JACKSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL

RESEARCH DIVISION

 

 

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

JULY 14, 2008

4:00 P.M.

 

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER

1st floor, City Hall

117 W. Duval Street

 

Attendance: Chairman Clay Yarborough, Committee Members Glorious Johnson, Bill Bishop, Ray Holt, Kevin Hyde

Excused: Mia Jones

Absent: E. Denise Lee

Guest: Council President Ronnie Fussell

 

The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m.

 

Council President Fussell greeted the committee and stated that he is looking forward to a year of good committee work.  He urged the committee members not be afraid to “turn over the rocks” and ask hard questions when that is what is needed to ensure that the public’s funds are being spent in the best possible way.  If there is a problem or a concern, keep digging until all questions are answered, and he pledged his assistance in any way possible with the committee’s work.

 

 

Item/File No.

Title/History

 

 

1.  2008-28

ORD Amend Chapt 366 (Groundwater Resource Mgmt), Ord Code, to Expand Regulatory Authority of Environmental & Compliance Dept & Environmental Protection Bd Over Surface Waters of the County; Amend Sec 366.209, to include Ticketing Authority; Create New Pt 6 for Mgmt & Regulation of Lawn & Specialized Turf Fertilization Including Lawns on Residential & Commercial Proptys & Public & Private Golf Courses; Education, Training & Record Keeping Requiremts for Commercial Landscapers & Fertilizer Applicators; Persons for Hire to Apply Fertilizer to Subject Propty must Successfully Complete Specified Training; Provide Guidelines for FL Friendly Landscaping; Provide Public Nuisance Declaration & Enforcemt; Provide Fertilizer Storage & Maint Requiremts & Inspection Prog. (Teal) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 1/22/08

 

1. 1/8/2008 CO  Introduced: PHS,TEU,RCD,JWW

 

    1/14/2008 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    1/15/2008 TEU Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 1/22/2008 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; PHS, TEU, RCD

 

    5/19/2008 PHS Sub/Rerefer 5-0

 

    5/20/2008 TEU Sub/Rerefer 4-0;    5/20/2008 RCD Sub/Rerefer 6-0

 

3. 5/27/2008 CO SUBSTITUTED/REREFERRED; PHS, RCD, TEU

 

    6/12/2008 JWW Approve 8-0

 

 

Vince Seibold of the Environmental And Compliance Department explained the purpose behind the requested amendment exempting golf courses from some of the regulations.  The Florida DEP has a program of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for golf courses regarding their use of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals and the DEP believes that golf courses utilizing those BMPs should be exempt from local regulations with regard to those practices.

 

AMEND to

1.       Clarify that golf courses are exempt from the chemical application rate regulations

2.       Clarify training requirements for golf course managers

 

RECOMMEND APPROVAL AS AMENDED 5-0

 

 

2.  2008-30

ORD Amend Chapt 366 (Groundwater Resource Management), Ord Code, Create New Pt 5 for Water Conservatn Prog & Providing Local Implementation of Water Conservation Rule for Landscape Irrigation of St. Johns River Water Mgmt Dist; Provide: Jurisdiction (USD-1); Definitions; Landscape Irrigation Schedule & Exceptions; Variances from Specific Days of Week; Applicability of Ord; Enforcement; Penalties for Violation. (Radlinski) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 1/22/08

 

1. 1/8/2008 CO  Introduced: PHS,TEU, RCD

 

    1/14/2008 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    1/15/2008 TEU Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 1/22/2008 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; PHS, TEU

 

    5/19/2008 PHS Sub/Rerefer 5-0

 

    5/20/2008 TEU Sub/Rerefer 4-0

 

3. 5/27/2008 CO SUBSTITUTED/REREFERRED; PHS, TEU, RCD (added to RCD per Council 5/27/08)

 

 

Vince Seibold of the Environmental and Compliance Department requested an amendment to change the once-per-week winter watering schedule (October to March) from mandatory to strongly recommended at the request of the St. Johns River Water Management District to reflect the district’s current watering regulations of no more than twice per week year-round.  The district is considering enacting a winter watering rule of once per week but has not yet done so and does not want local regulations to vary from WMD standards.  The WMD claims that its consumptive use permit process gives it the authority to supersede local water regulations.

 

AMENDED to change the winter watering rule from mandatory to strongly recommended

 

A motion to approve the bill as amended FAILED on a vote of 3-2 (Yarborough and Hyde opposed)

 

It was determined that an error in the computerized voting system incorrectly registered Council Member Hyde as voting in opposition when in fact he intended to vote in favor of the bill.

 

After a motion to reconsider the committee voted again on the bill as amended, with Council President Fussell participating in the vote.

 

RECOMMEND APPROVAL 5-1 (Yarborough opposed)

 

 

3.  2008-340

ORD Amend Chapt 120 (Gen Employees & Corrections Officers Pension Plans), Part 3 (Corrections Officers Retiremt Plan), Sec 120.304(f) (Credited Svc; Time Connections; Prior Svc) to Include Fla Dept of Corrections (Certified Officers Only) as an Addnl Govt Agcy for Time Svc Connections within the Corrections Officers Retiremt Plan. (Germany) (C/M Webb)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 5/13/08

 

1. 4/22/2008 CO  Introduced: R,F,PHS

 

    5/5/2008 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer;   5/5/2008 F Read 2nd & Rerefer;    5/5/2008 R Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 5/13/2008 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R,F,PHS

 

 

R: Defer                F: Defer

 

