Government advocacy update

Realty Builder
NEFBA

Duval

NEFBA’s Government Affairs Committee: The next Government Affairs meeting is 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 21, at the NEFBA office, 103 Century 21 Drive, Suite 100.

Landscape ordinance amendments. Mayor Lenny Curry’s Fight Blight Workshop Committee is recommending a change to the Landscape and Tree Protection Ordinance to encourage property owners to renovate blighted property. The change would affect the 50 percent rule, which currently requires property owners who are expanding or renovating a property by either 50 percent of the assessed value of the lot improvements or expanding the structure by more than 50 percent to bring the whole property into compliance with the landscape code. The change would require complete code compliance only if the improvement was to the parking lot or landscaping. Any other improvements to the property that would trip the 50 percent rule would cap the required spending on landscape-compliance improvements at 20 percent of the project’s cost. The bill is still in the drafting stage.

NEFBA early endorsements: The NEFBA PAC announced a list of early endorsements for the Florida Legislature. Sen. Rob Bradley (District 7), Sen. Audrey Gibson (District 9), Rep. Reggie Fullwood (District 13), Rep. Jay Fant (District 15), Rep. Travis Cummings (District 18) and Rep. Paul Renner (District 24) were approved by the NEFBA Board of Directors for early endorsement. NEFBA PAC also announced an endorsement of Duval County School Board member Ashley Smith Juarez.

Tree ordinance: The city of Jacksonville is reviewing its tree ordinance enforcement after a city attorney determined the Building Department had been describing the requirements incorrectly in bulletins for years. The attorney said the Building Department was mis-stating city rules, separate parts of which are contained in both the charter and the city’s ordinance code. According to the city attorney, the rules are intended to be read jointly. The review was requested by Councilman John Crescimbeni.

Duval County Issues: Jessie Spradley, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355

Clay

Transportation impact fee: The Clay County Board of County Commissioners will consider extending the Impact Fee Moratorium during its December meeting. In June, the moratorium was extended by six months. The board is also considering alternative transportation fee structures, such as mobility fees and municipal service benefit units. Some commissioners are advocating a repeal of the fee.

Builders Council: Jessie Spradley, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355

Nassau

Nassau builders endorsements: The Nassau Builders Council and NEFBA have endorsed the following candidates for local races in Nassau County: Bill Leeper (sheriff), Bill Hickox (property appraiser), Danny Leeper (county commissioner, District 1) and Pat Edwards (county commissioner, District 3).

Builders Council: Palmer Kuder [email protected] and (904) 725-4355

St. Johns

Growth management workshop: The Board of County Commissioners of St. Johns hosted a second Growth Workshop on Dec. 8. The meeting was a follow-up to an August Growth Management meeting. More than 100 NEFBA members attended to voice their concerns about the anti-growth rhetoric circulating among several commissioners. The December meeting was also well attended by NEFBA and the builder-developer community.

Jim Johns endorsement: The St. Johns Builders Council and NEFBA endorsed Commissioner Jim Johns for St. Johns County Commission, District 1. Johns was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the commission this year to replace Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, who left office to run for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives. Johns is an engineer and an active NEFBA member.

Builders Council: Leona Brown, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355