JACKSONVILLE
RESEARCH DIVISION
RULES
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
October 18, 2016
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
Attendance: Council Members Garrett Dennis (Chair), John
Crescimbeni (Vice Chair), Greg Anderson, Danny Becton, Tommy Hazouri, Scott
Wilson; Council Member Jim Love was excused; Council President Lori Boyer was
in attendance. Deputy General Counsel Peggy Sidman, Heather Reber, Council
Auditor’s Office, Allison Korman Shelton, Administration, Jeff Clements, John
J. Jackson, Council Research Division, Legislative Assistant Juliette Williams.
The Chair convened the
meeting at 1:35 P.M.
The Chair announced that the
Special Committee would first have a discussion on Council Rule 1.304 that
addresses Travel and Expenses.
Before offering her remarks
on the Travel and Expenses item, Council President Lori Boyer indicated that
she wanted the Committee to give some thought to a situation that the Committee
would have to review at some point.
There is an applicant for appointment to the TRUE (Taxation, Revenue and
the Utilization of Expenses) Commission who does not have American
citizenship. The applicant is married to
an American citizen and has an exemplary background and whose financial
experience would make her an asset to the Commission.
Council President Lori Boyer
requested the Committee to engage in a discussion of this item but to refrain
from acting on it until the next Committee meeting when Council Member Matt
Schellenberg can be in attendance and share his views on the matter.
Council President Boyer
explained the rules governing the Council’s travel and expenses. She explained the distinction between
requests for travel and travel assignments.
A primary concern is to have sufficient amount in the travel and
expenses account to meet the travel needs of the Council for a full year. She reported that she is currently
considering a request for a Council Member that wants to attend an Urban Caucus
in New York City.
The Special Committee next
heard a presentation on the Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority.
William I. (Tripp) Gulliford,
III, the Board Chair gave the presentation. Mark Hendrickson, a consultant to
the Authority, participated in the presentation and fielded questions. Laura Stagner, the JHFA Financial Director,
was also present.
The Jacksonville Housing
Finance Authority (JHFA) was created in 1978 as the Duval County Housing
Finance Authority (DCHFA). The JHFA
position with City government has been altered several times over the past 37
years, most recently in 2014. The JHFA
is a dependent special district, governed by a seven member Board of Directors
appointed by the Mayor (4) and City Council (3).
The JHFA does not received
operating appropriations from the City—it funds all of its operations from
revenues generated from its bond and loan programs. The JHFA is essentially a public purpose
lending institution that generates its loans from the proceeds of tax-exempt
bonds and program income.
JHFA finances loans to
first-time homebuyers and to developers who build or rehabilitate rental
housing for occupancy by eligible families.
Since its inception, the JHFA has provided over $600 million in funding
for the creation of affordable housing.
This funding has created over 6,000 units of affordable rental housing
and thousands of new homeownership opportunities.
All of JHFA’s programs are
market-driven. The JHFA must structure
programs that work from an economic perspective—not because a law says they
have to, but because the private sector would not invest their money in bonds
that are improperly structured or developments that are not feasible.
Mr. Gulliford explained that
JFHA is a lender, not a manager of housing developments. The Authority provides tax free bonds. He
explained what the standards are that a proposed development has to have to
merit approval for JHFA loans.
Mr. Gulliford explained that
though the Authority has an Office of General Counsel attorney (Assistant
General Counsel Lawsikia Hodges), the Authority also utilizes the counsel of an
outside bond counsel.
Council Vice President John
Crescimbeni asked Mr. Gulliford if the JHFA had any dealings with the
Jacksonville Housing Authority. Mr.
Gulliford replied that the authority has no relationship with the Housing Authority. Mr. Crescimbeni felt that there ought to be
some dialogue between the two authorities because both are doing the same
mission. Mr. Hendrickson explained that
two authorities are not alike. JHFA
lends funds for the development of affordable housing. JHA owns and manages
housing.
The JHFA Board of Directors
meets monthly.
The next topic on the Special
Meeting agenda was the Joint Planning Committee. Attorney T.R. Hainline made the presentation.
The Joint Planning Committee
was created in 1998 by an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Jacksonville
and the Duval County School Board. Its
functions include the selection of school sites, crafting joint-use agreements,
and monitoring school concurrency. The
Interlocal Agreement states in one of its whereas clauses: the Joint Planning
Committee was to serve as an advisory body to the City Council and School
Board.
Mr. Hainline noted that the Joint Planning
Committee has not met since April 2014.
A number of Council Members
were unaware of the existence of this committee.
When asked if the Committee
was useful or functioning. Mr. Hainline explained that there should be a place
for such an entity. He explained that he
has repeatedly contacted School Board officials but the Joint Planning Committee
does not appear to be a priority.
Council Vice President
Crescimbeni noted that the Committee is not codified. Deputy General Counsel Peggy Sidman feels
that it should be codified.
Council Member Tommy Hazouri
feels that the City Council should seriously consider sun-setting the Joint
Planning Committee.
Council member Danny Becton
said that he sees the importance of District Council Members working closely
with the School Board. The Chair
requested that Mr. Becton draft legislation that would put some “teeth” into
the Joint Planning Committee.
Next on the agenda was the
Planning Commission. Planning Commission
Chair, Daniel E. Blanchard, gave the presentation. Folks Huxford, Chief of Current Planning,
Planning & Development Department, joined Mr. Blanchard.
Mr. Blanchard cited the
Commission’s legislative authority as stipulated by Chapter 30, Part 2,
Ordinance Code and Sec. 163.3174, Florida Statutes. The functions include: review proposed land
use changes, text changes to the Comprehensive Plan, requests for exceptions,
variances and waivers to the Zoning Code and appeals from written orders
granting or denying an administrative deviation and written interpretations of
the Zoning Code.
The Planning Commission meets
the first and third Thursdays of the month.
There are nine Commissioners, all appointed by the Mayor.
Mr. Blanchard feels that the
Planning Commission is a very effective body.
He feels that Commissioners could be better educated in reading staff
reports, particularly technical aspects of land use and development.
Council Member Danny Becton
asked about diversity in the Commission’s Board. He feels a CPAC person should be considered
for a Board seat so that community impact is enhanced. Mr. Blanchard is not receptive to that
suggestion. He feels that Board members
should have a background in technology.
When Mr. Blanchard reported
that there are community people at Commission meetings, but not that many,
Council Vice President said that if you think about the time that the Board
meets, on Thursday afternoons, and consider that all land use decisions in LUZ
and in the Council, are considered and made after five o’clock, a time that provides opportunities for greater
public accessibility.
There being no further
business, the Special Meeting was adjourned at 3:42 p.m.
John J. Jackson, Council
Research Division (904) 630-1729
10.24.16
Posted: 4:00 p.m.