OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL

RESEARCH DIVISION

SPECIAL RULES COMMITTEE MINUTES

September 24, 2007

10:00 a.m.

Council Chamber

First Floor, City Hall

117 West Duval Street

Attendance: Committee Chair Jay Jabour; Committee Members Warren Jones, Michael Corrigan, Ronnie Fussell (arrived 1:13 p.m.); Denise Lee, Jack Webb (excused), and Clay Yarborough; Council Member Mia Jones; Kirk Sherman and Phillip Peterson, Office of Council Auditor; Peggy Sidman, Office of General Counsel; Shirley Nulf and Rick Campbell, Office of City Council; Adam Hollingsworth, Office of the Mayor

The Committee Chair, Jay Jabour, called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to continue consideration of Ordinance 2007-839, reorganizing the Executive Branch.

The Chair began by directing members to a handout, and explaining his thought that appointees to positions for which there is no material change in duties should not have to come before the Rules Committee for reconfirmation. Discussion included what is meant by material changes, circumstances where reconfirmation would be desirable, and situations in which a person holds a position as “interim.” The committee was reminded that it had approved a motion at its last meeting requiring that all positions addressed in the reorganization, whether there is a substantial change or not, be subject to confirmation by Council.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to require appointed employees whose duties or responsibilities have changed or a new position has been created to be confirmed by Council.

Discussion continued with the proposed changes involving the Consumer Affairs Division. Mr. Hollingsworth stated support for efforts to reinstate said division, and noted that questions now involve whether two or three positions should be approved for it. In response to questions, Mr. Sherman stated that it would cost $127,689 to keep it as a division, including salaries and operations. It was suggested that an appropriate place for this division would be the Environmental and Compliance Department, and concerns were raised with changes made to the division in recent years which resulted in fewer positions.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to reinstate the Consumer Affairs Division, with three positions, within the Environmental and Compliance Department.

Ms. Sidman advised the committee that, due to the number of amendments being approved to the bill, it would be helpful if, at the appropriate time, the committee would move a substitute incorporating all of the changes. C/M Corrigan questioned the financial impact of the various changes, and was advised by Mr. Hollingsworth that only two actions so far have an impact, with those being Adult Services and Consumer Affairs. He estimated the impact to be approximately $180,000 to $190,000, and Mr. Sherman concurred.

The committee next heard from Officer Laurie McEwen concerning park security. It was noted that she is the officer assigned by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to oversee issues in that regard. She explained her duties and those of officers living on the grounds at various parks. In addition to providing a presence, the officers do at least two daily checks, open and close gates, and report to her concerning maintenance issues, giving at least five hours each week. She submits a log each month. Various committee members expressed support.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to add a provision for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer of park security, reporting to the Director of Recreation and Community Services while still residing within the Office of the Sheriff.

It was stated that the last issue remaining was the Canning Center, as proposals for the County Extension Office do not include the Canning Center and funds have not been budgeted for it. Comments included the need to reduce the cost of operations (estimated to be about $67,000 for one year), recognition of it as an investment, a suggestion to speak with the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair Association and the Farmer’s Market about operation, obtaining grants, and initiating a Request for Proposals. General support was expressed, and it was stated that money could be found to continue operations for now.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to add the Canning Center as part of the County Extension Office.

The Chair inquired if there were any other issues to be addressed, and C/M M. Jones referenced the qualifications comparison information compiled by the Research Division pursuant to an earlier committee request.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to revise language concerning the Chief of Recreation and Community Programming to specify a bachelor’s decree, replacing language concerning a college degree. This motion was superseded by a following MOTION which CARRIED to create uniformity in description of college degrees for appointed officials by specifying a bachelor’s degree.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to require that registered professional engineers be certified by the State of Florida. This was done in response to an inconsistency noted concerning professional engineer registration.

The committee was advised that the Chief of Public Buildings position contained no requirement for a college degree. It was also pointed out that the requirement for a college degree was being removed for the position of Chief of Solid Waste.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to require a bachelor’s degree for the Chief of Solid Waste in recognition of current Ordinance Code requirements and for consistency.

It was further noted that the Chief of Environmental Quality position had no degree requirement, and that in past years one could obtain state certification as a professional engineer through experience, without a degree.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to require a bachelor’s degree for the Chief of Environmental Quality.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to strike the proposed language concerning five years of experience in public administration as an experience option for the Chief of Mosquito Control.

C/M Corrigan advised that certain provisions, approved by Ordinance 91-1286-520 and concerning the number of days the Mayor can fill a vacancy in an appointed position prior to confirmation by Council, had not been codified.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED directing the Office of General Counsel to forward a copy of said Ordinance 91-1286-520 to MuniCode Corporation for codification.

Ms. Sidman requested clarification relative to appointees required to come for confirmation. It was noted that an existing division chief had received a waiver of education requirements to be confirmed. Mr. Hollingsworth asked that this Chief of Solid Waste be grandfathered, and that the appointment not be required to come before Council again.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED that the appointment to the position of Chief of Solid Waste not require reconfirmation by Council.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to recommend a substitute incorporating all of the committee’s approved amendments.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED that the committee’s report to Council recommend that Ordinance 2007-839 be SUBSTITUTED and APPROVED.

C/M W. Jones inquired as to the status of savings under the reorganization, as revised. Mr. Sherman replied that he would have to calculate this, as the suggested amount of $2.8 million had not been validated by his office despite on-going efforts. He indicated that he would not be able to produce the figure by the next day, but would try to have it within the next thirty days. Mr. Hollingsworth advised that the amount is between $2.8 million and $3 million.

C/M Lee addressed the committee concerning the need for discussion concerning crime and race relations, recognizing that this can be uncomfortable for some. She also commented on a lack of diversity in appointments and suggested there is a need to look at such issues in an effort, not to create problems, but to prevent problems.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:12 p.m.

Rick Campbell, Research Assistant

(904) 630-1679