Duval Delegation members Thursday backed the filing of a local bill that would allow the City to repeal and amend the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, but they didn’t adopt a position on the issue.
Instead, they will wait for a City Council decision before potentially issuing a resolution of support.
The local bill, also known as a J-Bill, would allow the City to effectively take control of its economic development function without state approval.
Mayor Alvin Brown’s reorganization plan calls for the JEDC to be renamed the “Economic Development Board” and serve in a Downtown-only economic development capacity. Currently, the JEDC oversees both Downtown and overall Duval County economic development.
City General Counsel Cindy Laquidara told delegation members the bill would return the power of economic development to Council, a power that all other counties in Florida currently have.
State Rep. Mike Weinstein, who served as the first JEDC director, said the bill reinstates “home rule” and allows flexibility in economic development.
Typically, local bills are reviewed by the Council and, if supported, a resolution is passed and then sent to the delegation. Due to the late timing of the bill, Council has not had time to review the measure, which resulted in several delegation members voicing concern Thursday.
State Sen. John Thrasher said he “had some reluctance” about the delegation adopting a stance prior to Council action because it sets a bad precedent for future bills.
State Rep. Daniel Davis, a former Council president, agreed.
“The City Council is going to delve into this,” said Davis. “We ought to let them delve into this.”
Mario Rubio, Brown’s state affairs liaison, told the delegation that if the bill was not passed in the upcoming session, it would delay the completion of Brown’s reorganization for a year.
The session usually starts in March but meets in January 2012 because of redistricting. Without approval of the bill in the upcoming session, the bill could not be heard until March 2013.
State Rep. Lake Ray, the delegation chairman, sponsored the bill because of the early deadlines and the fact that Brown just took office in July.
The deadline to file J-Bills by the delegation for the upcoming session is today.
A compromise was reached with an approved motion by Davis that allowed the filing of the bill, but the delegation took no position on it.
The bill will be introduced to Council on Dec. 13. If it does not support the decision, Ray said he would pull the bill. If Council does support it, another delegation meeting will be scheduled in early January to allow for a public hearing and for the delegation to take a position.
Support for the motion was unanimous.
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