Rick Mullaney: A History of the Consolidation Movement
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Corruption, duplication of services, raw sewage being dumped in the St John's River.
A majority of the City Council under indictment, a business climate in crisis, and the humiliating dis-accreditation of our Public School System.
City of Jacksonville General Counsel, Rick Mullaney has an engineer's view of how our Consolidated government works.
Join us as he explains both the legal and historical backdrop that led to our unique and efficient form of Consolidated City Government.
The following is an adaptation of a speech by Mr. Mullaney to the Charter Revision Commission as part one in a three part series on the importance of the Charter Review.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-oct-rick-mullaney-a-history-of-the-consolidation-movement
Good read! It really sounds like we were/are pioneers within the state. Here's looking forward to the next piece, as well as a prayer that we do not squander the opportunity to build a better city.
I look forward to the rest of the story...
I've seen him explain consolidated gov't at City Hall, and he makes a good sale. Consolidated gov't definitely gets rid of the multiple layer/ red-tape-laden (city, county, etc) local gov't.
Good information and I have one small question - who took it upon themselves to drop the "Ethics Guidelines" that were in the original Charter? For their time they were very progressive but they were removed about 4 yrs after the Charter revision was inplemented?
Jacksonville was a pioneer in consolidation not just in FL but the entire US. After Nashville, it was the most significant consolidation in the prior 3-4 decades.
Excellent series. Kudos to MJ and Mr. Mullaney for doing this. I will be working on some questions.
Very interesting history. I didn't realize that the schools had become disaccredited. Not to mention everything else! What a mess.
CS Foltz - Jump in tomorrow, and ask your question again in tomorrow's article. Mr. Mullaney will be on MJ.com throughout the day answering questions.
Mullaney for mayor!
No one thinks higher about Mr.Mullaney than....Mr.Mullaney!
Mullaney for Mayor??....certainly the General Counsel office is a springboard for the post.
When city negotiations such as the Ship Yards come under scrutiny the general Counsel office blames the City Council.Interesting to see the checks and balances.
Speaking of checks and balances..........certainly there were issues with county wide corruption and a long list of other ills.County wide consolodation was indeed an uncommon or untested approach.Did we really need to take that approach to address the problems??Was the approach more a component of boosterism,inferiority complex and zeal for development? No one has ever answered this-likely because we are not to question Consolodation-after all,Rick will probably tell us (correctly) that other areas of the country have recently looked to the Jacksonville model.
Recall the response to Duval County in general a decade after Consolodation.....Orange Park profiled in the national press as among the fastest growing areas in the country......Duval county,with it's JEA and other liabilities lanquished.
There are high quality of life counties that harbor multiple towns with stand alone mayor/city councils.
If we had it to do all over today-would we consolodate?
Just ask all the candidates who got steamrolled by John Thrasher, no such thing as bad publicity.
Great article - I've not seen our unique government's history so clearly described. Thanks!
For Sheclown: Yes, Duval schools were disaccredited in the 60s, though I thought it was due to them fighting desegregation, not due to per-student expenditures. But that's from the recollection of an ex who was starting at Englewood at the time the schools lost their accredidation. The system-wide reaccredidation push was successful while I was in school in Duval County. I remember them painting the school I was bussed to to ensure they looked ok for the accredidation examiners, but can't recall if I was at R.L. Brown 6th grade center or Matthew Gilbert 7th grade center at that time. All I remember is how long a bus ride to get to those two schools during the DCPS forced busing era.
Hmm, after this great history of City Consolidation is completed, I'd love to see a similar history on the evolution of the Duval County public school system since consolidation.
QuoteThe J. Turner Butler Boulevard, an expressway opened in 1997, ran across the southern part of Jacksonville. Dubbed by wags as the "road to nowhere" it soon fostered development along its route and in south Jacksonville Beach and in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Opened in 1997? The new JTB, cause many of us remember tolls on it and in existence, ever since I arrived here in 1980.
Good thread post; look forward to the succeeding series or posts; however, the question I'm waiting to ask and/or have answered after this series is: "Has and is consoidation been successful for Jax and if so, how?" I would like to think that it (consolidation) was and is and continues to be successful, but it appears that some aspects of consolidation have been unsuccessful and have held Jax back in many ways. We'll see what tomorrow's posts from this series reveals!
Heights Unknown
Schools were disacredited 1964 because the community didn't prioritize education. People in the 1950's started warning the community of this possibility but business and other community leaders didn't care to listen. Disacreditation is what it took to finally galvanize the community. Try getting into a better college from a disacredited school system. It took years for all the schools, one by one, to be reacredited.
It's better today, but still nowhere near where it should be. Schools are still woefully underfunded. We don't stand out as much because the disease has now spread state wide. The whole State has a problem thanks to Tallahassee double speak and insincerity on the subject. By the way, how many know that teachers statewide went on strike in 1968, not for higher wages, but for better funding of public schools. So, this is a problem long ignored by locals and Floridians. It's why Silicon Valley is in California and Research Triangle is in North Carolina while we have minimum wage jobs at mouse-land in Orlando.
How to fix schools? Make every politician put their kids in public school or they lose their vote on education funding.
As to home rule, much of that is being gutted, especially by Tallahassee, with their medling into property taxes and endless unfunded mandates to the City. The talk today doesn't necessarily match the walk.
So, what's the theme here? Consolidation may be good (with room for tweaking yet) but State interference makes it far from a panacea.
By the way, the uncovering of corruption in Jax was mostly led by Channel 4 headed by Bill Grove. They did real investigative reporting that changed our community forever, not the fake and inconsequential stuff done today.
Last night, Ch. 4 said their "investigative" reporters received "explosive" documents regarding that lady at the beach who falsely said she was kidnapped. In reality, the documents were merely filings with the court that were public record. The only thing "explosive" about them was the titillating and voyeuristic insights into a couple's heretofore private life. Nothing in this story is exclusive, original or substantively impacts the greater community but this is what now passes for "investigative" reporting. Bill Grove is probably spinning in his grave.
Like most everything else in our world, the standards have certainly fallen. And TV news wonders why it's in decline.
QuoteLast night, Ch. 4 said their "investigative" reporters received "explosive" documents regarding that lady at the beach who falsely said she was kidnapped.
I believe you are discussing the Quinn Gray case? It is sensationalism, plain and simple. They did say the online docs, all 131 pages, are graphic in detail, and advised people, young people not to look at it. But to give Channel 4 credit, they have follwed the Somer Thompson case from beginning to end, and it DOMINATES their newscasts.
With the ET, Extra, Oprah, and Jerry Springer shows, you wonder why some kids brains are mush?
Reply to stephendare;
I know of Rick only casually- no great insight but enough at one dinner table event where I had to make concious effort to bite my tongue.(My father in law,Judge William Durden, the City's first General Counsel under the new Consolodated government has observed I tend to be too harsh on many officials.It is a learned outlook stemming from native North Miami early childhood experience and later even awarded with City of Jacksonville Mimi & Lee Adams award for prophetic "bravery" at being at odds with officials.)
Indeed,thank you, I was mistaken in the General Counsel mayor spring board thought-the spring board is located in the State attorney's office.
The surrounding county dynamic is representative is a demographic repeated throughout the country.
These posts do bring back memories!
Bill Groves was the most effective reporter that was ever in this city. Because Channel 4 was owned by the Washington Post, it was independent from local pressure. The City of Jacksonville politicians did get all of the auto dealers to pull their ads, but Groves never stopped. His investigative work laid the groundwork for consolidation. The newspapers were very careful about what they reported, but did support consolidation when it came along later.
The so-called "investigative" journalism done here now is a complete joke. We are all treated like mushrooms.
The City of Jacksonville government was unbelievably corrupt. I personally saw briefcases of cash being carried up to Haydon Burns' office by the City Attorney. Ish Brant was not only corrupt, but he was stupid, racist and poorly educated; totally unqualified to be Superintendent of Schools.
Wife and I were both part of the strike here in 1968 and because we were very active, we were blacklisted from getting a teaching job in the whole state for some years. I never taught again and when we moved back to Jax many years later, my wife, who had held top teaching and administrative positions in both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, refused to have anything to do with the school system here and stopped teaching as well.
