City Council will hold a special meeting at 1 p.m. April 27 to consider a $159 million COVID-19 stimulus package that includes $1,000 payments for qualifying households, eases city fees for developers and businesses and could give the Jacksonville Jaguars free rent.
Council President Scott Wilson filed Ordinance 2020-0235 April 24 on behalf of Mayor Lenny Curry and Council Vice President Tommy Hazouri.
The $159 million is from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. The city would appropriate $146.55 million to the general fund and the remaining $12.5 million to the city’s COVID-19 Emergency Incidents Account.
Curry announced the stimulus plan April 23 in a virtual news conference.
According to city Director of Public Affairs Nikki Kimbleton, the federal grant money is guaranteed and only needs the Council’s vote to allocate the dollars.
As part of the legislation, Council will consider authorizing $1,000 direct aid payments to 40,000 Duval County households.
The bill clarifies criteria residents must meet to receive the $1,000 and changes the income criteria in Curry’s announcement from $75,000 per individual to $75,000 per household.
To be eligible for the $1,000, an applicant must:
• Be a Duval County resident.
• Provide proof of employment as of Feb. 29.
• Make less than $75,000 per household on the date of application.
• Have lost at least 25% of their income because of the COVID-19 crisis.
If approved by Council, the city will start accepting applications May 1, Kimbleton said.
People will have to file paperwork in person and city officials will work to implement social distancing guidelines at the application site, she said.
The money will be distributed as a prepaid Visa debit card.
The bill asks Council to approve an agreement with Fidelity National Information Services Inc. to provide the debit cards.
“As a critical infrastructure provider for merchants, banks and capital markets, and being headquartered in Jacksonville, FIS felt it was imperative to help quickly move these funds into the hands of our neighbors who need it most,” FIS President and CEO Gary Norcross said in a statement provided by the city.
“During these unprecedented times, I continue to be amazed by the commitment and effort of our employees and the Jacksonville community, who have all stepped up to help those affected by COVID-19,” he said.
To be approved, applicants will have to sign an affidavit stating that they meet all eligibility requirements; fill out and sign a W-9 form; and must sign a certification that they received the debit card.
Testing, business and contingency
The bill will allocate $35 million to expand and sustain COVID-19 testing sites and other health care infrastructure needs.
Another $25 million would be allocated toward fee moratoriums for developers, general contractors and businesses.
The plan sets aside $20 million to provide additional funding to nonprofit and for-profit Duval County businesses to be determined by future Council appropriation.
Curry is asking Council for $12.5 million for the city’s COVID-19 emergency account for response spending not reimbursed by FEMA.
City loans and rent payments waived
Businesses that have seen a drop in revenue because of coronavirus cancellations and that lease and operate city-owned facilities could see a six-month moratorium on facility rent and lease payments. That could include the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp minor league baseball team.
The bill also provides relief to businesses, developers and property owners with city-backed loans for six months with demonstrated COVID-19 impacts.
Fees
For developers and contractors, Curry’s proposal would provide a six-month waiver on mobility fees for single and multifamily residential construction, if the companies can prove the project was delayed because of COVID-19.
The bill also gives a six-month moratorium on other city fees including:
• Application fees for street excavations, work in right-of-ways, permits, violations, civil penalties, enforcement and abatement.
• Certificate-of-use applications.
• Tree removal, relocations and replacement for protected trees.
• Amendments to comprehensive plan.
• Tipping fees charged directly to customers at the Trail Ridge Landfill.
• Jacksonville Fire and Rescue plan reviews.
• Zoning exceptions, variances and waivers and amendments to final orders and appeals.
Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer will have the authorization to reduce parking fees in city-owned lots and garages.
Individuals that saw a 25% salary cut because of the virus are eligible for a 50% reduction in parking fees for six months. Businesses deemed essential in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “safer-at-home” executive order are eligible for a 50% reduction in their parking contract. Nonessential businesses forced to close can get a 100% parking fee waiver.
Duval County Public Library users with outstanding fines would be eligible for forgiveness retroactive to 12 months.
City-VyStar Small business loan program
The bill reimburses $9 million approved by Council on April 6 for the COVID-19 Small Business Relief and Employee Retention Grant Program, the city’s contribution to a partnership with VyStar Credit Union.
The final $17 million in the legislation for the city-VyStar partnership would fund the remainder of the $26 million the city expects to spend in the six-year life of the program.