Call: 1 - City of Jacksonville Beach

Transcription

Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Lance Folsom <[email protected]>
Sunday, July 17, 2016 4:36 PM
Charlie Latham
Wave Maker Award
Hi Charlie, Jon is an excellent choice for your Wavemaker award! He has certainly spearheaded a fruitful effort to attract family‐
type visitors to our downtown, which has effectively helped achieve one of the key goals of our Downtown Vision Plan. Regards, Lance Janet and Lance Folsom Sent from my iPhone Report this message as spam. http://smtp.jaxbchfl.net/quarantine/notifications/reportspam/message/5575066/check/4a75a6877311acb080ae4a7b3
6b58f6c 1
Sheri Gosselin
From:
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To:
Subject:
Better Jacksonville Beach <[email protected]>
Sunday, July 17, 2016 1:58 PM
Charlie Latham
Jon McGowan to receive Jax Beach Wave Maker Award
Better Jax Beach Founder to get
Wave Maker Award
Jon McGowan, Founder and President of
Better Jacksonville Beach, has been
chosen by Mayor Charlie Latham to
receive the Jacksonville Beach Wave
Maker award. This award is given to people who have made a positive impact
on the Jacksonville Beach Community. Jon will be presented this award in
recognition of his work with Better Jacksonville Beach, which he founded in
2013; the Jax Beach Art Walk, which he founded and has organized since
August 2013; and the Jax Beach Classic Car Cruise, which he founded and has
organized since August 2014. This is only the third time this award has been
presented since Mayor Latham began the program in 2014.
The presentation of the award will take place during the City Council Meeting
on Monday, July 18th at 7:00 PM in the City Council chambers in the
Jacksonville Beach City Hall.
Better Jacksonville Beach, 75 1st St N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
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Sheri Gosselin
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Florida League of Cities <[email protected]>
Friday, July 15, 2016 3:06 PM
Charlie Latham
FLC Clips - July 15, 2016
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July 15, 2016 FLC CLIPS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS
Cutler Bay manager named president of city, county management group Miami Herald Cutler Bay Town Manager Ralph Casals on June 24 was appointed the 2016‐17 president of the Miami‐Dade City and County Management Association (MDCCMA). Casals has more than 30 years of municipal experience. He was also president from 2004‐05. The MDCCMA has 75 full‐members who meet monthly to share best practices and interact with informative and educational guest speakers. He has served as Cutler Bay town manager since June 2012, but was part of the core group of department heads after the town incorporated in 2005. Casals' public service career began at age 17 with Florida City, when he was part of the Homestead Senior High School work experience program. He has also served as city manager for North Bay Village and assistant town manager of Miami Lakes. His MDCCMA leadership team includes vice president and South Miami Deputy City Manager Shari Kamali, treasurer and Doral City Manager Edward Rojas, and secretary and Miami Lakes Assistant Town Manager Andrea Agha. Source STATE NEWS
State opens loan program for algae impacts News Service of Florida THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, July 14, 2016.......... Businesses impacted by toxic algae blooms linked to water releases from Lake Okeechobee have until the end of August to apply for short‐term loans to help get through the problems plaguing parts of Southeast and Southwest Florida. The state made its bridge‐loan program available Thursday, as 59 businesses ‐‐‐ mostly in Martin, St. Lucie and Lee counties ‐‐‐ have so far reported some form of financial impacts from the toxic blooms. Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Cissy Proctor said the impacts include such things as a decrease in tourists to the counties, fewer people going to 3
restaurants and fewer people using recreational facilities on or near the water. "We've seen the reports of these blooms not only on our local news, but on the national news," Proctor said. "And we're also seeing that even if (people) are going down to visit, they're not going out on their boats. They're not going out to see the manatees. They're not going out to do the things that you normally do, especially in these areas on the water that are recreationally or are part of these folks' livelihood." The loans are available only to businesses in four counties in which Gov. Rick Scott has declared an emergency: Martin, St. Lucie, Lee and Palm Beach. "The purpose of the bridge loan is to provide small businesses very fast working capital, to make sure they are able to stay open and stay on their feet and recover from any sort of disaster," Proctor said. The announcement followed the opening of a U.S. Small Business Administration recovery center Wednesday at the Martin County Fairgrounds. The federal center is intended to help businesses affected by the algae and nutrient‐loaded water releases from the lake, along with recent flooding and excessive rain, in Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Martin, Miami‐Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, St. Lucie and Sarasota counties. Source ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES NEWS
Cape mayor on water woes: 'Locally, we don't have a say' ABC News 7 As water problems caused by Lake Okeechobee releases continue to plague Southwest Florida, the questions for leaders continue, too. And two local mayors ‐ Cape Coral's Marni Retzer and Sanibel's Kevin Ruane ‐ say everyone needs to keep pushing the message to those who can make an impact. "Locally, we don't have a say. And that's just it. We don't vote on it. What we are needing to do, we are putting our money toward that," Retzer said. She claims it was a matter of time before the Gulf coast began getting a taste of the algae problems initially found on Florida's Atlantic side. But she insists that the real fix is far beyond the city level of government. Local fertilizer ordinances, lawn‐watering regulations and education can make sure, she said, that locals are "shoring that up and not adding to the problem." Ruane said local governments are indeed putting pressure on the higher levels of government, urging that more water be held in Lake Okeechobee and scheduling multiple meetings with state representatives next month to keep the issue front and center. In the meantime, the good news is that afternoon rains this week have washed away some of the green film that had been sitting on the water in Cape Coral for the last several days. The Department of Environmental Protection will test the water by the weekend, and Retzer said Cape drinking water is not impacted because it runs through osmosis filtration ‐ and the city has not been alerted to any issues by the Department of Health. Source South Miami mayor: 'Sugar barons have bought' Florida government Miami Herald Gross green slime filled a jar on the dais Tuesday at South Miami City Hall. The slime was actually the same toxic, blue‐green algae that has closed beaches along Florida's Treasure Coast, caused by polluting nutrient runoff from Lake Okeechobee discharged into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers. South Miami's City Commission unanimously passed a resolution in support of U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's calling for the use of eminent domain to obtain the necessary land for Everglades restoration. "It's basic corruption, folks," Mayor Philip Stoddard said. "This is as basic as it gets, where the sugar barons have bought themselves a government." Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency last month in response to the issue, while Nelson said he supported eminent 4
domain to buy sugar farmers' land in order to send excess Lake Okeechobee waters south for treatment before sending it south into the Everglades. South Miami's resolution, sponsored by Vice Mayor Bob Welsh, originally singled out Florida Crystals Corp., which "repeatedly spurned offers by the state and federal government to purchase their land to create the marshes necessary for removal of polluting nutrients so that the water could be sent south into the Everglades." Welsh's resolution originally stated that "Florida Crystals Corporation's refusal to sell has forced the Army Corps of Engineers to send nutrient‐laden water into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers." At Stoddard's suggestion, the commission amended the resolution to not single out Florida Crystals, but to support Nelson's proposal to "use eminent domain procedures in a takings of agricultural lands and sugar cane production in the Everglades agricultural area." "The governor says he's not a scientist, but at least he declared a state of emergency," Welsh said. A copy of the resolution was sent to Scott and all members of his cabinet, members of Florida Legislature, all congressmen and senators representing Florida and every elected official represented whose governing body is a member of the Florida League of Cities. Source Gov. Rick Scott has no plans to visit Stuart to see algae TCPalm VIERA ‐ Gov. Rick Scott apparently has no plans to visit Stuart to see the algae and address his angry constituents in person. When asked about it Thursday, Scott said he is "continuing to travel around the state" to work on the issue. He then took other questions at the brief news conference for the ceremonial signing of a political corruption bill. Lake Okeechobee discharges since May have been pumping a toxic algae bloom from the lake into local waterways, including the St. Lucie River, the Indian River Lagoon and for the first time, Atlantic Ocean beaches. Scott said he will work on legislation next year to reduce local stormwater runoff, but he gave no more details. Scott reiterated that he declared a state emergency and asked the president to declare a federal emergency, to which the White House has not responded. The Sierra Club criticized Scott on Thursday in a news release that blames him for not moving lake water south and demands he stop lake discharges. The lake level and discharges are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "The state's tourism brand is tainted. Fish and manatees are dying. Beaches are closed," the statement says. "As the algae spreads, home values are plummeting. It's a taking, depriving residents of the value of their property. It's hard to find someone who wants to buy a home surrounded by foul‐smelling, green algae." Scott blamed the federal government with his oft‐
repeated refrains. The state has spent almost $700 million to move lake water south and create more storage areas, he said, so now it's the federal government's turn to spend $850 million to repair and maintain the dike around the lake. "(The feds) are not living up to their side of the bargain, with regards to funding projects, like we are," Scott said. "The feds have not been a good partner." Source In wake of algae crisis, Army Corps cuts Lake O discharges Palm Beach Post The consequences of man's reroute of Florida's natural plumbing system culminated ‐ again ‐ Thursday at the steps of the South Florida Water Management District following an outbreak of blue‐green algae in Treasure Coast waterways. Dozens of environmental activists and Glades‐area residents packed the district's West Palm Beach board room to plead their cases on where to put the abundance of water bloating Lake Okeechobee. The discussion came as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it would reduce the damaging freshwater releases from the lake into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. The 44 percent reduction in water flowing to the St. Lucie still means a release of an average of 420 million gallons per day. The Caloosahatchee, which goes west into the Gulf, will be reduced to 1.8 billion gallons per day from 1.9 billion. Emergency measures, such as pausing discharges to allow salinity levels in the estuary to increase with natural tidal fluxes, have reduced the blue‐green algae that inundated the St. Lucie Estuary last month, 5
district staff members said. It's hoped that the reduction in Lake Okeechobee flows will further disrupt algae growth. The corps would prefer lower levels during rainy season. When too much water is in Lake Okeechobee, it can weaken the aging portions of the Herbert Hoover Dike, which protects Glades' communities from flooding. About 100 people attended the water management district's meeting, including about a dozen Glades‐area residents wearing bright yellow shirts that said #OurLivesMatterToo. They fear building a reservoir to store water south of the lake could have damaging effects on their struggling lakeside communities, which rely on agricultural jobs. Source South Florida water managers unveil quick fix for Florida Bay Miami Herald As they struggle to gain control of massive algae outbreak that has fouled the Treasure Coast with a green, chunky toxic slime, South Florida water managers on Thursday unveiled a quick fix that they hope will address another simmering crisis: ailing Florida Bay, where miles of dead seagrass could trigger a different algae bloom. The measures, which will use existing canals, pumps and other features, could double the flow of freshwater that feeds the sickest part of the bay. But some Keys leaders fear the changes, expected to cost between $1.8 million and $3.3 million, fall far short of the solutions the bay needs to weather future droughts. "It's a short‐term operational fix," Monroe County Mayor Heather Carruthers said. "Until we have permitted distribution sites to get water into the bay, we're only going to be doing tweaks." On Thursday, district staff reported that conditions in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie River had begun to ease somewhat as releases from Lake Okeechobee have been cut back. The district began holding water north of the lake in the Kissimmee River basin and also diverted some water south into Palm Beach County. The governing board also approved steps to speed up work needed to store more water on public and private lands. To the south in Florida Bay, district officials said increasing water into Taylor Slough in Everglades National Park could help revive the central bay. The changes in how water flows from water conservation areas to the north should also ease flooding of farmlands to the east. To help move water and balance those interests, the plan the district unveiled Thursday both plugs gaps where water seeped east into fields and uses detention basins and canals to move more water into the headwaters of Taylor Slough. Altogether the district expects to increase the amount of water by about 6.5 billion gallons a year, or just under 10,000 Olympic swimming pools a year. Critics say that's a relative drop in the bucket. The bigger problem, which the drought highlighted, is that when the steady sheetflow of water that historically moved from Lake Okeechobee is cut off, the bay quickly withers. John Mitnik, the district operations, engineering and construction chief, said the bay receives about 45 percent of its freshwater from rainfall. Over the wet winter, the district increased water flowing into Shark River Slough. District staff plan to present the plan to the Monroe County commissioners at their July 20 meeting, when the board will consider a resolution urging the district and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to speed up work to help the bay. Source Fanning Springs one of the parks getting state funding WCJB ABC 20 FANNING SPRINGS, Fla. ‐‐ Some springs in our area will be under restoration in the coming year. 12 projects have been approved in 6 North Florida counties to receive over $50 million total, the highest amount ever provided by the state. The Suwannee River Water Management District will be switching from a septic to sewer waste system. Trip Lancaster, Mayor of Fanning Springs, said, "Fanning Springs is our biggest draw in this area, along with the Suwannee River. We're fortunate to have both of them right here in our town. We deal with a little bit over 2 million visitors a year." Fanning Springs is one of the parks getting a grant for restoration. $3.4 million was awarded from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to replace 198 septic tanks with a new waste water treatment system. "The springs are getting recurring funding, over the next 20 years. That's incredible. It's historic," said Steve Minnis, the Governmental Affairs and Communications Director 6
