Peter Schorsch
On Friday, during a Jacksonville City Council meeting on the possibility of civilian review boards, conversation spilled over into a discussion of something even more central: the nature of the consolidated city itself.
Consolidation — now nearly a half-century old — failed to deliver on all expectations of Jacksonville’s underserved communities.
“Some promises have not been kept,” Council President Lori Boyer said in June.
Discussion of such comes up in city meetings between the mayor’s office and council leadership, identifying infrastructure projects as pressing needs.
However, what those meetings never include: a discussion of what would happen if Jacksonville deconsolidated.
Friday’s meeting did.
And though the possibility of Councilmembers Reggie Gaffney, Katrina Brown, and Reggie Brown getting seven more votes to deconsolidate seems unlikely, there may be an ordinance from Brown, perhaps authorizing a referendum on the matter.
As Brown told Jenna Bourne of Action News Jax: “If we are really going to talk about the reason that we consolidated the city in the first place, it was because the minority population was growing rapidly and we wanted to reduce that population so they couldn’t control the city. And that’s not a reason to consolidate the city.”
“I think we’ve grown beyond that and we’re ready to build bridges,” said Brown.
The beef: Beach residents get to vote in Jacksonville’s citywide elections while maintaining local governments. This local sovereignty, which seems unfair to Brown and many from NW Jacksonville, was the price pro-consolidation leaders of the time paid for support from the beaches.
If the beaches had not supported the measure, Jacksonville would have retained a city government and a county government, each with duplicative services — and corruption galore. The beaches cut a special deal, in other words, because they represented a margin of defeat (or victory) for the referendum.
During the meeting, Gaffney asked about the financial impact of deconsolidation.
A measure of its irrevocable nature: that impact likely cannot be calculated. It certainly can’t be guessed.
The impact of changing the interlocal agreements alone is probably enough to give city planners conniption fits.
However, another point bears consideration: the very real, very unresolved differences between the parts of Jacksonville mostly contained in Council Districts 7 — 10, and the way the rest of the city lives.
Street violence and aggressive policing. Food deserts and poor health outcomes. Delayed septic tank phaseout and water, in some places, compared to that in Flint.
These issues aren’t found in Hidden Hills, Deerwood or the Town Center. They are located on Cleveland Road, in Grand Park and so on.
The infrastructure issues: these are being addressed, more or less as resources permit, by the Lenny Curry administration.
The current JEA Agreement allows for $30 million in shared costs on septic removal between the city and the JEA. Curry undoubtedly will push for some state help on this project, which will cost at least $300 million, also.
But these are not going to bring businesses to places like West Edgewood Avenue, where pawnshops, hair and nails shops, and fried food predominate, rather than the kind of sustainable businesses seen in thriving neighborhoods. And it’s uncertain what will fix that. REV Grants only go so far.
Gentrification, touted as the rising tide that lifts all boats, comes with costs for those pioneers.
Local entrepreneur Alyssa Key is renovating a building on Main Street in Springfield (miles away from NW Jax), to turn it into a performance space. Yet she’s encountering a security problem. At night, when workers are gone, some enterprising locals have tried to break in … by removing the bricks from the base.
Those loosened bricks, eroding the integrity of the building’s foundation, illustrate the paradox.
To invest in neighborhoods that have suffered grievous losses — losses of businesses and community cohesion, shifts from owners to renters — one exposes her to the risks of being a pioneer.
They often pay off — if one has the requisite patience, capital, and time.
It is as true for city governments as it is for property developers.
Top talker — “The city needs to get out of the pension business” via Ron Littlepage of the Florida Times-Union — Unwelcome word came this week that in the next budget year, the bill to taxpayers to support pensions for police and firefighters would come in $44 million higher than had been expected. That would put the annual payment in the 2017-18 city budget at $202.6 million, or about one-fifth of the total general fund. Mayor Curry isn’t happy about the turn of events. Fingers are being pointed in many directions. The likely culprit is one or more of the assumptions used to predict the cost of future benefits paid to retirees, such as the rate of return on the pension fund’s investments, the life span of retirees, the amount of payroll, etc. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Each year actuaries take into account all of the assumptions and determine the amount of the contribution the city must make to the pension fund to keep it healthy. Clearly that hasn’t been working.
