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Staff ReportsApril 30, 2018

The 1st District Court of Appeals on Monday sided with Riverside residents petitioning against “The Roost,” a restaurant zoning approved by the Jacksonville City Council in 2016. At issue: A petition for certiorari filed by a those opposing the planned use development, which was approved by quasi-judicial order. The developers had contended that such a […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 30, 2018

It’s committee week for the Jacksonville City Council, and there are a number of bills of note. Among the big talkers: reform to the budget process; a $3 million grant to remedy Northwest Jacksonville food deserts; and another committee week for the hit-free zone bill. _____ Budget Process Reform: 2018-231, filed by Councilwoman Katrina Brown, […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2018

With the controversial debate about privatizing Jacksonville’s public utility JEA in the rear view mirror for now after Mayor Lenny Curry said he wouldn’t introduce a privatization proposal, the Jacksonville City Council Special Committee on the Future of JEA Thursday had a different feel. JEA’s interim CEO, Aaron Zahn, addressed the committee for the second straight week. […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2018

Councilors representing Northwest Jacksonville convened Thursday to discuss legislation that would help to alleviate spreading food desert conditions. Legislation will head to committees soon to address at least one of those needs. 2018-195 will, if passed, approve encumbering $3 million from the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Trust Fund to recruit grocers to move into the area, […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, in Dallas for the NFL Draft, abandoned what was seen by many as a desire by his administration to privatize the local utility, via a statement Thursday morning. “I am choosing to state unequivocally that I will not submit any JEA privatization plan to the City Council,” Curry said. The law is […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 26, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilman John Crescimbeni introduced a resolution Tuesday night that would solicit the opinion of the State Attorney on local regulation of nicotine vapes. The specific question to be considered via 2018-282: “Whether the City of Jacksonville has the ability to regulate the sale of nicotine products and nicotine dispensing devices” as reflected by Florida Statute […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2018

On Tuesday evening, the Jacksonville City Council pushed back to committees a resolution making all city property “hit-free zones.” Resolution 2018-171 would create “areas in which no adult shall hit another adult, no adult shall hit a child, no child shall hit an adult, and no child shall hit another child.” A noble goal. A seemingly innocuous […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2018

It appears that there will be a competitive race after all in Jacksonville City Council District 9 . Incumbent Garrett Dennis faces a challenge from within his own party by way of Marcellus Holmes. Holmes, who played professional football for the New England Patriots from 1997 to 2001 as both a practice and active squad member, is about […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 22, 2018

Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Brown filed weeks ago to run in the Democratic primary versus Senate Democratic Leader-designate Audrey Gibson. Yet he’s living a double life of sorts, as he remains on the Council. If Brown were running for a federal office, Friday would have been “resign to run” day. But as it is, he’s both an active […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 20, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said last month that he wanted the city to have a “mature conversation” about JEA valuation and whether privatization was the way forward. However, after yet another series of bad news cycles in which Curry, a popular mayor for most of his term, has seen that conversation and his mayoralty pilloried in […]

Tag: jacksonville city council
Image via AP.

Appeals court sides with opponents of Jacksonville ‘Roost’

Jacksonville City Council mulls budget reforms, food desert solutions

JEA CEO, COO address Jacksonville City Council, vow to ‘be bold’

Jacksonville City Councilors workshop food desert fix in Northwest Quadrant

From Dallas, Lenny Curry blasts critics, backs away from JEA privatization

Jacksonville City Councilman wants Pam Bondi’s opinion on local regulation of vape devices

Jacksonville City Council smacks down ‘hit-free zone’ bill

Former NFL player launches campaign against Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis

Jacksonville City Councilman’s ‘community fest’ raises questions, as he is running for Senate

Is Jacksonville’s ‘mature conversation’ about JEA privatization over?