THE COUNCIL

Jacksonville Charter pt. A, art. 5

in effect

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.01 Council membership, residence areas and districts.

Section 5.01. - Council membership, residence areas and districts. The council shall consist of 19 members and there shall be 14 council districts and 5 at-large residence areas. Each council district shall elect one council member. The council districts are described in appendix 1 to this charter. Five council members shall be elected at large. One at-large council member shall reside in each at-large residence area. The initial at-large residence areas are described in Appendix 1-A to this charter. (Ord. 91-1356-600, § 1; Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 1; Ord. 92-1982-1455, § 2)

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.02 Redistricting of council districts and residence areas.

Section 5.02. - Redistricting of council districts and residence areas. (a) Within 8 months after publication of each official federal census of the City of Jacksonville (Duval County), the council shall redistrict the 14 council districts and 5 at-large residence areas so that all districts and at-large residence areas are as nearly equal in population and are arranged in a logical and compact geographic pattern to the extent possible. If the council shall be unable to complete the redistricting of the council districts within 8 months after the official publication of the census, the general counsel shall petition the circuit court for the fourth judicial circuit to make such redistricting. Any redistricting of the council districts or at-large residence areas made pursuant to this section shall not affect any term of office in existence at the date of such redistricting, but shall be applicable beginning with the next succeeding general consolidated government election which occurs at least 9 months after the effective date of the redistricting. (b) The council shall establish the initial 5 at-large residence areas according to the same considerations for reapportioning the existing council and school districts as are established in chapter 18 of the Ordinance Code. Establishment of the initial 5 at-large residence areas by the council shall be accomplished no later than 9 months prior to the opening of the qualifying period for candidates seeking election in the 1995 consolidated government elections. Subsequent reapportionment of the residence areas shall be accomplished in the same manner provided for in the Ordinance Code for the reapportionment of council and school board districts. The 5 council members elected countywide in the general consolidated government election occurring in 1995 and thereafter shall each qualify from 1 of the 5 residence areas. (Ord. 90-765-354, § 6; Ord. 91-759-252, § 3; Ord. 91-1356-600, § 2; Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 1; Ord. 2012-74-E, § 1)

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.03 Terms of councilmen.

Section 5.03. - Terms of councilmen. Councilmen shall serve for a term of 4 years beginning on the first day of July after their election, and continuing after such term until their successors are elected and qualified. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 1)

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.04 Qualifications and compensation of council members.

Section 5.04. - Qualifications and compensation of council members. Every member of the council shall be continuously throughout his or her term of office, a resident and qualified elector of Duval County, and of his or her district or residence area. A candidate for the office of member of the council shall have resided in and been a qualified elector of Duval County for at least 183 consecutive days immediately before the date on which the candidate qualifies to run for the office of member of the council; and if the person is a candidate for the office of member of the council from a district or residence area, the candidate must also have resided in and been a qualified elector of that district or residence area for at least 183 consecutive days immediately before the date on which the candidate qualifies to run for the office of member of the council from a district or residence area. Members of the council shall not hold any other public office except as notary public nor shall any member of the council be an employee of the City or any of its independent agencies except for certificated employees of the Duval County School Board. Members of the council shall receive an annual salary to be fixed by the council. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 71-698; Laws of Fla., Ch. 73-509; Ord. 79-821-516, § 1; Laws of Fla., Ch. 90-452, § 1; Ord. 91-1356-600, § 3; Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 1; Ord. 2025-341-E, § 2)

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.05 Elected constitutional officers.

Section 5.05. - Elected constitutional officers. Councilmen shall be considered elected constitutional officers for purposes of s. 8, Article II of the State Constitution. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 77-582; Ord. 84-1307-754, § 1; Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 1)

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.06 Vacancies; temporary appointments.