“FOP fires back against mayor’s office in pension flap” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics –“Who knew what when?” That’s the question posed by Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police head Steve Zona in a two-paragraph open letter regarding the latest in Jacksonville’s police and fire pension fund drama … Mayor Curry expressed frustration over problems with calculations of a “waiver” from the Jacksonville PFPF that could result in an additional $45 million of pension obligations per annum. “I’m frustrated,” Curry said. “This is more nonsense coming from the pension board. It appears that the actuary has not been using the standard [established] under Florida law in calculating our pension obligation. If that’s correct, if what I’ve learned is accurate, that’s going to end up costing the city another $44 to $45 million a year in pension costs.”
Zona, whose organization is embroiled in collective bargaining with the mayor’s office on a new pension plan for new hires, asserts that the mayor is posturing for political purposes. “There is a very simple question everybody needs to ask themselves after the mayor spoke about the increased payment from the city to the pension fund. Who knew what when? It appears that the city is claiming that it was a surprise and that no one knew the payment was coming,” Zona writes, before contending that the city did know, based on a January meeting of the police and fire pension fund where the matter was discussed with city senior staff. Zona calls Curry’s positioning an “unwarranted attack” on the PFPF, which “operated in the sunshine for all to see, AND the city was there participating in these decisions.”
“Council VP miffed over pension miscalculation” via Jim Piggott of News4Jax –The city is paying $150 million into the pension deficit this year. That number increases each year … Councilman John Crescimbeni showed documents he found, detailing an exchange between actuaries for the fund and for the state back in 2014. Even then, Crescimbeni said, the state showed concern about an assumption that the city payroll would increase by more than 3 percent — when the city had cut wages in 2010. “Why would the actuary use that formula knowing full well we had a pay cut in 2010 to general employees, followed by pay cuts to police and firefighters in years thereafter. And some of those folks have never gotten a pay restoration since then. Some of them have crept back up with step-raises. It’s absurd,” Crescimbeni said. Crescimbeni also said he believes taxpayers, quote, “have had it up to their eyeballs” with the pension fund’s mismanagement.
“City Council to hike ticket surcharges” via Florida Politics – Sports and entertainment legislation took center stage … in a Jacksonville City Council committee … A bill increasing city-imposed ticket surcharges for the Veterans Memorial Arena, the Baseball Grounds of Jax, and the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts, while adding surcharges for events at the under construction amphitheater and flex field at the stadium, began its trek through city council committees … However, it wasn’t smooth sailing. And there is some work to be done before this bill gets through committees, which means it won’t be fully realized until 2017. The bill had its first hearing in Neighborhoods, Community Investments and Services. Had it been in effect in the current budget, the city would have realized over $1.25 million in more revenue. The surcharges would be earmarked for capital expenditures and capital maintenance. Councilman Bill Gulliford noted that the Jacksonville Symphony, a T-U Center tenant, has an issue with this bill, as they have assumed the fee and did not pass on the cost. Its CEO, Robert Massey, took the floor with concerns. While there are “desperate needs for improvement,” Massey noted that the start date of Jan. 1, 2017, comes in the middle of the symphony season, which passes on the costs to them.
“Neighborhood events bill back to council committees” via Florida Politics – Councilman Reggie Brown encountered some resistance the first time his bill to allocate $5,000 to each district council member for community events was in committee … in Neighborhoods, Community Investments and Services, the bill was back, in amended form. The amendment consisted of “friendly suggestions” from the ethics office, said the general counsel rep on hand. These amendments sought to sharpen distinctions between political events and events for community enrichment and education, the latter of which was the councilman’s intent. Among its terms: city dollars would only pay for internal costs, such as city resources relative to police and fire/rescue, bleachers and so on. Not for amenities like “bounce houses,” which Brown had advocated as something to give kids something to do while parents/guardians learned about city services. As well, the council member could not promote the event before the event was approved by the affected departments, risk management, the finance and ethics departments.
