ACN::
RULES COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
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Tuesday,
January 21, 2014 |
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9:00
AM |
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Council
Chambers 1st Floor, City
Hall |
Dana
Farris, Chief
of Legislative Services |
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Warren
Jones, Chair |
Legislative
Aide: Marilyn Allen |
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Doyle
Carter, Vice Chair, Left 10:06 |
Administration:
Teresa Eichner |
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William
Bishop, Excused |
Asst.
Council Auditor: Janice Billy |
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Lori
Boyer |
Auditor:
Heather Reber |
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Richard
Clark, Left 10:00 |
Attorney:
Peggy Sidman |
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E.
Denise Lee, Arrived 10:04 |
Chief
of Research: Jeff Clements |
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Don
Redman |
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Bill
Gulliford
Meeting Convened 9:04 AM Meeting
Adjourned 11:13 AM
If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the
Council with respect to any matter considered at such meeting, such person will
need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, such person may need to
ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes
the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
Attendance:
C/M
Schellenberg (2013-451)
John
Jones (2013-806)
Wayne
Young, JEA
Kris Rosenhauer,
JEA
Cornell
Oliver (2013-451 & 2013-699)
Presentation
by Jim Robinson, P.E. Director, Department of Public Works regarding LED
Streetlights Conversion Progress Report
Update
by Jeff Foster, Chief of Solid Waste Division regarding the effort to reduce
blight in
NOTE: The next regular meeting will be held Monday, February 3, 2014.
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Item/File
No. |
Title/History |
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1.
2012-732 |
RESO Urging Mayor, as Apvd by the Hemming Plaza
Subcommittee, to Immediately Remove Tables & Chairs from Hemming Plaza. ( |
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1. 12/11/2012 CO
Introduced: R,RCD |
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1/2/2013 R Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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1/3/2013 RCD
Read 2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 1/8/2013 CO Read 2nd & Rereferred; R, RCD |
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Bill Summary DEFER |
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2.
2013-209 |
ORD-MC Amend Var Chapts & Secs of Ord Code by
Reorganizing & Renaming var Depts & Divisions, including Chapt 28
(Parks & Rec), Chapt 30 (Planning & Dev Dept), Chapt 32 (Public Works
Dept), Chapt 35 (Neighborhoods Dept), Chapt 55 (Economic Dev), Chapt 23
(Intra-Govt'l Svcs Dept), by moving Divisions to other Depts or Consolidating
Divisions; Provide Effective Date of 10/1/13. (Sidman) (Req of Mayor) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 3/26/2013 CO
Introduced: R,F |
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4/1/2013 R Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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4/2/2013 F Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 4/9/2013 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R, F |
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11/25/2013 SRRC
Sub/Amend/Approve 7-0 |
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Bill Summary DEFER |
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3.
2013-226 |
ORD-MC Repealing Part 2 (Entertainmt Dist), Chapt 191
(Spec Events & Entertainmt Dist), Ord Code; Amend Sec 368.105
(Exceptions), Part 1 (Gen Provisions), Chapt 368 (Noise Control), to Remove
the Exception for Chapt 191. (Sidman) (Introduced by CM Schellenberg &
Crescimbeni) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 4/9/2013 CO
Introduced: R,TEU,RCD |
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4/15/2013 TEU
Read 2nd & Rerefer; 4/15/2013 R
Read 2nd & Rerefer |
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4/16/2013 RCD
Read 2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 4/23/2013 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R, TEU, RCD |
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Bill Summary DEFER |
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4.
2013-417 |
ORD Amend Council Rule 3.603 (Comments from the Public) to
Limit Public Comments to Matters of City Public Business. (Sidman)
(Introduced by CP-Elect Gulliford) ( Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 6/25/2013 CO
Introduced: R |
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7/15/2013 R Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 7/23/2013 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R |
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Bill Summary DEFER |
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5.
