For and Against: The Mobility Fee Moratorium (2013-094)

[simms3]

Will do Diane.  Also...look at the numbers.  They don't lie.

Last year metro rankings were based only on Investment prospects.  If they were based on all parameters, Jacksonville may have DIPPED in the rankings.

While Miami moved up 34 spots overall in all 3 parameters, Tampa moved up 25, and Orlando moved up 7, Jacksonville went DOWN by 1 spot because apparently nobody believes there is reason to go into homebuilding in the metro.

The equation isn't some inverse relationship where lower fees = job growth and development.  The equation is [real] job growth based on sustainable and growing industries = development regardless of fees.  The other equation is [no job "growth" but fantastic fundamentals and impossible barriers to entry because of *insane* fees and regulations and land/asset prices] = the *ultimate* investment/development markets reserved only for the most sophisticated institutional capital looking for the most safety possible (i.e. SF, Manhattan, Boston, DC)

It's the Dallas vs Boston question - you want to be in one because of the sheer job growth (and it happens to be very high quality job growth, too...not just low wage workers), and you want to be in the other because you won't face too much competition and you'll never have to worry about diminishing market fundamentals.

Jacksonville just doesn't fit either category...and lowering fees is NOT the magic wand.  It's already about the cheapest, easiest city to buy and build in...it cannot possibly get cheaper or easier than it is already.

[thelakelander]

Quick question. I noticed that a lot of pedestrian improvements are underway right now on Normandy Blvd. between Lane Ave and 295 like you were talking about in point 3. Is this being funded by the Mobility Fee?

No. We haven't really given the mobility fee a chance to generate revenue for capital improvement projects.  We placed a moratorium on it, less than a month after approving it.

[sheclown]

If you want a thing to pass, you limit the amount of time people can speak to oppose it.

[xplanner]

In the past 24 hours there has been an encouraging statement from one of the more thoughtful Council leaders that he needs to continue to plow through the data and analysis and is not (yet) committed to the unanimous vote CM Clark seeks. Disproving, once and for all, the unsupportable proponent claims of job creation is starting to "gain traction" as they say in City Hall.That argument and the fiscal irresponsibility of publicly subsidizing land speculation in the urban fringe needs to continue to be repeated this week and next. But why are a relatively few, noisy, do-gooders carrying the ball for downtown landowners, the neighborhood organizations, the Mayor's Office, and the Civic Council? Where are the developers who've already paid significant fees through their Developments of Regional Impact, Development Agreements, Fair Shares, and TIF contributions? Why is it the cyclists outnumber the vested Real Estate interests in this public debate? I know from looking at the number of reads these threads are getting that there is significant interest in the points of view being expressed and I truly am amazed that the people who are most affected individually are sitting by and listening when they should be on the ground and in the Council Chambers, arguing to protect their own prepaid investments in building an infrastructure grid that will, in fact, create jobs and future prosperity. Can MetroJacksonville possibly stimulate a few silent bystanders to make calls to the people they helped get elected? Or get them to offer some compelling dollars and sense data about real deals and how they work and don't work? Possibly so, but time is running short. Those MJ posters who have influence with SPAR, RAP, SMPS, GACC, Argyle Civic Council and so on, need to get those organizations to show up at the Joint Committee next week with position statements on this Bill.

[tufsu1]

If you want a thing to pass, you limit the amount of time people can speak to oppose it.

I think, in this case, the combination of the 3 committees into 1 meeting is a good thing

[strider]

 PSOS, SPAR, RAP and as of last night, the Urban Core CPAC has or is coming out against the moratorium.  Many e-mails have been sent.

Unfortunately, most meetings for this will be starting before many can get to the meeting due to work.  Many people have commitments after work, kids, other meetings ETC.  So it is tough to get  a lot of people at every meeting.  The opposition plans on this and remember, they hire professionals to make the rounds to the councilmen, stand up at the meetings and pass out stickers in support of the moratorium. We are fighting against money not facts.

The idea of having many,many peole speak against the moratorium at multiple meetings is not to present the councilmen with facts, they already know those facts.  It is to cause discomfort.  It is to cause additional media attention.  It is political.  Three meetings into one lessens that.

I am bothered by the concept that a councilman now " ... needs to continue to plow through the data and analysis and is not (yet) committed to the unanimous vote CM Clark seeks."  Has this not been an important enough issue that the committees are coming together in a single meeting?  Did we not already have one public meeting were many facts were presented?  At this point, I have trouble believing it is the facts the councilmen are weighing. In issues like this, it seldom is.

But of course, the facts must be repeated time and time again.  But we also have to look behind the scenes and make sure we have avenues to pursue if the facts are ignored.

Any future ethics investigation should begin with the passing of the first moratorium and follow through to this one.

[sheclown]

If you want a thing to pass, you limit the amount of time people can speak to oppose it.

I think, in this case, the combination of the 3 committees into 1 meeting is a good thing

why would that be?

[JeffreyS]

So is the moratorium coming up in the finance committee this morning?

[thelakelander]

No, the moratorium issue has been deferred for all committee meetings this week.  The legislation will be considered at a joint meeting (of all three committees) scheduled for 4:00 PM on Monday, June 11, 2013 in City Council chambers.

[JeffreyS]

Well my Morning is opened up maybe I get by Bold Bean.

[tufsu1]

If you want a thing to pass, you limit the amount of time people can speak to oppose it.

I think, in this case, the combination of the 3 committees into 1 meeting is a good thing

why would that be?

for 2 reasons:

1. it allows members of each committee to hear directly what members of other committees think
2. because deferrments often mean that a bill is being worked on/modified

[tufsu1]

No, the moratorium issue has been deferred for all committee meetings this week.  The legislation will be considered at a joint meeting (of all three committees) scheduled for 4:00 PM on Monday, June 11, 2013 in City Council chambers.

I think you mean March 11th

[thelakelander]

Oops. That's what I get for cutting and pasting emails.

[Ocklawaha]

Here is a great little video from "Transit Miami," which could have easily been shot in Orlando, Tampa or JACKSONVILLE!  But then the Chief Neanderthal's at City Council would be exposed for the pocket pissing lemmings they are!

http://www.youtube.com/v/EJNxMS7Pi38?hl=en_US

[thelakelander]

Great video find, Ock.  That explains Florida's situation is less than 3 minutes.  Also to be honest, I'm impressed to see that many people cross the street on foot in Miami.