Section 5.06. - Vacancies; temporary appointments. The office of a council member shall become vacant upon his or her death, resignation, failure to reside continuously in the district or residence area from which he or she was elected, except in the event redistricting should occur during his or her term of office pursuant to section 5.02, or removal from office in any manner authorized by law. A vacancy in the council shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by election of a council member at a special election to be called pursuant to resolution of the city council and held on a date no sooner than 1 month and no later than 6 months after the vacancy occurs, which special election shall, if possible, be held in conjunction with any other election scheduled to be held within the county. Any resignation by a council member shall be submitted in writing to the supervisor of elections (with a copy to the secretary of the city council), shall specify the date on which it is effective, and shall be irrevocable. If any council member submits a resignation which is effective at a date later than that on which it is submitted, the city council may, by resolution, call a special election for the election of a successor, said special election to be held on a date not less than 1 month after the date the resignation is submitted nor more than 6 months prior to the date the resignation is effective; and such special elections shall, if possible, be held in conjunction with any other election scheduled to be held within the county. In those situations in which a vacancy exists in a council district or at-large resident area and such vacancy is filled in the first consolidated government election or in the general consolidated government election, the council member-elect, who has been duly elected in the first consolidated government election, or in the general consolidated government election to represent said vacant district or at-large residence area, shall take office and assume and exercise all duties of office immediately after certification of said election returns, as of the date of said certification, in order to reduce the time the council district or at-large residence area is vacant and without representation. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 73-509; Laws of Fla., Ch. 77-576; Laws of Fla., Ch. 83-433, § 1; Ord. 84-1307-754, § 1; Ord. 91-1356-600, § 4; Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 1; Laws of Fla., Ch. 2000-389)

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.07 Powers.

Section 5.07. - Powers. All legislative powers of the consolidate government (except such as are retained by the second, third, fourth, and fifth urban services districts) are vested in the council, and the council may legislate with respect to any and all matters which are within the powers of the consolidated government. The council shall review the budgets and appropriate money to the consolidated government and any independent agencies which request appropriations from the consolidated government and shall also levy taxes as required to meet the budgets approved by it. The council shall fix the salaries of the property appraiser, the tax collector, the sheriff, the supervisor of elections, and the clerk of the circuit and county court for Duval County, but not lower than the highest salary by the most recent general law as it may be from time to time amended setting a salary for those elected officials in counties similar in population to Duval County. No salary set by the council pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be reduced during the term of office of the elected officer receiving that salary. The council shall be the judge of the elections and qualifications of councilmen. The council shall provide for payment of reasonable per diem and travel expenses incurred in travel and other duties performed for public purpose by officials and employees of the consolidated government and its independent agencies and candidates for such positions, and for payment of relocation expenses for new officers and employees thereof, the provisions and limitations of s. 112.061, Florida Statutes, notwithstanding. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 69-1175; Laws of Fla., Ch. 71-698; Laws of Fla., Ch. 78-536, § 6; Ord. 84-1307-754, § 1; Ref. of 5-26-87; Laws of Fla., Ch. 89-487, § 1; Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 1; Ord. 93-179-185, § 1)

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.08 Procedures.

Section 5.08. - Procedures. The council shall meet regularly at least once in every month at such times and places as the council may prescribe. Special meetings may be held on call of the mayor or the president of the council, or seven or more members of the council, upon no less than 24 hours' notice to each member of the council. Fourteen members of the council shall constitute a quorum. The council may take official action only by the adoption of ordinances or resolutions, and no ordinance or resolution shall be passed until it has been read on 3 separate days, unless it is adopted as an emergency measure, or the council authorizes by two-thirds vote of the members to have 2 readings for certain subjects of legislation, or for certain subjects of legislation relating to economic development, one or two readings, as provided in the City Council Rules, so long as the ordinances and resolutions so passed shall be enacted or adopted in the manner provided by general law. The council shall determine its own rules and order of business, keep a journal of its proceedings and annually select a president and a president pro tempore from its members. (Ord. 84-1307-754, § 3; Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 1; Ord. 2005-1460-E, § 1; Ord. 2012-213-E, § 1)

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.09 Investigations.

Section 5.09. - Investigations. The council or any duly appointed committee of the council may make investigations into the affairs of the consolidated government and the conduct of any department, office, or agency of the consolidated government and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony, and require the production of evidence. Any person who fails or refuses to obey a lawful order issued in the exercise of these powers by the council shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment of not more than 60 days, or both. (Ord. 84-1307-754, § 1; Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 1)

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.10 Auditor.

