A.G. Gancarski
Monday’s meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee included a discussion of Zika, expansion of the role of the inspector general, and approval of a July 18 date for Mayor Lenny Curry‘s budget address.
All measures approved will require full Council approval next Tuesday.
— 2016-320 would move $122,554 from the mosquito control fund balance to allocate funds for insecticide and equipment for the current fiscal year, with a fund carryover to the next fiscal year. John Shellhorn, chief of mosquito control, said the Zika problem “continues to grow,” with 19 Florida counties with travel-related cases.
“From a control perspective, there’s been a flurry of workshops,” collaboration with other mosquito control agencies, and implementation of training. In addition, traps have been set and fogging operations have taken place.
“The situation will get worse,” Shellhorn said.
A prevention flyer has been released and disseminated at events and in the field, and media events have been staged.
“We have not had any local cases,” Shellhorn said, which is “surprising” given the international airport, cruise ships, and military installations.
“We have a whole rash of vector mosquitoes and [viruses] to be concerned with,” Shellhorn said, referring to 2012 and the West Nile Virus.
“Zika is new to us and that’s what we’re pushing our efforts toward,” but there are other concerns beyond that.
While the division is in “good shape,” needs still exist, such as chemicals and passive traps, as well as sprayers and backpacks to supplement existing resources.
In Latin America, Shellhorn continued, Zika has become “endemic” in mosquito populations. This has not happened in Jacksonville yet.
Finance approved the measure without exception.
— 2016-319 would allow Curry to deliver his budget address on the morning of July 18. This is, said Council President Greg Anderson, “the traditional bill offered this time of year” to allow the mayor to deliver the remarks at the first Finance meeting after July 15, waiving the code. Finance approved this 7-0.
— 2016-332 extends the role of the inspector general to have purview over the entire consolidated government. Bill sponsor John Crescimbeni noted that during the most recent creation of that office, one sticking point was whether independent agencies would be subject to review by the inspector general. “There was some pushback from some of the independent agencies,” Crescimbeni noted. After a referendum last year with voters approving giving the IG oversight over those agencies, a cleanup bill was in order, said Crescimbeni.
“Two or three months ago,” said Crescimbeni, a constituent called him regarding “inappropriate behavior” from a JEA employee. The IG was pushed toward investigating; JEA pushed back, saying there wasn’t a memorandum of understanding authorizing such.
“This is the first step to get us to … ratifying” what the voters approved last year, said Crescimbeni.
CFO Mike Weinstein expects independent authorities to be charged for inspector general inspections, as the office expands.
President-Designate Lori Boyer urged that the next budget reflect the executive branch’s tracking of hours and time impacts of inspector general audits.
The measure was approved 7-0.
