by David Chapman
Staff Writer
City Council approved a $3.2 million incentives deal Tuesday for Kaman Aerospace to expand its local operation by 200 jobs, although some members voiced concerns about amending hiring requirements.
Kaman Aerospace wants to expand in North Jacksonville within an Enterprise Zone, if another measure to extend the zone’s boundaries to include Kaman is approved in coming weeks.
The Enterprise Zone agreement calls for Kaman to hire 10 percent of its new employees from within the zone.
Kaman sought a waiver to exempt it from the requirement. Joe Whitaker, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission business recruitment and retention coordinator, told members of the Finance Committee the company could guarantee its $28 million investment, but was concerned about the hiring requirement. He said the company was concerned about finding the required skill levels from the defined geographic area of the Enterprise Zone.
Council member Warren Jones, vice chair of the Finance Committee, was among those who questioned the waiver request. He offered an amendment Tuesday that would allow the waiver but he included new language that the company makes “best future effort to hire from within the Enterprise Zone.”
Council member John Crescimbeni, also a Finance Committee member, said Tuesday he was reluctant to vote in favor of the waiver and that the number of jobs to meet the Enterprise Zone criteria was 20 jobs.
He said he would agree to the exemption based on the reputation of the company and he hoped and hoped the “best faith, good faith” language “translates into 20 jobs” from the zone.
Crescimbeni said he would be “very disappointed” if the jobs were not filled from within the zone.
Council member Johnny Gaffney stated concerns about transportation and logistics of the project for workers and shared similar concerns about hiring.
“I hope we don’t continue to go off of good faith,” said Gaffney.
Gaffney said Council would not continue to make exceptions to such rules, but like Crescimbeni, said the company’s reputation was a reason for approval.
Kaman Aerospace Corp., a division of Bloomfield, Conn.-based Kaman Corp., has a Jacksonville operation and plans to lease an existing 280,000-square-foot facility within Imeson Industrial Park.
The company produces and markets proprietary aircraft bearings and components for commercial, military and general aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
The City’s portion of $3.2 million incentives deal, which is a refund of taxes, would be $650,000 with the state contributing $2.54 million.
The twice-amended measure was enacted 16-2, with Council members Kimberly Daniels and Clay Yarborough opposing.
Other news from Tuesday night’s full Council meeting:
• Council again postponed both agenda items that were postponed from the June 28 meeting. A pension reform deal for police and fire members was delayed so that new Council members, who attended their first full Council meeting Tuesday, would have more time to study the proposal before voting. A workshop is scheduled from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 8.
Also postponed was Council member Reggie Brown’s “live here, work here” bill that would require City employees, mayoral appointees and constitutional officers to live in Duval County. Proponents say the measure will keep tax dollars earned by City employees and officials within the area. The mayor’s office requested postponement and a meeting will be scheduled for next week. Both measures are now scheduled to be voted on Aug. 9.
• In an emergency measure, Council members approved a millage rate ceiling of 10.0353 for the General Services District, 6.7446 for the Beaches and 8.4472 for Baldwin. The rate was equal to the rate last year and was proposed by Mayor Alvin Brown in his budget. The emergency was required to advise the Property Appraiser of a rate to send to property owners and to comply with the state’s Truth in Millage requirements. It was approved 18-0.
• There was no Council discussion on a measure to repeal Jacksonville Area Legal Aid funding. The original ordinance established a $50 court cost on various felonies, misdemeanors and traffic violations to provide additional funding to the organization. It was approved 15-4 at the June 28 meeting. Council member Richard Clark is sponsoring the repeal measure, which was introduced Tuesday and will be scheduled for committee consideration.
Michael Figgins, JALA executive director, attended the meeting but did not speak during public comment. After the meeting, Figgins said new figures within the past few weeks show JALA’s budget situation is worse than originally anticipated.
A public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 9. Figgins said he will continue to meet with Council members, especially those who are new to office, to continue advocating JALA’s case.
• It was the first full meeting for seven Council members, including Lori Boyer. She said after the meeting that her biggest surprise has been the number of legislative matters that come before Council. As for the biggest challenge, Boyer said it’s been challenging finding time to balance constituent meetings with research time. With her first Council meeting completed, she said she is “really positive” and “hopeful and optimistic” about her role in making a difference in the city.
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