by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
In the immediate post-budget time frame, the City Council Finance Committee Monday found itself with a fairly light agenda, much of which was either deferred or read into the record for the second time and will be taken up in two weeks.
The Committee did pass two bills associated with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. One generated a fair amount of discussion, the other, none.
The first bill was the approval of a $70,678 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The funds will pay for an interagency crime data analysis system and the officer who will analyze the data, a computer server, training and travel expenses. Once approved by the full Council, the system will allow the JSO and the police departments from Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach to share and analyze crime data in an effort to determine trends and patterns. This is the third year the system has been in place.
“It seems to be working very well,” said Maxine Person, chief of budget management for JSO. Person also said the information on crime statistics, trends and patterns is shared among the four agencies in an attempt to reduce crime throughout the county. “Crime there (the Beach) has an impact on Duval County and vice versa.”
Person said the salary for the position is $42,000.
Finance Chair Stephen Joost asked if JSO has any tangible results showing the interagency sharing is working. Person said she didn’t have the numbers, but would provide them.
Finance member John Crescimbeni recommended the Committee defer the bill one cycle until more information about the past two year’s results could be provided. However, the Committee voted 7-1 in favor of the bill.
The Committee also unanimously approved a bill that will provide $10,660 in federal funds for the purchase of two large freezers for JSO. This funding is also from the U.S. Department of Justice and the freezers are for the storage of perishable evidence until that evidence is needed in court. Right now, JSO only has one such freezer.
In other news:
• The Finance Committee approved a bill that’s been on the books for two years. Sponsored by Finance member Denise Lee, the 2007 bill creates a new chapter of the City Ordinance Code and provides a means for the City to accept monetary donations, the donation of property and tickets to events or travel.
“Right now, there is no way in the Municipal Code for the City to accept gifts,” said Janice Billy of the Council Auditor’s Office. “The money will go into the general fund.”
According to the legislation, donations over $500,000 must be accepted by the City Council through a resolution. Donations under $500,000 may be accepted by the mayor.
• The Committee also approved a bill that sets aside a little over $55,000 to help landscape areas of Oceanway Middle School, which is in Finance member Ray Holt’s district.
Lee said she would support the bill because over the years she has helped secure funding for similar projects in her district. However, she said it’s time for the Council to meet with the Duval County School Board to talk about using City funds for projects on School Board property.
“Something is wrong when no money ever comes from the School Board,” said Lee, who was quick to point out she supports the School Board and the job Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals is doing. “I want to create a dialogue to find out why it is that way.”
Lee suggested a forum in the near future between the Council and the School Board for the purpose of determining what is funded, by which entity and why.
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