City Council members unanimously elected Vice President Bill Gulliford as president and member Clay Yarborough as vice president for 2013-14.
Gulliford and Yarborough take the leadership roles for the Council year that begins June 1.
They were elected Tuesday in separate 18-0 votes. Council member Johnny Gaffney was excused.
Gulliford represents District 12, which comprises Beaches communities and parts of the Southside.
He was nominated by Council member and former President Stephen Joost, who spoke at the meeting about Gulliford's fairness in dealing with people and issues.
Joost said differences they have had on issues have "never been personal, we've put it behind us and always moved on."
Council member Warren Jones, also a past Council president, seconded the nomination.
Gulliford said each of his colleagues brings talent to the 19-member Council, which he will use when he makes his committee assignments.
Gulliford said to show fairness, Council members will not be able to serve on both the Rules and Finance committees, which comprise seven members each. He said the remaining five Council members will serve as chairs or vice chairs of other standing committees.
Those committees consist of Recreation and Community Development; Transportation Energy and Utilities; Public Health and Safety; and Land Use and Zoning.
Gulliford said he seeks to show loyalty to each Council member and "bring out the best in each of you" as well as Council as a whole.
Yarborough represents District 1, which covers parts of Arlington. He was nominated by Robin Lumb and seconded by Reggie Brown.
Lumb said Yarborough has shown leadership as floor leader under Joost, demonstrated command of the legislative process and is confident Yarborough is capable of serving as vice president.
"I trust him to get the job done," Lumb said.
Brown said Yarborough is one who "listens with flexibility" and can help "take Jacksonville where it needs to go."
Often, the Council vice president subsequently is elected president, but that is not guaranteed.
Council members John Crescimbeni and Lori Boyer also sought the vice presidency.
Boyer said Tuesday that not becoming vice president would not preclude her from attempting to run for the Council presidency or vice presidency next year.
Other news from Tuesday's meeting:
• With no discussion, Council passed legislation to authorize the purchase of the Jake Godbold City Hall Annex for up to $15.4 million in banking funds. The measure passed 15-2, with Joost and Richard Clark dissenting. The building at 407 N. Laura St. has a price of more than $14 million, with the difference consisting of debt service costs. Legislation approved in 2006 transferred the building to the Police and Fire Pension Fund to complete renovations. The City began occupying it in 2009. The City has spent $1.19 million in annual rent for the first four years of the lease, with an increase of 12 percent for the next four-year period that begins this year. To date, the City has paid $4.8 million. According to the 2006 legislation, the City has the opportunity to purchase the building every four years, which proponents have said will save money long-term and the City will own the building. Upon the mayor's signature or passage without his signature, the City will have 90 days to close on the building.
• Emergency legislation appropriating $75,000 for Council to hire legislative counsel outside of the General Counsel's Office was approved 16-0, with Gaffney, Reggie Brown and Ray Holt all excused. Council members seek to hire the outside assistance to review the pension deal proposed by Brown. The Council Executive Committee will make the selection, which Council will confirm.
• Brown's pension proposal was introduced in the form of legislation (2013-366). Brown announced the deal May 9, saying it will save $1.1 billion over 30 years, including $50 million in the 2013-14 City budget that begins in October.
• Several Council members were stuck in a City Hall elevator, delaying the start of the meeting. The meeting began without them and they joined in about half an hour before any legislative action on the agenda was taken.
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