at Suwannee River Water Management District. The mayor of Fanning Springs partnered with the Suwannee River Water Management District to receive one of the 12 project grants in North Florida. "My family's been coming here for over 200 years and I would really like it if they could keep coming here for another 200 years," said Mayor Trip Lancaster. The goal is to keep the springs clean so that people like the mayor can keep coming back. Not only will it help balance the ecosystem, but it will hopefully keep tourists around. "It's our responsibility to ensure that the water quality and the flow of the springs are maintained and protected and sustained for future generations," said Minnis. Source FINANCE, TAXATION & PERSONNEL NEWS
Florida TaxWatch provides comprehensive guide to local government taxing and spending Florida Trend TALLAHASSEE, Fla. ‐ Florida taxpayers provide billions of dollars for the state's 67 counties and hundreds of other municipal governments and taxing districts to spend. It is often difficult, however, for taxpayers to find comprehensive information on their local government's revenues and expenditures that also provides comparisons with other jurisdictions and their ranking within Florida. The research contained within How Florida Counties Compare provides greater clarity in local public finance. More than half of all Florida government revenue is raised at the local level rather than by the state. That is one of the highest levels in the nation. And while in the next few months Florida's property owners will receive a "TRIM notice" explaining how much they are paying in property taxes and how that money is being spent, it is difficult to assess all of the other taxes paid by hard‐working Floridians. The pocket guide looks at local governments within the state, particularly their tax rates, tax revenue, county expenditures and more. There are more than 50 tables, charts, and graphs providing taxpayers, policymakers and elected officials thorough and comprehensive information on numerous financial, monetary and economic figures of every county in Florida. "This report gives Florida taxpayers more information about how their local governments stack up against other counties. However, it does not attempt to compare or evaluate levels of service, "said Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro. "We want residents to use this report to make an informed assessment on their government's budget." Source City Commission Approves Proposed Millage Rate for FY 2017 American Towns The Delray Beach City Commission approved a proposed millage (property tax) rate and debt service millage rate for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 at the July 12, 2016 Regular Meeting: The proposed operating millage rate (property tax) for FY 2017 is 6.9611 per $1,000 of assessed value. The proposed debt service millage rate for FY 2017 is 0.2496 per $1,000 of assessed value, which supports various voter approved general obligation (GO) bond projects (infrastructure, recreational, parking and building improvements). The proposed FY 2017 total millage rate (operating and debt service) is 7.2107. This is less than the total millage rate for FY 2016 (7.3367) and is the fourth consecutive year's reduction in total millage. In addition, the proposed FY 2017 millage rate for the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) district of 1 mill was approved, which is the same rate as FY 2016. The approved proposed millage rate was set in accordance with the State of Florida's Truth In Millage (TRIM) guidelines and is the maximum property tax rate that the City would be able to levy in FY 2017. Although this tentative tax rate has been set, the 7
Commission may still change the property tax rate prior to final budget adoption. Source RPB Keeps Tax Rate Steady In Budget With Added Staff Town‐Crier Online The Royal Palm Beach Village Council met last week for a workshop on its 2016‐17 budget, which has the property tax rate remaining the same at 1.92 mills, but with increased staff and salaries, thanks to improving property values and the use of money from reserves. "We're adding more people," Village Manager Ray Liggins said at the July 7 workshop. "We haven't added more people in quite a while. This proposed budget adds two public works employees to maintain irrigation and private pump stations within the public rights of way and public properties. Currently, public works is doing that. With the amount of parks and rec that we've added, specifically Commons Park, they just haven't had the time to give the rights of way the attention that they need." The budget also adds one full‐time equivalent employee in parks and recreation, and another in information services. Liggins noted that all the departments are increasingly dependent on information services to do their jobs. Liggins' budget message noted that policy has been changed so that transfers in and out of the general fund will no longer be used as sources of revenue or expenditures. The fund will be required to sustain itself and will use reserves as necessary. A rate stabilization fund of $5.5 million will become part of the total reserves and will be maintained in the capital improvement fund. The budget incorporates several policies outlined in the new strategic plan for the 2016‐17 fiscal year. Finance Director Stan Hochman said that the total proposed budget for 2017 is $38,160,175. The general operating budget comprises 60 percent of that, capital projects 35 percent, reserves 3 percent and the stormwater utility 2 percent. Hochman added that property values are up again, projected at 9.8 percent, from $2.282 billion last year to $2.507 billion now, which went a long way in allowing the addition of four full‐time employee positions and the incorporation of strategic plan initiatives. General operating revenues decreased by 5.65 percent and expenditures increased by 5.53 percent due to personnel services increases. With the 1.92 millage rate, the village tax on a home valued at $190,000 before a homestead exemption would be $269. The general fund revenue is expected to be $22,977,957, with about 20 percent of that from property taxes, 26 percent from other taxes and fees, 15 percent from licenses and permits, 18 percent from intergovernmental revenues, 2 percent from charges for services, 1 percent from fines and forfeitures, 5 percent from miscellaneous revenues and 13 percent from the current year fund balance. Source GROWTH MANAGEMENT & ECONOMIC AFFAIRS NEWS
Wellington Gets To Work On Revised Land Use Code Town‐Crier Online Wellington is planning to scrap its entire land development code and adopt a completely revised version. On Wednesday, Wellington's Planning, Zoning & Adjustment Board was given an assignment to help village staff with the task. Planning & Zoning Manager David Flinchum explained that when Wellington incorporated, it adopted Palm Beach County's set of land development codes, some of which did not apply or were inappropriate for the new municipality. Many of the uses and regulations are now obsolete. As background, Flinchum said that he and Growth Management Director Robert Basehart have worked together in various capacities, starting in 1980 when Basehart hired him at his first job with the county's planning division. "He and I worked together for many years, and then we both went to the private sector, then I went back to the county, and then he and I ended up here in Wellington," Flinchum said. "We'll probably finish up our careers out here." That provides them both with a unique perspective. "The reason 8
that that's both important and ironic is that both Bob and I are familiar with the original Wellington code, the evolvement from the Palm Beach County code that became the template of the Wellington code, the various text amendments over the years, and some of the tailoring that was done here in Wellington," Flinchum said. He noted that the village is now 95 percent built out and that large portions of the code are now antiquated, with land uses that will never be used. "We have use types that will never be out here," he said. "We're at the point now where we need to face the fact that most of the codes are for vacant new proposals. We're getting ready to go into a knock‐down, rebuild, redevelopment mode pretty quickly, and we want to have regulations in effect that encourage those type of investments here in Wellington." Flinchum said that he has been tasked with revising the code, and he plans a dramatic overhaul. "What we're trying to do is simplify the code as much as possible," Flinchum said, explaining that Wellington uses three different types of matrixes, one for straight zoning, one for planned developments and a third for the equestrian area. "We're trying to combine both the straight zoning and the planned development zoning," Flinchum said. "When you come back over the next couple of months, you will be addressing those issues." Source Voters to decide on raising building heights and density in Treasure Island Tampa Bay Times TREASURE ISLAND ‐ Despite protests by some residents, the City Commission has decided to give voters the chance to decide whether there can be increases in height and density for some Gulf Boulevard development. The commission voted last week to put proposed changes to its land use regulations and comprehensive plan to a vote in November. In 2002, Treasure Island voters made it clear that all future increases in building height and density must be approved in a referendum vote. The changes, if approved, would establish a planned development zoning district on the east and west side of Gulf Boulevard north of 127th Avenue and on the west side of Gulf Boulevard between 104th and 119th Avenues. New structures in the district could take advantage of higher density and height in order to encourage redevelopment, city officials said. If approved by voters, density could increase from 50 to 75 units per acre in resort facilities high zoning and up to 60 units per acre in commercial general zones from the current 22 units. The changes would also mean a possible increase in height from five stories to seven. State and local agencies reviewed the proposed changes and found the suggested increases in density would not present significant problems related to water and air pollution, evacuation, sanitation, sewer and traffic. "It's the voters decision," said Mayor Robert Minning, who plans to vote for the issue in November. "We are doing it because we are a 50‐plus‐year‐old city in need of upgrades. With the (Federal Emergency Management Agency) restrictions we have now, if the hotels or condos needed to rebuild, they could not be built to current densities." Source TRANSPORTATION & INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS NEWS
State leaders, experts to discuss future of mobility at Better Transportation Summit SaintPetersBlog With the fatal crash of Tesla car on autopilot near Williston in May, Floridians already know the future of transportation is impacting the state's highways. Exploration of that future will be one of the themes when the 2016 Floridians for Better Transportation Summit meets Tuesday and Wednesday at the Loews Don CeSar Hotel on St. Pete Beach. "Transportation is transformative. It has the power to fuel the economy, stimulate job creation and change the way we live," said Floridians for Better Transportation President Matthew D. Ubben. "If Florida can get transportation right, the rest will follow." The keynote speaker will be Lawrence Burns, a former 9
University of Michigan engineering professor who has also served as a vice president for research and development at General Motors. Burns, the author of "Reinventing the Automobile: Personal Urban Mobility for the 21st century," has long been a champion of the "reinvention of the automobile," including driverless cars, vehicle electrification, fuel cells, advanced batteries and other innovative vehicle concepts. Other summit speakers include Sen. Jack Latvala, the incoming state Senate budget chair, and state Rep. Lake Ray, who will talk about local and statewide transportation issues. Florida Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Brian Blanchard will discuss developments in Tampa Bay's transportation system. Janet Zink, assistant vice president at Tampa International Airport and Jim Kuzma, chief operating officer at Space Florida, will provide updates on aviation and aerospace developments. Port Tampa Bay Vice President Ram Kancharla will discuss the impact of the newly expanded Panama Canal. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, by video, will give an update on transportation developments in Washington, D.C., impacting Florida. Other confirmed speakers include: FDOT District Secretary Paul Steinman, All Aboard Florida Vice President Rusty Roberts, Kenworth of Jacksonville President Denny Ross, BB&T Capital Markets Managing Director Kevin Sterling and Jim Tymon, chief operating officer for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Source URBAN ADMINISTRATION NEWS
