Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 29, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee mulled on Monday an agenda including bills on the Bob Hayes Track Meet, JEA Agreement, increased money for JSO, and stolen property. • 2015-764, the JEA Agreement ordinance, passed Finance 6-0. Included: a floor amendment from Lori Boyer. One such sticking point: revenue from future utility businesses in which JEA […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 28, 2016

Michel Foucault, in a long essay in Discipline and Punish about the “panopticon” concept first outlined by 18th century philosopher Jeremy Bentham, noted that one of the benefits of the panopticon are that “there are no disorders, no theft, no coalitions, none of those distractions that slow down the rate of work, make it less perfect or […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council’s big bill involved attempting to finalize its ongoing conflict with former Police and Fire Pension Fund head John Keane with a settlement agreement. Instead, they “postponed indefinitely,” after a long and tortuous process of discussion and amendments. The goal is to get answers to questions and, seemingly, to show Keane […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council will attempt to fix its written communications policy, and finalize its ongoing conflict with former Police and Fire Pension Fund head John Keane. The two bills will likely take up the most time in deliberation, with opportunities for both honest disagreement and tub-thumping demagoguery on both. The written communications bill, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 18, 2016

On Thursday, the Jacksonville City Council met for its Committee of the Whole meeting regarding expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance. The expectation going in was that both the Tommy Hazouri and Bill Gulliford iterations of the legislation would be withdrawn. In the hours leading up to the meeting, an intriguing narrative surfaced: whether Hazouri’s withdrawal motion […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2016

Discussed toward the end of Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council Finance meeting, the Council Auditor’s quarterly summary raised concerns in the committee. There also were concerns that weren’t discussed by the panel. One such concern discussed within the committee: stress on various subfunds related to stadium improvements. The stadium subfund is projected to incur a $644,502 […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday OKd the settlement with John Keane, while it OK’d the JEA Agreement, and increased property donation limits. The settlement between the city and John Keane, a bill described as the “gorilla in the room,” was the big talker. The settlement version of the plan would pay Keane $225,000 in […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

Highlighting the Jacksonville City Council agenda on Tuesday was “cure legislation” to address safety officer salary allocations from the September budget. The other looming issue was yet another round of public comment for the Human Rights Ordinance. The agenda meeting addressed both. Regarding the cure legislation, Garrett Dennis and Al Ferraro, during the agenda meeting, expressed concerns […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting lacked a lot of punch when it came to legislation. The big bill of the night, the controversial term limits referendum measure, was said (H/t David Chapman) to be tabled ahead of the meeting. During agenda, Matt Schellenberg confirmed it. Schellenberg, in Tallahassee last week representing the City Council for the Florida […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

The question going into Tuesday: would the JEA Agreement finally be reached? Most of the terms had been agreed to, piece by piece, during a year of meetings. And there was cautious optimism, at least from the city side, that Tuesday would be the day. “It looks like the finish line is in sight, unless […]

Tag: Lori Boyer
Sen Rick Scott in Sarasota. Photo by Jacob Ogles.

Jax City Council Finance Committee OKs Bob Hayes, JEA, inventory control bills

Jax City Council to look into “communications tracking software”

Jax Council “postpones indefinitely” John Keane settlement

Jax Council to mull written communications bill, John Keane deal

Both Jax HRO bills withdrawn

Jax Council Auditor quarterly financial summary raises concerns in Finance Committee

Jax Finance Committee reluctantly OKs John Keane settlement

Jax Council passes Safety Officer cure legislation

Matt Schellenberg to withdraw term limits bill

JEA Agreement achieved at long last