City and county commissioners debated intentions for the camping area around Grace Marketplace at a joint meeting Monday afternoon.
City workers presented information about the homeless shelter and the area surrounding it. Also on the agenda was an update on using Lot 10 on the corner of Southwest Second Street and Southwest First Avenue for multi-purpose events like the Union Street Farmers Market, which moved from its home on Bo Diddley Community Plaza to accomodate renovations to the downtown space.
Betty Baker, the city’s temporary project manager, is currently drafting recommendations on how to handle the 10-acre camp in the woods around the center — a new tent city known as Dignity Village.
This spurred discussion among commissioners about the exact purpose of Dignity Village and how it should develop.
City Commissioner Todd Chase said he is concerned about the camping on the land because there is no direct governing body and therefore no accountability. It is unaffiliated with Grace Marketplace, so Grace does not have control over the area.
Even though no official governing body exists, Baker mentioned that self-governance has risen through necessity.
Jon DeCarmine, co-director for the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry, said, “It’s in the first stages of a community creating its own guidelines.”
County Commissioner Mike Byerly mentioned that once negotiations with the Department of Forestry on a lease agreement for the land are successful, Gainesville Police will be able to issue trespass violations to those committing crimes in the encampment.
Another issue Chase brought up was the long-term status of the site.
“Is our goal to build a permanent housing operation … or are we trying to look for a transitional area that comes with accountability and expectations?” he asked.
Currently, Grace Marketplace operates as a transitional facility where 22 indoor residents and 56 pavilion residents receive services like mental health counseling and job assistance, said Assistant City Manager Frederick Murry, who reported on the current operations at Grace.
Commissioners will determine further action for the area after Baker finalizes her recommendations.
Earlier in the meeting, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Steve Phillips said the transition to Lot 10 was successful for the farmers market last week.
The department will soon have a mobile stage parked on Lot 10 for those who want to rent it. The First Friday Gainesville concert series will be on the stage for normal performances.
[A version of this story ran on page 4 on 3/10/2015 under the headline “City, county commissions talk jurisdiction for homeless camp”]