State attorney's sober home task force focuses on four areas Palm Beach Post WEST PALM BEACH ‐ Armed with $275,000 and a legislative mandate, State Attorney Dave Aronberg on Thursday welcomed his task force charged with finding ways to clean up the sober home industry The task force of prosecutors, lawyers, doctors and industry operators met Tuesday and Thursday, with an eye on four key areas: regulation, clarifying existing law and reconsidering sober home policies and marketing approaches. Its final report is due at year's end. Nearly all participants agree that Florida's Department of Children and Families, which oversees drug treatment centers, doesn't have the resources to do it adequately. Instead, the state's Agency for Health Care Administration, which licenses health care facilities, is widely considered the most appropriate department for the job. The task force will look at whether a change can be made. Sober homes, however, can't be regulated because of federal housing and disability laws. But the idea is to get them voluntarily certified by an accrediting agency ‐ in this case, the Florida Association of Recovery Residences, which has strict guidelines and requirements for its members. But FARR doesn't have enough money to certify the state's thousands of sober homes. So one of the task force members proposed having the members pay for certification themselves. Chief Assistant State Attorney Al Johnson, who is leading the task force that has been subdivided into three working groups, said that could be a good idea. Making clear what's legal and what's not is going to grab much of the task force's attention. Lawyers for sober homes said their clients spend a lot of money on lawyers simply to figure out how to operate within the law. That's because the laws are confusing, said Mark Fontaine, executive director of the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association. "The providers want clarity. They want to know what's OK and what's not OK," he said. Current patient brokering laws don't allow medical providers to bribe patients to go to their business or pay for headhunters to lure patients. But patient brokering is considered rampant in the recovery industry, with recovering addicts often enticed to stay at sober homes with free gifts or free rent. But it's not really free. In some cases, the addict has to go to a particular outpatient therapy during the day, which charges the person's insurance large amounts for drug‐screening tests Johnson proposed a radical idea: make it legal for treatment centers to pay for an addicts' rent at a certified sober home. That would accomplish two things: good sober homes would 10
automatically have a leg up on the bad actors, because they would be certified, and bad actors would be encouraged to clean up their act and get certified. Fontaine wanted to know if anything could be done about treatment centers or sober homes that falsely advertise their services or facilities. And there's another area of marketing that is a source of concern. Many sober home and treatment center operators will pay people, known as "marketers," to bring in patients, which is illegal. But the industry wants that cleared up, too. Attorney Jeffrey Lynne said licensed interventionists are worried about how they can be paid for their work without violating patient‐
brokering laws. The task force will meet twice a month, with the schedule showing meetings through June 2017. The meetings, except for a law enforcement subgroup, are open to the public and held at the West Palm Beach police station on Clematis Street. Source Short‐term rentals becoming a concern for some in Sebastian TCPalm SEBASTIAN ‐ Problems created by short‐term rental housing ‐ parking, noise and other issues ‐ have been drawing the attention of Indian River County and Vero Beach. Now Sebastian officials are becoming concerned. City Council members, however, remain unsure whether they want to enact rules for short‐term vacation rentals similar to those passed recently by the county. Instead, they likely will tweak existing laws for home‐based businesses and noise. "For a long time, I didn't see the need to address this," Councilwoman Andrea Coy said at Wednesday's meeting. "But we've been hearing from locals that this is becoming more and more of a problem." Nancy Munoz is one of them. She said she lives near a home that is used exclusively as a vacation rental, and she wants some framework in place to insure safety and security of the neighborhood. "People are buying these houses to run as hotels," Munoz told the council. "I want them to be regulated. They should have to have a business license and be inspected. Right now, there is no way for me to know who I have living next door to me." While Mayor Bob McPartlan said he understood Munoz's concerns, he felt more people are renting out a room to personally help make ends meet rather than to make a profit. Regulations shouldn't prohibit that from continuing, he said. "It's a brand new economy that has popped up with Airbnb," McPartlan said, referring to the worldwide online marketplace for listing and renting everything from single rooms to entire homes. "There are always going to be people who go to the extreme, but it is still their property and it's their right to rent it out short‐term." Coy said renting out a room long‐term to help pay the bills is different from using a home exclusively as a short‐term vacation rental. "I don't want to hurt the people who are renting out a room or someone who is renting out their home for a month," Coy said. "It's the people who rent for two and three days and create a nuisance. If there's no problem and nobody complains, we're silent. No harm, no foul." At the same time, though, Councilman Jim Hill said he thought it was a bad idea to impede everyone's rights because of some bad apples who rent homes and create a nuisance. "If they're not following the rules of our community, code enforcement should get involved," Hill said. "I just want to be careful that we don't over‐regulate and place undue restrictions on people." City Attorney Robert Ginsburg agreed to review existing laws regulation operation of businesses from homes, noise and other codes. It would be better to tweak those laws rather than enact new ones strictly for short‐term rentals, he said. Source Homestead Council Accepts Two Charter Review Amendments South Dade Newsleader A five‐member Homestead City Council accepted the final report of its Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee at the COW meeting on Tuesday July 12. Committee chairman Councilman Stephen Shelley presented the four issues the Committee was asked to review. He praised committee members' "good participation and lively debate". Homestead's City Charter mandates a review every five years, which falls in December of 2017. The Mayor urged interim appointment of an ad hoc Charter Review Committee which Council accepted in April by a vote of four to two, the issue being two nonresident members. Charter Review held its first meeting on April 25. After seven 11
meetings, the Committee unanimously recommended that the Mayor's term remain two years. It also rejected going to single member residential districts by a vote of six to one. The Committee unanimously approved having the Vice Mayor fill a mayoral vacancy and then return to their Council seat at the end of the term, or resign to run for Mayor in the next election. By a vote of five to zero, Council approved the two recommended Charter Review amendments with the added procedure on vacancies. Source Florida League of Cities To sign up for FLC Clips, email [email protected] Florida League of Cities, 301 S. Bronough street, Suite 300, Tallahassee, FL 32301
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Sheri Gosselin
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To:
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Williams, Henrietta <[email protected]>
Arlington, Daniel; Henry, Kristin; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; Charlie
Latham; Heather Ireland; Planning Division; '[email protected]';
'[email protected]'; Reeves, Mitch; Lindemer, Christina; Vieira, Mark; Lucas,
Danon J; Mack, Chris; Taylor, Michael; Nichols, Kevin; Drei-Horgan, Elena; Carroll, Paul;
'[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]';
[email protected]
Jacobovitz, Donald; Williams, Scott; Hague, William; Mitchell, Janice; Clinch, Adam;
Leslie Jones; [email protected]
RE: Duval County and Municipalities Outreach Coordination Call
Thanks so much, Daniel: This is good information to know. We will take it up as a team and discuss options Monday morning. Have a great weekend. From: Arlington, Daniel [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, July 15, 2016 2:44 PM To: Henry, Kristin <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; 'hpruette@neptune‐beach.com' <hpruette@neptune‐beach.com>; 'dford@neptune‐beach.com' <dford@neptune‐beach.com>; Reeves, Mitch <[email protected]>; Lindemer, Christina <[email protected]>; Vieira, Mark <[email protected]>; Williams, Henrietta <[email protected]>; Lucas, Danon J <[email protected]>; Mack, Chris <[email protected]>; Taylor, Michael <[email protected]>; Nichols, Kevin <[email protected]>; Drei‐Horgan, Elena <Elena.Drei‐[email protected]>; Carroll, Paul <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; [email protected] Cc: Jacobovitz, Donald <[email protected]>; Williams, Scott <[email protected]>; Hague, William <[email protected]>; Mitchell, Janice <[email protected]>; Clinch, Adam <[email protected]>; Leslie Jones <[email protected]>; [email protected] Subject: RE: Duval County and Municipalities Outreach Coordination Call All, During the web‐ex, yesterday, we discussed outreach to ensure a good turn‐out and arranging for the venues on August 29 and 30. I want to point out that August 30 is election day in Duval County, with some pretty big issues on the ballot. 1 – Our choice of venues will be limited. 2 – A lot people will be preoccupied or busy on the 30th, and our out‐reach may be overshadowed. Are those dates locked in stone? If so, we will start looking. I think that those of us at the beach should meet to plan our part of the event. Dan Arlington 247‐5813 13
From: Henry, Kristin [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, July 15, 2016 1:45 PM To: '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; 'hpruette@neptune‐beach.com' <hpruette@neptune‐beach.com>; 'dford@neptune‐beach.com' <dford@neptune‐beach.com>; Reeves, Mitch <[email protected]>; Arlington, Daniel <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; Mack, Chris <[email protected]>; Taylor, Michael <[email protected]>; Nichols, Kevin <[email protected]>; Drei‐Horgan, Elena <Elena.Drei‐[email protected]>; Carroll, Paul <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; [email protected] Cc: Jacobovitz, Donald <[email protected]>; Williams, Scott <[email protected]>; Hague, William <[email protected]>; 'Mitchell, Janice' <[email protected]>; Clinch, Adam <[email protected]>; Leslie Jones <[email protected]>; [email protected] Subject: RE: Duval County and Municipalities Outreach Coordination Call Duval County stakeholders, Please find the attached FEMA publication to help you better understand and explain the mapping process to your citizens. Best, Kris Henry Word Processor T-404.965.7084 x1517084 [email protected] This e-mail and any attachments contain AECOM confidential information that may be proprietary or privileged. If you receive this message in error or
are not the intended recipient, you should not retain, distribute, disclose or use any of this information and you should destroy the e-mail and any
attachments or copies. _____________________________________________
From: Henry, Kristin
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2016 12:28 PM
To: '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]';
'[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]';
'[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; Mack, Chris; Taylor, Michael; Nichols, Kevin; DreiHorgan, Elena; Carroll, Paul; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]';
[email protected]
Cc: 'Jacobovitz, Donald'; 'Williams, Scott'; Hague, William; 'Mitchell, Janice'; Clinch, Adam; 'Leslie Jones';
'[email protected]'
Subject: RE: Duval County and Municipalities Outreach Coordination Call Duval County Stakeholders, 14
<< File: 2016‐07‐14_Duval County CCO Call_Presentation_V01.pptx >> << File: 2016‐07‐14_Duval County CCO Call_Agenda_V01.docx >> We look forward to our meeting tomorrow. Please find the agenda and presentation attached. Call: 1 (866) 203‐6896 Enter PIN #: 832‐698‐7074 WEBEX Link: Join WebEx meeting Best, Kris Henry Word Processor T-404.965.7084 x1517084 [email protected] This e-mail and any attachments contain AECOM confidential information that may be proprietary or privileged. If you receive this message in error or
attachments or copies. -----Original Appointment----From: Henry, Kristin
To: Henry, Kristin; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]';
[email protected]
Cc: 'Jacobovitz, Donald'; 'Williams, Scott'; Hague, William; Mitchell, Janice; Clinch, Adam; Leslie Jones
Subject: Duval County and Municipalities Outreach Coordination Call
When: Thursday, July 14, 2016 10:00 AM-11:00 AM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
Where: Call-in number: 1-(866) 203-6896; Conference Code: 832 698 7074 Good afternoon: FEMA Region IV engineering, outreach and floodplain management and Insurance staff would like to invite you to an Outreach Coordination Call on July 14th at 10:00AM. During this brief call we will discuss planning for the public outreach meetings tentatively scheduled for the week of August 28‐September 1, changes reflected on the preliminary flood risk maps and how we can work together to prepare your community’s residents and property owners for those changes. If you cannot attend please assign someone in our office to attend on your behalf and forward the invite to that individual. Henrietta Williams from FEMA RIV’s office will be contacting you this week to confirm your attendance and answer any questions you may have about the coordination call. An agenda and power point slides will be sent prior to the meeting. We look forward to speaking with you on the call. Meeting number: 598 369 895 1-(866) 203-6896 (US) Call-in toll-free number 1-(866) 203-6896 (US) Call-in number 15
Conference Code: 832 698 7074 WebEx Link: https://aecom.webex.com/aecom/j.php?MTID=m182923d4265bdc793b4994d6007e34e9 Report this message as spam
16
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Arlington, Daniel <[email protected]>
Henry, Kristin; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; Charlie Latham; Heather
Ireland; Planning Division; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; Reeves, Mitch; '[email protected]';
