Chapter 32 - PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Secs. 31.901, 31.902. - Reserved. Chapter 33 - EMPLOYEE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Chapter 32 - PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT[1]

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Charter reference— Departments, Art. 7; civil service, Art. 17.

Cross reference— Construction regulations and building codes, Tit. VIII.

State Law reference— Municipal public works, F.S. Ch. 180; Florida Electrical Code, F.S. § 553.13 et seq.; Florida Building Code Act, F.S. § 553.70 et seq.

State rule reference—Board of Building Codes and Standards, F.A.C. Ch. 9B.

PART 1. - IN GENERAL

Sec. 32.101. - Establishment; Director of Public Works.

There is established an executive department to be known as the Public Works Department. The Department shall be responsible for planning, construction and administration of all public works in the Consolidated Government. The Department shall include the Engineering and Construction Management, Right-of-Way and Stormwater Maintenance, Real Estate, Public Buildings, Development Services and Building Inspection Divisions.

(Ord. 73-1060-516, § 2; Ord. 73-1416-744, § 4; Ord. 80-858-559, § 2; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1; Ord. 84-1036-540, § 2; Ord. 88-601-333, § 1; Ord. 88-1065-548, § 1; Ord. 93-1465-1285, § 2; Ord. 2005-1518-E, § 1; Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9; Ord. 2013-209-E, § 40; Ord. 2025-30-E, § 7)

Note— Former § 18.101.

Sec. 32.102. - Qualifications and duties of Director.

The Director of Public Works shall be the head of the Department. The Director shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. The director shall be registered by the State of Florida as a Professional Engineer and have at least five years experience in industrial or municipal public works. The Director shall have the responsibility for the management, operation and control of all public works undertaken by the Consolidated Government. The Director shall coordinate with the Downtown Investment Authority Chief Executive Officer regarding planning, construction and administration of all public works projects located within Downtown.

(Ord. 73-1060-516, § 2; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1; Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9; Ord. 2014-560-E, § 8)

Note— Former § 18.102.

Sec. 32.103. - Quarterly report.

The Council hereby urges and requests the Director of Public Works to establish a procedure within such Department that would facilitate the preparation and distribution of a summary report on a quarterly basis showing the status of all proposed, ongoing and recently (within the last three months) completed CIP priority one public works projects of $100,000 or more. The quarterly report shall meet or contain the following minimum requirements:

(a)

It shall state in table format relevant dates and percentages of completion, expected completion dates of various phases and completion dates of completed projects;

(b)

It shall indicate Council Districts and Planning for each of the projects;

(c)

It shall contain a general section listing all project at section breakouts for each Council District and each Planning District;

(d)

It shall be printed on 8½″ × 14″ paper so as to be for distribution in newsletters of neighborhood organizations as a supplement thereto;

(e)

It shall be distributed to all Council Members; and

(f)

It shall be available for distribution to the general public at a reasonable and convenient location or locations.

The first of such quarterly reports shall be for the fourth quarter of the 1995-1996 fiscal year.

(Ord. 95-1128-758, § 1; Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9)

Editor's note— Former § 32.103, relative to the deputy director of public works, was repealed by § 6 of Ord. 91-1024-418. Former § 32.103 derived from Ord. 73-1060-516, § 2; Ord. 76-889-424, § 1; Ord. 81-869-361, § 1; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1; Ord. 85-279-166, § 1; Ord. 88-601-333, § 2; Ord. 88-1065-548, § 2.

Sec. 32.104. - Operations Director.

There is hereby established one position of Operations Director within the Department of Public Works. This position shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. The Operations Director shall be registered by the State of Florida as a Professional Engineer and have at least five (5) years of management or executive experience. The Operations Director shall report to the Director and shall be responsible for such management, duties and responsibilities as are assigned by the Director. The Operations Director shall have direct oversight for the Right-of-Way and Stormwater Maintenance, Mowing and Landscape Maintenance, Traffic Engineering and Public Building Divisions.

(Ord. 2013-209-E, § 12; Ord. 2025-30-E, § 7)

PART 2. - ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT DIVISION[2]

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Editor's note— Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9, renamed Pt. 2 to read as herein set out. Formerly, Pt. 2 was entitled "Engineering Division."

Sec. 32.201. - Created; functions.

There is created the Engineering and Construction Management Division. The Division shall be responsible for the planning of and the engineering of public works projects, including all water, wastewater, water reclamation, sanitation facilities and solid waste disposal facilities projects; the oversight and administration of City construction standards and specifications; and traffic engineering services for the Consolidated Government.

(Ord. 73-1060-516, § 2; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1; Ord. 95-1121-641, § 5; Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9)

Note— Former § 18.201.

Sec. 32.202. - Division Chief.

