Agenda Item Name:
Title
Public Hearing for Domestic Violence Protections Ordinance
End
Presenter:
Courtney Wilson, County Attorney’s Office
Description:
Public hearing on the Domestic Violence Protections Ordinance.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the Domestic Violence Protections Ordinance.
End
Prior Board Motions:
April 12, 2022: Authorize staff to advertise for a public hearing on the Domestic Violence Protections Ordinance for April 26, 2022, passed on the consent agenda.
March 22, 2022: Commissioner Prizzia moved to approve a public hearing on the proposed amendment to the code. Also explore opportunities to work with our lobbyist on advocating for the reintroduction of senate bill 274 and opportunities to use relocation funding at the state level to include early termination of leases.
Direct staff to communicate with the City of Gainesville and smaller municipalities to make an opt in ordinance so the cities can opt into it or once they are educated, as opposed to being forced to do it and having to opt out. 2nd Commissioner Alford
The Motion carried 5-0.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
N/A
End
Strategic Guide:
Social and Economic Opportunity
Background:
The BoCC heard a presentation in the fall from Peaceful Paths about domestic violence and at the end of that presentation made the following motion:
Commissioner Prizzia moved the following:
1. Refer to staff to work with Peaceful Paths and other agencies to draft additions and updates to the Human Rights housing discrimination policy to clarify and extend housing protections for survivors.
2. To include education about housing discrimination ordinances in conjunction with the outreach with the renter’s rights ordinance.
3. Refer to staff to explore options for identifying potential legal aid funds or partnership for representation to individuals who file a housing discrimination complaint that goes to court. - 2nd Commissioner Alford
Staff then met with local stakeholders on these issues, and on March 22, 2022, staff gave a presentation to the BoCC. Staff has communicated with the cities in Alachua County about staff’s willingness to explain the ordinance to them and inviting them to join in, expanding the impact of the ordinance to the municipal jurisdictions.
This ordinance requires one properly-advertised (attached Gainesville Sun affidavit) public hearing to adopt. Per the advertisement, the hearing will be held on April 26, 2022, at 11:30am or as soon thereafter as it may be heard.