Live blogging economic devlelopment compliance task force

[TheCat]

This is a fairly mundane meeting but mundane meetings are where decisions are made. There may not be many posts

They're ..."consideration of draft report"

Atmosphere

7 People in the "gallery"
One camera man from fox affiliate

They're discussing the development of the administration processes.

They are trying to figure out how to make sure that city contracts are in compliance. Not so muchthst the city is compiling but if the the other side is compiling. Is there a need to create a department of compliance?

Robert shircliff speaks to the cultural issues related to compliance. He mentioned the city offering grants but not checking to see if the grant obligations were fill filled.

[TheCat]

One of the individual's around the table mentions "tipping costs" in relation to garbage and landfills.

City contracts related to dumping garbage included extra fees if a minimum weight of garbage dumping was not reached. The problem, we started a recyceling program which reduced our garbage weight which increased our fees. Everyone was under the assumption that Jacksonville growth would outweigh , no pun intended, the reduction in garbage from the recycleing program. but that didn't happen and we ended up paying more.

Discussion point now: the persons/departments who penned the contracts are responsible for compliance. Someone makes the obvious suggestion...let's use a calendar that reminds departments what they need to check up on. Ex. Company abc says they will have 100 people employed by xyz time. That calendar alert should help everyone no what to check up on.

I'm not sure I understood correctly but they said the city had about 80 contracts.

[TheCat]

Shircleff asks "who is ultimately responsible for compliance?. The answer, ultimately it rests with the mayor although a compliance officer will report to him. "should the compliance officer be in communicastion with the general council office? Aren't they the ones who review and write out these agreements?"

Spoken in response: attorneys speak to attorneys but they area not responsible for compliance, necessarily.

[TheCat]

The suggestions is made: if we a going to be in the deal making business we should have people who are deal makers in charge. The issues in the past relate to contract makers not ok nosing how to write a contract.

[TheCat]

The next meeting is in may. I'll be posting the minutes and the draft report when it's ready.

Meeting over.