'[email protected]'; '[email protected]';
'[email protected]'; Mack, Chris; Taylor, Michael; Nichols, Kevin; Drei-Horgan,
Elena; Carroll, Paul; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]';
'[email protected]'; [email protected]
Jacobovitz, Donald; Williams, Scott; Hague, William; 'Mitchell, Janice'; Clinch, Adam;
All, During the web‐ex, yesterday, we discussed outreach to ensure a good turn‐out and arranging for the venues on August 29 and 30. I want to point out that August 30 is election day in Duval County, with some pretty big issues on the ballot. 1 – Our choice of venues will be limited. 2 – A lot people will be preoccupied or busy on the 30th, and our out‐reach may be overshadowed. Are those dates locked in stone? If so, we will start looking. I think that those of us at the beach should meet to plan our part of the event. Dan Arlington 247‐5813 From: Henry, Kristin [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, July 15, 2016 1:45 PM To: '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; 'hpruette@neptune‐beach.com' <hpruette@neptune‐beach.com>; 'dford@neptune‐beach.com' <dford@neptune‐beach.com>; Reeves, Mitch <[email protected]>; Arlington, Daniel <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; Mack, Chris <[email protected]>; Taylor, Michael <[email protected]>; Nichols, Kevin <[email protected]>; Drei‐Horgan, Elena <Elena.Drei‐[email protected]>; Carroll, Paul <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; '[email protected]' <[email protected]>; [email protected] Cc: Jacobovitz, Donald <[email protected]>; Williams, Scott <[email protected]>; Hague, William <[email protected]>; 'Mitchell, Janice' <[email protected]>; Clinch, Adam <[email protected]>; Leslie Jones <[email protected]>; [email protected] Subject: RE: Duval County and Municipalities Outreach Coordination Call Duval County stakeholders, 17
Please find the attached FEMA publication to help you better understand and explain the mapping process to your citizens. Best, Kris Henry Word Processor T-404.965.7084 x1517084 [email protected] This e-mail and any attachments contain AECOM confidential information that may be proprietary or privileged. If you receive this message in error or
[email protected]
'[email protected]'
Subject: RE: Duval County and Municipalities Outreach Coordination Call Duval County Stakeholders, << File: 2016‐07‐14_Duval County CCO Call_Presentation_V01.pptx >> << File: 2016‐07‐14_Duval County CCO Call_Agenda_V01.docx >> We look forward to our meeting tomorrow. Please find the agenda and presentation attached. Call: 1 (866) 203‐6896 Enter PIN #: 832‐698‐7074 WEBEX Link: Join WebEx meeting Best, Kris Henry Word Processor T-404.965.7084 x1517084 [email protected] This e-mail and any attachments contain AECOM confidential information that may be proprietary or privileged. If you receive this message in error or
attachments or copies. 18
-----Original Appointment----From: Henry, Kristin
[email protected]
Where: Call-in number: 1-(866) 203-6896; Conference Code: 832 698 7074 Good afternoon: FEMA Region IV engineering, outreach and floodplain management and Insurance staff would like to invite you to an Outreach Coordination Call on July 14th at 10:00AM. During this brief call we will discuss planning for the public outreach meetings tentatively scheduled for the week of August 28‐September 1, changes reflected on the preliminary flood risk maps and how we can work together to prepare your community’s residents and property owners for those changes. If you cannot attend please assign someone in our office to attend on your behalf and forward the invite to that individual. Henrietta Williams from FEMA RIV’s office will be contacting you this week to confirm your attendance and answer any questions you may have about the coordination call. An agenda and power point slides will be sent prior to the meeting. We look forward to speaking with you on the call. Meeting number: 598 369 895 1-(866) 203-6896 (US) Call-in toll-free number 1-(866) 203-6896 (US) Call-in number Conference Code: 832 698 7074 WebEx Link: https://aecom.webex.com/aecom/j.php?MTID=m182923d4265bdc793b4994d6007e34e9 Report this message as spam
19
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Attachments:
Henry, Kristin <[email protected]>
'[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; Charlie Latham; Heather Ireland;
Planning Division; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]';
'Jacobovitz, Donald'; 'Williams, Scott'; Hague, William; 'Mitchell, Janice'; Clinch, Adam;
fema_495.pdf
Duval County stakeholders, Please find the attached FEMA publication to help you better understand and explain the mapping process to your citizens. Best, Kris Henry Word Processor T-404.965.7084 x1517084 [email protected] This e-mail and any attachments contain AECOM confidential information that may be proprietary or privileged. If you receive this message in error or
[email protected]
'[email protected]'
Subject: RE: Duval County and Municipalities Outreach Coordination Call Duval County Stakeholders, 20
<< File: 2016‐07‐14_Duval County CCO Call_Presentation_V01.pptx >> << File: 2016‐07‐14_Duval County CCO Call_Agenda_V01.docx >> We look forward to our meeting tomorrow. Please find the agenda and presentation attached. Call: 1 (866) 203‐6896 Enter PIN #: 832‐698‐7074 WEBEX Link: Join WebEx meeting Best, Kris Henry Word Processor T-404.965.7084 x1517084 [email protected] This e-mail and any attachments contain AECOM confidential information that may be proprietary or privileged. If you receive this message in error or
[email protected]
Where: Call-in number: 1-(866) 203-6896; Conference Code: 832 698 7074 Good afternoon: FEMA Region IV engineering, outreach and floodplain management and Insurance staff would like to invite you to an Outreach Coordination Call on July 14th at 10:00AM. During this brief call we will discuss planning for the public outreach meetings tentatively scheduled for the week of August 28‐September 1, changes reflected on the preliminary flood risk maps and how we can work together to prepare your community’s residents and property owners for those changes. If you cannot attend please assign someone in our office to attend on your behalf and forward the invite to that individual. Henrietta Williams from FEMA RIV’s office will be contacting you this week to confirm your attendance and answer any questions you may have about the coordination call. An agenda and power point slides will be sent prior to the meeting. We look forward to speaking with you on the call. Meeting number: 598 369 895 1-(866) 203-6896 (US) Call-in toll-free number 1-(866) 203-6896 (US) Call-in number 21
Conference Code: 832 698 7074 WebEx Link: https://aecom.webex.com/aecom/j.php?MTID=m182923d4265bdc793b4994d6007e34e9 Report this message as spam
22
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Paul Astleford <[email protected]>
Friday, July 15, 2016 10:00 AM
Charlie Latham
This Week in Jax - Everything You Need to Know
Problem viewing this email? View our online version.
Dear Tourism Industry Partners,
July 2016
The Visit Jacksonville Board of Directors has pledged unanimous support for Mayor
Lenny Curry’s pension proposal plan to pay down the City of Jacksonville’s
unfunded pension liability debt.
The referendum could offer significant relief to increasingly demanding yearly costs
and free up hundreds of millions of dollars in future budgets. Mayor Curry’s plan
extends an existing half-cent sales tax to pay down unfunded pension debt. The city
is currently paying close to $200 million in pension payments annually. Mayor
Curry’s proposal could more than cut the payment in half.
The pension crisis in the City of Jacksonville impacts every industry within our
community. If we fail to act now to protect our financial future, the hospitality industry
could be greatly impacted.
The sales tax referendum will be on the Aug. 30 primary election ballot in Duval
County for local and statewide offices. Visit Jacksonville encourages its partners and
the entire tourism industry to support Mayor Curry’s proposal by voting “yes.”
All voters, no matter your party affiliation can vote on this issue.
Early voting begins August 15.
Vote “YES” for Jax!
- Bill Prescott
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Visit Jacksonville
Conventions This Week
There are 16 conventions in town this week.
23
Send this e-mail to a
friend
Jacksonville in the News
Thank you partners!
Visit Jacksonville’s Communications
Team would like to thank the
breweries of the Jax Ale Trail, the
DoubleTree by Hilton Jacksonville
Riverfront, and East Coast
Transportation for helping us show
off our destination to 18 Beer Bloggers
from across the nation this July. The
Beer Bloggers loved the experience
(and our local brews!) and our team
was able to successfully promote
Jacksonville’s growing craft beer
scene to their audiences. Thank you
all for your hard work!
Visit Jacksonville Stories
July Fourth demand highlights tourism growth in Northeast Florida – Jacksonville Business Journal
Florida travel calendar for July – Orlando Sentinel
Partners mentioned: Summer Jazz Concert Series Jacksonville Beach
A walking tour within a walking tour – Florida Times-Union
Partners mentioned: Adlib Tours
Jacksonville second most popular city Americans are moving to – WJAX-TV
Strategy: How a local entrepreneur bought back his own company – Jacksonville Business Journal
Partners mentioned: Kennetic Productions
Around the First Coast July, 7 – WTLV-TV
Partners mentioned: The Jacksonville Landing, Fort Caroline- National Parks Service, The Jacksonville
Armada, The Jacksonville Beach Summer Jazz Concert Series
VISIT FLORIDA Hosts Canadian Influencers to Produce Florida Coverage – VISIT FLORIDA Media Blog
Black/African American Festival - Expo Guide - Events and Happenings in The Black Community –
BlackCityInfo.com
Partners mentioned: Jacksonville Jazz Festival
Career Track – Florida Times-Union
My Home Town: Jacksonville – Food Wine Travel Magazine
Partners mentioned: MOSH, The Jacksonville Landing, the Skyway, The River Taxi, Everbank Field, the
Florida Theatre, MOCA, Hemming Park, Sweet Pete's, The Clara White Mission, The Ritz Theatre, The
Jacksonville Zoo, Kingsley Plantation
Food is where it’s at in Jax – Florida Vacay Canada
Partners mentioned: HobNob, Sbraga & Company, Unity Plaza, Aardwolf Brewing, Intuition Ale Works,
Bold City Brewery, Green Room Brewing, Engine 15 Brewing Co., Pinglehead Brewing Company, Veterans
United Craft Brewery, Zeta Brewing Company, Sweet Pete's, the Candy Apple Cafe, St. Johns Town Center,
MShack, Bistro AIX, TacoLu
24
10 Often-overlooked beaches near Atlanta – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Partners mentioned: The Beaches of Jacksonville, Adventure Landing
Please share wherever possible! For an ongoing list of Jacksonville’s biggest coverage see the Jacksonville
In The News section of our site.
Visitor Impact
Average Rate Still Growing
What's New on VisitJacksonville.com
Found #onlyinjax
Gotta Catch Duval – Fill Your Pokédex at Unique
Jacksonville Destinations
Pokémon Go has invaded the city with little creatures
taking over landmarks all over Jacksonville. If you're
looking for the next stop on your Pokémon Go journey,
we have you covered. With the largest urban parks
system in the U.S. and unique sculptures, murals and
art around every corner, #onlyinjax is the perfect place
to fill out your Pokédex and have a little real world fun
too!
Check back on our Found #onlyinjax page every week
for a new highlight.
New Blog Highlights
Beer Pioneers Blazing the Jax Ale Trail | Local
Expert: Only In Jax - Becky Martz
Tips to Shine on the Front-Line
Congratulations to our May/June T.R.I.P. (Tourist Referral Information Program)
winners!
Winner for most referrals: Michael Ryan with Downtown Vision, Inc.
25
Program participant random pick: Julia Pullen with the Museum of Science and History (MOSH)
If you would like to join the monthly referral team, please contact Dawn Lutringer at (904) 421-9161 or
[email protected]. It’s easy to participate and we have two winners each month.
Customer Service Toolkit
Opportunities With Visit Jacksonville
Boost your social posts and help promote our beautiful destination!
Sales Updates
Definite Bookings




Smith and Nephew – 545 room nights booked
Supply and Equipment Foodservice Alliance (SEFA) – 775 room nights booked
Florida State Association of Free Will Baptists – 3 programs, 190 room nights booked for each
program
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) – 1,929 room nights booked
26



Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE) – 1,040 room nights booked
National Society of Minorities in Hospitality – 1,406 room nights booked
USDA Forest Service – 920 room nights booked
Conferences, Tradeshows and Client Events in August







Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) – Minneapolis, MN
Your Military Reunion Connection – Nashville, TN
Collinson Connect Marketplace-Specialty, Association, Corporate – Dallas, TX
Exceptional Site Solutions (XSITE) – Naples, FL
ASAE – Salt Lake City, UT
RCMA Aspire (Regionals) – Columbia, SC
Wine & Unwind at Connect with Visit Jacksonville! - August 26 in Grapevine, TX - If you would like to
attend the actual event, all expenses & travel will need to be paid for by the partner (airfare, hotel,
meals, etc). Contact Caitlin Mauney if you are interested and for additional information.
Interested in joining the sales team on the road?
Please see the Sales Travel Calendar for more information then fill out and return the sales co-op reservation
form to reserve a spot.
Upcoming Partner Events
Thursday July 21: Handshakes & High Heels Networking Reception, hosted by International Pageants & Visit
Jacksonville, and benefiting Go Red For Women
Host a Visit Jacksonville Partner Event!
Visitor Industry Updates
VISIT FLORIDA July Webinars
The Life Cycle of a Press Release - July 20 at 10 a.m. EDT
Join the VISIT FLORIDA PR team as they discuss the art of storytelling and why it's important, the dos and
don'ts when pitching to the media, the anatomy of a press release and tips for extending the life of a press
release.
Incentive Overview: Online Hospitality Training Program - July 26 at 10 a.m. EDT
Learn why your employees should participate in this free program, how to access the training modules and
what incentives are available for your business and your employees.
Mayport Road Redevelopment Plan Survey
There is an effort to consider redevelopment plans for the Mayport area. Please take a moment and
participate in this short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/32VNB8R
Visit Jacksonville Sales/Promotions Calendar for Partners
The Visit Jacksonville & the Beaches Team is working diligently to market, sell and promote our destination.
