A.G. Gancarski
Approved in the Finance Committee meeting on Monday morning, the Jacksonville City Council’s Transportation Energy and Utilities Committee approved a resolution on Monday afternoon supporting the application by the city of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority for the Passenger Ferry Program.
The resolution, introduced by Councilman John Crescimbeni and co-sponsored by Councilman Doyle Carter, notes “that the St. Johns River Ferry is projected to serve over 450,000 passengers in the 2014/2015 budget year, up from 304,118 for the year prior,” and that “the Ferry has been designated as part of Florida Highway A1A for inclusion in the East Coast Greenway, a developing trail system, spanning 3,000 miles between Canada and Key West.”
As well, the bill language says that “the Council also desires to indicate its ongoing support for the St. Johns River Ferry with a resolution of support for the Passenger Ferry Grant Program application and pledges its continued partnership with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to promote the viability and continued operation of the St. Johns River Ferry.”
JTA is scheduled to take over the Ferry before April, 2016. The resolution was approved.
— As well, a public hearing was held regarding amending and renewing the Certificate of Need for the Otis Road Landfill. Local lobbyist Paul Harden, making the push, said that for debris disposal in the event of a hurricane, the landfill needed to be a Class III landfill.
John Coxwell, an active local political contributor, owns the landfill, which was approved originally in 2011.
A neighbor was concerned about adverse effects to the local well water from this landfill; Harden observed that “quite frankly, we went through all this last time,” and suggested that misinformation was being spread by a “competitor.”
Houses are being buffered off, in accordance to a “series of conditions” last time, Harden continued.
Crescimbeni pointed out neighborhood opposition from four years before; Harden observed that was a reaction to letters sent out by Advanced Disposal, a competitor, which ginned up said opposition.
This landfill will not have appliances, nor will it have food, nor hazardous waste, in accordance with relevant statute.
The same neighbor from before, whose family has 1,400 acres nearby, expressed concern about property values, traffic, and other issues.
The ordinance was approved 7-0.
