Downtown Turnaround, a City Council Candidate Forum Under the Stars

[kathy Jackson]

What Jacksonville's downtown needs more than anything is some more Obama stimulus.
I just know Obama is going to spend billions in stimulus to make Jacksonville the Paris of Florida.
We are so lucky to have him to help us recover from our own greed and incompetence.
VOTE Obama 2012!

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

they see me trollin'...

[Noone]

I find your opinion that you get no responses from this office completely incorrect. The Shipyards property is in District 7. I would prefer we hear from Dr. Gaffney on the issue.

Thank you for sharing your opinions though!!!

Nice try, but the piers are actually in District 4

District 4 ends at Liberty Street

perhaps you should look at your council district maps....notice how the piers are in District 4!

http://www3.coj.net/City-Council/Docs/District-4/2007district04map.aspx

I'm afraid he's got you, Scott.  The piers are in District 4 while the shore is in District 7.

I now realize there are a couple different versions of the map. My boss does not have any plans to request changes to the Shipyards property. Currently the City owns the entire parcel. As long as the City owns the property it should not matter.

Time is running out. Scott, 2011-364 was just withdrawn RAM.  2010-856 was also withdrawn. Regional Partners or lets just say anyone outside of Duval county is scratching their heads as to why we are denying Public Access and Economic opportunity to our St. Johns River our American Heritage River. Who is leading the conspiracy?

Will be posting on the Aug.10 2011 Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting on another thread. City council meeting in 5 days. Board meeting of Downtown Vision in 6 days. Don, has the legislative power to Make It Happen.

The state of Florida is watching.

[Noone]

Scott, I know you love Metrojacksonville as much as I do. We talked about it at the Aug.31 Waterways 2/ 1/2 subcommittee meeting on FIND.

Don was a no show at the Aug.24 Board meeting of Downtown Vision where safety presentations were given by an ACA instructor and observations from an out of town outfitter to potential increased Waterway activity in our Downtown. Positive feedback.

Time is running out. That is a fact. And unless legislation is introduced the PUBLIC TRUST is just being absolutely destroyed in this community. 2011-560 will be in Waterways Sept.14. New legislation. Discussed at the Aug. 31 st meeting with FIND.
Share with the other Waterway Commission members the benefit of attaching an amendment.

2011-560 not discussed or available for discussion to inform the Board of Downtown Vision to this potential benefit. You were not there. Your actions Tues. at council and Wend. at Waterways can then be taken back to the Board of Downtown Vision.

The state of Florida is watching.
Every citizen of Jacksonville should be very concerned.
Anyone want to kayak Hogans Creek an urban Waterway Destination in our DowntownJacksonville Overlay Zoning District 2003-627 before a potential total Govt. takeover by an independent authority? Bill number not yet assigned. Would have to be approved by council.

[Noone]

Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting in 6 hours. Huge announcements coming.

I'm still trying to determine if I'll be telling our Regional Partners

VISIT JACKSONVILLE
        or
DON'T VISIT JACKSONVILLE

[Noone]

Has anyone heard from Redman or Gaffney? I just came across something that in order for the Landmar project to move forward they had to show $500,000,000 in assets to continue to move forward. I'll post more on that later.  And now today is the vote on 2011-560 Shipyards/Landmar and Redman or Gaffney can't attach a simple amendment for a $100,000 that could be used for a future FIND matching grant. What a joke.

Be concerned. The Public Trust just totally destroyed as it relates to Public Access and Economic opportunity to our St. Johns River our American Heritage River.

[Noone]

Redman do something at Waterways in 8 1/2 hours. How many FIND projects have been identified? Anybody make a call and ask 630-1377. All a councilmember has to do is ask.

Gaffney has just abandoned his constituents in Dist. 7. Springfield, Has anyone asked for a dredging or canoe or kayak launch in Klutho, Confederate Park. Or how about a canoe or kayak launch behind the casket company or Old St. Lukes Hospital.

FIND money is there. How many councilmembers have asked? Boyer? Love? Redman is a NO. Gaffney is a NO. Anyone else? 

[Noone]

Has anyone heard from Gaffney? I can share my experience but is there anyone in this city that can share their conversation if any about Hogans Creek? FIND projects are being identified and all he has to do is ask.

[Noone]

Time is running out. Does anybody care?

City council meetings will no longer be televised. So Wrong.

The stalling of 3 J-Bills that would restore the Code of Ethics that was in our Charter in 1968 and removed in 1972 was a recommendation of the recent Charter Revision Commission meeting now may not happen.

