[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6296456,"mediaKeyId","2515651-05dbebb19a18c3045b3b8c31885e39c3","parentId",2515651,"title","City Commission adopts 10-year transit development plan to qualify for state and federal grants","audioSeconds",3612,"startMs",1440000,"endMs",5052000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2515651-05dbebb19a18c3045b3b8c31885e39c3&start=1440&end=5052","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2515651-05dbebb19a18c3045b3b8c31885e39c3/thumbnail_1440000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6296456/Gainesville/Alachua-County/Florida/City-Commission-adopts-10-year-transit-development-plan-to-qualify-for-state-and-federal-grants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296456-e6c1526903e9c1caee3303aa112f0b63/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173172&Signature=EW77o~yw34xbnZLMBq1gR7HGDp6G7RDPZ1htETNLLab~Og9Nzo1yWf5Xi3bKXH3HrwieyFPZLEfoTCzysSlUey4UltNY8YR0LSGN-kteqMWVuAnPYyM4f8sQEhwSAjPFD-H1PpjZOYsmKIB46hqM~GEYU1vV2XuaA8E4PQGFHWAdFJuBQg5NIIFSJz3~W-6mF1b-Nvo9DvYjyiwikz3a9mb~xDZEQNvwCCh2Q3TIO-glvLefS-ryLOZN5fwFhPrq8qWvXdgDK9Wx5y1ydx3jWYkP3RdQvfDz~OdVgY1nQkHdOlBv2a1LRMoNv2Q6G9yNoZ3JbQt22qWtAf-~DZHCAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Gainesville, FL ","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Gainesville City Commission unanimously adopted the 10-year Regional Transit System Transit Development Plan (TDP) for fiscal years 2025–2034, a planning document required as part of state and federal grant applications.

The plan, presented by Jesus Gomez of the city transportation department and consultant Taylor Cox of Benish, lays out phased route restorations (phase 2 and 3), three pilot mobility-on-demand zones, and proposed premium/express services including a rapid express between Santa Fe College and the airport. The plan is explicitly a non-binding vision and baseline for grant applications; staff said figures are estimates and will be updated annually.

Why it matters: adopting the TDP preserves Gainesville’s eligibility for FDOT and other grants the city intends to pursue to fund capital projects such as transfer centers, transit signal priority (TSP) equipment and electric or alternate‑fuel vehicles. The plan also frames possible service changes that affect frequency, span and route alignments across RTS fixed routes, campus service and county connections.

Key points
- Purpose and scope: the TDP is a program-level planning document not a contract or budget; it identifies funded and unfunded needs and sets service priorities for RTS over the next decade.
- Public outreach: staff and consultants reported about 1,400 public contacts through workshops, intercept surveys and a virtual engagement space; top rider requests included later service hours, higher frequency and more shelters/benches.
- Short-term actions: Phase 2 (near-term) emphasizes UF routes and short-term network changes; Phase 3 expands to city, county and Santa Fe routes and deploys mobility-on-demand (MOD) zones (15‑minute service target) in lower-productivity corridors.
- Premium services and infrastructure: the plan recommends express/premium corridors, bus-preferential treatments such as transit signal priority, and two transfer centers (Eastside and Northwest). Staff said the city will implement the short-term network in 2026 and the MOD pilot in 2027, contingent on grant awards and contract negotiations.
- Funding: staff presented a 10-year operating projection (~$315 million) and ~ $118 million in capital needs; funding is a mix of federal, state and local dollars, plus grant awards RTS has secured. Staff emphasized that some large grant awards reduce near-term local operating needs but additional revenue will be necessary if the city wants later frequency increases projected in the plan.

What commissioners asked: commissioners pressed consultants and staff on operational details such as how MOD (microtransit) would be booked (app or call center), eligibility and accessibility for older riders and paratransit users, potential bus‑only or HOV lane infrastructure for express routes, and how redundancy reductions would affect transfers and reliability. Staff said MOD will be available via RTS call center and an app, will operate in geofenced zones, and can use ADA‑accessible vehicles; the Historic UF–airport express alignment was described as a long‑term premium option subject to ridership and annual updates.