The strike was about pay, working conditions and overall state funding and it got really ugly. There was a lot of unreported retaliation against the participants and a lot of enmity towards those who stayed on the job for years afterward. My starting salary as a teacher in 1967 was $4800 per year. For comparison, my 1967 VW Beetle cost $2400. Teachers were not allowed to ride motorcycles to school so I had to buy a car.
Our consolidated government isn't perfect, but it is sure a lot better than what we had! Appointed School Superintendent is better than elected too.
Ish Brant, damn man, I hadn't thought about him since? Hell, I can't even remember, but did he ever effect our lives. I presume you got in on some of the fun at the tail end of the efforts to fix the mess. So Stephendare, do you have any yarns about school here?
I'd love to hear how this impacted some of our brother and sister Jaxsons, Black, White, or anything other, what was it like in YOUR neighborhood?
It was very hard to understand having lived in Ortega, and Ortega Farms area through elementary, my sisters went to Ortega, and from some reason they started/kept me at JNC Stockton. We always seemed to be getting the newest books, work books, tools, toys, whatever. Only our playground showed any real lack of investment. Seems rather unbalanced doesn't it? I do recall that AC didn't come until long after I left, around 1965.QuoteSchools were disacredited 1964 because the community didn't prioritize education. People in the 1950's started waring the community of this possibility but business and other community leaders didn't care to listen. Disacreditation is what it took to finally galvanize the community. Try getting into a better college from a disacredited school system. It took years for all the schools, one by one, to be reacredited.
Did you survive it too stjr? Sounds like it. QuoteHow to fix schools? Make every politician put their kids in public school or they lose their vote on education funding.
I think your idea for the current administration would be a good one but, with all the new violence in the schools, keeping kids of high ranking local government officials, out of danger/trouble might be a tall order. As for any surviving members of that 1960's board, I think we should search the jungles of the Philippine Islands, to see if we could find a couple of Kempeitai hold outs from Imperial Japan. We'll send the big shots to them and then I and some of the other locals might feel vindicated. OCKLAWAHA
Thanks steven.........I plan on asking the exact same question tommorow to Mr Mullaney!
QuoteIn August, 1967, the voters of Jacksonville and Duval County decided, with 65 percent of the votes cast, to consolidate the county and the city. Baldwin to the west and Atlantic, Neptune, and Jacksonville Beaches refused, however.
I don't believe this is true. All of them voted to form the consolidated government, but they ALSO voted (it was a separate question) to maintain their respective cities as independent cities within the consolidated goverment. In affect, residents of the beaches and Baldwin are residents of BOTH their own city AND the consolidated city of Jacksonville. As such, they vote for the Mayor and City Council of Jacksonville and pay Jacksonville for county services that they receive (such as jail operations for instance). They also pay taxes to their independent city for services provided by THAT city (which varies among the four).
I will double-check tonight, but I believe the above states it correctly.
Quote from: Dog Walker on October 27, 2009, 02:42:07 PM
These posts do bring back memories!
Dog and Ock, thanks for adding your first hand experiences. I was in grade school during the strike. I recall all the "best" teachers participated in it. Many parents didn't get it and it divided them greatly.
My parents were big fighters for better education and also thought very little of Ish Brant. I remember his visits to my elementary school. They always made a big deal that the "superintendent" was coming.
Our elementary school got A/C, but only after the parents paid for it through fund raisers! Imagine that happening today. That's how bad it was.
My cousin graduated high school in 1964 and had to jump through a lot of extra hoops to be admitted to an Ivy League school from Jax. Many weren't as fortunate.Quote...Appointed School Superintendent is better than elected too.
Wonder how this concept would apply to sheriff as recently suggested by a consultant. If it worked for schools...then...QuoteThe newspapers were very careful about what they reported, but did support consolidation when it came along later.
How many MJ readers know that, at the time, the Times Union was owned by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (now CSX)? That also had a lot to do with how they covered the community. The paper was far more "establishment" than its now. When RR's competed for passenger service, RR schedules were carried prominently in the T-U along with plane crashes. RR wrecks were back page if they were covered at all. Famously, once a wreck was so bad they couldn't ignore putting a photo in the paper, but they painted out ACL's name to remove any connection to them. The stuff of legends.
I must be a New Englander at heart- an area the size and population of Duval should have more independent, towns,mayors,councils.
I think the curiosity for most is the concept of the land size of this Consolodated arrangement.The size aspect is so proudly noted....and rare.
Interesting that Baldwin and the Beaches-as almost intuitive ??-wished to retain a level of singular independence.
Much of the remaining land area was (and to a degree,still) undeveloped at the time of Consolodation and remained so for a long period as the surrounding counties stole the limelight.As a newcommer to the region in the mid 70's I recall well the subtle and not so subtle anti Duval theme.We got sucked in to Wells Road/Orange Park and later-Black Creek/Middleburg.Now happily back in Duval!
Understanding Consolidation with Rick Mullaney
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Rick Mullaney, as the General Counsel for the City of Jacksonville, has an engineer's view of how our Consolidated government works.
Join us as he explains the machine that is our unique form of government, its history, things we learned along the way, and how structural changes and political fads have altered the original intentions.
The following is an adaptation of a speech by Mr. Mullaney to the Charter Revision Commission in three parts.
The History of Consolidation. The applications and benefits of Consolidation, and the Possible futures of Consolidated Government.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-oct-understanding-consolidation-with-rick-mullaney
very interesting read
Very interesting... Clearly Rick is a enthusiastic supporter of our consolidated government. I wonder what detractors would say and how he would respond to those criticisms.
One question/issue that has been raised on this site several times....
Rick noted that there are eight independent City authorities, but did not mention JTA. Is this because JTA is a state-created authority? If so, what powers would the Charter Commission (or the City in general) have to change the mission/organization of JTA?
Questions for Mr. Mullaney:
1) If consolidation had not occurred, in what ways do you think Jacksonville would be different today?
2) In terms of economic development and recruitment, to what degree does the Chamber of Commerce, JEDC et al. emphasize consolidation to prospects, and how do those prospects typically respond to that information?
Let me throw one in. Looking back over 40 years since consolidation, how do you think that it has impacted the urban core of the city, as opposed to if we did not consolidate?
Good afternoon everyone. This is my first live blog and I want to thank Metro Jacksonville for giving me this chance to participate in this discussion of consolidation. And I want to thank the readers.
There have been some very good questions and comments on yesterday's article on the history of consolidation and today's article on understanding consolidation.
I will try to address these questions as best I can. Please feel free to follow up or ask additional questions:
(1) Has it worked? What would Jacksonville look like today without consolidation? Very fair questions. I don't think it will surprise you, given what I told the Charter Review Commission, for me to say I believe has worked and dramatically so. Over the last forty years, as I told the Commission, Jacksonville has undergone, in my opinion, a transformational change. There are many reasons for that change, but one of the fundamental reasons is consolidated government. Structurally, it allows us to approach public policy differently. It allows us to speak with one voice as a community, leverage our assets countywide, and pursue bold public policy objectives. It puts us in position to transform our community. This is part of the answer as to how such a small community was able to get an NFL team, acquire over 50,000 acres for the preservation project (the largest such program in the state), replace tolls with a half cent sales tax, pass a Better Jacksonville Plan, and move forward with Jacksonville Journey. Make no mistake. Structure does not create policy. It takes people and leadership. But in other parts of the state, and country, there are structural barriers and impediments to bold public policy and our form of government puts us in position to succeed. I will addresss this more, as reader like. In short, I believe consolidated government has been part of the foundation for our transform over the last 40 years and I think it is unlikely we would have the Jaguars, the Preservation Project, or the Better Jacksonville Plan without consolidated government.
(2) JEDC, Chamber, and economic development: how do prospects respond to consolidated government? Great question. Imagine you wanted to do business in Palm Beach and had to deal with a county government, 38 municipalities, and an assortment of other public entities? Or Miami-Dade and 35 muncipalities? Marshal Criser, at a health care symposium last year, described the municipalities in Palm Beach as engaging in "Afghan tribal warfare" in competition with each other for tech companies. So the companies went elsewhere. Also, imagine the overlapping jurisdictions when trying to do business in those and similar counties? In short: it is an enormous economic development advantage to have consolidated government and prospects respond very favorably to our structure.
