[{"_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",6068585,"mediaKeyId","3092441-f0855bd8e702ad9450e9c37523e0cb5f","parentId",3092441,"title","Commission hears update on GRU litigation; authority has filed notice of appeal","audioSeconds",69,"startMs",7018000,"endMs",7087000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092441-f0855bd8e702ad9450e9c37523e0cb5f&start=7018&end=7087","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092441-f0855bd8e702ad9450e9c37523e0cb5f/thumbnail_7018000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6068585/Gainesville/Alachua-County/Florida/Commission-hears-update-on-GRU-litigation-authority-has-filed-notice-of-appeal","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6068585-c14e70576ddd5632f43b5eb0e860e36d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142032&Signature=NFx8LBeHAC~cka6YeeAHv6C9yvMQVoYIBWOu36YJ8fPNR9Xqzw9K4~9bju3hg7Bi4InuM8qxMprQLswCKE1BO~t1c3nuL2mzMOvLfn51wOBM7za0q0M8IEFiHbc8WHCWfgbQmMgCJU~IKo7ydSEPDWOl6zlicjbeB3oYkPyO~o98ugPmPUErgCqRA5ed6hNvX526LOGgxdZBHVOJzvGsakzs2t3x9jLM0TkO1QDFhZECyBTwNXzx2vSrzsfSKdBy0FxEjDrqUIdedBFfHcja~Wrqf~KLNEX0~gLhf4G72Tw6H6HkecLj8LqhSiU9iKqJ5dG2hWczIDkFLcwaqVjwtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Gainesville, FL ","date","2025-04-10T00:00:00Z","article","Mayor Ward and the commission discussed the recent legal developments involving the Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Authority. The city attorney and staff reported that, following a judge’s ruling that invalidated referendum-related votes, the GRU Authority voted unanimously to pursue appeal.

Commissioners noted the potential financial and operational consequences. Commissioner Eastman said the back-and-forth litigation risks credit rating implications; other commissioners raised concerns about legal costs and the continued uncertainty for GRU employees and city finances.

City legal staff said the judge will issue a written order and that parties must prepare proposed orders and a transcript of the court proceedings to support any appellate filings. Commissioners urged caution and discussion about next steps while acknowledging the Authority’s right to appeal.

Public commenters urged the city to seek compensation for the perceived loss of control over the utility; one commenter suggested billing the Authority and state for the “full value” of GRU assets if control is permanently changed. The commission did not take a formal vote on litigation strategy during the meeting.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to monitor developments and report back when the judge’s written order and transcripts are available to inform further decisions about appeals and financial risk.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Gainesville General Policy Committee meeting 1PM April 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners received an update that the GRU Authority has voted to pursue an appeal after a judge invalidated referendum-related votes; commissioners expressed concern about litigation costs and credit implications.","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},6068589,"Commission directs staff to pursue funding and site options for Hogtown Medieval Fair after two-year search",4233,2783000,7016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092441-f0855bd8e702ad9450e9c37523e0cb5f&start=2783&end=7016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092441-f0855bd8e702ad9450e9c37523e0cb5f/thumbnail_2783000.jpg","/articles/6068589/Gainesville/Alachua-County/Florida/Commission-directs-staff-to-pursue-funding-and-site-options-for-Hogtown-Medieval-Fair-after-two-year-search","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6068589-de391c138a9d3b1d00b317851664acf6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142032&Signature=eYEhzI6LPY7iLHr-lFT9RCZDJYmsfmfjQuUsvz0SFpYdZCghn2eQe7wF7Os2CGkuS5NeCczjHMTKhjn1hSe1Oc97pX1KUN-JQi~phFh0jx7~4wp31vdx6qwGWhFf-Y90V-Bc3qknL6V5iGmOb4SQmJzTP6OdAs2E8Lxenytwp0~6Eoc~5sLOihYO1JmeKnBKKk21UmB2PavzCXuQ2EQod2mmnTNHaTrI7ztOJCt7GLVyjACKYqBMrvXfTaWuY2nJlyL6nU5mkHlGGPEeHc1HV5Q~FS~A-gVBtVKJVv2b85K7XwwNcWFgHGahcPRGhyDRlDtumyqEfvNRdd~wGVbMMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Gainesville parks and cultural-affairs staff told the General Policy Committee that the Hogtown Medieval Fair cannot return to its pre-pandemic scale without a large site and additional funding, and commissioners directed staff to pursue funding and site options.

Assistant Director Leslie Leidenorf, Cultural Affairs Manager Carol Velasquez Richardson and event coordinator Sunshine (\"Sunny\") Andre reviewed the fair’s history, the size and infrastructure the event requires and the constraints staff encountered searching for a long-term site since the Alachua County Fairgrounds sale. \"Before the pandemic and all of the location changes, the Hogtown Medieval Fair featured 150 merchants in the marketplace, entertained guests on 11 stages and welcomed more than 2,000 students for a low-cost school day,\" staff said.