We invite you to join us in this effort. The calendar below is meant to be used as a tool for you to know where
the Visit Jacksonville team is, what we’re doing for you and ways you participate with us. Please contact
27
Kimberly Morgan if you have any questions.
Emergency Management Resources
JaxREADY - www.jaxready.com
CodeRED - https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/0A7CF8D24FFD
Florida Virtual Business EOC - http://flvbeoc.org/
For more information on Jacksonville go to www.VisitJacksonville.com
Visit Jacksonville
800.733.2668 (U.S. & Canada) or 904.798.9111
208 N. Laura St., Suite 102, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Please click here if you prefer not to receive any further email from Visit Jacksonville.
28
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Andrw McGowan <[email protected]>
Thursday, July 14, 2016 3:07 PM
Charlie Latham
Re: Automating Jacksonville Beach's Forms
Hi Charlie,
We’ve spent the last 4 years helping hundreds of different governments go paperless, and in the process, we've learned that
processing paper-based forms is a massive drain on local government.
I notices that the citizens of Jacksonville Beach, Still have to print and manually submit applications. So I wanted to use this as a time to
share this short Case Study detailing how your neighbors in Stuart are saving $16,800 a year by automating their Construction Permit.
The permit can now be submitted directly through their website with eSignatures, attachments, and even payment.
If you would like to see one of your own forms converted live, I would be happy to set up a custom demo. Just let me know when you
are available.
Best,
Andrew S. McGowan
Government Development Specialist
Direct: 631.678.3003
30 Vandam Street. 2nd Floor. NYC
855.77.SEAMLESS
seamlessdocs.com
Unsubscribe
29
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Attachments:
Catherine Ponson
Thursday, July 14, 2016 2:24 PM
Bruce A. Thomason; Charlie Latham; Chris Hoffman; Jeanell Wilson; Keith Doherty; Lee
Buck; Phil Vogelsang
Laurie Scott
Revised Executive Session and Workshop Schedule
CC 160718 Ex. Session Notice Revised.pdf; CC 160718 Wkshp Notice Revised.pdf
Good afternoon: Please see the attached revised notices for Monday, July 18, 2016. Thank you and have a great weekend. Catherine Ponson
Assistant City Clerk City of Jacksonville Beach 904‐247‐6299 [email protected] 30
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Thursday, July 14, 2016 11:12 AM
Charlie Latham
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
Gwen Graham fires back at Rick Scott, calls for special session to deal with algae disaster SaintPetersBlog U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham is responding forcefully ‐ with a call for a special session of the Florida Legislature ‐ to a letter written by Florida Governor Rick Scott regarding the federal government's role in the developing crisis along the state's Treasure Coast, where algae blooms are creating an emergency‐level natural disaster. Earlier this week, Scott wrote Reps. Vern Buchanan and Alcee Hastings, the chairs of the Florida Congressional Delegation, insisting that the federal government needs to do something to help the state, including funding the maintenance and repair of the Herbert Hoover Dike. "Florida is without a doubt the most beautiful state in the country with some of the world's most incredible natural treasures. We need your help in protecting these natural treasures and the millions of Florida families who are being impacted by potentially harmful algal blooms," wrote Scott in the letter. "Please utilize your position in Congress to take immediate action by working to ensure Florida receives the federal emergency declaration and that the federal government fund the maintenance and repair to the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike. These repairs would safely hold water to prevent unnatural Lake Okeechobee discharges that are leading to the increased formation of algae," Scott added. While Scott was overtly appealing to the congressional delegation in an attempt to secure federal action, at least one delegation member recoiled. Graham, the current Democratic U.S. Representative from Florida's 2nd Congressional District, took Scott to task in a letter shared first with FloridaPolitics.com. Graham writes that she is "disappointed to see that, instead of advocating comprehensive solutions to this disaster," Scott's letter blames President Barack Obama and advocates only a partial solution ‐ maintaining and repairing Lake Okeechobee's Herbert Hoover Dike. After advancing the idea that Scott could be the first governor in modern times who "actively worked to harm Florida's environment," Graham offered a call to action, with four tangible steps Scott could take to atone for his neglect of Florida's natural resources. The first step: to call a special session of the Legislature, focused on "short and long‐term solutions to improve our water quality and prevent future algae blooms," channeling the "bipartisan outrage" into "real solutions" to the current crisis. 31
The second step: to replace "political appointees" on the Southwest Florida Water Management Board with "scientists, engineers, and conservationists." "Our government shouldn't place a developer in charge of protecting our water," Graham wrote. The third step: work with the Legislature and local governments to clean up and replace failing septic tanks. A special session, wrote Graham, would allow for legislative "focus on this issue while the waters are still green." The fourth step, meanwhile, involves following through on Amendment One, to use money to buy land "south of the lake and restore the river of grass to the Everglades." "We must restore Florida's water flow to the way God and nature intended," wrote Graham, "by sending the water south." Source ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES NEWS
Springs get record funding for restoration Gainesville Sun The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced Wednesday that 35 springs projects will receive more than $56.6 million for restoration, the most money ever provided for the state's springs. Fanning Springs, Hart Springs, Poe Spring, Ichetucknee Springs Group and Silver Springs Group will receive funds to improve drainage systems, restore sand ponds, enhance groundwater recharge and incentivize low‐nutrient land‐uses. At the Silver Springs Group, a project will reduce turbid water charges to conserve water and improve flow. Another project, costing $1.3 million, will retrofit drainage retention areas in Marion County and the Silver Springs watershed to better remove nitrogen. It will also replace stormwater pipes. Florida House Bill 989, which became effective July 1, appropriated $50 million annually for state spring restoration, protection and management projects. "Florida's beautiful springs are one of our state's greatest natural treasures and help attract families, visitors and job creators," Gov. Rick Scott said in a prepared statement. "The funding for these potential projects shows our continued commitment to protecting our springs, and I look forward to seeing them implemented so Florida's natural treasures can be enjoyed for generations to come." Projects focus on removing septic tanks and protecting the springs from future sewage. Source Prolonged pumping could send more Lake Okeechobee water south SunSentinel Pumping more water into Everglades National Park could reduce South Florida flooding threats, while potentially lessening algae blooms plaguing coastal communities to the north. The Army Corps of Engineers this week said that it will allow emergency pumping from western Broward and Miami‐Dade counties and into Everglades National Park to continue through hurricane season, providing more flood control options in South Florida. That could also make room to move more Lake Okeechobee water into South Florida, which state officials maintain could reduce damaging lake discharges to the east and west coasts where pollution‐laden water has fueled toxic algae blooms. But rainfall and flooding risks in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami‐Dade counties could still limit efforts to move more Lake Okeechobee water south, according to the South Florida Water Management District. "The details of that are to be determined," district spokesman Randy Smith said. "Everything is on the table." The decision to extend the emergency pumping deadline, once set to expire on Monday, gives state officials flexibility to deal with high‐water levels from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades. As a result, the state can periodically pump more water out of Everglades sawgrass marshes in western Broward and Miami‐Dade and into Everglades National Park. After a rainy winter, state officials in February warned of a potential wildlife disaster if emergency pumping wasn't allowed to avoid flooding the high ground that deer, wading birds and 32
other animals in western Broward and Miami‐Dade need to survive. That emergency pumping, sought by Gov. Rick Scott, was allowed to continue in May and now could linger into the fall after getting the OK from the Army Corps. In addition to protecting wildlife habitat in South Florida, state officials have billed the emergency pumping as a way to move more lake water south and reduce the draining to the coasts. The Army Corps says emergency pumping is no guarantee. Source James Madison Institute tackles 'Everglades Riddle' in new report Florida Politics A new report is encouraging lawmakers to study the impact Lake Okeechobee water releases have on the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. The call for a study was just one of the priorities outlined in a new report released by the the James Madison Institute on Monday. The paper ‐ written by Dan Peterson, director of the Center for Property Rights at the James Madison Institute ‐ is a follow‐up to recommendations for Amendment 1 funding allocations, and is meant to help Floridians understand the restoration process. "In light of the enormity of Everglades restoration and the matrix of multiple projects at various stages of completion, it is easy to get lost in the weeds of detail and miss the big picture," said Peterson. "Through this report, JMI gives guidance to policymakers and concerned Floridians to help them cut through the web of complexity, remain on track and help keep focus where it should be to effectively preserve and protect Florida's precious resources." Among the priorities outlined in his report, Peterson said the state should conduct a study to "determine the impact of the regulatory releases of fresh water from Lake Okeechobee on the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee River estuaries" The study should also look at the impact of local runoff, such as residential fertilizers, septic systems and storm water runoff. "The impact on marine life and aquatic plants due to the changes in salinity deserves attention. It would also be of benefit to study potential catalysts, which might accelerate the recovery of these areas after release," he wrote. While the report touches on the Lake Okeechobee water releases, its primarily focuses on larger Everglades restoration efforts. In the report, Peterson said Amendment 1 dollars should continue to be used for restoration efforts. "Predictable, stable, recurring funds make long‐range, expensive, complicated projects more realistic," he wrote. "The wording of Amendment 1 is unambiguous and authorizes funding to be directed toward Everglades restoration. The proper allocation of these funds will help restore precious state resources and retain Florida's beauty." Source FINANCE, TAXATION & PERSONNEL NEWS
Proposed spending plan would hike taxes by 7 percent in Palm Beach Palm Beach Daily News Town Manager Tom Bradford presented Town Council on Tuesday a $75.6 million budget proposal that would mean a 7.3 percent property tax increase. The spending plan, for the year that begins Oct. 1, is roughly 5 percent larger than this year's budget. Pensions and underground utility conversion are among the big drivers behind the uptick. The proposed property tax rate is $3.35 per $1,000 of taxable value, a decrease of nearly 1 percent from the current rate of $3.37 per $1,000. Because property values are up by an average of 8.65 percent over last year, the lower rate would generate nearly $51 million, or around $3.5 million more than this year's property tax revenue. Under the proposed tax rate, owners with a homestead exemption, which is about 40 percent of the properties in town, would pay the same as this year ‐ $3,209 on a property valued at $1 million. A non‐homesteaded owner, with a $1 million property whose value increased by the 8.65 percent average, would pay $3,643 ‐ $265 more than this year. Each year, nearly 20 percent 33
of the property taxes paid in Palm Beach goes into town coffers; the rest goes to other taxing districts in Palm Beach County. Source Miami Beach moves toward lowest property‐tax rate in 50 years Miami Herald With a slight decrease, Miami Beach's property‐tax rate has been whittled down to its lowest level since at least the Kennedy administration. The city commission on Wednesday proposed a property‐tax rate at $5.89 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which is slightly lower than last year's rate. That decrease comes from a lower debt service rate. With this rate, the Beach expects to see $160 million in property‐tax revenues, which is an estimated 50 percent of general fund revenues. After Wednesday's vote, the city cannot easily increase the proposed rate, but it can be lowered. Two more budget hearings will be held on the rate before the beginning of the next fiscal year on Oct. 1. City Manager Jimmy Morales said his staff researched the history of the Beach's tax rates and could not find a lower rate in its records. "We have not seen these millage rates in my lifetime," he said. "Our department of budget and performance improvement scoured the shelves to find the oldest adopted budget documents. The oldest book found was from fiscal year 1962 with a 19.0000 [property‐tax] rate." Source City decreases property tax rate Tallahassee Democrat The Tallahassee City Commission cut the city's property tax rate by 2.3 percent and opted to eliminate the Business License Tax at its final budget workshop on Wednesday. The commission voted 3‐2 to cut the property tax rate, which will spare taxpayers $1 million. For a house that costs the median home value of $154,600, including a $50,000 homestead exemption, the average annual savings would be $13.75. The commission will vote on the final property tax rate and budget plan on Sept. 28. In addition to the property tax rate decrease, the commission also agreed to repeal the Business License Tax, am annual levy paid by about 12,000 city businesses when they renew their business licenses. The tax generates nearly $2 million each year for the city's General Fund. The commission will need to introduce and pass an ordinance to officially repeal the tax. The earliest that could be done is Sept. 28. The tax wouldn't stop immediately. Businesses are in the middle of paying the tax, which is due by Sept. 30, and the commission has no authority to put a stop to it. The tax would end on Oct. 1 if approved by the commission. Commissioner Gil Ziffer said doing away with the business tax and lowering the property tax rate sends a message to the community. "Eliminating the business tax makes a great statement that Tallahassee and Leon County are open for business," Ziffer said. "By lowering the (property tax) rate, we're telling our property owners that meeting community needs and lowering taxes are not mutually exclusive." Source Panama City millage rate to stay the same as last year's WJHG 7 PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) ‐ Panama City homeowners will not see an increase in property tax this year. During Tuesday morning's Panama City Commission Meeting the board announced the city plans on keeping the millage rate at 3.9740 mills, the same as last year's. The millage rate is generated as the amount per $1,000 used to calculate taxes on property. Mayor Greg Brudnicki said he wants most of the city's budget to come from consumption tax not ad valorem tax. "I never want to put the commissioners in a situation where we have to increase the millage," said Jeff Brown, the City Manager for Panama City. "I know property tax payers do not want to see a millage increase, I'm a tax payer I don't want to see my taxes going up if they don't need to be. So we try to work within the means of the millage rate that we have." In a study done by the city, officials said Panama City's overall "revenue" is down one percent for the 2017 fiscal year. They believe all CRA district taxable values will increase next fiscal year besides the north district, they 34
