by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Confusion regarding the City Council’s Green Room, a lounge area located directly off to the side of the Chambers at City Hall, escalated to new levels last month after a Florida Times-Union reporter was handcuffed while trying to gain access. Council President Kevin Hyde wants to be assured nothing like that ever happens again.
Following a meeting Monday afternoon with the City’s Ethics Commission, Hyde issued a memo to the nine-member panel, detailing exactly how things are going to run in the seemingly harmless room.
The memo was circulated to the rest of the Council this week.
“I have met recently with representatives of the Office of General Counsel and the Jacksonville Ethics Commission on this issue,” Hyde wrote. “Based on those discussions, my obligations as Council President, and the needs to ensure that our actions are transparent to the community, the following procedures will be applied to the Green Room through June 30, 2006.”
Hyde went on to explain that the Green Room is designed for Council members to take occasional breaks to meet with staff, constituents or the mayor’s office. Phone calls can also be made there.
But despite that flexibility, Florida’s Sunshine Laws prohibit Council members from discussing pending legislation with each other.
Hyde later wrote that public and “credentialed press” access into the room will, until his term expires at the end of June 2006, fall under a bit more scrutiny.
“Just as press representatives frequently go from office to office without having to first check in with the receptionist or be individually greeted in the lobby,” Hyde wrote, “they likewise will be able to enter the Green Room.”
However, Hyde added that “as a courtesy” the press would have to first make a request to speak with a specific Council member with a police officer who serves as a gatekeeper into the room. At that time, the Council member can either accept or decline that request.
However if the Council member declines, the reporter will still be allowed access, but must stay away from that Council member.
“The bottom line is that, yes it is a public building,” Hyde said. “But if someone doesn’t want to talk to you, that’s a different issue altogether.”
The general public may also make an appointment in the Green Room with a particular Council member.
Another issue that Hyde is addressing is the meals that are often provided in the Green Room by various groups before Council meetings including BlueCross BlueShield and The Fraternal Order of Police.
That practice is expected to continue, but Hyde wants the public to be clear about who’s providing the food and that it in no way means preferential treatment will be given to the provider.
From now on, a public recording of who has provided meals will be kept. Additionally, no group may sponsor a meal if at any time they have a “substantial interest” in any legislation, from introduction until Mayor John Peyton has signed it.
“All of this is just a way to maintain a better flow,” Hyde said. “I’d hope that we don’t have any problems and that people respect the rules.”