Public given means to participate in City-County Charter revisions
What is the Charter Revision Commission and why should citizens be concerned about it? For those whose memory stretches back 50 years, the consolidation of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County in 1968 meant a centralized government would end duplication of urban services, such as fire and rescue, increase efficiency, provide political access for minorities, and put Jacksonville on the map to attract national companies to relocate to Northeast Florida.
Beginning in 2009 the Charter was amended to provide for a charter revision commission every decade to make recommendations to the Jacksonville City Council and the members of the Florida Legislature representing Duval County concerning provisions in the charter and other special acts of the Legislature affecting the Consolidated City of Jacksonville.
The commission is appointed during the month of May, in the year prior to the taking of the U.S. decennial census, for an eight-month session.
The newest commission, recommended by Council’s Immediate Past President, Aaron Bowman, and approved by City Council, will meet for eight months and submit a report of recommendations in spring 2020. The commission’s first meeting was July 31. Subcommittees will be formed to examine each of perhaps half a dozen issues, according to minutes from the July 31 meeting.
The commissioners suggested a wide range of topics for consideration including, but not limited to, the binding legal opinion power of the Office of General Counsel and the dual role of the OGC as both a legal representative of clients and a judge; outdated provisions in the Charter relating to the School Board (school board salary, setting the school calendar) and a mayor-appointed School Board; how the structural framework of the Charter can be changed to help address persistent community problems in neglected areas; and how to publicize, protect and use the river, park system and other natural resources for everyone’s benefit, among many others.
During this time, the commission is looking for public participation for consideration in drafting its recommendations. The commission has a dedicated email address to facilitate public participation. Email the Charter Revision Commission at [email protected] to provide input and suggestions to the commissioners.
The final recommendations of the commission will be presented to the Jacksonville City Council and the Duval Legislative Delegation, after giving consideration of how to best fulfill the needs of the citizens.
The 14-person commission for the 2019 Charter Review includes a representative from each of the seven School Board Districts plus eight At-Large residents of Duval County. School Board District representatives include Nelson McCoy, District 1, executive director for The Center, One Foundation; W.C. Gentry, District 3, attorney and San Marco resident; Ann-Marie Knight, District 4, Mayo Clinic Florida administrator and commission vice chair; Celestine Mills, District 5, former City Council candidate; Chris Hagan, District 6, consultant and a Fairfax Manor resident; and Matt Schellenberg, District 7, former City Councilman.
Scott Shine, a former School Board member, was to represent School Board District 2, but abruptly resigned Aug. 13, two weeks after the first meeting, citing scheduling conflicts. Retired Judge Ronald Swanson is the replacement nominee; his appointment resolution was introduced in City Council Aug. 27.
At-Large commissioners include Commission Chair Lindsey Brock, a maritime law attorney; Jessica Baker, former staffer for Mayor Lenny Curry; Frank Denton, former Times-Union editor and a Riverside resident; Charles Griggs, Jacksonville Housing Authority board member; Nick Howland, former Duval County School Board candidate; Heidi Jameson, JAXUSA Partnership director of business development; Emily Lisska, former executive director, Jacksonville Historical Society, and Betzy Santiago, Florida State College—Jacksonville administrator.
Charter Revision Commission meeting notices, agendas, minutes and transcripts can be found at coj.net/city-council/standing-
committees/charter-revision-commission.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading... 
