Composition; compensation; officers; meetings.
Jacksonville Charter, art. 21, § 21.03
in effectSection 21.03. - Composition; compensation; officers; meetings.
(a) Composition; qualifications; removal. The governing body of JEA shall consist of seven members, each of whom shall serve for a term of four years or until such member's successor has been appointed and has qualified. Four members shall be nominated by the council president and confirmed by the council, and three members shall be appointed by the mayor and shall be confirmed by the council. With regard to one member appointed by council through open application, the council president shall nominate an applicant who has one of the following qualifications: was a former JEA employee, or person recommended by an employee, union or group of current or former JEA employees. To the extent feasible and regarding member appointments generally, individuals who have demonstrated corporate, executive or administrative experience working in public or private organizations, including, but not limited to, non-profit and government organizations, are preferred, but not required, to serve on the governing body of JEA. Each member shall have been a resident and elector of the city for at least six consecutive months prior to such member's appointment, with the limited exception that one member appointed by the mayor for confirmation by the council and one member nominated by the council president for confirmation by the council may reside outside the city and need not be an elector of the city but must either reside within the JEA service territory or maintain a substantial economic business interest within the JEA service territory as determined by the city council. No member shall hold any other public office or position. If at any time during a member's tenure on the governing body of JEA, such member shall cease to possess the qualifications required for membership on the governing body of JEA, such member shall cease to be a member and a vacancy shall exist on JEA. Any vacancy on the governing body of JEA, however created, shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the position was originally filled, and the person filling the vacancy shall have and shall retain all the qualifications prescribed for membership on JEA. Any member appointed to the governing body of JEA for two consecutive full terms shall not be eligible for the succeeding term. The members appointed by the mayor may be removed by the mayor at any time with or without cause, but a removal must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the council. The members appointed by the council may be removed by the council at any time with or without cause, but a removal must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the council.
(b) Compensation; applicable laws. Members shall not be entitled to pension or other retirement benefits on account of service on the governing body of JEA, but members shall be entitled to payment or reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred (e.g., travel expenses) as prescribed by the council by ordinance. Members shall be subject to the provisions of F.S. § 286.012, as amended, relating to voting at meetings of JEA, and the provisions of F.S. §§ 112.311 through 112.3175, as amended, relating to financial disclosure and conflicts of interest. Additionally, Members shall be subject to all other relevant and applicable laws and ordinances, including but not limited to, F.S. Ch. 286 (Public Business: Miscellaneous Provisions), as amended; F.S. Ch. 112, Part III (Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees), as amended; and F.S. Ch. 119 (Public Records), as amended, and Chapter 602 (Jacksonville Code of Ethics), Ordinance Code of the City of Jacksonville, as amended.
(c) Officers; meetings; quorum; governing documents. The governing body of JEA shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary of JEA and may elect one or more assistant secretaries of JEA, each of whom shall serve for one year or until such officer's successor is chosen. JEA may meet at such times and places designated by the governing body of JEA and shall hold regular meetings as necessary. Generally, JEA shall meet once a month, but in no event less than eight (8) times a year. Special meetings may be held upon the call of the chairperson or any three (3) members. JEA meetings shall be subject to F.S. § 286.011 (Florida Open Meetings Laws), as amended. A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of meeting and transacting business. Each member shall have one vote. The governing body of JEA shall adopt governing documents, including, but not limited to, bylaws, a board policy manual, and such other rules and regulations not inconsistent with this Article, the charter or general law. Unless otherwise provided herein, the governing body of JEA shall annually review and update its governing documents. JEA's bylaws, board policy manual, and other governing documents, including any amendments thereto, shall be posted on JEA's website in a conspicuous manner for the public to view.
(d) Office-holding; oath. JEA membership shall be considered an office and limited by the office holding provisions as provided for under the Florida Constitution. No member shall be eligible to serve as a member while holding another office or being an employee of JEA. Members shall be required to take an oath of office consistent with the oath of office taken by other public officials serving on city boards and commissions.
(e) Transparency in meetings. JEA should hold its meetings in the most open and transparent manner practicable for the benefit of the public and citizens of the City of Jacksonville. JEA shall adopt procedural rules regarding the publication of meeting agendas, meeting materials, meeting minutes, and public participation during all meetings, including regular, special and committee meetings, where action by the governing body of JEA or committee is contemplated. To the greatest extent feasible, JEA is encouraged to adhere to best practices and recommendations regarding openness and transparency contained in the latest published edition of Florida's Government-In-the Sunshine Law Manual prepared by the Office of the Attorney General. At a minimum, such procedural rules should require JEA to (i) publish an agenda and any meeting materials for its regular, special and committee meetings in a conspicuous manner on JEA's official website; (ii) promptly post meeting minutes generally within 72 hours after each meeting; and (iii) provide the timeframe for when an agenda and any meeting materials must be made available to the public in advance of such meetings. Such procedural rules should also require JEA to deliver copies of its meeting agendas, including regular, special and committee meeting agendas, and any meeting materials related thereto, to the council auditor in substantially the same timeframe and content as provided to members. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit JEA from amending previously published meeting agendas and meeting materials in accordance with its bylaws, board policy manual, or other applicable governing documents.
(Ord. No. 2020-100-E, § 2 (Referendum of November 3, 2020); Ord. 2020-419-E, §§ 1, 2; Ord. 2024-930-E, § 1)
Source: City of Jacksonville, Ordinance Code and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/jacksonville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CHRELA_PTACHLACHJAFL_ART21JE_S21.03COCOOFMEFetched: 10/27/2026