With less than two weeks before the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade Downtown, the City Council Rules Committee voted against a proposed ordinance that would further fund the event at $29,950.
The funds would come from a Special Council Operating Contingency Fund and be directed to the City’s Special Events Department to elevate the parade and include City sponsorship.
The parade portion of the festivities is hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Foundation Inc.
Foundation Principal Gary Thomas said Tuesday that if the funds were not granted, the parade would still proceed — one of the concerns of several Rules members — but many of the planned events surrounding the day would not take place.
That includes a MLK Holiday Kickoff Tuesday at the Hyatt Downtown, Thomas said. The parade is scheduled on the Jan. 16 holiday.
The foundation gave the Council Auditor’s Office an expense outline equaling $38,950 entitled “MLK Holiday Experience 2012” to review what the funds would cover.
Expenditures ranged from $9,300 in entertainment, $4,500 in printing and banners and $3,500 in advertising to $500 in food and beverage and $2,000 apiece in both EMT and Metro Park labor, among others.
The report also shows revenues of $3,000 from sponsors and $6,000 in parade entry fees.
Thomas said the report was similar to one that was submitted for the Veteran’s Day parade and believes there was a lack of communication with the Council Auditor’s Office regarding the issues.
Committee members voiced concern with both the source of the funds and the timing of the legislation. The committee denied the measure 1-6, with Council member Johnny Gaffney the sole vote of approval.
Council member Clay Yarborough questioned setting a funding precedent from the contingency fund for an annual event with reoccurring costs.
Assistant Council Auditor Janice Billy said several attempts at a meeting between the Council Auditor’s Office and members of the foundation were unsuccessful.
Council member Matt Schellenberg criticized parade organizers and the timing of receiving the budget just before the committee meeting.
“It’s inappropriate the way they’ve handled it,” said Schellenberg.
Council member John Crescimbeni said he was not sure why the issue was not handled until now — the item has long been deferred at the committee level — and did not have the comfort level to approve the measure without questions being answered.
Others voiced similar concerns.
“There are too many unanswered questions,” said Council member Ray Holt.
Gaffney said he wanted the item deferred until its sponsor, Council member Reggie Brown, could attend to answer questions.
Brown and foundation members did not attend the meeting. Brown did not respond to a telephone call Tuesday for comment.
Thomas said he would ensure foundation representation would be available for questions in the future.
The measure is on the agenda for today’s Finance Committee and Recreation, Community Development, Public Health & Safety Committee before potentially being taken up Tuesday in the full Council.
If not approved at the committee level, the Council could discharge it and place it on the full agenda with a two-thirds vote.
The City does partner for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast and last year waived fees for the use of Metro Park after the parade. In addition, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office funded security at the facility.
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