Government Advocacy Update

Realty Builder
NEFBA

Nassau

Budget shortfalls: Nassau County commissioners were informed at a recent budget workshop that if the county continues to operate with its current financial plan, it will continue deficit spending in the near term. According to Michael Burton, the county’s financial consultant, available reserves will be reduced below the established minimum by 2017-18. Burton reminded the commission that, given current assumptions, beyond fiscal year 2017-18 cash flow may appear positive but other than funding for “fleet replacement,” there will be no capacity for capital maintenance or investment.

Builders Council: Palmer Kuder [email protected] and (904) 725-4355

Duval

NEFBA’s Government Affairs Committee: The next Government Affairs meeting is 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 27, at the NEFBA Offices (103 Century 21 Drive, Suite 100).

Mayor Curry’s new staff: Newly elected Mayor Lenny Curry announced several key staff appointments: Kerri Stewart, chief of staff; former City Council member Johnny Gaffney, liaison to boards and commissions; former council member E. Denise Lee, director of blight initiatives; City Hall veteran Mike Weinstein, chief financial officer; Allison Korman Shelton, director of intergovernmental affairs; William S. “Bill” Spann, director of public affairs; Dr. Charles E. Moreland, director of community affairs; and former council member Robin Lumb, director of policy. They join NEFBA member Sam Mousa, who was named the mayor’s chief administrative officer in June.

Duval County Issues: Jessie Spradley, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355

Clay

Adult entertainment ordinance: The Clay County Commission voted 3-1 to enact a controversial ordinance governing the location of adult entertainment businesses in the county, which has banned sexually oriented businesses for 30 years. The measure will allow adult businesses to locate in unincorporated areas of Clay County, provided those establishments comply with strict county regulations. The commission began looking into alternatives to the ban in 2013, when concerns over the constitutionality of the ban were raised.

Builders Council: Jessie Spradley, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355

St. Johns

Potential sales tax increase: After hours of debate at a recent St. Johns County Board of County Commission meeting, the commissioners voted 3-2 to kill a proposed referendum to raise the county’s sales tax by 1-cent. Before the vote, the commission had considered sharing the tax increase with the school board, but commissioners opposed to the sales tax voted against splitting the income. School officials, in response to the vote, have since pursued their own referendum, voting to approve a half-cent sales tax referendum to fund the district. The school board’s proposal will go before the commission later in the summer.

LDC workshop: St. Johns County hosted a public workshop July 7 regarding amendments to the Land Development Code. The workshop covered issues including food trucks, rural industry, special events and fence heights. But the issue that dominated the discussion was a provision that would require residential developments of more than 200 units to provide a secondary access and developments with more than 1,000 units a tertiary access. After hearing input from NEFBA members, the county reworked the recommendation, allowing for several alternative solutions to a second access, including a three-lane approach at the primary access, a 20-foot wide emergency access, a multi-use path designed to support use by emergency vehicles or other alternative means of access.

Builders Council: Leona Brown, [email protected] and (904) 725-4355