OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

4^TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202

904-630-1377

Neighborhoods, Community Investments and Services Committee

Special Meeting Minutes

September 6, 2016

Location: City Council Chamber, 1^st 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, 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: 9:11 a.m.

The Chair, Council Member Scott Wilson, announced that the meeting would focus on proposed topics for future Special Committee meeting discussions.

Council Member Reggie Brown would like to see parks as a topic for future discussions. In particular, he would like the Committee to discuss a cost analysis of funding for parks. Mr. Brown indicated that he would like to have Parks, Recreation & Community Services Director, Daryl Joseph, at the meeting. Jessica Baker, Administration, will arrange to have Mr. Joseph at the meeting.

Council Member Brown would also like to see blight as a topic of discussion In addition, he would like to have the Committee discuss the current requirements for changing the names of streets and the percentage of property owners needed to approve name changes. In discussing the suggested topic, the issue was raised as to whether or not such a topic was the purview of NCIS. Deputy General Counsel Peggy System thought that the issue might be the purview of TEU.

Council Member Joyce Morgan said that she would like the Special Committee to look at the City Council’s relationship with the School Board. Another issue that she proposed that the Special Committee weigh is the maintenance of public buildings. She specifically mentioned the University Park Library that she says needs a pressure wash.

Council Member Garrett Dennis indicated that he would like the Special Committee to look at blight issues. In particularly, he would like the panel to revisit the foreclosure process. He reported that in his conversations with JSO officers that patrol the streets and neighborhoods in his district, JSO advises him that abandoned properties are a major factor in criminal activities. Deputy General Counsel Peggy Sidman explained that the legalities in the foreclosure process are the problem, particularly when the issue is batch foreclosures. Jessica Baker will have officials from Housing and Municipal Code Compliance Division as presenters at a future Special Committee meeting to address the foreclosure issues.

Council Member Doyle Carter felt that the use of inmates would be helpful in projects such as pressure washing public buildings, drainage and other public works projects.

Council Member Reggie Brown indicated that there were three topics on Council President Boyer’s suggested topics list that he would like to see the Special Committee pursue: parks as vehicles for community health improvement; blight, the use of resources, property maintenance and the foreclosure registry; and neighborhood association development and support and the intended role of CPACs.

On the foreclosure issue, Council Member Joyce Morgan expressed the hope that the Special Committee look at liens, particularly municipal liens that discourage citizens from buying properties. Council Member Garrett Dennis would like to see the lien foreclosure policy discussed sooner than later.

The Chair announced that the next four meetings of the Special Committee will focus on the following concerns, in this order: (1) parks, (2) library issues, (3) foreclosure policy, and (4) neighborhoods and CPACs.

There being no further business, the Special Committee adjourned at 9:53 a.m.

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

09.08.16

Posted: 3:00 p.m.