The Legislative Affairs Department of the Office of General Counsel is devoted primarily to the service of the Council in its legislative and policy making responsibilities. The Department is also responsible for advising the City’s numerous agencies on various administrative and environmental matters, ordinance code interpretations and applications and assisting Jacksonville’s constituents with public/private partnerships.
Mary Staffopoulos is the Deputy General Counsel for the Legislative Affairs Department. The department consists of three attorneys.
Legislative Affairs attorneys staff all bi-weekly City Council committee meetings and provide substantive and procedural guidance to each one. Legislative Affairs attorneys are responsible for the primary guidance on procedural, public records, sunshine law, and dual office holding issues. They assist the constitutional officers and independent agencies in the preparation and stewardship of their legislative initiatives.
Legislative Affairs attorneys also take a lead role in the amendment of the Council Rules in an effort to make the legislative process more understandable, transparent and navigable.
Legislative Affairs attorneys are the primary drafters of the City’s budget bill, appropriating the Consolidated Government budget which totaled over 2 billion dollars. Additionally, significant pieces of legislation including regulations for small cell 5G wireless equipment deployment, regulations to combat human trafficking and to combat public nuisances associated with simulated gambling establishments have been entrusted to the Legislative Affairs Department.
Mary Staffopoulos, Deputy General Counsel
Carla Lopera, Assistant General Counsel
Shannon A. MacGillis, Assistant General Counsel