OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

CHERYL L. BROWN 117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

DIRECTOR 4^TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

OFFICE (904) 630-1452 JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202

FAX (904) 630-2906

E-MAIL: CLBROWN@coj.net

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON TROPICAL STORM BERYL

AMENDED MEETING MINUTES

May 27, 2012

10:00 a.m.

Location: City Council Chamber, 1^st floor, City Hall – St. James Building; 117 West Duval Street

In attendance:

Council Members Joost (President), Anderson, Bishop, Brown, Carter, Crescimbeni, Gaffney, Gulliford, Holt, Jones, Love, Lumb, Redman and Schellenberg

Excused: Council Members Boyer, Clark, Daniels, Lee and Yarborough

Also: Mayor Alvin Brown; Cindy Laquidara – General Counsel; Fire Chief Marty Senterfitt; Carol Owens and Philip Zamarron – Legislative Services Division; Steve Cassada – Council Staff Services

Meeting Convened: 10:00 a.m.

President Joost invited Mayor Brown to give the invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

General Counsel Cindy Laquidara explained the Ordinance Code provisions regarding declaration of an emergency and the necessity of that declaration to qualify the City to apply for federal reimbursement of emergency-related expenses.

Mayor Brown stated that he had signed an official declaration of emergency at 8:00 a.m. today and explained the actions being taken to prepare for the approaching storm, including the cancellation of all outdoor Jazz Festival activities so that stages and seating could be removed, and cancellation of Monday’s Memorial Day commemorative activities.

Fire Chief Senterfitt gave a brief history of recent tropical storms in the Jacksonville area and the effects they have produced. The storm is expected to make landfall in the middle of Sunday night and the track of the storm and where it makes landfall will be very important. If the storm lands north of Jacksonville then the effects will be much less than if the storm hits south of town and the heavier winds and rain make a direct hit on the City. He talked about the tens of millions of dollars spent on cleaning up debris after those storms. He urged citizens to stay off the streets and out of the ocean and to refrain from sightseeing in areas with flooding or downed trees. Bridges will be closed based on wind speeds, probably beginning in mid-afternoon Sunday. Chief Senterfitt said that the Legends Center at Soutel and Moncrief would be opened as an emergency evacuation shelter, particularly for persons who have medical conditions that are oxygen- or electricity-dependent.

Mayor Brown directed council members to contact Deputy CAO Karen Bowling with any requests for particular City-related service needs, and will provide a JEA contact number for JEA-related issues.

Chief Senterfitt answered several questions from council members about preparations, shelters, emergency operations center activation, etc. He requested that all council member service requests be directed through the Council President and Karen Bowling, not directly to city department personnel.

A resolution declaring a state of emergency was passed, as an emergency, by a vote of 14-0.

Meeting adjourned: 10:24 a.m.

Minutes: Jeff Clements, Council Research Division

5.29.12 Posted: 3:00 p.m.

Tape: Special Council Meeting 5.27.12

Legislative Services Division