Title
License Agreement with the State of Florida Department of Agriculture (B)
This item is a request to approve and authorize a License Agreement with the State of Florida Department of Agriculture for use of property associated with the Empowerment Center.
Explanation
On December 3, 2014, the City of Gainesville acquired property which is now referred to as the Empowerment Center from the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida. This facility is being used to assist the homeless providing food, shelter, showers, laundry, and minor medical attention. Some of the homeless choose to camp on the property surrounding the facility. Since the property the City owns does not provide an area large enough to contain the camps, the homeless have been camping on property under the control of the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture does not object to the homeless camps on their property but would like to enter into a License Agreement to cover that use. In exchange for the use of approximately ten acres, the Department of Agriculture would like legal access over the northerly twenty feet of the Empowerment Center for their private use. Their use would be associated with the logging of timber at some point in the future. Staff believes approval of the License Agreement for a period of fifty years would be in the best interest of both parties.
Fiscal Note
There are no funds associated with this License Agreement
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) approve the License Agreement with the State of Florida Department of Agriculture for a period of fifty years; and 2) authorize the City Manager to execute the License Agreement, subject to the approval of the City Attorney as to form and legality.