JACKSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL

RESEARCH DIVISION

 

 

FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

NOVEMBER 5, 2007

2:00 P.M.

 

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER

1st floor, City Hall

117 W. Duval Street

 

 

Attendance: Chairman Shad, Committee Members Hyde, Graham, Lee, Jabour and Joost

Excused: Clark

Guests: Council Members Johnson and Mia Jones

 

 

The meeting was called to order at 2:10 p.m. due to the length of the agenda meeting.

 

Item/File No.

Title/History

 

 

1.  2005-1007

ORD Concerning Benefits Pertaining to Gen Employees Pension Plan, Chapt 120, Part II & Create New SubSec (J) in Sec 120.206 Providing that an Active Mbr who has completed 20 Yrs or more Credited Svc, regardless of age, may elect to retire & receive mbr's normal retiremt benefit, which shall be determined by multiplying 2% of Mbr's number of yrs & months of credited svc, up to a max of 80%, by mbrs' final monthly compensation provided Mbr's retiremt commences bet 1/1/06-6/30/06. (Dunham) (Jax Gen Employees Bd of Pension Trustees) (75 Letters of Support on File & 3 Ltrs of Opposition)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601- 9/13/05

 

1. 8/23/2005 CO  Introduced: F

 

    9/6/2005 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 9/13/2005 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F

 

    10/3/2005 F Sub/Rerefer 5-0

 

3. 10/11/2005 CO SUBSTITUTE/ Rerefer; F

 

    6/19/2006 F Amend/Approve 3-2 (Failed)

 

    8/14/2006 F Amend/Approve 2-3 (Failed)

 

 

DEFER

 

 

 

 

2.  2006-591

ORD Apv the Soutel/Moncrief Retail Redev Area in accordance with Chapt 163, Pt III, Community Redev Act of 1969, F.S., as Amended; Making Findings & Determinations; Estab a Redev Trust Fund Pursuant to Sec 163.387 of said act; Directing Tax Collector to estab 2005 Tax Assessmt as the Base for the Increment as Required by Sec 163.387, F.S. (Germany) (Req of Mayor & C/M Jones)

F Public Hearing - 7/17/06

ECID Public Hearing - 7/18/06

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166 & 163.358 F.S. & CR 3.601 - 5/23/06, 7/24/06

 

1. 5/9/2006 CO  Introduced: F,ECID

 

    5/15/2006 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    5/16/2006 RCD Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 5/23/2006 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F, ECID

 

    6/5/2006 F Amend/Approve 7-0

 

    6/6/2006 RCD Amend/Approve 5-0

 

3. 6/13/2006 CO POSTPONED 6/27/06

 

   6/27/2006 CO Rereferred; F,ECID (RCD 7/1/07)

 

 

DEFER

 

 

3.  2006-883

ORD Auth Lease Agreemt with Property Management Support, Inc for Tax Collector Office Space at 9680 Argyle Forest Blvd (5,000 Sq Ft at Oakleaf Crossing Center). (Dist 11-Alvarez) (Howard) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 8/22/06

 

1. 8/8/2006 CO  Introduced: F,TEUS

 

    8/14/2006 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    8/15/2006 TEU Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 8/22/2006 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F,TEUS (TEU 7/1/07)

 

 

DEFER

 

 

4.  2006-1364

ORD Amend Sec 120.206(h), Ord Code, to Change Commencemt Date of COLA from April to January. (Dunham) (Req of Bd of Pension Trustees, Gen Employees)

Public Hearing Pursuant to  Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 12/12/06

 

1. 11/28/2006 CO  Introduced: F

 

    12/4/2006 F Amend/Read 2nd & Rerefer 4-0

 

2. 12/12/2006 CO PH AMENDED/Read 2nd & Rereferred; F

 

 

DEFER

 

 

5.  2006-1394

ORD Amend Chapt 751 (Septic Tank Superfund), Ord Code, to Create an On-Site Sewage Treatmt Disposal Syst Regulatory Prog. (Teal) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 1/9/07

 

1. 12/12/2006 CO  Introduced: F,TEUS, ECID (1-9-07)

 

    1/2/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    1/3/2007 TEU Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 1/9/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F, TEUS (TEU 7/1/07), ECID (RCD 7/1/07)

 

 

DEFER

 

 

6.  2007-105

ORD Amend Chapt 118 (Misc Approp), Ord Code, Secs 118.203 (Review by Council; Apvl of Budget), 118.204 (Release of Approp), 118.205 (Content of Audits by Independent CPA), 118.301 (Expenditure of Approp'd Funds) & 118.604 (Allocation by Cultural Council; Generally); Estab Public Svc Grant Criteria; Provide Funding of Certain Economic Dev Activities. (Rohan) (C/M Hyde)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 2/13/07

 

1. 1/23/2007 CO  Introduced: F

 

    2/5/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 2/13/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F

 

 

Council Member Hyde distributed copies of a substitute he has prepared for this bill.  The primary purpose would be to establish a Public Service Grant Council and process to act in a manner equivalent to the Cultural Services Grant process in allocating funds.  The appointed council would be given a dollar amount allocated for public service grants and one or more specific target populations the Council desires to see particularly served by grant-funded programs.  The council would review and rate the grant proposals and develop a list of program recipients to be approved by the City Council.

