OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL

Jacksonville Ordinance Code tit. II, ch. 14

in effect

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 14.101 Office of Legislative Counsel created.

Sec. 14.101. - Office of Legislative Counsel created. There is hereby created, an Office of Legislative Counsel, which may be staffed by a chief legislative counsel, assistant legislative counsels, paralegals, or specially retained outside counsels, all to serve the special legal needs of the City Council. (Ord. 2014-664-E, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 14.102 Authority.

Sec. 14.102. - Authority. The Office of Legislative Counsel is created pursuant to Section 7.01, Charter, which states: "the council may create an office of legislative counsel within the legislative branch whose purpose shall be to advise and assist the council and its committees and members in the achievement of a clear, faithful and coherent expression of legislative policies and to perform such other related duties for the council as the council may by ordinance direct." (Ord. 2014-664-E, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 14.103 Purpose and Scope of Services.

Sec. 14.103. - Purpose and Scope of Services. The purpose of this Chapter is to make available to the City Council, as needed, independent legal advice, counsel and services. The City Council hereby recognizes that on occasion, conflicting issues may arise between the legislative branch, the executive branch and the independent agencies, such that independent legal advocacy and counsel, separate from the Office of General Counsel, may be necessary. The only limitation on the scope of services provided by the Office of Legislative Counsel is that the services be directly related to matters that can reasonably be expected to be acted upon by the City Council. (Ord. 2014-664-E, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 14.104 Administration.

Sec. 14.104. - Administration. The Office of Legislative Counsel shall be administratively housed, funded, budgeted and administered under and by the Council Secretary/Director. (Ord. 2014-664-E, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 14.105 Staffing.

Sec. 14.105. - Staffing. Attorney staffing and compensation for the Office of Legislative Counsel shall be effected and determined by the City Council Personnel Committee, subject to available funding, and subject to appeal by resolution of the City Council. Attorneys working for the Office of Legislative Counsel may be full or part-time City employees, or private attorneys or firms under engagement agreements approved by the Personnel Committee. No attorney in the office shall have civil service status or be entitled to the civil service protections of the Charter. The Council Secretary/Director shall coordinate and provide such administrative assistance that may be necessary for the proper functioning of the Office of Legislative Counsel. (Ord. 2014-664-E, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 14.106 Initiation and Supervision of legal services.

Sec. 14.106. - Initiation and Supervision of legal services. Legal services provided by the Office of Legislative Counsel shall be initiated and supervised by the Council President; except that the City Council, by resolution, may initiate the use of the Office of Legislative Counsel. (Ord. 2014-664-E, § 1)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 14.107 Coordination with Office of General Counsel.

Sec. 14.107. - Coordination with Office of General Counsel. It is contemplated that the relationship between the Office of Legislative Counsel and the Office of General Counsel shall be guided by the following principles: (a) Traditional legal services and staffing offered to the City Council by the Office of General Counsel shall continue. (b) As both the Office of General Counsel and the Office of Legislative Counsel share the singular purpose of supporting and representing the City of Jacksonville, the two offices shall, to the maximum extent practicable, cooperate and share legal resources, opinions, research, experts and expertise, and shall maintain strong and active lines of communication to vet legal issues, all for the ultimate purpose of providing the best legal outcomes to the City of Jacksonville. (c) The Office of Legislative Counsel and the Council Secretary/Director shall coordinate with the Office of General Counsel in order to make available hard copy and electronic research to the Office of Legislative Counsel in the most cost effective manner to the City. (d) Nothing contained herein is intended to limit the General Counsel's authority to issue legal opinions as provided for in Section 7.02, Charter. (Ord. 2014-664-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=TITIILEBR_CH14OFLECOFetched: 10/27/2026