OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

 

CHERYL L. BROWN                                                                                                                                           117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

DIRECTOR                                                                                                                                                                4TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

OFFICE (904) 630-1452                                                                                                                                                      JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202

FAX (904) 630-2906                                                                                                                                                 

E-MAIL: CLBROWN@coj.net

 

Finance Committee Agenda Meeting Minutes

August 31, 2015

9:00 a.m.

Topic: Finance Committee agenda meeting

 

Location: Conference Room A, City Hall – St. James Building; 117 West Duval Street,

Suite 425

 

In attendance: Council Members Bill Gulliford, Lori Boyer, Anna Lopez Brosche, Aaron Bowman, Danny Becton, Matt Schellenberg, John Crescimbeni, Sam Newby

 

Also: Kirk Sherman, Kyle Billy and Kim Taylor – Council Auditor’s Office; Peggy Sidman and Paige Johnston – Office of General Counsel; Jeff Clements – Council Research Division; Jessica Morales  – Legislative Services Division

 

See attached sign-in sheet for additional attendees

 

Meeting Convened: 9:00 a.m.

 

Chairman Gulliford called the meeting to order and asked the attendees to introduce themselves. He reviewed the Auditor’s marked agenda which included 30 items marked for deferral, 5 items ready for action (2 as a substitute) and 13 items for second reading and re-referral.

 

2015-313 (granting JEA an easement over Metropolitan Park property): Jody Brooks of the Office of General Counsel explained a proposed amendment to change the location of the easement.

 

2015-457 (urging Mayor to budget for employee salary increases): will be deferred if Council Member Reggie Brown is not present.

 

2015-505, -506 (FY15-16 CIP bill and Banking Fund borrowing ordinance): Chairman Gulliford indicated that these two bills will be taken up at the Wednesday budget wrap-up meeting along with the other 5 budget-related bills.

 

2015-550 (amending JTA FY13-14 budget): the bill will be deferred at Council Member Boyer’s request.

 

Council Member Schellenberg urged that the Jacksonville Public Library reconsider its plan to restore library operating hours that leaves both Mandarin libraries closed on both Sunday and Monday; he asked Chairman Gulliford to ask Library Director Barbara Gubbin to be present at the budget wrap-up meeting on Wednesday to discuss this issue.

 

Chairman Gulliford announced that the committee would take up several budget-related items that won’t require much discussion. Council Member Crescimbeni requested that Council Auditor Kirk Sherman provide an update on his research about when employees may choose to transfer their participation in the City’s retirement plan from the defined benefit to the defined contribution plan and vice versa. Mr. Crescimbeni also reported that he had received information from the JEA on the permissible uses for the fuel cost credit, but did not believe that it sufficiently answered his questions. Wayne Young of the JEA stated that the JEA board has had discussions about whether and how to change its fuel cost budgeting method to avoid accruing excess fuel revenues that then require distribution via billing credits. Council Member Boyer requested that the committee discuss the transfer of the Chief of Public Accountability position from the Mayor’s Office to the Office of General Counsel and also the equipment needed to outfit the new JSO community service officer vehicles being purchased this year.

 

Meeting Adjourned: 9:17 a.m.

 

Minutes: Jeff Clements, Council Research

             8.31.15   Posted 2:00 p.m.

Tapes:  Finance agenda meeting– LSD

             8.31.15

Materials: Auditor’s marked Finance agenda

8.31.15