JACKSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL

RESEARCH DIVISION

 

 PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY SPECIAL COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

October 4, 2016

City Council Chamber

Ground Floor, City Hall

117 W. Duval Street

 

Attendance:   Council Members: Sam Newby (Chair), Bill Gulliford (Vice Chair), Aaron Bowman, Anna Lopez Brosche, Tommy Hazouri, Joyce Morgan; Council Member Katrina Brown was excused; Assistant General Counsel Paige Johnston; Assistant Council Auditor Kyle Billy; Jordan Elsbury, Administration; John J. Jackson, Yvonne Mitchell, Council Research Division; Legislative Assistant Philip Zamarron.

 

The Chair called the Special Meeting to order at 9:50 a.m. and announced that the topics would be a Zika update and Bicycling and Pedestrian Safety.

 

In her Zika update, Dr. Kelli Wells, Director, Health Department, reported that there has been approval of some federal funds for the Zika crisis and the State of Florida is allocating more money.

 

The Health Department is involved in preparations for Hurricane Matthew that is expected later in the week.  The Department is involved in setting up shelters.

 

Amy Ingles, Planning & Development Department, made the presentation on bicycling and pedestrian safety.

 

She reported that Florida has a real problem when it comes to bicycling and pedestrian safety.  Jacksonville is one of the worst cities in the nation in pedestrian fatalities.

 

Factors that contribute to the City’s reputation for pedestrian fatalities include: infrastructure, land use factors and cultural.  She characterized the culture as “car centric.” She said that it is very hard to change ingrained behavior.

 

Ms. Ingles stressed the need for education and enforcement.  She explained that there is a low rate of citations issued.  She said that there is a need for a coalition of various groups and community leaders to teach and make people more aware of the significance of safety issues.

 

Council Member Bill Gulliford asked what other cities are doing for bicycling safety.  Ms. Ingles replied that it was hard to compare Jacksonville with other cities.  Mr. Gulliford suggested that Ms. Ingles might consider meeting with Council President Lori Boyer and discussing the possibility of a task force on bicycle and pedestrian safety.

 

Council Member Anna Lopez Brosche wanted to know if there was anything that the Public Health and Safety Committee could do to assist in bicycle and pedestrian safety, if there was a need for new, specific legislation.

 

Council Member Joyce Morgan indicated that both the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and the Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) are involved with pedestrian safety issues.

 

 

There being no further business, the Special Meeting was adjourned at 10:15 a.m.

 

 

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

 

10.12.16

Posted: 4:00 p.m.