by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Short agenda for Delegation
The Duval Delegation held its annual pre-session meeting Monday in City Council Chambers. The meeting usually involves sometimes lengthy discussion about the year’s J-bills (local bills filed in Tallahassee and sponsored by a member of the Delegation or the entire group).
However, with no J-bills on the agenda, the Delegation held a relatively short meeting that consisted primarily of comment from the public.
One group, the mayors of the three cities that comprise the Beach, did ask the Delegation for help with funding the next phase of beach renourishment. Jacksonville Beach Mayor Fland
Sharp spoke on behalf of Neptune Beach Mayor Harriet Pruette and Atlantic Beach Mayor Mike Borno.
According to Sharp, the next phase will cost a little over $2 million. Sharp said the funding is split between the federal government (61%), the State (18%) and the City of Jacksonville (21%).
“The federal money is probably available through some stimulus,” said Sharp. “The City of Jacksonville has the money in hand. It’s important for us because we depend on the beach for tourism and economic growth.”
Sharp said the beach is renourished every 5-6 years and as long as that schedule is maintained, major tropical storms and northeasters have minimal long-term impacts.
State Sen. and Delegation Vice Chair John Thrasher said he has met individually with all three mayors to discuss the issue.
“We’ll be working, I promise, with the rest of the Delegation,” said Thrasher. “The Beach is important to all of us. I will work with the Senate to get the funding.”
State Rep. Doc Renuart said physically preserving the beach is important to the economic viability of the Beach community.
“This is really economic stimulus for the area,” he said. “It’s one of those things that attract people.”
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