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

[JeffreyS]

We need some crosswalk sting action

[Cheshire Cat]

Since Ennis mentioned the piece Bob shared is less than three minutes I am guessing that this piece will be played at the next meeting as it is allowed under council rules.  Point being you have the right to play it during the three minute speakers time.  You likely know that but just in case...

[Debbie Thompson]

Not to mention the opportunity to purchase outlying land at fire sale prices while the market is suppressed, apply for mobility fee waivers, and then wait until the market comes back to develop the land.  Remember, under this bill 2013-94, the waivers are not just for the moratorium period, but forever as I understand it.

A lot of the land that is in the competition for mobility fee waivers is land that was recently tree farms, rural subdivisions replatted, or small farms. The trees burned, the paper company went to Brazil, the 2 acre ranchettes failed because nobody wanted to drive that far, and the small farmer went broke.

They are dirt cheap in the sense that there are no neighbors to complain, the lots front on a major FDOT highway, a bulldozer can drive from side to side without going around big trees. Plus, the city and state will have to come up with the money to put in more highway lanes, connect the sidewalks, build the schools, and put up a fire and police station. What a deal. 

In 2003, we built a house in Ashley Woods, off Ashley Melisse, between Kernan and Girvin.  Not far from the now closed Girvin dump (PC term is landfill.)  That subdivision now runs for about a mile from Kernan to past Hickory Creek Road.  There were, are are still, fences along Ashley Melisse by the subdivision with green signs that say "Tree Farm."  It's a good long drive from there to where I worked, which is one reason we sold it.  The other reason is that a family member depends on bus transportation, and the nearest bus stop was 2-1/2 miles away.  Something I didn't think to check as in other Jacksonville neighborhoods I had lived in, I was never move than a 10 minute walk to a bus stop.

[John P]

I heard Ennis Davis will be on First coast connect 89.9fm radio show tomorrow morning to talk about the mobility fee moratorium.

Can people call in?

[Cheshire Cat]

From today's Daily Record:  http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=538905

[tufsu1]

I heard Ennis Davis will be on First coast connect 89.9fm radio show tomorrow morning to talk about the mobility fee moratorium.

Can people call in?

yes, the show does accept callers

[thelakelander]

Yes, I'll be on First Coast Connect in the morning to discuss the mobility fee moratorium.  I'm looking forward to the discussion.

[xplanner]

The Transit Miami video clip recalls the good old days of mobility...before we called it mobility. My office was three blocks away from the spot where the cameraman was standing when he shot this, and my apartment was three blocks behind him. I walked through that crosswalk twice a day for two years. It was just as bad in 1980 as it is in that video today. But back then anything was better than the 65 minute/12 mile automobile commute from the "burbs".

[dougskiles]

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

I will give you another reason:

None of us who are advocating against the mobility fee moratorium are lobbyists who are being paid by the hour.  Every time lakelander, tufsu1, xplanner, fieldafm, sheclown and the rest of us sit through a committee meeting it is keeping us from paid work.

I hope as many of you can attend the joint meeting on Monday as possible.  A strong presence is important, even if there may not be an opportunity to speak.  Committee meetings typically do not open the floor for public comment (not to be confused with LUZ where public hearings are held).

[JeffreyS]

Yes, I'll be on First Coast Connect in the morning to discuss the mobility fee moratorium.  I'm looking forward to the discussion.

What time?

[tufsu1]

9am I believe

[Bill Hoff]

549-2937. Call to comment or ask questions.

[Koula]

Good luck this morning, Lakelander! Thanks for representing the voice of reason on this topic this morning's First Coast Connect 

[thelakelander]

All over.  That was pretty fun.  Btw, here's some more proof that the economy is improving.  I assume, the mobility plan and mobility fee system wasn't enough to keep all of these projects from recently pulling construction permits:

Freshfields Farm permit pending for $1.5M project
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=538906

[JeffreyS]

Great job today Lake. Tom really did consistently make the case that there should not be a full-blown moratorium. I do think his comment about there should be more of a difference between what the core neighborhoods get waived and sprawlville  that was a good one. Your point about the money we gave away to 7-Eleven was the coup de grace however.