JACKSONVILLE
RESEARCH DIVISION
RULES
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
November 15, 2016
Immediately following Rules Committee Meeting
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
Attendance: Council Members Garrett Dennis (Chair), John
Crescimbeni (Vice Chair), Greg Anderson, Danny Becton, Jim Love, Tommy Hazouri, Scott Wilson; Council
President Lori Boyer was in attendance. Deputy General Counsel Peggy Sidman,
Assistant Council Auditor Kyle Billy and Heather Reber, Council Auditor’s
Office, Allison Korman Shelton, Administration, Jeff Clements, John J. Jackson,
Council Research Division, Legislative Assistant Crystal Shemwell.
The Chair called the Special
Meeting to order at 2:58 p.m. He
announced that the presentations for today’s meeting included the Jacksonville
Journey’s Oversight Committee, the Environmental Protection Board and the
Public Service Grant Committee.
Attorney W. C. Gentry,
Chairman, Jacksonville Journey Oversight Committee, provided the panel with an
overview of the Jacksonville Journey’s mission.
He explained who comprised the Oversight Committee and how the committee
operates. There are numerous
subcommittee meetings. One of the
subcommittees met at Eureka Gardens to gather input from the residents on their
needs.
Mr. Gentry stressed the
importance of the Journey’s early learning centers. Vouchers are provided to parents that enable
their youngsters to attend quality early learning centers. Parents are required to attend the early
learning center programs to learn better parenting skills.
The Team Subcommittee works
with individuals between the ages of 16 and 20 years of age to provide
preparation work for attaining a G.E.D.; job training is provided as well.
The Juvenile Justice
Subcommittee targets students that have been suspended from school and are out
on the streets.
There is an Early Learning
Subcommittee as well.
Mr. Gentry reported that the
Journey has identified elementary schools where 80% of the students in the
third grade are unable to read at grade level.
As part of the Journey’s efforts at intervention and the prevention of
crime, there are programs in four of the schools to teach students to
read. There are also after school and
summer school programs. Mr. Gentry had
previously alluded to the link between illiteracy and the likelihood of a life
of crime.
Nick Howland, Chair of the
Environmental Protection Board (EPB) provided the next presentation. He was joined by James Richardson, the EPB
Administrator.
In his PowerPoint
presentation, Mr. Howland explained that as a regulatory body, the Board’s mission
is to improve the quality of life in Jacksonville through conservation and
protection of the natural and urban environment through education, awareness,
facilitation and compliance. He explained the 9-member Board’s composition
that represents various interests. The
members are appointed by the Mayor and require the City Council’s
confirmation.
Mr. Howland described the
Board’s committees and the various issues that they address.
He explained the monthly
meetings of the Board that are open to the public and held at the Ed Ball
Building at 5:00 p.m., the 2nd Monday of the month.
The Board works very closely
with the Environmental Quality Division of the City’s Neighborhoods Department.
In discussing the Environmental Protection Board’s capacity
to issue citations for infractions as a component of its enforcement
responsibilities, Council Vice President John Crescimbeni suggested that the
EPB make the citations it issues more accessible to the public; the citations should be posted on the EPB
website.
Both Mr. Howland and Mr.
Richardson fielded questions.
The Committee next heard a
brief presentation on the Public Service Grants Council by its Chair, Roshanda
Jackson.
She explained that the Ordinance
Code mandates that the Public Service Grants Council review and assess annual
needs of the City for public service programs not otherwise funded by the City.
She explained that 11 of the
15 member Grants Council are filled. The
Board is comprised of members from the Jacksonville area and the Beaches.
Ms. Jackson reported that the
Grants Council review and assessment process has been greatly improved in the
last year.
In discussing the Public
Service Grants Council’s economic impact on Jacksonville, Ms. Jackson explained
that the City’s needs are great and growing owing to changes in federal
funding. The Council facilitates $49
million in grant funding to the area and the Council’s economic impact on the
community is estimated to be $93 million.
With no further business, the
Special Meeting was adjourned at 3:53 p.m.
John J. Jackson, Council
Research Division (904) 630-1729
11.22.16
12:00 p.m.