“Uphill slog for citizen review boards” via Florida Politics – Councilwoman Katrina Brown renewed her push for citizen review boards for police shooting … It’s a heavy lift, as charter precludes such a board; however, a sheriff’s office reform task force last month suggested that such a mechanism may be a worthwhile reform, even as the police union opposed it. Brown has prioritized a citizens’ review board during her time on the city council, with a public notice meeting in June and a request to the office of general counsel asking for ways forward. However, there are a number of legal impediments to affirmative council action in this direction. Among them: state legal protections for officers, via the law enforcement officer’s bill of rights. A potential way forward exists, however; a council bill to authorize a referendum for charter change might be an option, however unlikely. Also possible but unlikely: action from the state Legislature.
“Septic tank removal to begin” via Chris Hong of the Florida Times-Union – City Hall and JEA officials will soon begin a $30 million project to remove more than 1,000 failing septic tanks, an initiative they and environmental advocates say is a good start toward removing the huge number of leaking tanks that pollute local waterways. The project, paid for equally by both entities, will remove leaking septic tanks and install sewer and water lines in three neighborhoods in the northern and northwestern part of the city. Officials estimate the city has more than 60,000 failing septic tanks, which leak pollutants that cause illness and feed algae blooms in local waterways. Removing all of those will be a daunting task: Officials have estimated it could cost as much as $300 million.
Happening today — Lenny Curry to keynote Downtown Development Power Breakfast — The Jacksonville Mayor is scheduled to give the keynote address at the December Downtown Development Power Breakfast. Attendees will hear from local developers, civic leaders and government officials on what will be done in the coming year to keep momentum moving downtown. The Downtown Development Power Breakfast is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. at the Omni Jacksonville, 245 Water St. in Jacksonville.
Not exactly first class – During September’s budget deliberations, the Jacksonville City Council had a spirited discussion about travel budgets for organizations like the Florida League of Cities and the Florida Association of Counties.
Councilman Matt Schellenberg, a member of the FAC charter revision committee, made a case for a $20,000 travel budget for his association trips.
“If you are not on the ground level discussing these issues,” Schellenberg said, “you basically are on the outside looking in.”
Councilwoman Joyce Morgan, who attends meetings of the Florida League of Cities, stressed the “huge opportunity” created by participation, citing the outsized influence of small municipalities in the FLC.
“We need to have more people there,” Morgan said, noting that some of the smaller places have six or seven people representing them.
While a budget boost of $20,000 per year was made for travel on budget night, the reality is that Morgan and Schellenberg’s point — that council members need to have the resources those from other areas do for these events — stood at least partially unaddressed.
Since that meeting, the matter has come up again in committee, as well as a meeting Tuesday between Council VP John Crescimbeni and Finance Committee chair Anna Brosche, which may help to flesh out details.
Crescimbeni, in a conversation Friday, discussed the finite nature of council travel budgets, capped at $3,000 per capita per year, which doesn’t meaningfully reflect the responsibilities of someone tasked with these liaison roles.
Council spends a lot of money on association memberships, and Crescimbeni believes there is a need for travel allocation to allow representatives to maximize those investments, while learning things from other counties and cities.
Details will be hammered out in the meeting, including of a potential “succession plan” among association representatives to promote continuity.
“JTA planning pilot program with automated vehicles” via Sebastian Kitchen of the Florida Times-Union – Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Nathaniel Ford said JTA officials are in discussions with some autonomous vehicle manufacturers and he hopes to have one of them soon bring a vehicle to Jacksonville for a demonstration. He said their target is to have a pilot program in the next two years. “I would love to develop some sort of a pilot program [with an autonomous shuttle], but that is in the early stages of how that will work,” said Brad Thoburn, vice president of planning, development and innovation for JTA. He said they must determine what is feasible for Jacksonville and a pilot would determine how a vehicle would work here.
