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

[strider]

I know you spent a lot of time on this, but frankly, that means that you of all people should not be accepting a compromise at all.  You have worked hard for this city and managed to do some good things.  I disagree things looked bleak, they certainly could have been bleak, but you and others rose to the occassion.  Defending the compromise makes it seem like you have given up the fight.

Still waiting for the compromise bill to be put up here so we can see it.

[dougskiles]

Last week, CM Crescimbeni invited three members from each side to meet and see if a compromise could be achieved.  Those were:

Pro-moratorium:

Curtis Hart (homebuilder), Mike Herzberg (commercial developer), Wyman Duggan (land use attorney for residential developer)

Anti-moratorium:

Steve Tocknell (BPAC), Mike Saylor and me.  Both Mike and I were clear to explain that we were not official representatives of any group, however, because we have both been publicly active on this issue, I suppose CM Crescimbeni considered us to be like-minded with the larger group of advocates.

I can't say that I like the proposed amendment, because I still believe that a moratorium is unnecessary.  However, I also am beginning to understand the realities (and necessity) of political consensus in our government.  Regardless of how much I might not like something, there are 19 elected members of the council who have the legal authority to make this decision, and I have to live with the result.  I can choose to pout at the loss, pack up my toys and go home; or I can choose to stay in the game and continue working toward a better city.  Lasting progress is made in tiny steps, and sometimes those steps seem to go the wrong way.  The surest way to guarantee losing is to stop taking those steps.

As far as the amendment language goes, I don't believe that it has been officially submitted by CM Crescimbeni.  I expect that will happen at or shortly before the next joint committee meeting held Monday after at 4:00 pm.

OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JOHN R. CRESCIMBENI
Councilman, At-Large Group 2
OFFICE (904) 630-1381
FAX (904) 630-2906
E-MAIL: JRC@coj.net      117 West Duval Street
City Hall, Suite 425
Jacksonville, FL  32202

TDD: (904) 630-1580

April 5, 2013
10:05 A.M.

NOTICE


TO:      Finance Committee Members
      Rules Committee Members
      Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee Members
   
FR:      Honorable John Crescimbeni, Chair
      Finance Committee

      Honorable Clay Yarborough, Chair
      Rules Committee

      Honorable Greg Anderson, Chair
      Transportation, Energy & Utilities Committee

Re:       Notice of Joint Finance, Rules and TEU Committee Meeting â€" April 8, 2013

Notice is hereby given that the Honorable John Crescimbeni, the Honorable Clay Yarborough and the Honorable Greg Anderson hereby call a Joint Finance, Rules and TEU Committee Meeting to discuss pending legislation on Monday, April 8, 2013 at 4:00 PM, in Council Chambers, 1st Floor, 117 West Duval Street. Jacksonville, Florida, 32202.

  2013-94   ORD Waiving Portions of Chapt 655 (Concurrency & Mobility Mgmt Syst), Sec 655.503 (Mobility Fee Requiremt, Certificate, Appl Process & Calculation), Ord Code to Auth the Waiver, under Certain Circumstances, of Mobility Fees for 3 Yrs after Effective Date of this Ord. (Reingold) (Introduced by CM Clark) (CPAC Ltr to Deny)
Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 2/26/13
   1. 2/12/2013 CO  Introduced: R, TEU,F
       2/19/2013 R Read 2nd & Rerefer;    2/19/2013 TEU Read 2nd & Rerefer
       2/20/2013 F Read 2nd & Rerefer
   2. 2/26/2013 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R, TEU, F

Please mark your calendars accordingly.  All interested parties are invited to attend.

Please contact Carol Owens â€" Legislative Services Division at (904) 630-1404 for additional information or correspondence.

JC/clo

xc:   Council Members/Staff                                                                                 
        Cheryl L. Brown, Director/Council Secretary                                    
        Dana Farris, Chief â€" Legislative Services Division
        Carol Owens, Assistant Chief â€" Legislative Services Division
        Jeff Clements, Chief, Research Division
        Kristi Sikes, Chief, Administrative Services Division
        Office of General Counsel
        Public Notice System â€" City Council Web Page
        Electronic Notice Kiosk â€" 1st Floor City Hall
        Media Box
        CITYC@COJ.NET

[sheclown]

Does anyone have the details on this?  Doug?