(3) What happened to the Ethics Guidelines in the original charter? It is my understanding that the original Ethics Code in the Charter was moved to the ordinance code in 1972. It appears this was part of an overall reorganization. Let me also say that the original Code was very limited. In 1996, as Chief of Staff to former Mayor Delaney, I led a comprehensive re-write of the Code and asked Carla Miller, a good friend of mine from law school and a former federal prosecutor, to volunteer to help, as well as John Jolly, Steve Durden (now a professor at Florida Coastal) and others. It took us a while, but in 1999 a new, comprehensive Code of Ethics was passed. It was much more extensive than the original Code, brought all ethics provisions to one place, created an Ethics Officer and Ethics Officer system (for the first time), and gave specific responsibilities to the Ethics Commission. It was a major step in the right direction. Carla Miller, in particular, deserves great credit for the time and energy she has devoted to this effort.
(4) JTA: how seperate road building and mass transit into seperate legal entities? Is the Charter Revision Commission the right place for a discussion on the structure and role of JTA? Is is an independent authority under consolidated governemnt?
There are eight independent authorities under our consolidated government and the JTA is one of them. However, JTA is very independent, a state agency and a creature of state statute. JTA can only be reorganized by state statute. Uniquely, unlike JEA, JAA, JPA, etc. they do not have to use the General Counsel's Office for legal services. The Charter Revision Commission is an appropriate forum form any structural discussion of consolidated government, including the role of the JTA.
I hope this is helpful and provides some preliminary answers to most of the questions so far.
I am looking forward to the discussion. Thanks. Rick Mullaney.
The "leveraging of assets" is what former Mayor Ed Austin sometimes describes as the "clout" Jacksonville has when it puts the entire community ---- the business community, the civic community, the public sector, the media --- and our nearly 900,000 people, behind a public policy initiative. He was describing the NFL effort in particular, but this applies beyond football. John Delaney took the point and leveraged available community assets (financial, political, media, public, etc) to pass the Better Jacksonville Plan. Mayor John Peyton did the same on Jacksonville Journey. This may seem straightforward, but in other communities divisiveness and fragmented political power makes it difficult and sometimes impossible.
Mr. Mullaney,
Thank you for taking part in this discussion.
Having a friend in who's been in the Orange County fire dept and strongly supported consolidation in Orlando recently I can certainly appreciate the benefits of leveraging our assets. One question that has been discussed on these boards in the past has been the effect of consolidation on our urban core. There are many residents in these areas that may support higher taxes for more services, particularly light rail connecting downtown with the surrounding neighborhoods, however, when considering the entire city this type of project would likely have little support.
Has consolidation stifled these types of interests in certain regions of the city? How can they be overcome?
Thank you,
Erick Rasmussen
Rick - What was the process to split the Port into an airport and seaport authority? I know it went to the state, but how did that happen? Since JPA is a city agency, would that be the same process?
And Second (and completely unrelated): I didn't see anything about the Beaches and Baldwin. How did it come to be that they would be separate entities?
Rick, thanks for doing this. I hope it is a big success and other public officials take on this approach to have unfiltered dialogue with the public they serve.
I raised the following comments and/or observations previously when it was revealed you were going to do this. Your comments or thoughts, agree or disagree, on these subjects would be of interest.QuoteThe problem with the City Council structure is it is both the House (i.e. district reps) and Senate (i.e. the at-large reps) rolled into one body. As such, those elected to look out for all of Jax (the at-large reps) can't control or veto the district projects approved through back room horse trading by the district reps who control a super majority of the council and tend to be more petty and backwards to placate their limited constituencies.
This has served to dilute the character of a consolidated government that is suppose to be more oriented toward the big picture for the good of the whole county, not specific districts. This part of Jacksonville has not fulfilled its promise as a result and we are being held back by it. It needs to top the list of changes.
QuoteWhile we are at it, we need to create an independent Parks, Preservation, Beautification, and Historical Commission with its own budget and enforcement powers (park police, litter patrols, historic code/restrictions enforcement, etc.). Money could come from the city budget, park fees and rentals, and tax revenue derived from increased property values that result from its actions.
Also, please comment on elected versus appointed sheriff.
Can/should we restructure the Police and Fire Pension Fund structure, control, and relationships?
And , if there is an opportunity to address the structure of the school board and it's relationship with City government.
Thanks very much.
Other questions:
There have been several discussions on MJ about whether consolidation has helped or hurt the development of downtown by forcing the city to disperse its resources and efforts across the entire county. And, as a consequence, if this has fostered excessive urban sprawl. What do you think?
In a followup, if there has been a dilution in attention to the urban core, has this also weakened our efforts at historic preservation? What can be done to better save the little that is left?
More thanks ;)
Several questions and I hope this helps: (1) In the 1967 consolidation vote, the 3 beaches communities (Neptune, Atlantic, and Jacksonville Beach) and Baldwin had the option to retain their municipal status, which they did. As a result, the City of Jacksonville stands as a county government to these 4 municipalities and Jacksonville has a number of interlocal agreements with them; (2) The Port was split in 2001 into a seperate seaport authority (JPA) and Airport Authority (JAA) by an act of the Florida legislature, (3) One of the defining characteristics of consolidated government is a "strong mayor" form of government. This has nothing to do with the personality of the mayor, but the executive and administrative authority of the mayor. In over 90% of Florida's more than 400 municipalities, there is a "weak mayor" form of government. In other words, the mayor is usually one vote on the City Council and has no real executive authority. During the 40 years since consolidation, we have had 6 mayors and, for the most part, the urban core has been a significant priority and there have been significant financial investments in the urban core. There have been a number of approaches to downtown and the urban core, including the downtown development authority, JEDC, and the development of Tax Increment Districts downtown, and significant investment from the Better Jacksonville Plan, for example. I do not believe consolidation has "stifled" the kinds of interests you are describing. As I said earlier, however, the structure does not create good public policy. It still takes good leadership.
One more issue regarding strengthening the competency of the Planning Commission and making it more independent of the people it regulates. Please comment on my observations below previously posted on MJ:QuoteWant to see an even more obvious extreme conflict of interests? Investigate the makeup of the Planning Commission. Because its totally unpaid and meets twice a month during the day, with little or no "prestige", they have a hard time filling positions by appointments. This makes them heavily dependent on self-nominees/volunteers.
So who steps up? Mainly people who consider it good for business and their career, especially by siding with developers, builders, movers and shakers. I won't impeach everything the Planning Commission does, but there is the appearance of a heavy built-in bias and conflict of interest when it is heavily staffed by planners, architects, budding land-use attorneys looking for business, and other development dependent individuals.
The Planning Commission's lack of scrutiny is compounded when many remaining positions are filled by inexperienced and unqualified individuals who, lacking full time occupations, are looking for something to do during their spare time that adds a little excitement to their otherwise dull days. These "commissioners" tend to follow like sheep those who seem to know more than they do because they are afraid to show signs of ignorance.
And, lest you think I came to this conclusion by myself, be assured it's been confirmed over time by City officials close to the action.
Stephen, check out "Untarded"s post on the previous page.
Quote:
QuoteHas consolidation stifled these types of interests in certain regions of the city? How can they be overcome?
His comment was regarding transit and rail projects I believe.
If Jacksonville is looked upon jealously in thier consolidation, what other cities are trying to do something similar?
Thanks.
Quote from: fsu813 on October 28, 2009, 04:08:47 PM
If Jacksonville is looked upon jealously in thier consolidation, what other cities are trying to do something similar?
Thanks.
Orlando recently tried and failed.
A good friend of mine has been part of the Orange County Fire Dept. He tells me that Orange County and Orlando Fire Dept pass each other daily on calls and frequently they end up at locations that would have more efficiently served by the other department. Imagine this overlap and inefficiency happening for all city/county services.
Buffalo and Pittsburgh are two that are considering consolidation.
Quote from: Jason on October 28, 2009, 04:01:03 PM
Stephen, check out "Untarded"s post on the previous page.
