City Council is scheduled tonight to deliver final votes on a much-debated recycling bill, a priority population list for public service grant money in the next budget and an incentives deal for a local company, among other actions.
An original bill aimed at curbing thefts of restricted metals by imposing new reporting standards on secondary metal recyclers was introduced Dec. 13 but was delayed after opposition and then reworked into its present form.
The ordinance covers “restricted regulated metals property” often pilfered from businesses and residences and includes copper wiring, street signs and stainless steel beer kegs.
The substituted ordinance omitted requirements such as a transportation permit for sellers hauling 25 pounds of restricted materials, the City’s entitlement to reasonable attorney fees and costs when obtaining affirmative relief and that payment by check or electronic funds transfer — the two methods recyclers use to pay sellers — be made no later than the close of business on the day of sale.
In addition, the substitute now includes language that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will provide the reporting software to the secondary recyclers.
The Council also is set to vote on its “priority populations” for public service grant dollars in the 2012-13 budget. All requesting agencies must operate programs that “tangibly affect and improve a Priority Population.”
The four-part list is: homeless persons and families, low-income persons and families, victims of abuse and neglect, and adults with physical, mental and behavioral disabilities.
The grants made by Council “shall be used to exclusively” serve the listed agencies and the list repeats that of the 2011-12 budget.
Council also will vote on an incentives ordinance for local software company Global Software Services Inc. The company is seeking a $180,000 Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund from the City and state to create 30 new full-time local jobs.
The City would be responsible for $36,000 and the state would refund $144,000. The $6,000-per-job total also includes a “high impact sector bonus” from the state of $2,000 for each job.
Also on the Council agenda:
• Several of Mayor Alvin Brown’s recent appointments could be made official. The consent agenda includes finalization for Martin Senterfitt as Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department director; Eleanor Byrd as JFRD chief of fire training; Jarik Conrad as City Employee Services Department director; and Victor Guillory as City Military Affairs, Veterans and Disabled Services Department director. Third-reading resolutions include Charles Drysdale as JFRD Fire Operations chief and Ivan Mote as JFRD Rescue Division chief.
• Though the Legislature still is vetting the most recent local bill involving the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, Council is introducing the first local bill for the 2013 session. The local bill, also known as a J-bill, would amend the City Charter so that three members of the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension board of trustees, instead of two, would be appointed by Council. It would eliminate the trustee-elected member.
• Also introduced is Council member Clay Yarborough’s ordinance to fund the City’s Office of Ethics, Compliance and Oversight. The bill would appropriate $142,509 from an Office of General Counsel subaccount intended for an ethics office to the new entity.
• The agenda still contains unfinished business dealing mainly with two issues. The first is an economic development agreement between the JEDC, the City and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Under the agreement, JPMorgan would expand its operations with 250 new full-time jobs and receive a total of $1.25 million from the City and state under the QTI program. The second is a collection of ordinances regarding the approval of collective bargaining contracts between the JEA and several unions.
• As for floor celebrations, Council President Stephen Joost is scheduled to honor former Jacksonville Jaguars owners Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver with a framed resolution for their contributions.
• Other consent agenda items include commemorations of Richard “Dick” Cohee of the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund, who recently died, and retired St. Johns Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon for his service to the community.
• Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, a former QB at the University of Florida and Nease High School, also makes the list of commemorations with a resolution for his accomplishments sponsored by Council member Kim Daniels and co-sponsored by Council members Yarborough, Doyle Carter, Johnny Gaffney and Matt Schellenberg.
Tebow is not expected to attend the meeting.
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