Sec. 28.103. - Powers; functions and duties of Director.

The Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services shall have the following powers, functions and duties, and shall have a liaison relationship with the Sports and Entertainment Officer in the Office of Sports and Entertainment to effectuate such powers as needed: (a) The Director, or designee, shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the parks and preserves, community (senior & recreation) centers, and waterfront facilities (including Metropolitan Park, the area formerly known as "Kids Kampus," the marina at Metropolitan Park, Equestrian Center, Cecil Community Center and Taye' Brown Regional Park), but excluding the Convention Center, Veterans Memorial Arena, Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, EverBank Field, Times Union Performing Arts Center), senior centers, and any other facility or venue specifically assigned to the Economic Development Board. The Director, or designee, may execute agreements with sponsors, promoters, exhibitors, performers and other persons for the use of the facility, including agreements with renters of the facility to staff and maintain restroom facilities at the facility through contractual services, volunteers or through a nominal gratuity system approved by the Director. (b) The Director, or designee, shall require promoters or sponsors of privately sponsored events at docking facilities owned or operated by the City (collectively, the "Marina") which, in the Director's judgment, may attract a significant amount of boating traffic to the Marina, to provide, at the promoter's or sponsor's expense, a competent dockmaster at the Marina during the event. The promoter or sponsor may elect to utilize the City's dockmaster at the promoter's or sponsor's expense. If the dockmaster for the event is not to be the City's dockmaster, the agreement for such event must clearly state the qualifications for the promoter's or sponsor's recommended dockmaster and such recommended dockmaster must be acceptable to and approved by the Director or designee. (c) The Director shall receive and coordinate with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office ("JSO") designated park officer on the security in the Parks. It is the intention of the Council to honor the Sheriff's request to have all sworn officers report to the Sheriff, but the Council's intention is that a JSO officer shall be in the JSO budget every year and shall be designated the Parks Security Officer. (d) The Director shall coordinate with the Downtown Investment Authority Chief Executive Officer regarding waterfront facilities, including dock facilities, and park areas/facilities under the Department's control and located within Downtown (as defined in Chapter 55 , Part 1). The Director shall present to the Downtown Investment Authority Board for review, as determined by the Downtown Investment Authority Chief Executive Officer, such matters related to the development of waterfront facilities, including dock facilities, and the development of park areas/facilities under the Department's control and located in Downtown. Upon such presentation by the Director, the Downtown Investment Authority Board shall make an advisory recommendation to the Department regarding the same. (e) The Director may execute agreements with Downtown Vision, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit corporation, as needed, in an amount not to exceed $100,000 to support Department activities related to the activities, programs and services set forth in Section 55.117 , Ordinance Code, subject to availability of funding. The payment terms for such agreements may include a reasonable advance payment and payment terms based on draws, reimbursements, or progress payments. Other City agencies may join and contribute funding to any agreement executed pursuant to this subsection. Prior to execution by any party, all such agreements shall be prepared, reviewed and approved by the Office of General Counsel as to both form and legality. Any agreements in excess of $100,000 shall be procured in accordance with Chapter 126 , Ordinance Code. The Director shall provide Council with a quarterly report regarding the direct contracting permitted under this Section. (f) The Director, or designee, shall coordinate with the Jacksonville Journey Forward in accordance with Chapter 85 of the Code to implement and incorporate any Jacksonville Journey Forward approved terms, goals, and performance metrics in Department contracts or programs affecting crime reduction or public safety. (Ord. 2007-839-E, § 7; Ord. 2011-732-E, § 16; Ord. 2012-378-E, § 1; Ord. 2012-364-E, § 10; Ord. 2013-209-E, § 10; Ord. 2014-560-E , § 6; Ord. 2016-140-E , § 16; Ord. 2021-499-E , § 2; Ord. 2024-175-E , § 10; Ord. 2024-635-E , § 4))