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

AMENDED SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

August 4, 2014

City Council Chamber

8:00 A.M.

 

In Attendance:  Council Members Clay Yarborough (President), Greg Anderson (Vice President), Bill Bishop, Richard Clark, Don Redman, Lori Boyer, Matt Schellenberg, Dr. Johnny Gaffney, Warren Jones, Reginald Brown, Ray Holt, Bill Gulliford, Doyle Carter, Stephen Joost, Kimberly Daniel, Robin Lumb, John Crescimbeni, Jim Love; Peggy Sidman, Paige Johnston, Office of General Counsel; Kirk Sherman, Kimberly Taylor, Philip Peterson, Brian Parks, Council Auditors Office; Dana Farris, Carol Owen, Philip Zamarron, Legislative Services; Louie Marino, Council Staff; John J. Jackson, Council Research Division.

 

The Council President called the meeting to order at 8:02 AM and announced that the purpose of the meeting was to consider Resolution 2014-462, A Resolution Concerning the Proposed Ad Valorem Tax Millage Rates for the 2014 Tax Year….Requesting Emergency Passage Upon Introduction….

 

The Council President requested that Deputy General Counsel Peggy Sidman advise the Council on the proper posture that the body should be in to consider the proposed resolution.  Ms. Sidman advised the Council that this was an emergency measure; the proper posture was to consider the amendment and move the emergency.

 

Council Member Ray Holt moved the resolution as an emergency and the Council Members voted to approve the motion.

 

Council Member Bill Gulliford delivered a prepared statement.  He applauded Council Member Richard Clark’s initiative to fund the unfunded liability in the pension funds but opposed an increase in the millage rate as a means to accomplish that objective.  Mr. Gulliford indicated that he opposed the sales tax increase recommendation of Pension Reform Task Force as well. He proceeded to explain why he opposed both of those approaches. 

 

Council Member Gulliford indicated that he favored a half-cent increase in the local sales tax and had directed the Office of General Counsel to draft legislation for a J Bill to seek authorization from the Legislature that would enable Jacksonville to increase the local option sales tax 1-1/2%.

 

In a response, Council Member Richard Clark commended Council Member Gulliford’s efforts but indicated that he was opposed to any moves to increase the general fund revenues by sales tax increases; he said that the City could not continue to kick the can down the road, that the pension situation had to be resolved.  To that end, he announced that he had met with John Keane of the Police and Fire Pension Fund to discuss the use of a $61 million contribution from the PFPF pursuant to Ordinance 2014-386 that is currently pending.  Mr. Clark implored the Council to consider an increase in the millage rate as a good, secure solution to pension reform.

 

The Council proceeded  to debate the merits of the Clark amendment to Resolution 2014-462.

Council Member Bill Bishop indicated that he had some problems with the Clark amendment; Council Member Robin Lumb was supportive of the Clark amendment.

 

Council Member Lori Boyer explained her opposition to the Clark amendment and why she was supportive of Council Member Gulliford’s  proposed solution.

 

Council Member Warren Jones cited the recent spike in the youth murder rate and shootings as his rationale for favoring the Clark amendment.

 

Stating that households are already hard pressed, Council Member Matt Schellenberg opposed any increase in the millage rate.

 

Voicing concern with taking $61 million from the Police and Fire Pension Fund and applying it to the City’s operating budget as troublesome, Council Member John Crescimbeni opposed the Clark amendment.  He felt that the Gulliford and Boyer remarks were on the right track.

 

Council Member Don Redman indicated that he could not support the Clark amendment.

 

Council Member Clark contended that pension reform could not be considered without a funding source.

 

Council Member Jim Love felt that an increase in the millage rate at this juncture would have a negative impact on the positive economic momentum that the City has been experiencing; he favored an increase in the local sales tax.

 

Council Member Stephen Joost felt that the Clark amendment does not take us where we need to go.  He felt that both the Property Appraiser and the Tax Collector should be involved with this conversation so that we fully understood what our revenues are going to be.

 

Council Member Ray Holt wanted to hear and weigh the viewpoint of the Council Auditor, Kirk Sherman.  Mr. Holt indicated that he was supportive of the Clark amendment and that he could conceivably work with last year’s budget.

 

Council Member John Crescimbeni felt that an increase in the local option sales tax was the way to go and that if the proposal was put on the ballot, it would have to be sold to the voters much the same way that Mayor Hazouri advocated an increased sales tax to remove the tolls and the vigorous support that Mayor Delaney demonstrated for the Better Jax Plan.  Mr. Crescimbeni said that he expected groups such as the Civic Council would be in the fray plugging for the increased sales tax passage.

 

Council Member Doyle Carter indicated his preference for an increased local option sales tax.

 

Council Member Clark announced that he would be willing to strike the $61 billion component and to revert to last year’s budget but cautioned that there would be a $30 million hole; it would then be incumbent of the Council Members to come up with and forward suggestions to the Finance Committee on cuts and firings.

 

Council President Clay Yarborough was supportive of the Gulliford approach; he liked the notion of shared sacrifice that a sales tax increase would entail.  The matter should be placed on the ballot.

 

Council Member Reggie Brown indicated his preference for working with last year’s budget.

He reported that in his conversations with people, he encountered no one who supported an increase in millage rates, nor anyone who was supportive of an increased sales tax.

 

On a motion to approve the Clark amendment, the Council Members voted 6 yeas, 12 nays.

 

Council Member Lori Boyer supported an amendment to strike the reference to emergency passage in the resolution (2014-462).  Ms. Boyer then made the motion to adopt the resolution, as amended.  The vote was 18 yeas, 0 nays.

 

Council Member Bill Gulliford invited Council Members to attend a notice meeting that he was arranging to further discuss a proposed sales tax increase.  The meeting would be held at 4:00 P.M. the following day, Tuesday, August 5, 2014.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 AM.

 

 

John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729

 

08.12.14

Posted: 3:00 P.M.