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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 […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 15, 2015

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council’s Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee (RCDPHS) hosted heated discussion on a surprising matter: the amended and restated Equestrian Center contract, which was approved in Finance on Monday without any particular drama. Schellenberg questioned Alberta Hipps, former City Council president and advocate for all things Westside, who was […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 8, 2015

The Tuesday night Jacksonville City Council meeting was expected, for the most part, to be quiet. The principal drama of the budget is forestalled until Sept. 21 meeting, and the big talker, going in, was expected to be the Police and Fire Pension Fund’s senior staff retirement plan. In the wake of the retirement of Police and […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 1, 2015

The Jacksonville Public Library has had a rough decade. Ten years of budget cuts have taken the beleaguered JPL past the point of efficiency into the realm of austerity. However, of late there has been hope, says Barbara Gubbin, JPL director. In welcoming Mayor Lenny Curry, Gubbin mentioned that she and her staff have been on “tenterhooks,” […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2015

The last Rules Committee meeting of the Jacksonville City Council in August had an appointment-heavy agenda, yet there was room also to address two major issues. Included on the agenda: 2015-508, which increases fines on unlicensed contractors to bring it in line with state recommendations; and 2015-522, a bill addressing emergency roadway clearance and post-disaster […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2015

On Tuesday morning, the Jacksonville City Council Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety committee tackled a few bills of note, amidst an agenda heavy with deferrals. The main point of intrigue: 2015-322, which has been a point of contention in both the full Council meeting last week and committees on Monday. 2015-322 promotes a […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 14, 2015

The Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee battled Friday morning with officials over the perpetually embattled Jacksonville Public Library budget. The budget increases by 0.4% this year, yet the Council’s asks go well beyond that modest uptick. Discussions included whether or not “merit pay” or “equity pay” was part of the proposed budget increases. Councilman John Crescimbeni […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 11, 2015

As the new Jacksonville City Council settles in and bills wend their way through committees, Jacksonville City Council meetings haven’t truly heated up as they will during September’s budget deliberations. However, Jacksonville’s City Council is always a hotbed of entertainment and public interest, and Tuesday evening’s Council conclave was no exception. The Hemming Park funding […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 7, 2015

“The past is not dead. In fact, it’s not even past.” — William Faulkner The “Celebrating 50 Years: Voting Rights Act 1965-2015” event, held Thursday afternoon at the Jacksonville Public Library, proved interesting for reasons other than those intended. It was notable to see who made the long walk across Hemming Plaza toward City Hall. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 4, 2015

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The Tuesday afternoon meeting of the Jacksonville City Council’s Rules Committee didn’t exactly promise fireworks, but with the Hemming Park emergency authorization on the table, it was worth checking out. After a series of unanimous appointments, the Little Van Wert Avenue river access bill withdrawal, and a deferment of the Charlotte’s Web moratorium, the first bill […]

Tag: Sam Newby

Jax City Council approves FY16 budget

Jax rec panel grills Alberta Hipps on Equestrian Center funding

Jax Council refers PFPF Senior Staff retirement plan legality question to Finance

For Lenny Curry and Jax Public Library, JAXREADS embodies 1C1J

Contractors, disaster prep on agenda in Jax Rules committee

Jax RCDPHS committee moves affordable housing bill

Jax Council debates library budget, hours

Jax City Council approves Hemming Park deal 18-1

Corrine Brown, William Faulkner, and the VRA

Jax Council Rules committee approves Hemming Park contract