Live-tweeting the Gainesville City Commission meeting: The name change for the Office of Equal Opportunity will be deleted from the consent agenda because it is included under the draft housing anti-discrimination ordinance.
Debbie Martinez asks for the security item to be removed, arguing that armed security can be provided by GPD, benefiting local officers and putting them under the control of our police chief.
Nathan Skop asks whether outside armed security is needed, also asks for that item to be removed from the consent agenda.
The commission didn't even discuss pulling items from the consent agenda. Consent agenda passes unanimously.
They've just added backup to two items on this afternoon's agenda: commission rules and the email policy. This, of course, limits the ability of citizens to look over this material before the meeting.
Hayes-Santos requests continuing the Green New Deal resolution and the SW 2nd reclassification to the next meeting.
A citizen says they couldn't hear anything, asks commission to repeat the past few minutes. Mayor Poe says he will ask staff to look into the problem but doesn't repeat anything.
Debbie Martinez asks the commission to remove the item limiting citizen comments, saying it's in response to a problem that doesn't exist.
Nathan Skop points out that they're adding backup at the last minute and adding agenda items at the last minute.
Karen Arrington(?) points out that the new item added by Hayes-Santos (Alachua County Event Center) is complex but has no backup. She says she's an environmentalist, but the Green New Deal is the "most rambling, ineffectual thing I've ever read."
Tana Silva also objects to adding items and backup at the last minute. "That is poor government."
Wilbur Holloway: "This is what citizen-centered and people-empowered government looks like. Yay!"
Gary Gordon: There is no need to put the Alachua County Event Center as an "emergency" item. Don Fields agrees.
As usual, the commission does not make any motions in response to the citizen comments on the agenda. Agenda passes as modified.
Christina Fields notes that several commissioners have walked out during citizen comment, in spite of being in session less than half an hour.
Poe says the audio from the meeting is piped into the back, so it's ok that the commissioners have walked out.
Kali Blount also comments on missing commissioners, says he waited to comment in hopes that they would return. (Debbie Martinez just welcomed Arreola back to the room.)
Jim Konish announces that he is suing GRU over improper classification of accounts, resulting in improper rates.
Mark Sexton from the county asks that the city provide notice when they talk about a county project (referring to the Alachua County Event Center item that was just added to the agenda).
Don Fields says the commission is moving away from empowering citizens because the new rules have not been fully thought-out. Says the commission should make opportunities for citizen input, not less.
Gary Gordon recommends that the GRU Manager be placed back under the city manager instead of being a charter officer. He also asks again to remove the agenda item about the county event center or at least explain why it's so critical to do so today.
1:48, and the general citizen comment is complete.
General citizen comment took about 26 minutes.
Commissioner Arreola says he'd be happy to adopt rules for advance notice of county items if the county commission would be willing to do the same for them.
Asst. City Attorney Lisa Bennett is presenting on the proposed new city commission citizen engagement rules. She says this will not be the final decision; that will be a resolution that will be read in an evening session.
First is the Early Citizen Comment rule. Allows citizens to speak on any agenda item at the beginning of the meeting. Limit of 3 minutes for one item, 5 minutes if more than one item.
Second new rule allows applause during proclamations only. Although the current rules don't allow any applause, it is routine during proclamations.
Third new rule limits citizens to one general citizen comment period (current rule allows two).
Fourth rule is about "decorum and civility." Language is borrowed from the Palm Bay, Florida rule (they have been sued for restricting speech and thus have revised their rules in response).
Bennett has added proposed language that limits general citizen comment to specific topics, like issues of city business, topics of local relevance, etc.
Citizens would not be allowed to speak on purely informational or procedural items (designations of such will be made by staff).
Citizens will be required to register before speaking. City is working with Granicus on how to do this (also working with Granicus on taking written citizen comment on agenda items). Written comments "will be incorporated in the public record for the meeting."
New rules for interruption of meeting allow the presiding officer to call a recess, remove the person, etc.