2013-451 |
RESO Requesting Cindy Laquidara to Resign from Position of
General Counsel or, in Lieu Thereof, Requesting Mayor Alvin Brown to Initiate
Proceedings to Separate Ms. Laquidara as General Counsel. (Schellenberg)
(Introduced by CM Schellenberg) |
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1. 6/25/2013 CO
Introduced: R |
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7/15/2013 R Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 7/23/2013 CO Read 2nd & Rereferred; R |
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Bill Summary Council Member Schellenberg referenced a letter from City
Council President Jack Webb from 2011 stating that Cindy Laquidara’s
appointment as General Counsel at the time was temporary until such time as
the mayoral transition was completed. He contends that that temporary
appointment has become a de facto permanent appointment without the City
Charter’s requirements for the General Counsel selection process ever taking
place. Council Member Clark favors withdrawing this bill and introducing a
new bill to revise the General Counsel selection process by Charter
amendment. Council Member Boyer wants the resolution to express the Council’s
desire that the Charter provisions regarding appointment of the General
Counsel be followed as written and not waived for the convenience of the
appointing party, which seems to be the central tenet of Ms. Laquidara’s
legal opinion regarding the legal sufficiency of her appointment. Ms. Boyer
believes the argument in favor of waiving provisions for the convenience of
the party to whom they apply is the beginning of a slippery slope. A motion to withdraw the bill failed 2-3 (Clark and Jones
in favor). Ms. Boyer proposed and then withdrew an amendment to remove the
resignation language from the bill and to call for compliance by the Mayor
will all applicable Charter provisions regarding the General Counsel. APPROVE 0-5
(FAILED) (CLARK, BOYER, CARTER, JONES, REDMAN) |
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6.
2013-493 |
ORD-MC Amend Chapt 656, Part 13 (Sign Regs), Ord Code;
Amend Secs 656.1301 (Gen Provisions), 656.1302 (Definitions) to add new
Definition for Replacemt of Off-Site Commercial Signs (OSCS), 656.1303
(Zoning Limitations on Signs) to allow Maint & Repair of OSCS, 656.1309
(Unlawful Sign Messages) for Exemption for Replacemt OSCS; Create New Sec
656.1322 (Replacement OSCS) to allow Replacemt OSCS in certain Zoning Dists
when Existing OSCS Inventory is Further Reduced; Create New Sec 656.1323
(Appeals from Bldg Inspections Div [BID]) to Require Challenges by Aggrieved
Parties of BID Final Actions to be Pursued thru Arbitration Proceedings with
BCAB; Create New Sec 656.1324 (Noise Attenuation Barrier Blocking View of
OSCS) to require City to allow (1) an Increase in Height, (2) Relocation or
Reconstrn at another Location if Owner Agrees, or (3) Pymt of Fair Market
Value of Sign if any Govt Entity Permits or Erects a Noise-Attenuation
Barrier that Blocks a Sign; Repeal Sec 656.719 (Nonconforming Signs) in its
Entirety; Amend Article 23, City Charter, to Halt Proliferation of Off-Site
Commercial Billboards (OSCB) by Capping Existing Inventory of OSCB & only
Permitting Replacemt when Existing Inventory is Further Reduced & to
Promote Public Safety & Aesthetics by allowing Repair & Maint of Existing
OSCB as of Effective Date of this Ord; Repeal Sec 320.414 (Nonconforming
Signs); Amend Sec 614.142 (Unlawful Sign Messages), Chapt 614 (Public Order
& Safety). (Sanders & Diebenow) (Introduced by CM Clark) (Urban CPAC,
NW CPAC, LUZ PH Pursuant to Sec 656.123 - 8/20/13, 10/1/13,
10/15/13, 11/5/13, 12/3/13 & 1/22/14 Public Hearing Pursuant to Sec 166.041(3)(c)(2), F.S.
