by Karen Brune Mathis
Managing Editor
In case the 180 members on Mayor-elect Alvin Brown’s 18 transition teams need more information before making their recommendations about the transfer of power, Mayor John Peyton has provided some.
Peyton has posted a 40-chapter document, which is 268 single pages when printed on standard paper, titled “Maintaining Jacksonville’s Competitive Advantage: A Public Policy Discussion.”
A statement from Peyton said he hopes the document, posted online on Monday, is a “valuable resource” in ensuring “the most complete, most transparent mayoral transition ever.”
“One of the great values of our democracy is the peaceful transition of political power from one officeholder to the next,” said Peyton.
“However, what is sometimes lost in the process is the continuity and institutional knowledge our citizens expect and deserve,” he said.
Peyton said the document could be valuable “as we collectively strive to find the balance between offering a low tax burden and delivering a level of service that allows us to be competitive as we work to grow jobs and attract business to Jacksonville.”
Brown will take office July 1. His transition teams are meeting regularly with the goal of providing information before he takes office. The teams range from “Boards & Commissions” to “Workforce Development.”
Peyton spokeswoman Kristen Beach said Wednesday that the document has been shared with Brown’s transition staff.
“I have been told that many of the members are finding the material to be helpful in their discussions and preparation of recommendations for the mayor-elect,” said Beach.
Peyton said his document is part of the overall strategy “for a seamless conveyance of information” from his administration to the community and the mayor-elect.
It was prepared by staff members from across the government. Chapters begin with the “Financial Health of the City of Jacksonville” and subsequent chapters include pension reform, economic development, JaxPort, the Jaguars, the Better Jacksonville Plan, collective bargaining, City Council and more. Chapter 40, the last, is the “Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business Program.”
The document’s chief editor was Dan Kleman, former City Chief Administrative Officer and more recently director of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. He serves as Peyton’s transition chief.
Almost 40 City staffers are listed as writers, along with 10 more as contributing editors and two for photos and graphics.
Each chapter includes an introduction, the topic’s importance, the actions taken and the importance of those actions, and a list of “next steps.”
“Based on the experience of the Peyton administration, the document attempts to provide insight into the operations of the executive branch of government and the unique relationship with City Council,” said a news release about the report.
The document is available at www.coj.net. Look for the box on the right side of the screen and click on “Mayor’s Transition.”
Beach said just before 4 p.m. Wednesday that the document had been opened 595 times since it was posted midday Monday.
Hard copies of the document will be available in the reference section at all public library branches by the end of next week.
The Daily Record reported in October that Peyton’s staff had begun formulating transition papers.
Anyone who has followed Peyton’s presentations during his eight years in office might recognize the first four pages of the contents – some of the many charts, graphs and lists that he has presented in his visits around the city.
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