Quote: QuoteHas consolidation stifled these types of interests in certain regions of the city? How can they be overcome?
His comment was regarding transit and rail projects I believe.
I used transit and rail in the urban core as an example. Certainly other neighborhoods may have special needs/interests that if they were in their own municipality may get resolution more quickly than when placed in a pool of needs/interests of a number of areas of the city and decided upon by a consolidated government.
I'm wondering also if the massive sprawl of our city is a result of consolidation and if it places greater challenges on a consolidated government.
I use this example in particular because I work for a large company that is part of a large family of companies. We continue to consolidate and share services across companies. While we achieve large cost savings and efficiencies by negotiating as one voice individual companies often struggle with their ability to be dynamic in a rapidly changing global marketplace because an individual company's request for services must be weighed against the request of others.
There have been some great questions and many are getting into technical issues that the Charter Revision Commission is reviewing (eg appointed versus elected sheriff, independent entity for parks, make up of city council, the police and fire pension fund, school board, etc).
When I was before the Commission, and for all of you, I want to stress not the specific issues of a particular entity or issue (although important), but a fundamental understanding of consolidated government. Of the 67 counties in the State of Florida, Jacksonville has the only consolidated government. It is truly unique. I get calls from all over the country, including an inquiry from Memphis yesterday, on our structure of government.
It sounds like a boring civics lesson, but we are one of the few local governments in the country that followed the most successful model in history: the federal model, founded in 1789, with its executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch and a system of checks and balances and seperation of power. Surprisingly, this is not the model for local governments around the state or country.
Before the Commission, I tried to stress some of the defining characteristics of this government, such as centralized budgetary authority, centralized legal services, a strong mayor form of government, checks and balances, seperation of power, and the sacrifice of some soverignity (ie authority and independence) of all entities of the consolidated government. These principles are important.
With these principles in mind, it is easier to see (I hope) how policy can be created with countywide applicability.
Instead of a county government in conflict with multiple municipalities, we have a system that allows for countywide initiatives and public policy formation. This is not theory or an academic discussion. The Jaguars, BJP, Preservation Project, and Jacksonville Journey are just a few past examples. For the future, we are in a better position than other governments to address the financial crisis and restructure our finances, compete for stimulus money, invest in critical infrastructure, and shape our future.
In short, our structure allows us, as a city, to have a bold vision for the future and transform ourselves. We are limited, truly, only by our vision and imagination.
I tried to express this, as best I could, to the Commission.
I hope you enjoy this 3 part series by Metro Jacksonville.
Quote from: Rick Mullaney on October 28, 2009, 04:57:16 PM
There have been some great questions and many are getting into technical issues that the Charter Revision Commission is reviewing (eg appointed versus elected sheriff, independent entity for parks, make up of city council, the police and fire pension fund, school board, etc).
Rick, I guess you are saying that while under review you can't offer us your opinions. I'll accept that (do I have a choice? ;D ) if these are items that are truly being scrutinized.
I hope, particularly, you and/or others will input to the Charter Commission a desire to better emulate more fully the "most successful" Federal system by pushing for either a bicameral legislative branch or one that gives countywide reps equal or majority control over district reps. That may make our city government more focused on what's for the greater good of all our citizens.
I also would hope there is support for a parks commission and revamping the currently toothless Planning Commission.
Maybe at some point, you would be able to tell us what you really think about some of these issues without compromising your position.
By the way, are the Charter Commission minutes and/or hearings-discussions on line or broadcast?
Thanks for your time.
STJR
Cleveland and Detroit are two great examples of what happens when cities and counties do NOT consolidate. Decaying centers surrounded by affluent suburbs. Though that "affluent suburb" thing is changing rapidly in Detroit because of other factors.
Quote from: Dog Walker on October 28, 2009, 05:50:33 PM
Cleveland and Detroit are two great examples of what happens when cities and counties do NOT consolidate. Decaying centers surrounded by affluent suburbs. Though that "affluent suburb" thing is changing rapidly in Detroit because of other factors.
The problem with this is that there always seems to be a "newer", further-out, suburb. Look at Jax. We now have people flocking to suburbs OUTside our CONSOLIDATED city. What happens if this goes to the same extreme as the cities you cite? The consolidated city will be no different than the urban cores you mention. Consolidation would have merely served as a delaying mechanism to the condition you describe.
The answer is to build model cities in which migration is INward to the urban core, not outward. How do we do that? Cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, and San Francisco, to varying degrees, seem to offer possible scenarios for study and copying. Good mass transit, cultural institutions, and quality educational systems go a long way to solving these issues. Just like businesses, cities need to reinvest wisely in themselves rather than blindly support urban sprawl, which, once ignited, can kill the city that started it all.
I noticed that Mr. Mullaney mentioned Memphis.
I posted on MJ just a few days ago that the newly-elected Mayor of Memphis, ran on a platform to consolidate with Shelby County. He won overwhelmingly against 20+ opponents. He already held the position of Mayor of Shelby County.
It will be interesting to see if he pulls it off. If successful, Memphis would push Jacksonville down a spot on the list of largest cities.
***
I also would like to correct a post I made yesterday. I had stated that the Beaches and Baldwin APPROVED consolidation while at the same time approving on the separate question, to remain an independent city under the consolidated government.
I stated that all four approved both consolidation and independence in the '67 vote. I checked my source today, and while I was correct on the beaches, the town of Baldwin did NOT approve consolidation. However, that had no affect on the outcome, as that question was settled on the countywide result.
Hello Rick,
Thank you for taking your time to join us in this great story, of course I too have questions. If you frequent our pages, I'm an Editor on MJ, a sometimes retired railroad planner from Jacksonville, who also calls Colombia home, both are my desire and passion to improve upon. I realize you are not in any of the following, however I can think of no one more qualified to perchance an opinion on getting action.
Streetcars? Your thoughts on avenues of approach if JTA does not complete the studies, environmental impact, and engineering. I'm talking of vintage JACKSONVILLE TRACTION Company style operation, much like that of Tampa, Memphis, Little Rock, Kenosha, Dallas...etc. Several have responded with ideas for nonprofits, museums, creation of a streetcar transit (tax - impact fee) benefit district, citizens petitions, etc.
Skyway? A dead duck when we have Billions being handed out in DC for existing systems, many funded at 100%. Certainly it has no ridership, why? Take any office building with a grand staircase, and chop off the top 5 steps and the bottom 5 and see what use it gets. Again, ideas? How do we move our sleeping giant?
Transportation Center? The JTA plan is a disaster. I have spoken with the Federal Railroad Administration, about filing a stop work order under safety (FLOOD PLAIN) violations. As you may know, I drew up a compact design that addresses this and other questions, Mr. Davis, was enthusiastically supportive and drew up a professional rendering. How to take the mountain to Mohammad, or can we carry Mohammad to the mountain?
If any of these questions will require more then we can put into quick answers, send me a PM and I'd love to meet with you and some of the JTA and MJ staff. There is so much to this subject and having a highway builder as a Mass Transit Agency, certainly tips the scales against transit. You may recall that it was a highway, oil, auto, rubber, conspiracy that was proved as the perpetrator in the abandonment of America's electric railways. Old habits die hard. Within this year, both myself and Stephendare, have asked JTA for the engineering drawings, estimates and all studies on the various Skyway extensions. They seem to be "lost," then we were told they never were completed to any real price estimate, never even drawn. We found this very interesting, because our Lakelander, was able to find a file with cost estimates, on those very extensions.
Privatize the Skyway and the Streetcar project? How about the station too? A lease from the city and the operating or capital grants and we'll make them sing.
OCKLAWAHA
I love it Stephendare, I think the whole gang of us should head down to Cartagena! Sucre / Sal.
OCKLAWAHA
Mr Mullaney...I wanted to say thanks for participating with the metrojax forum and have one simple question for you. I would like to know who or whom took it upon themselves to remove the "Ethics Guidelines" from the original revised Charter. For it's time it was very progressive but now we have nothing in writing at all! Hopefully that will change with the new Charter Commission!
Thanks for meeting with us in this space & place!
