A reform study group launched its review Monday of Mayor Alvin Brown’s proposed City reorganization with an initial focus on its economic development structure.
Businessman Ron Mallett leads the five-member group formed by City Council member Bill Gulliford. Gulliford chairs the Council’s Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee and asked Mallett to lead a group to review Brown’s proposed government overhaul.
The group consists of Mallett, Sam Mousa, Steve Diebenow, Derek Igou and Wyman Duggan. Most have high-level experience in past administrations.
Mallett said Monday the group wants to determine “what the administration was trying to envision” with the proposed reform structure. The group will report to Gulliford’s committee with its eventual findings.
Karen Bowling, Brown’s chief administrative officer, and Jessica Deal, Brown’s Council liaison, provided an overview and answered questions.
Among the group’s questions and concerns:
• Mallett said Brown’s biggest proposed reform is of the City’s economic development structure and that will be one of the first areas his group would like to “dig into.” Group members said they want to hear from Jerry Mallot and Don Shea, who were tapped by Brown to propose a new economic-development strategy. Mallot is president of the JAXUSA Partnership and Shea is executive director of the Jacksonville Civic Council
Under the proposal, economic development will contain the planning and development department. While Duggan was in favor of the change because he considers it a way to streamline regulations, Mousa disagreed, saying he didn’t see the tie.
• Group members also questioned why the mayor proposes to assume direct contract execution authority over several funds. Those funds include the Special Event and Activities Trust Fund, Sports and Entertainment Board Trust Fund, Jacksonville Veterans Trust Funds, Community Development Special Revenue Trust Fund, Jacksonville Film and Television Office Trust Fund and Children’s Commission Trust Fund.
Several members questioned whether the mayor was assuming too much responsibility given time constraints.
• The group will provide suggestions to the Council committee only if reaches a consensus on a matter, Mallett said. Group members might already have found one. The word “commissioner” that is used in the reform proposal to describe leaders of various departments and activities was panned by the group as being confusing, given how the term is used elsewhere and within the past structure.
• The reform structure has seven people reporting directly to Brown. Members questioned if that was too many. “How feasible is that?” asked Mallett.
The study group’s next meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Nov. 28.
Gulliford was joined for the meeting by Council members Matt Schellenberg, Clay Yarborough, Jim Love, Robin Lumb, Lori Boyer and Greg Anderson.
City Council President Stephen Joost has called Council members to a workshop on the government reorganization legislation at 10 a.m. today in the Council Chamber at City Hall.
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