Government advocacy update

Realty Builder
NEFBA

Nassau

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, Oct. 22, at the NEFBA office, 103 Century 21 Drive, Suite 100.

Budget approved: Jacksonville City Council approved a $1.1 billion budget by a vote of 19-0. The budget includes funding to hire 40 new police officers and 40 community service officers. It also increases infrastructure spending, including $37 million to fix downtown’s collapsed Liberty Street Bridge. The budget did not increase the property tax rate, maintaining the millage rate at 11.4419 mills.

Snipe sign fine increase: Jacksonville City Council approved legislation to increase the fines leveled on snipe signs. The Neighborhood Improvement and Community Enhancement Committee (formerly Blight Committee) proposed the legislation. Under the new rules, first-time offenders can face fines of $50 for the first five illegal signs, then $150 for each sign that is part of the first offense. The fines would increase for additional offenses, with a maximum of $500 per sign at the third offense. Temporary real estate directional signs can avoid the steep fines by receiving a sign permit from the city.

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

Clay

Budget: After discussing potentially raising the millage rate in earlier budget meetings, the Clay County Commission voted unanimously to leave the property tax rate at 8.1010 mills for the coming fiscal year. The commissioners also approved a tentative budget for fiscal year 2015-16 of $286,108,523. The millage rate is scheduled for a second vote Sept. 22 before it becomes official.

Residential chicken ordinance: The Planning Commission recommended approval of a new ordinance allowing backyard chickens in residential areas. Several homeowners associations have spoken against the legislation, asking for PUDs and DRIs to be excluded from the ordinance. Proponents of the ordinance claim it needs to be passed for the entire unincorporated area of the county and that the covenants and restrictions of communities that restrict chickens would supersede the new ordinance.

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

St. Johns

Florida 9B extension: Work is set to begin on a 1.5-mile long extension of Florida 9B in St. Johns County. The section of 9B into St. Johns County will provide a quicker route to Interstate 95 or to the east side of Jacksonville. A study done through the U.S. Census Bureau showed that in 2013, 72 percent of the workers in the 32259 zip code (northwest St. Johns County) were employed outside the county.

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