The City Engineer shall be the Division Chief of the Engineering and Construction Management Division. The Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. He shall be registered by the State of Florida as a Professional Engineer and have at least five years' experience as an engineer in the public works field or in private industry. The City Engineer shall serve as staff to the Context Sensitive Streets Standards Committee set forth in Section 32.702, Ordinance Code and serve as the Chairman of the Subdivision Standards and Policy Advisory Committee.

(Ord. 73-1060-516, § 2; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1; Ord. 2005-1518-E, § 1; Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9; Ord. 2013-185-E, § 3)

Note— Former § 18.201.

PART 3. - DIVISION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY AND STORMWATER MAINTENANCE[3]

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Editor's note— Ord. 2013-209-E, §§ 13 and 14, amended the Code by repealing former Pt. 3, §§ 32.301 and 32.302, and adding a new Pt. 3. Former Pt. 3 pertained to the Right of Way Maintenance Division, and derived from Ord. 73-1060-516, § 2; Ord. 76-889-424, § 2; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1; Ord. 91-1024-418, § 6; Ord. 2005-1518-E, § 1; Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9; Ord. 2013-185-E, § 4; and Ord. 2013-683-E, § 2.

Sec. 32.301. - Division of Right-of-Way and Stormwater Maintenance; establishment; functions.

There is created an Right-of-Way and Stormwater Maintenance Division. The Division shall be responsible for planning, building and maintaining the streets, highways and drainage facilities. The Division shall also be responsible for coordinating the efforts of various government agencies concerned with streets and highways in Duval County.

(Ord. 2013-209-E, § 14)

Sec. 32.302. - Division Chief of Right-of-Way and Stormwater Maintenance.

There shall be a Division Chief of Right-of-Way and Stormwater Maintenance who shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. The Division Chief shall have a four-year degree from an accredited college or university, in engineering, construction, or construction management, be a registered professional engineer with a license in the State of Florida, and a minimum of five years of experience in managing buildings or working in the fields of building management, traffic engineering, or roadway and drainage design and maintenance.

(Ord. 2013-209-E, § 14; Ord. 2016-765-E, § 3)

PART 4. - REAL ESTATE DIVISION[4]

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Editor's note— Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9, amended the Code by repealing former Pt. 4, §§ 32.401 and 32.402, and renumbering former Pt. 5 as a new Pt. 4. Former Pt. 4 pertained to the Traffic Engineering Division, and derived from Ord. 73-1060-516; Ord. 73-1416-744; Ord. 76-889-424; Ord. 83-591-400; Ord. 88-882-469; Ord. 88-601-333; Ord. 88-1065-548; and Ord. 2005-1518-E, § 1.

Sec. 32.401. - Created; functions.

There is created the Real Estate Division. The Division shall be responsible for acquisition, appraisal, management, disposal, inventory, utilization assessment and other functions relating to real property for the Consolidated Government except where otherwise provided by law. Independent agencies utilizing the services of the Division shall pay therefore on a cost-accounted basis.

(Ord. 75-344-182, § 1; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1; Ord. 88-601-333, § 3; Ord. 88-1065-548, § 3; Ord. 91-1024-418, § 6; Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9)

Note— Former § 18.701, 32.501.

Sec. 32.402. - Division Chief.

The Real Estate Officer shall be the division chief of the Real Estate Division. The Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. He shall have a bachelor's degree or higher in an accredited college or university and at least five years' real estate experience in industry, government, brokerage or appraisal.

(Ord. 75-344-182, § 1; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1; Ord. 88-601-333, § 3; Ord. 88-1065-548, § 3; Ord. 2005-1518-E, § 1; Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9)

Note— Former § 18.701, 32.502.

Sec. 32.403. - Execution of certain documents under community development funds.

The Real Estate Officer shall have the authority to execute, certify or provide a certificate of just compensation or document of similar purpose necessary for fulfillment of federal requirements for the City to purchase real property utilizing funds from the federal community development program grants.

(Ord. 76-726-343, § 1; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1; Ord. 88-601-333, § 3; Ord. 88-1065-548, § 3; Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9)

Note— Former § 18.702.

PART 5. - PUBLIC BUILDINGS DIVISION[5]

Footnotes: --- (5) ---

Editor's note— Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9, amended the Code by renumbering former Pt. 6 as a new Pt. 5.

Sec. 32.501. - Creation; functions.

There is created a Public Buildings Division. The Public Buildings Division shall be responsible for general maintenance of all public buildings of the Consolidated Government, including the responsibility for all security, custodial and maintenance employees as well as maintenance of parks, buildings and centers, lighting and other electrical elements.

(Ord. 91-1024-418, § 6; Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9)

Sec. 32.502. - Division Chief.

The Chief of Public Buildings is the Division Chief of the Public Buildings Division. The Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. The Chief shall have at least five years experience in maintenance work.

