The Gainesville City Commission voted 4-3 to fund up to $1.5 million in repairs of the Thelma Boltin Center, a shift from previous plans to rebuild most of the building.
The commission also heard around two hours of public comment pushing for the city to pass a resolution in support of a ceasefire in Gaza. General public comment ended with 20 or more individuals chanting “Free Palestine” and forcing a recess to the meeting.
Thelma Boltin Center
In April, the City Commission directed staff to proceed with the partial restoration option for the Thelma Boltin Center—a 1942 building used by servicemembers during World War II. Since 2020, the building has been closed for use because of issues with the roof and trusses.
Many citizens have pushed against the city’s course of action because it would involve tearing down the building except for two walls. The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners also voiced its opinion on the project in August, asking the city to reconsider its plan.
In September, the commission voted to table the item to allow community feedback sessions on the issue. Following those meetings, the city has chosen a new direction that nullifies some of the past work done by the city and contracted experts.
Commissioner Ed Book made the motion to authorize $1.5 million to get the building operational and repair it well. Mayor Harvey Ward and commissioners Reina Saco and Casey Willits voted in dissent.
Book said if the city is prudent on the project, more Wild Spaces Public Places (WSPP) funds will be available to use.
“We can’t kick it down the road, but we can’t spend $6 million right now on it,” Book said. “That would be fiscally not prudent.”
City staff estimated the partial restoration plan, which the commission has previously adopted unanimously, at $5.6 million. Staff also presented a $5.4 million full restoration plan, a $500,000 plan that would just allow the building to reopen, and a no-work plan.
Book said he’s changed his mind since voting for the partial restoration earlier this year. In the months since, Book said all the feedback he’s heard from the community has been to do a full restoration or repair it well. No one in the community has supported the partial restoration, he said.
Because city staff has planned for a partial restoration based on two previous votes, money spent on surveys and planning for that route will go to waste. But the city looks to save $3 million over a partial restoration plan.
Staff will return to the commission to pick an architecture and construction firm for the project.
Book said if city staff find major issues once the work starts, then they can return and the commission will have another decision. In 2020, the commission approved a $2 million roof replacement that found the initial problems that caused the building to shutter.
Community members have accused the city of demolition by neglect. Book said that perspective has validity, but he added that the commission hasn’t allowed that to continue this year. The commission asked for staff to ensure no more damage occurs, and he noted that a blue tarp now covers a portion of the roof as a result.
Protesters push for ceasefire resolution
As the city prepared to begin its afternoon session, community members filed into the chambers with shirts that read “Cease fire now” and “Not in our names.”
The chambers filled up and others trekked to the overflow room to wait for a chance to speak. While general public comment is typically limited to 30 minutes—allowing 10 people to speak for three minutes each—the commissioners waived its rules twice in order for everyone to have time.
Many identified themselves as Jews who stood against Zionist Israel. Others said they didn’t want their taxpayer money going to war. Some asked the City Commission to divest any holdings in Israeli companies.
Overall, the group wanted the City Commission to pass a resolution asking the U.S. government to demand a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which started after Hamas militants carried out terrorist attacks that killed some 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7.
Three weeks ago, the same group packed the chambers, and the City Commission unanimously agreed to send a letter to President Joe Biden and his administration that also asked for a ceasefire and humanitarian conditions for those in Gaza.
Ward explained that a resolution will hold the same weight as the letter sent in November. He also said a staffer from Washington, D.C., replied to let Gainesville know the letter had been received. The city, Ward said, can’t do anything else.
Commissioner Reina Saco noted that the city does have plenty of work to return to for its employees and residents. Still, Saco put a motion on the floor to pass the resolution, but neither commissioners Bryan Eastman or Casey Willits, the only other commissioners present, seconded the motion.
After the failed motion, Ward began to speak to those in the chambers.
“What we already did was not a popular answer for a lot of people who are not here. There are a thousand sides to this…” Ward said before being interrupted by the audience who laughed at the statement.
After that, speakers continued to interrupt, and Ward addressed some of the statements.
Ward ended general public comment and the city clerk read the next item, but as members of the group left, around 20 stayed and began to chant “Free, Free Palestine” with a Palestinian flag spread out, prompting a meeting recess.
Ward and Saco stayed at the dais to explain their position, and the restrictions placed on cities concerning topics like divesting. Ward encouraged the group to visit some of the other local governments as well since the city had already sent a letter.
“We’re a city government,” Ward said. “We don’t do international relations.”
Saco explained how she’d once been in the activists’ position, standing on the other side of the dais from Ward to push for her position.
As she addressed the members, one person responded: “The cowardice is laughable.”
The lengthy discussion then ended as city staff ushered the group out to calls of “Shame, shame, shame.”