Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 1, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee meeting was highlighted Tuesday by possibly the final disposition of Council policy on “electronic communications” during regular Council meetings between Council members and people with an interest in agenda items. During the agenda meeting before Rules, Council President Greg Anderson signaled his intention to “tweak policy” prohibiting Council members from […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 29, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee mulled on Monday an agenda including bills on the Bob Hayes Track Meet, JEA Agreement, increased money for JSO, and stolen property. • 2015-764, the JEA Agreement ordinance, passed Finance 6-0. Included: a floor amendment from Lori Boyer. One such sticking point: revenue from future utility businesses in which JEA […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council’s big bill involved attempting to finalize its ongoing conflict with former Police and Fire Pension Fund head John Keane with a settlement agreement. Instead, they “postponed indefinitely,” after a long and tortuous process of discussion and amendments. The goal is to get answers to questions and, seemingly, to show Keane […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 18, 2016

On Thursday, the Jacksonville City Council met for its Committee of the Whole meeting regarding expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance. The expectation going in was that both the Tommy Hazouri and Bill Gulliford iterations of the legislation would be withdrawn. In the hours leading up to the meeting, an intriguing narrative surfaced: whether Hazouri’s withdrawal motion […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee, again, addressed Bill Gulliford and his bill prohibiting Council members from texting or exchanging other written communication with lobbyists, union representatives, or members of the Council on Wednesday. As was the case two weeks ago, there was pushback, including from Council members whose verboten texts in September led to the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday OKd the settlement with John Keane, while it OK’d the JEA Agreement, and increased property donation limits. The settlement between the city and John Keane, a bill described as the “gorilla in the room,” was the big talker. The settlement version of the plan would pay Keane $225,000 in […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

Highlighting the Jacksonville City Council agenda on Tuesday was “cure legislation” to address safety officer salary allocations from the September budget. The other looming issue was yet another round of public comment for the Human Rights Ordinance. The agenda meeting addressed both. Regarding the cure legislation, Garrett Dennis and Al Ferraro, during the agenda meeting, expressed concerns […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting lacked a lot of punch when it came to legislation. The big bill of the night, the controversial term limits referendum measure, was said (H/t David Chapman) to be tabled ahead of the meeting. During agenda, Matt Schellenberg confirmed it. Schellenberg, in Tallahassee last week representing the City Council for the Florida […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council’s Vehicles for Hire Committee discussed legislation Tuesday related to such transportation, including Uber and Lyft. No new ground was covered; no resolution to the ongoing battle between the taxicab industry and transportation network companies was to be had. Casting a shadow over this committee’s process was the legislative process in Tallahassee. […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 4, 2016

The first of three meetings of the Jacksonville City Council Committee of the Whole on two Human Rights Ordinance expansion bills had all the drama you could want. Those paying attention would have noted that the real drama, the procedural drama, was set up hours ahead of this meeting. Even before the three hour meeting […]

Tag: Anna Brosche
Renderings of the two to-be-produced Donald Trump bobbleheads. Image via National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

Jax City Council “tweaks policy” on electronic communications

Jax City Council Finance Committee OKs Bob Hayes, JEA, inventory control bills

Jax Council “postpones indefinitely” John Keane settlement

Both Jax HRO bills withdrawn

Jax Council Rules Committee OKs ban on in-meeting written communications

Jax Finance Committee reluctantly OKs John Keane settlement

Jax Council passes Safety Officer cure legislation

Matt Schellenberg to withdraw term limits bill

Jax Vehicles for Hire Committee stalls

Lori Boyer’s withdrawal motion highlights Jax HRO Committee of the Whole