City Council members voted Tuesday to postpone a final decision on spending $775,000 to reconnect Monroe Street in front of the new Duval County Courthouse.
City Council members Lori Boyer and Don Redman sponsored the bill, 2011-615, which places a moratorium on the restoration of Monroe Street between Broad and Pearl streets until the Council decides to revisit the issue and make a final decision.
They cited safety and savings as two of the key reasons for the bill.
Boyer pointed out that the City could save about $775,000 by not building the road and both Council members were concerned about making pedestrians cross two streets to reach the main entrance of the new courthouse.
“I’ve heard from engineers, business owners and the judiciary who have concerns about safety if Monroe Street is opened,” said Redman.
Fourth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Donald Moran attended the Tuesday meeting.
“I am pleased that they drove by and saw it wasn’t the best for the citizens who will use the courthouse on a regular basis,” he said.
While the vote transfers money for the project to the budget for an ash site project and places a moratorium on developing the land in front of the courthouse, it doesn’t end the debate.
“We have not vacated the road,” said Council Vice President Bill Bishop, who voted against the measure.
“I’m sure we will revisit the issue when the courthouse nears completion,” he said.
Council members John Crescimbeni and Kim Daniels also voted against the bill. Crescimbeni was worried about what will happen if the road is not reopened.
“I recently had a business owner stop by my office inquiring about closing a contiguous section of Monroe Street if the section in front of the courthouse remains closed,” said Crescimbeni.
“I don’t understand. The council has repeatedly taken the position to keep the street open. I think this latest push has come from the judiciary. They pushed a design that encroached on the street,” he said.
Moran has lobbied to keep the road closed and leave the space in front of the new courthouse as a park because he doesn’t want visitors to the courthouse crossing two lanes of traffic to reach the front door.
In other Council news:
• Council heard the first reading of one Qualified Target Industry tax refund project and postponed another until Nov. 11.
A proposal to provide JPMorgan Chase & Co. a refund of $250,000 from the City and $1 million from the state was postponed. About a dozen people spoke against the bill during a public hearing. JPMorgan Chase proposes to create 250 jobs.
Meanwhile, a measure also was introduced to provide First Coast Service Options Inc. with $671,600 under the QTI tax refund program from the City and about $2.7 million from the state to create 395 jobs.
• With former Council member Ronnie Fussell, the council’s only Bulldog fan, out of office, Crescimbeni wanted to renew the Florida/Georgia week tradition of having the tie clipped of the Council member who supports the losing team. Greg Anderson took Fussell’s place as the Bulldog supporter and he was welcomed to the fray by Gator fans Crescimbeni, Johnny Gaffney and Bill Gulliford.
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