expect it to decrease. Source Lake Helen homeowners could pay $129 for annual fire protection Daytona Beach News‐Journal LAKE HELEN ‐ The cost of fire protection is going up and the City Commission is set to consider a special fee to fund it. Here are the details: PROPOSED FEE: If approved, homeowners would pay $129 per residence this coming fiscal year. The owners of vacant lots would be charged $26 per lot and commercial sites would be charged 19 cents per square foot. The proposal also sets a maximum rate for future years at $201 per home, $40 per vacant lot, and 29 cents per square foot of commercial property. The maximum amounts could eventually be increased by the City Commission. FIRE COSTS: For the current fiscal year, the city has a $200,000 contract with the county for fire services. The city's residents used to pay taxes in Volusia County's fire district, but this year that rate combined with the city's tax rate would have put Lake Helen over the $10 per $1,000 of assessed value property tax cap. The city's $200,000 contract has a diminished level of service. If city residents were taxed directly by the county for fire services it would have cost them approximately $320,000 this year, City Administrator Jason Yarborough said. On Thursday, Lake Helen commissioners also are set to approve an agreement for the coming fiscal year for fire service with Volusia County. It will cost $220,000. "The goal is to, from their perspective, get us to pay equal to what it would be as if we were in the fire district," Yarborough said. "So they're inching us up." Source Gulf Breeze, Century set to issue $90M in bonds Pensacola News Journal The city of Gulf Breeze and the Town of Century are set to issue $90 million in bonds to finance the construction of three high‐end, senior care facilities near St. Augustine, Tampa and Fort Myers. While that may sound surprising at first, such bond issuances have become routine for the two municipalities under an arrangement first established in 1999, when Capital Trust Agency was formed under the direction of former Gulf Breeze Mayor Ed Gray. Capital Trust Agency takes advantage of a state law that allows two or more municipalities to partner to issue tax‐exempt bonds with no exposure to taxpayers. The bonds are bought widely and by some of the biggest players in the financial industry. Over the years, CTA has issued hundreds of millions of dollars in bonds to fund construction of more than 30 assisted‐living or affordable‐housing facilities throughout Florida. Already this year, CTA issued $26 million to fund construction of the Garden Gate Apartments affordable‐housing complex in Plano, Texas. CTA isn't the only firm that issues bonds this way, but the arrangement is somewhat unique, Gray said. "The question that gets asked is why don't more people do it," Gray said Wednesday. "To Gulf Breeze, on these three deals, it's meaningful (revenue). For larger cities it's not, it may too much work than what it's worth." The bonds will be secured with revenue generated by the facilities after they commence operation, and the bondholders take on the risk if one of the facilities fails to turn a profit. For Gulf Breeze and Century, that means the arrangement with CTA is nothing but a money‐maker, and taxpayer funds aren't put at risk in the deals. "None of this constitutes any sort of obligation for the city of Gulf Breeze or any other governmental entity," said Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin "Buz" Eddy. The Century Town Council approved the bond issuance at a meeting Monday night, and the Gulf Breeze City Council unanimously added them to the agenda for next week's regular City Council meeting. Source Mount Dora interim city manager Kim Leinbach announced his resignation effective August 26 Mount Dora Citizen "I have enjoyed working with the Mayor and City Council, staff and residents," Leinbach wrote in his July 7 letter addressed the mayor and city council. "Mount Dora is indeed a special place. You 35
are blessed with a great staff and I truly wish the best to my successor." "It has been a great pleasure working with Kim Leinbach as he has been a wonderful Interim City Manager for the City of Mount Dora," mayor Girone said in a statement to the Citizen. "We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors and genuinely thank him for his hard work and expertise during his time here, especially as we've been working through budget season. "Our hope is to have a City Manager in line before Mr. Leinbach departs on August 26," Girone said. "The City Manager search is going well and interviews are set to be scheduled for July 29 & 30, 2016. From there, the Council will narrow down the top 6 candidates and make a decision on the final choices." Leinbach, who is semi‐retired, previously served as city manager for Temple Terrace for 14 years as well as special assistant to the county administrator for Hillsborough County. He was unanimously selected interim city manager by Mount Dora council last March to replace outgoing city manager Vincent Pastue. If scheduled interviews with candidates and council's deliberations proceed as anticipated, the new city manager should be on board by the end of August (mid‐budget process) when Leinbach departs. Source TRANSPORTATION & INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS NEWS
While you drive, your mobile devices chat with government Gainesville Sun Motorists cruising along Interstate 75 or through some major local intersections likely assume they are being watched by overhead traffic cameras. They may not know the government is also looking inside their vehicles and reading information on their cell phones, tablets, headphones ‐ anything with Bluetooth. The Florida Department of Transportation and city of Gainesville are two of many government entities nationwide now using roadside transponders to read the identification number of any activated Bluetooth device as it passes. The collected ID numbers can be used in a number of ways, including determining traffic patterns, traffic flow in intersections and on arterial roadways and speed. If a car suddenly drops its speed, for example, it may indicate an accident. FDOT has been using the data in studies looking to relieve overburdened corridors, such as the ongoing efforts to relieve congestion on I‐75 through the Gainesville‐Ocala region. The city of Gainesville, meanwhile, uses it to adjust traffic signals to prevent backups. "The whole country is doing this," said Paul Misticawi, vice president of public sector sales for TrafficCast, a traffic data software company that provides transponder devices to 45 states, including Florida. Bluetooth is a way of leaving wires and cables behind and instead transferring data using radio transmission. It is a common feature in virtually all communication devices today, including being installed in many new cars. For those who might be wary of the prying eyes of government invading their privacy, Misticawi says in no way can anyone track the data back to its source. "It's completely anonymous," he said of the information collected. "The data is encrypted so there's no 'Big Brother' issue at all." According to Jennifer Fortunas, with FDOT's Systems Planning Office, while the transponders can read each device's unique identification number, there's no way to find out more about the device's owner or the vehicle they are driving because more information would be needed. Fortunas said the technology has been around for about six or seven years. She said FDOT uses this type of sampling for specific projects but doesn't keep the devices on the roads all the time. Source Limo companies sue Palm Beach County, alleging favoritism for Uber SunSentinel Several limo companies filed another federal lawsuit this week accusing Palm Beach County of unlawfully favoring the ride‐hailing service Uber. A1A Airport and Limousine Service, Act One 36
Limousine, Priority Limousine & Transportation and Dignitary Services LLC filed the lawsuit Tuesday. Taxi and limo companies argue that the county stripped away consumer protections, such as fingerprint‐based background checks, to cater to Uber. Supporters of Uber argue the company provides its own background checks, and consumers want the ride‐hailing service. County Attorney Denise Nieman has declined to comment on the lawsuits because the litigation is still pending. The Palm Beach County Commission entered into a temporary operating agreement with Uber in March 2015 and then adopted permanent regulations in April. Two other suits brought by limo and taxi companies against the county are still pending. Source URBAN ADMINISTRATION NEWS
Experts Debate if Miami Beach Has Proper Legal Authority to Enforce Strict Regulations on Short‐
Term Rentals WFLX MIAMI BEACH, Fla., July 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ ‐‐ In a city with a local population of only 90k, but millions of annual visitors, there becomes an obvious issue regarding short‐term lodging in Miami Beach. Despite several thousand new hotel rooms added in the past years, the available vacation rental accommodations are severally limited by current city‐wide regulations against leasing properties for periods less than 6 months at a time. Given the fact that technological advancements are enabling property owners unprecedented access to potential renters, coupled with the fact that public demand for short‐term rental options is at an all‐time high, the demand for regulation reform has reached a boiling point. Under current Miami Beach regulations, owners who are looking to defray property ownership costs by renting their properties short‐term are left with no alternative than to go against what Miami Beach has declared 'law.' The consequences for this practice are exorbitant fines, which opponents declare do not fit the 'crime.' The city has doled out penalties that range from $20,000 ‐ $100,000 PER incident. The debate over Miami Beach's authority to enforce these regulations has many owners, residents and even real estate agents unable to agree on what is and what should be allowed. The State of Florida statutes do have clear wording as to individual cities not having the right to prohibit vacation rentals, and its declarations clearly supersede that of local governments: under §509.032(7)(a), Fla. Stat., state law preempts local law in the regulation of public lodging establishments, including vacation rentals. However, local governments may regulate vacation rentals to the extent that those regulations do not (a) prohibit vacation rentals in a particular area or zone; (b) limit a vacation rental to a particular number of days; or (c) limit the number of times a unit may be rented out within a year. These provisions apply to any local law or ordinance adopted on or after June 1, 2011. Whether legal or not, Miami is not alone in facing this issue. Cities around the U.S. are addressing a call for regulation reform more than ever. In New York City, renters must stay 30 or more days, New Orleans renters in the French Quarter 60 or more days, Los Angeles allows owners to rent out their homes up to 90 cumulative days per year, while other cities simply limit the amount of guests and charge fees. There seems to be some changes on the horizon: earlier this month North Beach's planning board approved an ordinance that was voted on, and approved for second reading, by the city commission to create a short‐term rental district along Harding Avenue from 87th Street south to 73rd Street. Source Fort Lauderdale shoots down plan to ban assault‐style weapon sales at gun shows SunSentinel Fort Lauderdale won't be banning the sale of assault‐style weapons at War Memorial Auditorium gun shows. Vice Mayor Dean Trantalis thought he had found a way around state law that forbids 37
cities from enacting gun laws and regulations. His idea was to have weapons such as AR‐15 and AK‐
47 rifles banned from sale merely as part of the terms of the lease for renting the city auditorium. But his proposal, made at the city commission's June 21 meeting, drew a quick response from the National Rifle Association, which fired off a letter warning of the consequences of taking an action it said violated state law. The state says commissioners can be held personally liable for damages and the governor can remove them from office if they break the law. "We hope the city commission keeps this in mind when considering these matters in the future," wrote Christopher Conte, the NRA's litigation counsel. The Fort Lauderdale Florida Gun Show operates about eight shows a year at the auditorium in Holiday Park. Gun shows have been held there for more than 30 years and in 2013 the commission rebuffed a request to just stop leasing space to the gun show. Even City Attorney Cynthia Everett agreed using a lease stipulation wouldn't get around the state law. A memorandum issued by her office referenced a University of North Florida rule that prohibited firearms from being stored in cars on campus ‐‐ a rule the courts overturned when challenged. The memorandum said the action Trantalis proposes "would constitute a rule or regulation of the municipal body, and is therefore prohibited by Florida law." "Clearly, the approach I thought we could take, may not be possible," Trantalis said. Source Florida League of Cities To sign up for FLC Clips, email [email protected] Florida League of Cities, 301 S. Bronough street, Suite 300, Tallahassee, FL 32301
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Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Mary Ellen Donner
Thursday, July 14, 2016 9:07 AM
Charlie Latham; George Forbes
Trish Roberts
Events for July 16 & 17, 2016
Good Morning: There are no events planned at the SeaWalk Pavilion or Latham Plaza for this weekend. Next week, however, there are two events that might be of interest to you. On Monday and Tuesday, July 18 & 19, 2016 an Autistic Surf Camp will be held on the beach at 16th Avenue South from 9:00 am – 12 noon. On Tuesday, July 19, 2016 the Car Cruise will be held in Latham Plaza from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Have a wonderful weekend. Mary Ellen 39
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
JTA <[email protected]> on behalf of JTA
<[email protected]>
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 4:18 PM
Charlie Latham
FDOT Secretary Boxold Visits JTA | Join Us
Jacksonville Transportation Authority | www.jtafla.com
View this email in your browser
Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold is bringing
greetings on behalf of the State of Florida in recognition of the Jacksonville
Transportation Authority's outstanding achievements.