Outstanding conversation! Bravo to the great questions and thoughtful answers! This is the kind of dialogue that sets MetroJax above the rest. I look forward to more... :)
Quote from: BridgeTroll on October 29, 2009, 06:40:15 AM
Outstanding conversation! Bravo to the great questions and thoughtful answers! This is the kind of dialogue that sets MetroJax above the rest. I look forward to more... :)
Agreed. Please consider also Mr Mullaney, that there are quite a few more readers in threads like these than contributors. We one-line bandits tend to stay quiet and try to listen and observe when the discussion is more important/informative.
Thanks for sharing your time and mind with us.
This question is more on the 'history' of consolidation than the future, but here goes.
I'm a little fuzzy on the details, this is from memory alone, so bare with me. I believe in the '80's, there was a section of what is now Atlantic Beach that left the City of Jacksonville proper for Atlantic Beach. I think this is the northern-most part of Atlantic Beach. I think this section is called Seminole Road or Seminole Beach or something like that.
What were the circumstances around that, and how did it occur? Was it implemented via the City of Jacksonville, the state or both? Could it happen again? There was some concern at the time that it could lead to an 'unraveling' of consolidation. Given that it hasn't happened since, I guess that was not the case, still it is an interesting footnote.
Thanks in advance for any info.
I want to thank all the readers for their comments and questions. They have really been good and this has been a great discussion. I also appreciate how thoughtful everyone has been.
I want to briefly clear up something that may be confusing from today's presentation of my comments to the Charter Revision Commission on July 30, 2009. When discussing duplication of services, and legal services in particular, I tried to express that other local governments have multiple city attorneys' offices and a county attorney office. For example, Miami-Dade has about 80 attorneys in the county office and multiple city attorney offices as well. For example, I believe the City of Miami has about 30 city attorneys and other cities, also within Miami-Dade, have their own city attorneys' office. This is true for other counties as well. For example, Hillsborough County has about 40 attorneys in the county office and the City of Tampa, I believe, has over 25 attorneys.
All of this is in contrast to Jacksonville. We have 40 attorneys in the General Counsel's Office. We are, in effect, both the county attorneys' office and the city attorneys' office all in one.
I hope this makes sense.
Rick, for more discussion and comments, see the other threads with Ed Austin and you and Tommy Hazouri. Maybe you could relate some of our discussions/ideas to the Charter Revision Commission. They would surely listen more closely to you than us. ;) Thanks!
Ed Austin and You: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,6577.msg107467/topicseen.html#new
Tommy Hazouri: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,6539.msg107465/topicseen.html#new
Thanks again for the great questions. MJ suggested that I focus on a particular question instead of, as I tried yesterday, to answer as many questions as I could. So here goes.
A fair and I think important question from yesterday was why, if consolidation is such a great form of government, aren't other counties and cities doing the same thing? Good question.
In short, there are usually built in obstacles to adopting consolidated government and absent crisis and statesmanship (Jacksonville had both in the 1960's) it is unlikely to happen. For one thing, when you abolish the city government and the county government, to create the consolidated government, the incumbent elected officials lose their jobs. And, although this often is addressed through attrition, many public employees believe they will lose their jobs. Not surprisingly, those who may lose their jobs often oppose the change. In addtion, those who have access and relationships with the existing structure typically oppose change. Vested interests often oppose change. And, not surprisingly, change itself intimidates some. It is easier for many to simply stay with the status quo than try something that is such a significant change.
Despite these obstacles, many cities and counties are exploring the change to consolidated government. It is difficult to bring about, but I believe it is a far better form of local government.
Quote from: Rick Mullaney on October 29, 2009, 02:00:53 PM
Thanks again for the great questions. MJ suggested that I focus on a particular question instead of, as I tried yesterday, to answer as many questions as I could. So here goes.
A fair and I think important question from yesterday was why, if consolidation is such a great form of government, aren't other counties and cities doing the same thing? Good question.
In short, there are usually built in obstacles to adopting consolidated government and absent crisis and statesmanship (Jacksonville had both in the 1960's) it is unlikely to happen. For one thing, when you abolish the city government and the county government, to create the consolidated government, the incumbent elected officials lose their jobs. And, although this often is addressed through attrition, many public employees believe they will lose their jobs. Not surprisingly, those who may lose their jobs often oppose the change. In addtion, those who have access and relationships with the existing structure typically oppose change. Vested interests often oppose change. And, not surprisingly, change itself intimidates some. It is easier for many to simply stay with the status quo than try something that is such a significant change.
Despite these obstacles, many cities and counties are exploring the change to consolidated government. It is difficult to bring about, but I believe it is a far better form of local government.
I witnessed this in Orlando's consolidation effort. The City Fire Department was strongly opposed while Orange County Fire Dept was strongly in favor of consolidation. City employees had significantly higher salaries and benefits than their County counterparts. The city employees feared they would largely be replaced by lower paid County employees after consolidation.
Thanks stjr for telling me about the seperate threads. I am new to this and still learning. I was not aware of the seperate threads on consolidation. Thanks for your patience and helping me along.
Overall, I think this is a great way to conduct a community discussion. Thanks to MJ for proividing this opportunity to discuss consolidated government.
Rick, we have also learned that Stephen's definition of "reasoned discussion" is a bit flexible. ;D
Correction to previous post: Atlantic Coast Line did not own The Florida Times-Union/Jacksonville Journal. Florida East Coast Railway owned what was then known as Florida Publishing Company. FEC also owned the St. Augustine Record. Morris Publishing purchased the newspapers from FEC in the early 1980s.
Quote from: Jaxson on October 29, 2009, 08:48:45 PM
Correction to previous post: Atlantic Coast Line did not own The Florida Times-Union/Jacksonville Journal. Florida East Coast Railway owned what was then known as Florida Publishing Company. FEC also owned the St. Augustine Record. Morris Publishing purchased the newspapers from FEC in the early 1980s.
Quote from: stjr on October 27, 2009, 06:05:30 PM
How many MJ readers know that, at the time, the Times Union was owned by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (now CSX)? That also had a lot to do with how they covered the community. The paper was far more "establishment" than its now. When RR's competed for passenger service, RR schedules were carried prominently in the T-U along with plane crashes. RR wrecks were back page if they were covered at all. Famously, once a wreck was so bad they couldn't ignore putting a photo in the paper, but they painted out ACL's name to remove any connection to them. The stuff of legends.
Jaxson, sorry, you are incorrect. You took your info from Wikipedia it appears and it's wrong. That's sometimes the problem with a user updated site like Wikipedia.
Here, from Morris Publishing's (current owner of the T-U) own web site, they show that they bought the Times Union from Seaboard Coast Line, successor to Atlantic Coast Line and predecessor to CSX:
QuoteNewspapers in Jacksonville date to the mid-1830s. In 1864, an olive grower named J.K. Stickney teamed with W.C. Morrill to start the Florida Union. The two parted in April 1865. Stickney kept the paper and established physician Holmes Steele as editor.
Steele smashed other Jacksonville papers - the Herald, the Mercury, the Times - in the year following the war.
In 1867, Stickney sold the paper to Edward M. Cheney, a Boston lawyer and Union army captain. Cheney tried unsuccessfully to turn the Union from a three-times-a-week paper to a daily, but it didn't work out. He sold the Union in 1873 to Walton, Fowle & Co., headed by Canadian newpaperman, Charles H. Walton. The paper nose-dived. It abandoned daily publication. It appeared doomed. Soon it was sold to Baptist preacher H.B. McCallum and a partner.
Charles H. Jones, who had run away from home at 14 to be a Confederate drummer boy, tried to buy the Union. When that failed, he recruited an old friend from Chicago and started a rival paper. The Florida Daily Times began in November 1881.
By 1883, the professionally produced Times had eclipsed the preacher-edited Union. McCallum, ridden by illness, sold to the interlopers. The first edition of The Florida Times-Union came out on Sunday, Feb. 4, 1883.
The newspaper, along with the afternoon Jacksonville Journal, the St. Augustine Record and the weekly Courier Journal in Crescent City, were purchased by Morris Communications Jan. 1, 1983, from Seaboard Coast Line Railroad.
http://www.morris.com/divisions/morris_publishing_group/daily_newspapers/florida_times.shtml
By the way, I was born and raised here and am old enough to have lived through this. Can't beat first hand experience. ;)
I arrived on scene/Jacksonville in the mid 70's and vividly recall my meetings with Florida Times Union William Swiesgood.Bill's pen hallmark was River protection causes.
