Live Blogging City Council. main issue: bill 2012-296, human rights bill

TheCat · May 22, 2012, 05:12:10 PM

It's a rare treat to see a line outside of city hall to attend a city council meeting. The hall is packed. Standing room only.

There is not a vote on the bill tonight. Tonight is just a conversation

AshleyLauren · May 22, 2012, 05:26:43 PM

Council Member E. Denise Lee says on the late Pastor Harvey, It takes a lot of courage to stand up and talk about what you believe in. To stand up despite the criticism you may receive in return.

There is standing room only here tonight, or according to Councilwoman Lee "a lot of courage." Sitting alone, on both sides of me are men holding speeches that they intend to share with this large group tonight, and from the small bits of chatter I can hear around me Jacksonville is ready to speak up.

TheCat · May 22, 2012, 05:32:53 PM

TheCat · May 22, 2012, 05:38:44 PM

Intro to meeting included commendations and resolutions...aka government compliments, " whereas, you are so cool for xyz reason we'd like to make it official "you are so cool, officially."

TheCat · May 22, 2012, 05:43:59 PM

You can watch the city council meeting live on the link below and take part in the conversation.

http://media.coj.net/COJCouncil

TheCat · May 22, 2012, 06:08:22 PM

the COJ wifi is extraordinarily slow. Do not plan on taking over world from Jacksonville city hall. The network will drive you nuts.

This is the agenda to tonight meeting.

http://cityclts.coj.net/coj/CurrentYear/Council/88-May-22-12-AGENDA.htm

The Councilmen/women are extra lively tonight. They have a crowd and that is, again, a rare treat. Denise Lee is working the crowd performing a little stand up comedy. Giggles from the crowd cause Lee to say "was that funny?"

She knows it was funny. It was funny.

If it's not clear Lee will make you explain. they are discussing bill 2012-273, Inland Navigation Dist. This has to do with dredging near heckscher drive.

AshleyLauren · May 22, 2012, 06:12:20 PM

The man beside me just stated, " This is my first CC meeting. It's kind of mind numbing don't ya think? Is it always like this?"

Perhaps, the CC should rethink the itinerary next time there are hundreds of people in attendance to talk about one particular item.

Lucasjj · May 22, 2012, 06:15:52 PM

Quote from: AshleyLauren on May 22, 2012, 06:12:20 PM
Perhaps, the CC should rethink the itinerary next time there are hundreds of people in attendance to talk about one particular item.

This happenned with this meeting on Kickback's expansion. It ended up running 6 hours since they ran it like a regular meeting with several items on the agenda, even though the room was filled with people only concerned with that one item.

Tacachale · May 22, 2012, 06:30:04 PM

This will be a long night.

Tamara-B · May 22, 2012, 06:33:45 PM

Denise Lee is a fire cracker. Somewhat long-winded, yet straight to the point.

AshleyLauren · May 22, 2012, 06:44:24 PM

Apparently, the city has serious technical difficulties. At the Mayor's Economic Summit there were numerous problems including the sound system and spastic lighting. Tonight, the queue that allows council members to ring in so that they may have a turn to speak is now not working. Making the members raise their hands in order to be called upon to speak.

Tamara, firecracker is the perfect word! I have the feeling we have yet to see her in full force.

TheCat · May 22, 2012, 06:47:05 PM

Wow, first time seeing the council go to war With the general council. Usually, they are quick to abdicate. Denise lee takes the mic and the crowd sighs. Lee, loves to let everyone know there is so much more she could talk about but she won't.

Important discussions tonight. They are discussing 2012-316, management of our entertainment facilities. According to Lee, Mayor Brown fired SMG and put out the rfp for management. She thinks brown made a huge mistake by excluding city council in this process. She thinks the process needs to be started over and another rfp should be exercised so that city council is involved in spending/protecting the tax payers money. Especially since it was city council that initially made those contracts.

Joost, he's come a long way. When I first saw him in the city council meeting. There was a coyness to him. Now, shiny suits and I can only describe it as a "pimp walk"

Bishop is up. He's concerned about Brown's decision. He's the first to say the people are here for another reason and we need to move forward and this particular bill needs to go to committee. There is not enough info to vote. Hefty stuff for one nights work.

This resolution seems to be for the legal reqiure,ent that the council has to approve the contract for entertainment management. So, yes it has been approved.

We've just been informed that the jaguars Have the ultimate veto. They have final say on who manages the stadium. Crescembeni, not happy with the general councils opinion wants to get another attorneys opinion.

TheCat · May 22, 2012, 06:50:55 PM

Okay, we're jumping to the reason everyone is here. This will be a long night, tacahale. Yarborough is going through public comment decorum...don't clap, talk to the council as a group not to any one council person...don't piss us off. Those cops over there will take you away.

RiversideLoki · May 22, 2012, 06:53:24 PM

This first speaker is going to hyperventilate.

[EDIT] And he goes crazy early... wow.

TheCat · May 22, 2012, 06:56:20 PM

Clay Yarborough cracks a joke to applause " we have a few speakers tonight" he holds up a large stack of speaking cards.

I'm getting a little nervous. This is a contentious issue. I'm hoping for civility. First speaker, says, we have anti-discrimination laws...this bill creates a "super class."

He says:

The bill is unconstitutional. People should have the right to fire if someone is not representing their business accordingly. Example, man making sales calls in a mini skirt.