“Jacksonville’s income outpaces rental spikes, fourth best in U.S.” via Drew Dixon of the Florida Times-Union – SmartAsset, a financial and technical data analysis company, published a study analyzing rental prices in 100 U.S. cities between 2012 and 2015. On average, the findings determined, Jacksonville renters paid 3.9 percent less of their incomes on rent in 2015 as they did in 2012. The drop in income devoted to rent — even as rents went up overall — was mainly due to increasing incomes for renters during the same time frame in Jacksonville. In that three-year time span, the average annual cost for all residential rentals in Jacksonville increased 8.7 percent from $10,632 to $11,556 per year. The good news for renters is that annual salaries outpaced rental costs as average household incomes for renters jumped 12.7 percent over the same three years, going from $30,034 on average in 2012 to $36,686 in 2015, according to SmartAsset. … Detroit, Cleveland and Memphis, respectively, are the only other cities that topped Jacksonville.
“Jeff Atwater: Bottlenecking in insurance claims process needs addressing” via Jake Martin of the St. Augustine Record — Hurricanes Hermine and Matthew were at the forefront of discussion … as insurance company executives and field experts joined local and state officials in St. Augustine for a post-mortem of the 2016 hurricane season … The roundtable talk, held at Flagler College, was hosted by Florida Chief Financial Officer Atwater and Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier. Topics included the financial impact of this year’s hurricane season, the federal flood insurance program, and helping people navigate the insurance claims-filing process. The most recent data reports from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation show more than 100,000 insurance claims totaling $606 million in losses as a result of Hurricane Matthew and 18,000 insurance claims totaling $95 million as a result of Hurricane Hermine. However, those figures only cover claims filed through October. State insurance regulators have said updates will be available in early December, expecting some fluctuation. According to the data available, St. Johns County is responsible for 10,518 of the claims from Matthew and 121 of the claims from Hermine, with mixed results. Just 33.8 percent of the claims from Matthew have been closed, with 1,497 paid, 2,060 not paid and 6,961 still open. Most of the claims from Hermine have been closed, with 49 paid, 40 not paid and 32 still open. Altmaier said he had no concerns with the financial abilities of insurance companies to cover the claims from the two storms. He also said just because a claim was not paid doesn’t mean it was denied, citing instances such as where the value of damage claimed came in under the deductible. Atwater, referencing the data for Matthew, said he had concerns about the gap between private and federal closure rates. He said only 8.1 percent of federal claims were closed out, compared to 83 percent of private claims, and expressed a need to diagnose the disparity. “That would look to be a lag behind what’s being accomplished in other places,” he said.
Happening today — Global warming/climate change up for debate at A Shot of Politics — Billed as Drunk History meets Crossfire, Round 3 of “A Shot of Politics” will focus on global warming and climate change. The discussion is scheduled for 5 p.m. at The Volstead, 115 West Adams St. in Jacksonville.
“Donald Trump pick for top educator not popular with Duval Superintendent” via Steven Dial of WTLV — Trump recently appointed Betsy DeVos to be the next Secretary of Education. It’s a pick that isn’t popular with Duval County Superintendent Nickolai Vitti. “When I look at the new secretary of education’s background I only see a sole focus on choice,” said Vitti … When it comes to education, he says it’s an area of government that needs a lot of reform. “I think choice is part of the equation for reform but it can’t be a silver bullet and the singular focus for reform because you are missing out on the vast majority of students that are not interested in choice or don’t need choice.” To be clear, Dr. Vitti is for giving parents options when it comes to educating their children. He says competition is a good thing in education but there are more important areas to focus on. DeVos is the former chair of the Michigan Republican Party. She’s also a businesswoman and educator. DeVos is a longtime supporter of charter schools and school vouchers. Vitti says if that’s her focus on a national level, it won’t make real change.
“Corrine Brown’s chief of staff wants separate fraud trial from his boss” via Steve Patterson of the Florida Times-Union — An attorney representing Ronnie Simmons, who has worked a quarter-century for the congresswoman, told U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan that Simmons might not get a fair trial facing a jury with Brown. “The risk of prejudicial spillover to Mr. Simmons is tremendous,” attorney Anthony Suarez wrote in a motion to sever the cases against the two. Brown and Simmons were indicted together on a combined 24 charges, and each could face prison sentences exceeding 350 years if they were convicted on all counts. Both have pleaded innocent, and they’re scheduled to be tried together April 26. But Suarez pointed out big differences between the cases against them, and said it would be wrong to treat them as one. Brown supporters have carried signs outside the federal courthouse even during dull pretrial hearings, he noted, and said the attention the 24-year Democratic congresswoman generates could work against Simmons. “As a result of Ms. Brown’s political persona, the media has shown an intense interest,” Suarez wrote. “This is prejudicial to Mr. Simmons … could cause unfair juror bias or difficulty in selecting unbiased jurors.” Corrigan didn’t act immediately on the request, and isn’t expected to decide anything for weeks.
