Mayor Alvin Brown celebrated the start of his second year in office Sunday, following a first year that included a balanced budget, contentious Courthouse funding for furniture and the forging of a working relationship with City Council.
Brown reflected Friday on his first year in office and focused on the issues he faces now, especially pension reform.
Two weeks from today, the budget will be in the hands of City Council. How close are you to having that ready?
We’ll make sure that the budget will be ready. We are going through that process now. I want to make sure we are doubling back with all the departments and agencies and my goal is to present a balanced budget.
The department head meetings concerned the request for 10 to 15 percent department savings. What is the status?
It’s still going, we’re still meeting. One thing we want to do is to make sure we are strategic, make the right investments for the future as we continue to streamline government.
I did a town hall meeting with all the departments, met with more than 2,000 City employees and started that process Feb. 18. The goal was to get their great ideas, their best practices. We captured all those ideas and are going through them now. Some of them (have already) gone into effect.
You started out with a budget hole of $58 million, similar to last year. How close are you to arriving at balancing the budget?
We’re going to have a zero line. (The) pension costs contribution has gone up, which is why we are taking our time and doing it right. I am pretty confident we will have a budget without raising taxes.
How is your relationship with City Council?
I think we have a good relationship with Council. I want to commend former Council President Stephen Joost for his leadership and working with the administration and all the other Council members. There are some things we disagree on, that’s going to happen. I am going to spend my time working with the Council members directly. Overcommunication is the key and we’re going to do that.
How about your relationship with new Council President Bill Bishop?
I have met with President Bill Bishop and I look forward to working with him directly. I look forward to working with all the Council members. My first year, I met with them, toured their districts, met with their constituency. I value their input and we are going to work as a team.
Council just approved legislation creating your Office of Economic Development. Who do you plan to appoint to that executive director position?
We’re just starting that process. I haven’t selected anyone yet. I hope to have someone soon, the next several weeks.
The other two pieces of economic development reform legislation regarding speeding up the approval process of incentives and creating the Downtown Investment Authority have not been passed yet. Are you concerned?
No. The good news is, we have a head start on all those issues. We have come a long way, we’re working with Council.
If the anti-discrimination legislation to expand the City’s Human Rights Ordinance to include sexual orientation is approved by Council and reaches your desk, what will do?
I think it’s important that they have that debate. As you all know, I am against any type of discrimination. I believe in opportunity for all. My goal is to continue to allow them to have that debate and discussion.
Have you given any thought to whether you would let it pass or veto it?
I think the key is, remember, this has been going on for a while. It’s taken a life of its own. The key is to let them have that discussion and let democracy take place.
Where are you in overall pension reform?
I always have a pattern. Now we are doing the budget and we’re on track. Economic development, Downtown is in play. Get this budget done and passed and then next is pension. My goal is to present a pension plan by the end of the year — the calendar year.
A year from now, what will you be talking about as achievements in your second year?
I think one of the key things is making sure that pension is part of the focus of my second year. I said we are going to do it and we are on track. Downtown Investment Authority, the port, military affairs, I want to continue all that. I want to focus on neighborhoods and housing. I want to help support struggling neighborhoods — code enforcement is key — and making sure we have a good neighborhood strategy.
Was your first year what you expected?
It’s everything I expected — I was elected by a slim margin and my goal was also to reach out to the total community. I want to be there for everyone representing this city and it took a lot of work, a lot of time, a lot of focus, but it was important.
What do you believe was your biggest success?
Some of the accomplishments were balancing the budget without raising taxes or fees or tapping into City reserves. Streamlining government. Cutting 50 mayoral appointments Military affairs. The office of Public-Private Partnerships, which was huge and did not cost the taxpayers anything. The education commissioner. The FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) contract, the AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) contract and others that are in the pipeline. Getting legislation introduced for economic development.
Your biggest disappointment or challenge?
Clearly we have had some learning experiences on communication, which I think is important to note. The (Jacksonville) Children’s Commission, it’s not a disappointment, but a learning experience. The ability to make sure the whole team here is working with all the folks on communication. I think it’s important.
Happy the courthouse is in the rear view?
(laughs)Yes, happy, happy, the mayor is happy.
Do you think it will be a challenge to have all the negotiating parties come to the table to talk?
I think the goal is to bring everyone to the table to work together, the same way we did with the FOP, the same way we did with AFSCME. I think just making the case and working with all the stakeholders and say ‘now is the time to do this.’ It’s going to take time. It’s not going to happen overnight. With good communication and reaching out to key stakeholders, I think we can do it.
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