DIA CEO will look to philanthropists to close gap between project costs, profit

Started by thelakelander, August 19, 2013, 05:54:10 PM

Print
Go Down Pages 1 ... 4 5 6 7
User actions

thelakelander

#75
August 22, 2013, 08:10:01 PM Last Edit: August 22, 2013, 08:13:18 PM by thelakelander
It didn't seem like that in person.  It felt like an honest attempt to string together a draft form of an operating budget for the first year.  From what I remember, 1/3rd of it was for staff and about 50% of it was for professional services like finishing the CRA plan.  More money was included for the development of a DIA website and marketing. The discussion wasn't how the FTU made it seem either.  Feedback was requested and that's what he ended up getting from several people.  A few DIA board members thought more money was needed.  Jim Bailey and Councilman Boyer felt that whatever they ask for, they need to be able to explain why it's needed. Now, they'll have to detail what was presented some more.  That's pretty much how things came off to me.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

Cheshire Cat

#76
August 22, 2013, 08:17:09 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on August 22, 2013, 08:10:01 PM
It didn't seem like that in person.  It felt like an honest attempt to string together a draft form of an operating budget for the first year.  From what I remember, 1/3rd of it was for staff and about 50% of it was for professional services like finishing the CRA plan.  More money was included for the development of a DIA website and marketing. The discussion wasn't how the FTU made it seem either.  Feedback was requested and that's what he ended up getting from several people.  A few DIA board members thought more money was needed.  Jim Bailey and Councilman Boyer felt that whatever they ask for, they need to be able to explain why it's needed. Now, they'll have to detail what was presented some more.  That's pretty much how things came off to me.
I will defer to you on this as being there in person gave you a much better perspective on the requests and how they were received.  I think the DIA understands that in order to get back the funding that was pulled with the budget as yet undecided, they will need to cross all the "t's" and dot the "i's".  Thanks for attending the meeting!
Diane Melendez
We're all mad here!

thelakelander

#77
August 22, 2013, 08:23:15 PM
They're lucky to have Councilwoman Boyer there in attendance. She knows her stuff.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

Cheshire Cat

#78
August 22, 2013, 11:36:35 PM Last Edit: August 23, 2013, 12:16:53 AM by Cheshire Cat
Quote from: thelakelander on August 22, 2013, 08:23:15 PM
They're lucky to have Councilwoman Boyer there in attendance. She knows her stuff.
She sure does Ennis.  Lori does her homework and can be counted on to look at an issue with a fair and open mind.  She is a very intelligent woman and I do not believe she is not one to be persuaded to do anything but the right thing for the citizens and the city if at all possible. 
Diane Melendez
We're all mad here!

Noone

#79
August 23, 2013, 04:08:30 AM
As for the budget lets not forget the Parking revenue. Jack Shad wasn't there for the 8/21/13 meeting but doesn't the DIA now have control over all the parking revenue?

thelakelander

#80
August 23, 2013, 06:30:56 AM
No, they don't control parking or parks.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

Sunbeam

#81
August 23, 2013, 06:51:21 AM
But thats not to say they cant in even the near future.

JayBird

#82
August 23, 2013, 06:57:31 AM
And in all honesty they really should, in the least, have control over the downtown parking. Not only would it provide a source of revenue but it would also make sense to compliment any redevelopment strategy the DIA tries to undertake.
Proud supporter of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"Whenever I've been at a decision point, and there was an easy way and a hard way, the hard way always turned out to be the right way." ~Shahid Khan

http://www.facebook.com/jerzbird http://www.twitter.com/JasonBird80

Noone

#83
August 23, 2013, 07:12:09 AM
DIA does control the parking revenue. Look at the recent surface parking lots.

Noone

#84
August 23, 2013, 07:13:21 AM
A big part of the DIA plan is revenue generated from parking. Is there an account set up?

Sunbeam

#85
August 23, 2013, 07:29:05 AM
Good question!
The DIA was scheduled to be in front of the Finance committee yesterday but the session ran long and set them up for another day next week.

This is a good question to pose to the committee

I believe I remember the OED saying parking is still under their purview and it was confirmed by Jason and Melody who then said the DIA can take control when they are ready.

thelakelander

#86
August 23, 2013, 07:31:36 AM
?? What parking revenue and what recent surface lots?  Last time I checked, parking barely was breaking even. I could have sworn it was mentioned the other day that they did not have full control of parking or parks within downtown's borders.  This was one of the issues revolving around the hoopla of the changed Hemming Plaza RFP.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

thelakelander

#87
August 23, 2013, 07:33:35 AM
Quote from: Sunbeam on August 23, 2013, 07:29:05 AM
I believe I remember the OED saying parking is still under their purview and it was confirmed by Jason and Melody who then said the DIA can take control when they are ready.

This would make sense.  I can't imagine something with no functioning staff or operating budget would be blindly handed control.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." - Muhammad Ali

fieldafm

#88
August 23, 2013, 08:09:08 AM Last Edit: August 23, 2013, 08:22:23 AM by fieldafm
Quote?? What parking revenue and what recent surface lots?  Last time I checked, parking barely was breaking even. I could have sworn it was mentioned the other day that they did not have full control of parking or parks within downtown's borders.  This was one of the issues revolving around the hoopla of the changed Hemming Plaza RFP.

Parking is OED.  And Lake is correct, DIA has no control over parks in downtown.  To classify DIA as some big bad wolf is just not true.  For the past year, it's been a body of unpaid individuals that meet regularly without staff, without much of a budget and without 'authority' over much of anything.  They really can't spend much money without Council approval.

Noone

#89
August 23, 2013, 08:39:34 AM
Nobody is saying DIA is a big bad wolf. But OED had the DIA Board vote away the power to negotiate on the document titled Authorization to Negotiate and Engage on Various Downtown Projects that was pulled out of the hat at the end of the 7/24/13 DIA Board meeting before Aundra Wallace officially started 8/19/13.

So OED has the control of the parking revenue instead of going into the general fund. So they must have an account set up and that should be separate given that JEDC was dissolved and OED has been created and collecting. Jack Shad should be able to clear this up. Or Ted Carter.

So OED then is also in a position to negotiate not only how much money each hand out recipient will receive but get the parking perks locked in too.
Print
Go Up Pages 1 ... 4 5 6 7
User actions