What a different time and outlook.Destined to be subjected to trial.
Twenty years later FTU reporter (D.Baierlein) would track me for two days including lengthy interview and track all the way down to the Water Management District permit offices.The provocative-yet prophetic- information relating to emerging sprawl within our region's water recharge basin shared with the FTU yet never shared with the readers makes good reading.
Sad legacy.
Mr Mullaney, much thanks for participating in this discussion! Some very unclear or half truths have been made clear and I appreciate your taking the time to clarify some issue's. I have done some research for Ms Miller regarding "Ethic's" and have one further question regarding this which is - The Independent Authorities were under the original umbrella of "Ethic's Guidelines" and when the guidelines were moved to the City Ordinances in 1972 the Independent Authorities were no longer controlled or guided by same. The Ethics Commission has made the presentation regarding this issue that "Ethics" be set in black and white and in stone and cover all COJ Agencies. Do you feel that having guidelines in place will help or hinder having an efficient transparent government and do you support having guidelines that control all employee's for the City?
The Beachs and Baldwin are USD's (urban service districts) of the consolidated goverment and I don't see the need for thier existance.
I really enjoyed the live blog last week on consolidated government. It was the first time I have done that and it is a great way to have a community discussion.
As a follow up, I spoke briefly today before the Charter Revision Commission on consolidation and specifically on the role of legal services. As the 3 part series last week set out, I believe that through luck and genius (don't ever underestimate luck) the founding fathers of consolidated government devised the best local government structure in the State and centralized legal services and financial authority are fundamental to this structure working. Today I reemphasized the unique and critical role that I believe the General Counsel's Office plays in making consolidated government work. Representing all entities of the consolidated government directly contributes to our ability to operate as a single enterprise and pursue significant countywide policy objectives with one voice. I hope my testimony today was helpful. Developing a community wide understanding and appreciation of our consolidated government is important to our future.
I think they are taking their responsibilities seriously and they are very sincere and conscientious.
Rick, thanks for your participation here.
Here is the link to the Charter Review Commission's web site and minutes (actually transcripts) for those who want to wade in deeper. I read one proceeding at the end of October on education and it's an interesting process.
http://www.coj.net/City+Council/CharterRevisionCommission
Interesting article (below) on the Charter Review Commission and its makeup.
In a city of almost a million, aren't there citizens who aren't campaign consultants, city employees, developer representatives, etc. that can contribute meaningfully to our City? Where is the "new blood"?
Kudos to Chairman Duggan and the others for saying all the right things but, in the end, none of these conflict-of-interests concerns would arise if we stopped going to the same well for everything no matter the issue. I bet if you canvas all the authority, advisory, and other boards and commissions in this City, one would find a disproportionate share of lawyers, government agency consultants and dependents, former politicians and appointees, development dependent business people, political consultants and lobbyists, etc.
Where are the fresh and independent business managers, non-political and non-development dependent professionals, non-profit leaders and volunteers, retired, but experienced citizens, teachers, nurses, technical workers, etc.? Is the City really getting a range of inputs or is it the victim of incestuous inbreeding causing defective births of ideas and visionary goals?QuoteJacksonville panel's ties raise conflict-of-interest concerns
One member's vote on combining elections serves as object lesson.
* By Tia Mitchell
* Story updated at 1:59 AM on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009
The 15 people who make up Jacksonville's Charter Review Commission come from varied backgrounds, but most have experience either working for or with the city's consolidated government.
Members say background knowledge is useful as they move quickly to build a consensus on ways to improve how the city operates. The commission's recommendations are due to the City Council in February.
But it also has led to accusations of conflicts of interest, most recently after the commission voted to support a council bill that would move city elections to coincide with state and federal elections as a cost-cutting measure.
A posting in an online forum praised commission member Teresa Eichner for being the sole dissenter, taking the same position against the bill that the majority of the City Council eventually backed. At the commission's Oct. 29 meeting, Chairman Wyman Duggan passed out copies of the forum posting that said "it was her tireless efforts which led to the bill's defeat."
Duggan pointed out that Eichner, senior vice president at Access Public Relations, works as a campaign manager and guided Martha Barrett's return in September to the School Board. He questioned whether she dissented because consolidating elections would reduce the number of campaign cycles from which she could obtain clients.
Eichner said she only explained her position to council members who asked why she didn't vote with the majority. She said she was offering an opinion, not lobbying against the bill.
"The decisions that I made were based on what I felt were best for the city, not necessarily what is best for me," Eichner said last week. She said she believes keeping city elections separate will ensure local issues and candidates aren't lost in the shuffle.
Duggan asked the city General Counsel's Office to look into the matter to ensure Eichner had not broken any state or local ethics laws. He said the city's lawyers confirmed there was nothing improper about Eichner's actions, but the issue still presented a teachable moment.
"I do think declaring any perceived conflict ahead of time is both good and required," Duggan said last week.
Former City Council President Ronnie Fussell appointed the Charter Review Commission members and they were confirmed by the full council in May. The members are not paid.
Eichner isn't the only one whose livelihood could pose direct or indirect ties to issues that come before the commission.
Also on the board is Jim Catlett, a registered lobbyist who has represented clients with issues before the City Council and independent agencies. Gary Oliveras is a police officer, who is active both with the union and on the Police and Fire Pension Board. He also is a candidate for the Duval County School Board.
Oliveras asked for the blessing of the General Counsel's Office before he voted on the election consolidation issue. He said he is hyper-sensitive about not appearing biased, and that the long-term health of the city is what guides him.
"What's most important to me is that Jacksonville is my home," Oliveras said. "This is where I'm raising my family."
Duggan himself is a land-use lawyer who has represented clients attempting to obtain council approval on development or zoning projects. He said the commission needs experienced members because it has a limited amount of time to deliberate on a broad range of topics and come up with its lists of non-binding recommendations, but he will protect the integrity of the process.
"I'm sensitive to the appearance issues and I'm trying to be very diligent in protecting the commission's credibility in that regard," Duggan said.
Eichner said she was taken by surprise when Duggan raised his concerns because managing campaigns is but a fraction of her work, and she doesn't see how consolidating elections would hurt or benefit business. But she said she isn't ashamed of the knowledge she brings to the table.
"We all come from different backgrounds," Eichner said. "There [are] all walks of life and varying backgrounds in business."
Former Mayor Ed Austin said declaring potential conflicts and financial interests in matters that come before the commission is key to avoiding future issues, but he also said there was nothing wrong with Eichner voicing dissension.
Austin said once people discuss how their interests relate to the topic at hand, "you weigh it and go on." He said the committee's wealth of knowledge is an asset.
"I feel perfectly comfortable with this group and that we will reach a consensus about what we think is the best thing for this government and consolidation," Austin said.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-11-08/story/jacksonville_panels_ties_raise_conflict_of_interest_concerns
One of the leaders of the 60's consolidation effort died Monday from cancer. He was influential in making Jacksonville what is is today...................................... :
Frederick H. Schultz, prominent Jacksonville civic leader and investment banker who worked tirelessly to reform public education, died Monday night at his home after a six-year battle with metastatic prostate cancer. He was 80.
Mr. Schultz helped draft the charter for the city’s consolidated government and worked to improve the way public education was funded.
He was member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1963 to 1970, serving as speaker the last two years.
President Jimmy Carter appointed him vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board from 1979 to 1982.
More recently, he created The Schultz Center for Teaching and Leadership as a place where teachers and other educators in Northeast Florida and other parts of the state could get professional development.
The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 1773 Blanding Blvd. Private interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery.
A man of great accomplishments, Mr. Schultz said in an April interview with The Florida Times-Union that the happiest period of his life began six years ago when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and given just six months to live.
“I thought about the things I had done well and the things I wasn’t happy about, and I decided I hadn’t spent enough time with my wife and children,†he said.
Former Jacksonville General Counsel Jim Rinaman was attorney for the Duval County Legislative Delegation in the late 1960s and recalled Mr. Schultz as one of the key leaders in creating the city’s consolidated government and cleaning up the old local government.