Next steps: commissioners approved the TDP and staff will submit required documents to FDOT by the March 1 deadline; the plan will be updated annually and remain a living document subject to further public and commission review.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Gainesville Commission Meeting Feb. 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Gainesville City Commission unanimously adopted a 10-year transit development plan on Feb. 6, a state- and federally-required planning baseline that staff said is necessary to qualify for grant funding to restore and expand Regional Transit System services.","taxTitle","Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida","taxId",4825,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6296441,"Votes at a glance: zoning, cemetery rules, solid‑waste fees and transect setback changes approved",473,11520000,11993000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2515651-05dbebb19a18c3045b3b8c31885e39c3&start=11520&end=11993","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2515651-05dbebb19a18c3045b3b8c31885e39c3/thumbnail_11520000.jpg","/articles/6296441/Gainesville/Alachua-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-zoning-cemetery-rules-solidwaste-fees-and-transect-setback-changes-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296441-35c02e1eb2f9b2b17e71ddbdf12f47f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173172&Signature=cL-N2NY7lSLHGjIoHRfPnR47hWslLKkZrW2eJdMSpFrFk6pnplLU0x8QWAdkF~NCJZUsZ1T~cvHrDjDNzxYsJDknIZhmzd0j2AEC2io94pMrnhobFn7-tJT5NGxSazkioEywYY3v06vW7WnETKb848GdeJEKze13mu2uScrUQ-IAnZHQFML-SPZvPtgwwj14B1N0n7ataOQ42ggd1W7ROfS1I-OaJN8ZaZr8B5LYgSdNiV3a1QWfILMfiktgQuh9gfm8Xdzvp8b9ordjtoN0nOxkoSrUJr3LvcZQsPEezqhdHRN1Uzq5drk9c28tI4tFHQUtQ4YBfiBd--y6UBxPHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Commission approved multiple ordinance actions and a rezoning on Feb. 6. Each item is summarized below with the formal outcome and key details.

Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 2024-618 (Rezoning: ~6 acres north of NE Waldo Rd & NE 30th Ave): Approved on second reading. The property was rezoned from Airport Facility to Limited Industrial. Vote: unanimous.

- Ordinance 2024-510 (Chapter 7 — Cemetery code changes): Approved. Revisions to the city’s cemetery code add provisions for natural (green) burials, a pet cemetery, rules for monuments/mausoleums, and accessibility/columbarium provisions. The city promoted the cemetery’s 160th anniversary and an app to digitize burial records during the presentation. Vote: unanimous.

- Ordinance 2024-903 (Appendix A — Residential solid waste fees): Approved. Council passed an increase to residential solid-waste collection fees (a 20% cart rate increase was advertised); staff noted some incorrect billings tied to the billing vendor and said staff is coordinating corrections with GRU. Vote: unanimous.

- Ordinance 2024-320 (Land development code: transect side setbacks): Approved. Text amendment reduces interior side setbacks from 5 feet to 0 feet in transects U4–U7 to permit development forms such as zero‑lot‑line townhouses and other “missing‑middle” housing types; the code change does not change the units-per-acre maximums. Commissioners and staff discussed impacts to historic districts and noted that the Historic Preservation Board will continue to review design through Certificates of Appropriateness for designated districts. Vote: unanimous.

Formal votes and next steps
All listed ordinances and the rezoning motion passed with unanimous vote of commissioners present at the Feb. 6 meeting; Mayor Ward was absent. Solid-waste rates and zoning changes are effective as provided in their respective ordinances. Staff will proceed with implementation steps (billing adjustments, code amendments and permit reviews) and follow existing review procedures for projects in historic districts.

