POLISCOPE

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GAINESVILLE (ALACHUA COUNTY) · LOCALDecisions publishedPartial coverage

City Commission Special Meeting

Thursday, May 22, 2025 · Government meeting record

The 30-second read

Recorded outcome

The Gainesville City Commission held a special meeting to review the FY 2026 budget proposals for several city departments and approved preliminary fire services assessment rates for the upcoming year. The commission also discussed various community projects, including equipment updates at the Thelma Boltin Center and tree mitigation efforts.

Why it matters

Property owners in Gainesville will see fire service assessment rates set at specific per-square-foot amounts for the upcoming fiscal year, with a public hearing scheduled for September 11, 2025.

What happens next

No later meeting or follow-up date is stated in the reviewed record.

An official outcome record - an action agenda or minutes - is published for this meeting.

Record text

No recording or transcript is held for this meeting.

1 City Commission Special Meeting MINUTES May 22, 2025, 1:00 p.m. City Hall Auditorium 200 East University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601 Members Present: Commissioner Book, Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Pro Tem Eastman, James Ingle, Mayor Ward, Commissioner Willits _____________________________________________________________________ A. CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order at 1:00 p.m. B. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Moved by Commissioner Chestnut Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Eastman Motion: The City Commission adopt the regular and consent agenda. Aye (6): Commissioner Book, Commissioner Chestnut, Mayor Pro Tem Eastman, James Ingle, Mayor Ward, and Commissioner Willits Absent (1): Commissioner Duncan-Walker Approved (6 to 0) C. BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. 2025-371 FY 2026 Budget Development Workshop (B) Cynthia Curry, City Manager gave an introduction. Cintya Ramos, Executive Chief of Staff, gave a presentation on the Fire Department budget.

2 Joseph Hillhouse, Fire Chief gave a presentation on the budget. Commissioner Duncan-Walker arrived at 1:08 p.m. Cintya Ramos, Executive Chief of Staff, gave a presentation on the Police Department budget. Nelson Moya, Police Chief gave a presentation on the budget. Jaime Kurnick, Police Major spoke to the budget. Cintya Ramos, Executive Chief of Staff, gave a presentation on the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department budget. Roxana Gonzalez, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs gave a presentation on the budget. Cintya Ramos, Executive Chief of Staff, gave a presentation on the Public Works Department budget. Gail Mowry, Interim Public Works Director gave a presentation on the budget. Brian Singleton, Special Advisor to the City Manager. spoke to tree mitigation. Leslie Ladendorf, Assistant Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs stated that she can get the numbers for interment vs. disinterment impacts at Evergreen Cemetery. Recommendation: The City Commission hear the presentation from staff. Heard 2. 2025-353 Fire Special Assessment Preliminary Rate Resolution (B) Cynthia Curry, City Manager gave an introduction. Joseph Hillhouse, Fire Chief spoke to the item. Sandi Neubarth, Consultant for Government Services Group spoke to the item. Steve Varvel, Director of Risk Management, spoke to the contribution rate. Moved by Commissioner Willits

3 Motion 1: Postpone setting preliminary rate resolution and have staff return with a change in methodology from FY23 and FY24 for assessment. Died for lack of second Moved by Commissioner Willits Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Eastman Recommendation: The City Commission: 1) establish the Preliminary Fire Services Special Assessment Rates as follows: Residential Property Use Categories Rate Per Square Foot Single Family Residential $ 0.0900 Multi-Family Residential $ 0.0892 Non-Residential Property Use Categories Rate Per Square Foot Commercial $ 0.1185 Industrial/Warehouse $ 0.0884 Institutional $ 0.2267 2) set the public hearing on the Annual Rate Resolution at 5:30 pm (or as soon thereafter as may be heard) on September 11, 2025; and 3) adopt the proposed Preliminary Rate Resolution. Motion 2: Approve as recommended. Aye (7): Commissioner Book, Commissioner Chestnut, Commissioner Duncan-Walker, Mayor Pro Tem Eastman, James Ingle, Mayor Ward, and Commissioner Willits Approved (7 to 0) D. MEMBER COMMENT Commissioner Chestnut - Thelma Boltin Center Update

4 Commissioner Willits - 1) 8th and Waldo Update with the School Board. Cynthia Curry, City Manager gave an update. 2) Tree mitigation. Mayor Ward - Palm trees on SW 34th Street. Is going to propose to MTPO to have a more permanent monument in that space. Cintya Ramos, Executive Chief of Staff spoke to the Thelma Boltin equipment. Jennifer Smart, Communications and Marketing Director spoke to the equipment at the Thelma Boltin Center. She will provide a cost breakdown to the City Commission. Commissioner Duncan-Walker - Agenda a conversation regarding the cost breakdown regarding the equipment at the Thelma Boltin Center. E. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 2:34 p.m. _________________________ Kristen J. Bryant, JD, CMC, City Clerk

Official record

ArtifactSourceState
AgendaNot published in the sources we holdunavailable
Agenda packetNot published in the sources we holdunavailable
BudgetNot published in the sources we holdunavailable
Action agendaNot published in the sources we holdunavailable
Transcript or captionsNot published in the sources we holdunavailable
AttachmentNot published in the sources we holdunavailable

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Coverage and corrections

Records considered

  • City Commission Special Meeting — Minutes

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