(Ord. 91-1024-418, § 6; Ord. 2007-839-E, § 9)

PART 8. - MOWING AND LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DIVISION

Sec. 32.801. - Created; functions.

There is created the Mowing and Landscape Maintenance Division. The Division shall have general responsibility for performing landscape maintenance of public buildings, street rights-of-way, parks and grounds, and other miscellaneous public sites of the Consolidated Government, and performing landscape maintenance as it relates to the enforcement of the City's laws on the safety and cleanliness of private property, nuisance abatement, weed control, and irrigation maintenance. The Division shall also be responsible for coordinating the efforts of various government agencies concerned with landscape maintenance and mowing streets and highways in Duval County. The Division shall be responsible for maintenance of landscaping, coordinating a tree canopy study, creating a comprehensive plan for mowing including best practices, coordinating with state and local entities to create a mowing schedule, cemetery maintenance, tree trimming and vegetation spraying, or mowing as such responsibilities are exclusively within the Division of Mowing and Landscape Maintenance in Public Works. All other departments or divisions, including but not limited to the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, Real Estate Division, Public Works Department and Municipal Code Compliance Division, shall be required to forward the mowing requests, or other documents evidencing the mowing requirement of property to the Mowing and Landscape Maintenance Division. The Mowing and Landscape Maintenance Division shall be solely responsible for mowing and overseeing mowing for all City of Jacksonville issues or contracts, with the exception of sports field mowing which shall remain with the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.

(Ord. 2013-683-E, § 3; Ord. 2013-209-E, § 40)

Sec. 32.802. - Division Chief.

There shall be a Division Chief of the Mowing and Landscape Maintenance Division. The Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. The Division Chief shall have a minimum of seven years supervising landscape maintenance and mowing for government entities. Candidates with horticulturist, arborist, agribusiness or landscape architecture degrees should be given preference.

(Ord. 2013-683-E, § 3)

PART 9. - DIVISION OF TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

Sec. 32.901. - Division of Engineering; functions.

There is created a Traffic Engineering Division. The Division shall be responsible for traffic engineering services, traffic signals and other traffic-control devices, including railroad crossing signals, and for operating the streets and high-ways of the Consolidated Government.

(Ord. 2013-209-E, § 15)

Sec. 32.902. - Division chief.

The City Traffic Engineer shall be the division chief of the Traffic Engineering Division. The Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. He shall be a registered professional engineer and shall have at least five years' traffic engineering experience in a responsible capacity.

(Ord. 2013-209-E, § 15)

PART 10. - DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIVISION

Sec. 32.1001. - Development Services Division; Establishment; Responsibilities.

There is established within the Department a Development Services Division, which shall be responsible for:

(a)

Civil plan review for development projects;

(b)

Plan review for roadway projects; City projects; FDOT projects; JTA projects and privately funded projects;

(c)

Flood plain determinations and FEMA administration;

(d)

Plat and easement review and recordation for all projects associated with roadways and development;

(e)

Issuance of right-of-way permits;

(f)

Development inspection;

(g)

Right-of-way permits inspection;

(h)

Review of all building permits;

(i)

Maintaining the Land Development Procedures Manual;

(j)

Property addressing; and

(k)

Operation of the Zoning Counter.

(Ord. 2025-30-E, § 8)

Sec. 32.1002. - Division chief.

The Division Chief of the Development Services Division shall be the Chief, Development Services Division. The Chief, Development Services Division shall have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in urban or regional planning, geography or civil engineering, community planning, architecture, landscape architecture, public administration or related field and at least seven years' experience in civil engineering or at least five years of experience with a master's degree in any of the listed fields, or ten years' experience in civil engineering with an associate's degree in civil engineering or commensurate training and experience, and shall have proven administrative experience. The Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Council and shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.

(Ord. 2025-30-E, § 8)

PART 11. - BUILDING INSPECTION DIVISION

Sec. 32.1101. - Establishment; functions.

There is created the Building Inspection Division. The Division shall be responsible for the enforcement of all building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, construction and other related codes, which are or may become the responsibility of the Division.

(Ord. 2025-30-E, § 8)

Sec. 32.1102. - Division chief.

The Chief of Building Inspection shall be the Division Chief of the Building Inspection Division. The Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Council, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. The Chief shall possess a Standard Building Code Administrators license, pursuant to F.S. § 468.609, and shall have been employed by the building inspection component of a municipal government for at least one year. A preference shall be given to individuals who have had at least five years of experience as a Certified Building Contractor or Certified General Contractor.

(Ord. 2025-30-E, § 8)

Secs. 31.901, 31.902. - Reserved. Chapter 33 - EMPLOYEE SERVICES DEPARTMENT