","At its Feb. 6 meeting the commission approved a set of ordinances and a rezoning in routine votes: a zoning map amendment, Evergreen Cemetery code updates, a solid‑waste fee increase, and a transect side‑setback text amendment. All measures passed unanimously.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6296446,"Gainesville Police report shows declines in violent and property crimes in 2024; department highlights gun seizures and investigations",5855,5065000,10920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2515651-05dbebb19a18c3045b3b8c31885e39c3&start=5065&end=10920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2515651-05dbebb19a18c3045b3b8c31885e39c3/thumbnail_5065000.jpg","/articles/6296446/Gainesville/Alachua-County/Florida/Gainesville-Police-report-shows-declines-in-violent-and-property-crimes-in-2024-department-highlights-gun-seizures-and-investigations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296446-50ee49824caaeea347bd70077a99111c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173172&Signature=L~xfbYiE7wlDYoe3cPfjgid9IljVEPfVS5-gHbNv9CjdVtsWEO61B0e7~f~52UfvSN6XV1kqMRtxMKizst~k4Ja5J-vgihgMFbSCH2rkvjxB63CXakh~O6BN6RUEVRhG1pCwWaN7uiuJeIKFyXvtmysHAEr7IUKCRSuBGkypDL54phmT0viR7gs4cFI7HzRRaSVeLHBbwK3U9ofEqwFD~Ax22at1m7bmWUKWn~V~emiyT3gIzCG9h993DjGwWmQ4mXQ~Mi9aTpuPvD-0FSIIeI0nStYUs-cgvs659183fUxcdss0E4o27DOLmpY6Buj3Dhlt3eiszUdJFRi8RsxuHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gainesville Police Department presented its fiscal year 2025 quarterly update on crime and operations, reporting year‑to‑date reductions in violent crime and property crime and describing investigative activity and community outreach.

Highlights from the report, presented by Major Kerney and captains from Criminal Investigations and Operations: 2024 saw eight homicides (a 42% decline from 2023), decreases in aggregate violent crime categories and an overall drop in property crimes. Police reported 274 firearms seized during 2024 and a 45% reduction in reported stolen firearms compared with 2023. The department said 59 of the stolen guns recovered in 2024 came from vehicles, and officers reiterated the recurring prevention message to secure vehicles and firearms.

Investigations and staffing
- Criminal Investigations described active caseloads across squads: major crimes, domestic/child abuse, property crimes, fraud/ICAC and special units. Capt. Paris Owens said detectives carry dozens to more than a hundred active cases depending on unit and workload.
- Commanders noted high collaboration across agencies, citing a high‑profile case where multi‑jurisdictional cooperation, a risk protection order and digital forensics led to a person being taken into federal custody in response to an alleged planned attack.

Community work and traffic
- The department summarized homeless outreach, cleanups of encampments and partnerships with community organizations and ambassadors to maintain public spaces and provide referrals.
- Traffic enforcement and safety programs were reviewed: the department reported reduced traffic fatalities this quarter versus the prior year and listed recent notable prosecutions including multiple sentences for fatal hit-and‑run and high‑speed crashes.
- The co‑responder mental‑health program continues; staff said the unit will present at a national co‑responder conference in Atlanta in June.

Staffing and recruitment
- The department reported increased recruitment activity: 457 police applications for 2024 versus 201 in 2023; staff hired 31 sworn officers in 2024 and anticipate further academies and recruit classes in 2025.
- Training and accreditation: the department announced it attained full CALEA accreditation with no outstanding issues in 2024. Commanders highlighted interagency critical-incident training completed with multiple partner agencies.

What commissioners asked: commissioners thanked officers for reductions in gun violence, asked about enforcement of motorized personal devices (electric unicycles and scooters) and the department said it is consulting the city attorney on how to regulate these devices on sidewalks and in travel lanes.

