OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

 

CHERYL L. BROWN                                                                                                        117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

            DIRECTOR                                                                                                                                                                                 4TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

   OFFICE (904) 630-1452                                                                                                                                                          JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA  32202

     FAX (904) 630-2906                                                                                                                                                                                                               

  E-MAIL: CLBROWN@coj.net

July 29, 2009

10:30 a.m.

 

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING MINUTES

July 28, 2009

 

 

Location:  City Council Chamber, City Hall – St. James Building; 117 West Duval Street,

    

 

In attendance:  Council President Clark, Council Members Redman, Bishop, Yarborough, Webb, Graham, Joost, Corrigan, Holt, Crescimbeni, Fussell and Gaffney

 

Also:  Peggy Sidman, Steve Rohan, Shannon Eller – Office of General Counsel; Kirk Sherman, Janice Billy – Council Auditor’s Office; Dana Farris - Legislative Services Division; Sherry Hall and Lisa Rinaman – Mayor’s Office; Cheryl Brown – Council Director; Lin White, Jamie Brooks and Bob Williams – Dept. of Public Works; John Crofts – Planning and Development Department; Robert Philips and Justin Gicalone – Supervisor of Elections Office; Wight Greger – Recreation and Community Services Department; Celeste Hicks, Angela Ryan, Alison Miller, Sandra Lane, Sarah Lane, Dianne Smith, Debbie Delgado, Tiffany Hager, Scott Wilson, - ECAs;  Annette Hastings – Tourist Development Council; Jeff Cements – City Council Research; Steve Cassada  – Council Administrative Services; Kevin Meerschaert – WJCT

 

Meeting Convened:  3:03 p.m.

 

President Clark called the meeting to order and asked the committee chairs to report their committee actions.

 

Council Member Shad reviewed the Rules Committee’s actions from its meeting.  He noted that 2009-467 (appropriating district bond funds for construction of a batting cage) was only in Rules because of Procurement Code waivers and a request for emergency action; those provisions were subsequently removed by amendment in Finance.  He also noted that 2009-550 (amending the Council Rules to appoint 2 additional members to the Finance Committee) is up for emergency consideration tonight.

 

Council Member Joost reviewed the Finance Committee’s actions from its meeting, noting that 2009-510 (advising the Property Appraiser of the rolled back and proposed millage rates) is up for emergency consideration tonight.

 

Assistant Council Auditor Janice Billy stated that the PHS Committee’s actions were covered by the previous reports.  She did note that 2009-407 (conveying a portion of North Shore Park to adjacent property owners) has conflicting amendments from the Finance and RCD Committees, and recommended moving the Finance amendment first.

 

Council Member Fussell reviewed the TEU Committee’s actions from its meeting. 

 

Council Member Gaffney reviewed the RCD Committee’s actions from its meeting.  He requested that the Council move to discharge 2009-358 (funding agreement for acquisition of property by the University of Florida Foundation at the Shands Jacksonville campus) from Finance where it was deferred and take up the bill as recommended by the PHS Committee.  Finance Chair Stephen Joost agreed to the discharge and President Clark directed that the bill be placed on an addendum to the agenda for consideration.  Managing Deputy General Counsel Steve Rohan stated that he has prepared a floor amendment that will incorporate the previous committee amendments and add additional conditions agreed to by the parties.

 

Council Member Holt reviewed the LUZ Committee’s actions from its meeting. 

 

President Clark and Chief Legislative Counsel Peggy Sidman explained the procedure for voting on 2009-510, the proposed millage levy, which will take place early in the meeting.  Ms. Sidman explained that the motion for emergency action requires a two-thirds vote for approval and is taken as a voice vote.  After the emergency is approved, the vote on the millage rate takes a simple majority.  President Clark stated that the Finance Committee recommended millage will be moved first, debated and voted upon.  If that rate is approved, the Council will move immediately to the rest of its agenda with no further debate, discussion, explanation, etc. on the proposed millage.  If the vote on the Finance proposed millage fails, then the floor will be open for another motion and subsequent debate.  Mr. Rohan explained that if the motion to take up the bill as an emergency fails and the Council does not report a proposed millage rate the Property Appraiser by August 4th, then the Appraiser will, as required by state law, advertise the “rolled back” rate of 9.2727 mills which may not thereafter be exceeded by the Council when it adopts the final millage levy in September.

 

Meeting Adjourned:  3:14 p.m.

 

Minutes:    Jeff Clements, Chief of Research

                 7/29/09

Tapes:       Agenda meeting – LSD

                 7/28/09

Materials:   Marked agenda - LSD

     7/28/09