by Karen Brune Mathis
Managing Editor
Among it 23 recommendations, Mayor Alvin Brown’s Boards and Commissions Transition Committee calls for changes in the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.
“We believe the current scope of duties and oversight of the JEDC is too broad and needs to be reduced,” said the committee’s report.
Brown previously appointed Jacksonville Civic Council Executive Director Don Shea and Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Jerry Mallot to review the City’s economic development strategy and functions, including Downtown development.
Brown has called for creation of a Downtown Community Empowerment Corp. to direct Downtown revitalization, which would re-establish an entity similar to the former Downtown Development Authority, which was folded into the JEDC.
“An emphasis on Downtown development through a separate, dedicated authority is strongly encouraged to be considered by the administration,” he said.
The committee said the administration, City Council and the private sector need to agree on three to five priorities to focus the objectives of the JEDC.
Also, the JEDC offices should be located within City Hall and its leadership in the mayor’s office. The JEDC, headed by Executive Director Ron Barton, now operates in the Police and Fire Pension Fund Building.
The JEDC was one of several boards and commissions identified by name for change.
The committee said the administration has nomination or appointment responsibility for more than 60 boards and commissions.
“There are many areas to review and study for potential overlap and improved efficiencies,” said the report.
It said that because the nominations and appointments are volunteer positions, and because current staff supports the boards, the suggested changes have little budget impact.
Among the recommendations:
• The City should lead the development of a fiscal impact analysis approach that will have broad application across all agencies, boards, commissions and departments. “Although we did not review all agencies and we understand that cost-benefit discussions occur frequently, we uncovered little to no rigorous focus on the basic issue.”
As an example, the committee said that when the Planning Commission considers a subdivision or the JEDC considers a project, part of the approval process should include a projection of the potential fiscal impact on police and fire, schools and utilities, as well as the estimated effect on real estate taxes and sales, jobs and the local economy.
• The administration should lead and coordinate, in cooperation with Council, a citywide process to establish a consistent, disciplined and transparent process for developing a fiscal impact analysis.
• The City should develop a website for all City data and all fiscal analysis for public review and discussion.
• Advisory boards should meet quarterly or more often if necessary. For example, the committee said the Film and Television Advisory Board meets every two months, “and has found success with this schedule.”
• Advisory boards should submit an annual plan with the administration.
• Advisory boards should have a sunset provision added to their executive order if a quantifiable goal cannot be established within the 2011-12 year.
• Advisory board chairs and officers, as well as terms of the members, should coincide with the City’s fiscal calendar of Sept. 30-Oct. 1.
• The administration should review the possibility of conducting as many board and commission meetings as possible in a central, consistent location. This would create more transparency, community involvement and awareness.
• For mayoral reappointment to a board or commission, a member must have an attendance rate of more than 70 percent, including subcommittee meetings.
This is in addition to the requirement in the City’s ordinance code that states three or more unexcused absences in a row from a board or commission shall result in a member’s seat becoming vacant and open for a new nomination.
Also, phone participation could be reviewed as a way to “ease the scheduling burden of volunteer board and commission members.”
• The administration should study the feasibility of a dedicated staff of two to four people from existing resources to provide the administrative support for board and commission meetings. The committee said it would “alleviate staff time from other departments and divisions who currently support various boards and commissions.”
• The notice and publicity policy of scheduled board and commission meetings should be reviewed to ensure maximum exposure to North Florida residents.
• The mayor should meet annually with each board chair and the full board at a regularly scheduled meeting.
• The administration should review housing all minority advisory groups under one umbrella minority advisory board.
“Many minority groups in North Florida face the same challenges and obstacles in society,” said the report. “We believe it would be beneficial if all minority communities received the same access to information and resources provided by the City of Jacksonville,” it said.
“The African-American community should be included as part of this minority outreach,” it said.
• A detailed outside review and report should be performed for each board and commission every three to four years.
• The Ethics Office should review the current “conflict of interest” provision for board and commission volunteers to ensure consistency with elected officials and employees of public office. “Each body and membership holds a piece of the public trust,” it said.
• The Health Planning Council, the Health Facilities Authority and the Environmental Protection Board should be included in Planning Commission and related group meetings.
• The Tourist Development Council and the Cultural Council should work together to encourage and support cultural events that draw visitors to Jacksonville.
• The administration should request that independent boards and authorities hold at least one regular board meeting a year at City Hall in Council Chambers. It identified the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, the Jacksonville Housing Authority, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, the Jacksonville Port Authority and the JEA.
• Advisory boards that represent minority groups should schedule regular meetings before the Human Rights Commission on issues that affect members of their community.
• The relationship between the Disabled Services Division and the Human Rights Commission should be reviewed to ensure communication on issues facing local compliance with the American with Disabilities Act.
• The Sexual Assault Advisory Council should be recognized as a committee of the Victim Assistance Advisory Council.
• The administration should identify areas where agencies and departments can work together on projects to ensure the greatest return on tax-dollar investment.
356-2466
Boards and Commissions Transition Committee
Co-chairs: Charles Clarkson and Robert Spohrer
Members: Karen Landry, Bobby Martin, Clara McLaughlin, Doug Milne, Seth Pajcic, Eric Smith, Marcella Washington, Jim Winston