NEFBA’s Government Affairs Committee: Meets at 8:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m. at the NEFBA office, 103 Century 21 Drive, Suite 100, Jacksonville.
Interstate 295 construction to begin next year: The Florida Department of Transportation announced a $180 million road improvement project to add lanes and reconstruction on Interstate 295 from Butler Boulevard to Florida 9B. It is one of six large statewide projects recently given the green light as part of the state’s Five-Year Work Program.
Budget battles in City Hall: Mayor Alvin Brown’s proposed 2014-15 city budget has not been received with open arms by the City Council. Several council members have criticized the mayor’s $1 billion budget and its reliance on emergency reserves. Councilman Richard Clark commented on the situation: “My colleagues do not want to dip into our emergency reserves, That’s not how you pay your bills.”
Duval County issues, Jessie Spradley, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355
Proposed Mobility Plan: The Nassau County Board of County Commissioner is set to hear the Proposed Mobility Plan on Aug. 25. This is not the first time the plan has gone before the commission. In March, the commission returned the proposed plan to the Mobility Fee Task Force to address several concerns including the lack of exemption for churches. After several months, the Mobility Fee Task Force approved an amended Mobility Plan. Changes included mobility fee exemptions for private schools, 100 percent discounts for childcare facilities and fee exemptions for new churches with fewer than 1,275 seats. The Mobility Plan will replace the county’s current transportation concurrency system.
Builders Council, Palmer Kuder, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355
Clay County Commission delays superintendent vote: The Clay County Board of Commissioners voted to place a referendum on whether the county’s school superintendent should be appointed or elected on the general presidential ballot of November 2016 instead of the upcoming general ballot in November. The vote went against the request of the school board, which had voted 3-2 at its July 17 meeting to place a referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot for voters to decide whether the school superintendent should be elected, as is currently the case, or appointed.
Builders Council, Jessie Spradley, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355
Comprehensive Plan Amendment: St. Johns County officials are expected to resume workshops in October about a proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Land Development Code Amendment. The amendments, which included changes to the Vilano Town Center and the Northwest Scenic Edges, were introduced in June but delayed due to heavy public comment. No meetings have been scheduled.
Builders Council, Leona Brown, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355
Jessie Spradley, [email protected], and (904) 725-4355