Money for downtown diverted in order to pave more roads

[jcjohnpaint]

Mtrain are you upset that a republican lost or Mike Hogan as a candidate?

[Cheshire Cat]

Just to put a bit of perspective on the "Tea Party" thing. I posted the numbers on the "political poll" page a few days back.  For all intensive purposed there is no real "Tea Party" influence in Jacksonville.  There are only "20" members registered to that group in Jacksonville. All those rally's at the Landing were in essence mostly attended by extremely conservative Republicans who wanted to vent.  It made for interesting reporting and drove a bunch of emotion but there was never any real influence exerted by the group here.  Reports that they had any power to change the local political landscape were greatly overblown.

[vicupstate]

Whether you call them 'Tea Party' or the 'extremely conservative wing of the Republican party', they have plenty of power in Jacksonville, from what I can discern. 

[Cheshire Cat]

Vic, to your point, as far as a unified party effort they got nothing.  When you factor in support from extremely conservative Republicans you have a shifting power structure behind them.  In the last year there has clearly developed a love/hate dynamic between many Republicans and the Tea Party.  Do they have enough influence to drive an election in Jacksonville?  Clearly, they do not on their own.

Just one quick thought to add here.  That clearly conservative/extremist element of the Republican party many feared is currently being felt in City Hall via Mayor Brown and his attitudes about finances and legislation.  Consider the Mayor's position on taxes and GLBT issues.  I think what people feared would happen inside city hall if a Conservative Republican was elected has happened anyway to some degree.  Looked what happened with the 9 million. Having Brown in office so far has done nothing to create that vibrant downtown viability people hoped for so far.  Had he known the ins and outs of governing he could have avoided many of the problems that have hurt his performance, from dissing the media, lack of transparency, inability to create a budget to ticking off the entire council  Quite frankly, the political divide between him and the council is damaged to the point that he has members of the legislature poised to thwart most of his efforts for the remainder of his term.  Everyone should take heed of what has happened in the city since the last round of elections and consider an open mind when if comes to filling the office of Mayor and Council.

[carpnter]

Whether you call them 'Tea Party' or the 'extremely conservative wing of the Republican party', they have plenty of power in Jacksonville, from what I can discern.

I am not so sure that you can put all of the opposition to tax increases on the Tea Party or Republicans.  I suspect if you were to conduct a scientific survey, you'd find more than your fair share of democrats who would be opposed to any tax increase whatsoever.

[ronchamblin]

Lots of interesting posts.  Seems that we .. those of us working for a vibrant downtown, and some interesting transit solutions..... are losing....... again.

Continual losses over decades, in any environment or situation, indicates the existence of underlying factors or pressures which have not been addressed and resolved.  Will the upcoming elections, if persuaded via voting to our cause, be enough to force significant gains for revitalizing the core? 

Or are there other factors, hidden perhaps, which must also be addressed so that solid progress can be made toward vibrancy and infill? 

Until the city council and all their constituents are educated to the fact that a vibrant city core will greatly benefit "all" citizens in northeast Florida, and until strong leadership exists in the mayor's office and in city council, there will be continued stagnation in the effort to achieve vibrancy and infill in our city core.  In this stagnation scenario, "nothing" happens as long as politicking continues to displace true leadership.         

[Cheshire Cat]

I think that Alvin Brown is anti tax in one regard which is he does not want to be the one directly responsible for a tax hike.  However, I don't think he minds one bit a hike that comes as the result of council action or even a tax under the name of a "fee" which we saw when Peyton was in office.  For him it's a political maneuver.  It's odd really to think that being anti tax might have stopped Hogan from being elected while at the same time Brown was claiming to be anti tax as well. lol  At times like this it is good to have a sense of humor about Jacksonville politics and politicians.  In anycase, Brown is now in the drivers seat and says he will not raise taxes and is talking about cutting the gas tax as well on top of the mess with regard to the millage rate.  Not sure what kind of governing this is.

[ronchamblin]

Whether you call them 'Tea Party' or the 'extremely conservative wing of the Republican party', they have plenty of power in Jacksonville, from what I can discern.

I am not so sure that you can put all of the opposition to tax increases on the Tea Party or Republicans.  I suspect if you were to conduct a scientific survey, you'd find more than your fair share of democrats who would be opposed to any tax increase whatsoever.

no.  you really can.  the rank and file of jacksonville doesnt mind a tax increase as long as they see the benefit.  Don't forget the Better Jacksonville Plan passed with favorable majorities and being anti tax cost Mike Hogan the election for mayor.

A little plagiarism Stephen?

From my July 15, 2013 post.

"Mayor Brown is right by trimming down first, forcing all departments to efficiency.  Once taxpayers perceive that waste is eliminated, then most will look favorably at a needed tax increase.  To gain support for new taxes, stupid projects, doomed to failure, must be avoided."

[vicupstate]

Lots of interesting posts.  Seems that we .. those of us working for a vibrant downtown, and some interesting transit solutions..... are losing....... again.

Continual losses over decades, in any environment or situation, indicates the existence of underlying factors or pressures which have not been addressed and resolved.  Will the upcoming elections, if persuaded via voting to our cause, be enough to force significant gains for revitalizing the core? 

Or are there other factors, hidden perhaps, which must also be addressed so that solid progress can be made toward vibrancy and infill? 

Until the city council and all their constituents are educated to the fact that a vibrant city core will greatly benefit "all" citizens in northeast Florida, and until strong leadership exists in the mayor's office and in city council, there will be continued stagnation in the effort to achieve vibrancy and infill in our city core.  In this stagnation scenario, "nothing" happens as long as politicking continues to displace true leadership.         