“Veterans will have to push Jax legislative agenda” via Tia Mitchell of the Florida Times-Union –Now that the 2017 legislative class has been sworn in, it’s time to size up our Northeast Florida delegation. The biggest thing to remember is that the group is full of newbies. Eight of its 15 members are freshmen in the Florida House. Rep. Jay Fant is starting his second term in the House; and Sen. Travis Hutson is in his first full term there after winning a 2015 special election. That means the delegation will lean upon its longest-serving members: Sen. Aaron Bean; Sen. Rob Bradley; Sen. Audrey Gibson; Rep. Travis Cummings; and Rep. Elizabeth Porter. Gibson will serve as chairwoman of the Duval Legislative Delegation, and Hutson is chair of the larger, regional First Coast Legislative Delegation. Local officials will rely on them to make sure their priorities get attention in Tallahassee, such as Mayor Curry’s request for state transportation dollars to reconfigure the Hart Expressway. The project has a $50 million price tag. All four Northeast Florida senators are in positions of authority, although in different ways.
Aaron Bean reads to children at San Marco branch library — Get ready for story time with Sen. Bean. The Fernandina Beach Republican is scheduled to read to children at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the San Marco Branch Library, 1513 LaSalle Street in Jacksonville. But that isn’t the only event on Bean’s schedule next week. He is also scheduled to speak to the Southside Men’s Club on Wednesday. The men’s club meets at 11:45 a.m. at the San Jose Country Club, 7529 San Jose Boulevard in Jacksonville. On Thursday, he’ll get in the holiday spirit with the Republican Women’s Club of Duval Federated. The club will host its annual Christmas Extravaganza at noon at the Lexington Riverwalk Hotel, 1515 Prudential Drive in Jacksonville.
New lobbying registrations — Chris Dudley, Southern Strategy Group: Florida State College at Jacksonville Foundation.
“Susie Wiles backs Blaise Ingoglia in GOP chair race” via Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster of Florida Politics –“Susie Wiles and Trump Florida Team did an amazing job harnessing the passion and the enthusiasm of the voters this election cycle and we are honored to have her support as we continue our campaign for re-election as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida,” said Ingoglia in an email to supporters. Ingoglia was elected chairman in 2015, after Republican activists rejected Gov. Rick Scott’s hand-picked chairman. He had served as the party vice chairman, and was backed by grassroots leaders throughout the state. “As Florida’s Chief Strategist for President-Elect Trump’s presidential campaign, I can say that the organization built under Chairman Ingoglia’s leadership was a crucial element to our success as we worked together with the Republican National Committee to deliver Florida,” said Wiles in a statement. “To continue that success in the future, we need a steady hand and consistent leadership who will continue to focus on the grassroots.” “I can’t think of anyone to better serve in that role than Blaise Ingoglia,” she continued. “I am proud to support him in his bid for re-election and am excited to see the new levels of success our party will find with him at the helm again.”
Happening Thursday — Duval GOP hosts Christmas party — The Republican Party of Duval County will hold its annual Christmas party at 7 p.m. at Jacksonville Landing, 2 W. Independent Drive in Jacksonville. The event will be held in the Blue Room, and there will be refreshments and a cash bar.
“Jax man makes Hillary Clinton the Grinch in Xmas decorations” via Action News Jax – A Jacksonville man decided to poke some fun at the campaign season by decorating his lawn with an unusual Christmas decoration. The man-made a 6-foot silhouette of the Grinch — and painted Hillary Clinton‘s features on it. The wooden lawn decoration features Clinton’s campaign symbol and what is supposed to be her hairdo. The Trump supporter said he wanted to make another cut-out of Trump but found it too difficult. The homeowner said he is waiting for some elements to finish the portion that will include Trump. He placed the Clinton-themed decoration near a red, white and blue Christmas tree on his lawn on Buttercup Street. The homeowner said he was trying to get some laughs this holiday season.
