City Council members Bill Gulliford and Clay Yarborough were installed Friday as leaders of the City's legislative branch for the 2013-14 Council year.
The Council year begins today.
Gulliford, who represents District 13 that comprises the Beaches and portions of Southside, was installed as president.
In his speech, he discussed his plans for the year, which includes creating up to a 30-member citizen-led task force to review consolidation. The effort will be led by Council member Lori Boyer.
"They should look at everything. Nothing should be sacred," Gulliford told the crowd of several hundred in the Council Chamber, where the ceremony was heald.
He said the biggest problems Council and the City face in the coming year are the budget and pension issues.
"We now face both," he said, adding that leadership is "duty-bound" to solve the issues before the consequences become more harsh.
Yarborough, who represents District 1 that covers much of Arlington, was installed as vice president.
He said he has changed over his Council years in the way he approaches issues.
"I do not come to the table with my mind made up," which has not always been the case, he said.
He said he "won't always vote yes" on issues, but would listen and wants to see issues through "long-term lenses" for consideration of the best action moving forward.
Outgoing Council President Bill Bishop, in his last speech as president, said the 2012-13 Council year had been "fascinating" and his challenge to Council members to become active instead of reactive was successful.
Bishop also presented several awards to Council members and others, a tradition during the installation ceremony.
The awards were:
• The Charles D. Webb Award, to Boyer. The award is presented to the Council member who "best exemplifies the extraordinary commitment to public service." Boyer was chair of the Land Use and Zoning Committee and the Context Sensitive Streets Special Committee.
• The Mary L. Singleton Award, to Council member John Crescimbeni. The award is given the Council member with the most difficult assignment during the year. Crescimbeni chaired the Finance Committee that reviewed the City budget, which Bishop called "arduous to say the least." Bishop said Crescimbeni handled the process "better than anyone" he has seen and "set the bar" for future chairs.
• The Robert O. Johnson Good Government Award, to Eric Lindstrom, redevelopment manager for the City Office of Economic Development. Lindstrom, a longtime City employee, has been involved with the former Downtown Development Authority and Jacksonville Economic Development Commission as well as the current office. The award "personifies the outstanding public services and exemplary reputation for integrity and honesty to the City Council and people of Jacksonville."
• The Starr Bishop Award, to Wayne Wood, a local historian and community advocate. Created in 2009, the award is for "unsung community service" by an individual or organization. It was named after Bishop's daughter, Starr, who died at age 21 from ALS. To start the installation ceremony, Wood presented a history of the St. James Building, which is now City Hall.
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