by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
City Council members say 2004 will likely serve as a platform for a broad scope of priorities and pending legislation. Future topics are as varied as the Council itself, but most agree a base of support exists to make internal improvements, and more importantly, pass bills.
“This is going to be a busy year,” said Council vice president Elaine Brown. “I know we all have our personal goals and it’s important for us to meet them.”
Brown, who targeted computers and Internet access for the underprivileged as one of her 2004 priorities, said the learning curve for the first-term Council members has leveled, allowing for a smooth transition into the presidency, which she is expected to assume in July.
“But I’m not going to concentrate on campaigning [before the elections in May],” said Brown of her potential Council leadership. “I can say that I look forward to working with the Council, both the new and the old, individually, to help understand and better work toward accomplishing what we need to.
“Getting through this year was half the struggle and now we can really get moving.” Brown singled out more advanced technology, including the much talked about and heavily studied Intelligent Transportation System as another of her priorities, a sentiment echoed by Lake Ray.
Ray, who chairs the Council’s Transportation, Technology, Environment & Energy Committee, said the Council would continue its study of the multi-million-dollar traffic monitoring program while coordinating efforts with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.
“There are a lot of components we have to look at,” said Ray of the ongoing ITS study. “But I feel confident we’ll be able to assess the needs of Jacksonville by talking to the experts throughout that field. From there, it will come down to informing our elected officials of what we’ve learned and seeing what can be done.”
Serving as a possible alternative to ITS, Ray said discussions about overpasses throughout Duval County may also come to the forefront next year.
Daniel Davis and Kevin Hyde agreed.
Hyde, a heavily endorsed contender for Council vice president, said overpasses may become a more realistic option due to the Council’s “strong support” for the $120 million Branan Field-Chaffee extension.
An ordinance is currently under review in the Council’s Finance and TTEE committees.
“It’s definitely a big money issue, but I think the backing from the Council is there to pull it out of committee and do something with it,” said Hyde. “I’m very interested in getting it passed and, providing it does, that may open up discussions about overpasses in other parts of the City. It’s becoming clear a lot of people are in support of them.”
Another hot topic for Hyde — living wage discussions for City employees — could make the rounds by the first Council committee week. Hyde said negotiations are “ripe for discussion.”
One Council member looking forward to those talks is Art Shad, who is vice chair of the Audit Committee.
“It will be interesting when (living wage) moves to the front burner,” he said. “That’s an important issue for a lot of people. When you look at it as the Council and the mayor’s office being employers, you obviously want to make sure you take care of your employees. You want to make sure they’re well treated and cared for.
“However, you have to be prepared to look at all of the costs involved before you establish a living wage. That’s something we’ll keep in mind when we look at and analyze the cost rewards and benefits in January.”
Shad said public park funding and a commitment to restarting the 14-month delayed Hendricks Avenue project will also remain “top priorities.”
“And obviously we all want to work towards unifying the Council,” he said. “That won’t change.”
Making good on that promise, Shad plans to introduce a Council rule change that could re-establish current officer voting procedure. The rule change would mandate a super majority of 13 votes to prevent a Council vice president from moving up to the presidency the following year.
“It’s just one of those things when you look at the returning Council members,” he said. “There’s division there that the newer Council members don’t want to see continue. We would rather there be more unity so we can more effectively work towards what we were voted to do.”
Likely benefiting from bolstered unity is Suzanne Jenkins, who has several projects hitting the Council in the first quarter of 2004.
“There are actually a lot of things that I want to accomplish next year,” said Jenkins. “But one thing we’ve got to understand is how we can do a better job of spending tax dollars.”
Jenkins said the money funneled into indigent care each year, could be “better spent.”
“When you look at the millions of dollars going towards the uninsured, you have to start looking at what can be done,” she said. “If possible, I’d like to look into establishing a program or, at least, opening up a dialogue so we can help those people without spending that kind of money.”
Like Shad, Jenkins said public parks could greatly benefit from that kind of a capital influx.
“I’d like to start promoting that soon,” she said. “Now’s the time while everyone is beginning to prepare for next year’s budget.”
“But first up for the new year is something I’ve been looking at to address prostitution and johns. Some of it will just be a reinforcement of what we already have on the books, but I also want to look into developing programs so we can make some real improvements all over the city.”
The first Council meeting of 2004 is scheduled for Jan. 13.