A.G. Gancarski
On Tuesday morning, the Jacksonville City Council Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety committee tackled a few bills of note, amidst an agenda heavy with deferrals. The main point of intrigue: 2015-322, which has been a point of contention in both the full Council meeting last week and committees on Monday.
2015-322 promotes a “three-year strategy” for fund allocation for affordable housing programs.
The bill has been noteworthy for a couple of reasons. In full Council last week, Katrina Brown drove for the re-referral to committee so new Council members could get up to speed on it. This caused consternation for at least one administration member, who thought she understood it and was on board.
Meanwhile, in committees, councilmembers said that the measure favored companies that were already in the loop, and said that the bill privileged non-profits via a “closed-door” process antithetical to the tenets of transparency that characterize this legislative body.
Chief of Staff Kerri Stewart mentioned that the bill was approved by Finance and recommended by the NICE Committee. She noted that the bill moves no funds, again, and just sets up a strategy for dispersal.
The bill moved with no dissent, 6-0.
