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House Bill 0917

Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 By Representatives Fuller, Dennis, Thrasher, Crady, King, Hill and Arnall 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to the City of Jacksonville, 3 Duval County; providing for the abolition or 4 restructuring of certain community 5 redevelopment agencies currently existing 6 within the city and providing for the 7 redistribution of their powers, functions, 8 duties, liabilities, property and personnel; 9 amending chapter 92-341, Laws of Florida, as 10 amended; creating the Jacksonville Economic 11 Development Commission to exist as an 12 autonomous body within the executive branch of 13 the consolidated government; providing for 14 designation as an industrial development 15 authority and as a community redevelopment 16 agency; providing for powers, duties, 17 functions, personnel and obligations of the 18 Jacksonville Sports Development Authority, the 19 Jacksonville Downtown Development Authority, 20 the Jacksonville International Airport 21 Community Redevelopment Authority, the Cecil 22 Field Development Commission and the Economic 23 Development Division of the Planning and 24 Development Department of the city; excluding 25 officials and employees of the commission from 26 civil service; transferring all existing 27 powers, duties, responsibilities and 28 authorities of the Jacksonville Downtown 29 Development Authority to the commission and 30 restructuring the authority as an advisory body 31 to the commission; amending chapter 89-509, 1 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 Laws of Florida, as amended; transferring to 2 the commission all powers, duties, functions, 3 personnel and obligations of the Jacksonville 4 Sports Development Authority; restructuring the 5 authority as an advisory body to the 6 commission; providing an effective date. 7 8 WHEREAS, currently there exists within the City of 9 Jacksonville a multitude of agencies, authorities, departments 10 and other entities that consider and deal with economic 11 development in the city, and 12 WHEREAS, it is of the utmost importance to this 13 community to provide a structure and a plan for these entities 14 to utilize as they deal with economic development issues so as 15 to ensure coordination and nonconflicting direction, with this 16 effort being consolidated under an "umbrella entity" so as to 17 establish better coordination of the city's efforts in that 18 regard as well as to better utilize the authorities of 19 existing entities, organizations and boards, and 20 WHEREAS, economic development relates to an area of 21 vital concern to the public health, safety and welfare, and 22 WHEREAS, the city functions under a consolidated 23 government, being a municipal corporation which has 24 jurisdiction both as a municipality and a county, which 25 government extends territorially throughout Duval County, and 26 WHEREAS, the city has realized many benefits from the 27 centralized aspects of consolidation and desires to undertake 28 similar centralization of economic development programs so as 29 to ensure more efficient and practical means of addressing the 30 goals and strategies for economic development and to expand 31 2 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 the city's utilization of economic development "tools" 2 authorized by state law, and 3 WHEREAS, the proposed Jacksonville Economic Development 4 Commission will provide a focal point for economic development 5 in the city that, pursuant to this legislation, will result in 6 a centralization of economic development programs under the 7 auspices of one agency, with this centralization ensuring a 8 more efficient and practical means of addressing the goals, 9 objectives and strategies for future economic development in 10 the city, and 11 WHEREAS, the goals, objectives and authorities of Part 12 III of Chapter 159 and Part III of Chapter 163, Florida 13 Statutes, must be implemented to address the city's concerns 14 and objectives as permitted in this state law and as evidenced 15 herein and in the Jacksonville City Council resolution passed 16 in support of this legislation, and 17 WHEREAS, in the consolidation and expansion concerning 18 economic development, the city desires to establish procedures 19 of appointment, terms of office, and other procedures which 20 differ from the procedures established in portions of Chapters 21 159 and 163 of the Florida Statutes and which concern changes 22 in the charter of the Downtown Development Authority which may 23 be accomplished only by the Florida legislature, necessitating 24 the need for this special act, and 25 WHEREAS, the procedures established herein have been 26 approved by resolution of the Jacksonville City Council and do 27 not unreasonably detract from the reasonable and necessary 28 legislative authority of the council, NOW, THEREFORE, 29 30 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 31 3 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this 2 act are found and declared to be true. 3 Section 2. Article 24 is added to chapter 92-341, Laws 4 of Florida, as amended, to read: 5 ARTICLE 24. 6 THE JACKSONVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION 7 Section 24.01. Commission Created.--There is created 8 and established an autonomous body within the Office of the 9 Mayor which shall be known as the Jacksonville Economic 10 Development Commission. The commission is designated as the 11 sole community redevelopment agency for the city according to 12 part III, chapter 163, Florida Statutes, and as the sole 13 industrial development authority for the city according to 14 part III, chapter 159, Florida Statutes. The commission shall 15 serve as the city's only countywide community redevelopment 16 agency and its only countywide industrial development 17 authority with authority over all economic development 18 functions within the City of Jacksonville. 19 Section 24.02. Definitions.--As used in this article: 20 (1) "Commission" means the Jacksonville Economic 21 Development Commission. 22 (2) "City" and "City of Jacksonville" mean the City of 23 Jacksonville created pursuant to s. 9 of Art. VIII of the 1885 24 Constitution of the State of Florida. 25 (3) "Council" means the council of the City of 26 Jacksonville. 27 (4) "Mayor" means the mayor of the City of 28 Jacksonville. 29 (5) "Executive Director" means the executive director 30 of the commission. 31 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 (6) "Code" means the Ordinance Code of the City of 2 Jacksonville. 3 Section 24.03. Commission membership.--The membership 4 of the commission is established at seven members, consisting 5 of the chairman of the Downtown Development Authority and six 6 members, who shall be residents of the City of Jacksonville 7 and who shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the 8 Council. The mayor shall appoint a chairman who shall serve 9 until such time as another chairman may be appointed by the 10 mayor. Each member of the commission shall serve a term of 2 11 years or until a successor is appointed. Apart from the 12 chairman of the Downtown Development Authority, of the members 13 first appointed, three members shall serve terms of 1 year 14 each, and the remaining three members shall serve terms of 2 15 years each. Thereafter all members appointed to the commission 16 shall serve terms of 2 years. No member appointed to the 17 commission for three consecutive full terms shall be eligible 18 for appointment to a next succeeding term. The members shall 19 serve as commissioners of the community redevelopment agency 20 under part III, chapter 163, Florida Statutes, and they shall 21 also serve as members of the industrial development authority 22 under part III, chapter 159, Florida Statutes. All business of 23 the commission shall be conducted at meetings wherein at least 24 four members of the commission are present and voting. 25 Section 24.04. Individual Ex Officio Advisors to the 26 commission.--The following individual ex officio advisors are 27 named to assist the commission in an advisory or fact-finding 28 role as may be requested individually or collectively of them 29 by the commission so as to effectuate the centralized economic 30 development goals of the commission. No ex officio advisor 31 shall serve simultaneously as both an ex officio advisor and 5 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 as an appointed member of the commission. These individual ex 2 officio advisors shall be: 3 (1) The President of the Council of the City of 4 Jacksonville. 5 (2) The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of 6 the Jacksonville Electric Authority. 7 (3) The Managing Director of the Jacksonville 8 Transportation Authority. 9 (4) The President/Chief Executive Officer of the 10 Jacksonville Port Authority. 11 (5) The Chairman of the Sports Development Authority. 12 (6) The Chairman of the Cecil Field Development 13 Commission. 14 (7) The Chairman of the Jacksonville International 15 Airport Community Redevelopment Authority. 16 (8) The Executive Director of the Duval County Housing 17 Finance Authority. 18 (9) The Chairman of the Duval County State Legislative 19 Delegation or his or her designee, who shall be a member of 20 the delegation. 21 (10) The Chairman of the NAACP or his or her designee. 22 (11) The Chairman of the Urban League or his or her 23 designee. 24 Section 24.05. Technical Support Advisors to the 25 commission.--The following individual technical support 26 advisors are named to assist the commission in such technical 27 support roles as may be requested individually or collectively 28 of them by the commission so as to effectuate the centralized 29 economic development goals of the commission. These individual 30 technical support advisors shall be the directors or the board 31 members, as appropriate, of the following entities: 6 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 (1) The Planning and Development Department of the 2 city. 3 (2) The Jacksonville Film Commission. 4 (3) Sister cities. 5 (4) International Relations and Marketing Development 6 Commission. 7 (5) Research and Development Authority. 8 (6) Jacksonville Enterprise Zone Development Agency. 9 (7) Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund 10 Advisory Committee. 11 (8) Overall Economic Development Plan Committee. 12 (9) Jacksonville Economic Development Company. 13 (10) Enterprise North Florida Corporation. 14 (11) City departments as appropriate. 15 (12) Small Business Advisory Committee. 16 (13) Tourist Development Council. 17 (14) Convention and Visitors Bureau. 18 (15) The Superintendent of Duval County Public 19 Schools. 20 (16) The President of the University of North Florida. 21 (17) The President of Florida Community College, 22 Jacksonville. 23 Section 24.06. Executive Director.--The chief 24 operating officer of the commission shall be its executive 25 director, who shall be appointed by the mayor after 26 consultation with the commission. The executive director shall 27 be responsible for managing the affairs of the commission 28 subject to its supervision and shall serve at the pleasure of 29 the mayor. The executive director shall also serve as an 30 administrative aide to the mayor and in that capacity shall 31 serve as the mayor's liaison to the Downtown Development 7 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 Authority and shall attend all meetings of that authority. The 2 executive director will employ the personnel to administer and 3 operate the commission in accordance with applicable law, 4 available appropriations and employee authorizations. The 5 executive director shall have such other duties and 6 responsibilities as required by the commission. The executive 7 director's salary shall be set by the mayor after consultation 8 with the commission. 9 Section 24.07. Scope of Authority.--The commission 10 shall operate with all the powers and authority of a community 11 redevelopment agency under part III, chapter 163, Florida 12 Statutes, and as an industrial development authority under 13 part III, chapter 159, Florida Statutes, and is authorized to 14 function throughout all of the territorial limits of the City 15 of Jacksonville, Florida, as its only community redevelopment 16 agency and only industrial development authority. As the 17 city's sole community redevelopment agency, the commission 18 shall be successor to and hereafter exercise all authority, 19 power and responsibility which has heretofore been vested by 20 resolution or ordinance of the council in either the 21 Jacksonville Downtown Development Authority or the 22 Jacksonville International Airport Community Redevelopment 23 Authority. While it is intended that the commission shall have 24 city-wide authority as both the city's industrial development 25 authority and community redevelopment agency, the commission 26 must secure council approval consistent with those powers and 27 duties specifically retained by the council in Section 30.705 28 of the code and as required by part III of chapter 159 and 29 part III of chapter 163, Florida Statutes. 30 Section 24.08. Transfer of functions and 31 personnel.--On July 1, 1997, the powers, duties, functions, 8 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 liabilities, property and personnel of certain entities shall 2 be transferred to and become the responsibility of the 3 Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, as it is 4 intended that these entities become advisory bodies to the 5 commission which shall succeed to their former duties, 6 responsibilities and functions. Any ordinance or law, the 7 provisions of which conflict with the transfer authorized and 8 mandated in this act are repealed to the extent of such 9 conflict. Those entities whose powers, duties, functions, 10 liabilities, property and personnel shall be transferred to 11 the commission are: 12 (1) The Jacksonville Downtown Development Authority, 13 except for its advisory and fact-finding responsibilities. 14 (2) The Jacksonville Sports Development Authority 15 created under chapter 89-509, Laws of Florida, except for its 16 advisory and fact-finding responsibilities. 17 (3) The Economic Development Division of the Planning 18 and Development Department as set forth in the Jacksonville 19 City Code, including, but not limited to, chapter 30, part 7, 20 including all boards and commissions concerned with economic 21 development which are staffed by the division. 22 (4) Any existing authority, functions or personnel 23 held by the Jacksonville International Airport Community 24 Redevelopment Authority. Upon completion of this transition, 25 the Jacksonville International Airport Community Redevelopment 26 Authority shall continue to function in the nature of an 27 advisory and fact-finding body to the commission concerning 28 the area formerly under its jurisdiction. 29 (5) Any existing authority, functions or personnel 30 held by the Cecil Field Development Commission, including any 31 personnel under the authority of the mayor who are similarly 9 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 assigned. Upon completion of this transition, the Cecil Field 2 Development Commission shall continue to function in the 3 nature of an advisory and fact-finding body to the commission 4 concerning the area formerly under its jurisdiction. 5 (6) On July 1, 1997, all of the employees of the 6 organizations listed above, both appointed and within the 7 classified civil service of the city, shall be transferred to 8 the commission and shall become appointed employees of the 9 commission. These employees shall not retain any civil service 10 status that they may have had prior to becoming an employee of 11 the commission unless any civil service employee who is to be 12 transferred elects to retain his or her civil service status 13 and in such case he or she shall serve as an employee of the 14 commission with no loss in civil service status or benefits 15 that he or she may have accrued prior to transfer. 16 Section 24.09. Transition period.--The 90 calendar 17 days immediately following the effective date of this act or 18 as soon thereafter as is practicable, shall be a period of 19 transition during which the operations and function of all of 20 the city's economic development efforts shall be transitioned 21 to the commission. During this period the city shall exercise 22 all due diligence to effectuate this process of transition and 23 shall assign the manpower and provide the resources necessary 24 to accomplish this objective. 25 Section 24.10. Fiscal and budgetary functions.--The 26 commission shall have fiscal and budgetary functions subject 27 to the following limitations: 28 (1) The fiscal year of the commission shall commence 29 on October 1 of each year and end on the following September 30 30. 31 10 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 (2) The commission shall prepare and submit its 2 proposed budget for the ensuing year to the mayor setting 3 forth its estimated gross revenues and estimated requirements 4 for operations and maintenance expenses, debt service and 5 depreciation. The commission's budget shall be included within 6 the annual budget of the general government and shall be 7 submitted in accordance with Section 106.204 of the Ordinance 8 Code as it exists or may be from time to time amended. 9 (3) All revenues generated from Tax Increment Funds 10 shall be used only for the purposes for which such funds are 11 raised. There shall be a full and separate annual accounting 12 for each such Tax Increment Fund which shall be reserved for 13 economic initiatives with no charges for the City's Full Cost 14 Allocation Plan (Indirect Costs). 15 Section 24.11. Execution of instruments; examination 16 of claims.--All instruments in writing necessary to be signed 17 by the commission shall be executed by the chairman and 18 secretary or by such officer, agent, or employee of the 19 commission as it may by resolution designate. The commission 20 shall provide for the examination of all payrolls, bills, and 21 other claims and demands against the commission to determine 22 before the same are paid that they are duly authorized, in 23 proper form, correctly computed, legally due and payable and 24 that the commission has funds on hand to make payment. 25 Section 24.12. Utilization of central 26 services.--Except as the council may provide, the commission 27 shall utilize the central services of the city and shall pay 28 for them on a cost-accounted basis. The commission may utilize 29 such other services of the city as may be mutually agreed upon 30 from time to time and may pay for them on a fair and 31 reasonable basis. The commission shall purchase all supplies, 11 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 contractual services, capital improvements and professional 2 services in compliance with the same ordinances and 3 regulations which apply to the city when making such 4 purchases. The commission shall be required to use the legal 5 services of the city, except in those cases when the chief 6 legal officer of the city determines that the legal staff 7 cannot provide legal services in the required legal area. 8 Section 3. Subsection (c) of section 17.06 of chapter 9 92-341, Laws of Florida, as amended, is amended to read: 10 Section 17.06. Applicability of civil service system 11 to employees of consolidated government.--The civil service 12 provisions of this charter shall be applicable to all 13 employees of the consolidated government except: 14 (c) Members of boards and commissions, including all 15 persons employed by the Jacksonville Economic Development 16 Commission. 17 Section 4. Section 20.01 of Article 20 of chapter 18 92-341, Laws of Florida, as amended, is amended to read: 19 ARTICLE 20. 20 JACKSONVILLE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 21 Section 20.01 Authority created.--There is hereby 22 created and established an advisory board to the Jacksonville 23 Economic Development Commission a body politic and corporate 24 to be known as the Jacksonville Downtown Development 25 Authority, an independent agency of the City of Jacksonville 26 for the general purpose of making recommendations to the 27 commission concerning the planning, coordinating 28 revitalization and redevelopment of the Jacksonville downtown 29 area. 30 Section 5. Section 20.02 of Article 20 of chapter 31 92-341, Laws of Florida, as amended, is amended to read: 12 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 Section 20.02. Definitions.--As used in this article: 2 (a) "Authority" means the Jacksonville Downtown 3 Development Authority. 4 (b) "Charter" means the charter of the City of 5 Jacksonville. 6 (c) "City" and "City of Jacksonville" means the City 7 of Jacksonville created pursuant to s. 9 of Art. VIII of the 8 1885 Constitution of the State. 9 (d) "Executive director" means the chief executive 10 officer of the authority. 11 (d)(e) "Council" means the council of the City of 12 Jacksonville. 13 (e)(f) "Mayor" means the mayor of the City of 14 Jacksonville. 15 (f)(g) "Member" means a member of the authority. 16 (g)(h) "Jacksonville Downtown Area" means the core 17 area in the City of Jacksonville as so designated hereinbelow 18 as lying within the territorial limits of the authority on 19 June 30, 1997 and as may be amended by the council from time 20 to time for purposes of this article. 21 (h) "Commission" means the Jacksonville Economic 22 Development Commission. 23 (i) "Planning department" means the planning 24 department of the City of Jacksonville. 25 (j) "Former authority" means the Jacksonville Downtown 26 Development Authority as created by chapter 71-693, Laws of 27 Florida. 28 Section 6. Section 20.03 of Article 20 of chapter 29 92-341, Laws of Florida, as amended, is repealed, and a new 30 section 20.03 is created, to read: 31 Section 20.03. Transfer of authority.-- 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 (1) On July 1, 1997, the commission shall assume all 2 powers, duties and functions formerly held by the authority, 3 and the commission is hereby declared to be the legal 4 successor to all such powers, duties and functions and shall 5 be entitled to exercise the same as well as any others 6 heretofore delegated to or exercised by the authority. 7 (2) Any functions of the authority which were 8 performed by it under any law, resolution, contract, rule or 9 regulation which remain unfulfilled as of July 1, 1997, shall 10 thereafter be performed by the commission and the authority's 11 assets, liabilities, contracts, property, records (as needed 12 by the commission) and unexpended balances of appropriations 13 are transferred to the commission as of that date. The mayor 14 is authorized to make such determinations as may be necessary 15 with regard to the transfers mandated by this section and to 16 make such additional incidental dispositions of personnel, 17 assets, liabilities, contracts, property, records and 18 unexpended balances of appropriations as he may deem necessary 19 to accomplish an orderly transfer from the authority to the 20 commission, subject to the council-approved budget and 21 accounting code of the city. 22 (3) All plans, programs, projects, recommendations, 23 contract agreements, rules and regulations which were made, 24 approved or undertaken by the authority prior to July 1, 1997, 25 are ratified and confirmed and shall continue in effect, 26 according to their terms until modified, terminated, 27 superseded or revoked either by their own terms, operation of 28 law, or by action of the commission in accordance with law. 29 The commission shall be substituted for the authority in all 30 such plans, programs, projects, recommendations, contracts, 31 14 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 agreements, rules and regulation and shall have full power in 2 connection therewith as provided herein. 3 Section 7. Section 20.05 of Article 20 of chapter 4 92-341, Laws of Florida, as amended, is repealed, and a new 5 section 20.05 is created, to read: 6 Section 20.05. Functions and duties.--On July 1, 1997, 7 all powers and duties formerly exercised by the authority 8 pursuant to this section shall survive, be transferred to and 9 become the powers and duties of the commission as provided in 10 Sections 24.07 and 24.08 of this charter. Thereafter the 11 authority shall function as an advisory body to the commission 12 to undertake fact-finding on downtown issues and provide 13 advice to the commission on issues of importance to the 14 downtown area. The authority will also perform the initial 15 review, analysis and negotiation of downtown development 16 projects. The authority shall have and perform such other 17 duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to it from time 18 to time by the commission. The commission shall be responsible 19 for and shall provide to the authority all resources necessary 20 for the authority to effectively achieve its duties and 21 responsibilities. Such resources shall include a dedicated 22 staff assigned to the authority by the executive director of 23 the commission to manage all matters before the authority. 24 Section 8. Sections 20.06, 20.07, 20.08, and 20.09 of 25 Article 20 of chapter 92-341, Laws of Florida, as amended, are 26 hereby repealed. 27 Section 9. Section 1 of chapter 89-509, Laws of 28 Florida, as amended, is repealed, and a new Section 1 is 29 created, to read: 30 JACKSONVILLE SPORTS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 31 15 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 Section 1. Authority created.