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

 

FINANCE COMMITTEE AGENDA MEETING MINUTES

December 3, 2013

8:30 a.m.

 

City Council Conference Room A

Suite 425, City Hall

117 West Duval Street

 

Attendance:  Council Members Greg Anderson (Chair), Richard Clark, Bill Gulliford

Also: Janice Billy - Council Auditor’s Office; Carol Owens – Legislative Services Division

 

See attached sign-in sheet for additional attendees.

 

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. and reviewed the Council Auditor’s marked agenda which showed 5 items marked for deferral, 16 items ready for action (1 as an emergency) and 10 items for second reading and re-referral.

 

Chairman Anderson announced that Public Works Director Jim Robinson would be making a presentation on the LED lighting conversion project.  2013-758 (economic development agreement with Advent Software) will be taken up first on the agenda, followed by 2013-755 and -756 (amended lease with Gateway Center for Tax Collector space and appropriation of Banking Fund funds for renovation of the space for a community center/early voting site), then 2013-683 (creation of a Mowing Division in the Public Works Department).

 

2013-209 (administrative reorganization): will be taken up at a special joint committee meeting on Monday, December 9th.  The committee deadline to report has been extended by the Council President to February 3rd.

 

2013-384 (license agreement with Sons of Confederate Veterans for former National Guard Armory): Council President Gulliford expressed concern that the Council is going about the process wrongly, circumventing the usual RFP process and not offering a fair opportunity for all interested parties to make proposals. Council Member Clark believes that the Armory renovation exceeds the capacity of either proposing group to accomplish. Teresa Eichner said that the administration prefers to wait until the “lazy asset” study is completed and the administration identifies appropriate uses for unused properties..

 

2013-728 (declaration and disposal of surplus property in Mayport): will be deferred until January.

 

2013-757 (first amendment to purchase, sale and redevelopment agreement with Hallmark Partners and HP/CSD Properties): Steve Diebenow representing Hallmark Properties requested the committee to take action on the bill today so that it can be voted out by Council in December so that construction on the plaza can begin.  If that doesn’t happen, the public plaza won’t be complete when the building is ready to open. Council Member Clark expressed his displeasure with the amount and nature of questioning of economic development proposals by the Office of General Counsel and the Council Auditor’s office, which he believes is placing unreasonable roadblocks in the way of good projects and sending a negative message about the City’s receptiveness to projects.  Mr. Anderson said the bill will be deferred and placed on the agenda of the joint Reorganization Review/Rules/Finance meeting on December 9th.

 

There being no further business, the agenda meeting was adjourned at 8:58 a.m.

 

Jeff Clements, Council Research Division (904) 630-1404

 

Posted 11.19.13   11:00 a.m.

 

Attendance Record