Springfield and the mobility fee

Started by sheclown, October 02, 2012, 06:43:02 AM

sheclown

Last year, under the leadership of our beloved Bill Killingsworth, the city passed the mobility fee.  Two weeks later, it placed a moratorium on the fee.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-oct-city-council-prepares-to-halt-mobility-fee

This moratorium is scheduled to sunset; however, there is concern that an extension may be granted:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,16258.0.html

MJ's own Doug Skiles made a presentation to the Urban Core CPAC last night, urging citizens to speak against the moratorium.  The group heard what he had to say and voted to voice their support of the mobility fee and speak against the extension.



What this means for Springfield, and for all of the urban core, is that there will be financial incentives for businesses to move to the urban core.  The mobility fee rewards those who use existing structures which is more sustainable and more preservation minded.  It puts the burden of sprawl on the backs of those developers who are ...well, sprawling.

There are deep pockets financing big developers.  But there are also loud voices, many of them, with little pockets who have, themselves, mobilized, to speak for downtown.

Make your voices heard!  Email the council.  And encourage your neighbor to do the same.

----------------

"Alvin Brown" <AlvinB@coj.net>;  "Bill Bishop" <WBishop@coj.net>; "Lori Boyer" <LBoyer@coj.net>; "Reggie Brown" <RBrown@coj.net>; "Doyle Carter" <DoyleC@coj.net>; "Richard Clark" <RClark@coj.net>; "John Crescimbeni" <JRC@coj.net>; "Kimberly Daniels" <KimDaniels@coj.net>; Johnny Gaffney; "William Gulliford" <Gulliford@coj.net>; "Ray Holt" <Holt@coj.net>; "Warren Jones" <WAJones@coj.net>; "Stephen Joost" <Joost@coj.net>; "Denise Lee" <EDLee@coj.net>; "James Love" <JimLove@coj.net>; "Robin Lumb" <RLumb@coj.net>; "Don Redman" <Redman@coj.net>; "Matthew Schellenberg" <MattS@coj.net>; "Clay Yarborough" <Clay@coj.net>S

fsujax

Thanks for posting. Doug is truly a great person to have on our side. Springfield needs this moratorium to be lifted. Has there been an official stance taken by SPAR, PSOS or SAMBA? I think it would be great if they could submit a joint letter.

sheclown

Quote from: fsujax on October 02, 2012, 08:23:11 AM
Thanks for posting. Doug is truly a great person to have on our side. Springfield needs this moratorium to be lifted. Has there been an official stance taken by SPAR, PSOS or SAMBA? I think it would be great if they could submit a joint letter.

support is critical.

JeffreyS

Last year a few of the council members promised me that they would not extend the moratorium unless it proved very beneficial. I think we can all agree that it wasn't beneficial at all.  So please everyone email all the council and the mayor.
Lenny Smash

CityLife

Quote from: fsujax on October 02, 2012, 08:23:11 AM
Thanks for posting. Doug is truly a great person to have on our side. Springfield needs this moratorium to be lifted. Has there been an official stance taken by SPAR, PSOS or SAMBA? I think it would be great if they could submit a joint letter.

I believe SPAR/SAMBA will be writing a letter of support and hope that PSOS, Sustainable Springfield, and all other groups in Springfield and the Urban Core will be doing the same. Sounds like Doug got everyone pretty fired up last night. Thanks for sharing SheClown.

Miss Fixit

Last night the Urban Core CPAC approved a resolution requesting that City Council allow the moratorium to expire. 

The resolution will be presented to each City Council member and other appropriate City personnel.

CityLife

Awesome Miss Fixit. Have the other CPAC's been reached out to? Obviously some/most aren't as affected as the Urban Core CPAC, but it wonder where they stand. I think its expected that the Urban Core CPAC would back the sunset of the moratorium, but if the others felt the same, that might carry some serious weight with the City Council.

avs

Sustainable Springfield submitted a letter today asking the Moratorium to be sunset.

fsujax

Very cool AVS. I know the SE CPAC is very active and maybe Doug can reach out to them.

Bill Hoff

The various CPAC's are aware of this.

sheclown


Bill, will SPAR be sending a letter to the council in support of the mobility fee?

Charles Hunter

Next week is "CPAC Week" - 4 of the remaining 5 meet - Southeast doesn't meet until the 4th week, which may be too late, if the Council takes this up as an emergency.
Monday - Arlington/Beaches* and Southwest
Wednesday - North
Thursday - Northwest

Note - due to the budget required Monday library closings, Arlington will meet at Craig Field instead of the Regency Library.

sheclown

Quote from: CityLife on October 02, 2012, 10:24:44 AM
Quote from: fsujax on October 02, 2012, 08:23:11 AM
Thanks for posting. Doug is truly a great person to have on our side. Springfield needs this moratorium to be lifted. Has there been an official stance taken by SPAR, PSOS or SAMBA? I think it would be great if they could submit a joint letter.

I believe SPAR/SAMBA will be writing a letter of support and hope that PSOS, Sustainable Springfield, and all other groups in Springfield and the Urban Core will be doing the same. Sounds like Doug got everyone pretty fired up last night. Thanks for sharing SheClown.

Yes, PSOS will send an email in support soon.  We are for it for the obvious reason that it promotes the preservation of existing building stock in addition to the other benefits.

Bill Hoff

Quote from: sheclown on October 02, 2012, 03:38:33 PM

Bill, will SPAR be sending a letter to the council in support of the mobility fee?

Yes.