Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area Advisory Board

1 City of Gainesville Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area Advisory Board Meeting MINUTES February 17, 2026, 5:30 p.m. GTEC Building - Conference Room #107 2153 SE Hawthorne Road, Gainesville, FL 32641 Members Present: Richard Allen, Angelica Arbelaez, Chelsea Carnes, Heather Kates Members Absent: Kaitlin Alexander, Davonda Brown _____________________________________________________________________ A. CALL TO ORDER B. ROLL CALL C. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Moved by Chelsea Carnes Seconded by Angelica Arbelaez Approved D. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Moved by Angelica Arbelaez Seconded by Richard Allen Approved E. CONSENT AGENDA F. REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE BOARD None received G. BUSINESS DISCUSSION 2 No items presented H. PUBLIC COMMENT None received I. COMMUNICATIONS Rick Smith updated the board members as to the status of the Annual Report to the JCC meeting on March 9th at 1:00 p.m. Also previewed the board on the CRA to GCRA history per City Commission directive in June 2025. Provided a report on the first Economic Development Incentive Program workshop held on February 9th. A second workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, 2026, and a resource fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Application deadline is March 15th. Spring Market at the Streatery starting March 1, 2026. J. BOARD MEMBER COMMENT Member Allen, spoke to neighborhood meetings on the City's Comprehensive Plan. The meetings were organized by Gainesville Neighborhood Voices. 150 in attendance, plus 15 City staff members. Member Carnes asked about the process to recommend increase funding of current programs, or creating new ones. Moved by Chelsea Carnes Seconded by Richard Allen Member Carnes moved to ask staff and the City to double the Community Partnership Grant program funding from $10,000 to $20,000 per quarter. Member Allen seconded Approved K. NEXT MEETING DATE L. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 pm.