& CR 3.601 - 8/13/13 & 8/27/13, 10/8/13, 10/22/13, 11/12/13, 12/10/13
& 1/14/14 & 1/28/14 |
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1. 7/23/2013 CO Introduced:
R,PHS,LUZ |
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8/5/2013 PHS
Read 2nd & Rerefer; 8/5/2013 R
Read 2nd & Rerefer |
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8/6/2013 LUZ
Read 2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 8/13/2013 CO PH Addnl 8/27/13/ Read 2nd & Rerefer;
R, PHS, LUZ |
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3. 8/27/2013 CO PH Contd 10/8/13 |
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10/8/2013 CO PH Contd
10/22/13 |
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10/22/2013 CO PH
Contd 11/12/13 |
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11/12/2013 CO PH
Contd 12/10/13 |
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11/18/2013 PHS
Sub/Rerefer 4-0; 11/18/2013 R
Sub/Rerefer 7-0 |
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12/3/2013 LUZ PH
Sub/Rerefer R, PHS, LUZ 6-0 |
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12/10/2013 CO PH
SUBSTITUTED/Rereferred; R, PHS, LUZ |
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1/14/2014 CO PH
Addnl 1/28/14 |
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Bill Summary DEFER Council Member Boyer indicated that a Planning Department
staff report on the bill has been prepared and the Planning Commission will
take up the bill at its next meeting, after which the LUZ Committee will have
it for consideration in February. |
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7.
2013-676 |
ORD-MC Amending Chapt 368 (Noise Control), to create New
Sec 368.109, Adopting Interim Rules for Admin of Special Events over 500
people at Metropolitan Park; Apv Modified License Agreemt for Special Events
at Metropolitan Park; Provide for Sunsetting of said Interim Rules &
License Agreemt on 9/30/14. ( Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 9/24/2013 CO
Introduced: R,PHS,RCD |
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9/30/2013 PHS
Read 2nd & Rerefer; 9/30/2013 R
Read 2nd & Rerefer |
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10/1/2013 RCD
Read 2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 10/8/2013 CO PH Contd 10/22/13 / Read 2nd &
Rereferred; R, PHS, RCD |
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10/14/2013 R Amend/Approve 5-0 |
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10/15/2013 RCD
Amend/Approve 6-0 |
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3. 10/22/2013 CO PH Contd 11/12/13 |
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11/12/2013 CO PH
Only |
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11/18/2013 PHS
Amend/Approve 4-0 |
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11/26/2013 CO
REREFERRED; R, PHS, RCD |
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12/2/2013 PHS
Amend/Approve 4-0 |
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Bill Summary DEFER |
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8.
2013-699 |
ORD re Chapt 118 (City Grants), Sec 118.805 (Eligibility
Qualifications for Public Svc Grants), Ord Code, Establishing the 2013-2014
Priority Populations for Public Svc Grant Appropriations. (Rowland)
(Introduced by Council President pursuant to Sec 118.805, Ord Code) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 10/22/2013 CO
Introduced: PHS,F, R (Assigned to Rules by C/P 12/5/13) |
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11/4/2013 PHS
Read 2nd & Rerefer |
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11/5/2013 F Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 11/12/2013 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; PHS, F |
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11/18/2013 PHS
Amend/Approve 4-0 |
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11/19/2013 F
Amend/Approve 5-2 (Clark, Schellenberg) |
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3. 11/26/2013 CO REREFERRED; PHS, F, R |
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AMEND/APPROVE
3-2 (FAILED) (CLARK, REDMAN) 1. Amend FY 14/15 PSG
Application and attach to bill 2. Attach priority
population letter from PSG Council Chair 3. Pg. 1 line 8 correct
FY to 2014-2015 |
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9.
2013-801 |
ORD-MC Amend Sec 82.103 (Officers; Exec Dir; Admin
Support), Chapt 82 (Jax-Duval County Council on Elder Affairs), Ord Code, to
allow Chair of said Council to Exercise the Duties & Functions of the
Exec Dir when that Position is Vacant. (Sidman) (Introduced by CP Gulliford) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 12/10/2013 CO
Introduced: R |
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1/6/2014 R Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 1/14/2014 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R |
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Bill Summary APPROVE 5-0 |
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10.
