General Policy Committee

1 General Policy Committee Meeting MINUTES April 10, 2025, 1:00 p.m. City Hall Auditorium 200 East University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601 Members Present: Commissioner Book, Commissioner Chestnut, Mayor Pro Tem Eastman, Mayor Ward, Commissioner Willits, James Ingle Members Absent: Commissioner Duncan-Walker _____________________________________________________________________ A. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 1:00 p.m. B. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Moved by Commissioner Willits Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Eastman Motion: The General Policy Committee adopt the agenda. Aye (6): Commissioner Book, Commissioner Chestnut, Mayor Pro Tem Eastman, Mayor Ward, Commissioner Willits, and James Ingle Absent (1): Commissioner Duncan-Walker Approved (6 to 0) C. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES 1. Approval of Minutes from the March 13, 2025 General Policy Committee Meeting (B) Moved by Commissioner Willits Seconded by Commissioner Chestnut

2 Recommendation: The General Policy Committee approve the minutes from the March 13, 2025 meeting. Aye (6): Commissioner Book, Commissioner Chestnut, Mayor Pro Tem Eastman, Mayor Ward, Commissioner Willits, and James Ingle Absent (1): Commissioner Duncan-Walker Approved (6 to 0) D. BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. 2025-219 Informational Item: Peaceful Paths Services Update (B) Crystal Sorrow, Chief Executive Officer, Peaceful Paths, gave a presentation on Peaceful Paths Services Update. Public Comment: Donald Shepherd Recommendation: The General Policy Committee hear a services update from Peaceful Paths. Heard 2. 2025-220 Informational Item: Family Promise Services Update (B) Shari Jones, Executive Director, Family Promise of Gainesville, gave a presentation on Family Promise Services Update. Recommendation: The General Policy Committee hear a services update from Family Promise. Heard 3. 2025-286 Hoggetowne Medieval Faire Presentation (B) Leslie Ladendorf, Assistant Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, introduced the item. Carol Velasques, Cultural Affairs Manager, gave an overview of the item. Sunshine Andrei, Assistant Cultural Affairs Manager, gave a presentation on the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire update.

3 Roxana Gonzalez, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, spoke to the item related to not asking for donations in lieu of the merchant sales. Phil Mann, Special Advisor to the City Manager, spoke to the item related to the old Job Corps site. Public Comment: Jordan Borstelmann, Mrs. Daryn Page, Donald Shepherd, Jordan Puryear, Mr. John Humphlett, Travis Harvey, Mary Rodriguez, Ms. Ashley Ladnyk, Logan Ladnyk, Jordan Claypool, Bonnie Kelley, Rowdy Turner, Thomas Zangari Recommendation: The General Policy Committee hear a presentation from Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs staff and provide direction on the future of the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire event for FY 2026. Moved by Commissioner Chestnut Seconded by Commissioner Willits Motion: 1) Direct the City Manager to return with funding options and partnership possibilities for the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire for FY2026, and 2) explore an alternate permanent site such as the Gainesville Raceway or the Job Corps sites. Aye (6): Commissioner Book, Commissioner Chestnut, Mayor Pro Tem Eastman, Mayor Ward, Commissioner Willits, and James Ingle Absent (1): Commissioner Duncan-Walker Approved (6 to 0) 4. 2025-300 GRU Discussion (NB) Dan Nee, City Attorney, spoke to the item regarding an update to the Gainesville Regional Utilities court case. Public Comment: Donald Shepherd, Kali Blount Recommendation: The General Policy Committee discuss and take any action deemed necessary. Heard

4 E. MEMBER COMMENT Commissioner Ingle: Mentioned the UF student who was recently deported by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and that it was reasonable for the police to stop him. It is the federal government's reaction to immigration that has conflated the situation. Commissioner Book: The Juried Art Show is on at Santa Fe on April 12-13, the Great American Clean Up by Keep Alachua County Beautiful is on April 19. Commissioner Willits: Parking issues on SW 17th Place need a response due to safety concerns; also gave comments about the student who was deported. Jaime Kurnick, Major, Gainesville Police Department, mentioned that Summer Hallett, Police Captain, assists with traffic safety. Commissioner Eastman: Added to the comments regarding the student who was deported; How Bazaar is hosting the Big Block Party this weekend. Mayor Ward: Mentioned the emails from UF student parents raising concerns about the city's homeless population, met virtually with them, with GPD, City Manager staff, university police, and county sheriff representatives joined in. Wanted to give thanks to those who are committed to customer service. F. NEXT MEETING DATE - April 24, 2025 G. ADJOURNMENT - 4:23 p.m. _________________________ Kristen J. Bryant, City Clerk