City of Jacksonville

The Special Committee on Social Justice and Community Investment will meet on the following dates and times in the Council Chambers, 1^st Floor, City Hall at St. James, 117 West Duval Street, Jacksonville, Florida.
 
A quorum of the Committee Members (4) will need to be present in-person, but other members may attend utilizing Communications Media Technology (CMT). The meeting will discuss topics related to the background and charge of the Committee and any other items noted on the meeting’s agenda or at the discretion of the Chair. The public will be encouraged to share general comments with individual Council Members by email or telephone. CCMeeting04272021@coj.net is the designated email for comments to be including as a part of this meeting.  
 
Background:
Since before the City of Jacksonville and Duval County Consolidated in 1968, disparities have persisted in employment, health care, education, and infrastructure within certain areas of the City, as evidenced particularly in the original urban core area. These discrepancies have created an adverse impact on the populations of those who reside in these areas over an extended period of time and some of those living in such neighborhoods have indicated that they feel “left behind.”  In recent months it has become ever apparent that the City, like the state and the nation, must be proactive in focusing on solutions and policies that can be timely implemented to address this ongoing disparate impact to bring equal access and equality to all of the City’s citizens.
 
Charge:
The committee is established to serve as a clearinghouse for all ideas, policies and legislation pertaining to three main areas: (i) social injustices; (ii) law enforcement; and (iii) economic development (which encompass employment, education and infrastructure issues). The goal of the committee is to further equal access and opportunity for all citizens of Jacksonville and to strive to establish programs and policies which serve to eradicate systemic bias as well as honor the unfulfilled promises of consolidation. The committee should engage in active listening of those adversely affected by the decisions of the past which has created historic inadequacies as well as to address current issues which further disparate outcomes. Through an open and frank dialogue of the issues affecting the City, it is my hope that the committee can leverage the momentum spurred by current events and work with community representatives, stakeholders, and community organizations in the process to address present and past inequities by providing equal access and opportunity for the citizens of Jacksonville.
 
The committee may conduct research and collect and analyze date; it will act as a coordinated group to advise for programs, activities and legislative action which may improve the social inequalities within the City. The committee may also propose policy recommendations for consideration by the Council and the Mayor and executive branch agencies. I am directing the committee to complement any proposals with definitive, practical action plans. The committee may seek advice from public and private subject matter experts and will encourage maximum public participation in its work. It should consider recent work and recommendations of the Charter Revision Commission and community groups, non-profits and those with firsthand knowledge and “boots on the ground” all of which have already established valuable work on the topics of the committee and topics and issues thereto pertaining.
 
The meeting noticed herein for Monday, April 26, 2021, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM can be accessed virtually through the Zoom.US- computer application or in-person at Council Chambers. Council Members, City staff, and the public may attend the meeting at the physical location- Council Chambers, but CDC guidelines will be adhered to due to COVID-19.  Concurrent with the expiration of Mayor Curry's Emergency Executive Proclamation 2020-005, any member of the public entering City-owned public buildings may choose to wear a mask inside the building. Council will encourage social distancing by maintaining the recommended 6-foot separation between individuals and will limit seating in Council Chambers, Council conference rooms, and offices to maintain social distancing. Council strongly encourages the use of masks for all employees and visitors, especially when social distancing at 6 feet (or more) is not possible. Council will make masks available for visitors and the public. The public will be encouraged to share general comments with individual Council Members by email or telephone. CCMeeting04272021@coj.net is the designated email for comments to be including as a part of this meeting.  
 
WAYS FOR THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS THE MEETING:
 

1. Sign up for Zoom.  Type - Zoom.US – with Chrome Internet Browser.  Go to:  JOIN A MEETING on Dashboard Information regarding the Zoom meeting ID and meeting password is listed below:

 
Meeting ID: 920 6091 8271     Passcode: 916751
(You can LISTEN to the meeting and VIEW the meeting this way.
 