2013-806 |
ORD Declaring 1416 Laura St as Surplus Propty; Recognizing
Direct Sale to William Flinn Hoff & Jennifer Ramsey Hoff, the Abutting
Landowners, for Appraised Value of $9,500; Waive Sec 122.429 (Uses of
Proceeds from Surplus Land Sales), Ord Code, to allow Net Proceeds from Sale
of Propty to be Returned to the CDBG Fund. (Dist 7-Gaffney) (McCain) (Req of
Mayor) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 12/10/2013 CO
Introduced: R,TEU,F |
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1/6/2014 TEU
Read 2nd & Rerefer; 1/6/2014 R
Read 2nd & Rerefer |
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1/7/2014 F Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 1/14/2014 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R, TEU, F |
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Bill Summary The committee discussed the degree to which the City must
reimburse the CDBG program for the original purchase of the lot with CDBG
funding. Is the City required to
reimburse just the CDBG funding used for the purchase, or the full amount of
the appreciated value of the property today? AMEND/APPROVE
5-0 Refund to the CDBG program the amount of CDBG funds used to acquire
the property; any remaining funds shall be deposited as otherwise required by
the Ordinance Code. |
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11. 2013-807 |
ORD-MC Amend Sec 32.702 (Context Sensitive Streets
Standards Comm), Chapt 32 (Public Works Dept), Ord Code, to Modify the Reps
Apptd by Council President & Clarify the Term Expiring Date. (Sidman)
(Introduced by CM Boyer) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 12/10/2013 CO
Introduced: R |
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1/6/2014 R Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 1/14/2014 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R |
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Bill Summary APPROVE 5-0 |
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12.
2013-808 |
RESO Conf Appt of Lee Caudill to Constrn Trades Qualifying
Bd as an Apartment Industry Rep, Replacing Christopher J Mazzatta for 1st
Full Term exp 9/30/16. (Sidman) (Req of Mayor) |
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1. 12/10/2013 CO
Introduced: R |
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1/6/2014 R Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 1/14/2014 CO Read 2nd & Rereferred; R |
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Bill Summary DEFER |
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13.
2013-809 |
RESO Conf Appt of Esther K Erkan to Constrn Trades
Qualifying Bd as a Private Citizen, Replacing Maxene Gillman for 1st Full
Term exp 9/30/15. (Sidman) (Req of Mayor) |
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1. 12/10/2013 CO
Introduced: R |
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1/6/2014 R Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 1/14/2014 CO Read 2nd & Rereferred; R |
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Bill Summary DEFER |
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14.
2013-810 |
RESO Conf Appt of Kristine Millerschone to Constrn Trades
Qualifying Bd as an Apartment Industry Rep, Replacing Ralph E
"Butch" Christian for 1st Full Term exp 9/30/16. (Sidman) (Req of
Mayor) |
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1. 12/10/2013 CO
Introduced: R |
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1/6/2014 R Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 1/14/2014 CO Read 2nd & Rereferred; R |
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Bill Summary APPROVE 5-0 |
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15.
2013-811 |
RESO Conf Appt of Angie Damita Williams to Constrn Trades
Qualifying Bd as a Gen Contractor, Replacing William T "Bill"
Spinner for 1st Full Term exp 9/30/16. (Sidman) (Req of Mayor) |
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1. 12/10/2013 CO
Introduced: R |
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1/6/2014 R Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 1/14/2014 CO Read 2nd & Rereferred; R |
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Bill Summary APPROVE 5-0 |
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16.
2013-817 |
RESO Conf Appt of Jack L Meeks, Jr to the Downtown
Investment Authority as a Banking/Finance Industry Rep, Replacing Paul Perez
for Unexp Term exp 6/30/14 & a 1st Full Term exp 6/30/18. (Sidman) (Req
of Mayor) |
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1. 12/10/2013 CO
Introduced: R |
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1/6/2014 R Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 1/14/2014 CO Read 2nd & Rereferred; R |
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APPROVE 5-0 |
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17.
2013-820 |
ORD-MC Amend Sec 799.101 (Tax Imposed; Limitation), Chapt
799 (Local Option Gas Tax), Ord Code, to Reissue the Local Option Gas Tax for
20 Yr Period of 9/1/16 - 8/31/2036. (Sidman) (Introduced by CP Gulliford) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 12/10/2013 CO Introduction: R, TEU, F |
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1/6/2014 TEU
Read 2nd & Rerefer; 1/6/2014 R
Read 2nd & Rerefer |
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1/7/2014 F Read
2nd & Rerefer |
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2. 1/14/2014 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R, TEU, F |
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DEFER |
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18.
2014-1 |
ORD-MC Amend Chapt 30 (Plan & Dev Dept), Part 2
(Planning Commission), Sec 30.203 (Conduct of Business), Ord Code, to Estab
the Timing of the Planning Comm Meetings. (Gabriel) (LUZ) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R,LUZ |
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Bill Summary READ 2ND
& REREFER |
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19.
