A.G. Gancarski
The agenda meeting before Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting was, by and large, a quiet affair, except for an animated discussion of 2015-522, a disaster preparation bill that had proven controversial in committee, as an iteration of it would have required gated communities to keep their gates open for public works vehicles when a state of emergency was declared by the city.
Jim Robinson from Public Works noted that the legislation would allow FEMA to reimburse the city at the level of 87.5% in the case of storm damage, rather than no reimbursement at all.
As well, there was discussion of two pieces of legislation related to the suddenly controversial property appraiser budget. A resolution to appeal the Property Appraiser budget, and a commitment of $50K for legal action to that end.
“The success of this” sort of action is “nominal at best,” said Matt Schellenberg, referring to exchanges that he had with the Florida League of Cities.
Property Appraiser Jerry Holland, speaking at the agenda meeting, indicated that he wanted to use General Counsel for his defense, but OGC cannot represent him.
“I don’t see why General Counsel can’t represent me,” Holland said.
“Council Auditor’s staff is getting raises,” and other departments as well, Holland said after the agenda meeting.
“To argue that they don’t have money… the mayor put it in the budget,” Holland added, citing the June discussions with Sam Mousa and the transition team.
“It just gets to the point if you have a council member who doesn’t like you for personal reasons,” Holland said, likening the process to a squabble on the playground.
“My motives are always genuine. They’re just to help people,” Holland added.
“There’s a certain power he has,” Holland said, referring to the use of the “bully pulpit” by Councilman John Crescimbeni, whom Holland contended had a personal issue with him dating back to when Holland was Supervisor of Elections and opted not to hire the woman who became Crescimbeni’s wife.
Holland questions the logic of this proposed move by Council: the proposed pay raises are $180K, yet Council would propose $50K to fight the raises.
We will have coverage of both these bills and whatever else happens tonight.
