by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The State-imposed decision to close two State-funded drivers license offices in Jacksonville this year has forced Tax Collector Mike Hogan to quickly seek funding to expand his Beach Boulevard office in order to add full drivers license services.
Monday, the City Council Finance Committee approved as an emergency two pieces of legislation that will allow Hogan to amend the lease on the office and transfer the funds needed to pay for the renovations.
According to Hogan, the driver license office on Dunn Avenue will close by June 30 and the one on Beach Boulevard will close by Dec. 30. Both offices are full-service and both are currently operated by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
“We are in a time constraint,” said Hogan, when asked about the emergency nature of the bills. “This is being brought on by circumstance. The lease amendment has been passed back and forth.”
Hogan said the original lease agreement was signed April 8 of last year. However, the decision by the State DMV to basically get out of the driver license business in Duval County and pass those services on to the Tax Collector’s Office has forced Hogan to transfer funds and renovate his Beach Boulevard office before the end of the year. The bill must still pass the full Council and Hogan said he needs 90-120 days to complete the renovations once they have started.
Finance member Stephen Joost said the emergency nature of the bill makes it difficult to fully analyze the lease agreement — which will require the City to pay $20 to $21 a square foot for a term of 15 years with three, five-year renewal options.
“We have no choice or the choice is to provide those services at fewer locations,” said Joost.
Hogan said a study was conducted and there was a lot of thought given to having a private company administer the driver license written exam and road test as well as perform renewals and issue Florida ID cards. Hogan also said that idea was scrapped in part because of the potential for longer lines at private facilities.
“Having served in the (State) House (of Representatives), I can tell you one of the biggest complaints we got was waiting at the driver license office three or four hours,” he said.
According to Hogan, the Duval County Tax Collector’s Office has been offering a portion of the driver license service since 1997 when Lynwood Roberts was Tax Collector. Hogan said many of the offices only offered license renewals and ID cards at the time.
“At this point in time, it is obvious we need to offer that (full) service,” he said.
Joost also questioned the per-square foot price the City was going to pay.
“This location needed so much. It was necessary and appropriate in many ways,” said Bob Williams, the City’s real estate officer. “This is an all new facility. We could have looked at other areas, but this one seemed more appropriate.”
There is also a full-service driver license office on Wilson Boulevard that runs the DMV that Hogan said the State plans to eventually close. However, he has not been told when.
Finance Chair Michael Corrigan said he would support the bill only because it’s an amendment to a current lease. Otherwise, he wouldn’t support it as an emergency and likely not at all.
In other news:
• The Finance Committee approved a bill that will codify the City’s vehicle allowance and take home car policy. The amended bill eliminates the Tax Collector, Clerk of Courts and Property Appraiser.
• Court Administration will remain on Beach Boulevard for another five years. The Finance Committee approved a deal that will renew the lease in Southgate Shopping Center for 8,601 square feet at $10,930.48 a month. The lease has a one-time, five year renewal option.
• A dedicated domestic violence court is one step closer to becoming reality. The program will be a partnership between the City, State Attorney’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Fourth Judicial Circuit and Hubbard House. A grant for just under $750,000 will pay for the program. Currently, two positions — one JSO officer and one social worker — have been approved.
356-2466