Former Mayor John Delaney collected all of the city’s job- and capital investment-creating agencies under the umbrella of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission starting in 1996, soon after he took office for two terms.
On Monday, he began leading the charge by Mayor-elect Lenny Curry, a fellow Republican whom he strongly supported, to recommend how the city should proceed with its economic development efforts.
“I’m guessing funding and speed will be the key things,” Delaney said after Curry’s Economic Development Transition Subcommittee completed its first hourlong meeting at the University of North Florida, where the former mayor is president.
“I’ve been gone 12 years,” he said. “There have been a lot of changes since then.”
Delaney is chairman of the subcommittee. It expects to meet seven more times and wrap up by July 9, about a week after Curry takes office July 1.
Mayor Alvin Brown, a Democrat, turned the JEDC into the Office of Economic Development within his office to deal with countywide opportunities. He also led the creation of the independent Downtown Investment Authority to focus on creating jobs and economic impact in the central business district.
The JEDC focused on both the county and Downtown, although former JEDC Chair Ceree Harden collegially reminded Delaney of his administration’s push to provide economic incentives for areas just north and west of the St. Johns River.
Curry’s transition team wants the economic development group to consider three key objectives: Create an accountability matrix for recipients of public economic development funding; “process map” relationships between city agencies and independent authorities, JAX Chamber, Visit Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Sports Council to determine redundancies and understanding; and evaluate appropriate staffing levels.
Members were vocal coming out of the gate.
Harden, chairman of the Harden & Associates insurance company, and Jeanne Miller, a former JEDC deputy executive director, talked about the scoring matrix that was developed during Harden’s term on the commission.
That matrix scored projects seeking city incentives on their economic impact. For example, a $30,000 job in struggling parts of North Jacksonville was worth more than in the more affluent Southside.
Harden also said funding sources for economic development have been a problem. “Funding is such as huge part of everything,” he said.
Abel Harding, North Florida market president for IberiaBank, asked how much is left in the city’s Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund.
Miller, now executive director of the private Jacksonville Civic Council, wants to hear from the JAXUSA Partnership of the JAX Chamber about its economic development progress.
Former City Council member Ginny Myrick, who runs the Myrick Policy Group government relations firm, said Jacksonville operates a good system but with two shortcomings.
She said economic development is underfunded and timing is critical for developers and projects — not necessarily for incentives but for staff decisions about whether they qualify.
“‘No’ is an answer. Delay is not an answer,” she said. Myrick also asked for a look at “where the pots of money are.”
Developer Michael Balanky, who is working on The Healthy Town project proposed on the Downtown Southbank, agreed with Myrick on the timing of project decisions.
“If it becomes controversial, it can be protracted indefinitely,” he said, adding that such delays are costly when staff time at City Hall and other meetings is calculated.
Steve Crosby, president of CSX Real Property Inc. and leader of an independent investment entity to stimulate Downtown development, wants the committee to understand the city’s strengths and weaknesses and how those are viewed from the outside and within.
He seeks “a better sense of how the world perceives us.”
The private, independent investment entity was formed by the chamber and the Civic Council to provide patient capital for real estate investment in the urban core.
Dawn Lockhart, president and CEO of Family Foundations, a nonprofit financial and housing counseling organization, said Downtown parking is a challenge.
Her group moved into the newly renovated Jessie Ball duPont Center in Downtown and said clients need better directions about how to find available parking. “It’s just not friendly right now,” she said.
Delaney said parking is “a big, big deal” in efforts to build Downtown.
Eric Mann, president and CEO of the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast, said he expects a significant parking issue along Riverside Avenue “if we don’t get in front of it.” The YMCA is redeveloping its 221 Riverside Ave. center, across the street from about 600 new apartment units that are opening as well as in the center of corporate and retail buildings.
Subcommittee members offered their initial observations after first hearing from the Office of General Counsel about Sunshine Law requirements and then listening to a quick overview of current economic development procedures and efforts that were led by Brown.
Office of Economic Development CEO Ted Carter and Business Development Manager Ed Randolph, as well as Sports and Entertainment Officer Dave Herrell, briefly outlined their departments, projects and responsibilities. They are expected to return at a later meeting.
Delaney said he has been impressed with Carter’s work the last four years and also by Aundra Wallace, CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority.
Delaney said he would work with Carter and Herrell on the extent of their next presentations and the group will determine its scope of work.
He also wants to invite city Building Inspection Division Chief Tom Goldsbury to talk about that department’s role in economic development.
The 18-member subcommittee is scheduled to meet at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Delaney’s office at UNF, followed by meetings at 8 a.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. Thursdays through July 9.
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