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

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – MAYOR’S BUDGET ADDRESS MINUTESS

July 20, 2015

8:30 a.m.

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

In attendance: Council Members Greg Anderson (President), Danny Becton, Lori Boyer, Anna Lopez Brosche, Katrina Brown, Reggie Brown, Doyle Carter, John Crescimbeni, Garrett Dennis, Al Ferraro, Katrina Fisher, Reggie Gaffney, Bill Gulliford, Tommy Hazouri, Jim Love, Joyce Morgan, Sam Newby, Matt Schellenberg, Scott Wilson

Also: Mayor Lenny Curry; Peggy Sidman, Paige Johnston – Office of General Counsel; Kirk Sherman, Kyle Billy – Council Auditor’s Office; Dana Farris, Carol Owens, Phillip Zamarron – Legislative Services Division; Cheryl Brown – Director/Council Secretary; Sam Mousa – CAO; Mike Weinstein – Finance Director; Jason Gabriel – General Counsel; Sheriff Mike Williams

Meeting Convened: 8:35 a.m.

President Anderson called the meeting to order and called on Council Member Love to give the invocation and lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The Council Members introduced themselves in a roll call and President Anderson invited the Mayor to present his budget message.

Mayor Curry reviewed the highlights of his budget proposal, noting that the budget contains funding for the first year of paying down the unfunded accrued liability of the Police and Fire Pension Plan as provided in the recently approved agreement, and that it includes $2.3 million in funding for pay increases that might result from collective bargaining processes. The budget utilizes $58 million in capital improvement funds unused in prior years and reduces the City’s overall debt by $75 million due to the payoff of old bond issues.

Mayor Curry listed the following budget priorities for FY15-16:

· public safety (adds 40 new police officers and 40 new community service officers; doubles funding for the Jacksonville Journey programs; continues funding grant-funded firefighters as the grant expires)

· capital improvements (increases funding over the current year for roadway resurfacing, ADA compliance renovations, sidewalk construction, Jax Beach pier repairs, library improvements, park maintenance and Mayport Ferry improvements)

· economic development (Northwest Jacksonville initiatives; Cecil Commerce area roadwork)

· infrastructure and public works (address maintenance backlogs, improve litter pickup and mowing)

· increased focus on military affairs

· UF Health Jacksonville (convene a process with UF Health, the other hospitals in town, the Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Civic Council and others to discuss how to improve UF Health’s paying patient ratio to help its financial viability)

· financial accountability (the 90-day accounting drill-down is underway to achieve an accurate and detailed understanding of the City’s current financial condition)

The mayor reiterated his One City, One Jacksonville theme and expressed his eagerness to work cooperatively with the City Council on the new budget and his administration’s expressed priorities.

Meeting adjourned: 8:52 a.m.

Minutes: Jeff Clements, Council Research

7.21.15 Posted 10:00 a.m.

Tapes: Mayor’s budget presentation meeting – LSD

7.20.15