Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 18, 2015

Bill Gulliford celebrated his 72nd birthday by chairing the JEA Agreement meeting, promising, at long last, an extended discussion of the contribution formula, before a vote on it next Tuesday. The proposal specs: a 10-year agreement, starting October 2016; a contribution floor of $114,187,538; a reset of tax millage to achieve the floor; an annual […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2015

On Monday, Jacksonville City Council President Greg Anderson met with Rules Committee Chair Matt Schellenberg (and a room full of interested parties from the taxi cab industry) regarding vehicles for hire, a legislative issue that Council has, of yet, no easy answers to. A special subcommittee might change that. Anderson: “where we left this off… we […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2015

Momentum is growing among city officials for more active engagement between the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and youth at events in city parks, according to a review of city emails. In an email last Monday, Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa questioned Daryl Joseph, Acting Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, on this subject, noting that […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2015

A crowded agenda greeted the seven stalwart members of the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee on Monday, including economic development incentive deals. Some highlights: An economic development deal with Fidelity Global Brokerage group was approved. The city throws in $360,000 and the state, $1.44 million; 300 jobs would be created. Another one, “Project Revere,” creating […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 10, 2015

In the third to the last Jacksonville City council meeting of 2016, the agenda had a couple of interesting items. Perhaps most interesting: two bills that would restore a pay cut made in 2010. As council went through some lengthy recognition ceremonies, a phalanx of police officers stood in the back of the room. Police […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 9, 2015

Rookie Jacksonville Councilwoman Anna Brosche, as chair of this special committee regarding the oft-criticized public service grants process, has chaired a number of meetings looking to streamline operations. A rain soaked Monday morning saw another one of these meetings. Attention, as in previous meetings, was paid toward refining the application process with a goal toward ensuring […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 3, 2015

Tuesday’s meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee drew a less robust crowd than the one two weeks ago, both in terms of interested parties and interested media. The highlight: Jacksonville Ethics Commission Chairman Joe Jacquot came to discuss the pending legislation barring texting during Council meetings. Jacquot noted that, during the Ethics Commission […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 2, 2015

On Monday, Jacksonville Councilman Bill Gulliford convened a fractious public notice meeting related to the Police and Fire Pension Fund involving the Board of Trustees, the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County, and (by phone) PFPF trustee Bill Scheu, as part of a “cast of thousands” in attendance. Larry Schmitt, chair of the pension fund, noted irregularities, such as the […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 2, 2015

A crowded agenda greeted the Jacksonville City Council’s Finance Committee on Monday morning, ahead of two Public Notice meetings featuring Finance Chair Bill Gulliford on the ever-controversial Police and Fire Pension Fund. Matt Schellenberg’s bill to allow a ballot measure to increase the maximum number of consecutive terms for council members to three met with pushback from council Vice […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 30, 2015

Hours after former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney threw some cold water on the heated coverage of the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund “forensic audit,” another former mayor gave FloridaPolitics.com brief comments on the audit released this week. Tommy Hazouri said he’s “going to thoroughly read the forensic audit,” all 143 pages of it, ahead […]

Tag: John Crescimbeni

JEA Agreement meeting addresses contribution formula proposal

Jax Vehicles for Hire subcommittee being formed, to meet 11/24 at noon

Sam Mousa pushes for JSO engagement with youth in parks

Jax Finance Committee approves economic development deals

As police officers look on, Jax City Council punts on its own pay raise

Jax PSG committee continues work on streamlining grants process

Ethics Commission chairman talks texting ban with Jax City Council Rules Committee

Jax PFPF forensic audit pilloried in public notice meeting

Jax Finance Committee backs staff pay increases, punts on term limit increase

Tommy Hazouri on Jax PFPF audit: “We need to get to the truth”