ALL PARTICPANTS WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN LEGALLY REQUIRED PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION MUST LOG IN WITH (It would be helpful to identify bill to be addressed)
                Full Name – IE:  Cheryl L. Brown 2020-0200
 
2.  Watch it on your computer. Streaming site (or COJ streaming site):
 https://www.coj.net/city-council/city-council-meetings-online
 
3.  Joining a Zoom Meeting by phone:    

Dial:  1 646 568 7788 - Meeting ID: Meeting ID: 920 6091 8271     Passcode: 916751
            Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aH9Ihu8jm
 
WAYS FOR THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN LEGALLY REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS OR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ZOOM MEETING
           
1.  Refer to:  City of Jacksonville Citizen Guide to Council Meetings (Attached)
2.  Legal Name must appear on Zoom to be recognized by the Chair;
3.  DO NOT state your residence- address as this is not required in this forum – only state
      County and Zip Code
4.  Timeframe set by Chairman – No more than 3 minutes per speaker.
5.   The Timer will be viewable.  Must be in “Gallery View” to see countdown; Sort those in
       meeting by going to “Participant” and typing in Timer.
6.   Chairman will “ONLY” call on speakers using the ELECTRONIC “RAISE HAND” feature
       located within the Zoom App.   This feature is found- Click on “Participants” scroll to the bottom
       click on “Raise Hand”… wait to be recognized.  (Must have a Microphone, Video, and Speakers
       to participate with the function.)
INSTRUCTIONS: JOINING A MEETING BY DIAL-IN PHONE ONLY

1. Dial numbers provided above.  If you dial a toll number, your carrier rates will apply.
2. You will be prompted to enter the meeting ID – the Meeting ID: 920 6091 8271     Passcode: 916751
3. If the meeting has not already started and join before host is not enabled, you will be prompted to press # to wait if you are participant.
4. You will be prompted to enter your unique participant ID. This only applies if you have joined on the computer or mobile device or are a panelist in a webinar. Press # to skip.

If you join by computer or mobile device later, you can enter the Participant ID to bind your phone and device session together and show your video when you speak on the phone. To enter your participant ID once you are in the meeting, enter #Participant ID# on your phone.

PHONE CONTROLS FOR DIAL-IN PHONE ONLY PARTICIPANTS
The following commands can be entered via phone tones using your phone's dial pad while in a Zoom meeting:

• *6 - Toggle mute/unmute  (While this is a function that is available the mute and unmute function will be controlled by the Host not the participant. To speak, the participant must use the *9 function to be recognized.)
• *9 - Raise hand  (Electronic Zoom feature that “Must” be used to be recognized by the Chairman to Speak)
• Refer to:  City of Jacksonville Citizen Guide to Council Meetings (Attached)
• Legal Name must appear on Zoom to be recognized by the Chair;
• DO NOT state your residence- address as this is not required in this forum – only state

 County and Zip Code

• Timeframe set by Chairman – No more than 3 minutes per speaker.
• Phone in participate will be informed of remaining time.
• Chairman will “ONLY” recognize or call on speakers using the ELECTRONIC “RAISE HAND” feature   located within the Zoom App  *9 … wait to be recognized.  (Must have a Microphone and Speakers on phone to participate with the function.)

 
ADA and TDD ASSISTANCE
 
Pursuant to the American with Disabilities Act, accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request.  Please allow 1-2 business days’ notification to process; last minute requests will be accepted, but may not be possible to fulfill.  Please contact Disabled Services Division at: V- 904-255-5466, TTY-904-255-5476, or email your request to KaraT@coj.net.
 
All legislative inquires contact Jessica Matthews, Chief of Legislative Services at 904 255 5169 or JMatthews@coj.net.  Please contact Dr. Cheryl L Brown, Director/Council Secretary at CLBrown@coj.net  904 255 5193 or refer to the information provided with the notice for specific contact information and/or details.
 
Please refer to the Jacksonville City Council Webpage at https://www.coj.net/city-council/events for future meeting notices, cancellations and other notifications.
 
For general meeting information please contact Dr. Cheryl L Brown, Director/Council Secretary, at CLBrown@coj.net or Jessica Matthews, Chief of Legislative Services, at JMatthews@coj.net.