**Live Blogging CC Committee Meetings about 296

[AshleyLauren]

So we begin again...

Live from CC chambers at the Rules Committee meeting, the CC members reconvened this morning after a three week hiatus. Things have moved around a bit. Committees have new members and new Chairmans. To recap, last time we were at a Rules Committee meeting, Bill Bishop was the chairman and not doing much to give those Pro Bill 2012-296 a fair shot at pleading their case, to be honest he didn't give the matter much time at all. Now, Yarborough is the chairman of the Rules Committee over Crescembeni, Holt, Boyer, Jones, Love and Lumb (and Bishop is in attendance).

Remember, in order for the Anti-discrimination bill to go to a vote at the CC meeting next week all committees assigned the bill must vote it through.   Before vacation there were two committees; now the RCD/PHS committee has been broken into two separate committees and now three different committees must vote it forward.

Stay tuned...

[fsujax]

too bad no one lived blogged the Mayors Budget proposal.

[AshleyLauren]

On a side note, Mayor Brown just finished presenting the budget for 2013 which will cut nearly 500 government jobs eliminating nearly $23 million dollars out of this years budget. As well as, he promised there will be no property tax increase. He vows to not use city reserves to balance the budget.

"We must stabilize city government to build confidence in the private sector for job creation.  It is crucial that we continue to be a lower tax alternative to other American cities," explained the Mayor.

Rutherford remains vocal about his opposition to the plan.

[AshleyLauren]

FSU, I apologize. I can't be here before 10:15.

[fsujax]

^^no problem.

[AshleyLauren]

Since I was 15 minutes late this morning, I have just been told thanks to a nice guy beside me that bill 2012-296 has been deferred to the next Rules Committee meeting on August 6th, and Bill Bishop asked that the committee vote during that week.

While that is disappointing, at least there appears to be an end in the midst. Based on the facebook page of the Jacksonville Committee for Equality they already knew there would be no discussion/vote on the bill today and yet a large number of supporters showed up still wearing their red stickers.

Since the RCD/PHS committee has been split into two distinct committees, the time for PHS meeting is set for 4pm today (I will try to cover it to see if anything is said in that meeting). And the RCD portion is tomorrow at 2pm.

[AshleyLauren]

Meeting adjourned.

Despite their vacation it appears they need time to get back in the swing since all large topics were deferred to another date or the member needed for discussion was not in attendance. Bad form if you ask me.

Hopefully, I will be back with something at 4. If not, tune in tomorrow at 2.

Perhaps, you feel this bill has been given enough attention and such coverage is no longer warranted. I implore you to remain interactive about this bill and stand up for the side you are on. Nothing will ever get done or change without the voice of the people reminding the council members we are here and we will hold you accountable for your action or inaction.

Have a good day.

[Tacachale]

Thank you Ashley.

At this point we didn't expect the HRO to get out of committee, due to the makeup of the committees. However, we can hope it will pass in the full council, though it will be close.

And of course if it does pass, the Mayor can veto it.

[AshleyLauren]

Same thing took place this afternoon as this morning, we will assume the same thing will happen tomorrow.

On a side note, I feel bad for this committee. With Kim Daniels as the chairman they will never get out early. That woman loves to talk.

[AshleyLauren]

Blogging about the RCD committee meeting. Bill 2012-296 is deferred to the next meeting. Doyle Carter is the new chair of this committee. While conversation about the bill has been deferred until the 1st week in August he did take the time to make sure no one in the audience was there for the first time to speak out about the bill. No one stood up but I find it extremely respectful he took the time to make sure no one took the time out of there day and was not given the chance to speak.

No members of the council wanted to talk about the bill but former CC President, Councilman Joost pointed out that the Republican Candidate, Mitt Romney, included the words "sexual orientation" in a conversation about equality during an interview the other day. Joost thought it was important to point out that even the Republican candidate for President backs the idea.

Meeting Adjourned and that concludes all talk about 296 for this week. See you next Tuesday at Bill Bishop's first CC meeting as president.

[Jimmy]

The deferrals this week were expected.

We are also expecting a vote in each of the (now) three committees for the bill in August.  It appears that President Bishop and his committee chairs are eager to move this along.  I'm just hopeful that the African American members are willing to sit again by August 6 and August 7, when we will very much need their votes in Rules, Public Health & Safety, and RCD. 

[fsquid]

I'm dumb to how it works in JAX, but this thing has to go through three committees just to get a vote?

[Jimmy]

This bill does.  It was only in two committees until July 1.  But, for a number of reasons, last year's RCDPHS Committee was split into a separate PHS and a separate RCD committee and all the bills in the old committee got automatically assigned to both the "new" committees.

The bill has to be discharged from the three committees to get to a vote on the floor.  That's usually by being voted up or down in each committee assigned.  But, of course, the President of the council can discharge a bill from all committees.  But Bishop wants to see it discharged by vote.  At this point. 

[Timkin]

With Kim Daniels as the chairman they will never get out early. That woman loves to talk.

Hope this gets passed.  Still have my reservations about her and think she will fight it to the very end.

[AshleyLauren]

Timkin, it was hard sitting through that meeting. I really hate to keep talking about her, but I just don't understand how she was placed in that position. PERIOD!

Jimmy, I didn't know that but figured out when both meetings deferred it yesterday. Perhaps you can answer this question for me...

Council members seem to come and go as they please. Is there a certain amount of meetings each member can miss? Or as long as they are excused nothing is done?
I just found it disheartening that they have been on vacation since Debbie and still in all three meetings people were missing.

Also, what happens in the event 2/3 committees vote against it? It won't reach the floor at that point?