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A.G. GancarskiAugust 25, 2015

Snipe sign legislation was first introduced in Duval County in 2010, as part of a bill adding them to the ordinance code. The big snipe sign bill was in 2014, which was described by Councilman John Crescimbeni on Monday in a special subcommittee meeting revisiting the subject, as a “pretty simple bill” that looked at what […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 24, 2015

The highlight of Monday afternoon’s St. Johns River Ferry Commission meeting, without question, was the review of the proposed transfer agreement between the city of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. There have been many twists and turns, yet it appears that the two parties are on track for a March 31 transfer. Though it […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 24, 2015

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In what could be construed as a shot across the bow of the Lenny Curry administration, the office of Councilman Tommy Hazouri this weekend advanced an ambitious proposal to expand the library’s collection budget and increase allocations to Urban Core libraries. The moves would expand service hours and add more services to address the outcome […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 21, 2015

Heart, hypertension, and workers’ compensation were talkers in Jacksonville City Council chambers on Friday at the Finance Committee’s budget hearings. About 82 percent of heart and hypertension and worker’s comp claims are coming from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. “In the past, the problem was that JSO and JFRD […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 19, 2015

On Wednesday afternoon, a special committee on Public Service Grants was convened by the Jacksonville City Council. Chaired by Anna Brosche, the committee included Councilmembers John Crescimbeni, Sam Newby, Katrina Brown, and Reggie Gaffney. At issue was a scoring process that charitably could be called “subjective.” Groups had scores that were all over the place. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council special ad hoc committee on Neighborhood Improvement and Community Enhancement discussed, as did Finance earlier on Monday, 2015-322, which Chief of Staff Kerri Stewart called a “three-year strategy” for fund allocation for affordable housing programs. Councilman John Crescimbeni asked Stewart interesting questions about Mayor Lenny Curry being on the Housing Commission, noting a “lot […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2015

Last week during the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee budget review process, the public service grants process was described as a “broken system.” The grants committee, which has 13 slots, has seven mayoral vacancies. Vacancies are not the only problem. Questions were raised during a Monday public notice meeting to examine the PSG process about […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2015

An ordinance increasing the fine for unlicensed contractors from $250 to $1000 per count, which moved through the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee earlier on Monday, moved through the Transportation, Energy, and Utilities committee on Monday afternoon. Additionally, $185K was approved by the same committee to be appropriated from FDOT monies for a Timucuan National […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2015

“August is a tough month if you’re on Finance, because you’re keeping up with your regular council work and the Finance Committee meetings,” Greg Anderson said Monday, providing a preamble to the regular Finance Committee meeting. There will be a special committee on public service grants, Anderson said, and in about two weeks there will […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee battled Friday morning with officials over the perpetually embattled Jacksonville Public Library budget. The budget increases by 0.4% this year, yet the Council’s asks go well beyond that modest uptick. Discussions included whether or not “merit pay” or “equity pay” was part of the proposed budget increases. Councilman John Crescimbeni […]

Tag: John Crescimbeni
Treasure coins from the 1715 fleet wreck. Image via FWC.

Snipe sign debate renews historic Jax divides

JTA set for 3/31 St. Johns River Ferry transfer

Tommy Hazouri floats proposal to “rebuild” Jax library system

Heart, hypertension, workers’ comp issues of concern in Jax budget process

Jax Public Service Grant panel member argues system is broken

Jax NICE Committee mulls housing, “junk cars”

Jax public service grants process under scrutiny

Jax TEU committee greenlights bike trail, unlicensed contractor fines

Council, Curry administration joust in Jax Finance Committee

Jax Council debates library budget, hours