Jax Council Finance OKs $250,000 for Hemming Park stage

[photo: Hemming Park Facebook Page]

An ordinance appropriating $250,000 from Jacksonville City Council contingency funds to construct a stage at downtown’s Hemming Park was approved Monday by a 6-to-1 vote of the Finance Committee after over an hour of discussion.

There were some sticking points beforehand. Multiple members of the committee expressed serious qualms about this particular deal, and about the larger plan Friends of Hemming Park has to make its effort financially self-sustaining.

The first: a clause saying that if “Friends of Hemming Park is dissolved, then any reimbursements can be made to Community First,” which seeks the naming rights to the stage.

Councilwoman Lori Boyer wanted to ensure that the city could cancel or extend the naming rights agreement at its discretion, should Friends of Hemming Park be dissolved.

Councilman John Crescimbeni noted that the $250,000 could be used in operating costs, which would put the city on the hook for reimbursement should FOHP be dissolved.

Boyer then noted in most cases, the “city gets substantially more than [$50,000 a year] for naming rights,” which led Crescimbeni to wonder if the best deal possible has been negotiated.

From there, a Community First vice president of marketing, Roger Rasmann, noted that it was much simpler than Council was making out, adding the bank’s preference is for five years guaranteed.

Jacksonville’s Chief Financial Officer, Mike Weinstein, noted that city wanted an out clause “to get out if we needed to.”

Weinstein added that the administration has yet to review the budget for Hemming Park, including anticipated budget costs for the next year and capital improvement.

The project is slated to be completed by March 31, 2017, according to an agreement. Bids have not been solicited, so it is an open question whether construction can be completed with $250,000, even as FOHP is negotiating contributions of labor for construction.

There is no requirement for competitive bidding on this project.

Crescimbeni took the gloves off about halfway into the discussion, noting a meeting with FOHP where they solicited estimates from just one contractor.

“That’s not exactly what I had in mind that day,” Crescimbeni said, noting that he doesn’t have a “strong sense of confidence in how this operation’s being managed.”

“I don’t get the feeling that they’re trying to pinch pennies,” Crescimbeni said. “I want penny pinching that leads to a better park.”

“I don’t think I can support the bill,” Crescimbeni continued. “I don’t feel comfortable that we are getting the [needed] level of management over there.”

Chairman Gulliford attempted to put the brakes on Crescimbeni’s objections, but the train was rolling downhill.

“I’ve had a couple of conversations with these people, and I’m not convinced,” said Crescimbeni. “One estimate? Come on! Who spends $250,000 and gets one estimate?

“I want these people to spend this money like it’s coming out of their own pocket,” Crescimbeni continued. “They only need to talk to the contractors.”

Gulliford then noted the “general” nature of the FOHP five-year plan before saying “we’ve basically made a deal that we’re going to fund them … I’ll vote for it, but I have great reservations.”

Boyer noted the $250,000 was put in contingency during budget talks last year, pending a more fleshed-out plan from FOHP.

“We were concerned and wanted to see … if they were going to become more self-sufficient,” Boyer related.

Councilman Aaron Bowman rose to oppose the five-year plan, calling costs “exorbitant,” but said he was “fine with approving” the bill at hand.

“We need to start talking about what is the future and will we be comfortable with,” Bowman said, adding that “we’re paying for a lot of lunches and a lot of meetings” for FOHP heads.

If this money was not appropriated, FOHP’s Wayne Wood cautioned they only have enough capital for a few months.

Councilman Danny Becton was not moved.

“The five-year plan was not inspiring … and didn’t look like something that was given a lot of thought … [Y]ou guys need to go back to the drawing board,” Becton said, before offering support for this particular capital improvement.

Crescimbeni expressed more skepticism regarding potential cost overruns, noting that the city collects garbage and handles other services.

He proposed an amendment to define the scope of the stage, without potentially pricey add-ons that could bloat the scope of the project.

Crescimbeni and Friends of Hemming Park CEO Vince Cavin discussed Cavin’s “original contemplation” of the project, without frills like lights and sound that could push up the cost.

Boyer thought there would be “some lights” and sound capability.

“It’s almost like dressing a woman and not giving her enough money to get fully dressed,” Councilman Gaffney said, expressing concerns that FOHP wouldn’t have enough money to complete the project.