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A.G. GancarskiNovember 3, 2015

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 […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 26, 2015

As FloridaPolitics.com wrote last week, there are some existential questions about the Neighborhood Improvement and Community Enhancement Committee, and at least one regular has had enough, getting nasty about NICE in an email to Mayor Lenny Curry and Council President Greg Anderson. Saying that the “NICE Committee is ineffective” and “leadership needs a change,” the […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 20, 2015

The Jacksonville Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee had a light agenda Tuesday morning. The big bill on the agenda was an amended and restated golf course lease and management agreement with Comstock Golf Management’s financially struggling nine-hole golf club at Blue Cypress in Arlington. Councilman Matt Schellenberg pointed out that “if you don’t […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 19, 2015

One of the interesting things about the current permutation of the Jacksonville City Council’s Neighborhood Improvement and Enhancement Committee is how many complaints there are about it from the regulars. Not enough items on the agenda. They don’t do anything anymore. If you scratched the surface, you might hear similar complaints from those on City […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 13, 2015

Finally, Jacksonville City Council meetings are lively again. Between reactions to a good chunk of Council being sued for texting a lobbyist during a budget meeting, the removal of a Lenny Curry appointment of Jay Demetree from the consent agenda, and a public comment protest campaign planned in reaction to the replacement of Planning Commission member Joey McKinnon […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 8, 2015

Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford has long been concerned with what he calls “neighborhoods in decline.” Thursday afternoon’s Jacksonville Housing Roundtable, which convened stakeholders from the business, policy and non-profit sectors, was an attempt to bring together new perspectives on best practices related to abandoned property and blight. With about 30,000 abandoned properties on the Duval County registry, the […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 7, 2015

During the budget deliberations of the late summer, concerns were raised about Jacksonville’s Public Service Grants process. Complaints ranged from arbitrary scoring and a less-than-committed group of scorers to a process that had been overtly politicized in the past. To that end, Council President Greg Anderson authorized a committee to look into refining the process […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 5, 2015

At Monday’s NICE Committee meeting, the ongoing public information campaign regarding blight was discussed. Seemed innocuous enough on its surface. In practice, though… The city of Jacksonville’s Director of Blight, Denise Lee, presented the administration’s position regarding the importance of public information, even as committee members, such as Councilman Tommy Hazouri, wanted to know more […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council officially approved the FY 16 budget and related bills on Monday evening. Leading off the meeting, Council President Greg Anderson quipped, regarding the jampacked Chambers, “I wonder why you’re all here tonight.” The Capital Improvement Plan was approved without discussion or exception (though a floor amendment at the end changed that), as […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

A much-discussed bill to increase penalties for snipe signs has cleared committees and was expected to pass the full Jacksonville City Council on Monday, which could end, at least for now, one of the most interminable debate topics this council has faced. Councilman John Crescimbeni explained the bill, which would increase fines while allowing protection for […]

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Image via the Associated Press.

Jax RCDPHS committee OKs capital improvement bill, LEAP $, Riverside dog park funds

Jax resident gets nasty about NICE Committee

Jax recreation panel backs Blue Cypress golf course deal

Jax NICE Committee, against all odds, passes a bill

Planning Commission drama enlivens Jacksonville City Council

Jax Housing Roundtable addresses “neighborhoods in decline”

Jax Public Service Grants committee wrestles with process

Sparks fly in Jax NICE Committee

Jax City Council approves FY16 budget

After extended discussion, Jax Council increases snipe sign fines