OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

4^TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202

904-630-1377

CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MEETING MINUTES

October 5, 2016

12:00 p.m.

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

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

Excused: Council Members Katrina Brown, Reggie Brown, Joyce Morgan and Aaron Bowman

Also: Mayor Lenny Curry; Jason Gabriel, Paige Johnston and Jason Teal – Office of General Counsel; Cheryl Brown – Council Director/Secretary; Kirk Sherman – Council Auditor’s Office; Carol Owens and Phillip Zamarron – Legislative Services Division; Steve Cassada – Council Staff Services; Jeff Clements – Council Research Division; Sam Mousa, Kerri Stewart, Ali Korman-Shelton, Jessica Baker and Jordan Elsbury – Mayor’s Office; Steve Woodard – Emergency Preparedness Division

Meeting Convened: 12:01 p.m.

President Boyer convened the meeting, Council Member Love delivered the invocation and the President led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Curry informed the Council that he had declared a state of emergency due to the approach of Hurricane Matthew. Sustained winds of 30-60 mph with 60-80 mph gusts are expected at the height of the storm. Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday and after-school activities are cancelled today. Flood Zones A and B are ordered to evacuate, which includes all of the Beaches cities. JEA is preparing its own and contract assets for response. There will be power outages and travel delays – please be patient.

In response to a question from Councilman Dennis about the availability of sandbags for the general public, Mayor Curry said the City does not supply sandbags because the city is too large to accommodate demand.

In response to a question for clarification about the Beaches evacuation, Mayor Curry said that Zones A and B need to be evacuated. The City can’t force people to leave, but there will be no public services of any kind available if people decide to stay. JSO will consider one-way traffic flow if necessary. The media will help publicize what Zones A and B include – all of the Beaches plus other low-lying areas west of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Steve Woodard, Director of Emergency Preparedness, said that 4 shelters will be open initially, beginning with the Legends Center this evening followed by Atlantic Coast High School, Twin Lakes Academy and Landmark Middle School tomorrow. Additional shelters will open as necessary when capacity reaches 50% at the first four shelters

Bridges will be closed when wind speed reaches 40 mph sustained – probably Thursday morning.

630-CITY will be operating 12 hours per day on Thursday and Friday to take citizen calls. Council Members were given a phone number at the EOC to dial in to periodic briefings.

The height of the storm is expected from late Thursday night through late Friday night. President Boyer asked the council members to refrain from calling the EOC and its staff to the greatest extent possible to leave them free to concentrate on their duties without unnecessary interruptions. The Lynwood Roberts Room of City Hall may be opened up for council members to use as a central communications point during the recovery phase. The City Council agenda will not be produced before next week. Friday garbage collection is moved to Saturday.

Meeting adjourned: 12:25 p.m.

Minutes: Jeff Clements, Council Research

10.5.16 Posted 1:15 p.m.

Tapes: City Council Special Emergency Preparedness meeting – LSD

10.5.16