Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 14, 2016

As Jacksonville continues to refine its Inspector General position, two bills to that effect highlighted a quiet agenda. One bill expanded the duties of the Inspector General to cover the entire consolidated government. It passed 18-0 without discussion. And a second sought to remove the provision that the Inspector General could not have been employed by the city […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 7, 2016

On an otherwise quiet Tuesday in the Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee, the panel moved to remove the provision that the inspector general shall not have been employed by city government or any other governmental entity within two years before before being selected, unless the appointment was in the IG’s office. The bill, moved on an […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 6, 2016

Monday’s meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee included a discussion of Zika, expansion of the role of the inspector general, and approval of a July 18 date for Mayor Lenny Curry‘s budget address. All measures approved will require full Council approval next Tuesday. — 2016-320 would move $122,554 from the mosquito control fund balance to […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 31, 2016

So who won the Jacksonville City Council leadership elections last week? The prima facie answer: President-designate Lori Boyer and Vice President-designate John Crescimbeni. Beyond those two obvious winners, some people’s stock went up, and some people’s went down. The pitch Crescimbeni made to Danny Becton, one of his supporters in his 10-to-9 victory, was illustrative. To paraphrase: […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2016

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After a fractious public notice meeting between Jacksonville City Council members and Friends of Hemming Park earlier on Tuesday, council Vice President Lori Boyer proposed that an appropriation approved by the Finance Committee for $250,000 for the construction of a new stage be changed to an appropriation granting Friends of Hemming Park $100,000 to cover operating […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2016

In the Jacksonville City Council leadership elections, the main event was anticlimactic. Everyone knew current Vice President Lori Boyer would be voted in as president-designate, offering meaningful continuity after the presidency of Greg Anderson. However, the VP-designate race between Doyle Carter and John Crescimbeni offered considerably more drama, with both men deadlocked at eight pledges each ahead of the special […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 16, 2016

Jacksonville’s inspector general, Thomas Cline, announced recently his desire to leave the position at the end of May, after less than a year in the position. Thus, the “selection and retention committee” for the inspector general’s office had work to do Monday in developing a process to fill the position. After outlining a performance evaluation template to refine […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 16, 2016

An ordinance appropriating $250,000 from Jacksonville City Council contingency funds to construct a stage at downtown’s Hemming Park was approved Monday by a 6-to-1 vote of the Finance Committee after over an hour of discussion. There were some sticking points beforehand. Multiple members of the committee expressed serious qualms about this particular deal, and about the […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 10, 2016

Passage of 2016-300, which authorizes the referendum to extend the half-cent Better Jacksonville Plan sales tax to address the city’s $2.7 billion unfunded pension liability, seemed to be a certainty before Tuesday’s Jacksonville City Council meeting. After public comment, hand wringing from some council members, and tub thumping from others, it was approved 19 to 0 […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 4, 2016

At a special seven-hour meeting Wednesday evening, the Jacksonville City Council Land Use and Zoning (LUZ) committee discussed The Roost, a controversial restaurant development in Riverside. They didn’t get close to a vote, and the decision was made, before public comments, to adjourn until 4 p.m. Monday. **** Community outcry has beset the proposed project since […]

Tag: Lori Boyer

Jax City Council moves inspector general legislation

Jax Council Rules committee relaxes inspector general ‘2-year rule’

Jax Finance Committee talks Zika, Inspector General, mayoral budget address date

Who emerged as the winners & losers from Jacksonville’s City Council leadership elections?

After extended inquisition, Jax Council approves more Hemming Park funding

Jax City Council elects Lori Boyer president, John Crescimbeni vice-president

Jax moves to fill inspector general position again

Jax Council Finance OKs $250,000 for Hemming Park stage

Jacksonville City Council authorizes August pension tax referendum

Jax LUZ Committee discusses Roost, will resume action Monday