“He also was a prime mover in trying to straighten out the mess of public education, both locally and statewide,†Rinaman said.
Mayor John Peyton said, “I am not sure we will ever see a stronger advocate for education in the state of Florida than Fred Schultz.â€
Mr. Schultz believed that education was the most important factor as Jacksonville grew.
“We’re going to have to have a better trained workforce with people who can take on more sophisticated, creative jobs,†he told the Times-Union in an interview in May 2004. “And I don’t think you can have a good environment for education without strong business community support. I think that’s crucial.â€
Duval schools Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals called the Schultz Center “the premier training facility in the South.â€
“He believed passionately that teachers and principals deserved the same high quality professional development as those in the business sector,†he said.
Duval County School Board member W.C. Gentry, a founding Schultz Center member, said: “Fred was probably the greatest leader and champion for public education that this community has ever had, and I don’t know how that vacuum can ever be filled.â€
Mr. Schultz attained national prominence but did his greatest work at home mentoring young people, Jacksonville lawyer Steve Pajcic said.
“Fred actually launched my political career from the picnic table in the backyard of my parents’ Woodstock Park home in 1974,†said Pajcic, who served in the Legislature from 1974 to 1985 and was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1986. “No one did more to help me than Fred, and I know of no one who did more to help Jacksonville.â€
Tom Slade, former chairman of the Florida Republican Party who was a member of the Duval delegation with Mr. Schultz in the 1960s, said he came to the Legislature a very naive young man and matured rapidly into one of its outstanding members.
Mr. Schultz, a Jacksonville native, worked in banking after getting his law degree but soon opened his own office concentrating in securities markets and providing risk capital for new and expanding ventures in 1957.
After his election to the state House in 1963, Mr. Schultz and John E. Mathews Jr. of Jacksonville, who served as Senate president, emerged as the architects of far-reaching reforms in Florida government.
Changes enacted in 1969 in a movement led by the pair included annual sessions of the Legislature with annual budgets that gave legislators more control over state spending. They also changed the status quo to create permanent committees that worked throughout the year to study issues and recommend legislation.
In 1965 he co-sponsored a bill authorizing funds to establish a state junior college in Jacksonville, now Florida State College at Jacksonville.
Mr. Schultz left the Florida House in 1970 to run for the U.S. Senate. The seat was won by Lawton Chiles.
Later, Carter nominated him to the Federal Reserve Board. The New York Times called him Carter’s “right-hand man†at the Fed, where he helped set the nation’s monetary policy.
In 1974, as president-elect of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Schultz gathered 100 Jacksonville residents for a three-day conference at Amelia Island Plantation to pinpoint and recommend solutions for the 10 most important problems that Jacksonville would face as it grew. From that conference was born the Jacksonville Community Council Inc.
Mr. Schultz also spearheaded the founding of Leadership Jacksonville and was instrumental in the development of the Alliance for World Class Education.
In 1992 the Florida Legislature waived the law against naming a state building for a living person so the University of North Florida could rename its Education and Human Services Building after Mr. Schultz.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Nancy; a daughter, Catherine Schultz McFarland of Jacksonville; three sons, Frederick H. Schultz Jr. of New York City, Clifford G. Schultz and John R. Schultz, both of Jacksonville; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Schultz Center Foundation, 4019 Boulevard Center Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207, or the Community Hospice of Northeast Florida Foundation, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.
Times-Union writer Mary Kelli Palka contributed to this report.
jessie-lynne.kerr@jacksonville.com,
(904) 359-4374
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frederick H. Schultz
Born: Jacksonville, Jan. 16, 1929.
Education: The Bolles School, Princeton University, B.A., 1952; UF College of Law, 1956.
Military: U.S. Army artillery officer in Korea 1952-54, awarded the Bronze Star.
Business career: Barnett Bank of Jacksonville executive training program, 1956-57; opened Schultz Investments, 1957; chairman of the board, Florida Wire and Cable Co., 1958-79; chairman of the board, Barnett Investment Services, a subsidiary of Barnett Banks of Florida, 1973-79; director, Barnett Banks, Transco Energy Corp., Southeast-Atlantic Corp., American Heritage Life Insurance Co. and Wickes Inc.
Public service: Member, Jacksonville Expressway Authority, 1961-63; member, Florida House of Representatives, 1963-70, and speaker, 1969-70; chairman, Citizens Committee on Education, 1971-73; chairman, Florida Education Council, 1976-77; member, National Council on Educational Research, the policy-making board for the National Institute of Education, 1977-79; vice chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 1979-82; chairman, Florida Institute of Education, 1983-87; member, advisory committee, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, 1983-2000; chairman, Workforce Development Board, State of Florida, 1994-97.
Civic and charitable: Chairman, Schultz Center for Teaching and Leadership; director, Alliance for World Class Education; past chairman, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce; past chairman, Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens; trustee emeritus, The Bolles School; founder, Jacksonville Community Council Inc.; founder, Leadership Jacksonville.
Civic honors: Distinguished Citizen of the Year, 1996, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce; Outstanding Young Man, 1964, Jacksonville Jaycees; Good Government Award, 1969, Jacksonville Jaycees.
Special awards: Louis Brownlee Prize, 1969; distinguished service award, Florida Bankers Association, 1982; Distinguished Leadership Award, Community Leadership Association, 2005; the Leroy Collins Lifetime Achievement Award, Leadership Florida, 2006; and Leadership Jacksonville’s first lifetime achievement award, 2009.
Other: Kennedy Fellow at the Harvard University Institute of Politics, January-June 1971.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-11-25/story/jacksonville_civic_leader_schultz_dies
I'm late to jump in on the thread but I think one problem with out consolidated government is that as a result of consolidation, certain areas of our town receive little to no attention from local government and completely lack any sense of community. Areas like the Northside lack any sort of uniting force that I think would be present if there were a local government representing only those areas.
I would encourage the city to experiment with setting up a few quasi-governments in certain areas of town to provide both an increased focus on the issues and strengths of those communities and also to further strengthen the feeling of community in those areas. Basically, a system similar to what we already have with the three municipalities at the Beach.
Anyone else have thoughts on such a system?
I was listening to the mayor of Dallas the other day on the radio. He brought up an intriguing thought that he claims makes Dallas a great city: NONPARTISAN elections including MAYOR. What if we went with nonpartisan, open primaries, for all local offices?
We might get better candidates, a more unified populace, and cheaper elections to boot!
Dallas? Great City????
Pffft. They still haven't figured out who shot J.R.
Quote from: stjr on December 02, 2009, 05:50:25 PM
I was listening to the mayor of Dallas the other day on the radio. He brought up an intriguing thought that he claims makes Dallas a great city: NONPARTISAN elections including MAYOR. What if we went with nonpartisan, open primaries, for all local offices?
We might get better candidates, a more unified populace, and cheaper elections to boot!
Too bad that this idea wasn't brought up before the Charter Commission! Why should we have to pay for the primaries of the political parties? Let them hold and pay for their own and then run in an open, public election.
Quote from: Dog Walker on December 03, 2009, 09:00:27 AM
Quote from: stjr on December 02, 2009, 05:50:25 PM
I was listening to the mayor of Dallas the other day on the radio. He brought up an intriguing thought that he claims makes Dallas a great city: NONPARTISAN elections including MAYOR. What if we went with nonpartisan, open primaries, for all local offices?
We might get better candidates, a more unified populace, and cheaper elections to boot!
Too bad that this idea wasn't brought up before the Charter Commission! Why should we have to pay for the primaries of the political parties? Let them hold and pay for their own and then run in an open, public election.
Hopefully, the Charter Commission can still look at this issue if it is not already on their agenda. Maybe Rick could get them to focus on it. ;)
Quote from: DevilsAdvocate on December 02, 2009, 03:52:15 PM
I'm late to jump in on the thread but I think one problem with out consolidated government is that as a result of consolidation, certain areas of our town receive little to no attention from local government and completely lack any sense of community. Areas like the Northside lack any sort of uniting force that I think would be present if there were a local government representing only those areas.