The presiding officer has authority to determine what is disruptive. This includes "use of words that may threaten or outrage others." Bennett says the conduct has to "truly" disrupt the meeting.
New rule requires warning before removing someone. Also requires the sergeant-at-arms or designee (typically GPD officer) to advise the person of their other options for providing input.
Bennett recommends removing Robert's Rules of Order. Says they're more applicable to parliamentary bodies, "not a 7-member commission."
Hayes-Santos proposes more changes: change "citizen comment" to "public comment" because "citizen" is exclusionary. Add business discussion items in evenings before public hearings when needed. Adds procedural votes to items that won't have public comment.
Hayes-Santos, continued: Must register to speak one hour before meeting starts. Wants to add a rule saying nobody can advocate for or against anyone running for office or for a for-profit business.
Arreola suggests taking each piece one at a time but Poe says he can comment on each one "and people can follow along." Says "citizen" means anyone living in Gainesville, is not exclusionary. Supports allowing extra time to speak on multiple agenda items, but max of 5 minutes.
Arreola is open to the idea that someone speaking during early public comment could speak on the item later because they obviously care a lot. He thinks items of local relevance are fine in public comment.
Arreola supports early registration, but not with a deadline an hour before. Also says the presiding officer should have discretion to add people if they're not familiar with the new rules. Favors written comment.
Warren: "We're just asking for better respect." Asking who started it doesn't solve the problem. "Telling us the same thing 20 times a day... you wouldn't take it from [anyone else]."
Warren says people who lost in the election "throw trash" at the commissioners. "If you would behave here the same way you do at the county meeting, we wouldn't be having this discussion."
Warren says the county's relationships with citizens is different because they don't have term limits. Says citizens walk out, also (note: citizens are not elected to listen to commissioners). Says she supports commissioners walking out if they are being constantly criticized.
Warren: "None of these are going to matter if the same behavior continues." Claims they treat the commissioners like a substitute teacher. Takes too much time to hear the same comments over and over. "I don't want you digging into my cavities."
Warren: Politicians aren't perfect. "This is democracy. These are the people who won the majority of the vote... and you didn't."
Johnson also says she hopes they will vote on individual items; Poe is noncommital. Says she doesn't know how to balance having an orderly meeting with registration but also allowing people to speak as things come up.
Johnson says maybe stick with the 30-minute time limit, opening up to unregistered speakers after the registered speakers are done.
Arreola asks staff whether other cities have a deadline for signing up. Austin requires 3 weeks in advance, other have shorter deadlines.
Given all the last-minute items today (and at many meetings), the agenda should have a deadline before the registration deadline.
Arreola says he disagrees with the narrative that these rule changes are adversarial to the citizens. He doesn't see anything in the rules that will stifle debate. Rules exist to "breed inclusion, to breed discussion."
Poe says he disagrees with limitations on content of speech (politicians, businesses, etc.) and limitations on topics in general public comment.
Poe says written comments will add to the discussion, but they will need to "put some resources behind" educating people about the changes.
Arreola argues that anything other than "strictly procedural" items (moving to extend, recess, etc.) should allow public comment. Even referring something to staff or committee.
Johnson says the public should be able to talk about politicians and businesses, but the commissioners shouldn't.
Poe recommends allowing registration to stay open until the end of the item.
Poe says early comment and general comment should be first-come-first-served because of the 30-minute time limits, so there is an incentive to sign up before the meeting. But he wants to keep it open until the end.
Hayes-Santos says leaving registration open will "cause a lot of kerfuffle," with people waiting to sign up so they can go last, for example. Moves to change it to 30-minute advance registration.
The commission is considering a multi-part motion by Hayes-Santos, with some confusion about what is actually in the motion. They will leave the deadline for registration to the clerk's office. Comments to the motion continue to indicate confusion.
