFORCE

[1:02:33] TRAINING ACROSS THE STATE. THIS IS A GRANT THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN APPLY FOR. FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE BUDGET

[1:02:40] INCLUDES OVER $400 MILLION FOR LOCAL WATER PROJECTS AND 135 MILLION FOR THE WASTEWATER GRANT PROGRAM.

[1:02:47] SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE YOUR SEPTIC-TO-SEWER PROGRAM. FLORIDA FOREVER, THE STATE'S CONSERVATION AND LAND

[1:02:56] ACQUISITION PROGRAM, THERE'S $100 MILLION IN THE BUDGET FOR THE DIVISION OF STATE LANDS. AND THE BUDGET ALSO ALLOCATES

[1:03:03] 14.3 MILLION FOR THE FLORIDA RECREATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES GRANTS TO LOCAL

[1:03:10] GOVERNMENTS FOR ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF LAND FOR PUBLIC OUTDOOR RECREATION. THERE'S ALSO $15 MILLION FOR

[1:03:16] FLORIDA'S COMMUNITIES TRUST PROGRAM WHICH IS A GRANT FOR REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES LIKE PARKS AND GREEN SPACES.

[1:03:25] THROUGH PRESIDENT PASSIDOMO'S BILL AND THERE WERE A FEW OTHERS WRAPPED INTO THAT, THERE'S ABOUT $717 MILLION WHICH INCLUDES

[1:03:39] EFFORTS TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT MORE HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO THE STATE. FOR EDUCATION THERE'S

[1:03:44] 1.8 BILLION TOTAL INCREASE IN K-12 SPENDING WHICH ALSO INCLUDES TEACHER SALARY INCREASES.

[1:03:53] THE BUDGET ALSO FULLY FUNDS HOUSING PROGRAMS. SO THAT'S 174 MILLION FOR THE S.H.I.P. PROGRAM OR STATE

[1:04:00] HOUSING INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP. AND 84 MILLION FOR SALE. THERE WAS ALSO LANGUAGE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET TO REVERT AND

[1:04:09] REAPPROPRIATE THE FUNDING FROM THIS PAST -- WELL, YES, THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR FOR CYBERSECURITY LOCAL GRANTS.

[1:04:17] WHICH IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, THERE WAS ABOUT $40 MILLION WHICH I BELIEVE WASN'T SPENT SO THAT WOULD BE REVERTED AND

[1:04:23] REAPPROPRIATED THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COULD APPLY FOR. FOR THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE EXTREMELY

[1:04:29] PLEASED TO SAY THAT THE BUDGET DOES INCLUDE $350,000 FOR A REGIONAL MOBILE COMMAND HAZMAT ASSET.

[1:04:35] THE FUNDING WAS REQUESTED TO REPLACE THE 20-PLUS-YEAR-OLD RESPONSE VEHICLE AND WILL SERVE THE 13-COUNTY REGION.

[1:04:42] AS I DID MENTION PREVIOUSLY, THE GOVERNOR DOES HAVE LINE-ITEM VETO AUTHORITY. WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE

[1:04:51] MERITS OF THE PROJECT UNTIL THE BUDGET IS SENT TO THE GOVERNOR. I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO RYAN AND LET HIM DISCUSS SOME OF THE

[1:04:57] BILLS THAT PASSED. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. >> I APPRECIATE ANGELA BRINGING UP EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE

[1:05:05] WHICH WERE THE PRIORITIES OF THE SENATE PRESIDENT WHICH I FAILED TO MENTION IN MY OPENING. THERE WERE OVER 1900 BILLS THAT

[1:05:11] WERE FILED IN 2024. 325 OF THOSE PASSED. SO AS NOT TO GO OVER ALL 325 OR 1900 IN TOTAL, WE HAVE GOT A

[1:05:21] LIST OF PROBABLY 15 OR SO WE WANTED TO BRING UP TO YOU AND HAVE AGAIN JOHNA THOMAS COME FILL IN THE GAPS.

[1:05:29] GOING TO KEEP THIS AT A RELATIVELY HIGH LEVEL. IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE AFTERWARDS.

[1:05:34] THE FIRST BILL IS 389 DEALING WITH TRANSPORTATION FACILITY DESIGNATIONS. THIS IS A BILL THAT ANGELA AND I

[1:05:41] WORKED ON TO ENSURE THAT THE DYLAN ROBERTS CROSSWALK MEMORIAL WOULD BE INCLUDED. THAT BILL HAS PASSED.

[1:05:45] IT HAS NOT YET BEEN SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR. BUT IT WAS FULLY VETTED THROUGHOUT THE SESSION AND

[1:05:51] ULTIMATELY WE WOULD ANTICIPATE IT BEING SIGNED. >> MAYOR: SO THAT IS FOR ALL THE SPECIAL DESIGNATIONS THROUGHOUT

[1:06:00] THE STATE? >> CORRECT. GENERALLY WHAT HAPPENS, MR. MAYOR, IS YOU CAN FILE AN

[1:06:04] INDIVIDUAL BILL WITH A FACILITY DESIGNATION. MOST TIMES, MOST OFTEN THEY ARE NOT, THEY ARE CONSOLIDATED AND

[1:06:11] ULTIMATELY PASS. WE HAD AN AMENDMENT THAT WAS PLACED TO PUT THE DYLAN ROBERTS CROSSWALK ON TO ONE OF THOSE

[1:06:16] FINAL VERSIONS OF THE BILL TO ENSURE IT WOULD BE INCLUDED. >> MAYOR: DOES THE GOVERNOR HAVE THE POWER TO LINE ITEM THOSE?

[1:06:22] OR IS THAT -- >> HE COULD VETO THE BILL. IT'S HIGHLY, HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT WOULD OCCUR.

[1:06:27] >> MAYOR: BUT HE CAN'T TAKE OUT INDIVIDUAL DESIGNATIONS WITHIN THE BILL. >> NO, SIR.

[1:06:31] HE COULD VETO THE BILL AS A WHOLE. >> MAYOR: NO, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT.

[1:06:35] >> THE NEXT BILL WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHICH I MENTIONED JUST BRIEFLY IN MY OPENING IS HJR7017.

[1:06:43] THAT IS THE CPI TO THE HOMESTEAD PROPERTY EXTENSION 3% YEAR-OVER-YEAR. THERE WAS A COMPANION MEASURE

[1:06:48] THAT DID FAIL, ULTIMATELY HJR THAT WOULD ADD AN ADDITIONAL $25,000 TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

[1:06:57] THIS COLLECTIVELY FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA, FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE HAD ABOUT A $1 BILLION IMPACT.

[1:07:05] THANKFULLY THE BILL DID NOT PASS ULTIMATELY. AGAIN TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, BECAUSE EVERY BAD IDEA BECOMES

[1:07:12] RECYCLED IN TALLAHASSEE, THESE THINGS ARE LIKELY TO BE DISCUSSED AGAIN IN FUTURE YEARS. SO IT IS SOMETHING TO BE MINDFUL

[1:07:19] OF. HOUSE BILL 609, AGAIN SOMETHING THAT I MENTIONED BRIEFLY IN MY OPENING DEALT WITH THE LOCAL

[1:07:24] BUSINESS TAXES. THIS WAS NOT A COMPLETE ELIMINATION OF THE LOCAL BUSINESS TAX.

[1:07:29] BUT WHAT THIS BILL SAID THAT YOU COULD NOT COLLECT MORE REVENUE FROM YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS TAXES THAN YOU COULD AS OF

[1:07:37] SEPTEMBER 30th, 2023 OR SEPTEMBER 30th, 2024, WHICHEVER WAS GREATER. SO IT EFFECTIVELY PLACED A

[1:07:45] LIMITATION ON THE AMOUNT OF LOCAL BUSINESS TAXES YOU COULD RECEIVE AND COLLECT. AGAIN, I WOULD ADVISE -- I WOULD

[1:07:50] NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE AN OUTRIGHT ELIMINATION OF THE LOCAL BUSINESS TAX IN THE COMING YEARS COMING FROM TALLAHASSEE.

[1:07:58] SENATE BILL 1628 DEALS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WILL RECALL WHEN WE PRESENTED OR WHEN THOMAS

[1:08:06] ACTUALLY PRESENTED LAST YEAR, SENATE BILL 102 WHICH WAS THE PRIORITY OF SENATE PRESIDENT, THE MOTHER OF ALL PREEMPTIONS,

[1:08:14] EFFECTIVELY CREATING A BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT FOR EVERY ORDINANCE THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD HAVE TO ADOPT.

[1:08:19] AND THEN THE ROCKET DOCKET FOR THOSE CHALLENGES ON ORDINANCES THAT MAY HAVE HAD AN ARBITRARY OR CAPRICIOUS TYPE OF GENESIS.

[1:08:33] THIS WAS AN EXPANSION OF SENATE BILL 102. THE ORIGINAL VERSION, ANY LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION WAS

[1:08:48] EXEMPT FROM 102. THIS WAS PLACING THOSE TYPE OF ACTIONS INTO A SIMILAR BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT MANDATE.

[1:08:55] SO THAT BILL DID PASS AS WELL. A BILL THAT FAILED IS HOUSE BILL 1195 DEALING WITH MILLAGE RATES. IT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED 2/3 OF A

[1:09:03] CITY OR COUNTY OR SPECIAL DISTRICT TO PASS ANY MILLAGE RATE INCREASE. AGAIN, THAT BILL FAILED BUT

[1:09:11] LIKELY TO RETURN. HOUSE BILL 267, ANOTHER PSEUDO THEME IF YOU WILL. THERE WERE MULTIPLE BILLS THAT

[1:09:18] WERE FILED AS IT RELATES TO BUILDING REGULATIONS. HOUSE BILL 267 REQUIRED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO APPROVE, APPROVE

[1:09:28] WITH CONDITIONS OR DENY A PERMIT APPLICATION WITHIN 30 DAYS FOR STRUCTURES LESS THAN 7500 SQUARE FEET.

[1:09:34] THAT IS DOWN FROM THE WHAT WAS CURRENT 60-DAY TIMELINE FOR ANY STRUCTURE. THAT APPROVAL, DENIAL OR

[1:09:46] APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS IS DOWN TO 60 DAYS FROM 120 DAYS PRIOR. AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL REFER TO AS

[1:09:55] EFFICIENCY IN THE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS. BUT THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THIS BILL ACTUALLY REQUIRED A LOCAL

[1:10:01] GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE THAT APPROVAL OR DENIAL WITHIN THREE CALENDAR DAYS. SO IF YOU CAN IMAGINE A SCENARIO

[1:10:08] WHERE SOMEONE COMES TO YOU ON A FRIDAY WITH A BUILDING PERMIT. SO THE BILL IMPROVED, IF YOU WILL, OVER TIME.

[1:10:16] BUT CERTAINLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES FROM WHAT WAS EXISTING LAW PRIOR. AND THERE WILL BE ANOTHER

[1:10:25] BUILDING PERMIT I WILL DISCUSS, BUILDING PERMIT BILL I WILL DISCUSS BRIEFLY. SENATE BILL 472 DEALS WITH

[1:10:30] SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY. THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT FIVE YEARS IN A ROW WITH DISCUSSION ON INCREASING THE CURRENT CAPS ON

[1:10:36] SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY AND WHAT EXISTS TODAY. 200,000 PER PERSON, 300,000 PER OCCURRENCE.

[1:10:44] IT WOULD INCREASE THE CAPS TO $400,000 PER PERSON, $600,000 PER OCCURRENCE. IT ALSO WOULD HAVE GIVEN LOCAL

[1:10:50] GOVERNMENTS THE ABILITY TO SETTLE CLAIMS OUTSIDE OF THE CLAIMS BILL PROCESS. NOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A CLAIM

[1:10:57] AGAINST A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS ABOVE THOSE LIMITS, YOU WILL HAVE A CLAIMS BILL IN TALLAHASSEE THAT IS ADJUDICATED

[1:11:05] THERE. THIS WOULD HAVE ALLOWED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SETTLE ABOVE THE CAPS WHICH A LOT OF FOLKS WERE

[1:11:12] OPPOSED TO. A LOT OF TIMES IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE THE LEGISLATOR BE THE ARBITER ULTIMATELY OF THOSE

[1:11:18] CLAIMS. SENATE BILL 812 DID PASS, ANOTHER EXPEDITED APPROVAL OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMIT

[1:11:24] PIECE OF LEGISLATION. THIS BILL REALLY DEALS MORE WITH MASTER PLANNING COMMUNITIES. IT ESTABLISHES A TWO-STEP

[1:11:33] APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE ADOPTION OF FIRST A PRELIMINARY PLAT AND THEN FINAL PLAT APPROVAL.

[1:11:40] THIS ONLY APPLIES WHERE THERE ARE CONTIGUOUS 25 ACRES OF DEVELOPMENT, TALKING GENERAL, 200, 250, 300 HOMES AT A TIME,

[1:11:52] DEALING WITH THAT AT EXPEDITED APPROVAL OF THOSE BUILDING PERMITS. THIS IS MY LAST SLIDE, JUST SO

[1:11:59] YOU KNOW. AND AGAIN, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AFTER EITHER BEFORE JOHN AND THOMAS COME ON OR

[1:12:05] AFTERWARDS. THE THEME OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN CYBERSECURITY.

[1:12:10] HOUSE BILL 1555 DEDICATES THE FLORIDA CENTER FOR CYBERSECURITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA AS CYBER FLORIDA.

[1:12:18] CYBER FLORIDA'S MISSION IS TO ASSIST CYBERSECURITY TRAINING, EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

[1:12:25] EMPLOYEES. AS ANGELA MENTIONED, THERE ACTUALLY HAS BEEN STATE DOLLARS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THEIR

[1:12:31] EMPLOYEES FOR CYBERSECURITY TRAINING. THIS BILL WAS SOLELY REALLY A DEDICATION OF THAT OUTFIT AT

[1:12:37] SOUTH FLORIDA AS CYBER FLORIDA. HOUSE BILL 473 ALSO DEALS WITH CYBERSECURITY. AROUND TWO YEARS AGO, THE

[1:12:45] LEGISLATURE ADOPTED A LAW THAT SAID THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COULD NOT SETTLE OR PAY A RANSOMWARE ATTACK.