 

SUBSTITUTE to provide for creation of a Public Service Grant Council and grant evaluation process.

 

RECOMMED REREFER AS SUBSTITUTED 5-0

 

 

7.  2007-183

ORD Amend Sec 120.102 (General Employees & Corrections Officers Pension Plans), to Add New Member to Bd of Trustees for COJ Retiremt System; Redefine Selection Process for Citizens Trustees; Increase Number of Members for Corrections Officers' Plan Advisory Comm; Define Selection of Chairperson of Bd of Trustees. (Germany) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 2/27/07

 

1. 2/13/2007 CO  Introduced: R,F,A

 

    2/20/2007 A Read 2nd & Rerefer;    2/20/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer;    2/20/2007 R Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 2/27/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R, F, A (Eliminated 7/1/07)

 

    3/19/2007 R Sub/Approve 6-0

 

 

DEFER

 

 

8.  2007-329

ORD Amend Chapt 350 (Elections & Elections Regulations), Ord Code; Rename Chapt as Elections, Elections Regulations and Campaigning; Move Campaign Ethics Provisions from Chapt 602 (Ethics Code) to Chapt 350; Amend Chapt 602 with Substantial Revisions, Increased Regulation of City Officers & Employees re Gifts, Moonlighting & Secondary Employmt & Post City Employmt; Amend Disclosure Provisions; Auth a City "Hotline"; Provide for Investigations Conducted by Ethics Comm. (Rohan) (Req of Ethics Comm)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 4/10/07

 

1. 3/27/2007 CO  Introduced: R,F,A

 

    4/2/2007 A Read 2nd & Rerefer;    4/2/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer;    4/2/2007 R Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 4/10/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R,F,A (Eliminated 7/1/07)

 

 

R: defer

 

DEFER

 

The bill will be the subject of a joint Rules and Finance Committee meeting on November 7 at 2:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber

 

 

9.  2007-401

ORD re BJP Courthouse Proj; Apv $52,500,000 in Multi-Year Funding from Spec Rev Bonds & Approp Legally Available Non-Ad Valorem Revenues Under City Covenant Prog for Constrn of Unified Courthouse; Amend Ord 2006-789-E (CIP) to Auth Priority 1 Status for all Components of "Duval County Courthouse Facilities Project"; Estab Max Cost for Proj of $316,000,000; Estab Proj Description; Auth Mayor to Secure Consultants & Design & Constrn Professionals; Continuing Courthouse Architectural Review Committee estab in Ord 2004-1339-E; Repealing Portions; Declaring Monroe St Shall Remain Open. (Rohan) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 4/24/07

 

1. 4/10/2007 CO  Introduced: F,TEUS

 

    4/16/2007 F Sub/Read 2nd & Rerefer 7-0

 

    4/17/2007 TEU Sub/Read 2nd & Rerefer 5-0

 

2. 4/24/2007 CO PH SUBSTITUTED/Read 2nd & Rereferred; F, TEUS (TEU 7/1/07)

 

 

DEFER

 

 

10.  2007-458

ORD Creating New Chapt 780 (Property Tax), Pt 6 (Tax Deferral Program for Recreational & Commercial Working Waterfront Properties), Ord Code; Making Findings. (Sidman) (C/M Self)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 5/8/07

 

1. 4/24/2007 CO  Introduced: F,ECID, JWW

 

    4/30/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    5/1/2007 RCD Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 5/8/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F, ECID (RCD 7/1/07)

 

 

RECOMENT WITHDRAWAL 6-0

 

 

11.  2007-924

RESO Auth Issuance by Jax Housing Finance Authority of its Multifamily Housing Rev Bonds (Bennett Creek Apts), Series 2007, of $33,000,000 for Acquisition, Constrn & Equipping of Multifamily Rental Housing Dev. (Chastain) (Req of Jax Housing Finance Auth)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Sec 147(f), Internal Rev Code, by JHFA - 7/23/07

 

1. 8/28/2007 CO  Introduced: F,RCD

 

    9/4/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    9/5/2007 RCD Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 9/11/2007 CO Read 2nd & Rereferred; F,RCD

 

 

DEFER

 

 

12.  2007-979

ORD Amend Sec 112.401 (Employee Salaries, Pension Benefits & Debts Owed to City), Ord Code, to Clarify Language. (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 9/25/07

 