Time for public comment on the motion. Robert Mounts quotes the city attorney: "It is difficult to regulate civility without regulating content." Calls attention to language about "outraging others" and "outbursts of approval," saying those limit free expression.
Mounts also says that trying to balance pro and con speakers would be a problem in meetings like the one on GNV Rise, when almost all speakers were against the motion.
Martinez says again that this is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. "County commissioners would never - never - treat citizens this way." Says commissioners want to silence new voices that come to speak out against their policies and tax/rate increases.
Martinez suggest that commissioners look across the street (to the county commission) instead of copying rules from other cities. The county offers 2-4 opportunities for citizens to speak at each meeting.
Bruce Blackwell says Gainesville is within the parameters of other cities in its rules. Recommends doing the business first and having all public comment at the end - or perhaps a separate meeting for public comment.
Jim Konish reads from the attorney's memo. He points out that while some people are allowed to applaud, Jo Beaty is immediately thrown out if she claps. "Anything that restricts speech on the basis of content will not stand." "You cannot legislate civility."
Konish: "When a commissioner walks out of the room every time a former member of the Public Service Commission comes up to speak, that is not civility." "The content-based stuff will go down in flames if anyone wants to challenge it."
Karen Arrington says nothing should be changed. Says the proposed rule is bureaucratic and confusing. "People come to public comment because they're concerned about things." There should be no restrictions on public speech. Calls Warren out for lecturing public.
Arrington: How can people register in advance if they're putting items on the agenda at the last minute?
Janice Garry says she's never seen anyone cut off before their 3 minutes are up. "I personally am deeply offended when people make personal attacks." Pledges to make her own comments about issues and not people.
David Ruiz supports the changes with the exception of pre-registration. Thinks people who pre-register should go first, but others can speak if there is time.
Wilbur Holloway read parts of Susan Bottcher's letter to the editor, talking about a "toxic" atmosphere. Holloway says the same people go to county and school board meetings, but the atmosphere there is not toxic. The people on the dais are the difference.
Holloway calls them "the snowflake commission" because they are worried about uncivil speakers, even with armed police officers in the room. City has massive debt ($90 million in interest payments). "You're running the city into the ground."
Holloway talks about panhandlers, potholes that haven't been repaired.
Gary Gordon: "It's remarkable to me how far things have fallen, both among city government and maybe among the public, I'm not sure." Says they didn't use to have time limits. Commissioners interacted with the public (the county still does this). Dialogue.
Gordon: "It used to be a meeting of the city commission with the people." Says he hasn't observed the behavior described in Bottcher's letter. "If you really want to breed public participation, eliminate as many limits as possible."
Gordon: There is no indication that anyone is listening: "It feels like a stone wall."
Jo Beaty: Eliminating Robert's Rules leaves no parliamentary authority. Reads from Florida League of Cities guidance recommending knowledge of parliamentary procedure. "Parliamentary procedure gives reality to these democratic concepts."
Beaty says their rules don't cover all the situations covered by Robert's Rules. People take time out of their schedules to come to meetings, and they come when they can. Early comment may be overly restrictive.
Beaty recommends guidelines for the conduct of commissioners: they don't hold each other to standards of civility.
Tana Silva says some proposed rules violate content-neutral principles. Says sometimes the mayor abuses recess - for example, he once called a recess when a vote didn't go his way. Says written comments should be read at the meetings.
Silva says she dreads coming to meetings and being lectured or screamed at from the dais.
Nathan Skop agrees with Silva's comments. Calls out Johnson again for leaving while he talks. The current rules have worked perfectly well for years. Calls Bottcher's letter "creative writing." Mentions recent utility rate and property tax increases.
Skop: "This is hardly moving in the right direction." In the case of early comment, what if a new item is introduced during commissioner comment?
Gabe Kaimowitz(Hillel): A lot of this is unconstitutional, and you only get away with it because nobody sues. "Other cities would laugh at what you're doing today." Says the commission has to justify these changes, but they don't have data to support it.