[1:12:54] IF YOU ALL WERE SUBJECT TO SUCH AN ATTACK, HOUSE BILL 473 PROVIDES INDEMNIFICATION FROM LIABILITY OF A CYBERSECURITY

[1:13:05] INCIDENT SO LONG AS YOU COMPLY WITH ALL OF THE CURRENT LAW TRAINING THAT IS REQUIRED OF GOVERNMENTS IN THE STATE OF

[1:13:11] FLORIDA. SENATE BILL 328 DEALS WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YOU'LL RECALL LAST YEAR THE LIVE

[1:13:19] LOCAL ACT THAT WAS A PRIORITY OF SENATE PRESIDENT PASSIDOMO, THIS WAS EFFECTIVELY A GLITCH BILL IF YOU WILL.

[1:13:29] THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PREEMPTIONS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THAT ORIGINAL LIVE LOCAL ACT. AND THERE WERE SOME TWEAKS

[1:13:37] THERETO. THEY ARE RELATIVELY MINOR I WOULD SAY, BUT CERTAINLY HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE.

[1:13:44] HOUSE BILL 7073 IS THE STATE'S ANNUAL TAX PACKAGE. THERE WAS OVER $1.5 BILLION OF TAX CUTS WITHIN THAT TAX

[1:13:53] PACKAGE. SOME OF THOSE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE JUST UNDER $500 MILLION FOR TOLL RELIEF.

[1:13:59] AND AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITY AS IT RELATES TO THE ONE-YEAR REDUCTION IN INSURANCE PREMIUM TAXES FOR POLICY OWNERS

[1:14:08] IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. HOUSE BILL 791, ANOTHER BUILDING PERMIT BILL. THIS ONE DID ULTIMATELY FAIL.

[1:14:16] THIS WOULD HAVE FURTHER STREAMLINED THE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS AND ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE OFFERED REFUNDS OF PERMIT FEES

[1:14:23] IF CERTAIN TIMELINES WERE NOT MET WHEN AN APPLICANT CAME TO A GOVERNMENT FOR THOSE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS.

[1:14:31] THE FINAL THREE WERE BILLS OF SOME SIGNIFICANT DEBATE. AND THERE WAS CERTAINLY A LOT OF TIME SPENT ON THESE PIECES OF

[1:14:43] LEGISLATION. SENATE BILL 1530 DEALS WITH UNAUTHORIZED CAMPING AND/OR SLEEPING.

[1:14:48] IT PREEMPTS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM AUTHORIZING INDIVIDUALS TO REGULARLY SLEEP OR CAMP ON PUBLIC PROPERTY OR PUBLIC

[1:14:58] RIGHTS-OF-WAY. WHAT IT DOES DO IS ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ISSUE TEMPORARY PERMITS IN DESIGNATED AREAS.

[1:15:06] IF YOU OR ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA DECIDES TO DESIGNATE A CAMPING OR SLEEPING AREA, THERE ARE MINIMUM

[1:15:13] RESOURCES THAT HAVE TO BE PROVIDED. FOR INSTANCE, DCF HAS TO BE MODIFIED IN CASE CHILDREN ARE

[1:15:18] PRESENT. AND AGAIN, CERTAIN MINIMUM HEALTH SAFETY AND WELFARE STANDARDS DO NEED TO BE MET IN

[1:15:26] ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THAT NEW LAW. HOUSE BILL 601 DEALS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONAL

[1:15:34] OFFICERS. ANOTHER PREEMPTION WHICH PROHIBITS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICE OFFICER REVIEW BOARD FROM

[1:15:42] THE RECEIPT, PROCESSING OR INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.

[1:15:50] IF YOU HAVE A CURRENT BOARD THAT DOES NOT DO ONE OF THOSE THINGS, IT CAN REMAIN. BUT THOSE THAT ARE THE THREE

[1:15:56] SPECIFIC AREAS OF PREEMPTION AS IT RELATES TO THOSE TYPES OF BOARDS. SENATE BILL -- HOUSE BILL 1417

[1:16:06] DEALS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING. THIS BILL ACTUALLY IS QUITE EXCITING.

[1:16:10] IT'S SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE IN SOMETIME IN TERMS OF DEDICATING MONEYS TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

[1:16:16] A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, THE STATE PUT FORWARD ABOUT $1 BILLION IN RESILIENCY FUNDING. THAT MONEY HAS BEEN UTILIZED

[1:16:24] AGGRESSIVELY. AND SO THE IDEA THIS YEAR UNDER HOUSE BILL 1417 IS TO UTILIZE THE REVENUE FROM THE SEMINOLE

[1:16:32] GAMING COMPACT AND SPLIT THAT INTO THREE DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY, ALL WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

[1:16:40] HOPEFULLY, IF ONLINE GAMING SUCCEEDS THE CHALLENGE CURRENTLY BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT

[1:16:48] $1.5 BILLION PER YEAR THAT COULD BE UTILIZED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING. SO IT'S SOMETHING EXCITING

[1:16:53] THERE. AND THEN THE LAST THING I WILL MENTION BEFORE TURNING IT OVER TO JOHN AND THOMAS OR ANSWERING

[1:16:59] QUESTIONS IS BECAUSE OF THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, I DID NOT ORIGINALLY INCLUDE A BILL DEALING WITH MUNICIPAL UTILITIES

[1:17:07] THAT WAS FILED. THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THERE HAS BEEN A THREE-YEAR EFFORT IF YOU WILL LOOKING AT MUNICIPAL

[1:17:16] UTILITIES. THAT DISCUSSION HAS CENTERED AROUND THE PROVISION OF EXTRA TERRITORIAL SERVICE.

[1:17:21] IF A MUNICIPAL UTILITY PROVIDES SERVICE OUTSIDE OF ITS MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES, SHOULD EQUITABLE RATES BE CHARGED?

[1:17:30] THERE IS A SURCHARGE FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER FOR THOSE OUTSIDE OF THOSE TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES. AND WHAT SOURCE OF REDRESS, IF

[1:17:39] YOU WILL, IF THOSE CUSTOMERS RESIDE OUTSIDE OF THE TERRITORIAL BORDERS HAVE. THE BILL THIS YEAR LIMITED THE

[1:17:49] GENERAL FUND TRANSFER WHICH IS THE TYPICAL TALLAHASSEE NARRATIVE OF THE GSC THAT YOU ALL HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

[1:17:57] IT LIMITED THAT GFT TO 10% OF REVENUES FOR CUSTOMERS SERVICED OUTSIDE OF A MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY. IT THEN REQUIRED, IF YOU DID

[1:18:06] PROVIDE SERVICE OUTSIDE OF YOUR MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES, ONCE A YEAR, YOU, AS THE RATE-SETTING BODY WOULD HAVE TO HOLD A

[1:18:13] MEETING IN THE RECIPIENT AREA JUST TO ALLOW FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS SOME FORM OF DUE PROCESS, THE ABILITY TO SPEAK

[1:18:20] BEFORE YOU, ETC. AGAIN, THAT BILL FAILED, BUT IT HAS BEEN A PART OF A THREE-YEAR CONVERSATION ON MUNICIPAL

[1:18:27] UTILITIES. I HAVE REPRESENTED THE FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION FOR NINE OR 10 YEARS AT THIS

[1:18:33] POINT. AND SO IT WOULD BE A BILL THAT I WOULD ANTICIPATE COMING BACK NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS

[1:18:39] WELL. WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I WILL CONCLUDE. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS

[1:18:42] NOW OR HAVE JOHN AND THOMAS COME UP AND THEN DO IT AT THAT POINT. >> MAYOR: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

[1:18:47] SO FOR THE LAST BILL YOU MENTIONED, I BELIEVE THE CURRENT TRANSFER THAT EXISTS IS ABOUT 3% FOR GRU.

[1:18:55] JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S EDIFICATION. I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE A SURPRISE TO FOLKS, THAT'S WHY I

[1:19:02] PUT IT OUT THERE. ALL RIGHT. GENTLEMEN? ANYTHING TO FILL IN THERE?

[1:19:10] THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, COMMISSION. JOHN ALEXANDER, ACTING DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND

[1:19:18] COMMUNITY RELATIONS, OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER. WE ARE JUST HERE TO GIVE A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

[1:19:24] WE HAVE COME BEFORE YOU BEFORE. A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN TALLAHASSEE SINCE THEN. SO WE ARE JUST GOING TO GIVE A

[1:19:31] QUICK UPDATE AND JUST A RUN-DOWN OF KIND OF WHERE WE STARTED. THIS WORK, OF COURSE, STARTED BACK IN SEPTEMBER WHERE THERE

[1:19:37] WAS A DRAFT OF THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE. AND ON THE LIST WAS, OF COURSE,

[1:19:43] TO SERVE AS A GUIDE FOR OUR SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT WE WANTED AS WELL AS SOME OTHER BILLS THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE

[1:19:50] CITY OF GAINESVILLE. AND IT WAS IMPORTANT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY MANAGER THAT WE HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE PLAN

[1:19:56] GOING INTO SESSION THIS YEAR. SO WE ACTUALLY ARRANGED A MEETING WITH OUR STATE LOBBYISTS.

[1:20:03] IN THAT MEETING, WE SPOKE ABOUT THE DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE AS WELL AS THE FORMAT, KIND OF WHAT YOU

[1:20:09] HAVE HEARD HERE FROM RYAN AND ANGELA, A FORMAT OF KIND OF WHAT WOULD TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR. AND AGAIN, SOME OTHER THINGS

[1:20:17] THAT MAY IMPACT THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE, OTHER STATE BILLS. WE DID COME BACK BEFORE YOU FEBRUARY 1st AND GAVE AN

[1:20:25] UPDATE ON WHERE WE WERE. BY THEN, WE HAD DONE SOME TRIPS TO TALLAHASSEE WITH OUR STATE LOBBYISTS AND MEETING WITH OTHER

[1:20:33] LEGISLATURES ABOUT OUR LOCAL BILLS. AND, OF COURSE, KEEPING OUR EAR TO THE GROUND OF THINGS THAT MAY

[1:20:38] IMPACT OUR CITY AS WELL. WE ALSO ATTENDED THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES LEGISLATIVE DAY, ACCOMPANIED COMMISSIONER

[1:20:46] EASTMAN THERE TO DO SOME MORE WORK. AT THAT MEETING AS WELL, THERE WAS A DIRECTIVE FOR US TO GET

[1:20:51] WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF HB 601 WHICH YOU HEARD THE OUTCOME OF THAT TODAY AS WELL.

[1:20:57] AND SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THOMAS HARRINGTON, OUR LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COORDINATOR TO GIVE AN

[1:21:07] UPDATE OF OUR LOCAL PROJECTS AND SOME OF THE BILLS. SOME YOU MAY HEAR AGAIN, BUT SOME OF THEM, LIKE RYAN STATED,

[1:21:12] JUST FILL IN THE GAPS OF WHAT TOOK PLACE. >> MAYOR: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

[1:21:21] WELCOME, MR. HARRINGTON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I KIND OF VIEW THIS AS A SEQUEL TO THE MID POINT THAT WE SHARED

[1:21:28] BACK IN FEBRUARY. AND I DON'T WANT TO DUPLICATE WHAT WAS SHARED, BUT WE APPRECIATE AGAIN THE WORK ON THE

[1:21:35] MEMORIAL CROSSWALK. THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT HAD MADE BOTH CHAMBER BUDGETS DURING THAT -- RIGHT BEFORE THAT FINAL

[1:21:43] WEEK. AND WE ARE ZEROED OUT. BUT I DID A LITTLE MORE ANALYSIS AND ABOUT $51 MILLION OF ABOUT

[1:21:52] 22 SIMILAR PROJECTS STATEWIDE -- OF THAT AMOUNT THAT WE REQUESTED [INAUDIBLE]. AND ALL THOSE PROJECTS, WHEN YOU

[1:22:02] LOOK AT BOTH CHAMBERS WERE FROM FOLKS IN THE SUPER MAJORITY. OURS, OUT OF ALL 22 PROJECTS, WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAD ONE

[1:22:11] MEMBER THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE SUPER MAJORITY. THE REGIONAL HAZMAT, OF COURSE, THAT'S IN THERE.

[1:22:19] THE SECOND YEAR, THE MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT FUNDING WAS IN THE SENATE BUDGET AND IT NEVER RECEIVED ON THE HOUSE

[1:22:28] SIDE. SO WE WERE CLOSE, BUT MR. JOHN AND I ARE LOOKING AT OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, EVEN

[1:22:37] FEDERAL WHERE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE A COUPLING OR SUPPLEMENTAL DOLLARS FOR THAT. ONE OF THE OTHER BILLS THAT

[1:22:46] EARLY ON WE WERE TOLD TO HAVE ON OUR RADAR, SINCE WE ARE A MOBILITY-FEE CITY, IS THIS ONE THAT SEEMED TO SAIL THROUGH.

[1:22:55] IT'S AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE. IT SIMPLY DEFINES MOBILITY FEE AS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE

[1:23:01] AS PART OF OUR PLAN. LOCAL GOVERNMENT FEE SCHEDULE ESTIMATED BY AN ORDINANCE SPECIFIC TO THE PROJECT AND OUR

[1:23:09] LOCAL PLAN. SO THAT ONE IS AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE. AS YOU MIGHT RECALL LAST MONTH,

[1:23:15] WE HAD KIND OF A BREAKDOWN OF WHERE THESE THINGS WERE IN THE PROCESS AND THE COMMITTEE PROCESS.

[1:23:20] SO WE UPDATED THAT HERE. AND AS YOU'LL SEE IN SOME OTHER ONE THAT IS DIED, IT WILL KIND OF SHOW YOU WHICH CHAMBER MAY

[1:23:27] NOT HAVE REALLY BEEN FAVORABLE TOWARDS IT. ANOTHER ONE THAT WE SHARED LAST TIME THAT OUR RTS D.O.T. IS VERY

[1:23:36] CONCERNED ABOUT -- AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE THAT TIME -- IS THIS ONE 287. AND THAT WILL LIMIT THE AMOUNT

[1:23:45] OF MONEY THAT FDOT CAN COMMIT TO PUBLIC TRANSIT PROJECTS TO 20%. NO MORE THAN 20%, WHICH OUR FOLKS ESTIMATE IS A $2 MILLION

[1:23:54] CUT. THERE ARE EXEMPTIONS IN TERMS OF THE FEDERAL MATCHING DOLLAR PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE AS WELL AS

[1:24:03] MTPO IMPROVEMENTS. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S PRESENTATION AND SIGNATURE.