Staff described minimum site needs to support a return to a large three-weekend event: roughly 47.5 acres (to include merchant marketplace, stages, program space and participant camping), with 30–40 acres for parking, potable water, power sufficient for ~15 food vendors (about 30 amps each), perimeter or program-area fencing, and at least two primary entrances with a four-lane highway exit for guest flow. Staff said set-up for a large site typically requires two weeks, plus the full run of event weekends and a one-week teardown; smaller Depot Park productions have shorter build-down timelines but restrict programming and revenue.

Staff reported many sites evaluated — Alachua County Agricultural and Equestrian Center, West End Golf Course, Gainesville Raceway, Waldo and other private properties, and several city-owned parcels — but cited barriers such as insufficient usable acreage, insurance requirements (the Raceway required insurance terms beyond the city’s underwriting capacity and probe yielded large premium estimates), wetlands/floodplain limits, lack of utilities and neighborhood impacts. The city-owned parcel off Highway 121 was discussed as a possibility but staff said wetlands and a lack of direct access and noise-buffering made it difficult to use in the short term.

Staff recommended securing $130,000 to support another year at Depot Park while continuing the search for a permanent site and beginning conversations about city-county and private partnerships for a permanent festival and arts park. Commissioners discussed tradeoffs of Depot Park (easy access and paved pathways) versus a large site (better immersion and revenue potential) and options including county partnerships, sponsorships, vendor and merchant support, and creative multi-venue downtown collaborations.

Motion and vote: Commissioner Chestnut moved, and the motion was seconded, that the commission ask the city manager to return with recommendations on funding the Hogtown Medieval Fair for fiscal year 2026, explore partnerships for Depot Park and a permanent festival site, and fully explore alternative sites including the Gainesville Raceway and Job Corps property. The motion passed unanimously; Commissioner Beckman Walker was recorded as absent.

Ending: Staff will return with cost estimates and partnership options during the FY-26 budget process while continuing searches for suitable long-term sites.","After a staff presentation on site, infrastructure and budget constraints, the City Commission voted unanimously to ask the city manager to return with funding recommendations for fiscal year 2026 and to fully explore alternative sites and partnerships for the Hogtown Medieval Fair.",{"_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},6068594,"Family Promise reports surge in family homelessness; plans 6-family Promise Center, seeks funding",1457,2249000,3706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092441-f0855bd8e702ad9450e9c37523e0cb5f&start=2249&end=3706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092441-f0855bd8e702ad9450e9c37523e0cb5f/thumbnail_2249000.jpg","/articles/6068594/Gainesville/Alachua-County/Florida/Family-Promise-reports-surge-in-family-homelessness-plans-6-family-Promise-Center-seeks-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6068594-4f0ef0bba79c44b89c317d79e158e7d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142032&Signature=aakZX4X8mO0oKC0tXx4pNF4IXtXEs1Fvnld2YbasoGwRwbrnRE~E3LK9fBckqN8~es8o-zNOVeHOAX0Zhq9dmfU9S0N5ppPt7mXMYoHFL3d4k-gX7nKR2MRp5oFOlCYIyH3nQ1dLAUQInmtt3I4Za0u0QYpogF14v1mup4nOp~hbuhjcagfwgTaZqMIyWTJ3MV8T85NJBOOxtAN5g8jZfWZ0IrNPDGwdXa~5l45-90EEXfxE53irttTTFhXTKm16fmlGNUwtpDUyUhCUZKD1vU51mFkYOcZOY5~kBjFWg5Ea72wWZTzSR9-~31ANB6JULpUqa5lFymkeSINy472R9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jeanette, executive director of Family Promise of Gainesville, told the General Policy Committee that rental cost increases and limited shelter beds have driven a growing number of families seeking help.

Family Promise, Jeanette said, has served the Gainesville area for 25 years and has helped more than 1,000 families; it is focused on families with at least one child under age 18. “This quarter, from January to now, we’ve had over 150 families reach out to us for help, which includes more than 300 children,” she said.

Jeanette described a range of programs — shelter rotation through churches, prevention, rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing — and said many families who contact the program are “hidden homeless” (doubled up or motel-housed) and therefore do not meet the federal “literally homeless” definition that triggers some HUD funding streams. She said Family Promise helped 32 families this quarter through shelter, prevention or other programs and that more private funding is needed to serve those who don’t qualify for federal assistance.

The agency is rehabbing a purchased property (the former CDS/Interfaith building) to open a dedicated family shelter, the Promise Center, that will initially house up to six families; Jeanette said roughly $120,000 more was needed to complete flooring and convert rooms, and staff had already spent funds on a $50,000 HVAC replacement and roof repairs. She said the Promise Center aims to open in August.

