Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 22, 2016

The Jacksonville Vehicles for Hire subcommittee meets Tuesday morning at 11:00 in Jacksonville’s City Hall. Expect acrimony. During the committee’s hiatus during the last part of the legislative session, one local cab company manager wanted Chair Matt Schellenberg to resign from his position. In an email a few weeks back to Council, Brad Braddock, general manager […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 15, 2016

Jacksonville’s Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa on Tuesday pitched the Neighborhoods Department reorganization to Rules as a move toward “cost control and fiduciary responsibility.” “The reorganization does create a stronger focus on neighborhoods,” Mousa said, in alignment to Mayor Lenny Curry‘s vision. “Several department heads will no longer have a direct report to the mayor,” […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 3, 2016

In a wide-ranging interview Thursday morning, Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg talked about Uber and the taxis, the John Keane deal and John Delaney’s role in it, and Katrina Brown. Schellenberg, the chair of the Vehicles for Hire committee, was lambasted by a cab company executive for pushing back the next committee meeting date until March 22, with […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 2, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Vehicles for Hire subcommittee has been full of pitched debate, but progress has been incremental. Part of the reason for the slow pace: uncertainty on the city level about the ultimate outcome in Tallahassee for vehicles of Transportation Network Companies. With that in mind, subcommittee chair Matt Schellenberg delayed the next meeting […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 1, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee meeting was highlighted Tuesday by possibly the final disposition of Council policy on “electronic communications” during regular Council meetings between Council members and people with an interest in agenda items. During the agenda meeting before Rules, Council President Greg Anderson signaled his intention to “tweak policy” prohibiting Council members from […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2016

Notable about Tuesday night’s Jacksonville City Council meeting, in which a settlement agreement with John Keane and the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund was “indefinitely postponed,” were the comments of Councilman Matt Schellenberg. They were laden with direct address toward Keane. And they were personal, almost to the point of calling in question Council’s stance as good-faith […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2016

The Florida Times-Union reported this month on former CFO Ronnie Belton exploiting a loophole and converting $47,937 of payroll deductions under the defined benefit plan to $165,921 under a defined contribution plan. Belton, who did not have five years of service, did not satisfy the five-year threshold for pension benefits under the defined benefit plan. And his […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2016

The Jacksonville City Council Rules Committee, again, addressed Bill Gulliford and his bill prohibiting Council members from texting or exchanging other written communication with lobbyists, union representatives, or members of the Council on Wednesday. As was the case two weeks ago, there was pushback, including from Council members whose verboten texts in September led to the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2016

In recent months, a bill designed to increase the value of property that can be donated to non-profits and for-profits from $25,000 to $50,000 has been moving through Jacksonville’s City Council. The goal of the bill: to spur development in areas prone to blight. The bill moved through Finance Monday, and had Recreation, Community Development, […]

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: Matt Schellenberg
Image via AP.

Jax Vehicles for Hire subcommittee meets Tuesday morning

CAO Sam Mousa successfully pitches Neighborhoods re-org to Jax Council Rules committee

Matt Schellenberg talks Uber, John Keane, “Teflon John” Delaney, and Katrina Brown

Jax cabbie demands Vehicles for Hire committee chair removal

Jax City Council “tweaks policy” on electronic communications

Matt Schellenberg’s evolution on John Keane worth noting

Jacksonville looking into pension loopholes

Jax Council Rules Committee OKs ban on in-meeting written communications

NW Jax pushback stalls housing donation bill in Council committee

JEA Agreement achieved at long last