Susan Bottcher says the changes are well within the limits of free speech. She praises Helen Warren, says she's been on that side of the dais. Recommends Citizen Academy to get an inside look at how the city operates.
Sharon Bauer: "We've been screamed at" by Commissioner Ward. "You have to listen to us, we don't have to listen to another long-winded, preachy lecture." "We'd settle for adequate city services, which we no longer have, which are too mundane to get you national attention"
Sheila Payne says people are more rude at city meetings than county meetings, maybe because "the issues are different."
End of public comment. Hayes-Santos adds a rule saying that items that are not on the published agenda will not require early registration. Arreola clarifies that early registration is "optional, not necessary."
Arreola says he's a parliamentary geek and gives a history of parliamentary procedure. "You cannot undo the centuries of influence." Says everything that just happened in considering these rules would be exactly the same under the new rules.
Motion is for a whole list of edits to the proposed rules. Unanimously passes.
Motion for staff to research language around procedural votes passes unanimously.
Motion for staff to bring back recommendations on registering to speak passes unanimously.
Motion to prohibit commissioners from discussing candidates or for-profit businesses passes 4-2, with Poe and Hayes-Santos in dissent (they thought commissioners should be able to talk about whatever they want).
Continued confusion about what they just voted for.
The commission decides to postpone the email publishing changes until later, moves on to the housing anti-discrimination draft ordinance.
Teneeshia Marshall, Equal Opportunity Director, is presenting. Simmons asks about the name change, indicating that she hasn't read the agenda (or, more importantly, the consent agenda, where this originally appeared).
Marshall says "Equality is about sameness. It works when conditions are the same for everyone and everyone starts from the same place."
Warren says "Equality doesn't meet what needs to be done." SFC and UF have created new staff positions to deal with equity. Says this conversation will take us "further along the path" and sometimes changes to language are needed.
This is a really significant draft resolution, creating new classes of protected citizens, but they haven't even discussed those changes.
Raina Saco requests adding something to the statute about not asking about citizenship status.
Jeremiah Tattersall suggests that landlords should not be able to call immigration authorities about tenants. Says the county regulations already apply in the city, but people would have to complain to the county office.
Tattersall asks the city to budget some money to educate landlords about the changes.
Robert Carol says rental unit supply is low and demand is high. We already have policies more restrictive than 64 of the 67 counties in Florida, meaning it is difficult to attract developers. This type of legislation will increase rents and deposit requirements.
Carol: Increasing rents increases the number of voucher holders. Transgender protections make it more difficult to match roommates.
Sheila Payne echoes what Raina said: city ordinance should echo the county. Allowing people with Section 8 vouchers to live in mixed-income neighborhoods allows their kids to thrive. "The only thing being built here is high-priced student housing."
Nathan Skop (calls out Johnson as disrespectful for leaving again): One political faction has rules this commission for 20 years but claims we have an affordable housing crisis. What have they done to avoid this?
Skop: The sales tax being floated by the county for affordable housing also reduces the utility revenue to the city. Anti-discrimination policies are well-intended but this will exacerbate the problem. It's not how economics works.
Skop: The language about "perceived" status is not enforceable. Do things to solve problems, not just because there's pressure to do them.
Gabe Kaimowitz: Affordable housing is governed by reality.
Gladys Perkins: "Affordable housing is a myth, especially for black people in Gainesville. You don't care about people who are in the lower income bracket. Putting up housing for students, not people who came from Kennedy Homes."
Perkins: "You are doing nothing but discriminating against the lower-income people in this city."
Hayes-Santos asks why the county language was excluded. Shalley (attorney) says the language is based on the recommendation of the Renters' Rights committee.
Arreola amends the motion to include the county language.
Shalley says the county's ordinance is crafted completely differently, so they will need to look at it comprehensively.
Hayes-Santos moves to continue an item regarding the fire station and the discussion of the Alachua County Event Center to the next meeting.
The commission is in their dinner break.
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