2014-2 |
ORD-MC Repealing Sec 116.910 (Residence within City
Required; Exception), Chapt 116 (Personnel Regs), Ord Code. (Sidman)
(Introduced by CM Crescimbeni, Clark & Joost) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R,PHS,F |
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Bill Summary READ 2ND
& REREFER |
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20.
2014-3 |
ORD-MC Amend Chapt 602 (Jax Ethics Code), Part 10 (Ethics
Education), Ord Code, to add new Sec 602.1002 (Annual Ethics Training for
City Council Members) Requiring all Council Members to Complete 4 Hrs of
Ethics Training, Annually; Chapt 15 Sunshine Compliance Law Training shall
Count toward the 4 Hrs. (Shaw) (Req of Jax Ethics Comm) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R,F |
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Bill Summary READ 2ND
& REREFER |
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21.
2014-13 |
ORD Approp $60,000 from Executive Operating Rsv - Joint
Acct to Update the 2007 Feasibility Study for an Expanded/New Convention Ctr
in Jax; Invoking Exception of 126.107(g), Ord Code, to Contract with
Conventions, Sports & Leisure International, LLC, to Perform the Update.
(Sidman) (Introduced by CM Clark) Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R,F,RCD |
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Bill Summary READ 2ND
& REREFER |
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22.
2014-23 |
RESO Conf Appt of Stephen E Tocknell as Member of the
Context Sensitive Streets Standards Comm as an Urban Priority Area/Urban Area
Rep for Initial Term exp 7/31/16. (Welsh) (Introduced by CP Gulliford) |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
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Bill Summary READ 2ND
& REREFER |
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23.
2014-24 |
RESO Appt Ramonda E Fields as Member of Jax Housing &
Community Dev Comm, Replacing Charles E Commander, III as a Real Estate
Professional in Connection with Affordable Housing for a 1st Term exp
11/30/16. (Merritt) (Introduced by CP Gulliford) |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
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Bill Summary READ 2ND
& REREFER |
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24.
2014-25 |
RESO Conf Appt of Leslie Jean-Bart as a Member of the Jax
Ethics Comm, Replacing Cynthia Irvin for 1st Full Term exp 12/31/16. (Shaw)
(Req of Chief Judge for 4th Judicial Circuit) |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
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Bill Summary READ 2ND
& REREFER |
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25.
2014-26 |
RESO Reappt Ywana M Allen as Member of Jax Ethics Comm for
2nd Term exp 12/31/16. (Shaw) (Req of Jax Ethics Comm) |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
|
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Bill Summary READ 2ND
& REREFER |
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26. 2014-27 |
RESO Reappt Joe Jacquot as Member of Jax Ethics Comm for
2nd Full Term exp 12/31/16. (Shaw) (Req of Public Defender for 4th Judicial
Circuit) |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
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Bill Summary READ 2ND
& REREFER |
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27.
2014-28 |
RESO Conf Reappt of David L Engdahl to the Art in Public
Places Comm as a Cultural Council Rep, for 2nd Full Term exp 12/31/16.
(Sidman) (Req of Mayor) |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
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Bill Summary READ 2ND
& REREFER |
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28.
2014-29 |
RESO Conf Reappt of Radwan Bari Chowdhury to the Public
Service Grant Council for 2nd Full Term exp 12/31/16. (Sidman) (Req of Mayor) |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
|
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Bill Summary READ 2ND
& REREFER |
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29.
2014-30 |
RESO Honoring & Congratulating Ruby Dix on her 100th
Birthday. ( |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
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APPROVE 5-0 |
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30.
2014-31 |
RESO Honoring & Congratulating |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
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APPROVE 5-0 |
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31.
2014-32 |
RESO Honoring & Commending Rev Rudolph W McKissick, Sr
on his Retirement after 47 Years of Service as Senior Pastor of Bethel
Baptist Institutional Church. (Mitchell) (Introduced by CM Gaffney) |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
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APPROVE 5-0 |
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32.
