by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission works to bring business to the entire region but its commissioners aren’t allowed to be regional. That’s why one prominent member had to resign.
Moments before the September JEDC meeting ended, Commissioner Dave Auchter quietly tendered his resignation. Auchter, vice president of corporate development for The Auchter Company, isn’t tired of helping bring business to Jacksonville.
On the contrary, it’s one of the big reasons he got involved in the civic side of development in the first place.
Auchter resigned because he has to — he moved to St. Johns County. Because of a law passed by the Jacksonville City Council earlier this that makes Duval County residency a requirement for JEDC membership, Auchter is no longer eligible to serve.
However, Auchter doesn’t plan to go away quietly. He’s going to abide by the letter of the law. However, he’s been appealing to the Council’s Rules Committee.
“The issue has been deferred at the last two Rules Committee meetings,” said Auchter. “I have been attending those meetings and I’ve been prepared to talk. I fully acknowledge the law and will resign after the meeting. I am living up to the technical terms of the law.”
By Auchter’s estimates, his company is currently doing in excess of $100 million worth of development in Duval County and the company dossier is impressive: The Strand, The Peninsula, the Main Library, the new Fidelity National Financial building, Villa Riva and 1661 in Riverside, and the new county courthouse, to name a few.
Auchter’s argument goes beyond his company’s financial stake in Jacksonville. He’s drafted a three-page letter outlining the downsides of the new residency requirement. Auchter contends that commercial property taxes and tangible property taxes contribute nearly $400 million annually to the Duval County tax base. Many of those companies are owned and operated by individuals who live outside of Duval County.
Auchter was originally appointed to the now-defunct Downtown Development Authority in late 2001 by then-Mayor John Delaney. In mid-2004, Auchter was elected vice chairman of the DDA under chairman Bob Rhodes. As such, he was also appointed chairman of the Design Review Committee – a group of Downtown business people and stakeholders that scrutinize the design aspects of Downtown projects. In mid-2005, he was elected chair of the DDA and thus became a member of the JEDC. When the DDA was dissolved earlier this year by the Florida Legislature, Auchter was reappointed to the JEDC by Mayor John Peyton.
It’s his nearly five years of experience in dealing with Downtown development and revitalization projects that Auchter believes makes him valuable to an agency like the JEDC.
“I am disappointed because I have a real desire to serve the community and extensive institutional knowledge,” he said.
Auchter also believes the regional nature of the Jacksonville area makes it plausible for individuals living outside the city limits to serve on Jacksonville boards and commissions. He pointed to the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber’s Cornerstone initiative, the Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau, JEA, the First Coast Metropolitan Planning Organization and several others as regional agencies based in Jacksonville.
“We live in a regional community,” said Auchter. “Just stand at (Interstate) 295 and 95 and watch the traffic from the south heading into the city. Stand at the intersection of 95 and JTB (J. Turner Butler Boulevard) and watch the traffic coming in from the beaches. Stand at the Nassau County border and do a vehicle count of the cars coming into the city every day for work.
“The suggestion that those people don’t have a vested interest in the city of Jacksonville is ridiculous.”
Finally, Auchter argues there’s a lack of consistency in the residency requirements for City boards and commissions. There are approximately 65 boards or commission that require City Council approval. Of those, 43 do not have a residency requirement and many seem puzzling, said Auchter. A few that don’t make sense, according to Auchter, are two Better Jacksonville Plan committees, the Jacksonville Housing Commission, the Building Codes Adjustment Board, the Jacksonville Housing Authority, Downtown Vision, Inc. and several others.
“Are those two-thirds that don’t have residency requirements less effective? No,” said Auchter.