Jacksonville leaders are racing to revive the city’s Park Safety Council after local reporting revealed the volunteer board repeatedly failed to meet quorum and has produced only one quarterly report since its creation. City officials say they are adding members and reviewing how the council is structured so that park inspections and safety findings actually make their way to the mayor and City Council, as originally intended. The council was set up after a child’s death and is responsible for reviewing park inspections and delivering quarterly safety reports to city leaders.
Investigation flagged poor attendance
As reported by Action News Jax, the six-member Park Safety Council needs four members present to conduct official business. It has frequently fallen short of that mark, leaving the board unable to approve the regular quarterly reports it is supposed to deliver. Chair Bruce Tyson told the station he had been asking city officials for help and even floated the idea of changing the quorum rule. “I’ve made that request to several different people and entities, and so far I’ve seen no action on it,” Tyson told the outlet.
Why the council exists
According to the City of Jacksonville, the Park Safety Council was created by Executive Order No. 2020-01 following the 2017 death of toddler Amari Harley. The order tasks the council with developing park-safety standards and issuing quarterly reviews of park conditions. The city’s page also lists meeting schedules and notes that the members are volunteers, with one representative from each of Jacksonville’s planning districts.
City response and next steps
Action News Jax reports that the administration has moved to fill at least one open seat on the council and plans to watch whether the new appointments are enough to fix the quorum problem. City officials told the station they want to see if fresh members can help the board complete inspections and sign off on the quarterly reports it was created to produce before proposing any changes to the executive order that established the council.
How to get involved
Residents interested in serving on the Park Safety Council can apply through the city’s broader boards-and-commissions process. Per the appointments information from the Jacksonville City Council, applicants complete an online form, after which the Parks Department forwards recommendations to the mayor for final appointment. Like other members of the council, appointees serve as volunteers representing the city’s various planning districts.