Please join us for a media conference on Thursday, July 21 at 2 p.m. in the JTA Atrium at
121 West Forsyth Street, Suite 200, Jacksonville, Florida 32202.
40
We look forward to seeing you there!
Copyright © 2016 Jacksonville Transportation Authority, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email due to you interest in local transportation issues.
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41
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Anding, Kimberly <[email protected]>
Charlie Latham
'Spann, Bill'
Florida Defense Task Force Meeting Dinner Wednesday July 20 at Maggiano's St Johns
Town Center
On behalf of Bill Spann, Director, Military Affairs & Veterans Department, Office of Mayor Lenny Curry:
Mayor Latham:
It is my privilege to invite you each to a no-host dinner for the Florida Defense Task Force Meeting at 7 PM on
Wednesday July 20 at Maggiano’s in the St Johns Town Center. Each member of the FDTF will be in
attendance as will several local elected and appointed officials. It will be an interesting evening of
conversation, comraderie and good food in advance of the FDTF’s regularly scheduled meeting the following
day. A cash bar will proceed the dinner.
I hope you can join us. Please RSVP via email, [email protected] so we may hold a seat for you. You are more
than welcome to bring a spouse/guest/family member.
Very respectfully,
Bill Spann
Director, Military Affairs & Veterans Department
Office of Mayor Lenny Curry
City of Jacksonville, Florida
904-534-7263 cell
904-630-7087 office
Commander, United States Navy (retired)
42
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Attachments:
Catherine Ponson
Bruce A. Thomason; Charlie Latham; Chris Hoffman; Jeanell Wilson; Keith Doherty; Lee
Buck; Phil Vogelsang
Laurie Scott
Preliminary agenda, Executive Session and Workshop Notices
CC 160718 Prelim Agn.pdf; CC 160718 Exec Session Notice.pdf; CC 160718 Workshop
Notice.pdf
Good afternoon: Please see the attached preliminary agenda and notices for Monday, July 18, 2016. Thank you and have a great afternoon. Catherine Ponson
Catherine Ponson Assistant City Clerk City of Jacksonville Beach (904) 247‐6253 43
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Henry, Kristin <[email protected]>
'[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; Charlie Latham; Heather Ireland;
Planning Division; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]';
'Jacobovitz, Donald'; 'Williams, Scott'; Hague, William; 'Mitchell, Janice'; Clinch, Adam;
2016-07-14_Duval County CCO Call_Agenda_V01.docx; 2016-07-14_Duval County CCO
Call_Presentation_V01.pptx
Cc:
Subject:
Attachments:
Duval County Stakeholders, We look forward to our meeting tomorrow. Please find the agenda and presentation attached. Call: 1 (866) 203‐6896 Enter PIN #: 832‐698‐7074 WEBEX Link: Join WebEx meeting Best, Kris Henry Word Processor T-404.965.7084 x1517084 [email protected] This e-mail and any attachments contain AECOM confidential information that may be proprietary or privileged. If you receive this message in error or
[email protected]
Where: Call-in number: 1-(866) 203-6896; Conference Code: 832 698 7074 44
Good afternoon: FEMA Region IV engineering, outreach and floodplain management and Insurance staff would like to invite you to an Outreach Coordination Call on July 14th at 10:00AM. During this brief call we will discuss planning for the public outreach meetings tentatively scheduled for the week of August 28‐September 1, changes reflected on the preliminary flood risk maps and how we can work together to prepare your community’s residents and property owners for those changes. If you cannot attend please assign someone in our office to attend on your behalf and forward the invite to that individual. Henrietta Williams from FEMA RIV’s office will be contacting you this week to confirm your attendance and answer any questions you may have about the coordination call. An agenda and power point slides will be sent prior to the meeting. We look forward to speaking with you on the call. Meeting number: 598 369 895 1-(866) 203-6896 (US) Call-in toll-free number 1-(866) 203-6896 (US) Call-in number Conference Code: 832 698 7074 WebEx Link: https://aecom.webex.com/aecom/j.php?MTID=m182923d4265bdc793b4994d6007e34e9 Report this message as spam
45
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Bettie Barber <[email protected]>
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 10:23 AM
Anna Brosche; Carl Youman ([email protected]); Charlie Latham; Chip Laibl
([email protected]); Danny Leeper; Diane Hutchings; Doyle Carter; Gregory
Evans ; Howard Wannamaker ([email protected]); James Bennett; Jeneen
Sanders; John Baker; Kathryn J. Smith; Lisa Lambert; Lori Boyer; Nancy Sikes-Kline
([email protected]); Rachel Bennett; Rebecca Dix; Richard Bruce
([email protected]); Samuel Newby; Scott L. McCaleb; Terri Davlantes
([email protected]); Wayne Bolla
Jeff Sheffield
Just A Reminder
Just a reminder that the TPO Board does not meet in July. The next meeting is scheduled for August 11th at 10:00 AM. See you then. Thank You. Bettie Barber
Administrative Assistant
North Florida Transportation Planning Organization
980 North Jefferson Street
904.306.7511
email: [email protected]
website:www.northfloridatpo.com
"Forgive your enemies, but do not forget their names."
--John F. Kennedy
Always remember "Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude
determines how well you do it."
“If your actions inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” ‐‐John Quincy Adams PLEASE NOTE: Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from the
North Florida Transportation Planning Organization regarding public business are public records available to
the public and media through a request. Your email communications may be subject to public disclosure.
46
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Charlie Latham
LOCAL GOVERNMENT NEWS
St. Cloud City Manager Meets With U.S. Senator, Regional Director American Towns St. Cloud, FL‐‐‐St. Cloud City Manager Joe Helfenberger provided a tour of the city to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's Central Florida Regional Director Helen Miller July 6. He then met with Sen. Nelson while attending the announcement of the partnership between Osceola County and the international research institute imec July 8 at Osceola Heritage Park. "It is important for our city to get noticed for what it is ‐ a city full of opportunity," Helfenberger said. "On Wednesday, I showed Helen first‐
hand what we have to offer within our city and on Friday I took advantage of the opportunity to present Senator Nelson with the list of City of St. Cloud's project priorities. This type of exposure can help us in advancing the city and in achieving our economic‐development goals." The City of St. Cloud Project Priority List includes: Road widening and improvements to Neptune Road, the construction of a flyover bridge at Neptune Road and 13th Street, Canoe Creek Road widening and development/construction of the spine road connecting development west of the Florida Turnpike to Kissimmee Park Road interchange; seaplane base at lakefront; and regional trails from Lakefront Park to Ralph V. Chisholm Regional Park and a regional trail around the perimeter of East Lake Tohopekaliga "In meeting with Helen Miller and Senator Nelson, I believe we have a good chance of acquiring funding for these projects," said Helfenberger. "We just have to continue focusing on these improvements and on more effective and efficient ways to use our resources within this community. We will continue to seek funding at every level to allow for our city to succeed while reducing the burden on our taxpayers." Source 37th Palm Coast Citizens Academy Graduates 17 Participants Flagler Live Seventeen Palm Coast residents graduated earlier this month from the Palm Coast Citizens Academy, a comprehensive program designed to educate interested residents about the operation and workings of their city government. The graduating class ‐ the 37th in the program's history ‐ spent five weeks learning about city departments and visiting City Hall, the Palm Coast Community 47
Center, main Fire Station 25, and Water Treatment Plant No. 3. The class also attended a Palm Coast City Council meeting together. Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts kicked off the Citizens Academy with an overview session titled, "Governing the City," providing background on Palm Coast's incorporation, City Charter, the Council‐Manager form of government, and a general overview of the city. City Manager Jim Landon and city Administration Coordinator Beau Falgout provided an update on economic development trends, current projects and the mission of the Palm Coast Business Assistance Center. Those enrolled in the Citizens Academy received an overview on every city department and met City Council members, department directors and many other City employees. The Citizens Academy meets once a week, usually on Monday evenings, for five straight weeks. The course is free and registration is limited to approximately 30 Palm Coast citizens per session. The academy is held three times a year ‐ fall, winter and spring. Source STATE NEWS
Tumultuous state Senate race upended once again Miami Herald The most tumultuous Florida Senate race in South Florida became even more so Tuesday, after local prosecutors revealed they're investigating two of the Democratic candidates ‐ and after a third candidate dropped out. The Miami‐Dade County state attorney's office reached out to Sen. Dwight Bullard, D‐Cutler Bay, after he told the Herald/Times last month that rival Andrew Korge offered to pay $25,000 to get him to run for a different seat. "Sen. Dwight Bullard has now contacted us today to discuss his allegations," spokesman Ed Griffith said in an email. The Miami New Times first reported Tuesday that prosecutors had opened the investigation. Korge, a businessman and the son of Democratic fundraiser Chris Korge, allegedly tried to persuade Bullard to run for the coastal Miami‐Dade District 38 seat recently vacated by Sen. Gwen Margolis and not for District 40, in the county's southwest corner. Bullard could not be reached for comment Tuesday. In a statement, Korge reiterated his position that Bullard's llegations "are unequivocally false." He said Bullard asked him to raise money for him if he switched district. Both are vying for the chance to go up against state Rep. Frank Artiles, who as the race's only Republican candidate doesn't have to get muddied ‐ or spend money ‐ in a primary. Korge switched races at the last minute to compete against Bullard, newcomer Missalys Perez and former state Rep. Ana Rivas Logan. But Rivas Logan made news of her own Tuesday, announcing she was suspending her campaign. In an email to supporters, Rivas Logan said she has to take time to care for her parents. She also mentioned the heated primary contest. There's been drama in the race from the start. Newly redrawn district lines made District 40 more competitive and put Bullard at a disadvantage among Democrats because the district is majority Hispanic. Neither Rivas Logan nor Korge OK'd their candidacies with party leaders eager to help elect more Democrats with their limited resources. Source ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES NEWS
Scott says Obama administration has 'ignored' Florida's algae bloom crisis ABC News 10 Gov. Rick Scott is apparently feeling the political heat over lack of a concerted state and federal plan to attack algae blooms in Florida's waterways. In a letter sent Tuesday to Florida's 48
congressional delegation, Scott blames President Barack Obama and his administration for neglecting upkeep on the aging Herbert Hoover Dike at the south end of Lake Okeechobee. The Republican governor said his calls for Washington to repair the dike "have been ignored." "Time and time again, the state of Florida has stepped up to invest in important restoration projects, while the federal government has continued to fall short and not fund the maintenance and repair of the dike they are solely responsible for," Scott wrote. Water being discharged from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers is being blamed as the cause of the algae blooms. Scott declared a state of emergency in Martin, St. Lucie, Lee and Palm Beach counties, prompting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce the flow of water from the lake. The South Florida Water Management District is also holding additional water north of the lake, while Florida Power & Light agreed to temporarily store about 2.2 billion gallons of water in a cooling pond at one of its facilities in Martin County. "As you return to Washington, D.C., this week, I hope that you will do all you can to ask President Obama to accept our request for a federal emergency declaration and provide crucial funding to maintain and repair the dike to protect Florida's waterways," Scott asked the delegation. The dike was built in 1937 to prevent flooding after a major hurricane in 1928 killed thousands of people living near the lake. Scott's critics claim he bears responsibility for failing to take stronger state environmental action against the algae outbreak. Source DEP to oversee second algae cleanup; loan office opens in Martin County TCPalm STUART ‐ The state is planning a second effort to remove algae from the St. Lucie River, this time at Central Marine Stuart in Rio and possibly using a different method, a county official said. A Florida Department of Environmental Protection spokesman could not be reached by deadline Tuesday to elaborate on details. DEP is discussing the proposed project with two companies: Stuart‐based Ecosphere Technologies, which removed algae at another Rio marina over the weekend, and another unknown company that uses an unknown method, Central Marine owner Mary Radabaugh said. The method may be "mechanical," Deborah Drum, Martin County's environmental restoration manager, told county commissioners at a meeting Tuesday. The effort follows Ecosphere Technologies' project that removed much of the matted algae from a boat basin at Outboards Only using a high‐tech system of electric shock, high‐frequency sound and ozone. How much of the algae, bacteria and toxins were killed will be determined by tests of "before" and "after" water samples taken from the site. Results are expected by the end of the week. Water in the Central Marine marina is socked in with thick mats of algae. U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson, D‐Fla., and Marco Rubio, R‐Fla., have visited the site. U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D‐Jupiter, collected algae at the marina Sunday and plans to distribute bottles of it Thursday to federal officials and members of Congress. A center offering federal loans to businesses affected by the algae blooms will open Wednesday, Martin County officials said. The Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Center will open at 9 a.m. in Building A at the fairgrounds, said County Administrator Taryn Kryzda. An SBA official Tuesday would not confirm the opening. After Gov. Rick Scott declared the first of two state of emergencies in February, the SBA offered short‐term "bridge" loans to businesses with economic hardships because of the Lake Okeechobee discharges. Some business owners rejected the offer, saying they couldn't repay the loans with only a trickle of customers. A state survey showed 32 Martin County businesses had been affected by the lake discharges and had laid off 33 employees. Source Algae outbreak: Palm Beach encourages fast action to improve water quality Palm Beach Daily News The Town of Palm Beach agreed today to do what it can to push lawmakers to quickly move forward with Everglades restoration projects to improve water quality. Council members directed staff to work with the Everglades Law Center and South Florida Water Management District to 49
