Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2016

On Wednesday, the Finance Committee of the Jacksonville City Council became the third and final committee to approve revisions to the Tourist Development Council schematic. The bill was approved 5-1, with Aaron Bowman in dissent. A sticking point in committees in previous days was a provision in the bill that the current and most recent council […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2016

Jacksonville has changed a lot since the late 1970s. But the city’s tourist development plan remains as it was when originally implemented almost 40 years ago. With that in mind, Council President Lori Boyer brought forth a bill Monday morning to the Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services Committee with some revisions to charter language regarding the […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 2, 2016

When Jacksonville City Council President Lori Boyer took the helm this summer, she sought to expand the council’s role as a policymaking body. Primary to that charge were “special committees,” set to immediately follow the regular committee meetings every two weeks. Though some council members have voiced concerns that the special committees present a time burden, committee […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 28, 2016

Tuesday was budget night for the Jacksonville City Council. Arguably, the most interesting segment of the whole evening came at the very end, when Councilman Scott Wilson proposed a stunning floor amendment: de-appropriating $2.1 million from the Jacksonville Journey program — 50 percent of its funding — due to a lack of crime data provided for the 10 zip […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 27, 2016

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council passed a $1.18 billion budget that will add more and better-equipped police officers to city streets. However, the big talkers were swimming lessons, travel budgets, and special events allocations … adding up to a picayune $115,000 out of the council contingency budget. And another big talker: a failed but audacious […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 21, 2016

Despite the maelstrom regarding the future of Duval County School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, Jacksonville City Council President Lori Boyer vowed that the Wednesday meeting between the school board and the council would steer clear of Vitti’s employment controversy, addressing more ordinary topics like school concurrency, hazardous walking conditions, and charter school development. The meeting did avoid the Vitti […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 15, 2016

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On Thursday afternoon, a Jacksonville City Council subcommittee discussed “measurements of success” for Hemming Park. The object of Thursday’s meeting, said Chair Greg Anderson, was refining those measurements and discerning the “hook” that drives traffic to parks. Previously, the committee agreed on some big-picture goals: safety, cleanliness, and business friendliness of the park. Refining those desired goals, and […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 15, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council will take yet another in an endless series of looks at the contract for the Friends of Hemming Park on Thursday afternoon. Though the long-suffering group, which manages the 1.54 acre park called “the Front Door to City Hall” by many politicians, is earmarked to receive $250,000 for six months of operation […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 14, 2016

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Anna Brosche ran a textbook campaign to get elected in her at-large race, projecting an image of serene competence in an electoral battle against the then-incumbent, Kimberly Daniels. Brosche, a CPA, won in last May’s election handily, and since getting on the council, has not missed a beat. While some elected to the […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 13, 2016

On Tuesday night, the Jacksonville City Council unanimously approved an ordinance intended to keep a firmer legislative hand on boards and commissions. The genesis of this bill was the 2013-14 Task Force on Consolidated Government, which found some boards were effectively useless, with sporadic meeting schedules. The bill amends the ordinance section on Boards and Commissions — to add […]

Tag: Lori Boyer

Duval County TDC tweaks clear final Jacksonville City Council committee

Jacksonville council panel OKs revision of tourist development plan

Jacksonville City Council ‘special committees’ doing well, say chairs

Why Scott Wilson took on the Jacksonville Journey

Jacksonville City Council passes big budget after robust discussion of small details

With Nikolai Vitti’s future in question, Jacksonville City Council and school board meet

Jax City Council panel mulls how to make Hemming Park more attractive

Jacksonville City Council panel to review Hemming Park contract Thursday

Anna Brosche talks budget, council leadership, and HRO

Jax Council to take firmer hand on boards, commissions