Title
UF and City Partnership Update (B)
City Commission to hear an informational update on the UF-City Partnership model and corresponding overview of the pilot focus area of our local food systems.
Explanation
On February 14, 2017 Mayor Lauren Poe and University of Florida President Dr. W. Kent Fuchs signed a memorandum of understanding to signify a commitment by the City of Gainesville and UF to enter into a partnership aimed at addressing disparity issues and growth throughout Gainesville. To further support the partnership efforts, UF Senior Vice President and COO Dr. Charlie Lane announced more than $300,000 in awards to fund research projects focused on addressing local issues through community-based collaborations. Seven projects received funding, including the Community Resource Paramedicine Program and Smart City Informatics. In October 2018 the project outcomes were presented to UF leadership and City Commissioners, highlighting the beneficial impacts achieved by the projects and identifying opportunities for further success.
Over the next several months, staff from the City and UF discussed how to structure a framework for the UF-City Partnership to enhance collaborative engagement and long-term outcomes. Staff also met with each member of the City Commission as well as select UF and City leaders to identify goals for the UF-City Partnership. On May 9, 2019 City and UF staff presented a conceptual framework and the Commission agreed to piloting this partnership framework by focusing on local food systems as a test.
Since May 2019, City and UF staff have worked to further develop a partnership model that fosters inclusivity, longevity, and mutually beneficial impacts. Key components for meaningful community involvement and impact have been identified and integrated into the partnership model. In addition, the title of the partnership has been changed from “UF-City Partnership” to “Partnership for Reimagining Gainesville” to reflect the more inclusive and community-driven nature of the model.
City and UF staff have met with representatives of several local agencies and organizations to get feedback on the evolving model and discuss what role the agencies / organizations wish to play in the Partnership. Staff have identified community partner agencies that will serve critical functions in the partnership model (i.e. fiduciary agent, accountability advisor). Staff have also collaborated with a diverse group of community members engaged in the food system sector to establish the grassroots Food Policy Council (which later rebranded as the Food System Coalition). Over the past eight months, City staff have facilitated regular meetings of the Food System Coalition and explored opportunities for integration with the partnership model.
Staff have prepared a presentation for today to provide the City Commission with an update on the Partnership. Included in the presentation is a briefing on how local food systems is being used as the pilot focus area for the Partnership model’s launch.
Fiscal Note
$75,000 will be invested by the City of Gainesville to operate the Partnership for Reimagining Gainesville. These funds are available in the Campus Development Agreement Capital Projects Fund. These funds will be matched by a $75,000 investment from the University of Florida.
Recommendation
The General Policy Committee hear an update on the Partnership for Reimagining Gainesville and the pilot focus area, our local food systems.