[1:24:15] HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THIS BILL WE BROUGHT UP. AT THE TIME WE WEREN'T SURE WHERE IT WAS HEADED.

[1:24:20] IT DEALS WITH COASTAL SEAWARD AREAS. HOWEVER, FOLKS IN THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMUNITY INVOLVED

[1:24:26] WITH THOSE ADVOCACY EFFORTS THINK THAT THIS MAY BE KIND OF A STEPPINGSTONE WAY TO FURTHER AND POSSIBLY HAVE SOME OTHER

[1:24:38] UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR LOCALLY DESIGNATED PROPERTIES. SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY WORKING NOW TO TRY TO PUT AN EXEMPTION NEXT

[1:24:48] YEAR IN SOME LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROTECT THOSE ALREADY EXISTING LOCALLY DESIGNATED PROPERTIES FROM BEING PUT IN THE

[1:24:57] NON-CONFORMING DEFINITION CATEGORY. THIS WAS ACTUALLY -- THIS HAS BEEN UPDATED SINCE I SUBMITTED

[1:25:08] THIS. THIS WAS ACTUALLY APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR. ANOTHER ONE THAT DID NOT MAKE

[1:25:16] IT, BUT SOMETHING THAT WAS ON OUR RADAR AND AS RECENT AS THIS MORNING IN THE CONVERSATION WITH REP HINSON, SOMETHING THAT SHE

[1:25:25] SUPPORTS AND SAID SHE WOULD EVEN LOBBY FOR NEXT YEAR IS THIS MAIN STREET PROGRAM AND HISTORIC TAX CREDITS WHICH WOULD LIKELY HELP

[1:25:33] WITH OUR DOWNTOWN AREA IN TERMS OF ANY HISTORIC RENOVATION PROJECTS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE. SO AGAIN, SOMETHING TO KEEP ON

[1:25:43] YOUR RADAR FOR NEXT SESSION. AS APPEARS WE ALREADY HAVE ONE IN OUR DELEGATION WHO IS VERY SUPPORTIVE.

[1:25:54] SOME OF THE GUN BILLS THAT WERE OF CONCERN, THESE TWO DIED THANKS TO SENATE PRESIDENT PASSIDOMO.

[1:26:05] THE FIRST ONE WOULD HAVE MADE THE WAITING PERIOD, EXCLUDING HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS. THE SECOND ONE WOULD HAVE GONE

[1:26:11] BACK, KIND OF A REVERTER TO THE 2018 POST PARKLAND LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE REDUCED THE AGE FROM 21 BACK TO 18.

[1:26:19] THE SENATE NEVER HEARD IT. BUT JUDGING BY SOME CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HAD FOR NEXT SESSION, IT IS SOMETHING

[1:26:27] THAT COULD STILL BE IN PLAY GIVEN NEW SENATE LEADERSHIP. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE WASN'T EVEN A SENATE COMPANION BILL TO

[1:26:37] THE AGE REDUCTION ONE. THE LAST GUN BILL THAT CAME TO OUR ATTENTION KIND OF MIDWAY IN SESSION IS 1181.

[1:26:52] AND THIS ONE IS ENROLLED. IT IS WAITING TO BE PRESENTED AND APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR BUT IT DEALS WITH MAKING HARSHER

[1:27:01] PENALTIES ON YOUTH WHO CARRY FIREARMS FROM MISDEMEANOR TO A FELONY. AND THE LATEST ANALYSIS OF THIS

[1:27:06] BILL SHOWS THAT THERE IS QUITE A VARIATION IN TERMS OF SCENARIOS, SITUATIONS OF WHAT EXTENDED ATTENTION MEANS AS WELL AS WHAT

[1:27:18] APPEARS TO BE AN ELONGATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE DAYS SO AGAIN IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON THE OFFENSE AND THIS IS SOMETHING

[1:27:26] THAT I SHARE WITH OUR GPD. THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT REP HENSON BROUGHT UP AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY AT A CHAMBER LUNCHEON

[1:27:36] AS A BILL SHE WAS QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT AND SOME INSTANCES FELT THAT OR THOUGHT THAT THERE MAY BE CERTAIN

[1:27:44] CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE YOUTH MAY END UP BEING IN DETENTION 15 TO 20 YEARS LONGER BUT AGAIN SOMETHING I THINK CAN SERVE ANY

[1:27:56] INTEREST TO GPD AND SOMETHING FOR CONSIDERATION. THE OTHER BILLS THAT RYAN AND ANGELA TOUCHED ON DEAL WITH

[1:28:08] HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS. I DIDN'T WANT TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE BUT WE DID CONDUCT A FOLLOW-UP WITH LEGAL AFTER THE

[1:28:15] FEBRUARY MEETING. WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE EXCHANGES. AS OF RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE THIS BILL WHICH BY THE WAY TOOK

[1:28:22] ON THE SENATE LANGUAGE WHICH ALLOWS THE SHERIFF AND THE POLICE CHIEFS TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN BOARD NOT MANDATORY BUT

[1:28:29] SOMETHING THAT THEY MAY ESTABLISH COULD BE SUPPLEMENTAL TO WHAT WE HAVE AND WE DID NOT SEE IT AS ANY REAL THREAT TO THE

[1:28:41] EXISTING FUNCTIONS THAT OUR BOARD HAS. WITH THAT, I WILL LEAVE IT OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MIGHT

[1:28:49] HAVE. I FIGURE BETWEEN THE FOUR OF US WE HOPEFULLY CAN ANSWER ANYTHING.

[1:28:54] >> MAYOR: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WILLITS? >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I DON'T KNOW WHO CAN ANSWER

[1:28:58] THIS. DID HOUSE BILL 773 ABOUT PROPERTY TAX BASICALLY ON THE SALES TAX IT IS RESIDENTIAL BUT

[1:29:08] DOES THAT INCLUDE APARTMENTS AND MULTI-FAMILY THAT ARE TECHNICALLY COMMERCIAL, IS THAT CONSIDERED COMMERCIAL INSURANCE

[1:29:15] OR WILL THEY GET THAT 6% REDUCTION? JUST BECAUSE AS WE LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY AND SAY IF, YOU KNOW,

[1:29:22] IF LOTS OF PEOPLE LIVE IN MULTI-FAMILY IN OUR COMMUNITY -- [INAUDIBLE] TO LOOK FORWARD TO HOW WE --

[1:29:29] >> I THINK SO LONG AS YOU ARE A PROPERTY INSURANCE POLICYHOLDER YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE -- >> I KNOW THAT FOR THE PERSONAL

[1:29:36] BUT THE OVERALL -- >> I'M UNSURE SO I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU, YOU KNOW, THE INCORRECT ANSWER.

[1:29:41] I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE INTENT IN TERMS OF THE EXPANSION OF THAT EXEMPTION. >> OKAY.

[1:29:50] YOU KNOW, DIRECT WE ARE IN AN APARTMENT BUT TECHNICALLY IN AN HOA SO WE HAVE HOA INSURANCE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE I DIDN'T KNOW IF

[1:30:02] THE OVERALL THAT'S TECHNICALLY COMMERCIAL BUT TO PROTECT RESIDENTIAL SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CASE.

[1:30:09] >> I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS EXTENDED TO COMMERCIAL. WE WILL GO BACK AND LOOK AND GET YOU AN ANSWER.

[1:30:14] >> LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEXES THAT ARE OWNED BY ONE OWNER, IS THAT RESIDENTIAL INSURANCE OR IS THAT COMMERCIAL?

[1:30:21] >> I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW, COMMISSIONER. I WOULDN'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD QUALIFY.

[1:30:26] >> I SHOULD HAVE ASKED THE APARTMENT FOLKS THIS MORNING I MET WITH. WHEN WE ALL LOOK AT OUR TAX BILL

[1:30:32] AND NOT THE TAX BILL BUT WHEN WE GO OH, WE GET A BREATHER BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY 6% ON OUR PROPERTY INSURANCE BUT TENS OF

[1:30:41] THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIVE IN APARTMENTS I WONDER ARE THEY ALSO GETTING A BREAK PARTICULARLY I KNOW IT WOULD GO

[1:30:47] TO THE OWNERS BUT THAT'S WHAT I HAD THE QUESTION ABOUT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. >> MAYOR: MR. EASTMAN?

[1:30:53] >> SO, RYAN, YOU WORKED A BIT ON THE LIVE LOCAL ACT AND THERE WERE CHANGES IN THE LAST MINUTE ON THE MIDDLE MARKET TAX

[1:31:00] EXEMPTIONS. CAN YOU GO INTO WHAT THOSE CHANGES WERE AND HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT US AND WHAT WE HAVE

[1:31:09] MOVING FORWARD? >> SO WHAT YOU ARE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT, COMMISSIONER, WAS THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS IN

[1:31:14] TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX REDUCTIONS. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT

[1:31:24] REDUCTION SPECIFICALLY FOR THE FLORIDA KEYS. WHAT YOU AND I HAD WORKED WITH AND WORKED WITH THE SENATE

[1:31:29] PRESIDENT ON WAS WHETHER OR NOT STUDENTS WOULD EFFECTIVELY QUALIFY UNDER THAT AND THE ULTIMATELY THE CLARIFICATION

[1:31:39] THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR DID NOT MAKE IT INTO THAT FINAL BILL BECAUSE THEY WERE PLACING EFFECTIVELY THE CLASSIFICATION

[1:31:49] OF STUDENT UNDER A CERTAIN POVERTY LEVEL AND OBVIOUSLY STUDENTS DON'T GENERALLY HAVE SIGNIFICANT INCOME AND SO WE

[1:31:57] WERE HOPING THAT THOSE TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR DEVELOPERS WOULDN'T BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BUT THAT CLARIFICATION NEVER

[1:32:04] MADE IT INTO THE FINAL LIVE LOCAL ACT. >> THERE WAS SOME EXEMPTION PLACED THE VERY LAST MINUTE ON

[1:32:10] THE TAXING -- THE COUNTY AND THE CITY WOULD BE ABLE SO LONG AS WE DON'T HAVE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF UNITS AT OR ABOVE 120% AMI WE

[1:32:20] COULD EXEMPT OURSELVES FROM THAT WHOLE MIDDLE MARKET TAX EXEMPTION, AM I REMEMBERING THIS CORRECTLY?

[1:32:25] >> YOU ARE. AND SO THERE IS A PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW EFFECTIVELY AND I BELIEVE THAT IT REQUIRES

[1:32:33] YOU TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO ENSURE THAT BUT I WILL GET THAT TO YOU JUST SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

[1:32:40] TO ENSURE QUALIFICATION. >> ALL RIGHT. AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO I WAS READING ABOUT PREEMPTION ON

[1:32:45] ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS OR SOMETHING PUT INTO THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE. CAN YOU SPEAK MORE ON THAT AND

[1:32:50] WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE? >> THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL CONVERSATION AS IT RELATES TO EV'S NOT ONLY ON THE

[1:33:00] REGISTRATION FEES BUT ALSO IN I BELIEVE IT WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF AG IN THE CONSUMER SERVICES BILL.

[1:33:09] OF THE REGULATION OF CHARGING STATIONS WAS PREEMPTED TO THE STATE. WHAT THEY DID NOT WANT TO HAVE

[1:33:15] IS THAT PATCHWORK OF REGULATIONS FROM A CITY AND COUNTY LEVEL ON CHARGING STATIONS THEMSELVES. SO THAT WAS PREEMPTED.

[1:33:24] >> BUT THEN THEY DID SET A MINIMUM THRESHOLD FOR NEW CHARGING STATIONS NEED TO BE PLACED INTO RESIDENTIAL UNITS OR

[1:33:32] IS THAT -- >> I'M UNFAMILIAR WITH THAT PIECE OF IT IN TERMS OF THAT BUT GLOBALLY WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS

[1:33:39] PREEMPTED TO THE STATE THE CHARGING STATIONS. >> AND THEN GOING TO SB 1628, THE BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT ON

[1:33:47] NEW LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATES AND MAYBE SOMEONE FROM THE CITY BUT WHAT KIND OF AN IMPACT DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD

[1:33:55] HAVE IN TERMS OF US BEING ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATES, THE IMPACT THAT WOULD HAVE ON STAFF, WHAT DOES

[1:34:02] THAT LOOK LIKE FOR US? >> MR. MAYOR, ANDREW PERSONS, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. SO THERE IS ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS

[1:34:10] THAT STAFF WILL HAVE TO MAKE ANY TIME WE BRING A LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE OR A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT FORWARD.

[1:34:17] THERE IS IRONICALLY AN EXEMPTION FOR PRIVATELY INITIATED COMP PLAN OR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS FROM THE REQUIREMENT.

[1:34:28] IF YOU RECALL I THINK THE FIRST ONE THAT WE PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION WAS PART OF THE ACE DISTRICT AND THAT WAS WHEN THE

[1:34:37] LAW STILL PROVIDED AN EXEMPTION FOR 163 ORDINANCES SO I JUST WAS MESSAGING WITH PLANNING STAFF ABOUT IT AND MAKE SURE, YOU

[1:34:46] KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT THIS WITH THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE NEXT TIME YOU ALL MEET SO WE WILL INCORPORATE IT WHEN IT GETS INTO

[1:34:53] AN ORDINANCE FORM. THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO ANALYZE LIKE A LOT OF STATE LEGISLATION IT IS PRETTY

[1:35:00] VAGUE SO IT DOES CREATE SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR CHALLENGE IF -- DEPENDING ON IF THERE ARE BUSINESS INTERESTS BUT -- THAT

[1:35:09] WANT TO MAKE AN ISSUE OF, YOU KNOW, AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD AFFECT THEM. >> BECAUSE WHAT IS THE TERM THEY

[1:35:16] USE IN STATUTE IT CAN BE ARBITRARY AND THINGS LIKE THAT? >> YES, THOSE ARE SORT OF LEGAL PRINCIPALS.

