Much of the media coverage after a 13-6 Council vote to move an election center from Gateway Shopping Center to One Imeson Center focused on accusations of racial disenfranchisement by U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown and some Council members.
The remarks that didn't receive as much attention are those of several Council members who had plenty to say about the unusual process that led to the decision after almost two years of wrangling, maneuvering and negotiating.
"This is the worst way possible one can invest to purchase real estate," said Council member Bill Bishop, who voted for the move to One Imeson.
Bishop echoed others who thought the decision should have been made through a Request for Proposal, the normal procurement process, and handled by Mayor Alvin Brown.
Instead, Council members became engaged in the debate back in June 2011.
That eventually meant months of loosely monitored competition between three developers that included submissions of new proposals almost right up to the Council vote.
Finally, it came down to a choice between Gateway's new owner, Terranova Corp., and One Imeson landlord, GIV Imeson LLC.
Council member Warren Jones, who favored the center staying at Gateway, called the process "convoluted" and said, "This is not the way we should be doing business in the City of Jacksonville."
Council member Robin Lumb voted for the move to One Imeson, but not before criticizing, "This whole entire process is completely improper."
In response to a question from Lumb, Terranova Chairman Stephen Bittel said he thought Council's action was outside the RFP process and might violate state purchasing laws.
Even Corrine Brown was critical of Alvin Brown, saying "he should have handled it. It's not the Council, it's the mayor's job."
She intimated a lawsuit might be in the making.
Chris Hand, Alvin Brown's chief of staff, said the process was "contaminated" when Council members became involved and legislation was filed.
Council member Reggie Brown said Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland, who wanted to move to One Imeson, "steered this process."
"I don't know if this looks like murky water to you guys, but it looks like it to me," Reggie Brown told his Council colleagues.
The real question: Why did Council have to insert itself into an issue that normally — and rightfully — is handled by the mayor's office?
Were Council members being meddlesome or were they filling a leadership vacuum?
The ball is now back in Alvin Brown's court.
He can sign the legislation, let it become law without his signature or can veto what the Council passed, which could be a big political risk.
This Council already has handed Brown three big defeats in its first two meetings of the new Council year. It killed his pension reform plan, voted for a tentative property tax increase in the new budget and moved the elections center from Gateway.
An override of his veto is predictable. It would take a 13-6 supermajority vote — the same vote that passed the legislation last week.
Eichner, Wallace start today
Today, two important positions are being filled in City government that surely will provide fodder for future columns.
City Council liaison Teresa Eichner will be the new conduit between the mayor's office and the legislative branch.
She has the knowledge and the skills to be successful in the position.
Let's hope the administration gives her the ability to do her job.
The other addition is Aundra Wallace, the first executive director of the Downtown Investment Authority.
The authority was created by the administration to focus on Downtown and has had its own startup challenges.
Let's hope Council and the administration allow Wallace and authority members, of which I am one, to rebuild confidence and make progress for our Downtown.
Welcome, Aundra and Teresa.
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