Live blogging DIA

[fieldafm]

Jim Love up now.

Giving encouragement to board.  Excited for DIA.  He is behind DIA and would be glad to help.

[fieldafm]

Lori Boyer

Jim stole most of my thunder.  Also very thrilled and wants to offer help.

There is a statewide CRA in Daytona next week, encourages board to go.

DIA can appear before Land Use and Zoning Committee regarding Bostwick Bldg.  Make your opinions known on the issue!

Please provide email contacts to her so she can distribute info on things like CRA training, etc.

[fieldafm]

Next LUZ meeting is Nov 7th.  Appeal has been filed on Bostwick Bldg just this week, so no sooner than 14th of November is when Bostwick appeal will come up.

[fieldafm]

Meeting is over.

[duvaldude08]

Just the first meeting, but I like the things that have been brought up. Looking forward to seeing what they can do.

[sheclown]

Glad to hear that Bostwick was mentioned.

[dougskiles]

The board members are sincerely interested in this being a very open and public process.  I spoke to several after the meeting and they are genuinely looking for public input.  I encourage people to attend the meetings whenever possible.

[simonsays]

These live blogs are very important. Keep up the good mike/metrojacksonville!

[Miss Fixit]

I sat through the entire meeting and left with mixed feelings.

Most of the board have appropriate experience and a genuine interest in downtown.

Field referred to Mr. Perez several times in the live blog when it was actually the Chairman, Don Harris, who was proposing various members for positions and scheduling meetings.  I was disappointed that Mr. Harris suggested  meetings should occur only every other month, and he initially pushed back when other members suggested that the board should, in fact, meet more often than monthly.  Fortunately good sense prevailed and the other members convinced Harris that having a meeting sooner rather than later was important.

It was obvious that several board members felt strongly that the Bostwick building should be saved.  That was more good news.

Mayor Brown's opening remarks followed his usual outline and included his signature catchphrases "focus like a laser" and "take downtown to the next level".   

[thelakelander]

Yeah, I came away with the feeling that Harris looked at this as being less time intensive than it really will be. You can't make real progress getting together, for an hour or two, once a month or bimonthly. I'm glad his initial opinion was changed.

[CityLife]

Based on what you guys are saying about meetings and DIA board interest, it sounds like a lot of the success of the organization will contingent be on staff. Hopefully they can bring in a big time candidate from out of town to fill the ED role. Did they say any specifics about what they are looking for in an ED? Or how the agency will be staffed? Will they be hiring support staff....like say an Ennis Davis?

[fieldafm]

I sat through the entire meeting and left with mixed feelings.

Most of the board have appropriate experience and a genuine interest in downtown.

Field referred to Mr. Perez several times in the live blog when it was actually the Chairman, Don Harris, who was proposing various members for positions and scheduling meetings.  I was disappointed that Mr. Harris suggested  meetings should occur only every other month, and he initially pushed back when other members suggested that the board should, in fact, meet more often than monthly.  Fortunately good sense prevailed and the other members convinced Harris that having a meeting sooner rather than later was important.

It was obvious that several board members felt strongly that the Bostwick building should be saved.  That was more good news.

Mayor Brown's opening remarks followed his usual outline and included his signature catchphrases "focus like a laser" and "take downtown to the next level".

You're right Chris... I meant to fix that last night and subsequently forgot.

I mirror your thoughts, incidently. 

[Miss Fixit]

Don Shea has been tasked with preparing proposed selection criteria for the new ED.  My impression is that he will have that ready to discuss at the next meeting. 

[Noone]

DIA chairman, Don Harris, has a serious look on his face. Looks like he's really taking this Sunshine Law overview in.

And good for him. When I arrived Carla Miller, Jason Gabriel, and Cindy Laquidara were addressing the new Board. According to a recent editorial in the TU Florida has lead the nation in corruption convictions for 10 years in a row. It may be a long detailed explanation and some are sitting up a little bit straighter in their chairs. Examples of how it doesn't take much to slip into the dark side. Corruption can wear many hats.

I'm just thinking to myself running a red light. getting a ticket and did I or did the camera get it wrong. Compared to a corruption conviction of a sunshine law violation and the thought that if I had just called Carla. Melody Bishop is asking about email and for right now Michelle Stephens at msteph@coj.net is in the process of getting email addresses for all the Board members.

As for future meetings when Mr. Harris said that once every two months may be the way to go it just seem to knock the wind out of the sails as to how everything else was sailing along. But the wind was put back in rather quickly by Shea, Bishop, Bailey, Allegretti, and maybe one or two others.

next meeting is Oct. 30. at 3pm. Not sure if it will be the same room or not.
We have a new Authority.
let's embrace it.
Or
It will embrace us.

[Noone]

Next meeting: 3pm on October 30th.

Anybody going?