Bill Type and Number: Ordinance 2006-863

Sponsor: Special Committee on Conducting Jacksonville’s Business

Date of Introduction: August 8, 2006

Committee(s) of Reference: Rules, Audit

Date of Analysis: August 11, 2006

Type of Action: Council Rules amendment; Ordinance Code amendment

Bill Summary: The bill amends the City Council Rules to incorporate the recommendations of the Special Committee on Conducting Jacksonville’s Business with regard to the preparation and filing of legislation, including a new category of “incomplete” legislation; new procedures for the processing of bills dealing with proposed waivers of the Ordinance Code, Council Rules, bond covenants, or other governing authorities; prescribing an oath of office for council members; the expenditure of council district bond funds; and the declaration and disposition of City surplus property.

The bill also amends Ordinance Code Chapter 106 – Bonds – and Chapter 126 – Procurement Code - to prohibit the use of city funding, including district bond funds, to purchase artwork that depicts the likeness of any living person, except for portraits of public officials normally displayed in their offices or artwork that may incidentally contain the likenesses of persons within the overall piece that are not intended as recognition for specific persons. Another amendment requires that a quarterly report be prepared by the Council Auditor, using information supplied by each district council member, of the expenditures and other uses of council district bond funds during the preceding fiscal quarter. The bill also amends Chapter 122 – Public Property – to explicitly state that it is the City’s policy to sell or otherwise dispose of tangible personal property for fair market value unless a valid public interest supports disposition for some other value, and to adopt several new criteria for the declaration and disposition of surplus property.

Background Information: The bill represents the codification, both in the Council Rules and in the Ordinance Code, of the final report and recommendations of the Special Committee on Conducting Jacksonville’s Business. The committee met over the course of 3 months to review and recommend improvements in the City Council’s internal operating procedures and various processes of the broader City government, particularly with regard to the waiver of established rules, the consideration of legislation on an emergency basis, and the process for declaring and disposing of surplus property.

Policy Impact Area: City Council operations; City property disposition

Fiscal Impact: Undetermined

Analyst: Clements