1. 9/11/2007 CO  Introduced: F

 

    9/17/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 9/25/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F

 

 

AMEND to

1.       Require reporting to Council Auditor within 30 days of any amounts forgiven

2.       Correct department name to Finance

3.       Correct outline lettering.

 

 

RECOMMEND APPROVAL AS AMENDED 6-0

 

 

13.  2007-999

ORD Auth Execution of 21 Offshore Artificial Reef Permits with Army Corps of Engineers; Auth Oversight by Parks & Rec. (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 10/9/07

 

1. 9/25/2007 CO  Introduced: F,RCD, JWW

 

    10/1/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    10/2/2007 RCD Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 10/9/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F,RCD

 

 

AMEND to

1.       Attach list of 21 reef sites

2.       Change oversight department to Environmental and Compliance Dept/

3.       Allow mayors or designee to sign documents

4.       Place on file revised agreements

 

RECOMMEND APPROVAL AS AMENDED 6-0

 

 

14.  2007-1005

ORD Creating Chapt 113 (Gifts to City) Establishing Method & Means of City to Accept Donations of $500,000 or more, Other Monetary Donations, Gifts of Personal Propty & Gifts to the Executive & Legislative Branches of Govt of Tickets & Admissions to Events & Travel. (Rohan) (C/M Lee)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 10/9/07

 

1. 9/25/2007 CO  Introduced: R,F

 

    10/1/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer;    10/1/2007 R Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 10/9/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R,F

 

 

DEFER

 

 

15.  2007-1041

ORD Approp $523,570.18 of HOME Prog Income for the HOME Headstart to Home Ownership & the HOME American Dream Down Paymt Progs to assist Individuals & Families of Low-to-Moderate Income Purchasing Homes; Auth Funds Carryover to FY 2008-2009. (BT 08-016) (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 10/23/07

 

1. 10/9/2007 CO  Introduced: F,RCD

 

    10/15/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    10/16/2007 RCD Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 10/23/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F,RCD

 

 

 

RECOMMEND APPROVAL 6-0

 

 

 

16.  2007-1042

ORD Granting Extraordinary Rate Adjustmts for Fuel Surcharges for Advanced Disposal Services pursuant to Amend for Solid Waste Collection & Transp. (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 10/23/07

 

1. 10/9/2007 CO  Introduced: F,TEU

 

    10/15/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    10/16/2007 TEU Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 10/23/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F, TEU

 

 

AMEND to include rate adjustment amount of $211,310.32 in bill title

 

RECOMMEND APPROVAL AS AMENDED  6-0

 

Council Member Joost requested and received an explanation from Chris Pearson, Chief of the Solid Waste Division, about how the surcharge is calculated.  He and Council Auditor Kirk Sherman indicated that no detailed audits are done to match fuel purchases directly with miles driven, but spot checks are done to verify the amount of fuel purchased.  Mr. Pearson indicated that beginning next year a new system incorporating the fuel factor into the franchise haulers’ per premises rate will take effect, so this will be the last time Council will see this kind of fuel surcharge legislation.

 

 

17.  2007-1044

ORD Auth Execution of 1st Renewal & Amend to Cooperative Agreemt on Behalf of JSO with the Duval County School Bd for the School Resource Officer Prog to Increase Maximum Indebtedness of DCSB for FY 2007-2008 School Yr to $3,605,000. (McCain) (Req of Sheriff)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 10/23/07

 

1. 10/9/2007 CO  Introduced: F,PHS,RCD

 

    10/15/2007 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer;    10/15/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    10/16/2007 RCD Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 10/23/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F,PHS,RCD

 

 

RECOMMEND APPROVAL 6-0

 

 

18.  2007-1045

ORD Auth License Agreemt with Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee, Inc for its use of the Community Ctr in Simonds Johnson Park for $1/Yr & Reimbursemt of $25,000 Spent by Licensee for Renovations for Providing Progs for Children & Families & Assisting the Recreation & Community Svcs Dept in Coordinating Park use. (Dist 8-Lee) (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 10/23/07

 

1. 10/9/2007 CO  Introduced: F,RCD

 

    10/15/2007 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

    10/16/2007 RCD Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 10/23/2007 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F,RCD

 

 

 

Council Member Lee expressed her concern that the Simonds Johnson Community Center had been closed and out of operation for 2 years due to vandalism damage, and stated that the City had an obligation to provide the resources to open, staff and run the center for the community’s benefit.  She welcomed offers of private assistance but stated that the community needs to be consulted and asked to participate in the decision making process.  She regretted the divisiveness that seems to have been injected into the issue, and asked for the bill to be deferred until she can meet with a group of ministers and community organizations about this proposal.

 

Adam Hollingsworth indicated that Council Member Lee’s comments and suggestions on the initial version of this bill had been incorporated into the substitute now being offered, and said the revised lea