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


August 25, 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, Katrina Brown, Reggie Brown, Doyle Carter,  John Crescimbeni, Garrett Dennis, Al Ferraro, Reggie Gaffney, Bill Gulliford, Tommy Hazouri, Jim Love, Joyce Morgan, Sam Newby, Matt Schellenberg, Scott Wilson

 

Also: Peggy Sidman, Paige Johnston, Susan Grandin, Jon Phillips, Stephen Durden – Office of General Counsel; Kirk Sherman and Kyle Billy – Council Auditor’s Office; Dana Farris – Legislative Services Division; Steve Cassada– Council Staff Services; Jeff Clements – Council Research Division; Ali Korman Shelton – Mayor’s Office; Jim Robinson, Lin White and John Jones – Public Works Department; Kevin Meerschaert, David Chapman – Financial News and Daily Record.

 

Meeting Convened: 4:01 p.m.

 

LUZ Committee: Council Member Wilson reviewed the actions of the committee from its meeting, noting that the applicant has requested withdrawal of 2015-421 (application for communication tower permit on Chaffee Road).

 

Finance Committee: Council Member Gulliford reviewed the actions of the committee from its meeting.

 

RCDPHS Committee: Council Member Carter reported that all of his committee’s actions were previously covered.

 

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

 

Rules Committee: Council Member Schellenberg reviewed the actions of the committee from its meeting and requested that 2015-522 (amending the disaster preparedness code to require private gated communities to keep their gates open during declared emergency periods) be discharged from committee on the addendum to the agenda and moved if Council Members Crescimbeni and Hazouri have received satisfactory answers to the questions they posed in committee. Public Works Director Jim Robinson described the purpose of the bill and the FEMA funding regulations involved. Council Member Crescimbeni stated that he had not yet received the copy of a signed entry authorization agreement he requested. Deputy General Counsel Peggy Sidman stated that if the bill is taken up, she has prepared a floor amendment that will be distributed prior to the meeting.

 

President Anderson announced that a request has been made to move 2015-616 (resolution directing the General Counsel to pursue an appeal of the Property Appraiser’s budget to the Florida Governor and Cabinet) as an emergency on first reading. Since 2015-621 (approving employment of special counsel to defend the Property Appraiser in the appeal authorized by 2015-616 and appropriating $50,000 for the purpose) is directly linked to the other bill, both will be taken up at the same point in the meeting. Council Member Schellenberg reported that he had contacted the Florida League of Cities and Florida Association of Counties and been told that these types of appeals to the state have a very small chance of success. In response to a question from Council Member Crescimbeni about a statement made by Property Appraiser Jerry Holland at an earlier meeting indicating that he did not intend to hire legal counsel to represent his office in an appeal, Mr. Holland stated that although he is perfectly agreeable to being represented by the Office of General Counsel, the OGC has informed him that it cannot represent both parties to the appeal and that special counsel will need to be hired to represent him.  Ms. Sidman noted that, should 2015-616 be moved for approval, she has a floor amendment to correct factual statements in several of the Whereas clauses.

 

Meeting adjourned: 4:20 p.m.

 

 

Minutes: Jeff Clements, Council Research

              8.25.15 Posted 5:00 p.m.

Tapes:  Council agenda meeting – LSD

             8.25.15

Materials: President’s marked agenda - LSD

    8.25.15