Commissioners and staff discussed coordination with housing partners, city and county funding sources (Community Development Block Grant funds were cited as an existing source used for shelter operations) and possible ways to relieve barriers such as landlords’ income requirements, eviction histories and high move-in costs.

Jeanette gave an example estimate that rapid rehousing support for a two-bedroom unit including rental subsidy and utilities can cost roughly $2,000–$2,500 per month depending on unit size and utility bills. Commissioners raised options including partnerships, zoning or building-code changes to increase supply of family-sized units, and possible funding or staffing to help match available rental units to clients.

Ending: Commissioners thanked Family Promise for its long-term work and discussed following up on funding sources and potential interagency approaches to match families with housing.","Family Promise of Gainesville said 150 families sought help in the last quarter, the nonprofit purchased and is rehabbing a former interfaith building to create a six-family Promise Center, and requested partnerships and funding to meet growing need.",{"_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},6068599,"Peaceful Paths urges wider recognition of domestic violence patterns, outlines services and shelter capacity",1180,1063000,2243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092441-f0855bd8e702ad9450e9c37523e0cb5f&start=1063&end=2243","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092441-f0855bd8e702ad9450e9c37523e0cb5f/thumbnail_1063000.jpg","/articles/6068599/Gainesville/Alachua-County/Florida/Peaceful-Paths-urges-wider-recognition-of-domestic-violence-patterns-outlines-services-and-shelter-capacity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6068599-2a803e909ae46d5d2b5cfc98e22c1a49/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142032&Signature=EOzytL5tJPdCUMrZoZn5eSj-HtgubJCcuemNRDfKcgaNBBTTAuc0tvhXnhRhLPobQXhyWaKsC2sYPcmD9ErJfe8BpLaeLHOwShtVwJJ108f8TvF4~mUcA02zAg9fTlV~3LBeiU2v-Pnya9wIhGF3c6kfBRxRz~PJ~sl8Vc3Y8aLHzUmjASilBuLG5hk1t0eYh~Ncz9W8943e9fbDOsnpBF1CkNXjnOT11peMQWxizWygyj2yIW9fzWmOM2paFl8jEILZwTqvq76SW9u54HP7pKPmQvpBz6Z6O-1~0fN4xRUtHoTCv-DgE2-JthafWg003hWq3nvfmqTLgov9lhoB0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Crystal Sorrow, chief executive officer of Peaceful Paths, told the City of Gainesville General Policy Committee that domestic violence is a pattern of power and control and more common than many residents realize.

Sorrow outlined the nonprofit’s services and capacity, saying, “Our mission is to save lives and create change,” and describing emergency shelter, a supportive housing campus, legal help for injunctions, trauma counseling and economic-empowerment programming.

She told commissioners the agency operates a walk-in outreach center Monday through Friday, and that all services are “free and confidential.” Sorrow said the organization’s typical emergency shelter stay is six to eight weeks and that its supportive housing offers stays up to a year for people with additional barriers. She also urged businesses and other institutions to post materials and to be “safe spaces” that can refer survivors to the Peaceful Paths helpline.

Commissioners asked about community partnerships and how the agency coordinates with law enforcement. Sorrow described a lethality-assessment protocol used when police respond to domestic calls: officers, she said, call the Peaceful Paths helpline so advocates can speak with survivors on-site and “immediately connect the survivor on-site with our services.” She added that research shows connection to a local domestic-violence center reduces risk of further violence.

Commissioner Book asked about other partners; Sorrow listed the Early Learning Coalition (for childcare vouchers), Family Promise, Grace, law enforcement, health-care providers and youth programs, and said Peaceful Paths serves Bradford and Union counties in addition to Gainesville/Alachua County.

Commissioner Engel and other commissioners praised the work and stressed outreach and funding needs. Sorrow said roughly 45 years of service and the agency’s five-decade presence in the community support a range of programs including a legal team focused on protections, economic-advocacy classes, and school- and workplace-based healthy-relationships education.

Ending: Commissioners thanked Peaceful Paths and encouraged residents and businesses to refer people to the local helpline and support the agency through donations or volunteer time.","Peaceful Paths presented an overview of domestic/intimate partner violence, services offered in Gainesville and surrounding counties, and the barriers survivors face; commissioners discussed law-enforcement coordination and resource gaps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission hears update on GRU litigation; authority has filed notice of appeal

Commission directs staff to pursue funding and site options for Hogtown Medieval Fair after two-year search

Family Promise reports surge in family homelessness; plans 6-family Promise Center, seeks funding

Peaceful Paths urges wider recognition of domestic violence patterns, outlines services and shelter capacity