by David Chapman
Staff Writer
The topic of the day that began in the City Council Rules Committee earlier in the morning carried over to the Finance Committee in the afternoon.
The committee approved an ordinance to increase the Duval County Unified Courthouse project budget from $263.5 million to $350 million, but not before much discussion that resulted in amendments to the ordinance.
The biggest change clarified that revenue from the sale of the current Bay Street courthouse complex would go towards paying off the new project. The issue was brought forward by Council member Stephen Joost, who was concerned the language wasn’t clear on where old courthouse monies would go.
A superseding ordinance from 2003 required proceeds from the sale of the Duval County Courthouse, City Hall Annex or adjacent waterfront property along with any rents from the state attorney and public defender go toward city debt, but Joost wanted reassurance that debt specifically meant the new courthouse.
“I was just told that was the intention to do so (proceeds go towards debt),” said Joost. “As long as that’s in there, I’m happy. When we sell the old courthouse, it will reduce the overall cost.”
The Finance Committee also adopted language changes made by the Rules Committee earlier in the day. The additional language allows further input from the chief judge and council president on certain items under the “Use of Funds” section of the ordinance.
It was amended in the case of the removal, replacement or contract expiration of the general project manager. The current manager is courthouse consultant Sam Mousa.
The Finance Committee passed the ordinance 4-1. The issue will now head back to City Council.
The Finance Committee took up other issues Monday, including:
• Approved a redevelopment agreement for a 128-slip marina on the Southbank adjacent to the Aetna building. In return for development rights, the marina’s developer, South Shore Marina Group, will offer half of the slips to the public, allow the marina to be accessible by water taxi and make improvements to the adjacent riverwalk.
• Approved an appropriation of $311,030 from the Environmental Protection Board Trust Fund to hire a green initiatives coordinator. The employee would coordinate the City’s different green initiatives and building programs, including providing information to the public, media relations and educating staff on environmental sustainability.
The first project under the green initiatives coordinator is slated to be converting the Main Library to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria.
• Approved an appropriation of $25,991 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s State Criminal Assistance program to provide funding to upgrade the Correctional Management Information System by enhancing the capability of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to identify illegal aliens and their involvement in crimes. Also, funds will be used to replace and repair mattresses in detention centers.
• Deferred a code amendment to the Library Conference Facilities Special Revenue Fund that would make the fund self-appropriating, require the Library Board to file certain reports about the fees used for facilities and file annual reports to the council secretary and council auditor relating to revenue and expenses involving the fund.