Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 1, 2015

After Land Use and Zoning, four Jacksonville City Council committees have deliberated the $90 million package of stadium improvements for EverBank Field. And four have approved it, despite the best efforts of dissident Councilman Danny Becton. On Tuesday evening, Land Use and Zoning was the final committee hurdle to be cleared for the bill, which commits […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 25, 2015

If you’re reading this, you likely have a positive relationship with the Thanksgiving holiday. This should be especially true for the doughty stalwarts of the #JaxPol universe, where seemingly everyone, from the congressional level down to City Council, have tangible things for which they should be grateful. U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, for one, can be grateful […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 24, 2015

The penultimate Jacksonville City Council meeting of the year, on “getaway day” before Thanksgiving break unofficially begins, had, in theory, a light agenda with expected heavy public comment on the HRO and related issues. In practice, though the agenda was light and the public comment was robust, the HRO commentary was surprisingly muted. The agenda […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 24, 2015

The JEA Agreement Committee meeting last week brimmed with optimism over getting close to an accord on the contribution proposal. Would Tuesday’s meeting brim with similar good feeling and bonhomie? Not so much. JEA CEO Paul McElroy noted that “given where we are with our governance structure,” it would be necessary to have the board consider […]

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

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 10, 2015

The agenda for Tuesday’s JEA Interlocal Agreement meeting included some tantalizing topics. Joint operating/cost savings opportunities; JEA Board composition; a semantic discussion of “profits”; pension issues; and the contribution formula, which is the crux of the continuing contretemps between the public utility and the city. They didn’t really get there. They did, however, get to […]

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 4, 2015

An interesting power struggle on Jacksonville’s City Council right now revolves around the question of whether or not the Finance Committee has too much power over the budget process. On one side, freshman councilwoman Katrina Brown; on the other, statute and accepted tradition. To that end, Brown has scheduled public notice meetings to gin up […]

Tag: Lori Boyer

Tensions flare as Jax land use and zoning panel OKs $90M stadium deal 5-1

Thanksgiving, the #JaxPol edition

Jax City Council light on agenda, heavy on public comment

JEA Agreement contribution negotiations snag because of board turnover

JEA Agreement meeting addresses contribution formula proposal

Jax Finance Committee approves economic development deals

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

JEA Agreement meeting addresses septic tank, sewer issues

Jax PSG committee continues work on streamlining grants process

Katrina Brown pitches Jax budget process changes to Council veterans