Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 5, 2018

The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee has approved a strategic plan for the next five years, setting it up for consideration by the full body next week. A subcommittee hashed out the initial proposal last week, pushing forward a revamped version of the bill (2018-594) filed this summer, on matters including public safety, financial health, governmental […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 4, 2018

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee downed a bill that would have returned a $2.775 million grant from the United Arab Emirates. Ordinance 2018-813 would have given back that $2.775 million grant. Back in October, the United Arab Emirates gave Jacksonville that money toward post-Hurricane Irma reconstruction. City Council voted the appropriation through without a hitch in the summer, but […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 4, 2018

Jacksonville City Council committees on Monday and Tuesday approved changes in collective bargaining for fire and police employees that could change health plans. Ordinances 2018-756 and 2018-757 would allow the unions to separate from the city health care plan in 2020. They were passed without opposition in both committees of reference (“Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 29, 2018

On Thursday, a Jacksonville City Council subcommittee continued what is billed as a “comprehensive crime reduction inventory.” However, crime reduction may not be the only law enforcement concern for the legislative panel: A Florida Department of Law Enforcement report this week revealed that Duval County ranks 66th in terms of crimes solved. Its clearance rate hovers […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 29, 2018

One of the knocks against Jacksonville’s government is a lack of long-range planning. Jacksonville City Council members are working to change that, via the institutionalization of plans extending out as far as five years. These plans have been pushed before in the early 2000s, and are up again. A bill under consideration in the Jacksonville […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2018

A bill voted down 8-0 last week in the Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee nonetheless got its hearing in front of the full Council this week. However, the result was no different, as the full Council followed the lead of Rules and the Council President and turfed Ordinance 2018-570 by a 3-16 vote. The bill, […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2018

On Tuesday, Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg, the liaison to local utility JEA, reiterated concerns about the Council’s lack of oversight over the power provider. Schellenberg had told the Florida Times-Union of his frustrations with not being able to get a meeting with interim CEO Aaron Zahn until after the utility decided whether or not to make Zahn permanent. The […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2018

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council imposed a six-month moratorium on adult arcades. The legislation cleared committees without opposition and landed on the consent agenda, with a majority of the 19-person legislative body listed as sponsors even before Tuesday’s meeting. Ordinance 2018-680 bans any new permitting for so-called internet cafes, a bane to the existence of […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2018

Two new bills introduced to the Jacksonville City Council Tuesday evening could, at least in theory, lead to a grant to the city from the United Arab Emirates being returned. Though if that happens, it’s over the heads of Mayor Lenny Curry and the Council President. Ordinance 2018-813 would give back that $2.775 million grant. And Ordinance 2018-790 would appropriate the […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 5, 2018

Jacksonville City Council President Aaron Bowman launched his re-election bid Monday, running for his second term in the Southside District 3. Bowman, the former commander of Mayport and current senior vice president of business development for Chamber arm JAXUSA, was elected in 2015. Bowman assumed the Council presidency in July, serving an important role as an […]

Tag: jacksonville city council

Aspirational goals: Jacksonville City Council moves toward long-term strategic plan

Jacksonville City Council panel: We’ll keep the UAE money, thanks

Health care plan changes loom for Jacksonville fire, police

Jacksonville Council members won’t blame Sheriff for low crime clearance rates

Long-range plan: Jacksonville City Council members delve into budget priorities

Jacksonville City Council downs transparency bill

Jacksonville City Councilmember bristles over lack of JEA oversight

No more games: Jacksonville imposes adult arcade moratorium

’Blood money‘ reconsidered: UAE grant fight heads to Jacksonville City Council

Jacksonville City Council President Aaron Bowman wants four more years