It was only through a close reading of the other that we realized the moratorium could be wrangled to waive the fees for future development.

Why the rush to this compromise?

Are these questions considered "pouting?" 

[Ocklawaha]

Perhaps it's because I'm a Great Grandson of Confederate Bushwhackers?  My Southron Blood rises to a boiling point when I think about these spineless, pandering, weaklings on our City Council. If we can pull it off, I say we ALL SHOW UP at the meetings. It would be great if we could get some signs quickly made demanding we impeach Clark, Crescimbeni and the rest of the gang that supports this breach of the public will and trust. Such a protest makes for great new's and it would give us a chance to air this to the greater public.

Is stoning illegal in Jacksonville? Just wondering...

[strider]

 We all need to remember something.  We have the Mobility fees NOW.  Any so called compromise is a huge loss.  If they are giving up anything it is because of the pressure they got over this.  If it worked well enough to give them pause, why won't it work to stop any kind of moratorium?  Why give up?  Doug, it is only a loss of you give up and walk away from the table accepting the small little "gift" they are offering you.   Are they not only offering that "gift" because they are afraid of losing themselves?

Meanwhile, we may have all of a day to see what they are doing to us.  And even then, no guarantee that they won't take it away for Tuesday's vote and screw the city even more.

[tufsu1]

This is nothing but selling out those of us who took off work or shut businesses down early to go to the meetings and support the mobility fee.

actually I disagree 100%....this is a direct effect of people speaking up...otherwise a full moratorium of the fee would have passed!

and yes, several on this site were involved in the compromise discussions....the deal was presented at BPAC the other night and supported by them as well

[Charles Hunter]

This may be a great bill - or it may be more of the same.  Without an opportunity to read it, the citizens - and Council Members - won't know until the last minute.  What is the rush?

Also, I am a bit confused, the TU article said the legislation language won't be ready until Monday, yet people who were invited to the meeting are saying it is a good compromise.  "What" is a good compromise, if there is no bill language yet?

[Ocklawaha]

Sounds to me like 50/75% of the whole damn Council could be tossed out, if only we had the will to fight on. Anybody recall that BJP $100 Million for transit?

The 2012 Florida Statutes


Title X
PUBLIC OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND RECORDS
Chapter 112
PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES: GENERAL PROVISIONS
View Entire Chapter
112.51 Municipal officers; suspension; removal from office.â€"

(1) By executive order stating the grounds for the suspension and filed with the Secretary of State, the Governor may suspend from office any elected or appointed municipal official for malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, habitual drunkenness, incompetence, or permanent inability to perform official duties.

(3) The suspension of such official by the Governor creates a temporary vacancy in such office during the suspension. Any temporary vacancy in office created by suspension of an official under the provisions of this section shall be filled by a temporary appointment to such office for the period of the suspension. Such temporary appointment shall be made in the same manner and by the same authority by which a permanent vacancy in such office is filled as provided by law. If no provision for filling a permanent vacancy in such office is provided by law, the temporary appointment shall be made by the Governor.

[sheclown]

so many secrets...always secrets and last minute maneuvering...

[strider]

This is nothing but selling out those of us who took off work or shut businesses down early to go to the meetings and support the mobility fee.

actually I disagree 100%....this is a direct effect of people speaking up...otherwise a full moratorium of the fee would have passed!

and yes, several on this site were involved in the compromise discussions....the deal was presented at BPAC the other night and supported by them as well

Yes, if we (meaning a whole lot of people) hadn't spoken up it might have passed as it was.  Isn't it great that we spoke up and they stopped to consider what we said?  Of course it is.  But why a sudden back room deal, 'cause that is certainly what this feels like.  We should not stop here, we should be going for it all, not a compromise that is nothing but a loss.

And what did the bike people get for this loss, I'm wondering? What about the rest of us? Or am I wrong and the battle against the moritorium was only for them and not what was best for the real future of Jacksonville?