[1:35:24] THE STATUTE DOES HAVE SOME SPECIFIC -- THEY DO HAVE CRITERIA BY WHICH WE HAVE TO EVALUATE AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS

[1:35:33] WITH THAT BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF BUSINESSES ESTIMATED AFFECTED, COSTS TO THE GOVERNMENT TO

[1:35:41] ACTUALLY DO THE REGULATION, YOU KNOW, SOME IDEA AS SORT OF THE IMPACT TO ACTUAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS DEPENDING ON THE

[1:35:49] CONTEXT OF THE ORDINANCE. >> PERFECT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: SO 1530 IS THE

[1:35:55] CAMPING BILL, RIGHT? >> YES, SIR. >> MAYOR: THAT'S A MUCH MORE PLEASANT WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT

[1:36:01] AS A CAMPING BILL. DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT WHERE CHALLENGES TO THAT ARE LIKELY TO COME FROM OR HAVE YOU HEARD

[1:36:12] ABOUT CHALLENGES TO THIS POINT? I'M TRYING TO THINK OF HOW WE BROADLY PREPARE FOR THIS AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW WE HAVE EXTENSIVE

[1:36:24] EXPERIENCE WITH A CAMPING FACILITY AT THE FORMER DIGNITY VILLAGE AND IT JUST FEELS LIKE NOBODY TALKED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT

[1:36:31] OR ANY FIRST RESPONDERS ANYWHERE WHO HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THIS AND I AM BEWILDERED THAT THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE TALKED TO FIRST

[1:36:43] RESPONDERS ABOUT THIS. DO YOU HAVE BROAD THOUGHTS ABOUT IT? >> I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT

[1:36:47] ABOUT THE GENESIS. NUMEROUS STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE DONE SOMETHING SIMILAR AS IT RELATES TO, YOU

[1:36:54] KNOW, HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS OR CAMPING SITES IF YOU WILL. THE STATE OF COLORADO, THE STATE OF OREGON, AND THE CITY OF

[1:37:03] ORLANDO AS WELL HAS ACTUALLY HAD AN EXTENSIVE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC HOMELESSNESS CAMPING CONVERSATION RECENTLY.

[1:37:11] YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF I GUESS I WOULD NEED CLARIFICATION WHEN YOU SAY IN TERMS OF CHALLENGE. IS THAT REQUEST FOR VETO, IS

[1:37:18] THAT CHALLENGE OF THE LAW ONCE PASSED? >> MAYOR: BECAUSE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN SIGNED, YES.

[1:37:25] >> IT HAS BEEN SIGNED AS OF YESTERDAY. >> MAYOR: SO OBVIOUSLY WE WILL FIND A WAY TO COORDINATE IT.

[1:37:38] SOME PEOPLE WHEN I TALK TO THEM THINK IT IS VERY MUCH A BURDEN ON COUNTIES. I THINK THERE ARE SOME MAYS IN

[1:37:47] THERE THAT LET THE COUNTIES OPT OUT BASICALLY. DOES THAT SOUND ACCURATE TO YOU >> THIS IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM

[1:37:54] AND I THINK THE BILL IS WRITTEN IT IS THE COUNTY THAT IS ELIGIBLE TO DESIGNATE THE CAMPING AREA.

[1:37:58] NOW, YOU AS THE CITY COMMISSION HAS TO AGREE WITH THAT AREA DESIGNATION THAT THE COUNTY MAKES SO THEY CANNOT FORCE IT

[1:38:05] UPON YOU, BUT, YES, IT IS VERY MUCH A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM BUT I THINK WHAT -- WHERE YOU MAY BE VULNERABLE AND WHERE ALL CITIES

[1:38:17] COULD BE VULNERABLE WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE LAW IS THAT IT DOES ALLOW FOR EFFECTIVELY CITIZEN CHALLENGES TO SAY CITY X

[1:38:25] IS ALLOWING SOMEONE TO CAMP OR SLEEP IN A PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY OR A PUBLIC BUILDING, PUBLIC AREA AND THEN THAT INSTITUTES AN

[1:38:34] INVESTIGATION AND POTENTIAL CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST THE CITY. SO THERE CERTAINLY ARE LIABILITY

[1:38:41] CONCERNS THERE. >> MAYOR: RIGHT. COMMISSIONER SACO? >> SO BY ALLOW DO YOU MEAN, YOU

[1:38:47] KNOW, WE'RE NEGLIGENT IN OUR DUTIES TO STOP THAT BEHAVIOR OR WE HAVE I GUESS KIND OF DESIGNATED A SPACE THAT THEY DO

[1:38:57] NOT APPROVE OF PERSONALLY AND THEN CHALLENGED? >> I THINK FORMER YOU ARE DERELICT IN YOUR DUTY TO PREVENT

[1:39:07] THIS FROM HAPPENING. >> SO WE'RE ON THE HOOK REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE SITE IS ESTABLISHED IF WE -- THERE IS

[1:39:18] NO SITE ESTABLISHED THE HOMELESS PEOPLE EXIST. >> RIGHT. >> THEY DO.

[1:39:24] THAT BECOMES 20, 30, 100 CHALLENGES. >> YOU COULD BE ON THE HOOK IN BOTH INSTANCES, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

[1:39:31] >> THANKS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR: ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY COMMUNITIES PREPARING CHALLENGES

[1:39:38] TO THIS? >> I AM NOT AS OF TODAY. AGAIN, I BELIEVE IT WAS YESTERDAY OR JUST THE DAY PRIOR

[1:39:44] THAT THE BILL WAS SIGNED INTO LAW. I KNOW THAT THROUGH OUR REPRESENTATION OF THE LEAGUE OF

[1:39:49] CITIES THERE WERE CERTAINLY A LARGE NUMBER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHO HAVE LOOKED AT THIS LEGISLATION.

[1:39:55] I AM NOT AWARE OF A DIRECT, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGE AT THIS POINT. >> MAYOR: OKAY. THANK YOU.

[1:40:01] COMMISSIONER CHESTNUT? >> THANK YOU. WHEN DO YOU EXPECT THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SHEET?

[1:40:08] WHEN DO YOU EXPECT SOMETHING TO BE RELEASED BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT ANSWERS QUESTIONS? >> WHICH DEPARTMENT IN

[1:40:15] PARTICULAR? >> WELL, WHICH DEPARTMENT IS HANDLING THIS? >> FOR THE CAMPING AND THE

[1:40:20] HOMELESSNESS ISSUE? >> YES. >> IT WOULD LIKELY ULTIMATELY BE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FDLE.

[1:40:26] I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS SPELLED OUT IN THE LEGISLATION OR NOT. SO I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT QUITE FRANKLY

[1:40:33] BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE FDLE ULTIMATELY. >> OKAY. THANK YOU.

[1:40:43] >> MAYOR: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I HAVE HEARD A DISCUSSION OF SOME $30 MILLION POT THROUGH

[1:40:51] DCF. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT >> SO I BELIEVE THE GENESIS OF THAT AGAIN IS IF ONE OF THESE

[1:40:58] AREAS WERE ESTABLISHED DCF DOES HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED IN THE INSTANCE THAT THERE ARE CHILDREN PRESENT.

[1:41:09] HOW THAT PROGRAM WILL BE SPENT OR UTILIZED I BELIEVE TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES FOR, AGAIN, HEALTH SAFETY AND

[1:41:15] WELFARE. >> MAYOR: IF THERE ARE CHILDREN INVOLVED. >> CORRECT.

[1:41:26] >> MAYOR: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER LIGHTS. COMMISSIONER WILLITS? >> MAYBE NOT A QUESTION JUST THE

[1:41:34] BILL ABOUT CAMPING AND THE LIVE LOCAL. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE I DON'T EXPECT A SPECIAL SESSION FOR

[1:41:45] EITHER OF THOSE SPECIFICALLY BUT ACTUALLY THE CAMPING ONE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD BE FINE URGING THIS BODY TO URGE A SPECIAL

[1:41:53] SESSION TO COME FIND A LOT MORE MONEY THAN THAT JUST TO GO AHEAD AND SAY THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO TAKE A MUCH STRONGER ROLE IN

[1:42:02] HOMELESSNESS BY SAYING AT MINIMUM WE WILL FUND ENCAMPMENTS SHOULD YOUR COUNTY WANT TO DO IT SO THERE IS A CLEAR STREAM AND

[1:42:11] IT IS NOT JUST FOR CHILDREN BUT THEY PROBABLY NEED, I MEAN, PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO REALLY IN ONE SWIPE

[1:42:19] REALLY GIVE US ALL OF THE TOOLS WE NEED. SO I MEAN I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS SOMETHING WE WOULD NEED AND

[1:42:25] TO BE IN PREPARATION OF SPECIAL SESSIONS, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE SPECIAL SESSIONS THERE PROBABLY WON'T BUT FOR MY

[1:42:35] PRIORITIES TWO THINGS THAT I FEEL LIKE I MEAN THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS I WISH I COULD CHANGE ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE AND WHAT

[1:42:40] THEY DID THIS YEAR BUT THOSE ARE ONES THAT SEEM LIKE NOT JUST US BUT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE THAT NEED.

[1:42:45] THAT AND ALL COLLEGE COMMUNITIES COULD PROBABLY WOULD BE PROTECTED BY LOOKING AT THE LIVE LOCAL SO I JUST WANT TO SAY IT

[1:42:53] AGAIN I GUESS I'M NOT READY TO MAKE A MOTION OR ANYTHING BUT IT IS JUST, YES, THANKS. >> MAYOR: THANK YOU,

[1:43:01] COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER CHESTNUT? >> I WOULD BE INCLINED NOT TO PUSH THE IDEA OF A SPECIAL

[1:43:09] SESSION. PROBABLY SPEND THAT 30 MILLION THAT THEY ALLOCATED FOR DCF HAVING A SPECIAL SESSION IF YOU

[1:43:17] WERE TO ASK FOR THAT BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT I WOULD NOT BE ON THE SIDE OF TRYING TO PUSH TO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION.

[1:43:29] >> REALLY THIS IS JUST ME SAYING -- [INAUDIBLE]. PUT IT ON THE PRIORITIES FOR NEXT YEAR TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW,

[1:43:36] THIS IS WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. WE STILL HAVE TIME BUT I THINK THAT NEXT YEAR IT IS MY OPINION

[1:43:41] THOSE ARE TWO THINGS WE NEED TO PUT ON NEXT YEAR'S PRIORITIES IN ESSENCE STARTING NOW. I FORGET ON OUR SCHEDULE WHEN WE

[1:43:50] DO PRIORITIES EXACTLY BUT THE CONVERSATIONS START NOW SO THAT'S MY OPINION IS THAT THOSE ARE TWO EASY ONES THAT I THINK

[1:43:56] WE REALLY BEHOOVE NOT JUST US BUT OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO US. >> COMMISSIONER, THAT'S A GOOD

[1:44:03] SEGUE, SO THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS IN MARCH AND RUNS THROUGH MAY OF 2025. THAT LIKELY MEANS THE

[1:44:10] LEGISLATURE WILL BEGIN THEIR WORK IN THE COMMITTEE WEEK PROCESS LATE DECEMBER MAYBE NOT EVEN UNTIL JANUARY 2025.

[1:44:17] WE WOULD ADVISE AND HAVE ADVISED CLIENTS THAT YOUR PRIORITIES SHOULD BE FINALIZED BY OCTOBER, LATE SEPTEMBER IS PROBABLY IF

[1:44:23] YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE THAT IS EARLIER FANTASTIC BUT I REALLY WOULDN'T WAIT PAST EARLY OCTOBER TO HAVE YOUR LEGISLATIVE

[1:44:31] PRIORITIES FINALIZED. >> MAYOR: WE CAN GET MOSTLY THROUGH OUR BUDGET SEASON AND GET INTO THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

[1:44:40] >> I'VE HEARD, I HAVE READ THE GOVERNOR IS TALKING ABOUT A SPECIAL SESSION POTENTIALLY ON HAITI.

[1:44:45] IS THAT LIKELY TO OCCUR? WHAT HAVE YOU GUYS HEARD? >> I HAVE HEARD SIMILAR THINGS, COMMISSIONER, THAT IN THE VERY

[1:44:53] NEAR TERM THE NEXT TWO TO THREE WEEKS THERE COULD BE A SPECIAL SESSION ON IMMIGRATION SPECIFIC FOCUSED ON HAITI.

[1:45:02] THE GOVERNOR HAD INSTITUTED A NUMBER OF FLIGHTS INTO THE COUNTRY TO PICK UP FLORIDIANS WHO MAY BE STUCK BECAUSE OF THE

[1:45:08] CIVIL UNREST GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY BUT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER STATES WHO HAVE HELD OR AT LEAST PASSED IMMIGRATION LAWS

[1:45:18] AND I THINK FLORIDA WOULD LOOK TO EMULATE SO IT IS LIKELY IN MY MIND. >> THANK YOU.

[1:45:26] >> MAYOR: OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND WE APPRECIATE THE UPDATES AND

[1:45:34] THE CONVERSATION AND WE WILL EVENTUALLY REACH OUT IF FOLKS HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS SO THANK YOU AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE TEN

[1:45:45] MINUTES TO STRETCH OUR LEGS AND WE WILL BE BACK AT 3:00. OKAY? [RECESS TAKEN]

[1:45:51] >> Mayor: THANK YOU ALL FOR THE BRIEF SESSION THERE. I APPRECIATE IT. MADAM CLERK, WHAT DO WE HAVE?

[1:45:58] >> MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE 2024, 264 UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL POLICY WITH A RECOMMENDATION THE COMMISSION REINSTATE THE UNSOLICITED

[1:46:10] PROPOSAL POLICY. >> YES, MR. MAYOR. STAFF WILL GO THROUGH IT. >> THANK YOU.

[1:46:24] I'LL JUST JUMP RIGHT IN. IN APRIL 2012, THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVED A SIX-MONTH PILOT FOR AN UNSOLICITED BID

[1:46:31] PROPOSAL PROCESS. THAT SUNSETTED IN NOVEMBER, 2022. IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THAT POLICY

[1:46:36] STAFF REACHED OUT TO 22 FLORIDA ENTITIES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THEY HANDLE THEIR UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS.

