It looks as if a convention center might make the cut.
Mayor Lenny Curry can expect about a dozen recommendations about where to focus his economic-development efforts, and a “rough draft” list includes the project.
“The City needs to develop a plan to develop an expanded or new Convention Center,” says the draft put together by former Mayor John Delaney.
Delaney chairs Curry’s economic-development transition subcommittee, which met Monday.
He said after the meeting to expect the final draft of recommendations to include language that the city should create a plan to develop an expanded or new convention center.
“It needs to move up the priority list,” he said.
He also repeated what he has said in previous meetings: Finding $200 million to $500 million to pay for a center will be the issue.
Another top priority will be the urban core.
“A solid Downtown needs to be a major focus,” Delaney said.
The subcommittee reviewed Delaney’s two-page list of recommendations, titled “rough draft/outline,” culled from previous meetings.
The draft also includes recommendations to:
• Retain former Mayor Alvin Brown’s economic-development structure: Office of Economic Development; the independent Downtown Investment Authority; the mayor’s Office of Sports and Entertainment, which works with the nonprofit Jacksonville Sports Council; and the private JAX Chamber. “It appears that all of the four entities cooperate and work well together,” it said.
• Develop a “progressive” matrix so that the city can score the value of deals seeking economic-development incentives and also create an ongoing way to measure the results.
• Focus efforts on improving low wages, and also on neighborhoods in decline or transition.
• Consider several public-investment policy models to best address opportunities. For example taxpayer-assisted projects in the targeted areas of Downtown and Northwest Jacksonville can pay lower wages and produce a lower return-on-investment “due to the positive community or sociological impact.” In other areas, some projects might bring a high capital investment but few jobs. Other projects, such as at Cecil Commerce Center, could bring long-term investment. Delaney noted that subjectivity and flexibility would be beneficial in assessing a project’s worth, although “exceptions and discretion should not overwhelm the rule.”
• Ensure that an annual report card be issued to measure the changes in the city’s gross domestic product, tax base, employment, wages, capital investment, tourism and other factors.
• Create a brand identity for the city. “Jacksonville has a limited national brand,” he wrote.
• Asset-mapping government-owned properties in La Villa, Mayport and Downtown, especially the old courthouse and City Hall annex, and create a plan to move those assets to “highest and best use.”
• Address the need to speed permitting and regulatory review.
• Change the city’s economic-development process regarding the largest deals. The chamber reported that the larger the deal, the less competitive Jacksonville is. Delaney wrote that Jacksonville has been the “bridesmaid” many times. “Such is unacceptable, and warrants the development of plan to overhaul ED processes for mega-projects.”
The 18-member group also reviewed a separate presentation by member Aaron Zahn, president and CEO of BCR Environmental Corp.
Zahn created a report called “An Economic Development Strategy Framework” for the city.
He suggested the city consider branding itself as the “global leader in infrastructure innovation for the future,” citing the possibilities of the $9 trillion expected to be spent worldwide by 2025 on capital projects and infrastructure.
He said Jacksonville already is a center of excellence because of its rail system, health care facilities, aerospace development, port and utilities.
Recruiting and supporting companies and jobs in the industries of extraction, utilities, manufacturing, transport and hospitals/schools would make sense, he said.
With a brand such as global infrastructure leader, “you’d be able to increase high-skillset jobs,” he said.
The group also made more suggestions during discussion.
Ceree Harden said a long-term capital improvement plan is needed for Downtown. He said that when the city commits to improving infrastructure, such as streets, drainage and utilities, private companies are more likely to want to create jobs there.
Members also focused on accountability and oversight. Several debated how to create an entity or determine an individual to monitor the progress of the recommendations and to champion the causes.
Two members said funding is critical, and one said at least a statement about it should be included in the recommendations.
Harden said a 2011 Jacksonville Civic Council report about Downtown Northbank redevelopment offered “some good suggestions” on where money might be generated for the urban core.
That report suggested consideration of a Tourism Investment District, tax increment financing, grants, proceeds from disposing of city-owned Downtown properties, public-private partnerships, a Utility Revenues Finance District, private funds and the city general fund, among others.
Delaney’s list also noted ongoing projects, such as the Port Task Force; the Metro Jacksonville/Northeast Florida Global Cities Initiative Export Plan; Community Wealth Building; the Cecil Commerce Center Vertical Integration Study and the Shipyards.
Delaney asked Zahn to combine their respective recommendations and incorporate suggestions sent by the committee. He wants to discuss that list Thursday.
While the group was scheduled to wrap up Thursday, Delaney extended the work until next week.
Delaney said he spoke Sunday with Curry and Thursday with Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa about the subcommittee’s progress. “They like the thinking. The mayor likes the amount of effort everybody’s put into this,” Delaney said.
Curry spokesman Bill Spann said Mousa and Delaney generically discussed how the subcommittee’s report should be formatted and other items, such as the report’s structure, recommended changes and any focus on jobs and wages.
Spann said Curry’s recommendations will be formulated as his transition subcommittees make their reports and the budget process continues. Curry must submit his first budget to City Council by July 20.
Meanwhile, the city has posted a job opening for an economic development officer. Former Office of Economic Development Executive Director Ted Carter left the position with the change in administration.
Deputy Director Paul Crawford has been named interim executive director.
@MathisKb
(904) 356-2466