If several here were involved, why did they not speak up?  Were they not the same ones who encouraged us by asking for support right here on this forum?  And now a back room deal under which we once again LOSE the Mobilty fee ( or most of it) and what it could do for all of us.

Still no real word from those present at the talks about what this loss is really costing us.

[dougskiles]

In a nutshell:

18 month moratorium period that will consist of three (3) six-month periods

• 0 to 6 months = 75% fee waiver
• 6 to 12 months = 50% fee waiver
• 12 to 18 months = 25% fee waiver

The first 6-month period would start 3 months after the bill is signed by the mayor.

Bike/ped projects within the mobility plan will be funded at the same dollar value (not percentage) they would have been funded at if they were collecting 100% of the fee.  The non bike/ped projects will get what is left over.

The part of the bill that exempted residential lots based on construction of infrastructure was removed.

[dougskiles]

In a nutshell:

18 month moratorium period that will consist of three (3) six-month periods

• 0 to 6 months = 75% fee waiver
• 6 to 12 months = 50% fee waiver
• 12 to 18 months = 25% fee waiver

The first 6-month period would start 3 months after the bill is signed by the mayor.

Bike/ped projects within the mobility plan will be funded at the same dollar value (not percentage) they would have been funded at if they were collecting 100% of the fee.  The non bike/ped projects will get what is left over.

The part of the bill that exempted residential lots based on construction of infrastructure was removed.

So for the first 6 months, all the other taxpayers will only have to pay for 75% of the taxes that the suburban developers would have to pay under the mobility fee?

And that is half of what they were paying before under the concurrency.

Which I guess means that now the rest of the taxpayers are going to pay for 87.5% of the development tax for them, and then 100% of all the maintenance for every bit of infrastructure that their development force to be built every year afterwards.

But thats just for the first six months.

Then it goes down to an average of 75% of the old concurrency rates will be funded by the tax payers for the first year, and then 100% every year afterwards.

And then for another six months, the taxpayers will only pay 50% of the old concurrency on behalf of the developers and 100% for every year after that?

nobody could spring for hookers and a massage?

Seems awfully unfair to the developers.

They sure think so.

[dougskiles]

and btw doug thanks for showing up and representing in a kangaroo court meeting.  It looks like all other parties, including the Times Union threw you under the bus as being the Other Side, even though you made clear that you were there as a group of individuals.

Thanks for recognizing that.  It was a bit of an awkward position to be in.  Mostly, because I saw this reaction (today on MJ) coming from the moment I agreed to be part of the meeting.

However, I completely understand the frustrations expressed today about how these decisions are made.

[thelakelander]

In a nutshell:

18 month moratorium period that will consist of three (3) six-month periods

• 0 to 6 months = 75% fee waiver
• 6 to 12 months = 50% fee waiver
• 12 to 18 months = 25% fee waiver

The first 6-month period would start 3 months after the bill is signed by the mayor.

Bike/ped projects within the mobility plan will be funded at the same dollar value (not percentage) they would have been funded at if they were collecting 100% of the fee.  The non bike/ped projects will get what is left over.

The part of the bill that exempted residential lots based on construction of infrastructure was removed.

On the surface, transit and roads appear to take the brunt of the hit.  A significant portion of bike/ped project infrastructure additions were included as a part of road construction costs.  For example, widening Normandy Blvd to 6 lanes between I-295 and Cecil Commerce Center included over five miles of new sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides of the street as a part of the $54 million road construction estimate.  Those facilities were not included in the bike ($36 million) and ped (13 million) budget.  Other examples of this include complete streets road projects along Southside, Dunn, Trout River, New Berlin and Philips Highway. Any idea on how this extra money intended for bike/ped will be broken away from the road project costs that are getting hit with the staggered 18 month subsidy period?

[Jumpinjack]

As a member of the Jacksonville BPAC, I would like to say that there was not any support given for this compromise. The chair and a few other members complimented CM Cresimbeni for his work to negotiate a solution but many on the committee were dismayed and openly questioned whether this was just a placeholder situation until another effort to destroy the mobility plan will occur.

I could not help but notice in the T-U article today that quotes were given by Curtis Hart and CM Richard Clark but none by the other participants.