For Friends of Hemming Park, one last chance?

Government

Six months to make a great impression.

That’s how the Friends of Hemming Park are looking at their contract extension proposed by the mayor’s office that is making its way through the City Council.

Ordinance 2017-198 would appropriate $415,000 for the Friends to cover operations and capital improvements in the park through Sept. 30.

As for the fate of the nonprofit’s relationship with the city to manage and program Hemming past that date, the administration will consider the contractor’s performance during this summer’s budget deliberations and will make a recommendation to City Council, according to mayor’s office spokeswoman Tia Ford.

The proposed contract extension includes $40,000 per month for six months for operations and administrative costs and $175,000 for capital improvements.

“From a financial standpoint, it leaves us on the same footing,” said Bill Prescott, CEO of the Friends.

The contract extension directs that 50 percent of the operations budget –– $20,000 a month –– pay for private security officers to patrol the park.

“I think that’s where we’ve made the biggest difference,” Prescott said. “Our goal for the next six months is to get good behavior in the park.”

The combined efforts of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the security guards are “getting people out (of the park) who are breaking the rules,” he added.

And the rules are about to become stricter.

In April, after public notice and installation of new signage, large bags and suitcases will be prohibited in the park, along with placing personal items on chairs. Also, shirts and shoes will be required to be worn in the park, Prescott said.

The nonprofit sharpened its focus on making Hemming clean and safe after Sam Mousa, Mayor Lenny Curry’s chief of staff, on Nov. 10 said at a meeting of the council’s Special Committee on Hemming Park the administration wanted to “take back” the public space in front of City Hall.

“We heard them loud and clear,” Prescott said.

The extension earmarks $175,000 for capital improvements that will be limited to enhancing landscaping and possibly installing more lighting.

If the council approves the ordinance, the total expenditure for management of the park would be $1.665 million since the contract with the Friends went into effect Sept. 1, 2014.

“The city has invested a lot of money. We want to see it be a decent investment,” said council member Bill Gulliford.