A.G. Gancarski
On Monday morning, members of the Jacksonville City Council wrestled again with Consolidation Task Force recommendations. Just a few of the highlights:
• A Jacksonville Strategic Planning Commission was discussed, with Finance Chairman Bill Gulliford pushing for it to be considered in Rules. Rules Chairman Matt Schellenberg then renewed his call for three terms, discussing the momentum and knowledge built up on the council. Gulliford concurred, then pivoted the discussion toward the unique role of the Independent Authorities in Jacksonville. Schellenberg then talked about a bill he introduced a few years ago, requiring quarterly meetings between heads of authorities and the boards. Ali Korman Shelton noted that the mayor’s office does meet regularly with them under the current administration.
Lori Boyer noted that such connection is essential to “figure out where the city wants to be in 10 years.”
Gulliford said, “The current mayor is doing the right things regarding this,” but with no guarantees that a future mayor will do the same, and advocated that codifying best practice in the Charter is the move.
Sam Mousa noted, meanwhile, that the “comprehensive plan is guidance for the future of Jacksonville.” Boyer smirked, then said that a comprehensive plan “could be” such guidance, but the current iteration is a “planner’s document” as opposed to a “businessman’s document.”
Boyer then noted the existence of competing visions, themes that “have been implemented through lots of policies,” and that much of the comprehensive plan has been ignored.
As with last week’s discussion, the need for standing committees to be “proactive” rather than “reactive” came up.
• Gulliford brought up the existence of a “multitude of council rules” that need alteration, including codifying standing committee structure. Gulliford also noted that Recreation, Community Development, Public Health & Safety Committee could be more proactive. Boyer noted that Public Safety and Health could be doing a lot, but they kick a lot of the substantial work to Rules and Finance.
• Back to term limits. Boyer reiterated her support for such a measure, but in a “time when we can devote the energy” to messaging the bill. November, which would have turnout, would drive out uninformed voters. Gulliford noted the amount of undervoting on down ticket races in November elections.
Gulliford: “Term limits are a simplistic solution.” Gulliford noted that term limits actually increase the power of lobbyists and special interests to game discussions, bringing up Charleston’s progress in recent decades as an example of what continuity of government bred under Mayor Joe Riley.
• Along those lines, discussion of moving city elections from spring to fall, a recurrent topic, occurred. Nothing conclusive was decided.
