City Council President-elect Aaron Bowman provided a glimpse into his term in a letter Wednesday to his colleagues.
The five standing committees comprising Finance; Land Use & Zoning; Rules; Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health & Safety; and Transportation, Energy & Utilities will continue with seven members appointed to each.
Bowman did not disclose who would chair or serve on the committees other than that 17 of the 19 members will have two assignments. Another council member will have a single assignment, and Bowman will not serve on any.
What will change are the seven Presidential Special Committees and Task Forces. Bowman states all but two will sunset June 30, coinciding with the end of Anna Lopez Brosche’s term as president.
Bowman will continue the special committees on Solid Waste and the Opioid Epidemic through his term “or to completion of their mission.”
Bowman said he is adding a legislative liaison to work with elected local, state and federal officials, as well as an events coordinator “whose purpose is to identify and plan opportunities for the City Council to bond and further our friendships.”
Bowman plans to create a one-, three- and five-year “road map” for council. He asks council members to bring two or three topics important to them to a meeting June 20 at City Hall. That meeting is scheduled 1-4 p.m. in the Lynwood Roberts Room.
“We will ultimately vote on the top two or three and determine if those items need special committees, administration support, funding, legislation, etc.,” he wrote.
Bowman states the strategic planning meetings’ purposes are “not to usurp the Mayor’s power, but rather an opportunity for City Council to identify and work toward common goals for the City of Jacksonville.”
Bowman lists three specific initiatives.
The first is what he calls a comprehensive review of the council rules, followed by a “thorough examination of our leadership selection process.”
His third is implementing a training program for a new council members who will be elected in 2019 and their assistants.
Bowman said he plans to schedule regular publicly noticed meetings at which council members can discuss topics important to them.
“We are most effective when we work together as a team and legislate responsibly for the people of this great city,” he wrote.
Bowman and Vice President-elect Scott Wilson take their leadership positions July 1.
The installation is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 28 at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts.