11 new Council members- "learn quickly"

A plan is already in the works to get Jacksonville’s 11 new Council members up to speed- and fast.

“There are some big, important, serious things that they will have to face,” says Council President Clay Yarborough.

Yarborough is one of the many members terming out this session. Only one incumbent who ran for reelection was defeated, the remaining eight hold their seats.

Yarborough says he’s been working on the transition plan, which includes meetings with department heads, ethics and Sunshine Law briefings, and even a mock Council meeting. He says even letting them do something as simple as practicing asking questions at the mic will help the first meeting with all of the new faces go more smoothly.

He says getting that framework in place is especially important this year, because the City is facing some big financial questions, not the least of which is the billion dollar budget proposal that will come just a few weeks after their seated from Mayor-elect Lenny Curry, who is also getting similar crash courses, and will also be a new face to Jacksonville’s City Hall.

“They need to learn quickly, but learn comprehensively,” Yarborough says.

Other issues include pension reform, dredging the St. Johns River, funding UF Health Jacksonville, infrastructure funding, and possibly even moving forward the early stages of redeveloping the Shipyards.

Yarborough says he’s not worried about them getting a grasp of all of the issues, because he’s seen the various incoming members hold their own during debates and on the campaign trail. He’s focus is getting the big picture framework in place.

He also says that while 11 new members is a lot for one time, it’s not as high as 1999, when there were 14 incoming councilmen.