Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 21, 2015

Jacksonville’s first JEA Agreement meeting since the membership of the actual JEA Board was reduced happened on Wednesday morning, after a delay that did not escape the notice of the media on hand to cover the conclave. Among the topics “to be discussed,” according to an agenda with a distinctly non-standard, almost psychedelic font: water […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 19, 2015

It seemed simple enough on the agenda for the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee on Monday morning: a bill to allow a vehicle allowance for Supervisor of Elections Mike Hogan. However, the Wu Tang Clan “Can it all really be so simple?” rule definitely was in effect when the bill led to much broader discussion […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 16, 2015

In terms of using public comment at Jacksonville City Council meetings, Tuesday night was a stirring example of the voice of the people (at least, a subset thereof) being marshaled in pursuit of a clear group of policy objectives. Dozens of speakers during Public Comment urged the retention of member Joey McKinnon and chair Lisa […]

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 8, 2015

Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford has long been concerned with what he calls “neighborhoods in decline.” Thursday afternoon’s Jacksonville Housing Roundtable, which convened stakeholders from the business, policy and non-profit sectors, was an attempt to bring together new perspectives on best practices related to abandoned property and blight. With about 30,000 abandoned properties on the Duval County registry, the […]

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 5, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee resumed on Monday morning after a three week hiatus. Highlights abounded. Finance Committee Chair Bill Gulliford addressed the stalled out forensic audit of the Police and Fire Pension Fund, and the preliminary findings were not good. Essentially, the auditor got stonewalled for “informational needs” and Gulliford urged that the Finance Committee […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 23, 2015

On Wednesday morning, Jacksonville Councilmembers Lori Boyer and Tommy Hazouri, along with Council President Greg Anderson and the city’s Chief Administrative Officer, Sam Mousa, convened to discuss the future of Jacksonville Transportation Authority road projects that are behind schedule for completion. Among them, intersection improvements at Old St. Augustine and Greenland Road, stretches of Kernan and Girvin […]

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 […]

Tag: Lori Boyer
Image via AP.

JEA board issues, credit rating concerns loom over JEA Agreement meeting

Jax Council Finance Committee looks to revisit city vehicle allowances

For the Jax Planning Commission, did Tuesday night matter?

Jax Council Capital Improvement committee continues

Planning Commission drama enlivens Jacksonville City Council

Jax Housing Roundtable addresses “neighborhoods in decline”

Jax Public Service Grants committee wrestles with process

Jax Finance Committee proposes subpoena of PFPF forensic audit records

Jax officials discuss road construction backlog with transportation authority

Jax City Council approves FY16 budget