A.G. Gancarski
On Tuesday morning, the Jacksonville Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee handled a number of bills.
- One such: 2015-428, a bill from the Capital Improvement Project committee, which Councilwoman Lori Boyer discussed.
“The real reason this particular bill was referred to RCDPHS,” said Boyer, was that it “provides that the administration in the CIP” process is forced to provide rationales for its capital improvement processes, including explanation of variation from suggested minimum amounts.
Capital improvements, obviously, encompass parks, sidewalks, and other essentials to this committee.
Boyer and the CIP committee worked closely with the Lenny Curry administration in developing this legislation, which was deferred until the end of the just-concluded budget process. It will eliminate many of the communication gaps between the executive and legislative branches, which was a constant grouse of Council in recent years related to budgeting.
“The concern I have lots of times is we’re making more things to read,” said Chairman Doyle Carter, who wanted to know if this was creating “more dog tails to chase.”
Carter was advised that the “quality of the content” would make for better decisions from Council.
The bill passed committee unanimously, as it did Finance on Monday.
- From there, the committee moved to 2015-693, a bill that seeks to address the public plague of roof tarps left on their houses for too long. Many issues with this bill were worked out in Finance Committee the previous day.
Tarps can remain on roofs for up to six months in case of emergency or natural disaster, with another six month permissible with an active permit. Without an emergency, tarps are permitted for just 30 days under this bill.
The committee was satisfied; the bill passed unanimously. However, this is the kind of bill which, like the infamous controversy over backing cars into driveways, can lead to interesting discussions in front of the full Council.
- From there, the attention turned to the proposed John Gorrie Dog Park in Riverside. On hand to advocate for the measure: Carmen Godwin from Riverside Avondale Preservation.
The bill, which many in the community have wanted for 2 1/2 years, allocates $100,000 for a dog park at Riverside Park, which is a frequent gathering place for people throughout the urban core neighborhoods. This money is matched by private fundraising, including $50,000 from Delores Barr Weaver, and as Councilman Jim Love related, the funds are district-specific.
This bill also passed without objection. As did another measure approved by Finance: $266K to the Jacksonville Public Library for the Library Enhancement Access Program. The monies will be allocated via the Jax Journey program.
- Finally, an emergency bill, reauthorizing the St. Johns River Ferry Joint Participation Agreement with FDOT, passed without objection. Recall that the JPA had lapsed, related to Federal lands Access Program money, with FDOT closing the contract, and imperiling at least a portion of the $450,000 due the city.
Now, it seems, FDOT can reopen the previous agreement… which means that this legislation can be seen as a supplement or a CYA move to provide more security for the city’s position.
Councilman Matt Schellenberg raised concerns over the money that was expected to be reimbursed under the terms of the previous agreement.
“We’re going to be out $225 [thousand] no matter what the first four months,” he observed.
Discussion heated up between Schellenberg and Paige Johnston of the General Counsel Office, with Schellenberg questioning assertions that the Ferry was generating money or turning a profit.
Schellenberg was the 1 in a 5 to 1 vote to authorize the funds.
- Finally, the meeting wrapped with a presentation from Barbara Gubbin of the Jacksonville Public Library, related to the LEAP funds.
“I think you know that the Jax Journey is about fighting crime,” Gubbin said, who linked crime with “low-levels of literacy” among “community members.”
To that end, she says, “those who commit crimes are frequently people who are unable to function as literate members of our society.”
“The people we’re trying to reach with our literacy efforts,” Gubbin added, are “least likely to take advantage of our literacy services.”
The bet Council is making: using the library as a means of community outreach will renew its purpose, and perhaps help to quell crime in high-incidence areas.
