OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

 

117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

4TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202

904-630-1377

 

 

 Neighborhoods, Community Investments and Services Committee

Special Meeting Minutes

 September 19, 2016

 

 

Location:  City Council Chamber, 1st floor, City Hall – St. James Building; 117 West Duval Street

 

In attendance: Council Members Scott Wilson (Chair), Reggie Brown (Vice Chair), Doyle Carter, Garrett Dennis, Bill Gulliford, Joyce Morgan.

 

Also: Kyle Billy – Council Auditor’s Office; Peggy Sidman  – Office of General Counsel; Jeff Clements and John J. Jackson – Council Research Division; Juliette Williams – Legislative Services Division; Jessica Baker – Mayor’s Office

 

See attached sign-in sheet for additional attendees

 

Meeting Convened: 9:13 a.m.

 

The Chair announced that at the suggestion of Council Member Reggie Brown, the Special Committee Meeting would focus on the City’s parks.

 

 

Daryl Joseph, Director, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and Keith Meyerl, Chief, Recreation and Community Programming, made the presentation on parks.

 

Mr. Joseph explained the components of Rec n’ Roll.  He described the sites that were located in the urban core areas and the sites that have been expanded to the Westside and Arlington.

 

Mr. Joseph described recreational sites that are funded by the Jacksonville Journey.

 

Year round, summer and after school hour programs were described.

 

Mr. Joseph indicated that he wanted to have funding for the sites that will enable a JSO presence “roaming” through the park sites.

 

Mr. Joseph discussed his plans for expanding the parks recreational programs.

 

Council Member Reggie Brown inquired whether it would be possible to re-allocate funds left-over from the Journey Summer camps to expand sites that Mr. Joseph expressed an interest in expanding.

 

Mr. Joseph explained that the parks should be regional in nature since Jacksonville Beach parks are being used by Jacksonville youth.

 

 

In a Public Comment segment of the Special Meeting, Mr. Don Maxie brought a code enforcement issue before the Committee.  He explained a property issue that he had with a neighbor that involved a fence and the growth of trees.  While Mr. Maxie assessed the issues as a problem with code enforcement, he was advised by City officials that his was a civil issue.

 

Kim Scott, Acting Director, Neighborhoods Department, fielded questions.  She indicated that a legal review of the issues was needed before she could make any recommendations on legislative remedies.

 

Council Member Bill Gulliford suggested that Ms. Scott meet with the Office of General Counsel to ascertain whether or not legislation could be crafted to address and resolve the issues that Mr. Maxie had brought to the Committee.  Ms. Scott will return to the next Special Meeting.

 

Council Member Doyle Carter indicated that he would like to have representatives from Visit Jacksonville at a future special meeting.

 

 

There being no further business, the Special Meeting was adjourned at 11:48 a.m.

 

 

John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729

 

09.26.16

Posted: 9:00 A.M.