OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL

RESEARCH DIVISION

SPECIAL RULES COMMITTEE MINUTES

September 20, 2007

10:00 a.m.

Council Chamber

First Floor, City Hall

117 West Duval Street

Attendance: Committee Chair Jay Jabour; Committee Members Warren Jones (as to reconvened meeting, arrived 1:39 p.m.), Michael Corrigan (excused), Ronnie Fussell (arrived 10:20 a.m.), Denise Lee (arrived 10:52 a.m.), Jack Webb (excused approximately 12:05 p.m.), and Clay Yarborough; Council President Daniel Davis; Council Members Mia Jones, Glorious Johnson; 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 10:10 a.m., and the meeting was in recess from 12:22 p.m. to 1:34 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting was to continue consideration of Ordinance 2007-839, reorganizing the Executive Branch. The Chair asked that Mr. Sherman proceed with his review of the analysis done by the Council Auditor’s Office, including recommended changes to the bill.

In response to questions, it was noted that the Strategic Planning Division would become a part of Community Planning, a hybrid combination of Transportation and Strategic Planning duties to coordinate infrastructure and land development efforts.

Mr. Sherman advised the committee that the requirement for quarterly reports from the Public Works Department to Council relative to CIP priority 1 projects of $100,000 or more was being deleted in error.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to retain quarterly reporting by the Public Works Department to Council relative to CIP priority 1 projects of $100,000 or more.

Discussion followed concerning maintenance activities in Public Works. Mr. Alan Mosley, Office of the Mayor, explained that the reorganization was intended to better utilize talents and elevate levels of service, with the idea being no diminution in services.

During discussion of the new Environmental and Compliance Department, a clarification was requested by C/M M. Jones concerning the educational requirements for all department directors. The Research Division was asked to provide a comparison of existing requirements and proposed changes. The rationale behind the move of the Municipal Code Compliance Division to the Environmental and Compliance Department was questioned. It was explained as being to combine like compliance activities driven by the Ordinance Code, and would include all regulatory enforcement functions. Discussion continued concerning position requirements and consistency.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to require the Deputy Director of Environmental and Compliance to have a college degree and five years experience in an administrative or executive position.

Mr. Sherman suggested a change to remove a redundant exemption to Civil Service provisions concerning managers of personnel services.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to remove a redundant proposed Charter revision exempting managers of personnel services employed in the Human Resources Division from Civil Service applicability.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to correct a departmental citation from Central Operations to Environmental and Compliance relative to the Division of Parking Facilities and Enforcement in response to another suggestion by Mr. Sherman.

Further discussion was held concerning Civil Service exceptions. In response to a question concerning an Inspector General position, it was stated that the holder of the position would not be in the Office of Council Auditor or have control over said office.

Consideration was given as to whether existing appointees should be brought before Council for confirmation or reconfirmation, and under what circumstances. It was suggested that reconfirmation should only be for positions where there had been a substantial change, and review of each position was begun. Discussion of various positions ensued, including the need for a Traffic Engineer. It was ultimately suggested that appointees to any of the positions affected by the reorganization should be required to undergo confirmation, including persons currently holding positions.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to require 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, at the request of Mr. Sherman, to allow the Office of General Counsel and the Office of Council Auditor to make scrivener’s corrections as necessary. He noted that this has been standard practice.

Mr. Peterson advised that items not yet finalized included Procurement, Consumer Affairs, Park Security, and the County Extension Office.

The committee continued with brief discussion of park security, with it being stated that there was a plan but no person in the associated position. Concerns with Procurement were mentioned, and discussion followed, centering on the need for a Contract Compliance Division and Chief. The person now fulfilling the duties would have the same salary and duties, but be moved from a division chief to a manager level.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to reinstate the Equal Business Opportunity/Contract Compliance Division and Chief within the Central Operations Department.

It was noted that previous action to reinstate certain park rules provisions needed clarification, as there are other provisions, found in Chapter 664, Ordinance Code, left out.

A MOTION was made and CARRIED to incorporate provisions of Chapter 664, Ordinance Code, under the Recreation and Community Programming Division, with changes made for departmental reference.

Discussion next focused on the Consumer Affairs Division. C/M Lee expressed that, for the most part, the issues involving consumer affairs and human rights are different and should not be combined. At the very least, the title should include a reference to consumer affairs, with a “slash” suggested (Human Rights/Consumer Affairs). Questions were raised concerning the existing positions and the potential savings.

At this point the meeting recessed. Upon reconvening, discussion continued concerning the Consumer Affairs Division. It was noted that the duties of the division had increased in recent years and that the public and business community had not been notified of the proposed changes. Comment was made relative to an anticipated cost savings of $124,177 and the potential for utilizing Human Rights Commission staff for consumer efforts. Mr. Sherman advised that Human Rights was a “Commission” and not a department or division of the City. C/M Lee reiterated the differences between human rights issues and consumer affairs issues, and noted that commissions are appointed. She questioned whether the Human Rights Commission had agreed to the proposed combination. C/M Fussell inquired if the move would be legal, and C/M W. Jones asked if making Consumer Affairs a part of Environmental and Compliance might be a better fit. As to the financial impact, Mr. Sherman stated his disagreement with the figure of $124,177 given by the administration as the anticipated cost savings. In the interest of time, the Chair deferred this item, noting that another special meeting was likely to be needed.

The next issue was that of Parks Security. It was advised by Mr. Peterson that no change was needed if the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer was considered enough, but that an amendment would be needed if a division chief position was determined beneficial. The committee decided that it would advantageous to hear from the parks officer at the next meeting. C/M W. Jones requested a listing of officers living on park land and their duties.

C/M Lee requested a listing of positions with the name, sex, and race of associated appointed persons for purposes of comparing the old organizational structure with the new.

The Chair announced that there would be a Special Rules Committee meeting on Monday, September 24, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. C/M Lee then stated that she desired to go on record as being a person who keeps her word, and that she was trying to keep her word to the administration with regards to the reorganization, but that at the time of her discussions with Mr. Hollingsworth she did not realize that she had so many other concerns.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:29 p.m.

Rick Campbell, Research Assistant

(904) 630-1679