“City, businesses, chamber all looking at best ways to expand Nights Of Lights throughout St. Augustine” via Stuart Korfhage of the St. Augustine Record — The city’s signature holiday display that is mentioned by various media outlets as a top Christmastime attraction is often credited to adding potential customers to downtown businesses. Some of those just outside the traditional core are looking for ways to be included in the festive spirit and decorations. With a little help, it’s starting to happen, and could expand even more in future years. St. Augustine director of public affairs Paul Williamson said the city is looking at the possibility of including areas on Anastasia Boulevard and up San Marco Avenue in the celebration, but it’s not as simple as just stringing up a few extra strands of lights. “It’s a bigger task than people think it is, but it’s not an impossible one,” Williamson said. For instance, many people would probably enjoy seeing lights on the few tress in the median on Anastasia Boulevard. But there are a lot of obstacles, Williamson said. First, the property is not owned by the city but by the Florida Department of Transportation, so permits would have to be obtained to decorate there.
“Two big commercial projects in northwest gain support of St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency” via Stuart Korfhage of the St. Augustine Record — A pair of commercial land use agenda items passed through the St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency … and their presence in front of the board says a lot about what’s happening here now. After years of seeing mostly residential projects come through along with small or deferred commercial projects, the two items in the northern part of the county demonstrate some momentum for nonresidential growth. One item was for a 14.32-acre parcel that will have 90,000 square feet of commercial space, and the other was a much larger parcel called the County Road 210 Town Center. The latter project was a request for rezoning to a Planned Unit Development that is expected to have 399,000 square feet of retail and 46,000 square feet of professional office development. The property is located at the end of C.R. 210 where it intersects with Greenbriar Road and near Shearwater Parkway. Getting a recommendation of approval for the Town Center — it must still make it through the County Commission in January — lays the groundwork for a major shopping center in an area where there is a lot of residential development. Bill Schilling, senior vice president at Kimley-Horn and Associates, represented property owner Helow Properties … He said his client is just one of several property owners who are positioning themselves for commercial growth as retailers start to take notice of the ever-increasing population in northern St. Johns County. He said there is no specific retailer lined up for the Town Center, but he anticipates plenty of interest.
Changing of the guard — The Florida Times-Union made some news of its own this week, with Mary Kelli Palka taking over for Frank Denton as managing editor at the end of the year.
Palka, 44, represents a kind of generational change from the 71-year-old Denton.
Denton has amassed a lot of goodwill in the community, spearheading community initiatives; he will, the T-U reports, retain some of those responsibilities in addition to helming the editorial page (which is, except in the case of a particular presidential endorsement, independent from corporate meddling).
Palka, one of the nicest people in the business locally (and a fellow Bishop Kenny Class of 1990 alum along with our own A.G. Gancarski), is expected by at least one observer to be more of a “working editor” than Denton was.
And that’s a good thing for Jacksonville, where a cadre of young, talented, and improving journalists are getting better with each passing month.
Like many papers, the T-U faces existential questions, rooted in declining readership, shrinking ad revenue, and all the other burdens borne by a legacy product.
The T-U has attempted to reach out to younger readers: the “JACK” magazine includes features on high-profile millennials, such as concert promoter Lisa Thomas and Jack Twachtman of BREW coffee shop.
However, the challenge for the paper, as it fights the battles all print media do in a wired world: how does a paper, with a reputation for conservatism in some quarters and stodginess in others, find a way to make the policy sphere relevant to those under AARP age?
That’s going to be Palka’s challenge in the years ahead. Not just maintaining the T-U’s presence locally, but expanding it. In a world of “fake news,” the paper is going to have to be more real than ever to succeed.
“Community unites to help police officer who lost home in fire” via First Coast News – According to a GoFundMe Page, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Officer Walter Brown‘s home was destroyed by an electrical fire that started in his kitchen just 21 days before Christmas. According to the page, Brown was at work and nobody was injured during the fire, however, the home and his possessions are likely to be a near total loss. All proceeds from this fundraising campaign will go directly to Brown.
