Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2017

A bill filed earlier this year in the Jacksonville City Council to ensure more job opportunities for ex-offenders got deferred in its third committee stop Thursday. The Associated Builders and Contractors pushed back on the bill throughout the committee process, and council members fell in line, with increasing resistance in Wednesday’s committees leading to the pause on […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 8, 2017

The Jacksonville City Council’s Finance Committee approved the expansion of the city’s Human Rights Ordinance on Wednesday morning. The measure was approved by a 4-3 vote, with Bill Gulliford, Sam Newby, and Matt Schellenberg opposing expansion. The expansion would add sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to the list of protected categories under the ordinance, which ensures […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 8, 2017

A bill to attempt to ensure Jacksonville city government offers equal employment opportunity on racial grounds passed the city council’s Finance Committee Wednesday. But passage did not come without chippy discussion on the subject, including a description of the bill as a “race hunt” by one councilman. **** Ordinance 2017-16 calls for the following: annual reporting to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2017

Monday morning saw the first of three Jacksonville City Council committees approve the latest attempt to expand the Human Rights Ordinance. The vote was 4-2. The measure would extend protections in housing, public accommodations, and employment on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. As well, the bill offered in its original form […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 19, 2017

On Thursday, the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee pushed through a series of bills ahead of approval next Tuesday by the full council. All of these bills were approved unanimously. **** Lien Scene: A bill adding “code enforcement liens” to the list of claims, bills and judgments that may be settled by the Finance Director, Office of General […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 5, 2017

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The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee mulled reports from the council auditor, Kirk Sherman, in its Thursday morning meeting. Discussed: the summary for Fiscal Year 2016, a report which led to a move to boost the city’s emergency reserve to 6 percent. According to the Jacksonville City Council auditor’s report, FY 2016 was a good year for […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 7, 2016

A bill designed to give Jacksonville City Council members access to a pot of $70,000 for neighborhood events cleared its final committee Wednesday. The measure cleared Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services on Monday with no opposition. And on Tuesday, the Rules Committee approved it 5 to 1. A number of amendments, intended to sharpen distinctions […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 6, 2016

The city of Jacksonville spends over $200,000 a year for association memberships, such as the Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties, National Association of Counties and U.S. Conference of Mayors. But some council members contend that the money isn’t being optimally spent, because restricted travel budgets don’t allow Jacksonville to represent its own […]

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 […]

Tag: Matt Schellenberg

Jacksonville ex-offender jobs bill gets deferred by council panel

Jacksonville HRO clears final city council committee

After heated debate, ‘Equal Opportunity’ bill heads to full Jacksonville City Council

Amended HRO expansion bill clears first Jacksonville City Council committee

Jacksonville council finance committee clears a series of bills

Jacksonville City Council Finance committee moves to boost emergency reserve

Neighborhood events bill clears final Jacksonville council panel

Jacksonville council members hammer out travel budget details

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