DEFER

 

 

4.  2008-346

ORD Repealing Parts 1 - 4, Chapt 366 (Groundwater Resource Mgmt), Ord Code & Enacting New Parts 1 - 3 to Reestab Groundwater Resource Mgmt Prog Including Well Permitting Requiremts; Renumber Part 6. (Teal) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 5/13/08

 

1. 4/22/2008 CO  Introduced: PHS,TEU, RCD (Per C/P 5/27/08)

 

    5/5/2008 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    5/6/2008 TEU Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 5/13/2008 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; PHS,TEU

 

    5/19/2008 PHS Sub/Rerefer 5-0

 

    5/20/2008 TEU Sub/Rerefer 4-0

 

3. 5/27/2008 CO SUBSTITUTED/REREFERRED; PHS, TEU, RCD (added to RCD per Council 5/27/08)

 

 

RECOMMEND APPROVAL 5-0

 

 

5.  2008-372

ORD Declaring Surplus & Auth Conveyance to Operation New Hope Inc. for Constrn of Affordable Housing; Waiving Sec 122.424 (Appraisal/Assessed Value Over $25,000), Ord Code. (Dist 7-Gaffney) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 5/27/08

 

1. 5/13/2008 CO  Introduced: R,F,PHS

 

    5/19/2008 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer;    5/19/2008 F Read 2nd & Rerefer;    5/19/2008 R Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 5/27/2008 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R, F, PHS

 

 

R: Defer                     F: Defer

 

DEFER

 

6.  2008-468

ORD Auth a 1-Yr Renewal of City's Group Health Insurance Contract with Aetna Health, Inc; Waiving Provisions of Chapt 116, Pt 14 & Chapt 126, Pt 3, Ord Code, Requiring Issuance of a RFP. (Germany) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 6/10/08

 

1. 5/27/2008 CO  Introduced: R,F,PHS

 

    6/2/2008 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer;   6/2/2008 F Read 2nd & Rerefer;    6/2/2008 R Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 6/10/2008 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R,F,PHS

 

 

R: Defer                    F: Defer

 

DEFER

 

 

7.  2008-482

ORD Approp $425,000 from Banking Fund for Constrn of a Fueling Station at 609 St Johns Bluff Rd N to Replace the Existing Single-Walled Underground Tanks at Fire Station #30 to be Removed or Replaced by 12/31/09 as Mandated by FDEP. (BT 08-133) (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 6/24/08

 

1. 6/10/2008 CO  Introduced: F,PHS,TEU

 

    6/16/2008 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer;    6/16/2008 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    6/17/2008 TEU Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 6/24/2008 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F,PHS,TEU

 

 

F: Amend/Approve

 

AMEND (Finance) to

1.       state in bill that banking fund capacity is increasing by $425,000

2.       include CIP language and attach CIP page

 

RECOMMEND APPROVAL AS AMENDED 5-0

 

8.  2008-520

ORD Approp $70,800 Continuation Grant from Child Support Enforcemt Div, Fla Dept of Rev to JSO Warrant Unit for Service of Writs of Attachmt in Child Support Cases for FY 2008. (BT 08-141) (McCain) (Req of Sheriff)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 7/22/08

 

1. 6/24/2008 CO  Introduced: F,PHS

 

 

F: 2ND

 

READ 2ND & REREFER

 

9.  2008-521

ORD Approp $54,000 Continuation Grant from Child Support Enforcemt Div, Fla Dept of Rev to JSO for Private Process Servers in Child Support Cases for FY 2008. (BT 08-142) (McCain) (Req of Sheriff)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 7/22/08

 

1. 6/24/2008 CO  Introduced: F,PHS

 

 

F: 2ND

 

READ 2ND & REREFER

 

 

10.  2008-535

ORD Auth (a) Agreemt with Shands Jacksonville Medical Center Inc & (b) a Letter of Agreemt with State of Fla re Pymt & Distribution of City's $23,775,594 Indigent Health Care Contract Obligation for FY 2008-2009. (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 7/22/08

 

1. 6/24/2008 CO  Introduced: F,PHS

 

 

F: 2ND

 

READ 2ND & REREFER

 

At the conclusion of the agenda Chairman Yarborough stated that he wanted the committee to schedule a visit at some point to the City Jail as part of its oversight of crime and public safety issues.  He would also like to continue the practice started the previous council year of the PHS Committee scheduling at least 3 community meetings in various locations around the city as to give the public an opportunity to make comments and suggestions directly to the committee about safety issues, particularly regarding the implementation and funding of the Jacksonville Journey recommendations.

 

Council Member Holt requested that the administration provide the committee with the last 3 years of serious crime data on a geographic basis in order to allow the committee to look for indications of the degree of success of Operation Safe Streets in materially affecting the crime rate in the targeted neighborhoods via saturation patrols.

 

Council Member Johnson encouraged the committee members to take the Sheriff up on his offer to “ride along” with a JSO officer on patrol – it is an eye opening experience.  She also recommended that the committee investigate programs that work with hard-core ex-offenders (convicted of violent crimes) who are seeking a chance to start their lives again.  There are several programs in town that work with the most difficult cases and their work needs to be recognized.

 

Chairman Yarborough stated that he had toured the juvenile side of the city jail last week with a school group and found it a very informative experience.  He believes the committee needs to hear the message that the inmates had for the young people on the tour about making better decisions in their lives.

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.

 

Jeff Clements, City Council Research

630-1405

 

Posted 7-18-08

3:20 p.m.