Live blogging DIA

[thelakelander]

I'm here. Here's some interesting tidbits. DuPont wants incentives for the Haydon Burns project. The Northbank TIF is broke and being subsidized by the general fund. The Southbank TIF will have $1.5 million in October. If the DIA doesn't find a Southbank project by next summer, council can take it. With that in mind, council has already taken this year's Southbank cash.

[Noone]

The 8/21/13 DIA Board meeting for me during Public Comment had me standing up and immediately welcoming Aundra Wallace to Jacksonville and sharing with everyone the front page headlines of the 8/19/13 Metro section of the Times Union and what could be immediate positive benefits for all of us as a community as we promote, preserve, access and celebrate our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a FEDERAL Initiative in our newly created DIA zone. Will we be telling the world to REALLY. "Visit Jacksonville"!

Nice crowd for this meeting then again look at the beginning of this thread when the Mayor started it off. There are many pieces to this moving target that is Downtown development. Pick and choose the winners and losers. Stick your hand out and get in line.

The meeting had chair Barakat jumping around the agenda because there wasn't a quorum to vote. This was noted in the beginning when they couldn't vote on the 7/24/13 DIA meeting minutes. Board member Tony Allegretti wanted to get included
In the minutes and was making the case does a tweet count and then made a comment that someone tweeted back an empty chair. Not sure how that eventually worked out but did get a good chuckle from the crowd. Key no shows for this meeting Kay Harper Williams and Robert Clements.

Chair Barakat created Project assignments for specific projects.
LaVilla - Mr. Harris
Laura St. Trio - Robert Clements - Everbank
Haydon Burns - Paul Perez
Bostwick- Bailey or Barakat not sure just who landed that one but these Board members basically own these and will have some small meetings then report back to the board.

Another item on the agenda was Hemming Plaza and that is a disaster. Dr. Wayne Wood was there to speak to it and there are some real breakdowns on how this was handled. Which is another shining example that should give us all pauses for concern when addressing just the baby steps in achieving a vibrant Downtown.

The highlight for me was the CRA Plan Update by Board Member Melody Bishop. I attended one of her workshops in the beginning and there are a number of Committees that anyone can attend. Previously I was focusing on the Downtown Experience Committee but just wasn't feeling the Love when it comes to accessing our Waterways from Downtown. So many examples. Floating dock at SHIPYARDS III what's up with that?

But going forward the next couple of CRA meetings are HUGE.
Will be identifying
Structure for the Plan
Stakeholders
Goals & Objectives

DIA council Liason, Lori Boyer Dist. 5 was there and was  a fantastic contributor on so many issues and is a real asset to the team.

Was Jack Shad there?  Didn't notice Ted Carter or David DeCamp. Have an email in to David for info on how to get some more Mayor Brown's kayak adventures tshirts but have yet to hear back from him.

The biggest highlight for me was after the meeting going up and talking with Mr. Wallace and I believe in my heart that we will both see together the opportunities that exist NOW from the Waterways in our new DIA zone for everyone.

A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It will Embrace Us

[Noone]

2 hours out. CRA of the DIA 5pm 1st floor city hall. Anyone going? Big Pete's Cash Mob was a super event just 3 hours ago. Good to see a bunch of the MJ'ers in addition to a nice lunch.

[Noone]

DIA meeting today at 3pm 1st floor city hall. Anyone going? Stick your hand out.

[Noone]

DIA meeting just 2 hours out. Anyone going? let's all hope that they all saw the front page of the Florida Times Union. VISIT JACKSONVILLE! The meeting will be about the DOWNTOWN economy.

[Noone]

The 9/3/13 Downtown Economy Committee meeting of the DIA was well attended by committee members and fellow DIA Board members. A very strong showing.

Paul Perez is the chair. And was joined by committee members Rob Clements and Kay Harper. DIA Board members that also were there included, Jim Bailey, Tony Allegretti, Oliver Barakat, CEO Aundra Wallace and Jacksonville city council member Lori Boyer was also there.

A sign in sheet along with an agenda and speaker cards were made available. Just 7 people in the audience. Nobody from a TV station. millions and millions of dollars on the line. We have a vehicle driving to the scene.

The discussion items on the agenda included obtain inventory of the different sources of funds and then to advise/ suggest to the full DIA Board what priorities we choose to incentivize as to development projects.

The Civic Council just announced that we should borrow a billion dollars for the answer to the pension crisis.
The Jacksonville city council is giving back $4,100,000 to the DIA. (Is that correct?)
the DIA can lease and sell property.

The CRA is being created right now. At the meeting it was disclosed that Jim Catlett is now a CRA advisor. He brought to the attention of the committee that Infrastructure Improvements count like equity to give banks and insurance companies comfort in the case that a project doesn't happen. Makes sense to me. Great point. What will we spend the money on?

