Red Light Camera News BREAKING NEWS: GAINESVILLE, FL SAYS NO TO RLC!
(Thanks to www.stpetecameras.org for the link!)
BREAKING NEWS: GAINESVILLE, FL SAYS NO TO RLC!
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20111215/ARTICLES/111219722?p=all&tc=pgall
Quote: “My concern then is why are we doing this?” he said. “What is the public safety problem that we are trying to solve here and how are we going about doing it?”
Susan Bottcher said shortly before the vote that she was having second thoughts because of the finances, and with Hawkins, Henry and Chase already stating their opposition, it became clear the measure wasn't going to pass.
City votes down red-light cameras, OKs Butler Plaza expansion
Traffic lights at the intersection of SW 13th Street and SW 16th Avenue, December 9.
Doug Finger/The Gainesville Sun
By Chad Smith
Staff writer
Published: Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 11:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 11:00 p.m.
The Gainesville City Commission on Thursday approved the massive Butler Plaza expansion that has been in the works for years, enabling the developer to add a town center-style shopping mall, big-box stores and 500 hotel rooms.
Facts
How they voted
Butler Plaza expansion zoning
Yes: Susan Bottcher, Todd Chase, Scherwin Henry, Craig Lowe, Jeanna Mastrodicasa, Randy Wells
No: Thomas Hawkins
Blue law repeal
Yes: Bottcher, Chase, Hawkins, Henry, Lowe, Mastrodicasa, Wells
Red-light camera contract
No: Bottcher, Chase, Hawkins, Henry, Lowe, Mastrodicasa, Wells
The 6-1 vote came on first reading, so a second vote will be needed before the approval is official, but the super majority makes it very likely the vote will hold up, meaning Butler Enterprises could potentially begin construction on the first phase of the project next year.
The commission also unanimously voted down a five-year contract to install red-light cameras at some of the busiest intersections around the city, apparently flipping from earlier in the day, when it appeared the measure had enough support to pass.
The Butler Plaza item dominated the evening session, with commissioners and Butler Enterprises' planners and officials going back and forth over whether the plans met the city's criteria in order to get the zoning changes the company was seeking.
Commissioner Thomas Hawkins, who cast the dissenting vote, said the internal street and driveway network did not meet the city's comprehensive plan and would exacerbate congestion in the area.
“Whether it's driving or walking or however you get around, it's easiest to get around on streets,” Hawkins said, pointing out that the parking lot aisles that make up most of the network would force vehicles onto Archer Road and Southwest 34th Street. “Getting around in parking lots is difficult.”
Robert Gibbs, a planner hired by Butler, said that was “factually incorrect.”
“There's no science there,” Gibbs said.
Hawkins made a motion to change some of the language in the ordinance to require more streets and smaller block sizes through the 264-acre area.
Deborah Butler, the president of Butler Enterprises and the daughter of the original developer of the shopping plaza, Clark Butler, was more direct with Hawkins.
“I can't build this,” Butler said, pointing to the changes he proposed. “You don't understand. It's like someone with a medical degree who just graduated yesterday wanting to do brain surgery.”
Hawkins had little support on the dais, either.
“We can sit here and we can haggle and we can want to get out our little nuances in this, but we have citizens leaving Gainesville every weekend going to Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa spending dollars that they earned here in Gainesville because we don't have the stores here that we want,” Commissioner Scherwin Henry said. “This development offers us that opportunity to bring that kind of shopping here to Gainesville and Alachua County.”
Earlier in the day, it appeared the commission also would give its approval for a five-year contract to install cameras to ticket motorists who run red lights.
Commissioner Jeanna Mastrodicasa called it a “creative tool for us, especially in these fiscal times, to be able to expand our enforcement resources.”
Mayor Craig Lowe said he supported staff's recommendation to sign the contract, adding, “I think that it will be something that is definitely worth trying.”
The deal was couched as “cost-neutral” because the city's revenue from tickets would go to the vendor to pay off the costs, which would have been $4,750 per camera per month.
If the cameras didn't issue enough tickets to pay that fee, the city would not owe the contractor, Gatso USA, anything, according to the contract.
Police Chief Tony Jones recommended signing the deal if the commission's primary goal was safety, saying studies showed cameras caused “some reduction when it comes to fatalities” and “injuries sustained.”
The item was initially discussed during the afternoon session but was continued until the end of the evening session as the debate dragged into the dinner period.
Henry and Todd Chase were the most vocal opponents.
Chase said studies showed various findings, depending on which one you read, and that there had been only one fatality from a red-light runner in recent years.
“My concern then is why are we doing this?” he said. “What is the public safety problem that we are trying to solve here and how are we going about doing it?”
Susan Bottcher said shortly before the vote that she was having second thoughts because of the finances, and with Hawkins, Henry and Chase already stating their opposition, it became clear the measure wasn't going to pass.
With little discussion, the board also gave final approval to repealing the city's laws restricting alcohol sales on Sundays, meaning bar and restaurant patrons will be able to order an adult beverage from 7 a.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. the next day, just like every other day of the week, beginning this weekend.
Previously, establishments could only serve alcohol between 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Sundays.
The vote also means stores will be able to sell liquor by the package between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., and beer and wine between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m., no matter the day.
Previously, stores couldn't sell package liquor on Sunday and could only sell beer and wine between 1 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Contact Chad Smith at 338-3104 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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