Live blogging DIA

[Noone]

One day out from the Downtown Experience subcommittee meeting of the DIA. Anyone going?

[Noone]

The meeting for the Downtown Experience subcommittee of the DIA is today at 4pm 1st floor city hall.  I can't wait! Open to the Public. We all want to say Visit Jacksonville!

[Noone]

Today at 5pm 1st floor city hall. Open to the Public.  Has anyone seen an agenda?  Anyone going? Emailed Aundra Wallace. Do they know what is going on with the Southbank Riverwalk?

[Noone]

Did anyone go? Jason Gabriel is out from OGC and someone else is in as we wrap up the new CRA/DIA in the USA. This has to be positive.

There are never any handouts for the Public. Another positive.

The CRA and the Business Investment Development will be one document.

Key dates were announced.
April 7, 2014 will be the BID along with Marketing announcement and this will be on the web. DIA Board member Tony Allegretti immediately reminds the Board that this is the beginning of One Spark. At which he also adds that maybe the DIA can be a "Creator". LOL.

DDRB and 3 projects moving forward. Langton, Coles and Haydon Burns

What is going on with the $15,000,000 Southbank Riverwalk? Nobody knows. And this project has never been before Waterways. that is where we are at after DIA Board member Jim Bailey asked CEO Aundra Wallace (I still feel so sorry for the man) will find out and that will be a key update for the 2/28/14 meeting that may or may not happen and could be moved up to 9 or just be rescheduled.  Another positive.

I'm planning a RICO paddle as we float this Armada through this new highly restricted DIA zone and take shots from both sides of the banks.

I am Downtown and why you aren't.

Who's next?

[Noone]

Does anybody care? Here is more positive updates from the 2/19/14 DIA Board meeting. It was a nice crowd especially if you are sticking your hand out.

Carla Miller and Cindy Laquidara may want to make a cameo appearance at the next meeting if for no other reason to explain how meeting minutes are no longer part of the agenda. Even with a full quorum. This has to be positive.

Under Action items on the agenda
Interline Brands, Third Amendment to Development Agreement and Resolution

Under Information/Discussion Items
Enforcement parking code Update - Jack Shad
CRA Plan Update- Aundra Wallace
DIA staffing Update- Aundra Wallace
hemming Plaza- Update
Riverplace Boulevard Road Improvements Update- Aundra Wallace

Under Downtown Briefing- Jim Klement
DDRB Update and next meeting date ( Thurs. March, 6 2014 at 2 pm)

A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It will Embrace Us

[Noone]

One day out from the Downtown Experience subcommittee meeting of the DIA.

[Noone]

Anyone going?
Visit Jacksonville especially on our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a FEDERAL Initiative in our new highly restricted (Food Truck, Kayak) DIA zone.

[Noone]

The 3/11/14 DIA Downtown Experience subcommittee meeting AKA the (Fun Committee) met at 4pm and the  Chair of Fun Tony Allegretti had us out of there in an hour and then some of us then took advantage of Happy Hour at the Volstead.

Board members in attendance
Mike Saylor
CEO Aundra Wallace

On the Agenda
Give Change Project- Parking meters for Homeless cause
Fourth of July Project-July 4th and 5th
Connection Festival- Sept. 12-14-Cultural Event

The spark that fired me up was the presentation that will take full advantage of an opportunity to use our St. Johns River an American Heritage River a FEDERAl Initiative in our new highly restricted (Food Truck, Kayak) DIA zone.

The event will be called
JAX Sports
     &
River Fest
I'm All In

Martin Ramos the man behind Kona Skate Park is leading this positive packed event that will be using Metropolitan Park Marina that will bring thousands to this two day active recreational activity that will have something for everyone. Later I told the group that I launched my kayak at the official Mayor Brown kayak launch as a participant in the 3/2/14 HERO'S on the Water kayak tournament last Sunday.

Some of the Activities include
Jet Boarding
FMX
Skateboard Push Race
SUP- Stand Up Paddleboard
5K race
Biggest Inflatable Waterslides
Zipline, Power Jump
4 story jump
They will be partnering with the military

Also they will be having musical Entertainment. Food Trucks!!
It will be a ticketed event.
They are speaking with everyone and were at this meeting hoping to seek $25,000 from DIA as part of the $50,000 that they feel they need to get this project going. As CEO Aundra Wallace stated it will ultimately be up to the DIA Board as to how this will move forward in a funding request.
 
During Public comment I shared an update on the $15,000,000 Southbank  Riverwalk project and how the 400' of Riverwalk behind the Duval County Public School Board Building that once it is ripped out it AIN'T coming back. Told the group that the RAM dock is only opened when RAM is open. Not good. 2013-384 - the armory for a buck a year and zero access to Hogans Creek. the legislation withdrawn. So many more examples feel free to add your own. I opened with 2007-451 and closed my 3 minutes with 2007-451 and how given what is happening with the Food Trucks our new 3mile DIA zone on the Waterways that this legislation needs to be amended as well.

In the meantime Mobro Guys, Let's all sing
No Shoes
No Shirt
No Money
No Problem
Visit Jacksonville!

