Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 16, 2015

It appears that the Florida Department of Transportation and the city of Jacksonville are in a disagreement regarding a lapsed Joint Participation Agreement and encumbrance concerning the Mayport/St Johns River Ferry Operations project and Federal Land Access Program money is at stake. An email from Paige Johnston of the General Counsel office to Councilman John Crescimbeni lays […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 15, 2015

After a 14 month process of meetings, the Jacksonville City Council Capital Improvement Plan committee is moving toward its last couple of meetings, with one held on Thursday afternoon, after a hiatus during the budget process. Some highlights of the five measures considered: — Stormwater legislation will likely be deferred until April 30, as the Lenny Curry […]

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 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 6, 2015

Whispers prior to Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee meeting predicted a council member or two might say something about the wave of board and commission replacement appointments that dominated the agenda. Planning Commission Chairwoman Lisa King, whose replacement by Donald Adkison was on the agenda for the second reading, was in the house. So was […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 22, 2015

At Large Jacksonville Councilman Tommy Hazouri experienced numerous budget processes as mayor, as state legislator, and as Duval County School Board member. However, Monday night’s budget was his first as Jacksonville City Council member. During the floor amendments portion of the program, he scored a coup after a reconsideration. A shift of $330,779 from drainage […]

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 […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

A resolution of council support for the local J-1 bill, which would relax requirements for restaurants to serve liquor in the Riverside and Avondale areas, is expected to pass. A potential sticking point: A sponsor for the bill must be named before City Council. That sponsor was Reggie Fullwood, which is notable because it’ss Jay […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2015

During Monday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, a resolution authorizing an inquiry into the legality and the validity of the Police and Fire Pension Fund Senior Staff Voluntary Retirement Plan was up for a vote. This measure got through Finance and Rules Committees last week on a 6-to-1 vote after it was pushed back to committees at the […]

Tag: John Crescimbeni

FDOT, Jacksonville in ferry funding flap

Jax Council Capital Improvement committee continues

Planning Commission drama enlivens Jacksonville City Council

Jax Public Service Grants committee wrestles with process

Tommy Hazouri: Lenny Curry board moves “emasculate” consolidated government

Tommy Hazouri talks budget, HRO, agenda going forward

Jax City Council approves FY16 budget

After extended discussion, Jax Council increases snipe sign fines

Jax Council backs J-1 Bill; more Riverside and Avondale diners will be able to drink up

Jax City Council OKs probe of pension fund senior staff retirement fund