After a City Council workshop this afternoon to review Mayor Alvin Brown’s economic development reform legislation, the public can voice its opinion about it at tonight’s Council meeting.
The reform is presented in two pieces of legislation.
The first ordinance, 2012-212, pertains to the repeal of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission and its transition into a new Office of Economic Development.
The second ordinance, 2012-213, reduces the time for economic development legislation to pass through Council, down to one or two readings, which would cut the time by several weeks.
Council has called a workshop from 2-3:30 p.m. today about the legislation, followed by the full Council meeting at 5 p.m. Both pieces are on the agenda for public hearing.
The reform efforts are the first overhaul in economic development policy in 15 years.
Also on the Council agenda:
• A vote on an economic development agreement between the City, JEDC and Caterpillar Work Tools Inc. The deal would provide $23,400 in City incentives and a state match of $93,600 — a total of $117,000 — under the Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund program to Caterpillar to create 39 jobs.
• A vote on an ordinance to revise all voting precinct boundaries in Duval County following reapportionment and redistricting amendments for Council districts. The changes would include renumbering precincts and reducing the number of precincts from 250 to 200, which would result in $125,500 savings per election in reduced salary and operational costs. It also includes a one-time savings of $322,500.
• A third-reading ordinance that would require Council meetings to be broadcast live or delayed on public or cable TV networks while also authorizing funding and contracting capabilities to do so remains after being postponed at the March 27 full Council meeting. The ordinance failed at the committee level but the ordinance was postponed at the request of its sponsor, Council member Reggie Brown, who sought to hold a public meeting for further discussion.
• Postponed since July 26, an ordinance to amend the police and firefighters pension plan to create a new category member “Group II Member” based on a hire date on or after Oct. 1, 2011, is back on the agenda. The ordinance establishes guidelines and references about pension contributions for the new members.
• A consent agenda resolution commending Jacksonville attorneys Bill Sheppard, Lyman Fletcher, Jack Hand, Senior U.S. District Judge Henry Lee Adams and Circuit Judge Hugh Carithers for forming Florida’s first integrated law practice in 1972.
• A third-reading resolution for the appointment of Steve Grossman, Jacksonville Aviation Authority executive director and CEO, as a member of the Tourist Development Council.
• A third-reading a resolution commemorating the life of Episcopal Head of School Dale Regan, who was killed in a March 6 workplace shooting.
• Among legislation being introduced: A measure by Council member Bill Gulliford to provide $2 parking for people attending Council meetings and other City Hall events and also to provide four-hour metered parking adjacent to City Hall; an ordinance to create a St. Johns River Ferry Commission, also introduced by Gulliford; and a resolution encouraging the mayor to direct the procurement division to issue a Request for Proposal for the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, separate from the current facilities management RFP currently under way. The resolution was introduced by Council member John Crescimbeni with co-sponsors Council members Ray Holt and Doyle Carter.
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