JACKSONVILLE
RESEARCH DIVISION
RULES SPECIAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
August 2, 2016
1:31 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
Attendance: Council Members Garrett Dennis (Chair), John
Crescimbeni (Vice Chair), Danny Becton, Tommy Hazouri, Jim Love, Scott Wilson;
Council Member Greg Anderson was excused; Council President Lori Boyer was in
attendance; Deputy General Counsel Peggy Sidman, Heather Reber, Council
Auditor’s Office, Allison Korman Shelton, Administration, Jeff Clements, John
J. Jackson, Council Research Division, Legislative Assistant Crystal Shemwell.
The Chair convened the
meeting at 1:18 P.M.
Carla Miller, Ethics
Director, explained and clarified ORD-MC 2016-483, Amend Sec 118.605 (Cultural Svc Grant
Comm), Ord Code, to change Ex-Officio City Council Member & Liaison Member
of the Cultural Svc Grant Comm….She explained that the change was sought to
avoid violations to the Sunshine Law.
Ex-Officio is subject to Sunshine Laws.
The Council Liaison is a fact
finder. The Council Member is a liaison at meetings
and is expected to gather information and report back to the Council on a Commission’s
or Authority’s agenda items and actions.
Deputy General Counsel Peggy Sidman characterized the liaison as the
“eyes and ears” of the Council.
Council Member John
Crescimbeni indicated that to earn his affirmative vote on the ordinance, he
expects a clearer understanding and more specificity on what the ordinance
entails; in addition, he wants the Rules Committee to be able to vote on
batches of nominees to appointed Boards and Commissions rather than voting on
every appointee one by one.
Council President Boyer
explained that 80% of appointees do not require any legislation; they are
appointed by the Council President.
The Special Committee began a
presentation and discussion on Boards and Commissions.
The two presenters were
Rachel Merritt on the City Council Staff and Jessica Laird from the Mayor’s
Office.
Rachel Merritt walked the
Committee through the packet that she had provided that listed all of the Boards and Commissions in
the Ordinance Code. She explained the
appointment process and the role of the City Council. She fielded numerous questions on the list
and the process.
Council Member Tommy Hazouri
mentioned legislation on boards and commissions that he and Council President
Lori Boyer are crafting.
Council Member John
Crescimbeni inquired as to how Mrs. Merritt went about managing the list and
records of appointees to the various and sundry boards and commissions.
Mrs. Merritt explained an
official application form that an applicant for appointment to a Commission or
Board was required to complete.
Jessica Laird, Director of
Boards and Commissions for the Mayor’s Office, explained and discussed the
Mayor’s Office’s process of finding applicants for the various boards and
commissions whose members the Mayor appoints.
She fielded numerous questions on the recruitment process.
Council Member John
Crescimbeni inquired as to whether or not the Mayor’s Office could provide a
list of vacancies on the boards and commissions on a regular basis. Ms. Laird said that her office can comply
with that request.
The Chair announced that at
the next Special Committee meeting, he would like the staff or Chair of
different boards to come before and provide the Rules Committee with an
overview of their respective boards or commissions. For the next week, he expects briefings from
the Tourist Development Council, the Jacksonville Waterways Commission and the Value Adjustment
Board. In following meetings, he would
like to have the Chair or Staff of Arts in Public Places Committee, Cultural
Services Grants Committee and the Cultural Council provide the Rules Committee
with an overview of their respective bodies’ work.
There being no further
business, the special committee meeting was adjourned at 2:41 P.M.
John J. Jackson, Council
Research Division (904) 630-1729
08.05.16
Posted:
4:00 P.M.