[1:46:41] WE REACHED OUT TO 14 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, FOUR COUNTIES, UTILITY, TRANSIT, AVIATION AGENCIES, AND A UNIVERSITY.

[1:46:49] BASED ON THIS AND OTHER FEEDBACK THAT WE COLLECTED WE DEVELOPED THE PROPOSAL, THE PILOT POLICY THAT INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING

[1:46:57] COMPONENTS. A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN AN UNSOLICITED CONCEPTUAL PROPOSAL, AND A DETAILED PROPOSAL.

[1:47:03] AND THE REQUIRED INFORMATION NEEDED TO BRING THE -- TO THE CITY COMMISSION EITHER PROPOSAL. WE LOOKED AT FEES THAT OTHER

[1:47:10] CITIES CHARGE ON THAT RANGE FROM ZERO TO $2500. AND WE DEVELOPED AN APPROACH FOR UNSOLICITED CONCEPTUAL PROPOSAL,

[1:47:23] AND A DETAILED PROPOSAL AND THEY WOULD PHASE IN THE FEES UP TO $6,000 IF APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION.

[1:47:29] TO MOVE FORWARD. THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF STAFF'S AND COMMITTEE CONCEPTUAL PROPOSAL AND A DETAILED

[1:47:37] UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL ARE ALSO OUTLINED. THERE'S A DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR REVIEW,

[1:47:43] INCLUDING EVALUATION CRITERIA. AND THERE'S A DESCRIPTION OF A NEGOTIATION PROCESS, IF THE UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL IS CHOSEN

[1:47:49] BY THE CITY COMMISSION. AND INCLUDING THE NEGOTIATION CRITERIA. STAFF AT THAT TIME AND TODAY

[1:47:57] RECOMMENDS THAT THE FEES FOR THESE CONCEPTUAL PROPOSALS BE RAISED FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUBMITS A

[1:48:05] PROPOSAL IN THE FOLLOWING FOCUS AREAS WHICH ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND PROJECT FOR GCRA.

[1:48:11] DURING THE SIX MONTH PILOT THE CITY DID RECEIVE THREE UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS, AND THE UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL POLICY

[1:48:18] ALLOWED THE CITY AND STAFF TO HAVE A STRUCTURED AND WELL THOUGHT OUT PROCESS BY WHICH TO EVALUATE ANY PROPOSALS THAT ARE

[1:48:24] SUBMITTED. SO STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO ASK THE COMMISSION TO REIN-TATE THE UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL POLICY

[1:48:31] AND WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> Mayor: VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER SACO?

[1:48:35] >> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF WHO REALLY WORKED ON THE FIRST KIND OF A PILOT OF THIS.

[1:48:43] I THINK -- I KNOW WE HAVE SEEN AT LEAST ONE THAT KIND OF CAME THROUGH AND DID THE WHOLE RIGMAROLE WITH US AND I THINK

[1:48:52] IT'S COMING OUT AS SOMETHING GOOD, HOPEFULLY DUE DILIGENCE PENDING. BUT I THINK THAT IT'S GIVEN US A

[1:48:58] LITTLE MORE TIME, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO DO, KIND OF SEE HOW IN THE LONGER RUN IT OPERATES.

[1:49:04] I'M HOPEFUL, AND I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MAKE THAT TODAY. I THINK -- AND WILL GIVE SUGGESTIONS ON WAIVING SPEEDS IN

[1:49:11] SPECIFIC CATEGORIES FOR NONPROFITS AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAD THE FORETHOUGHT TO SPECIFY, IF YOU'RE A NONPROFIT,

[1:49:18] IT HAS TO BE IN THESE AREAS. BECAUSE ANYBODY CAN BE A NONPROFIT. BUT NO, FOR CRITICAL AREAS OF

[1:49:23] NEED FOR OUR CITY. SO, I THINK THAT IS WELL THOUGHT OUT AND PERFECTLY SOUND. >> VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.

[1:49:34] >> Mayor: WE ALSO GOT AFTER OUR MEETING THIS AFTERNOON THE E-MAIL FROM THE -- PALMER WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE

[1:49:44] PROCESS, AND IS NOT ASKING FOR ANY OF YOU, BUT RECOMMENDING THAT WE CONTINUE THIS PROCESS, AND HE FOUND IT PARTICULARLY

[1:49:50] USEFUL FOR HIS ORGANIZATION. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY, BUT I'M AWARE OF AT

[1:50:01] LEAST TWO OR THREE, THAT WOULD HAVE MADE A LOT OF SENSE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND WOULD HAVE BEEN USEFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT

[1:50:05] THERE WAS QUITE LITERALLY NO WAY FOR THEM TO MOVE FORWARD IN ANY KIND OF SYSTEMIC WAY. THERE WAS NO -- NO POLICY THAT

[1:50:16] ALLOWED PEOPLE, NO PROCESS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SAY, I HAVE A GREAT IDEA FOR THIS PIECE OF CITY PROPERTY, OTHER THAN

[1:50:25] KNOWING THE RIGHT PEOPLE. AND IT SHOULDN'T BE A WHO YOU KNOW SYSTEM. WHAT THIS DOES IS ALLOW IT TO BE

[1:50:32] A PROCESS THAT IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, THAT ANYONE CAN WORK THROUGH. AND THAT'S HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT

[1:50:39] OUGHT TO BE. I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE MISSED AS A COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO

[1:50:46] WAY FOR -- FOR ANYBODY TO WALK UP TO THE COMMISSION AND SAY, I HAVE A GREAT IDEA, LET'S WORK ON IT.

[1:50:57] I'M PLEASED WITH THE WAY THAT WORKED FOR THE NOT, AND THEN THE OPPORTUNITY WE'RE ALL EXPERIENCING THERE, WHICH

[1:51:04] CERTAINLY IS NOT DONE, BUT HAS MOVED THROUGH, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT -- THAT OTHER FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE A SIMILAR SYSTEM

[1:51:13] THAT IS OPENLY AVAILABLE AND TRANSPARENT TO ANYONE WHO FILLS OUT THE FORM. ALL RIGHT.

[1:51:19] I DON'T SEE ANY LIGHTS. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS? >> NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

[1:51:24] >> Mayor: VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. ANY COMMENT? OKAY.

[1:51:28] COMMISSIONER SACO. >> COMMENT? THEN I MOVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.

[1:51:31] >> SECOND. >> Mayor: ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO MOVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.

[1:51:37] COMMISSIONER BOOK? >> YEAH, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO THIS IS ONE THAT'S CAUSING ME SOME CONCERN WHEN WE DID HAVE

[1:51:46] THE NOT COME FORWARD IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT IT WAS A TREMENDOUS PROPOSAL. AND I FEEL THAT IN KIND OF

[1:51:50] KNOWING A PARTICULAR BUSINESS OWNER, AND BELIEVING THAT THEIR INTENT IS TO BUILD OUT JUST AN INCREDIBLE AREA DOWN ON SOUTH

[1:51:58] MAIN STREET, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING. ON THE OTHER HAND, I DO SO SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THAT

[1:52:06] PARTICULAR PROPOSAL I DO HAVE CONCERN THAT IT'S -- IT'S ACTUALLY SOME OF THE SAME. WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO BASED

[1:52:11] ON THEIR CONTACTS AND THEIR NETWORKS, THEY'RE ABLE TO ESSENTIALLY GET MORE TRACTION ON A PROPOSAL, AND MOVE FORWARD

[1:52:20] WHERE THERE SHOULD BE SOME VERY CLEAR DELINEATIONS AND BOUNDARIES BETWEEN BOTH GOVERNMENT, AND PRIVATE

[1:52:27] BUSINESS, AND INDUSTRY. SO KIND OF A SPIN TO WHAT YOU HAPPENED TO SAY MR. MAYOR IS I WORRY ABOUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE

[1:52:35] HAVING INS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I HAVE AN UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL, AS OPPOSED TO GOING THROUGH PROCESSES, AND PROTOCOLS, IT MAY

[1:52:44] BE A LITTLE ONEROUS, A LITTLE BURDENSOME. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT DOES CAUSE THEM TO HAVE TO KIND OF CROSS

[1:52:49] EVERY "T" AND DOT EVERY "I." BUT THAT'S JUST SOME COMMENTS ON IT BUT I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF IT.

[1:52:55] THANK YOU. >> Mayor: SO, I'M CONFUSED. I -- WHAT THIS DOES IS, IS PUT A PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS FORWARD.

[1:53:07] WHAT IS, TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR, AND WE WILL NOT BECAUSE -- IN THE THINGS THAT EXIST, TO YOUR

[1:53:19] KNOWLEDGE, WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS? >> I THINK WHAT I WAS

[1:53:25] INDICATING, THIS IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT WILL NEED TO BE IN PLACE. IT GIVES US A LITTLE MORE

[1:53:30] STRUCTURE TO -- SO IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT PARTICULAR ASPECT. >> Mayor: ABSOLUTELY.

[1:53:36] >> I JUST ALWAYS AM CONCERNED [CHOPPY AUDIO] HOW MANY TIMES IT DOES IN FACT GIVE THEM SOME. BUT THIS IS A BETTER SYSTEM THAN

[1:53:51] NO ONE SOLICIT -- I MEAN I SEE YOU SHAKING YOUR HEAD BIG THERE. SO I UNDERSTOOD THAT. I WAS TRYING TO MAKE THAT

[1:53:58] CLEARER. I DO HAVE SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE CLOSENESS OF PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO GET INVOLVED, EMBED THEMSELVES

[1:54:08] AND MOVE THROUGH THINGS. AND THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE PROCESS IN THE FIRST PLACE. >> Mayor: SO, YES, I SUPPORT

[1:54:13] THIS BECAUSE I WANT THERE TO BE A PROCESS WHERE NONE CURRENTLY EXISTS. COMMISSIONER WILLITS?

[1:54:21] >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YOU KNOW, THIS SEEMS LIKE A GOOD PLAN, A GOOD POLICY SO THAT THE SAME WAY ANY MEMBER OF THE

[1:54:29] COMMUNITY SAYS -- CAN COME UP WITH AN IDEA, JUST BRING IT, YOU KNOW, GO OH, THAT'S INTERESTING, AND WE CAN DECIDE YES OR NO, WE

[1:54:41] SHOULD GO WITH THAT OR NOT. FEELS LIKE IT'S THE SAME THING BUT, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR LAND OR FACILITIES FROM SOMEONE IN THE

[1:54:47] BUSINESS COMMUNITY OR BUSINESS OWNER OR PROPERTY OWNER OR SOMEONE WANTS TO TRY SOMETHING. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE

[1:54:54] PROCESS OF NOT HAVING TO COME FORWARD PARTICULARLY BECAUSE WE MAY NOT HAVE -- WE MAY NOT -- OUR DIRECTION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN

[1:55:00] LIKE ALL RIGHT IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON TO SOMETHING, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW EVERY LITTLE LAST CORNER OF THE MARKET.

[1:55:06] WE NO LONGER HAVE A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, IS THAT CORRECT, RIGHT? WE CURRENTLY DO HAVE THAT.

[1:55:16] WE HAVE A GCRA MANAGER WHO UNDERSTANDS AT LEAST WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THAT AREA ABOUT DEVELOPING BUSINESSES OR, YOU

[1:55:23] KNOW, OPPORTUNITIES BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE MARKET, AND HAVE THEM COME BACK AND SAY HEY IT'S TIME TO DO THIS OR SO I LIKE

[1:55:31] THAT IDEA, AND -- SO I UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER BOOK'S CONCERN, BUT HOLDING OUT TO EVEN DECIDE TO HAVE AN RFP ON

[1:55:37] SOMETHING IS JUST AS -- JUST AS FRAUGHT WITH THE INFLUENCE POTENTIALLY OF DON'T MOVE ON THIS, BECAUSE SOMEONE WHO WANTS

[1:55:44] TO GO PUT IN, THEY'RE NOT READY, THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR FINANCING TOGETHER, THEY DON'T -- OR THEIR BUSINESS CYCLES -- THEIR

[1:55:51] BUSINESS CYCLE IS JUST NOT THERE YET. SO THE DELAYING OF THAT, PLUS ON US AS WELL TO JUMP ON IT NOW,

[1:55:56] IS -- THERE'S GOING TO BE JUST THAT SAME KIND OF DELAY, AND THAT'S WHY JUST BEING ABLE TO COME DIRECTLY AND SAY I HAVE AN

[1:56:04] IDEA, THIS IS LAND YOU HAVE, AND I DO THINK IT, IT MAKES US THINK ABOUT SOME THINGS SOONER THAN LATER, WHICH I THINK IS GOOD,

[1:56:14] BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE COULD STOP AND THINK AND SAY OH, THAT LAND IS JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S LAND YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH A YEAR OR NOW,

[1:56:22] TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, I LIKE THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT THIS. >> Mayor: THANK YOU,

[1:56:28] COMMISSIONER WILLITS. COMMISSIONER EASTMAN? >> IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, SO WE GET THE UNSOLICITED BID IN,

[1:56:35] BUT THEN WE STILL OPEN IT UP FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO COME TO US TO GET INFORMATION, CORRECT? SO IT'S NOT LIKE SOMEONE COMES

[1:56:42] TO US, SAYS I HAVE THIS IDEA. WE SAY WE'VE REVIEWED IT, IT'S GOOD, BUT DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS NOW THAT THAT

[1:56:49] PROCESS, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT OPENS THAT UP A BIT MORE, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT IT.

[1:56:55] IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT ENSURES THAT THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, AND THAT WE ARE GETTING THE BEST THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TO OFFER.