A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It will Embrace Us

[Noone]

Special meeting of the CRA/DIA at 4pm 1 st floor city hall. Anyone going?

[thelakelander]

I'm not but I'll be looking forward to your report.

[Noone]

^Somebody else needs to show up at these things. Still have an open contest for anyone that can take a picture of the new Waterway signage that was never before Waterways and I'll treat you to Chopstick Charley's and we'll use Uber.

[jaxjaguar]

^Somebody else needs to show up at these things. Still have an open contest for anyone that can take a picture of the new Waterway signage that was never before Waterways and I'll treat you to Chopstick Charley's and we'll use Uber.

Not sure what you're looking for? I can take pictures / have some old photo's, but I don't understand the comment haha.

[Noone]

^^No Problem. And not one member of the Jacksonville Waterways Commission had a clue either at the 11/13/13 full meeting in council chambers. Another classic Backroom deal and the total crushing of the Public Trust. Just pull the tape.

Stay positive. Will the CRA/DIA right a wrong? Today at 4. in District 4

[Noone]

The 3/19/14 Special meeting of the DIA had me going down memory lane as I awaited an opportunity for Public comment after the Discussion of CRA Redevelopment Plan comments by DIA Board members.

It was hours later but worth the wait. When I talk about going down memory lane it is because in the house was Ted Pappas who was the Chair of my first JCCI study River Dance - Putting the River in River City and then at the DIA table was also another person that also oversaw a lot of land decisions that will impact us all for generations and the woman who was there the first time that I addressed the commissioners of FIND(Florida Inland Navigation District) five years ago Susan Grandin.

Members in attendance Barakat, Bailey, Allegretti, Bishop, Gibbs, Meeks, Saylor. No shows Williams, Clements

The format was such that The DIA in the preparation for the final draft that should be completed by April 30 was fine tuning the elements that will be eventually voted on by the Jacksonville city council.

There is just one more opportunity for Public comment by anyone that could influence the legislative language that will be created and we will all have to live by in this document and that will be April 16. Place and time to still be determined.

There were a number of topics and areas of discussion. What I always find interesting is if the so called experts find an issue hard to understand than can you imagine how Joe Q. Public is trying to understand the issue.

The topics and then the range of power that will be created with this DIA can have street closures. Parts of Monroe. Coastline Line and Liberty for programming. Or permanently.
Financing Sources and using fines, Code enforcement liens. Aundra Wallace chimed in with patient money that may be looking for a 10 year return. HEY- Palms Fish Camp, PS4, I digress.

Some exciting things that can be done now and leave it again to DIA council liaison Lori Boyer Dist. 5 when discussing WIFI and told everyone that there is $61,000 from the Friendship Fountain account that can activate that area and MOSH. Mr. Allegretti to Mr. Robbins even followed up to make sure that you have that $61,000 in there for the WIFI. hemming Plaza could also have WIFI.

Another interesting topic was lighting and Melody Bishop touched on how developers are forced to use old outdated lighting at $8000 per light. A lot of good discussion going forward in this area and Mike Saylor with creative lighting and Laura Dietrich with regs on ATM lighting. Point is Downtown won't be dark anymore!

There was a lot of discussion about Hemming Plaza and the Snyder building. In fact they had to come back to this issue after the break. When talking about the Snyder building should it be used for revenue or highest and best use. Concensus was highest and best use. I liked how Mike Saylor said we need to make the Snyder a "Franchise Building."

On the bottom of the list was Hogans and McCoys Creek (Tony and Laura were hoping that I would have left by then) Only kidding its a joke, hope your laughing. and why the 5 year time frame was attached and the explanation as to the extent and magnitude of the cleanup and the agencies that are involved. There was some good discussion and Jim Bailey weighed in on the river and it's use now. Positive comments from Melody Bishop and councilwoman Lori Boyer. Councilwoman Boyer went so far as to say that the St. Johns River could have its own category. She was talking about stronger connection language, Tourism-(Paul Astleford, Visit Jacksonville) view corridors through building design and she pointed out a ULI Vancouver report. Mr. Meeks talked about his positive experience with Vancover.

Parking and Food Trucks were also mentioned.

So to Public comment and it was reminded to speakers that the Public comments were only specific to the comments that were discussed by the DIA Board members in this CRA Redevelopment Plan. I read right from my speaker card and shared with everyone that if anyone asked me today are we getting more Public Access and Economic opportunity to our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a FEDERAL Initiative in our newly created DIA zone. I would tell them NO. In fact I'd tell them that we are just going to Crush you. I told the DIA that I attended the 3/15/14 meeting of the Commissioners of FIND that was held here in Duval county. And during Public comment at the FIND meeting as 1000's of runners are going over the Main St. bridge for the Gate River run I'm holding up the front page of the Times Union and telling the Commissioners of FIND when you get back to the Hyatt look out your window and you see the cranes and barges. They are ripping it all out and then they were going to short us 900' of Public Access at the very east end. it could have been a FIND project.

I continue to remain positive as we all should.
Legislation is the dialogue of the community.

A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It will Embrace Us

[Noone]

DIA Board meeting at 9am today first floor city hall. Anyone going?
D-Downtown
I-Is
A-Adrift

A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It Will Embrace Us