Chapter 78 - SAFETY AND CRIME REDUCTION COMMISSION

Sec. 77.116. - Trust Fund and Special Revenue Funds. Chapter 80 - PUBLIC SERVICE GRANT COUNCIL Chapter 78 - SAFETY AND CRIME REDUCTION COMMISSION

Sec. 78.101. - Legislative Intent.

It is the intent of the Council to establish a Commission that will be focused on reviewing various programs within the City and abroad which have been deemed successful and contribute to safety and crime reduction and will be tasked with investigating and addressing factors that can leverage existing resources and expand successful programs to create a comprehensive community-wide anti-crime initiative which includes components of public safety, education, mental health, literacy, positive youth development, physical health, neighborhood stability, crime deterrence, workforce training, and intervention and rehabilitation. The Safety and Crime Reduction Commission will recommend funding aimed at increasing public safety and eliminating crime by assisting with community programs focused on education, literacy, mental health and neighborhood stability to keep citizens safe and productive and training ex-offenders in workforce training to build job skills, to rehabilitate, and become responsible community members.

(Ord. 2019-222-E, § 1)

Sec. 78.102. - Safety and Crime Reduction Commission.

The Safety and Crime Reduction Commission (the "Commission") shall be a citizen-led group whose purpose is to undertake an in-depth review of the various programs within the City and abroad which have been deemed successful and contribute to safety and crime reduction; this will include a review of, but not limited to, successful programs created and/or operated by community organizations, social agencies, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the Duval County Public Schools, and the City of Jacksonville itself as well as programs outside our City. The Commission will investigate the efficacy of these programs and make recommendations for how the City can leverage existing resources and expand and/or implement successful programs to create a comprehensive community-wide anti-crime initiative, which includes components of public safety, education, mental health, literacy, positive youth development, physical health, neighborhood stability, crime deterrence, workforce training, and intervention and rehabilitation. The Commission may recommend funding for programs to assist with the program goals and shall oversee and evaluate annually the effectiveness of funds expended on programs in support of safety and crime reduction measures.

(Ord. 2019-222-E, § 1)

Sec. 78.103. - Membership; terms.

(a)

The Commission shall be composed of no more than 20 members who shall be appointed by the City Council in accordance with the following requirements. Members shall be residents of Duval County or have substantial business interests within Duval County (either employed by a business located in Duval County or volunteer, affiliate or serve on the board for an organization whose principal place of business is Jacksonville). Members shall serve staggered two-year terms, commencing July 1, but shall serve until their successors are appointed and confirmed. Of the initial appointments, ten members shall serve for one-year terms, and ten members shall serve for two-year terms; but appointments to fill vacancies for partial terms (less than 50 percent of a full term) and initial appointments under the preceding sentence for less than two years shall not be deemed to be full terms. No member shall serve more than two full consecutive terms. Members appointed pursuant to this paragraph (a) shall serve at the pleasure of the Council and may be removed at any time by the Council.

(b)

Additionally, one City Council Member shall be appointed each year by the Council President as a liaison to the Commission. The term for the City Council liaison shall be a one-year term, but the Council President may appoint a City Council member for an additional consecutive one-year term.

(c)

The following representatives shall be present as liaisons at all Commission meetings:

(1)

A representative from the Mayor's Office;

(2)

A representative from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office;

(3)

A representative from the State Attorney's Office;

(4)

A representative from the Public Defender's Office;

(5)

A representative from the Kid's Hope Alliance; and

(6)

A representative from the Duval County Public Schools.

Liaisons shall be designated by their organization to serve either annually or for two-year increments. The Council President may appoint additional members annually to serve as liaisons such as youth representatives, victim advocate representatives or other persons with subject matter expertise that can assist the Commission.

(Ord. 2019-222-E, § 1; Ord. 2019-470-E, § 1; Ord. 2021-250-E, § 1; Ord. 2021-586-E, § 1)

Sec. 78.104. - Organization; administrative support.

(a)

Officers. The Council President shall select the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Commission from among its members to serve for a one-year term commencing on July 1 of each year by naming the member selected for chairperson and vice-chairperson in a memorandum that shall be placed in the official file of the Safety and Crime Reduction Commission. The chairperson shall serve no more than 2 consecutive one year terms. The Commission may create and fill such other offices as it may deem necessary or desirable. The Commission, through its chair, may also create subcommittees to study certain matters or topics in greater detail.

(b)

Rules of procedure. The Commission shall establish rules of procedure necessary to its governing and the conduct of its affairs, consistent with the applicable provisions of the Ordinance Code.

