by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
A unique investment opportunity to help develop the Cecil Field Commerce Center justifies shifting millions in Better Jacksonville Plan funds away from a voter-approved road project, the mayor’s office will tell the City Council today.
The mayor’s policy chief, Steve Diebenow, will make the case for transferring $11.8 million away from Forest Street and Route 9A construction projects to members of the Council’s Technology and Finance committees. Several of the Council members present at today’s 2 p.m. meeting expressed reservations about the shift during a similar presentation made Monday to the Finance Committee.
According to a memo sent by Diebenow to Council president Lad Daniels, Mayor John Peyton wants to use the money to supplement $56.4 million in State funding to extend Branan Field/Chaffee Road from 103rd Street to I-10. Peyton proposes to fund the project’s remainder through $20.3 million in City loans. The Florida Department of Transportation would pay back the funds by 2020.
City planners told the committee Monday the extension would make Cecil Commerce Center more attractive for development opportunities. Given the State’s willingness to pitch in, Diebenow said, the City should not miss this opportunity to create a more viable Cecil.
“The economic development opportunity at Cecil Field trumps everything,” said Diebenow. “It’s not a matter of what district where the funds are spent; this is an economic opportunity countywide, regardless of district.”
Several Council members, while acknowledging the benefits from Cecil development, said they were uncomfortable shifting plan funds. Finance chair Warren Alvarez fretted the City may be looking to build roads “politically, rather than by need,” and Council member Jerry Holland asked Diebenow and the committee members whether surplus funds should remain in their intended district.
By ordinance, shifting funds among the $750 million Infrastructure Work program requires just cause and 13 Council votes. Diebenow said the Branan–Chaffee extension met just cause, according to three criteria: it would create jobs on a grand scale, the opportunity provided by Tallahassee’s $56 million commitment and a promise from the FDOT to fill the funding void for the Forest Street project.
According to Diebenow’s memo, the Forest Street widening project “will already be completely funded by the FDOT, releasing the need” for its budgeted $8 million. Diebenow said the SR 9A project, originally budgeted for $8 million, would only require $4.2 million, freeing an additional $3.8 million.
Jacksonville Economic Development Commission executive director Kirk Wendland told the committee that a Branan–Chaffee/I-10 interchange would make the City more competitive in attracting large development projects to Cecil Field. Wendland said the area’s lack of accessibility was a major factor in the City’s failure to lure large projects like Mercedes/Daimler in late 2002.
Wendland told the committee that he couldn’t project the exact economic impact of extending Branan–Chaffee but said it would make the area more marketable and help develop Cecil Field more quickly.
Rustin, however, said she wanted specifics before agreeing to shift funding.
“We’re starting to play a little bit more than we’re supposed to with the Better Jacksonville Plan,” said Rustin. “If he [Wendland] can’t give me a better answer than that, then I don’t know that the case for just cause has been made.”
Council member Daniel Davis supported the mayor’s plans. He urged the committee to focus on the potential to add jobs. Davis’ district includes the Cecil Commerce Center.
“Job growth is vital,” he said. “If we’re not growing we’re dying. I don’t care where the jobs are, the important thing is for our constituents to put bread and butter on the table every day.”