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

LUZ COMMITTEE WORKSHOP MINUTES

August 20, 2013

4:30 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1^st floor, City Hall

117 West Duval Street

Attendance: Council Members Lori Boyer (Chair), Bill Bishop, Don Redman, Matt Schellenberg

Also: Jason Gabriel and Jason Teal – Office of General Counsel; Folks Huxford, Bruce Lewis, Gary Kresel – Planning and Development Department; Jeff Clements – Council Research Division

Chairwoman Boyer called the meeting to order at 4:34 p.m.

Small scale land use amendment process

Jason Gabriel explained the need to update the Ordinance Code to reflect changes made by a substantial rewrite of Florida’s growth management laws by the 2011 legislature, which accounts for the length of the draft bill. The proposal also creates separate mechanisms for processing small scale and large scale land use amendments. As proposed the small scale process is a slimmed down version of the large scale process that eliminates the non-required workshop process.

The committee discussed the state’s advertising requirements, what counts as a “newspaper of general circulation” in modern times, and how the City might reduce its advertising costs. Jason Gabriel stated that the Florida Times-Union and the Financial News and Daily Record meet that definition according to state statute and Attorney General opinions. Council Member Bishop suggested the City issue an RFP to see what the media might be able to offer that could reduce the City’s advertising costs.

Historic Preservation Commission appeals process

Jason Teal distributed a handout presenting two potential changes to the process. The first would amend the Code to require the Historic Preservation Commission to study and rule on the “landmarkability” of a structure at the same time as it considers a demolition application. Since the Planning Department would already have done most of the review work for the demolition permit, that should not be a problem for timing.

The second change would provide that an appellant could file a notice of intent to appeal within 5 days of the Historic Preservation Commission’s ruling and then would have an additional time period to file all of the necessary documentation when available from the Planning Department. The department would have 5 days to get the meeting transcript and other information to the Legislative Services Division for the file and for the applicant to access. Steve Diebenow suggested that applicants need to be given a fair time after the documents become available to file the appeal.

Bicycle/pedestrian coordinator – Planning Department

Planning and Development Director Calvin Burney stated that the department has advertised for the position, received 17 applications, narrowed it to 4 candidates and offered the job to the first ranked candidate, who declined the job. Negotiations are ongoing with the second candidate. The position is budgeted for FY14. Council Member Redman stated that legislation be filed to carry-over funding for the position from the FY13 to FY14 budget.

The committee instructed the General Counsel’s office to file legislation on behalf of the committee to implement the changes to the Historic Preservation Commission appeals process.

The next meeting will look at the issue of through-lots/second front yards, will finish up on the small scale amendments, and will finalize the JHPC appeals process.

There being no further business, the agenda meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m.

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

Posted 8.20.13

12:00 p.m.