(c)

Voting; quorum. All decisions and recommendations of the Commission shall require a concurring vote of a majority of the voting members present. Tie votes shall result in the subject agenda item being continued to the next meeting of the Commission. A majority of the current membership of the Commission, excluding vacant seats, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of meetings and transacting business. A vacancy shall not impair the ability of a majority of the remaining members to execute all the duties and perform all the functions of the Commission.

(d)

Administrative support. The Commission may select for employment by the City an Administrator and such other persons deemed necessary to assist the Commission in performing its functions and duties pursuant to this Chapter. The Commission shall establish the Administrator's job duties and compensation, in consultation with the Employee Services Department, which compensation shall be paid from lawfully appropriated funds available to the Commission in the City Council approved budget, or by legislative appropriation. The Administrator and all other employees, if any, hired to assist the Commission are hereby classified as persons employed as set forth in Section 17.06(m) of the City Charter and shall be exempt from the Civil Service System of the City. The Commission shall budget annually and pay for the salaries, benefits, office expenses, and other administrative costs associated with the operations of the Commission in accordance with its Council approved budget. All Commission employment matters shall be handled with assistance from the City's Employee Services Department and be consistent with the City's human resource policies and requirements. The Administrator and any other hired staff shall serve at the pleasure of the Commission.

(e)

Meetings. The Commission shall meet at least three times a year and more as needed. All meetings shall be open to the public in accordance with Florida's open meetings laws.

(f)

Notice. Notice of meetings shall be posted two days in advance on the City of Jacksonville web events calendar. No other advertisement or notification is required.

(g)

Compensation. Members shall serve without compensation, pension or retirement benefits; however members may be compensated for travel expenses as provided in Chapter 106, Part 7, Ordinance Code.

(h)

Compliance. The Commission shall be subject to the provisions of Chapters 50 (Organization of Boards and Commissions) and 58 (Advisory Boards and Commissions), Ordinance Code, except as may be otherwise set forth in this Chapter.

(Ord. 2019-222-E, § 1; Ord. 2019-470-E, § 1; Ord. 2019-746-E, § 1; Ord. 2021-842-E, § 1)

Sec. 78.105. - Functions, powers and duties.

The Commission shall:

(1)

Undertake an in-depth review of the various programs within the City which have been deemed successful and contribute to safety and crime reduction; this will include a review of successful programs created and/or operated by community organizations, social agencies, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the Duval County Public Schools, and the City of Jacksonville itself as well as programs and initiatives abroad.

(2)

Investigate the efficacy of community programs and make recommendations for how the City can leverage existing resources and expand successful programs to create a comprehensive community-wide anti-crime initiative, which includes components of public safety, education, mental health, literacy, positive youth development, physical health, neighborhood stability, crime deterrence, workforce training, and intervention and rehabilitation.

(3)

Establish metrics and goals reducing crime and creating a safer community, which shall be included in the Annual Report required under Section 78.106 below.

(4)

Establish subcommittees to focus on specific issues, which will include Workforce Training Programs (address areas of our City that have high unemployment), Community Engagement (develop community action groups), Mentoring Programs (create programs involving businesses and community volunteers) and Business Partnerships (increase business partnerships including funding sources).

(5)

May establish additional subcommittees or reduce the number of subcommittees as needed.

(6)

Make annual recommendations on programs to be funded by the City Council.

(7)

Continue the data gathering and public policy innovation for further refinement and consideration of valuable community-based programs.

(8)

Advocate for the investment of new public and private dollars as well as State and federal policy initiatives to ensure a safer City.

(Ord. 2019-222-E, § 1)

Sec. 78.106. - Presentation of goals, programs and measurables.

Annually, no later than March 1, the Commission is directed to present, in writing, to the Finance Committee and the Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health & Safety Committee, a statement of the short and long term goals of the Commission and its respective programs, identifying measurables and the short and long term plans to achieve these measurables. The Commission shall be available to the Finance Committee and the Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health & Safety Committee to discuss the position statement.

(Ord. 2019-222-E, § 1)

Sec. 78.107. - Sunset Provision.

This Chapter shall sunset on December 31, 2024, unless, prior to the Sunset date, the City Council shall pass legislation to extend the Commission.

(Ord. 2019-222-E, § 1; Ord. 2021-842-E, § 1; Ord. 2024-379-E, § 1)

Sec. 77.116. - Trust Fund and Special Revenue Funds. Chapter 80 - PUBLIC SERVICE GRANT COUNCIL