It may not be sexy but where is the media in reporting this? The pass that is just given by our elected legislative representatives. I can share with all of you that Gaffney and Redman who have the 5 years of institutional knowledge have just flat out ignored the issues. Has anyone heard from Redman or Gaffney. Somebody call them about the 3 J Bills on Ethics.

[Noone]

I find your opinion that you get no responses from this office completely incorrect. The Shipyards property is in District 7. I would prefer we hear from Dr. Gaffney on the issue.

Thank you for sharing your opinions though!!!

Nice try, but the piers are actually in District 4

District 4 ends at Liberty Street

perhaps you should look at your council district maps....notice how the piers are in District 4!

http://www3.coj.net/City-Council/Docs/District-4/2007district04map.aspx

I'm afraid he's got you, Scott.  The piers are in District 4 while the shore is in District 7.

Redistricting-Check
Reorginization- In 4 days. Legislative representation is being lost.
A special FIND subcommittee  on canoe and kayak launches for Duval county and the final list doesn't include even 50' of the Historic Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier (Shipyards III) or Chelsea St. McCoys Creek (Riverside) That will be presented to the Jacksonville Waterways Commission in 5 days.
Regional Partners.
FIND is good. Jacksonville is LOST
Field, would you like to work on a FIND project- pocket pier floating dock in another county? I'm serious.
Palms Fish Camp? -FIND money?
Councilman Redman-??? As Chair of Waterways will you add the pier and Chelsea St. to the upcoming FIND list? Please. Its just a list.   

[Noone]

I participated. And here's my abbreviated take going straight from the program.

1. Dist. 4 Don Redman
- Honary Board member of Downtown Vision representing the  Jacksonville city council, Also representing the Jacksonville city council on the Jacksonville Waterways Commission and also the council member who represents the primary boundary that encompasses Downtown Vision was a NO SHOW. Blank.

2. Council District 7
Johnny Gaffney- NO SHOW. Blank.
Marc McCullough,Sr.

The three pointer that put the game away for me was the opening presentations that were moderated by Rebecca Berry of WJXT/TV4 and every candidate opened with an opening statement and Michelle Tappouni went last and pointed out that none of the previous candidates in their opening remarks mentioned that one of the most important elements of our Downtown is the River. Her statement was met with resounding applause.

Nancy Garcia and Michelle Tappouni in a JCCI volunteer Task Force support Mayor Brown's Downtown attempt in revitalizing Downtown.

The city council is now taking amendments on 2012-212 and 2012-213. Attach an amendment to 2012-212 That would keep the Historic Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier separate and outside the control of the yet to be voted on DIA. The administration would support such an amendment. Councilman Redman, Do something. 

As a participant in a past JCCI study River Dance "Putting the River in River City" and another Downtown report that was done by Chan Krieger and Associates and their recommendation that vertical access points are needed to narrow our river.

Councilman Gaffney in a recent phone call to me supports the current Shipyards/Landmar 680' pier being separate and outside the control of this yet created DIA.

This is an epoch legislative situation to reclaim Public Access and Economic Opportunity to show our REGIONAL PARTNERS that their is opportunity for everyone on our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative in Downtown Jacksonville.

Councilman Redman is supposed to have a noticed meeting on the pier.

Be concerned. Keep score.
Restore the Public Trust.
Right now its being destroyed.

   

[Noone]

Councilman Redman where are you?

[Garden guy]

Councilman Redman where are you?

Brainwashed lost dazed and confused....how do you expect that man to anything?

[Noone]

We also don't get a response back from calls/emails.

I really hate to say that, but it shouldn't take calling someone out on a public forum to get responses.

I wanted to bump this thread. Because the recent Redman email is just the tip of a bigger issue. Field is a man who gets things done. The recent live blogging of the first DIA Board meeting and the responses and observations of those who participated with the recent live blogging of that DIA meeting tells us that the decisions being made moving forward need to be in the Sunshine.

[Noone]

Redman never agreed to attend. He was meeting with JSO in one of the Southside neighborhoods. If you all have questions for Redman please let me know.

Scott A. Wilson
Assistant to Don Redman
Jacksonville City Council
District Four
904-630-1394

Scott,
I have questions and have sent you numerous emails. Now we have 2012-732. Just sent you and Don another request to add the Historic Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier to the 2013 FIND grant application cycle. You didn't do it last year and the full city council passed 2012-402. Not good. Next opportunity is 2 days out. As my elected legislative representative are you going to do it?

Who should get the credit for circumventing ad valorem property tax revenue in a Public FIND Process?