City Council Staff

Office of the City Council
117 W. Duval Street
City Hall, Suite 425
Jacksonville, FL 32202

Office: (904) 255-5122 [for legislative issues only, for general matters please contact (904)-630-CITY]
FAX: (904) 255-5232
TTY: (904) 255-5223

Organizational Chart - Revised 07/01/2023
City Council Phone Directory - Revised 08/8/2023
Council Committee Roster - Revised 07/01/2023
Council Member & Assistant Roster - Revised 08/7/2023

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Margaret M. "Peggy" Sidman, Director/Council Secretary

The Office of the Council Secretary is a department of the legislative branch of government. The Director/Council Secretary is the head of the department, and is responsible for all matters of staff support for the Council. This office includes four divisions: Administrative Services Division, Legislative Services Division, Public Information Division and Research Division.

The Director/Council Secretary is responsible for all divisions and functions of the department and exercises direct control and supervision over all department staff, including chiefs; but excluding the Executive Council Assistants.

The Director/Council Secretary is charged to do the following:

• Provide and maintain budget preparation for the Council Staff Services Budget;
• Refer requests for information to agencies within City government;
• Arrange for public broadcast of Council meetings and selected proceedings, either through contract with a third-party provider, or through in-house systems installed in Council meeting areas;
• Keep the records of the Council and be the official signatory and perform all duties, which are assigned by the Charter or by law;
• Maintain the offices, chambers, committee rooms and conference rooms of the City Council;
• Provide clerical and secretarial assistance to Council Committees and subcommittees and to boards and commissions that function as an extension of the Council;
• Provide, maintain, and update the official legislative files, committee calendars and Council Agenda, and other documents necessary to the conduct of legislative business, and be responsible for all official records of the legislative branch of government;
• Provide the Council, its committees and members, with information, data and policy analysis, necessary to the proper conduct of legislative business;
• Responsible for all equipment as assigned and maintained by the City Council.

Merriane G. Lahmeur, Chief of Legislative Services

The Legislative Services Division is responsible for all legislative operations of the Council, its committees, and boards and commissions. The Division facilitates the legislative process and records management for the Office of City Council. Responsibilities include:

• processing legislation and all amendments thereto.
• preparing and posting public meeting notices for City Council, Standing Committees, Special Committees, and related subcommittees.
• establishing and maintaining legislative files.
• preparing meeting agendas for each Council and Committee meeting, in accordance with the Council Rules.
• providing general legislative staff support for all meetings of the Council, its committees, and boards and commissions.
• records management and retention for the Office of City Council.
• maintaining all minutes and other official records of the Council, including indexing and publishing of records.
• responding to public records requests from within the Office of City Council, other City departments and agencies, and members of the public.
• preparing and publishing all newspaper notices required by law to be published on behalf of and for the City Council.
• providing general legislative process guidance to those within the Office of City Council, other City departments and agencies, and members of the public.

Teresa Eichner, Chief of Public Information

This division is charged with supporting the policy-making process of the Council, including:

• Manage the public relations of the Council.
• ​Respond to requests for information from the public, the media, or other governments, for information about the Council, or when appropriate, refer requests for information to agencies within the City government.
• Maintain the Council's internet website.
• At minimum, publish an annual printed bulletin on the membership and committee assignments of the Council to be used to inform the public.
• Maintain the audio/visual facilities and equipment of the Council. Maintain a scheduling system for these facilities.
• With the approval of the Council Secretary, arrange for the public broadcast of Council meetings and selected proceedings, either through contract with a third-party provider, or through in-house systems installed in Council meeting areas.
• Generally, assist the public with information about the Council and its proceedings, assuring public access and comfort at all Council meetings, committee meetings, and other special meetings or programs of interest to the public.
• Perform such other duties and tasks as may be assigned by the Council Secretary, the Council President or the Council.

Jeff Clements, Chief of Research

This division is charged with supporting the policy-making process of the Council, including:

• preparing a summary of each bill introduced into Council
• professional staffing of standing, select and special committees of the Council;
• preparing informative material on matters of interest to the Council (as a whole or individual members) or relevant to proposed legislation;
• conducting research on emerging issues;
• maintaining the Council Library;
• drafting resolutions for Council members;
• preparing a reference sheet for each Council meeting that explains amendments and substitutes (known as the 'blue sheet');
• providing a clipping service of local periodicals/publications and maintaining clip files;
• maintaining a listing of the members of the Council's boards and commissions.

Yvonne P. Mitchell, Chief of Administrative Services

This division is charged with administrative support of the Council, including:

• maintaining all personnel, payroll and purchasing files and records;
• coordinating the procurement, maintenance and repair of various equipment, including computers, printers, pagers, cellular phones, furniture, etc.;
• preparing periodic budget reports;
• processing travel documents;
• processing/payment of dues and subscriptions, printing requests, rentals and leases;
• issuing parking cards and decals for City Hall parking garage spaces;
• maintaining the physical facilities and meeting spaces within the Council suite and developing a system to provide for their usage;
• staffing of the Council reception area;
• supervision of civil service Council Aides.