by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Two measures approved in June at the last meeting of the City Council year could be up for repeal by the new Council, whose first full meeting is tonight.
A measure that established a $50 court cost on various felonies, misdemeanors and traffic violations to provide additional funding for Jacksonville Area Legal Aid was approved 15-4 during the June 28 meeting.
A measure to repeal that action is on tonight’s agenda. Council member Richard Clark, who voiced opposition to the original bill, is the sponsor.
Also, the decision to keep Monroe Street open in front of the new Duval County Courthouse was another issue determined June 28 when a plan to permanently close the street was rejected.
Legislation to repeal that decision might be introduced in Council within a few weeks.
Council member Don Redman, who was in support of keeping the road closed, said Monday he was researching the issue and could bring it back up this week.
Redman said he was disappointed with how the case was made to keep the road closed and believed a better case could be made, showing cost savings and the overall benefits.
As for the Legal Aid funding, Council member John Crescimbeni, who voted in favor of the measure, said Monday he had heard no new information since the last full Council meeting, but he was interested if there were more facts from Clark and the Council Auditor’s Office before deciding on his vote.
Several of his Council colleagues said the same.
“To tell you the truth, I haven’t decided one way or the other,” said new Council member Jim Love.
Love wasn’t in office at the last meeting but was in the audience when the issue came up for a vote. He said he respects all the people and groups involved.
Council member Robin Lumb, also newly elected, said Monday he didn’t see himself voting for repeal but would listen to Clark’s case.
Redman, who voted in favor of the funding measure, said he also was leaning against repeal based on the information he has seen.
Council members Clay Yarborough and Bill Bishop along with new Council member Matt Schellenberg all said Monday they wanted to look at the proposal before deciding.
Other Council members were unavailable for comment.
As for Monroe Street, Redman, whose district includes parts of Downtown, said his constituents lean both ways regarding the issue. However, he said many area merchants are in favor of keeping the road closed.
The measure that failed 6-12 in June was one to abandon the section of Monroe Street adjacent to the new courthouse. Many of the Council members who supported the abandonment have left office, but Redman said he thought the case could be made.
“Things have changed,” he said.
Also tonight, two measures postponed at the June 28 meeting are on the agenda for a vote, but one will be delayed.
A vote on the pension reform deal for new police and fire members as of Oct. 1 will be delayed two weeks to allow new Council members to study the issue.
A workshop is scheduled from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 8 with presentations by John Keane, Police and Fire Pension Fund executive director; City General Counsel Cindy Laquidara; and Mickey Miller, the outgoing City chief financial officer.
Council members scheduled a “shade” meeting from 2:30-4 p.m. today to discuss collective bargaining. It is not open to the public under the rule of attorney-client privilege. The Council meeting starts at 5 p.m.
The other holdover from June 28, a “live here, work here” measure that would require City employees, mayoral appointees and constitutional officers to live in Duval County is up for a vote. The change has been proposed by Council member Reggie Brown as a way to keep tax dollars provided to City employees through payroll within the area.
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