--There is hereby created 2 and established an advisory board to the Jacksonville Economic 3 Development Commission, hereinafter called "the commission," 4 to be known as the Jacksonville Sports Development Authority, 5 hereinafter called "the authority," for the general purpose of 6 making findings of facts related to sports issues and 7 providing advice to the commission on issues of importance to 8 sports-related functions. 9 Section 10. Section 3 of chapter 89-509, Laws of 10 Florida, is repealed, and a new section 3 is created to read: 11 Section 3. Transition of authority.-- 12 (1) On July 1, 1997, the commission shall assume all 13 powers, duties and functions formerly held by the authority 14 and the commission is hereby declared to be the legal 15 successor to all such powers, duties and functions and shall 16 be entitled to exercise the same as well as any others 17 heretofore delegated to or exercised by the authority. 18 (2) Any functions of the authority which were 19 performed by it under any law, resolution, contract, rule or 20 regulation which remain unfulfilled as of July 1, 1997, shall 21 thereafter be performed by the commission and the authority's 22 assets, liabilities, contracts, property, records (as needed 23 by the commission) and unexpended balances of appropriations 24 are transferred to the commission as of that date. The mayor 25 is authorized to make such determinations as may be necessary 26 with regard to the transfers mandated by this section and to 27 make such additional incidental dispositions of personnel, 28 assets, liabilities, contracts, property, records and 29 unexpended balances of appropriations as he may deem necessary 30 to accomplish an orderly transfer from the authority to the 31 16 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 commission, subject to the council-approved budget and 2 accounting code of the city. 3 (3) All plans, programs, projects, recommendations, 4 contract agreements, rules and regulations which were made, 5 approved or undertaken by the authority prior to July 1, 1997, 6 are ratified and confirmed and shall continue in effect, 7 according to their terms, until modified, terminated, 8 superseded or revoked either by their own terms, operation of 9 law, or by action of the commission in accordance with law. 10 The commission shall be substituted for the authority in all 11 such plans, programs, projects, recommendations, contracts, 12 agreements, rules and regulation and shall have full power in 13 connection therewith as provided herein. 14 Section 11. Section 4 of chapter 89-509, Laws of 15 Florida, as amended, is repealed, and a new section 4 is 16 created, to read: 17 Section 4. Functions and duties.--On July 1, 1997, all 18 powers and duties formerly exercised by the authority pursuant 19 to this act shall survive, be transferred to and become the 20 powers and duties of the commission as provided in Section 21 24.08 of this charter. Thereafter the authority shall function 22 as an advisory body to the commission to make findings of fact 23 and render advice and assistance concerning the developing, 24 planning, coordinating, stimulating, enhancing, promoting, or 25 procuring sports-related facilities, organizations, and events 26 for the citizens of the City of Jacksonville. This purpose is 27 hereby deemed to be a public purpose, including the 28 procurement of sports franchises. The authority shall provide 29 advice to the commission regarding activity designed to 30 stimulate and promote sports events and related activities to 31 be held and performed in whole or in part in the greater 17 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 917 527-128A-97 1 Jacksonville economic area, and may recommend that the 2 commission sponsor or cosponsor such events with private 3 citizens or public or private organizations, or any 4 combination thereof. The authority shall also assist the 5 commission in obtaining maximum utilization of the sports 6 facilities owned and operated by the city. The authority shall 7 have and perform such other duties and responsibilities as may 8 be assigned to it from time to time by the commission. The 9 Jacksonville Economic Development Commission shall be 10 responsible for and shall provide the authority with all 11 resources necessary for the authority to effectively achieve 12 its duties and responsibilities. 13 Section 12. Sections 5, 6, and 7 of chapter 89-509, 14 Laws of Florida, as amended, are hereby repealed. 15 Section 13. If any clause, section or provision of 16 this act shall be declared to be unconstitutional or invalid 17 for any cause or reason, the same shall be eliminated from 18 this act, and the remaining portion of said act shall be in 19 force and effect and be as valid as if such invalid portion 20 thereof had not been incorporated therein. 21 Section 14. The provisions of this act shall be 22 liberally construed in order to effectively carry out the 23 purposes of this act. 24 Section 15. All laws or parts of laws, both general 25 and special, in conflict herewith are, to the extent of such 26 conflict, hereby repealed. 27 Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 1997. 28 29 30 31 18