[1:57:02] LIKE WE GOT TWO REALLY GOOD PROPOSALS OUT OF THAT AND I KNOW WE STRUGGLED WITH WHICH ONE WE WERE GOING TO GO WITH, AND I

[1:57:08] FELT THE NOT COME FORWARD WITH A VERY GOOD PROPOSAL AND SOME FOLKS CAME FORWARD WITH SOME OTHER IDEAS OF THEIR OWN TO

[1:57:14] WHERE THE MUSEUM COULD GO SO I THINK THAT THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT FACTOR. >> Mayor: SO I'M NOT SAYING

[1:57:19] PROPERTY. WE HAD YEARS BEFORE THAT A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER COME FORWARD AND SAY, REALLY INTERESTED IN THIS

[1:57:27] SITE. I'D LOVE TO BUY THIS, BUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW. WE DON'T HAVE A PROCESS FOR

[1:57:33] THAT. SO, THIS MAKES THAT A POSSIBLE THING FOR THERE TO BE GOOD PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT IT,

[1:57:41] WHERE EVERYTHING SHOULD BE, EVERYTHING TO BE LITERALLY IN THE OPEN, AND TRANSPARENT. SO, I'M SORRY IF I MISUNDERSTOOD

[1:57:47] THE CONCERNS THERE. SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOOD. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS, SO -- COMMISSIONER BOOK?

[1:57:56] >> I -- THAT'S RIGHT. IT ADDRESSES A GAP THAT OCCURS IN BASICALLY THE LATE 2022 THROUGH NOW ESSENTIALLY IF THIS

[1:58:03] WERE TO MOVE FORWARD, AND IT DOES PUT STRUCTURE IN. I DON'T -- I'M NOT ENTIRELY COMFORTABLE WITH IT, BUT IT'S

[1:58:10] CERTAINLY AN IMPROVEMENT IN STRUCTURE PROCESS AND PROTOCOL, AND GIVES US SOME ESSENTIALLY CITY GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRATIC

[1:58:17] STEPS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT SOMETIMES IF YOU WANT TO BE ETHICAL AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS A FAIR AND

[1:58:23] EQUITABLE PATH TO WHETHER DEVELOPMENT OR BUILDING, OR REZONING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT FOR ANYTHING.

[1:58:31] SO, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. >> Mayor: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO OTHER

[1:58:35] LIGHTS. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. [AYES] ANY OPPOSED?

[1:58:38] ALL RIGHT THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY WITH COMMISSIONER DUNCAN-WALKER ABSENT. MADAM CLERK.

[1:58:42] >> MR. MAYOR WE HAVE 2024-291, COMMUNITY GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ALLIANCE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

[1:58:49] WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE GENERAL POLICY COMMITTEE REVIEW THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE,

[1:59:04] SANTA FE COLLEGE AND ALACHUA COUNTY FOR COMMUNITY GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ALLIANCE AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER OR

[1:59:10] THE DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE MOU AND EXECUTE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE CITY ATTORNEY AS TO FORM AND

[1:59:16] LEGALITY. >> BRANDY IS HERE, SHE'S OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR, AND HAS BEEN WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY

[1:59:23] WITH CHIEF DIXON ON THE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION INITIATIVE. WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY MISS BRUNINGS, FROM SANTA FE COLLEGE.

[1:59:35] SHE MAY SPEAK A LITTLE BIT LATER. BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK BRANDY TO DO IS COME UP TO SPEAK TO WHY

[1:59:42] WE ARE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION

[1:59:47] AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS TO THIS POINT WHERE WE COULD GET SOMETHING TO HELP US THROUGH OUR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

[1:59:54] PROGRAMMING. SO THAT'S WHY BRANDY IS HERE. SIMILARLY SHE REPRESENTS THE CITY WHERE WE ARE IN THIS

[1:59:59] FRAMEWORK WHERE THE COUNTY IS, AND THE FRAMEWORK, SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO GO TOO MUCH FURTHER WITHOUT COMING TO THE COMMISSION

[2:00:07] TO ALLOW YOU TO HAVE SOME INPUT SO THEREFORE BRANDY IS HERE. PLEASE. >> Mayor: WELCOME.

[2:00:13] >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. BRANDY STONE, COMMUNITY HEALTH

[2:00:17] DIRECTOR WITH GAINESVILLE FIRE RESCUE. SHOULD I HAVE THE PROJECTOR? >> IF IT'S --

[2:00:23] >> OKAY. SO AS MS. CURRY MENTIONED, THIS HAS BEEN A WORK IN PROGRESS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO BRING

[2:00:36] THIS TO THE COMMISSION NOW. BEFORE WE REALLY DIVE INTO THIS, I DO WANT TO SHARE THAT WE HAVE FOCUSED ON THE TERM ALLIANCE

[2:00:42] HERE. AND, THAT WAS SELECTED FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. I ACTUALLY LOOKED UP THE

[2:00:47] DEFINITION OF ALLIANCE AND FEEL IT VERY MUCH FITS WITH THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE WITH THIS.

[2:00:53] SO, AN ALLIANCE IS A UNION OR ASSOCIATION FORMED FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN COUNTRIES OR ORGANIZATIONS, AND

[2:01:00] IS DEFINED AS A RELATIONSHIP BASED ON AFFINITY AND INTERESTS, AND QUALITIES. I THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT GUN

[2:01:08] VIOLENCE PREVENTION OUR MUTUAL BENEFIT IS THE SAFETY AND OUR WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE THREE PEOPLE

[2:01:14] AND ENTITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS. SO, AS MENTIONED, THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE, SANTA FE COLLEGE,

[2:01:20] AND ALACHUA COUNTY ARE THE THREE ENTITIES UNDER THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. AND IT IS TRULY TO FORM THIS

[2:01:28] ALLIANCE. FORM THIS PARTNERSHIP FROM WHICH WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR EFFORTS. SO AS WE SEE WITH THE BACKGROUND

[2:01:37] IT IS VERY MUCH STILL FOCUSED ON STRATEGIES. IT'S VERY MUCH STILL FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS.

[2:01:42] AND IT IS VERY MUCH SO FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING BEST PRACTICES AND DATA COLLECTION, AS WELL. IT DOES FOCUS ON THE PUBLIC

[2:01:48] HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS AN AGREED UPON PERSPECTIVE FROM BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE SANTA

[2:01:56] FE ON BOARD WITH US TO SUPPORT THAT PERSPECTIVE. SO THE COMMON GOALS OF THIS MOU ARE TO DEFINE AND MONITOR THE

[2:02:02] PROBLEM, IDENTIFY RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS, DEVELOP AND TEST PREVENTION STRATEGIES, AND ENSURE WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF

[2:02:09] EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES. OF COURSE, GUIDED BY DATA COLLECTION. SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE

[2:02:17] STRUCTURE OF THIS ALLIANCE, AND THIS ISN'T QUITE EXPLICIT IN HERE BUT I WILL SHARE THAT WE'VE HAD SOME FOLLOW-UP CONVERSATIONS

[2:02:23] ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE LOGISTICALLY. AND SO WHILE WE HAVE THE THREE ENTITIES THAT WILL BE

[2:02:29] SPEARHEADING OR PUTTING FORWARD THIS WORK, OF COURSE, WE WANT TO ENGAGE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE INVOLVED

[2:02:35] IN THIS CONVERSATION, AND ALSO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS. AND SO, ONE OF THE THINGS WE

[2:02:41] TALKED ABOUT IS SUBCOMMITTEE STRUCTURE WHERE WE HAVE VARIOUS SECTORS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTING SUBCOMMITTEES

[2:02:49] SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID AT OUR GUN VIOLENCE SUMMIT WITH OUR BREAKOUT ROOMS. SO THINGS LIKE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH

[2:02:54] SECTORS, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, JUDICIAL SECTOR, OUR YOUTH, OUR INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, OUR COMMUNITY-BASED

[2:03:01] ORGANIZATIONS, ET CETERA, AND HAVING SUBCOMMITTEES THAT COLLECT THEMSELVES, A REPRESENTATIVE THAT SITS ON THIS

[2:03:09] LARGER GATHERING BODY TO REPORT UP TO THE ALLIANCE, AND TO CARRY INFORMATION BACK TO THEIR SUBCOMMITTEES.

[2:03:16] TO STREAMLINE THAT COMMUNICATION, AND SPUR EACH OF THOSE ENTITIES TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS THEIR WORK ACCORDINGLY.

[2:03:22] SO WITH THAT, WE'LL GO INTO THE PURPOSE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. OF COURSE, THIS IS ALL GROUNDED IN PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, AND

[2:03:30] MOVING SOME OF THESE ACTION ITEMS FORWARD. SO FIRST, SUPPORTING EXPANSION OF ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE-BASED OR

[2:03:37] EVIDENCE-INFORMED COMMUNITY GUN VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. THINGS LIKE HBIPs OR HOSPITAL

[2:03:46] BASED INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. ABILITY TO CONNECT SURVIVORS TO SUPPORT SERVICES, DEFUSING NEIGHBORHOOD CONFLICT, ET

[2:03:52] CETERA. THIS ALSO COULD INVOLVE MEDICAL CARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AS WELL.

[2:04:06] LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT POINT "B" THIS IS MORE ABOUT SURVEILLANCE. SO THAT WOULD BE THE DATA

[2:04:11] COLLECTION, WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR PUBLIC, HEALTH, AND SAFETY OFFICIALS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE

[2:04:17] AVAILABLE TO US. AND THEN LOOKING AT PART "C," OF COURSE, FOUNDED IN A TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH.

[2:04:24] MISS COLEMAN HAS COME ON TO THE TEAM HAS ASSISTED IN DRAFTING THIS, AND WITH HER BACKGROUND WE BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT

[2:04:33] COMPONENT TO THE WORK THAT WE'LL BE DOING. NEXT MOVING TO THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND DESIRED OUTCOMES.

[2:04:39] OF COURSE OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS AND STRATEGIES TO REDUCE AND PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE AND VIOLENT CRIME

[2:04:46] IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THAT IS THE ROOT AND FOUNDATION OF OUR EFFORTS.

[2:04:50] AGAIN OUR OBJECTIVES ARE DATA INFORMED, SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH YOUTH TO IDENTIFY RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS, LOOKING AT

[2:04:57] EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND BEST PRACTICES. REVIEWING THE EXISTING SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE

[2:05:03] THAT WE'RE ABLE TO EMPHASIZE THOSE. AND THEN ALSO FOCUSING ON INTERVENTION STRATEGIES THAT

[2:05:11] DETER ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF FIREARMS. AND THEN LOOKING AT OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES, REALLY LOOKING AT

[2:05:19] BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING OUR PARTNERSHIPS, IDENTIFYING EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES, EMPHASIZING TRAUMA-INFORMED

[2:05:25] CARE, OUR DATA COLLECTION, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, REDUCING AND PREVENTING MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY, AND THEN MOBILIZING

[2:05:33] AND ENHANCING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND EXPANDING, YOU KNOW, PROSECUTION WHEN IT COMES TO VIOLENT CRIME.

[2:05:39] THE REST OF THIS PAGE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE , YOU KNOW, THE STRUCTURED LANGUAGE, SO I'LL MOVE INTO MORE OF THE

[2:05:48] RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE THREE ENTITIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS AGREEMENT. SO FIRST YOU WILL SEE THE

[2:05:57] RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY. I WILL NOTE THE FIRST POINT IS THE SAME ACROSS ALL THREE ENTITIES AND THAT'S, OF COURSE,

[2:06:02] SERVING ON THIS ALLIANCE AND BEING A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A PLAN AND AN IMPLEMENTATION

[2:06:07] STRATEGY FOR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION. SPECIFIC TO THE CITY, WE HAVE LEVERAGING AVAILABLE RESOURCES

[2:06:14] THROUGH OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS. BASED ON OUR PRESENTATION THAT I GAVE ON MONDAY, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT A LOT OF THE PROGRAMMING

[2:06:19] THAT I DISCUSSED THERE IS LISTED HERE, AS SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE OUR WORK AS A CITY.

[2:06:26] WE ALSO, OF COURSE, HAVE OUR COMMUNITY CARE CALLOUT INITIATIVE MENTIONED HERE. THAT'S OUR NEW INITIATIVE THAT'S

[2:06:33] LED BY GPD WITH SUPPORT FROM GAINESVILLE FIRE RESCUE AND ALACHUA COUNTY CRISIS CENTER AND VICTIMS SERVICES.

[2:06:38] THAT IS OUR WALK THROUGH OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INCIDENT TO HELP IDENTIFY A NEED AND GET THOSE FOLKS

[2:06:46] CONNECTED TO SERVICES. SO CONTINUING THAT, AS WELL. NEXT IS, OF COURSE, IDENTIFYING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BUDGET.

[2:06:52] AND ASSOCIATED PROGRAMS, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CITY, WE HAVE HERE THAT WE WILL CONTRIBUTE A PRO RATA SHARE FOR

[2:07:00] THE EXPENSES INCURRED BASED ON THE AGREED-UPON BUDGET. MEANING THAT THE THREE ENTITIES WILL COME TOGETHER, DETERMINE

[2:07:07] WHAT OUR BUDGET IS FOR PROGRAMMING AND THE CITY WILL CONTRIBUTE A PRO RATA SHARE FOR THAT.

[2:07:12] PART "E" IS PROVIDING REPORTS BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION. THAT WOULD BE IN THE FORM OF OUR GFR QUARTERLY REPORT, UNLESS

[2:07:21] REQUESTED OTHERWISE. AND THEN LASTLY, OF COURSE, IS PROVIDING THE AVAILABLE DATA TO SANTA FE COLLEGE FROM, YOU KNOW,

[2:07:36] ANY OF THE CITY'S RESOURCES THAT I REQUESTED. NEXT LOOKING AT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF SANTA FE

[2:07:42] COLLEGE. SO IN CONVERSATION, SANTA FE HAS BEEN VERY MUCH IN AGREEMENT TO SERVE AS THE CONVENER AND KIND

[2:07:48] OF THE COLLABORATOR FOR THIS INITIATIVE AND YOU WILL NOTE THAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES DO REFLECT THAT.

[2:07:54] SO FIRST AS I MENTIONED, IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY, THIS IS TO SERVE ON THE ALLIANCE, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE

[2:08:00] DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAN, IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES FOR OUR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM.

[2:08:05] SECOND, IS TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BUDGET, AND I WILL SAY THAT THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY QUICK CHANGE FROM SOME

[2:08:13] CONVERSATIONS I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY. SO, SANTA FE COLLEGE WILL BE CONTRIBUTING IN-KIND SERVICES

[2:08:19] FOR THIS WORK. IN THE FORM OF STAFF TIME, SPACE, AND OTHER THINGS. AND DR. BURNINGS IS HERE AND CAN

[2:08:26] SPEAK TO THAT IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE HER TO ELABORATE MORE ON THAT, BUT THAT LINE ITEM WILL SHIFT, AND BE MORE FOCUSED ON

[2:08:33] THE IN-KIND SERVICES THAT SANTA FE COLLEGE WILL BE PROVIDING TO THE ALLIANCE. THIS IS A REFLECTION OF THAT.