2014-33 |
RESO Congratulating & Commending the Jacksonville
Children's Chorus on being Named the Top Ranked Musical Organization by the
Florida Div of Cultural Affairs. ( |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
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APPROVE 5-0 |
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33.
2014-34 |
RESO Honoring & Commending JEA Linemen Michael
Corbitt, Robert Hess & Brian Gregg for being named the "Best of the
Best" Journeyman Team at the 30th Annual International Lineman Rodeo
& Expo World Championships for 2013. (Clements) (Introduced by CM Bishop
& Crescimbeni) |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
|
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APPROVE 5-0 |
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34.
2014-36 |
RESO Conf Appt of Bernard C Jorn as Member of Context
Sensitive Streets Standards Comm as a Disabled Person or Advocate for
Disabled Persons for 1st Term exp 7/31/15. (Merritt) (Introduced by CP
Gulliford) |
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1. 1/14/2014 CO
Introduced: R |
READ
2ND & REREFER
At the conclusion of the agenda, Public Works Director Jim
Robinson made a presentation on the City’s pilot study with JEA of conversion
to LED street lights. The preliminary analysis shows that changing 73,500 of
the City’s 110,000 high pressure sodium street lights to LED lights could save
$2.7 million per year (29%) in energy costs, after amortization of the $24
million conversion cost. The drop in the price of LED fixtures and lamps in the
last several years has made the conversion more financially feasible as time
passes. The City pays JEA a per-light fee that includes both the electricity
used and maintenance and replacement of the lamps. The fee has not been recalculated in 10
years. The pilot program will run from November 13 to May 14 in an industrial
park on the Southside, examining the performance of a variety of lights representing
9 different lighting manufacturers.
Financial, maintenance and other data will be collected and analyzed
next summer and a decision on how to proceed should be ready by late in the
FY15 budget adoption process. If the decision is made to convert to LEDs, then
a conversion timetable and funding system will need to be developed. Council Member Lee expressed concerns about
how the pilot project location was chosen and why it was located in a business
park rather than a residential neighborhood.
JEA has indicated its interest in serving as the City’s
energy savings company (ESC) for the project.
An ESC finances the capital costs of the conversion and it paid for the
conversion and energy consumption costs over time, guaranteeing at certain
level of energy savings over the current system in place and sharing in the
financial benefits of those savings.
Council Member Boyer asked if there are opportunities to obtain grant
funding to pay for the capital costs of the conversion. Council Member Jones asked
several questions about who pays for street lights on FDOT roadways. State highways are not included in the LED
conversion consideration, since the City has no responsibility for those
lights.
Jeff Foster, Chief of the Solid Waste Division, gave a presentation
on the progress of Operation Urban Blight.
The task force is meeting weekly in the Emergency Operations Center to
discuss progress and refine tactics to substantially reduce blight in
neighborhoods. A new policy has been implemented that requires City solid waste
truck drivers to report daily on any waste dumping they observe in City
rights-of-way or on private property as they drive their routes so that the
waste can be cleaned up. One boom truck and crew have been devoted full-time to
Operation Urban Blight and two more boom trucks are staffed with Solid Waste
employees working overtime on Wednesdays (their day off) to deal with all of
the identified waste. The City is in the
process of developing a similar reporting requirement for the private waste
hauler drivers. Thought needs to be
given as to how to enforce the regulations about what the private haulers are
required to pick up per their contracts so that there is not an incentive for
them to leave waste for the City to handle that should have been collected by
the hauler.
Tires continue to be a problem, and citizens don’t seem to
be getting the message that the City will collect up to 4 tires from a
residence without charge. Consideration is being given to funding a tire
buy-back program, and an RFP is being developed to hire a company to provide
additional capacity for a major tire collection effort. Council Member Lee
suggested that Public Works consider fencing City-owned properties where
illegal dumping is a continuous problem, and asked Mr. Robinson to make a
report on potential fencing locations at the Ad Hoc Blight Committee’s meeting
on Thursday.
Public Comment
Carnell Oliver suggested that the General Counsel be made an
elected position. He also suggested that
the City’s Public Service Grant recipients give their clients a “hand up, not a
handout” to help teach self-sufficiency.
Jeff Clements, City Council Research
Posted 1.22.14 9:00
a.m.