Section 5.10. - Auditor. The council shall appoint an auditor who shall be a certified public accountant or public accountant, as defined under the laws of Florida governing the practice of public accountancy in Florida. This auditor shall be the council auditor and shall be the head of the council auditor's office which shall be a department of the legislative branch of the consolidated government. The auditor shall be responsible for the performance of the duties provided in this Section and such other duties as may be assigned him by the council. The council auditor may be removed by the council and the removal must be concurred in by a majority of the entire membership of the council. The auditor shall: (a) Have the authority to examine the accounting systems used by all offices and departments of the consolidated government and all commissions, entities, and independent agencies, and advise the council as to whether all such systems provide for full disclosure of the financial results and adequate information for the management needs and budgetary requests of each such office, department, board, and agency, and any commissions or entities, whether presently in existence or hereinafter created by the mayor, council, or Legislature, including, without limitation, the sheriff, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, tax collector, clerk of the circuit court, Duval County School Board, JEA, Jacksonville Port Authority, Jacksonville Airport Authority, Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Board of Trustees, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Duval County Housing Finance Authority, Jacksonville Housing and Community Development Commission, Housing Community Development Finance Authority, and the Kids Hope Alliance. (b) Have the authority to conduct a continuous internal audit of the fiscal operations of the consolidated government and all commissions, entities, and independent agencies, whether presently in existence or hereinafter created by the mayor, council, or Legislature, including, without limitation, the sheriff, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, tax collector, clerk of the circuit court, Duval County School Board, JEA, Jacksonville Port Authority, Jacksonville Airport Authority, Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Board of Trustees, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Duval County Housing Finance Authority, Jacksonville Housing and Community Development Commission, Housing Community Development Finance Authority, and the Kids Hope Alliance. (c) Submit such reports and financial statements to the council as it may from time to time require. (d) Render assistance to the independent auditor appointed by the council under Section 5.11 as agreed upon between him and the independent auditor. This assistance shall be extended to all special audits or limited examinations ordered by the council under Section 5.11. (e) Do such other research as the council president, the committee on finance or individual council member may request concerning the financial or management affairs of the consolidated government or of the agencies to which the council makes miscellaneous appropriations, including any commissions or entities, whether presently in existence or hereinafter created by the mayor, council, or Legislature, including, without limitation, the sheriff, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, tax collector, clerk of the circuit court, Duval County School Board, JEA, Jacksonville Port Authority, Jacksonville Airport Authority, Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Board of Trustees, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Duval County Housing Finance Authority, Jacksonville Housing and Community Development Commission, Housing Community Development Finance Authority, and the Kids Hope Alliance. All nongovernmental agencies which receive funds from the City of Jacksonville shall be subject to audit by the council auditor's office in the event such audit is requested by the council and the completion of this audit may be a condition precedent to the release of appropriated funds to any such nongovernmental agency. The term "nongovernmental agency" means an agency that is not part of the legislative, executive, or judicial branches of the government of the City of Jacksonville or any of its independent agencies and includes agencies which are private, public, or a combination of both. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 86-399, § 2; Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 1; Laws of Fla., Ch. 2003-369, § 1; Ord. 2017-563-E, § 11)

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.11 Independent audit.

Section 5.11. - Independent audit. The council shall provide for an annual independent audit, certified by an unqualified opinion, of the accounts and financial transactions of the consolidated government. The audit shall be made by an accountant or an accounting firm selected by the council. No such accountant or firm, or member thereof, shall have any personal interest, direct or indirect, in the fiscal affairs of the consolidated government. The independent audit shall be made by a certified public accountant or public accountant, as defined under the laws of Florida governing the practice of public accountancy in Florida, maintaining a regular full-time professional office in the State of Florida. The final report of the independent audit shall be completed as soon as practicable after the close of the fiscal year and in no event later than 6 months after the close of the fiscal year. The audit report shall be filed with the secretary of the council and shall be available to the public. In addition to the independent annual audit, the council may at any time order a limited examination or special audit of any office, department, board, or agency of the consolidated government by an independent accountant having the qualifications described above. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 1; Ord. 94-1145-643, § 1)

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.12 Secretary and other council employees.

Section 5.12. - Secretary and other council employees. The council shall select a secretary who shall keep the records of the council and perform such other duties as may be required of him by the council and this charter. The council may select and employ such employees as are necessary to assist the secretary and the auditor in their duties subject to the civil service provisions of this charter and the rules and regulations enacted pursuant thereto. (Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 1)

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.13 Reserved.

Jacksonville Charter, art. 5, § 5.041 Limitation of Term of Office.

Section 5.041. - Limitation of Term of Office. No person elected for two consecutive full terms as a member of the council shall be eligible for election as a council member in the next succeeding term. A council term ending on or prior to June 30, 1991, shall not be considered a consecutive term for purposes of this section. (Referendum of May 21, 1991; Laws of Fla., Ch. 92-341, § 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_ART5THCOFetched: 10/27/2026