OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425
4TH FLOOR, CITY HALL
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202
904-630-1377
Public Health and Safety
Special Committee Meeting Minutes
May 16, 2017
Immediately after the
Regular Committee Meeting
Topic: Library
and Parks Department programs
Location: City
Council Chamber, 1st floor, City Hall – St. James Building, 117
West Duval Street
Attendance: Council Members: Sam Newby (Chair)-
Excused, Anna Lopez Brosche, Katrina Brown, Aaron Bowman – Excused early
departure, Bill Gulliford, Joyce Morgan, Tommy Hazouri
Also: Paige Johnston – Office of General Counsel;
Kim Taylor – Council Auditor’s Office; Jordan Elsbury – Mayor’s
Office; Colleen Hampsey– Council Research; Philip Zamarron – Legislative
Services Division
Meeting Convened: 9:15 a.m.
Barbara
Gubbin, Director of the Jacksonville Public Library, gave the first
presentation on health related programming in the libraries. Ms. Gubbin
emphasized that the library offers services which exercise the mind and body.
Jacksonville Public Libraries (JPL) offer a wide variety of materials, totaling
almost 40,000 excluding database, on health subjects in physical and electronic
formats. In addition to the varied health resources available for reading, JPL
offers programs such as: Being Prepared and Having a Plan: Advance Care
Planning, Caring for the Caregiver (“First, Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask”),
Managing Diabetes, Managing Medications and Natural Remedies, Understanding
Hypertension, Yoga and Tai Chi. Ms. Gubbin also explained the importance of
partnerships in library programs, noting relationships with AARP, Community
Hospice and others.
When
asked about her vision for the future of the libraries, Ms. Gubbin listed a few
things she would like to see happen. Adding a full time social worker or health
nurse for health screenings and referrals would assist in meeting the needs of
the community (the downtown branch currently has a part time social worker
provide by the Friends of Hemming Park). Ms. Gubbin also mentioned the
possibility of mixed use facilities (library and community center or library
and senior living) which could be assisted by growing partnerships with health
providers.
The
second presentation was by the Parks Department and Daryl Joseph, Director of Parks, Rec & Community Services Department introduced
the speakers. Kevin McDaniel, from Disabled Services spoke about park adaptive
recreation programs. In FY 2017, over 3,000 citizens were served in City parks
by Disabled Services Division partners, Brooks Rehabilitation, Duval Special
Olympics, and Miracle League. Mr. McDaniel also described the Disabled Parking
Enforcement Program which relies on volunteers to enforce disabled parking
statutes. Fines from the parking violations are used in the construction of
residential wheelchair ramps for those in the community who cannot afford the
costs on their own.
Mike Sweat,
the Duval County Extension Director spoke about the programming offered by his
department. The Extension Office receives 65 percent of its funding from the
University of Florida and the rest from the City and from grants. Some of the
Extension Office programs include: Commercial Agriculture & Horticulture,
Urban Forestry, Homeowner Horticulture, Florida Yards & Neighborhoods,
Urban Gardening, Family & Consumer Sciences - Food Safety &
Preservation, Financial, Nutrition and Relationship Education, Housing &
Energy, 4-H Youth Development - Community Clubs and School Enrichment Clubs,
Summer Day Camps, Overnight Residential Camps, Leadership Development Programs.
Keith Meyerl, Chief, Rec & Community Programming, spoke about
recreational park programs. The Parks Department provides affordable and accessible
facilities and programs, offers healthy meals at six community centers, supports
improved wellness for people of all ages, socio-economic backgrounds and
ethnicities, helps reduce obesity and incidence of chronic disease by providing
opportunities to increase physical activity in a variety of forms, and provides
a connection to nature which reduces stress levels and improves mental health.
Gloria
Crawford, Chief of Senior Services closed the presentation with a report on
senior center services. Ms. Crawford cited research which shows that older
adults who participate in Senior Center programs can learn to manage and delay
the onset of chronic disease and experience measurable improvements in their
physical, social, spiritual, emotional, mental, and economic well-being. Ms.
Crawford also listed some statistics (12.8 percent of the City’s population are
seniors, 17 percent of them are food insecure) which demonstrate further
support for the need for senior centers in the community. The City’s senior centers offer special events
and programs such as: Walking, Dance, Yoga, Nutrition: Education &
Counseling, Emotional Health: Support Groups & Trainings, Safety Programs:
Health & Safety Seminars.
Meeting
Adjourned: 10:32
a.m.
Minutes: Colleen Hampsey, Council Research
5.17.17 Posted 12:00 p.m.
The
written minutes for this meeting are an overview of the discussion. For
verbatim comments, the video version is accessible through the PHS webpage or
it may be retrieved from the Office of Legislative Services