OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

4^TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202

904-630-1377

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL EMERGNECY PREPAREDNESS MEETING MINUTES

September 1, 2016

2:45 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, Aaron Bowman, Anna Lopez Brosche, Katrina Brown, Reggie Brown, Doyle Carter, John Crescimbeni, Garrett Dennis, Al Ferraro, Reginald Gaffney, Bill Gulliford, Tommy Hazouri, Jim Love, Joyce Morgan (arr. 3:01), Sam Newby, and Scott Wilson

Also: Jason Gabriel, Jason Teal, Peggy Sidman, Paige Johnston – Office of General Counsel; Kirk Sherman– Council Auditor’s Office; Carol Owens and Philip Zamarron – Legislative Services Division; Steve Cassada – Council Staff Services; Jeff Clements – Council Research Division; Sam Mousa, Ali Korman-Shelton, Jessica Baker and Jordan Elsbury – Mayor’s Office; Chief Kurt Wilson – Fire and Rescue Department; Sheriff Mike Williams; John Pappas – Public Works Department; Steve Woodard – Emergency Preparedness Division

Meeting Convened: 2:53 p.m.

Council President Boyer convened the meeting and attendance was taken. Council Member Love gave the invocation and President Boyer led the Pledge of Allegiance.

President Boyer explained the declaration of emergency procedure; the Mayor declares an emergency by executive order, which the Council does not ratify but may revoke if it feels that circumstances do not warrant the declaration. The primary purposes of the declaration are 1) to free the Mayor and administration to act as necessary to meet the emergency by means of exemptions from the Procurement Code and other requirements as may be necessary; and 2) to qualify the City for federal FEMA reimbursement for costs incurred in meeting the emergency situation.

Mayor Lenny Curry issued a declaration of emergency effective at 5:00 p.m. today. The tropical storm has intensified in the past several hours and the forecast effect on the Jacksonville area has been upgraded, with more wind and rain anticipated than previously forecast and an increased chance of flooding and tornadoes. Non-essential City employees will be dismissed at 3:00 p.m. and City government will be closed on Friday. The Public Works Department, Sheriff’s Office and Fire and Rescue Department are deploying and are ready to deal with whatever problems arise.

Mayor Curry answered questions from council members. Bridges will be closed at the direction of the Florida Department of Transportation when winds reach sustained levels of 40 m.p.h. If citizens experience a life-threatening emergency situation, call 9-1-1. Non-life-threatening conditions should be reported to the 630-CITY response line. Garbage collection will be cancelled on Friday. Persons with special needs who are registered with the City have been contacted over the past several days about their need for shelter. Two shelters will be opening later this evening – the Legends Community Center and Atlantic Coast High School. Sheriff Mike Williams urged citizens to obey police instructions and barricades and never to drive around street barricades into flooded areas. At present there have been no evacuations ordered. Downed power lines should be reported either to 630-CITY or to the JEA.

President Boyer said that at this point she saw no reason for the Council to reconvene before next Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting. Emergency Preparedness Director Steve Woodard informed the Council that the Linwood Roberts Room has been outfitted as an extension of the Emergency Operations Center and council members can get all information available at the EOC in that room. Emergency Preparedness will have liaison personnel on hand to advise council members and answer questions.

Meeting adjourned: 3:14 p.m.

Minutes: Jeff Clements, Council Research

9.1.16 Posted 4:00 p.m.

Tapes: Council Special Emergency Preparedness meeting – LSD

9.1.16