I would encourage the city to experiment with setting up a few quasi-governments in certain areas of town to provide both an increased focus on the issues and strengths of those communities and also to further strengthen the feeling of community in those areas. Basically, a system similar to what we already have with the three municipalities at the Beach.
Anyone else have thoughts on such a system?
Yes.
I feel these discussions on "Consolidation" are lacking in any effective true understanding, positive description or historical narrative.
Rick Mullaney's summary highlights: There is nothing like it before or since.(No-not even Metro Dade....which is no 'pro' Duval positioning)Physical land area.Efficiency and savings.Low Tax rate.Strong Mayor form. Awe and admiration, inquiry by some other counties and municipalities.Empowered pulling off capturing an NFL Franchise.Awe and admiration,inquiry by some other counties and municipalities.Who would gladly,finally join in mirror effort if only not for the unfair,unreasonable,entrenched forces blocking this brilliant,never ever before or since Consolidation of such a vast land mass.Oh,and did we forget the many inquiries Rick's offices fields??(A waste of City staff and $$$?)
Consolidation failed to stem the "edge City" effect that blossomed throughout the country since the 60's.Clay and St.Johns experienced singular growth and draw,driven by a militant,entrenched anti Duval theme.And the sheer size of the booster Duval "City" certainly steered many away from Duval.Duval County has not contributed in any meaningful manner in River inititiatives-indeed a long list of impaired Duval waterways slated for restoration has lagged....nothing special springing from the Consolodated power house."Savings" in efficiency in diminishing return as the forces...and costs of "growth" and expanded JEA take hold.Oh,and did we say Low Tax rate?? Many have recently swerved from the low tax mantra,because we so obviously have to.
To establish needed "quasi governments" throughout Duval would fly in the face of Consolidation Technique.One is hard pressed to imagine identifiable towns of Murray Hill,Argyle,Arlington,Northwest Jacksonville.Balwin and the Beaches quite naturally worked hard to retain some identity and independence.We can't afford to do any more.Sadly,many land areas and counties throughout the nation hold multiple municipalities....and are thriving or at least on equal ground.
What were the events,persons involved in garnering the Consolidation bright idea??In fact, the origination is much more ancient than the common narratives reveal:
Senate session of 1923.Senator J.Turner Butler.Representatives F.O.Miller,A.Y. Milam.Jopint resolution passes by House and Senate subject to county electors vote approval at the polls.The plan was said to have been suggested by Telfair Stockton and Patrick Odom,having for it's purpose the combination of duties and functions of certain services within the county,to describe the system of taxation,bonded indebtedness and to curtail expenses by the combination of county and city offices....."giving power to the Legislature to establish,change,and abolish a local government extending territorially throughout Duval County".In the election the plan failed. Source:History of Duval County by Pleasant Daniel Gold The Record Company St.Augustine Fla. 1929
By the 60's "corruption" became a focal point.I will grant that the selection of William Durden as the newly consolidated government's first General Counsel was brilliant and/or lucky.And Rick,your zeal and loyalty would be a credit to any government that employed you.
Rick Mullaney sums it up best: It's all about leadership
N.Miami
Quote from: north miami on December 03, 2009, 03:54:04 PM
Quote from: DevilsAdvocate on December 02, 2009, 03:52:15 PM
I'm late to jump in on the thread but I think one problem with out consolidated government is that as a result of consolidation, certain areas of our town receive little to no attention from local government and completely lack any sense of community. Areas like the Northside lack any sort of uniting force that I think would be present if there were a local government representing only those areas.
I would encourage the city to experiment with setting up a few quasi-governments in certain areas of town to provide both an increased focus on the issues and strengths of those communities and also to further strengthen the feeling of community in those areas. Basically, a system similar to what we already have with the three municipalities at the Beach.
Anyone else have thoughts on such a system?
Yes.
I feel these discussions on "Consolidation" are lacking in any effective true understanding, positive description or historical narrative.
Rick Mullaney's summary highlights: There is nothing like it before or since.(No-not even Metro Dade....which is no 'pro' Duval positioning)Physical land area.Efficiency and savings.Low Tax rate.Strong Mayor form. Awe and admiration, inquiry by some other counties and municipalities.Empowered pulling off capturing an NFL Franchise.Awe and admiration,inquiry by some other counties and municipalities.Who would gladly,finally join in mirror effort if only not for the unfair,unreasonable,entrenched forces blocking this brilliant,never ever before or since Consolidation of such a vast land mass.Oh,and did we forget the many inquiries Rick's offices fields??(A waste of City staff and $$$?)
Consolidation failed to stem the "edge City" effect that blossomed throughout the country since the 60's.Clay and St.Johns experienced singular growth and draw,driven by a militant,entrenched anti Duval theme.And the sheer size of the booster Duval "City" certainly steered many away from Duval.Duval County has not contributed in any meaningful manner in River inititiatives-indeed a long list of impaired Duval waterways slated for restoration has lagged....nothing special springing from the Consolodated power house."Savings" in efficiency in diminishing return as the forces...and costs of "growth" and expanded JEA take hold.Oh,and did we say Low Tax rate?? Many have recently swerved from the low tax mantra,because we so obviously have to.
To establish needed "quasi governments" throughout Duval would fly in the face of Consolidation Technique.One is hard pressed to imagine identifiable towns of Murray Hill,Argyle,Arlington,Northwest Jacksonville.Balwin and the Beaches quite naturally worked hard to retain some identity and independence.We can't afford to do any more.Sadly,many land areas and counties throughout the nation hold multiple municipalities....and are thriving or at least on equal ground.
What were the events,persons involved in garnering the Consolidation bright idea??In fact, the origination is much more ancient than the common narratives reveal:
Senate session of 1923.Senator J.Turner Butler.Representatives F.O.Miller,A.Y. Milam.Jopint resolution passes by House and Senate subject to county electors vote approval at the polls.The plan was said to have been suggested by Telfair Stockton and Patrick Odom,having for it's purpose the combination of duties and functions of certain services within the county,to describe the system of taxation,bonded indebtedness and to curtail expenses by the combination of county and city offices....."giving power to the Legislature to establish,change,and abolish a local government extending territorially throughout Duval County".In the election the plan failed. Source:History of Duval County by Pleasant Daniel Gold The Record Company St.Augustine Fla. 1929
By the 60's "corruption" became a focal point.I will grant that the selection of William Durden as the newly consolidated government's first General Counsel was brilliant and/or lucky.And Rick,your zeal and loyalty would be a credit to any government that employed you.
Rick Mullaney sums it up best: It's all about leadership
N.Miami
As reported in yesterday's/12-3-09 FTU:
Stephen Stratford, 1923-2009 Passed away Monday.Worked to assure the independence of the three Beach cities and Baldwin at the time of Consolidation in 1968..........
Per my post above/The Record Company 1929; attempts towards a consloidated county wide land area began at least as far back as Mr.Stratford's birth..........
It appears that florida leads the nation in public corrption but now Jacksonville has reveal the fact that it is in Jacksonville and is growing stronger every day. Jaxport is no exception has it festers with public deception as well corruption.
Better efforts to prevent and penalize corruption are necessary in order to stop fraud, waste, and abuse of our State resources,†the jurors write. “Given the serious fiscal limitations at all levels of government, anti-corruption efforts must stop the theft and mismanagement of vital public funds. This mismanagement and theft penalizes taxpayers by driving up the cost of all government services. Therefore, we call for an immediate repeal of what can only be referred to as Florida’s Corruption Tax.†although the grand jury issued recommendation no indictments were issued after finding corruption on the rise. In fact Florida leads the nation in one report and now Jacksonville has begun to reveal A majority of the City Council under indictment more corruption. While the FBI said it could not speak to specifics, special agent in charge James Casey said, "I think it's fair to say that there are public corruption cases going on in all the FBI divisions across the country, and Jacksonville is one of them. So, there are likely investigations here." question remains how far will the FBI go till top officials pull the plug.
Continue reading at NowPublic.com: No Bribe Public corruption in Jacksonville | NowPublic News Coverage http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/no-bribe-public-corruption-jacksonville#ixzz1LoQ6N14j
http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/no-bribe-public-corruption-jacksonville