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FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTERS FOR THE NEEDY (B)
Ordinance No. 0-10-04, Petition PB-09-153-TCH
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, amending Section 30-111 of the Land Development Code relating to food distribution centers for the needy; by allowing food distribution centers for the needy to exceed the daily meal limitations on the federal holidays designated as Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and on one additional day to be selected by the food distribution center; by imposing a permit fee, requirements and conditions on the holiday meal service; by adding a reference to the permit in Appendix A of the City Code of Ordinances; providing directions to the codifier; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an immediate effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT
On November 5, 2009, the City Commission discussed options for allowing holiday meal service for the needy in the City. Citizens and representatives of the St. Francis House expressed concern with the 130 maximum daily meal limit established in the Land Development Code. As a short term solution, the City Commission agreed to open up the MLK Center for meal service during the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday and authorized staff to initiate a petition to allow expanded meal service on certain holidays. Specifically, the City Commission directed staff to initiate a petition to the Plan Board amending section 30-111 of the Land Development Code related to allowing food distribution centers for the needy to exceed the established 130 daily meal limitation on three (3) national holidays and to include any proposed amendments to other relevant sections of the code.
On December 7, 2009, the Plan Board heard the petition and received comments from the public. The Plan Board, by a vote of 6-0, recommended the City Commission approve no limit on the number of meals that can be served for all Federal Holidays, with a further recommendation to the City Commission that they rescind the 24-hour, 130 meal limit altogether. The Plan Board also directed staff to develop a proposal to: 1) identify adequate locations for food service of the needy at indoor locations in our community; 2) bring together individuals and groups that provide such services (indoor or outdoor) for the purpose of locating those services indoors; and, 3) regulate for actual impacts (such as loitering, behavior, management practice, or others identified). It is the opinion of the staff that the work that the Plan Board directed staff to complete was done as part of the planning for the One-Stop Center and does not need to be repeated.
On February 18, 2010, the City Commission heard the petition and, by a vote of 7-0, approved the petition with a modification that the 130 daily meal limitation is lifted on the federal holidays designated as Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and on one additional day to be chosen by the food distribution center.
CITY ATTORNEY MEMORANDUM
Should this ordinance pass on first reading, second and final reading will be held on Thursday, June 17, 2010.