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

 

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING MINUTES


October 13, 2015

4:00 p.m.

 

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

In attendance: Council Members Greg Anderson (President), Danny Becton, Aaron Bowman, Lori Boyer, Anna Lopez Brosche, Doyle Carter,  John Crescimbeni, Garrett Dennis, Al Ferraro, Reggie Gaffney, Tommy Hazouri, Joyce Morgan, Sam Newby, Matt Schellenberg

 

Also: Jason Gabriel, Peggy Sidman, Paige Johnston, Susan Grandin – Office of General Counsel; Kirk Sherman, Kyle Billy, Philip Peterson and Robert Campbell – Council Auditor’s Office; Dana Farris and Jessica Morales – Legislative Services Division; Steve Cassada– Council Staff Services; Jeff Clements – Council Research Division; Sam Mousa and Ali Korman Shelton – Mayor’s Office; Lin White and John Jones – Public Works Department; Kirk Wendland – Office of Economic Development; Mike Weinstein – Finance Department

 

Meeting Convened: 4:05 p.m.

 

Finance Committee: Council Member Brosche reviewed the actions of the committee from its meeting, noting that a floor amendment will be offered on 2015-582 (Southbank Riverwalk commercial building access restoration).

 

TEU Committee: Council Member Hazouri reviewed the actions of the committee from its meeting.

Rules Committee: Council Member Schellenberg reviewed the actions of the committee from its meeting.

RCDPHS Committee: Council Member Carter reported that all of his committee’s bills had been previously covered, except for 2015-477 (amended and restated solid waste franchise hauling contract with Advanced Disposal Services) which is on the addendum to the agenda for discharge from RCDPHS and action by the Council.

LUZ Committee: Council Member Wilson reviewed the actions of the committee from its meeting.

President Anderson stated that 2015-544 (economic development incentives for the Deutsche Bank project) would have a public comment period before final action.

 

Council Member Crescimbeni announced that he would be pulling 2015-603 (appointment of Jay Demetree to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority board) from the consent agenda.

 

Council Member Boyer asked the council to consider how it wants to handle 2015-713 and -714, appointments of Delores Kessler and Tom Petway to the JEA board. The board currently only has 3 active members and will not be able to achieve a quorum for its October 20th scheduled meeting. The Council may wish to consider acting on the bills as one-cycle (two reading) emergencies, which still would not meet the October 20th meeting need but would allow the JEA board to reschedule a meeting for late October after Council acts on the appointments on the 27th. In response to a question, Ali Korman-Shelton of the Mayor’s Office reported that Ms. Kessler and Mr. Petway have indicated they could be present at next week’s Rules Committee meeting if Council wishes to accelerate the appointment process.

 

President Anderson stated that because the public trust in the work of the Council is so vital to its success, he has proposed an ordinance for introduction tonight to amend the Council Rules regarding electronic text messaging during City Council meetings.  He plans to turn his phone off during Council meetings. General Counsel Jason Gabriel reported that Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County and Joe Strasser have filed a lawsuit against the City, IAFF union president Randy Wyse and 8 individual city council members alleging violations of the Government in the Sunshine and Florida open records laws. Mr. Gabriel urged the council members to be extremely circumspect in any comments they might make from this point forward on the subject of text messaging since the matter is now in litigation and indicated that the OGC will be requesting a “shade” meeting in the near future to discuss the lawsuit, which may be canceled if not needed. He also stated that additional Government in the Sunshine and ethics training will be forthcoming in the future to supplement the instruction given at the City Council orientation in June.  Deputy General Counsel Peggy Sidman briefly explained the concept of a “shade” meeting for the benefit of new council members who have not been party to such a meeting before. She will formally make the request for the shade meeting at tonight’s council meeting.

 

Meeting adjourned: 4:24 p.m.

 

 

Minutes: Jeff Clements, Council Research

             10.13.15 Posted 5:00 p.m.

Tapes:  Council agenda meeting – LSD

             10.13.15

Materials: President’s marked agenda - LSD

    10.13.15