• Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Executive Director Ron Barton presented a report Wednesday on the progress made in the three years since the “Downtown Action Plan” was initiated. He said at the JEDC meeting that improvement has been severely hindered by lack of funding from both the City and private developers. He said it’s time to take “six or eight months” to discuss and re-evaluate the 19 points of the plan to determine if any should be removed and if others should be incorporated. He also said it’s prudent to continue to focus on “horizontal” projects like parks and Riverwalk and streetscape improvements and less on “vertical development.”
• Also at the JEDC meeting, commissioners approved an amendment to $50 million in Hospital Revenue Bonds issued for Shands Jacksonville. The current daily interest rate calculation and security via letter of credit from Shands will be replaced by private placement of the bonds with Wells Fargo. The amendment will not create additional debt.
• Visit Jacksonville President and CEO Daniel O’Byrne outlined the organization’s key initiatives for the next year at the group’s “Destination Outlook” annual meeting Wednesday at the Southpoint Marriott. He said Jacksonville needs a new convention center and cruise terminal and the hospitality industry needs more funding to gain greater exposure for the destination and “keep up with the competition.” O’Byrne also said Visit Jacksonville will mount a campaign among the 43,000 local hospitality industry workers to register them to vote in the spring mayoral election and educate workers about which candidate will “protect our jobs, families and interests.”