[2:08:43] "C" IS PROVIDING SPACE IN THE SANTA FE BLOUNT CENTER FOR ALL MONTHLY MEETINGS OF THE ALLIANCE.

[2:08:49] A MONTHLY MEETING WAS DETERMINED JUST SO WE CAN STAY ON TRACK. IF YOU GET A LITTLE FURTHER THAN A MONTH, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME

[2:08:56] PASSES, SO WE THOUGHT A MONTH WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS WORK. ADDITIONALLY, SANTA FE COLLEGE

[2:09:00] HAS AGREED TO GIVE THEIR -- THEIR STAFF EXPERTISE IN THEIR ECONOMIC RESOURCES TO SERVE TO COMPILE AND ANALYZE THE DATA

[2:09:08] THAT IS FED IN TO THE ALLIANCE. SPECIFICALLY, THAT OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND ANY OTHER PARTNERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN

[2:09:14] THE LARGER GROUP. THEY WILL HELP DISSEMINATE THAT COMPILED DATA IN THE FORM OF A REPORT TO STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE

[2:09:21] AROUND THE TABLE THROUGH DIGITAL AND PRINT MEANS, AND OF COURSE THE LARGER COMMUNITY. AND THEN LASTLY, PROVIDE

[2:09:26] SUPERVISION, AND WORK SPACE OF A PART-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION. THAT WILL ASSIST WITH THE

[2:09:33] ADMINISTERING ONLINE. THAT INCLUDES COORDINATING MEETINGS, PREPARING AND SHARING REPORTS AND SUPPORTING THAT

[2:09:38] ADMINISTRATIVE PIECE. AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. NEXT LOOKING AT THE

[2:09:46] RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNTY OF COURSE THEY WILL ALSO SERVE ON THE ALLIANCE TO LOOK FOR IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES FOR

[2:09:53] THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS. SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE CITY, THEY WILL ASSIST IN THE

[2:09:57] DEVELOPMENT OF A BUDGET, AND CONTRIBUTE PRO RATA SHARE BASED ON THE AGREED-UPON BUDGET ADOPTED BY THE COUNTY

[2:10:03] COMMISSION. SPECIFICALLY THE COUNTY WILL LEVERAGE ITS VICTIM SERVICES AND RAPE CRISIS CENTER TO CONTINUE

[2:10:08] TO SUPPORT AND ASSIST SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE BY ADDRESSING THEIR NEEDS SPECIFIC TO TRAUMA AND HEALING AND ALSO PROVIDE

[2:10:15] CRISIS DE-ESCALATION, AND INTERVENTION TRAININGS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IMPACTED. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT

[2:10:22] OUR COMMUNITY CARE CALLOUT WALKS WITH THEIR VICTIM SERVICES, AND CRISIS CENTER TEAMS. AND WILL PROVIDE REGULAR REPORTS

[2:10:30] BACK TO THEIR CITY COMMISSION, AND ANY OTHER BOARDS THAT DO REQUEST THAT. AND LASTLY, SIMILAR TO THE CITY,

[2:10:36] WE'LL BE PROVIDING AVAILABLE AND RELATED DATA TO SANTA FE COLLEGE TO BE COMPILED INTO THIS LARGER GROUP.

[2:10:52] SO, THE SPECIFIC -- I'LL GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOM. SO JUST PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS FOR THE GROUP AS WE

[2:11:01] GO THROUGH THIS. SPECIFICALLY, BEING PROFESSIONAL, PROVIDING CONSULTATION WHEN APPROPRIATE,

[2:11:08] SHARING REPORTS OUT TO THE PUBLIC. WORKING COOPERATIVELY, RECOGNIZING THAT EACH PARTY IS

[2:11:18] INDEPENDENT OF ONE ANOTHER. CARRYING APPROPRIATE INSURANCE, AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS OWN ASK.

[2:11:24] FOLLOWING THAT IS JUST GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. SO, ONE THING I NEGLECTED TO MENTION AT THE BEGINNING IS

[2:11:31] RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2024.

[2:11:38] WITH AN ANNUAL RENEWAL THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2026. AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME.

[2:11:48] >> Mayor: OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU WORKING ON THAT.

[2:11:50] PUTTING IT TOGETHER. COMMISSIONER SACO? >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR STONE AND

[2:11:55] FOR WORKING ON THIS AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S WORK ON THIS, IT'S A LOT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO

[2:12:01] US BEFORE -- BEFORE GOING FURTHER, THANK YOU. I DID HAVE A QUESTION. SO, CAN YOU ZOOM OUT A LITTLE.

[2:12:11] BECAUSE I WANT TO -- NOPE. THERE WE GO. I'M ZOOMING OUT. THANKS.

[2:12:15] IF YOU GO TO OUR PORTION, I THINK IT KIND OF LISTS OUT ALL OF OUR MANY DEPARTMENTS, AND THE PROGRAMS WITHIN THEM THAT CAN BE

[2:12:25] OF HELP. >> YES. >> BUT IF YOU FLIP TO THE COUNTY, AND I UNDERSTAND THE

[2:12:31] COUNTY IS DOING SOME OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE PROGRAM, THEY HAVE SOME SIMILAR DEPARTMENTS OR PARALLEL

[2:12:35] DEPARTMENTS THAT COULD BE EQUALLY OFFERING UP THOSE TOOLS, AND I DON'T SEE THEM HERE. IS THERE A REASON -- SO I'M

[2:12:44] THINKING, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IS THERE HOUSING, THEIR DEVELOPMENT, DO THEY HAVE THEIR OWN AFFORDABLE

[2:12:52] HOUSING -- ARE THOSE NOT BEING -- >> I'M GOING TO DEFER TO DEBBIE FOR THAT.

[2:12:57] >> MY QUESTION BEING, YOU HAVE SOME PARALLEL DEPARTMENTS THAT COULD OFFER SOME OF THE SAME THINGS THAT WE DO ESPECIALLY

[2:13:05] OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS OR EVEN IN CONJUNCTION TO KIND OF BREAK UP THAT STORM. WHY AREN'T YOU DOUBLING UP, SO

[2:13:13] TO SPEAK, ON THE DEPARTMENTS THAT THE WE CAN HAVE TO HAVE A STRONGER FRONT ON THOSE PROJECTS?

[2:13:17] >> MAY PER, CARL SMART, DEPUTY COUNTY MANAGER. PLEASURE TO COME OVER AND SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY, ON THIS

[2:13:25] MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. AND WE SEEM TO BE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, AND THE COUNTY ON THIS IMPORTANT

[2:13:34] EFFORT OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION. TO ANSWER COMMISSIONER SACO'S QUESTION, YES, WE WILL BRING ALL

[2:13:42] OF OUR DEPARTMENTS TO BEAR TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. WE DIDN'T LIST THEM HERE IN THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BUT

[2:13:49] WE CERTAINLY ARE COMMITTED TO BRINGING THEM AND PROVIDING THOSE RESOURCES TO HELP DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.

[2:13:56] WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE FOR EXAMPLE COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDES HOUSING, AS WELL AS THE CRISIS CENTER, AND

[2:14:03] THE VICTIM RATE AND ADVOCATE CENTER THERE, AS WELL AS OTHER CASE MANAGEMENT, WE'LL BRING ALL THOSE SERVICES TO BEAR.

[2:14:21] WE HAVE COURT SERVICES THAT DEAL WITH PROBATION AND WITH TREATMENT COURTS. ALL OF THOSE SERVICES, ALL THOSE

[2:14:27] RESOURCES, AS THEY ARE NEEDED, WILL BE BROUGHT TO BEAR TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES. >> THANK YOU, MR. SMART.

[2:14:35] AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL JUST SAVED MONEY ON INK FOR NOT LISTING THEM OUT. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL

[2:14:41] FOR ME, AND I KNOW CERTAINLY, BECAUSE WE GET TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS. LIKE SEVEN OF US GET TO ASK YOU

[2:14:47] QUESTIONS. THE COMMUNITY GENERALLY DOES NOT, THE AVERAGE PERSON DOES NOT GET TO WALK UP AND ASK YOU THAT.

[2:14:52] BUT JUST FOR SOME CLARITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WOULD WE REALLY AMPLIFY WHAT WE'RE DOING AND SHARE THESE DOCUMENTS WITH OUR

[2:14:59] COMMUNITY. I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE -- YOU KNOW, I THINK THE COMMUNITY, WHAT IS IT?

[2:15:06] SUPPORT SERVICES, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS AN ADDENDUM, WHAT HAVE YOU, TO OUTLINE THOSE THAT THE COUNTY HAS AVAILABLE,

[2:15:15] JUST FOR THE SAKE OF, OF CLARITY AT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR US. >> SURE. >> BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW THAT

[2:15:22] YOU WERE KIND OF COUNTING ALL THOSE FOLKS BUT I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE COMMITTED TO THAT. IT JUST WAS NOT READILY APPARENT

[2:15:30] IN THE LANGUAGE, AND AS A LAWYER, I LIKE TO DOUBLE-CHECK THAT WORDS MEAN WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO MEAN.

[2:15:36] SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARITY, MR. SMART. THANK YOU. >> UNDERSTOOD, THANK YOU.

[2:15:40] >> Mayor: ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER CHESTNUT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU.

[2:15:43] MR. MAYOR, SO AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT ISSUE, MR. SMART, I WANT TO GO BACK, ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THIS DRAFT,

[2:15:57] AND THEN HAVE THE COUNTY LIST THE SUPPORT SERVICES THAT THEY WILL BE PROVIDING? I THINK THAT WOULD BE -- THIS IS

[2:16:03] OUR FIRST GO-ROUND AT GETTING AN UNDERSTANDING. I THINK THE MORE CLARITY WE HAVE, THE BETTER.

[2:16:10] SO I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER SACO THAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE THINGS ENUMERATED SO WE CAN SEE WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN IT.

[2:16:20] THEN I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION. CAN WE GO BACK AND LIST THOSE? >> SURE. I'D BE GLAD TO.

[2:16:24] >> THANK YOU. SO, ON THE FISCAL NOTE, SO, THE ONLY MONEYS THAT'S BEING PROVIDED FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE

[2:16:38] THE MEMORANDUM IS THE $150,000 FROM THE CITY? IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING? >> I ALSO MAY DEFER TO DEPUTY

[2:16:47] SMART, AS WELL. IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY'S -- >> OKAY, DEPUTY SMART. >> MR. MAYOR, I THINK THE

[2:16:58] 150,000 WAS SEED MONEY TO GET THIS PROGRAM GOING. THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE STEPPED UP, AND ALLOCATED THAT AMOUNT OF

[2:17:06] MONEY TO GO AHEAD. AND THESE WORKING AND PLANNING AND SETTING UP THE COMMITTEES AND RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH THIS

[2:17:17] ISSUE. BUT THE COUNTY HAS EXPRESSED, OUR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE EXPRESSED

[2:17:24] THAT THEY WILL CERTAINLY COMMIT OUR PRO RATA SHARE OF A BUDGET. AND WE HAVE BEEN CHARGED, THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM CITY, COUNTY

[2:17:34] AND SANTA FE COLLEGE, TO COME UP WITH A BUDGET, AND THEN IDENTIFY WHAT THAT PRO RATA SHARE IS. >> OKAY.

[2:17:41] >> IT MAY BE 150,000, OR IT MAY BE MORE THAN THAT. AND SO, WE ARE READY TO PAY OUR SHARE, IF YOU WILL.

[2:17:49] >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE YOU STAND READY TO PAY YOUR SHARE. [LAUGHTER]

[2:17:54] THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> IF I MAY, COMMISSIONER, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT, OF

[2:17:59] COURSE, WE ARE CONTINUING TO PURSUE ADDITIONAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, AND, YOU KNOW, BEYOND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE

[2:18:07] THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY MENTIONED. SO THERE'S ALWAYS MORE POSSIBILITY.

[2:18:11] >> OKAY. THANK YOU. WELL, A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS, AND SO I'M GLAD TO

[2:18:16] SEE IT MOVING FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. >> Mayor: THANK YOU,

[2:18:22] COMMISSIONER CHESTNUT. COMMISSIONER WILLITS? >> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. READING THROUGH THIS, GUN

[2:18:29] VIOLENCE, AND CRIME, IS SUICIDE INCLUDED IN HERE, IN GUN VIOLENCE? AND IS IT SPECIFIC OR DO WE JUST

[2:18:38] KNOW IT'S INCLUDED IN GUN VIOLENCE? >> WE DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY NAME THE FORMS OF GUN VIOLENCE BUT AS

[2:18:44] A GROUP WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT GUN VIOLENCE TAKES MANY FORMS AND WE WILL GEAR OUR PROGRAMMING ACCORDINGLY.

[2:18:49] >> OKAY. AND THEN ON THE NONDISCRIMINATION PORTION, AND I DON'T NOTICE ABOUT WHAT WE ARE

[2:18:58] ALLOWED TO DO SO I'M JUST GOING TO ASK IT AS A QUESTION AND SOMEONE CAN TELL ME I'M WRONG, OR -- CAN WE, IN THIS LEVEL OF

[2:19:07] AGREEMENT AT LEAST NOT DISCRIMINATE ON PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR BACKGROUND, WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN JUSTICE INVOLVED OR

[2:19:12] NOT? MR. ATTORNEY? >> YOU COULD CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THAT.

[2:19:22] THIS IS A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT IN MIND, AND THAT

[2:19:30] ULTIMATELY, THE BUDGETING, BUT AS LONG AS EVERYONE'S GOING FORWARD, YOU CAN PUT THAT IN THERE, AND YOU CAN -- YES.

[2:19:43] >> OKAY. SO, AND LEGALLY WE CAN POINT TO THOSE AND SAY THAT WE KNOW THOSE.

