JACKSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL

RESEARCH DIVISION

 

 

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

OCTOBER 1, 2007

4:00 P.M.

 

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER

1st floor, City Hall

117 W. Duval Street

 

 

Attendance: Vice Chair M. Jones, Committee Members Gaffney, Holt, Joost, Redman and Yarborough

Excused: Chairman Hyde

 

The meeting was called to order at 4:01 p.m.

 

Item/File No.

Title/History

 

 

1.  2007-419

ORD Amend Pt 5 (Prohibition), Chapt 151 (Dancing Entertainment Establishment Code), Ord Code; to Allocate a Portion of Each Fine to Sheriff's Investigative Fund. (Reingold) (C/M Jenkins)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 5/8/07

 

1. 4/24/2007 CO  Introduced: F, TEUS, PHS (Added to PHS 8-20-07)

 

    4/30/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    5/1/2007 TEU Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 5/8/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F, TEUS (TEU 7/1/07)

 

    8/20/2007 F Approve 6-0

 

 

JSO Assistant Chief John Hartley stated that he had met with the State Attorney’s Office and county court officials and they have agreed to increase the fines sought and levied for violations of this ordinance for second and subsequent offenses.  Approximately 112 cases were prosecuted in the last 2 years with 25 fines imposed, ranging from $150 to $350.  Most cases are referred to the pre-trial intervention program.  The cost to JSO for undercover operations to enforce this ordinance is $5,000 per year.  Assistant Chief Hartley stated that a $20 allocation to JSO from each fine would not pay JSO’s enforcement costs; $100 probably would.

 

Recommend Approval 5-0

 

 

2.  2007-953

ORD Approp $62,941 ($20,927 Continuation Grant from Fla DCA, $42,014 from Rsv for Fed Progs) for 2007-2008 Hazardous Materials Agreemt for 7/1/07 - 6/30/08 for an Emerg Preparedness Sr Planner to Complete Work in the Agreemt. (BT 08-010) (RC 08-012) (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 9/11/07

 

1. 8/28/2007 CO  Introduced: F,PHS

 

    9/4/2007 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer;    9/4/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 9/11/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F, PHS

 

 

Maggie Bulin of the Fire and Rescue Department briefly explained that the grant pays for an employee to make site visits to businesses and other entities listed on the federal registry of hazardous materials sites to verify that storage and use of hazardous materials is in fact as it is being reported to the registry.

 

Recommend Approval 5-0

 

 

3.  2007-975

ORD Approp $50,000 from Disabled Svcs Div Operating Acct to its Handicap Parking Fines Trust Fund, which is the Acct of Origin, to Prevent Reversion to the Gen Fund Balance at end of FY & Continue Assistance to Businesses with Economic Hardship Correcting Code Violations to Comply with ADA Standards; Auth Funds Carryover to FY 2007-2008; Provide Oversight by Community Svcs Dept. (BT 07-193) (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 9/25/07

 

1. 9/11/2007 CO  Introduced: F,PHS,RCD

 

    9/17/2007 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer;    9/17/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    9/18/2007 RCD Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 9/25/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F,PHS,RCD

 

 

Recommend Approval 5-0

 

 

4.  2007-976

ORD Approp $192,700 ($154,160 Continuation Grant, U.S. Dept of Justice, Pursuant to Victims of Crime Act, & $38,540 in-kind Services Match) for Social Svcs Specialists & a Medical Counselor; Auth Funds Carryover to FY 2008-2009; Apv New Positions; Provide Oversight by Community Svcs Dept. (BT 08-017) (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 9/25/07

 

1. 9/11/2007 CO  Introduced: F,PHS,RCD

 

    9/17/2007 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer;    9/17/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    9/18/2007 RCD Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 9/25/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F,PHS,RCD

 

 

Recommend Approval 5-0

 

 

5.  2007-980

ORD Amend Sec 250.118 (Newspaper Street Sales Allowed), Ord Code. (Sidman) (C/M W. Jones, Hyde, Lee, Jabour)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 9/25/07

 

1. 9/11/2007 CO  Introduced: PHS,TEU

 

    9/17/2007 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    9/18/2007 TEU Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 9/25/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; PHS,TEU

 

Deputy General Counsel Steve Rohan stated that, for clarity and in an abundance of caution, the proposed substitute re-enacts a revised Ordinance Code Section 250.118 rather than just repeal the sunset provision that expired 2 years ago.

 

Substitute to re-enact Sec. 250.118 without the sunset provision.

 

Recommend Approval as Substituted 5-0

 

 

At the conclusion of the agenda the committee heard a presentation from David Stringfield and Jere Pittman of Auto Masters Fleet Services, Inc., a local company that provides maintenance and repairs for auto, truck and heavy equipment fleets.  The company has 2 fully-equipped shops and 8 mobile repair trucks in Jacksonville, and several years ago took over all fleet maintenance for the JEA.  The company has been in discussions with the Sheriff’s Office about taking over fleet maintenance and repair for JSO patrol cars from the City’s Motor Pool.  The company’s contract would provide for level costs for the first year as Auto Masters transitions the fleet from City care to its own system, and then would guarantee a 20 percent reduction in maintenance and repair costs in year 2 (worth approximately $1 million).  Eventually Auto Masters would be interested in taking over maintenance of the Fire and Rescue Department’s vehicles as well.

 

Undersheriff Frank Mackesy explained the JSO’s on-going frustrations with the City’s motor pool operations, overhead charges, and length of vehicle down time while in the shop.  The motor pool’s services are more expensive than what an average citizen could get from any of the many chains of auto service shops and that is discouraging.  The Sheriff strongly supports this privatization option.  George Dandelake, financial officer for the JSO, stated that the department spends approximately $10 million per year on gasoline and $5.5 million on outside servicing.  Mr. Stringfield stated that the motor pool’s average turnaround time for a vehicle repair is 5.8 days, while his company’s average is 0.5 days.  His operation is not as rigidly organized and rule-bound as the motor pool; all his employees are certified and trained to work on multiple systems on all types of vehicles, so practically any problem can be addressed by any available mechanic rather than waiting in line for one specialist to become available.

 

Council Member Joost cautioned that one potential consequence of privatizing large portions of the fleet management operation is that the motor pool’s overhead costs could be increased on the vehicles and departments remaining in the system.  Council Member Redman noted that the committee should hear from the City’s Motor Pool before making any recommendation regarding outsourcing.  In response to a question from Council Member Jones about how this issue came to be before the committee today, Undersheriff Mackesy stated that the JSO began looking for alternatives to the motor pool operation and the Sheriff became aware that Auto Masters had taken on JEA’s fleet management operation.  Sheriff Rutherford then approached Chairman Hyde about having this concept presented to PHS for its consideration.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:58 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Jeff Clements, City Council Research

630-1405