by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Tuesday’s City Council Finance Committee meeting was significantly shorter than last week’s marathon budget meetings, but the first meeting of the new fiscal year yielded progress on one Downtown project.
The committee approved an ordinance in support of bringing the USS Charles F. Adams Downtown.
Two weeks ago, finance committee members deferred an ordinance that would signal City support for bringing the retired guided-missile destroyer, Downtown to become a floating museum.
Committee members decided to defer the issue then, citing potential language issues that could cost taxpayers’ money with the move, with members Michael Corrigan and Warren Jones saying they’d work on the matter.
The ordinance’s sponsor, member Bill Bishop, who is not on the finance committee, was present at the time and disagreed with the deferment, stating the move would have no financial obligation from the City.
The Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association, a nonprofit consisting of residents, business owners and retired military, is spearheading the fundraising efforts without requests for tax incentives or tax deferrals on the projects.
The privately raised funds would go toward the removal of a dock where the ship would be moored on the River City Brewing Company side of the Acosta Bridge.
The ordinance would simply be an official show of support, said Bishop, that would aid fundraising efforts.
Finance members received assurance of such City protection through an amendment, worked on by Jones, which was approved unanimously.
Language within the amendment includes “the City is making no financial commitment and is at no financial risk” and “all participating parties ... pledged the financial resources to support the maintenance and relocation, if necessary, of the retired naval vessel.”
An amendment to the amendment, proposed by member Ronnie Fussell, also called for any potential funds from City coffers that might arise in the future must come before the finance committee for approval.
“It’s (the amendments) exactly what I’m looking for,” said Corrigan, who voiced support for the project but was one of the members requesting language clarification.
Bishop attended Tuesday’s meeting and was agreeable to the amendments, saying they should resolve questions.
“I’m glad it obviously did pass,” said Bishop. “It will be a good thing for the City,”
John O’Neil Jr., Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association executive director, was pleased with the outcome and said approval by the full City Council Oct. 12 would likely begin to bring additional monetary support for the project.
“We’re happy,” said O’Neil. “It’s really the right thing for the City to do.”
A study on the project, said O’Neil, showed that the floating museum would bring 93,000 visitors Downtown, not including schoolchildren, while also generating revenue for area hoteliers and vendors.
Other news from Tuesday’s meeting:
• The committee approved a three-year lease extension between the City and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra for its use of the Jacoby Symphony Hall in the Times-Union Center.
• The committee approved an ordinance that would appropriate just more than $82,000 in Housing Opportunities for People with Aids 2008-09 lapsed funds to the Catholic Charities Bureau. The carryover will be used in the 2010-11 fiscal year to provide short-term rental assistance to low-income persons with HIV/AIDS.
• “Since we had such a long meeting last week, we’re just going to defer everything and go home,” joked Jones in the agenda meeting. While everything wasn’t deferred, it didn’t take long. The meeting concluded at 10:16 a.m., about 15 minutes after it began.
• With former Chair Daniel Davis moving on to Tallahassee and Jones being elevated to chair, the committee needed an additional member. Council member Dick Brown is the newest committee member, but wasn’t present Tuesday. The group had five members present, with member Denise Lee having an excused absence.
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