JEA Pension Fiasco Next Boondoggle to Come

[Captain Zissou]

Not really related- but the city council also voted against a bill to decriminalize marijuana last night.  Garret Dennis was one of three who voted to approve.  He probably didn't get invited to the group happy hour at Curry's house after the meeting.

[Steve]

He probably didn't get invited to the group happy hour at Curry's house after the meeting.

Especially after he was the only NO vote for Curry's budget. I'm trying to learn why he voted down the budget as while I don't agree with Curry on a number of things, I really don't have a giant beef with his budget.

[jaxlongtimer]

Especially after he was the only NO vote for Curry's budget. I'm trying to learn why he voted down the budget as while I don't agree with Curry on a number of things, I really don't have a giant beef with his budget.

Garrett Dennis's explanation of why he voted against the Mayor's budget:

City Council member Garrett Dennis voted against the budget, saying he thought it doesn't reflect "the true needs of the city" and his District 9 constituents.

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20190924/property-tax-rate-unchanged-jacksonville-budget-sails-to-passage

[jaxlongtimer]

Someone help me out as I am confused.  The General Counsel rules that the Mayor and City Council are not allowed to talk about the conditions for selling JEA during the "cone of silence."  Then how is it legal for them during the "cone of silence" to discuss and vote on the expanded pension benefits and retention bonuses as they are certainly part of the terms and conditions for selling JEA?


If only The Mayor and City Council could "get [half as] smart" as Agent 86!

Jacksonville City Council members are "strictly prohibited" from discussing the minimum conditions JEA is requiring potential buyers of the city-owned utility to meet until the utility selects a buyer, according to City Hall's top attorney.

The legal advice concerned council members who are frustrated that they've had no involvement in JEA's attempt to sell itself, and it comes on the heels of JEA's own efforts to limit what its employees say about the utility and city leaders.

The prohibition applies to conversations with constituents, interviews with the media and other public discussions, including ones on social media, according to a memorandum released Tuesday by Jason Gabriel, the city's general counsel.

Gabriel wrote that council members cannot discuss the merits of any of the terms JEA is asking potential buyers to meet, which includes a purchase price of at least $3 billion and offering at least $400 million in customer rebates.

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20190925/jacksonville-city-council-members-strictly-prohibited-from-discussing-conditions-of-jea-sale-according-to-city-hall-attorney