Langton was mentioned at the meeting and to take $250,000 and sink it all into one project?

Another interesting extraction from the meeting was from the CRA consultants in regard to Public participation as the process moves forward and there have been requests to participate in an anonymous manner. Are you kidding? Let's hope that the DIA says show up and stick your hand out like everyone else.

A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It will Embrace Us

Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting just 6 hours out 9:30 am council chambers. Anyone going? Anyone want to donate a buck to 2009-442 The Artificial reef Trust fund?

The Public Trust just crushed.

[Noone]

Another DIA meeting just 8 hours out. Anyone going?
3pm. Ed Ball Bldg. 1st floor. 214 N. Hogan St. Open to the Public.

A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It will Embrace Us

[Noone]

One  hour out.
Anyone going?

[Noone]

Another DIA event today at 4pm 1st floor city hall. Open to the Public. It's all about Downtown and opening the Silo's. Anyone going?

[Noone]

Next DIA Board meeting just 5 days out. Anyone going?

The stick your hand out list should be ready to go with city council approval the next day with a budget vote.

Remember that OED took over control of the DIA with Board approval and a Pre Aundra Wallace start.

A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It will Embrace Us

[Noone]

DIA Board meeting 13 hours out. Anyone going? Will there even be one news station? Will Jack Shad be there? Parking was supposed to be one of the big revenue generators for DIA.

[Noone]

30 minutes out. DIA Board meeting 5pm 1st. Floor city hall. Open to the Public. Anyone going? A meeting after work. How  will it be attended? Any TV station to ask anyone about the potential real estate move.

[Noone]

The 8/21/13 DIA Board meeting for me during Public Comment had me standing up and immediately welcoming Aundra Wallace to Jacksonville and sharing with everyone the front page headlines of the 8/19/13 Metro section of the Times Union and what could be immediate positive benefits for all of us as a community as we promote, preserve, access and celebrate our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a FEDERAL Initiative in our newly created DIA zone. Will we be telling the world to REALLY. "Visit Jacksonville".

Chair Barakat created Project assignments for specific projects.
LaVilla - Mr. Harris
Laura St. Trio - Robert Clements - Everbank
Haydon Burns - Paul Perez
Bostwick- Bailey or Barakat not sure just who landed that one but these Board members basically own these and will have some small meetings then report back to the board.



DIA council Liason, Lori Boyer Dist. 5 was there and was  a fantastic contributor on so many issues and is a real asset to the team.


The biggest highlight for me was after the meeting going up and talking with Mr. Wallace and I believe in my heart that we will both see together the opportunities that exist NOW from the Waterways in our new DIA zone for everyone.

A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It will Embrace Us

The 9/23/13 DIA Board meeting this morning has me reflecting back and just saying "WOW"!

The agenda was lighter because some key Downtown projects LaVilla, Laura St. Trio, Haydon Burns, Bostwick, were given to OED by action that was taken by DIA. Remember this was the end of a DIA Board meeting prior to the arrival and start of Aundra Wallace. It only became known when Mike Langton went up and asked and then received a copy from Paul Crawford acting director of OED.

So after tonight's city council meeting look for the immediate handouts that will be outside the control of the DIA. This has to be positive.

There was one piece of legislation 2013-564 the Enterprise Lease at the Library Garage that was another backbreaking piece of legislation that had chairman Barakat along with fellow Board member Kay Harper Williams crunching some numbers and again just scratching there heads as this legislation is before council tonight. Again, councilwoman Boyer who is a fantastic resource can only deliver a request and then see what action council members want to take.

Chairman Barakat you want to see frustration and some Backroom deals and stick your hand out opportunities go to a Jacksonville Waterways FIND subcommittee meeting. I digress.

The highlight for me was at the end of the meeting and during Public Comment a speaker noting some significant and I guess you can just call it criminal behavior that had people going to jail. Just a concern that needed to be brought before the DIA Board as we move forward. Makes me think that the new guy Paul Astleford CEO of Visit Jacksonville is not far off when he identified 32 organizations hindering Tourism (RICO). Would welcome anyone else's interpretation of that verbal exchange.

So much more.

[Noone]

When is the next DIA anything? Anyone?

[Noone]

Downtown Experience Committee meeting of the DIA just three hours out. Anyone going? Will there even be one TV station. Everyone excited about the new Waterway signage? Pre Aundra Wallace (I feel so sorry for the man)

Have a call in to my elected legislative representative Don Redman. It has been weeks if not months and still no response back but as the chair of the Jacksonville Waterways Commission he had to have gotten the memo about the new signage.

Has anyone seen an agenda? 

A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It will Embrace Us