SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

 

2007-2008 Budget / Ordinance 2007-813

 

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

 

Council Chambers

117 W. Duval St., City Hall

 

 

 

Attendance:    Council President Davis, Council Members Bishop, Clark, Corrigan, Fussell, Gaffney, Graham, Holt, Hyde, Jabour, Johnson, M. Jones, W. Jones, Joost, Lee, Redman, Shad, Webb, Yarborough

 

 

 

The President called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m.

 

The President called on Council Member Yarborough to present the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

The President called for Roll Call.

 

President Davis explained the procedures for the meeting and thanked the members of the City Council for their diligence in dealing with the tough budget issues facing Jacksonville.

 

The Floor Leader moved to discharge File 2007-813 from the Finance Committee.  The motion CARRIED.  The Floor Leader moved the Substitute to File 2007-813.  The motion CARRIED.

 

Council Member Shad offered the 1st amendment to the budget.  (See attached)

Council Member Webb offered a 2nd amendment to the 1st amendment.   Approved 14-4

Council Member Hyde offered amendment #3.  Approved 15-3

 

Council Member Lee offered amendment #4.  Failed 8-11

 

Council Member Corrigan offered amendment #5.  Approved 14-5

 

Council Member M. Jones offered amendment #6.  Approved 14-4

 

Motion was made to approve the Shad amendment 3 times amended.  Approved 11-8

 

Council Member Bishop offered an amendment to delete vacant jobs across the board.  Failed 8-10

 

Council Member Webb offered an amendment to cut 2% across the board excluding Police & Fire. Put below the line.  Council Member M. Jones offered a friendly amendment to the amendment.  Approved 13-5

 

Council Member Webb offered an amendment to place a portion of the Police & Fire budget below the line.  Failed 6-13

 

Council Member Clark offered an amendment not allowing raises for elected official.  Approved 10-9

 

Council Member Gaffney moved the reconsider Council Members Clark amendment.  Failed 8-11

Council Member Graham offered an amendment to the amendment.  If the fees fail, then pay raises will be given.     Approved 11-8

 

Council Member Corrigan offered an amendment to put the TDC budget below the line.  Approved 18-1

 

Council Member Jabour moved to add the Ethics Officer position with $39,000 back in to the budget.

Council Member Joost added a friendly amendment stating that the position had to be hired and fired by the Mayor with the Council’s approval.

Council Member Shad add a friendly amendment stating that the money for the position be taken out of the Spec Council reserve account or the Spec Mayor’s reserve account.

Council Member Johnson moved the delete the Ethics Department from the budget.

The Council President TABLED this discussion until the next meeting.

 

Council Member Joost offered an amendment stating that inmates pick-up garbage.  Approved 11-5

 

Council Member Gaffney offered an amendment regarding the lapse and take Public Safety out.  Approved 9-7

 

Council Member Yarborough offered an amendment deleting all Council Members raises from the Budget. Approved 9-6

 

Council Member Holt offered an amendment to increase the reduction of the Cultural Council, Art in Public Places and the Jacksonville Historical Society by 50%.   Failed 6-13

 

Council Member Corrigan offered an amendment to put the whole amount of the Arts & Cultural Council below the line instead of in the contingency fund.   Failed 7-12

 

Council Member Johnson moved to delete the Faith Based Department/Division from the Budget ($380,000).  Approved 13-5 

 

Council Member Johnson moved to take out $4 million from the JCC for Pre-K 4 programs.  The President tabled this discussion until the next noticed meeting.

 

 

 

 

Council President Davis announced there will be a continuation of this Special Meeting of the Council to discuss fee bills 2007-836 and 2007-837.  The notice will be forthcoming.  Council Member M. Jones will be allowed to speak first at the next meeting.  He adjourned the meeting at 11:05 P.M.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Actions Taken at the Special Council Meeting on September 19, 2007

 

  1. Shad Amendment for Sheriff- see written floor amendment; amendments to the floor amendment were as follows:
    • Delete Paragraph (3)
    • Restore Agriculture’s cut of $327,230
    • Place the amount to be provided to the Sheriff for overtime in a designated contingency
    • Put language in the Budget Ordinance that the Sheriff will need to come back to the City Council when the audit is complete to bring the funds back above the line

 

  1. 2% reduction within all Operating Departments within the General Fund/GSD, excluding non-departmental costs in the proposed budget totaling $231,236,575, police budget of $322,099,616 and fire rescue budget of $144,552,103. Net savings of $4,876,188 was to be placed below the line in a designated contingency. Council is to return to Council Auditor within 60 days to discuss parameters.

 

  1. Place $464,462 that was absorbed by the TDC from JEDC (3 positions, events and travel costs) below the line in a designated contingency

 

  1. Restore $280,320 to the Sheriff’s budget for Corrections Officer overtime used in Community Service Projects such as litter pickup; the funding for this appropriation was to be shared by the Council Operating Contingency and the Executive Operating Contingency

 

  1. Increase overall lapse related to vacant positions within the General Fund/GSD, excluding Fire Rescue and Sheriff. This results in a net savings of $584,688 that will be added to the Special Council Contingency.

 

  1. Councilmembers voted to refuse their 3.5% COLA. Net savings of $35,151 that will be added to the Special Council Contingency.

 

  1. Eliminate Faith Based Office in Recreation and Community Services. This includes a total budget of $379,521 and 3 positions.