","Police officials told the commission the department recorded reductions in total violent crime and property crime in 2024, seized hundreds of firearms and reported fewer homicides. Commanders outlined investigative caseloads, recent notable cases and community outreach including the co-responder program.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6296451,"Commission directs charter officers to return staff‑sizing recommendations as city braces for tighter revenues",1701,9288000,10989000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2515651-05dbebb19a18c3045b3b8c31885e39c3&start=9288&end=10989","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2515651-05dbebb19a18c3045b3b8c31885e39c3/thumbnail_9288000.jpg","/articles/6296451/Gainesville/Alachua-County/Florida/Commission-directs-charter-officers-to-return-staffsizing-recommendations-as-city-braces-for-tighter-revenues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296451-2d5718c3f76ed5e09e6cb834e04a06b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173172&Signature=c9PS~iklLVeINoEoD1VkelMbtmwUTg1LDwViB6RFux2zhGqkiOr2tzk~QUJZwTSytsdF3koge6PrDEbn-xak~MvRjhUeFING5NoTO9SCuiB4mEuZ4m8XbBA5UpC6GhH3avluYXI3CO0rLXnzjJewvQwZufQl8wT6Y4b6MrC9EiVhColvK0oXTtHzW-T3A6Ox2T1cOPsGHjNuElPy9OnnGh7z3K4A1KHbnC0qo0Pn5Z--msjXnCAKQvOvFOHBvE7kuGA26OYOunVPiTGADjzz90r1bELyctKSmkeOL-7GqTW3YQarvfsBpdA9nfayTSRIBM~hswV9wcw2lV0yatXZyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gainesville City Commission voted unanimously Feb. 6 to direct charter officers to produce a consolidated report on staffing, consolidation opportunities and scope of administrative services as the city prepares its FY2026 budget.

The discussion followed lengthy public and commissioner debate about a multi-year drop in the city’s government-services contribution and the need to avoid mid‑year layoffs. Speakers and commissioners repeatedly cited a steep reduction in the contribution historically received from Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) and the need to plan conservatively. The city manager said she will implement a tighter hiring freeze for general government beginning March 1 to protect the city’s fund balance and ensure operations can be carried through the fiscal year.

Why it matters: commissioners framed the directive as a proactive, fiscally prudent step to understand how administrative offices should be sized if the longstanding revenues associated with oversight of GRU functions do not return. The city’s directive asks charter officers to analyze overlapping services, job-audit impacts, historic staffing levels and mission‑critical positions, and to return recommendations in time for the March 27 fiscal retreat.

What was directed
- Charter officers (city manager, city auditor, city clerk, city attorney and OEI) were asked to submit a single consolidated report—organized by office—that lays out recommendations for consolidation, efficiencies, staffing levels and scope for their respective departments.
- The report should include prior-year staffing and budget data, known vacancies, job‑audit history and identification of positions that would be considered mission‑critical.
- Staff were asked to prioritize information about hiring and vacancies so the commission could consider interim hiring‑freeze policy and March fiscal retreat recommendations.

Funding and context
- Commissioners and the manager repeatedly cited a multi-year decrease in the city’s transfer from GRU (from roughly $35 million two years earlier to $8.5 million in current budget discussions) as a primary driver of fiscal pressure.
- The city manager said the administration had already implemented a soft hiring freeze and will implement a stricter hiring freeze for general government on March 1 unless the commission provides different direction.

Next steps
- Charter officers will return a consolidated report to commissioners in advance of the March 27 fiscal retreat; commissioners said the hiring‑freeze question should be settled in that timeframe or sooner.","After extended debate about falling transfers and a possible hiring freeze, the commission voted unanimously to ask charter officers to deliver a consolidated report—including staffing, overlap, job-audit and vacancy details—before the March fiscal retreat and signaled an immediate hiring‑freeze posture for general government.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City Commission adopts 10-year transit development plan to qualify for state and federal grants

Votes at a glance: zoning, cemetery rules, solid‑waste fees and transect setback changes approved

Gainesville Police report shows declines in violent and property crimes in 2024; department highlights gun seizures and investigations

Commission directs charter officers to return staff‑sizing recommendations as city braces for tighter revenues