by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The message is clear from a number of City Council members and citizens: return the City’s ethics code to the charter.
Just how that happens is a murkier picture.
The City’s Charter Revision Commission recommended to the City Council that it return the City’s ethics code to its charter in the commission’s report submitted in February. Council President Jack Webb included the return of the ethics code to the charter as part of his mission as president.
Recently, Council member Glorious Johnson sponsored a J-Bill, a local bill presented to state legislators to introduce to the Legislature, to do just that.
Johnson was then convinced the bill did not need to leave Jacksonville because City Council has the power to amend the City’s charter.
Before the first City Council vote on an ordinance that would create an independent ethics oversight office, several council members want to review the measure one more time and delay the Tuesday vote.
“We want to make sure we do this right,” said Council member Warren Jones, chair of its finance committee. “There are questions about the funding of an independent ethics office and its authority to levy fines and penalties.”
The Ethics Office is currently part of the Office of General Counsel’s budget and if the Ethics Office were made an independent body, the budget would need to be adjusted to reflect the change.
Webb also wanted time to review the amended ordinance that was presented to the rules committee by the City Council Special Committee on Charter Revisions.
“While I commend the bodies for their efforts, they did go beyond their purview in reviewing the recommendation of the Charter Revision Commission,” said Webb.
“I would like to see the latest version of the ordinance reviewed by the Finance Committee and, possibly, the Rules Committee because of questions I have about the subpoena power that is being asked for in this legislation,” he also said.
While the Council and the Ethics Commission agreed to pursue the goal of returning the ethics code to the charter through local channels, a J-Bill similar to the ordinance was introduced before Thursday’s noon deadline for J-Bills to be submitted to the Duval Delegation.
“City Council member John Crescimbeni requested the J-Bill be drafted,” said attorney Steve Rohan of the Office of General Counsel, who represents the council.
Crescimbeni had discussed filing at both the state and local levels with the Ethics Commission earlier this year as a way to ensure the bill would continue on if it was defeated by a vote of the City Council. Crescimbeni has also previously stated that he is prepared to have the issue addressed as a ballot initiative.
356-2466