Great post.  It is imperative that the MAYOR truly believe in the importance of revitilizing the core ansd be willing to provide the LEADERSHIP to do it. Brown either is paying lip service only, or is not sticking his neck out to get it done.  If that were to continue for four more years, then JAX will fall even further behind.  The mayor is very powerful in JAX, which is not the norm in the South. A visionary leader can bring along 'on the fence' council members.

[thelakelander]

Clark: Reallocating $9M from Downtown 'just a matter of time'

"It was just a matter of time," said Council member Richard Clark after Friday's meeting.

Clark introduced the motion.

"Everyone on the dais agreed, it was a matter of when," he said.

The money comes from City savings from refinancing more than $1 billion in bonds and was intended for the Downtown Investment Authority to use in its mission to revitalize Downtown.

Clark and Council member Robin Lumb, who was one of the four in support of the transfer, both said in March when the Council passed legislation to create the accounts that they wanted to see a plan from the authority before appropriating the money.

Finance members Clay Yarborough also supported Friday's action. Members Greg Anderson, Reggie Brown and John Crescimbeni voted against it.

Clark said he expected to see "a little bit of reaction" and backlash from the move, but that the authority in its current state "was never the intent" because it lacks autonomy. He mentioned how the City Office of Economic Development has taken the reins on negotiating several Downtown economic development deals.

full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=540229

[JayBird]

What amazes me is that the media is great getting the message out about the city council taking away the $9M, however when it comes to publicizing possible funding alternatives (after all isn't DÍA going to be allowed to levy taxes?)

The Downtown Investment Authority now has to deal with the challenge it feared since its inception: Revitalizing the urban core without any sort of budget.

City Council's Finance Committee took the first steps last week toward yanking away the $9 million Mayor Alvin Brown had pegged for Downtown revitalization efforts. This afternoon, the DIA will hold a special meeting to discuss the situation and formalize a position.

"I think we need to reinforce to council the bad timing of reallocating these funds at this time, with the CEO coming on board next week," DIA Chairman Oliver Barakat said Tuesday. "We are doing everything that the enabling legislation asked the board to do, and at the same time, we're in the process of negotiating deals with potential developers who are concerned about the message. We can't have a 'Jekyll and Hyde' approach to Downtown revitalization. We need to be committed."

full article: http://m.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/morning-edition/2013/08/downtown-authority-chairman-we-cant.html?ana=e_jac_rdup&s=newsletter&ed=2013-08-14&u=TRw0oGj+1To03lfSCUuPGg02a8ea14&t=1376484117&r=full

[Cheshire Cat]

Looks like a special meeting is underway.  Wish there would have been more notice.

Wednesday, August 14, 10:30 AM EDT

• The Downtown Investment Authority scheduled a special meeting at 2:30 p.m. today in the Lynwood Roberts Room at City Hall. The subject is the Downtown Economic Trust Fund, which the City Council Finance Committee voted to shift into another Council-controlled account. For information, call (904) 630-1979.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=540247

[Intuition Ale Works]

I was just there.

Seems like they have a lot of work ahead of them to get that money back.

[Cheshire Cat]

So then nothing decided today I take it.    Thanks for the update.  Did the announce another meeting?

[Cheshire Cat]

From today's meeting.

By Steve Patterson   

Jacksonville's Downtown Investment Authority needs to sell itself to the City Council – fast – to have a shot at getting through this year's budget crunch, members were told Wednesday.

"I've heard very little of what you're doing," Councilman Don Redman, whose district includes part of downtown, told the unpaid appointed board. "... You can understand why we're getting disillusioned with what you're doing."

It was the board's first meeting since the council Finance Committee last week voted to take back $9 million that had been set aside to encourage new downtown development.

The full council still has to act on the idea when it finalizes the city's 2014 budget next month. But the prospect of losing the cash has alarmed downtown advocates, who had expected the authority to be more visible when its first CEO, Aundra Wallace, starts work next week.

"We're in a really sensitive time," authority Chairman Oliver Barakat told the board. "To move this money at this time really impairs our ability [to pursue projects]. ... I don't think there's anyone in this room who thinks we can do what the community wants us to do without money."

By law, the authority can't spend the money freely until it completes a downtown plan that's still in progress. Some authority members saw a message in the vote.

"It seems like a statement directly at us," authority member Tony Allegretti told the group. "It seems like City Council looks at us like a part of the [mayor's] administration. I think this message was aimed at the administration."

The authority's nine-member board has five people appointed by Mayor Alvin Brown and four appointed by the council president.

But Councilwoman Lori Boyer cautioned against reading subtle meanings into the Finance vote. The council has millions of dollars of expenses to cover, she said, and may end up borrowing to meet some costs. The Finance vote was to move the downtown money to a reserve fund where it could be used to cover unspecified capital projects – pricey, long-lasting items like paving roads or buying fleets of police cars.

"I don't want you to personalize this exclusively as 'we are disappointed with the DIA,'" Boyer said.

"There's $9 million sitting in an account and your alternative is ... to borrow money and pay interest on it," Boyer said. "... In fairness, it was put in a contingency account. It's not gone. Capital projects could be downtown."

With no staff of its own, the authority has been relying on work by employees of the city's Office of Economic Development. Boyer said it's important for the board to make the case for whatever funding it needs before the Finance Committee reviews the Office of Economic Development's 2014 budget Aug. 22.

The board named two members – Barakat and Melody Bishop – to stay in contact with council members as liaisons, and agreed to meet about next steps.

Steve Patterson:

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-08-14/story/jacksonville-downtown-board-eyeing-steps-save-money-credibility#ixzz2c00ORI6R