[2:19:50] I HAVE AN INTEREST IN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION. I THINK COMMISSIONER DUNCAN-WALKER WOULD ALSO LIKE TO

[2:19:56] HAVE THIS -- YOU KNOW, HAVE AN OPINION ON THIS. IT'S NOT IN THERE. IT'S NOT SOMETHING USUALLY EVERY

[2:20:04] OTHER FORM OF NONDISCRIMINATION LOOK AT. BUT, IF I KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE AN INTEREST, AND I'M SURE THAT

[2:20:13] SOMEWHERE IN THIS, THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY INVOLVING, GETTING OPINIONS, AND SO I JUST, THAT WOULD BE A PLACE WHERE PUTTING

[2:20:20] IT WOULD TO SOME DEGREE, YOU KNOW, PUT US ON PAPER. I GOT -- I DON'T -- ANOTHER THING I DON'T THINK IT CAN BE

[2:20:27] ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT THIS IS ONE TOPIC THAT PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT IT. SO, I WILL COME BACK TO THAT,

[2:20:36] MAYBE. THE -- MADAM MANAGER, THE 150 WE SET ASIDE, 150,000, IS NOT NECESSARILY JUST FOR THIS

[2:20:44] ALLIANCE, BUT THAT WHERE OUR PORTION WOULD COME FROM, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY IN FY2024? >> CORRECT.

[2:20:50] THAT IS CORRECT. >> OKAY. AND THEN THERE WAS -- THEN THERE WAS A QUESTION -- OR YOU

[2:20:56] MENTIONED ABOUT COMMUNITY GROUPS OR YOUTH, PARTICULARLY YOUTH PARTICIPATION, THAT'S SORT OF DOWNSTREAM FROM WHERE OF THIS

[2:21:04] ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, HOW THEY CALL PEOPLE TOGETHER, OR HOW THEY ARE MANAGED, OR WHERE INFORMATION COMES FROM, AND SO I

[2:21:10] JUST WANT TO ASK AGAIN WHERE DO THEY ENVISION IN REFERENCE TO THIS AGREEMENT? >> SURE.

[2:21:19] SO, AS THE THREE OF US DISCUSSED RECENTLY, WE ALMOST ENVISION A SUBCOMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND ONE OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES WOULD BE

[2:21:29] INDIVIDUALS WITH EXPERIENCE WHO ARE JUSTICE IMPACTED, AND ANOTHER WOULD BE YOUTH. SO THAT GROUP COULD NOMINATE A

[2:21:36] REPRESENTATIVE THAT WOULD SIT ON THE LARGER GROUP WITH ALL OF THE REPRESENTATIVES. THAT WOULD BE KIND OF THE FORMAL

[2:21:41] MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE. WE DO ENVISION HAVING THESE PROGRAMS. >> SO THEY'RE MEETING WITH THE

[2:21:49] ALLIANCE, ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE MEETING WITH THE -- OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I KIND OF UNDERSTOOD WHERE YOU WERE

[2:21:56] GOING THERE. AND SO ARE WE LOOKING AT -- THIS IS KIND OF A FIRST DRAFT AND THEN IT WILL COME BACK TO US,

[2:22:04] COMMISSIONER CHESTNUT HAD ASKED ABOUT -- YOU'RE HOPING NOT. OKAY. YOU'RE HOPING NOT.

[2:22:09] >> LEGAL HAS REVIEWED, HAS DONE A CURSORY REVIEW. >> RIGHT. SO THE JUSTICE INFORMED OR

[2:22:14] JUSTICE INVOLVED, AND JUSTICE IMPACTED PIECE, I KIND OF WANT TO SEE THEM THERE, MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THAT POPS UP LATER BUT

[2:22:28] IT'S A PLACE WHERE SUDDENLY IT COULD LIVE. SO. >> I'M SORRY, MR. MAYOR IF I

[2:22:33] MIGHT. SO, WE HEARD YOU, SPEAKING JUST BRIEFLY WITH THE ATTORNEY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN

[2:22:41] TALK TO YOU [INAUDIBLE] >> DO WE THINK SANTA FE OR THE COUNTY, OR THE COUNTY ABOUT THAT?

[2:22:58] >> IT WAS DIRECTED BY Y'ALL. WE WILL CERTAINLY ADD INTO THE NONDISCRIMINATION CATEGORY. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE WOULD

[2:23:03] BE OPPOSED TO READING THAT ESPECIALLY A POPULATION THAT IS DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THESE MATTERS.

[2:23:13] IF THEY -- IF IT'S A STICKING POINT FOR THEM IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU. I KNOW THAT FOR EXAMPLE, IT

[2:23:20] SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICE REVIEWED THIS, I THINK THE COUNTY REVIEWED IT, SIGNED OFF ON IT, SANTA FE CAME BACK

[2:23:27] WITH SOME SMALL CHANGES, THAT I BELIEVE YOU HAVE, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN PRESENTING TO, SO THIS WOULD BE A SMALL CHANGE

[2:23:39] THAT'S REALLY -- AND IF YOU'RE FINE WITH IT THEN YOU GO FORWARD. IF NOT, WE'LL COME BACK.

[2:23:46] >> Mayor: OKAY. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER SACO. >> OKAY, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST SINCE WE

[2:23:52] SEEM TO BE AT THE LAST OF THE LINE FOR KIND OF AN OPINION ON THIS, WE COULD ALSO JUST APPROVE IT, AND THEN COME BACK WITH AN

[2:24:00] AMENDMENT TO ADD THOSE CHANGES. SO THAT, WAITING FOR APPROVAL DOES NOT STALL OUT ANY FURTHER AS WE GO BACK AND FORTH PICKING

[2:24:09] ON WORDS OR PHRASES OR ADDITIONS, WE COULD, YOU KNOW, APPROVE WHAT THE LAST VERSION EVERYBODY ELSE HAS ALREADY

[2:24:15] APPROVED. WE COULD APPROVE THAT, MOVE ON, COME BACK, THE NEXT MEETING WITH AN AMENDMENT TO ADD, YOU KNOW,

[2:24:22] AT SECTION "X," "Y," "Z," THESE WORDS AND THAT WAY THEY HAVE PERMISSION TO MOVE ALONG AND START THE REST OF THEIR WORK.

[2:24:31] >> JUST TO CLARIFY IF I TOO, MR. MAYOR, WE'RE BRINGING IT TO THE POLICY COMMITTEE TODAY. BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THE COUNTY

[2:24:38] HAS TAKEN THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT PROCESS IS. AND YOU ALL TAKE IT TO YOUR

[2:24:45] COMMISSION, AS WELL? >> MR. MAYOR, WE DO PLAN TO TAKE IT TO OUR COMMISSION. THE FIRST MEETING IN APRIL,

[2:24:50] WHICH I THINK IS APRIL 9th, OUR LEGAL HAS REVIEWED IT, AND IT MEETS THEIR STANDARDS, AND WE THINK IT MEETS THE SPIRIT OF

[2:25:00] WHAT THE BOARD HAS DIRECTED STAFF TO DO. SO, WE'LL TAKE IT TO OUR BOARD ON THE 9th, AND WE EXPECT IT

[2:25:07] WILL BE APPROVED THERE. WE'LL TAKE IT WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT -- THAT WE'RE SUGGESTING HERE.

[2:25:17] >> -- [INDISCERNIBLE] FOR STAFF, ALL THREE OF THEM, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF STAFF WORKING ON THIS, I'M GOOD WITH THIS.

[2:25:26] I AM ALSO GOOD WITH THE, I WAS LOOKING -- BUT AS COMMISSIONER WILLITS WANTED TO REALLY SPECIFY, THAT POPULATION.

[2:25:38] I HAVE NO OBJECTIONS TO ANY OF THE OTHERS. >> WE DO HAVE A BRIEF EDIT THAT WILL NEED TO HAPPEN IN THE SANTA

[2:25:46] FE COLLEGE SECTION AS WELL AS ABOUT THE IN-KIND SERVICES AND WE'LL NEED TO MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT, AS WELL.

[2:25:51] >> Mayor: SO, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER LIGHTS I'LL GIVE YOU MY THOUGHTS AND THEN WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT IF THERE IS ANY.

[2:25:58] I APPRECIATE ALL WHO, TREMENDOUS EFFORTS, AND LENGTH OF DISCUSSION HAS GONE INTO THIS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

[2:26:04] BECAUSE GOING FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN GET THE WORK, IN MORE THAN JUST THE DRAFT LANGUAGE. I DO SUPPORT ADDING ADDITIONAL

[2:26:13] PROTECTIVE CATEGORY. I SUPPORT ALSO ENUMERATING ALL THE COUNTY'S VARIED DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE A PART OF

[2:26:25] THIS. I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ENUMERATED ON BOTH SIDES.

[2:26:36] THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION THAT I WOULD HAVE IS, IS -- HAVE WE SPOKEN WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY, THE

[2:26:47] SHERIFF, CLERK OF COURTS, BECAUSE REALLY THOSE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN THIS. AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT -- I'D LOVE

[2:26:56] TO GET THEM ON RECORD AS SIGNATORIES TO THIS. BUT IF NOT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PART OF THE SYSTEM.

[2:27:04] PARTICULARLY I SAY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER BECAUSE THIS DOES REACH OUTSIDE THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE. IT REACHES OUTSIDE ALACHUA

[2:27:12] COUNTY. IT IS VERY MUCH AN EIGHTH CIRCUIT ISSUE. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE'S

[2:27:18] SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT, AS WELL. I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD THIS UP FOR THAT.

[2:27:29] >> MR. MAYOR, YES, WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE SHERIFF. OF COURSE WE HAD SHERIFF GAINEY HERE AT THE MEETING EARLIER THIS

[2:27:38] WEEK, AND SO WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO HAVE HIM INVOLVED. AS WELL AS THE STATE ATTORNEY, AND PUBLIC DEFENDER.

[2:27:49] WE KNOW GUN VIOLENCE IS NOT A BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE. IT'S ALL OVER THE COUNTY AND

[2:27:53] BEYOND BUT CERTAINLY WE NEED ALL THE PLAYERS INVOLVED HERE IN ALACHUA, IN GAINESVILLE AND ALACHUA COUNTY TO DEAL WITH THIS

[2:28:00] ISSUE. SO WE HAVE LIKE A PUBLIC SAFETY, IF YOU WILL. I MEAN WE KNOW IT'S BEEN

[2:28:10] DECLARED A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE ON THE FRONT LINE, A PUBLIC SAFETY INVOLVEMENT.

[2:28:17] AND SO WE'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO THEM. ADDITIONALLY, THIS ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE PSCT, THE

[2:28:30] PUBLIC SAFETY COORDINATING COUNCIL. AND THAT'S LED BY THE CHIEF JUDGE AND INCLUDES ALL THOSE

[2:28:36] PLAYERS THAT YOU JUST NAME. WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. >> Mayor: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WOULD EXCLUDE ALACHUA AND

[2:28:49] THEY ARE A VITAL PART OF OUR INVOLVEMENT. SO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA INVOLVED

[2:28:57] IN SOME WAY. >> AND SANTA FE COLLEGE. >> RIGHT. THEY'RE INTRINSIC TO THIS.

[2:29:06] OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT?

[2:29:09] >> NO PUBLIC COMMENT. >> ALL RIGHT. SO, SOMEBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION?

[2:29:16] >> MOVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE WITH THE MODIFICATIONS. >> SECOND.

[2:29:24] >> Mayor: HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MADAM CLERK, DO YOU HAVE THE MODIFICATIONS, A GOOD

[2:29:29] UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE MODIFICATIONS. >> I'LL MAKE SURE I HAVE THEM. >> Mayor: GOOD.

[2:29:34] ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. [AYES] ANY OPPOSED?

[2:29:39] ALL RIGHT. THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WITH COMMISSIONER DUNCAN-WALKER ABSENT.

[2:29:46] THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK FOR THIS. I DID NOT MEAN TO EXCLUDE

[2:29:52] ANYONE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SANTA FE AND HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD THERE, I'D APPRECIATE IT.

[2:30:00] SINCE YOU'LL BE DOING THIS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. AND CITY COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS BASHA, AND I'M THE

[2:30:08] EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH SANTA FE COLLEGE.

[2:30:11] WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONVENE ALL THE RELEVANT PARTNERS, IN SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS ALL OF OUR

[2:30:19] COMMUNITIES, AND ALL THE WORD COMMUNITY HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF OUR NAME IT'S VERY MUCH A PART OF WHO WE ARE AND PART OF WHAT

[2:30:26] WE WANT TO DO. SO WE HEARD YOUR CONCERNS, AND WE WILL TAKE THEM INTO CONSIDERATION.

[2:30:34] AND OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS WE'LL HAVE ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT YOU MENTIONED. >> Mayor: VERY GOOD.

[2:30:39] >> THANK YOU. >> Mayor: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WONDERFUL.

[2:30:44] IT'S EXCITING TO HAVE THIS MOVE FORWARD AND WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT IT. SO GLAD TO SEE IT ON PAPER AND

[2:30:51] HOPEFULLY THE COUNTY WILL -- WILL DO LIKEWISE. MADAM CLERK? >> WE HAVE MEMBER COMMENT,

[2:30:58] MR. MAYOR. >> Mayor: ALL RIGHT. ANY MEMBER COMMENT? WE HAD A LOT OF COMMENT THIS

[2:31:03] WEEK ALREADY. HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO BE TOGETHER, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT.

[2:31:12] I ALSO WANT TO SAY, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. THE LAST DAY AND A HALF SINCE WE

[2:31:19] HAD YET ANOTHER INCIDENT OF VANDALISM, STAFF WAS EXCEPTIONALLY SUPPORTIVE, AND SO WE'RE, YOU AS COMMISSIONERS, AND

[2:31:29] I APPRECIATE YOU, AND I AM ONCE AGAIN COMMITTED TO ALL OF US CONTINUING TO DO THE WORK THAT THE PEOPLE HIRED US TO DO.

[2:31:39] UNDISSUADED. SO, WITH ALL THAT SAID, I SEE NO FURTHER LIGHTS. HOPEFULLY I'LL SEE MOST, IF NOT

[2:31:45] ALL OF YOU TOMORROW MORNING AT THE MLK PRAYER BREAKFAST. IF NOT I'LL SEE YOU IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

[2:31:51] WE ARE ADJOURNED. </Body>

General Policy Committee

Agenda

Transcript