draft a resolution supporting plans to build water storage reservoirs south of Lake Okeechobee. Lisa Interlandi, lead attorney for the center, said lawmakers are not scheduled to review the project to add southern reservoirs for five years, and then it would take another six years for planning and design. "How many more times can our estuaries take this assault without us being closer to a solution?" she asked council members, speaking about the recent blue‐green algae outbreak. Mayor Gail Coniglio also will write letters to local officials encouraging fast action on projects that will prevent future algae blooms. Source Manatee deaths resume in Indian River Orlando Sentinel Manatee deaths linked to pollution have resumed in the algae‐stricken Indian River Lagoon of Brevard County, according to state wildlife officials. Since the end of May, eight manatee carcasses have been recovered, bearing signs of trauma that has killed more than 150 of the marine mammals in the past four years. "We are still narrowing down the cause, but the hypothesis is still that the change of vegetation that the manatees are eating makes them to susceptible to complications in their guts," said Martine de Wit, lead veterinarian at the Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in St. Petersburg. "It gives them acute shock." The mortalities began in July 2012 when the Indian River, already ailing from pollution, was crippled with an outbreak of microscopic algae, turning waters strikingly brown or green and wiping out sea grass on which manatees forage. De Wit said 166 manatees, including eight recovered in recent weeks, have been found with little or no sea grass in their stomachs. Instead, their digestive systems were filled with a large type of algae commonly known as seaweed. The specific cause of death isn't known, De Wit said, but the manatees typically succumbed so suddenly that they drowned. Green and brown forms of algae invading the Indian River were subsiding gradually last year, and sea grass had begun to show signs of recovery. After August of last year, no manatee's death was attributed to algae conditions until the resumption of deaths May 29. Charles Jacoby, a St. Johns River Water Management District scientist, said his agency has seen small declines during recent months in the intensity of algae infesting Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River and Indian River in north Brevard County. Jacoby said sea grass can still be found in the usual areas but has thinned significantly. "The system is trying to right itself," Jacoby said. Source FINANCE, TAXATION & PERSONNEL NEWS
Palm Beach may create $200,000 job for utilities project coordinator Palm Beach Daily News Shovels won't dig into dirt before next year, but already the daily task of preparing for a town‐wide underground utility conversion is weighing on town staff. Town Manager Tom Bradford, who coordinates the massive project alongside his other duties as administrative chief, is asking the Town Council to create the post of full‐time underground utilities coordinator ‐ at up to $200,000 a year. "This person could be a construction manager, an engineer, cost estimator, anyone with engineering or construction related experience," Bradford told the Underground Utilities Task Force on Monday. Much of the coordinator's time and effort will be spent addressing the questions and concerns of property owners. The job will be especially challenging in a town such as Palm Beach, where local government places great emphasis on being responsive to its residents, he said. "Communications would be a big part of the job," Bradford said. "... You have to be tenacious and seek out answers to everything that comes up. It's just time‐consuming." The underground utilities coordinator would likely provide those services under contract, and would 50
not be a town employee, Bradford said. The post would be paid for through the general fund contingency, not through the bond money that will be used to finance the underground conversion, he said. It would be funded in the budget year that starts Oct. 1. Bradford later said the coordinator could probably be contracted for between $100,000 and $150,000, but it could be higher if one is selected through an engineering firm. The highest‐paid town employee, Bradford earns a salary of $198,900, excluding benefits and executive perks such as a transportation allowance. The task force overwhelmingly recommended that the Town Council create the new post. The matter goes before the council at its July 12 meeting. Source Arrington eyed to succeed Evans as Haines City manager News Chief HAINES CITY ‐ It appears as though Mayor Horace West will be the deciding vote in whether Amy Arrington makes the short trip from Davenport to Haines City. Commissioner Roy Tyler proposed making Arrington, the city manager in Davenport, the successor to Jonathan Evans, who announced his resignation in June. The vote wound up being tabled because Mayor West wanted to talk to Davenport Mayor Darlene Bradley to avoid blindsiding the city of Davenport. Mayor West has since spoken with Bradley and the commission will hold a special meeting Monday to make a decision. Evans was present at the meeting between the two mayors at Mayor West's request, as a neutral party. "Darlene and I have had numerous conversations and I consider her a friend," the mayor said. "I couldn't (vote) without talking to her first and giving her that courtesy. Darlene praised Amy and felt like this was an opportunity for Amy to advance." The mayor said he hasn't made up his mind yet, and won't say either way before he votes Monday. He said he has no questions about Arrington's capabilities, but that's not the only thing to consider."A 3‐2 vote is not the most attractive way to bring in a city manager," he said. "Another thing to consider is whether I want to put Amy in that position. She'll probably look at that herself when deciding whether to take the position." Source Temple Terrace advances new fees for fire protection, stormwater control Tampa Bay Times TEMPLE TERRACE ‐ Speaker after speaker appealed to the Temple Terrace City Council this week to drop the idea of creating assessment fees for fire protection and stormwater control, but a bare majority voted to establish the fees and bring the matter before a public hearing next month. The council voted 3 to 1 in favor of each fee. The final vote will be taken after the public hearing Aug. 16. As it stands, the average resident would pay at most about $42 a year for fire service and roughly $25 a year for stormwater control. Homes that have greater than average water run‐off would pay more, and commercial properties ‐ with parking lots that create run‐off ‐ would pay even more. Businesses would also pay a larger fee for fire service. The council voted to require institutions that are exempt from paying property taxes, such as churches, to pay 20 percent of the normal fire and storm assessment fees. The city will send out notices detailing the proposals to residents and businesses in advance of the public hearing. Source GROWTH MANAGEMENT & ECONOMIC AFFAIRS NEWS
Newberry talks future of CRA with County Alachua County Today NEWBERRY ‐ The City of Newberry is closer to establishing a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) District in the downtown area. A CRA focuses attention and resources in a blighted area of town. A City can take advantage of financial and planning tools provided under State law as part of 51
a CRA to help create programs and projects to foster private market investment in the CRA. Following several discussions between staff members for the City of Newberry and Alachua County on the creation of a CRA in Newberry, the City proposed details of an interlocal agreement to outline the terms and conditions of the CRA at a joint meeting between the two commissions. Following a lengthy discussion, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously voted to authorize City and County staff to put together an interlocal agreement for final review by both commissions. BOCC Chair Robert "Hutch" Hutchinson asked that the two entities complete wording on the agreement in time for the County to begin collecting funds on Jan. 1, 2017. Seven key elements of the proposed agreement were discussed, and both commissions reviewed the City's proposed CRA district map, which clearly showed the CRA boundaries. In addition, a CRA funding scenario at 1.5 percent average growth in taxable valuation was also outlined by Bryan Thomas, Planning Director, City of Newberry. Following his presentation, BOCC members said they were glad to see the City was listening to their concerns which had been expressed during earlier joint discussions and that they were pleased that the City incorporated several changes into their proposed plan. If the interlocal agreement is approved by both City and County governing bodies, the City's contribution each year will mirror the County's contribution. The first year's total contribution to the CRA would be $5,743 or $2,862 each contributed by City and County. At an increase of 1.5 percent per year, by year 30, the City/County contribution to the CRA will be $107,243 each, or a total of $214,845. By the end of 30 years, the CRA District will receive an infusion of funds to the total of $3,091,252. Source URBAN ADMINISTRATION NEWS
Rice tries again to limit big money in city elections Tampa Bay Times St. Petersburg City Council member Darden Rice wants to keep corporate money out of city politics. It's the next progressive fight, she says, and will also help keep voters energized by Bernie Sanders' message engaged in local politics. To that end, she's introducing a resolution at the July 21 meeting for the city to consider a ban on super PACs spending on city elections and requiring corporations to certify that they aren't foreign influenced. First, the "foreign‐influenced" thing. It's sound xenophobic, Rice said, but it's really a way to attack the landmark 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling "Citizens United," which removed many restrictions on political spending. She points to a recent battle between Austin and Uber. That failed campaign by Uber to overturn a city ordinance requiring Uber drivers to be fingerpinted as part of a criminal background check. During that campaign, Uber disclosed billions of dollars of investment from Saudi Arabia. St. Petersburg is considering a similar measure, she said. And while St. Pete welcomes foreign investment, she said, it shouldn't allow foreign money to stack the City Council or mayor's office, she said. Federal law already prohibits foreign governments, companies and people who aren't U.S. citizens from making political contributions in federal, state and local election. Such an ordinance could be challenged in court, she said. "That would make this bigger than St. Pete," Rice said. She's working with a Austin‐based group, Free Speech for People, on the effort. If she can persuade enough of her colleagues to go along next week, the proposal will be referred to a committee of the whole for an in‐depth presentation, she said. Rice, and council member Karl Nurse, have tried and failed to enact campaign spending reform before. This time around, Rice hopes, the proposal to limit super PACs will address a criticism of her earlier effort to restrict individual contributions. By eliminating super PACs, the loophole by which wealthy donors could still pump large sums of money into an election would be closed. "This is fending off a threat that's on our doorstep," Rice said. "We've got a lot of big projects coming down the pike. We might be spending millions on a 52
stadium. Why not make sure our local democracy is protected." Source Tamarac's red‐light‐camera program may be extended until 2020 SunSentinel Tamarac's program that relies on cameras to catch red‐light runners may get a four‐year extension ‐ keeping the city among few towns in South Florida that still use the devices. The legality of red‐
light‐camera programs has been contested in courts, leading other cities to discontinue them. Tamarac's contract with its vendor, American Traffic Solutions, is expected to be approved at Wednesday night's City Commission meeting. It calls for two additional two year extensions. It calls for the city to pay a monthly fee of $54,000. The average monthly revenue for the red‐light program is $76,461, but city officials said the difference goes into a fund to pay the monthly bills if revenue were to fall. There are 15 cameras at eight intersections across the city. Although cameras have been turned off in other cities, the city said it is committed to the catching red‐light runners. City officials said about 42,000 violations have been issued since the program began in October 2013 and one study showed that about 97 percent of violators don't get a second ticket. About 80 percent of the violators live outside of Tamarac. "People are literally speeding through the city, but they're only doing it once," said city spokeswoman Elise Boston. "That tells you once people become aware they modify their behavior." Tamarac, Sunrise, Davie and Boynton Beach have active camera programs as well as cities in Miami‐Dade. Pembroke Pines had suspended its program because of the legal challenges but is considering bringing back a scaled‐down version. Many Broward and Palm Beach County cities have ditched or suspended cameras pending higher‐
court decisions after the courts ruled that Hollywood could not delegate ticket‐writing duties to a third‐party vendor. The decision was applicable statewide. Appeals courts in Miami‐Dade and the Tampa area are weighing camera cases, and the issue could end up before the Florida Supreme Court. Source Florida League of Cities To sign up for FLC Clips, email [email protected] Florida League of Cities, 301 S. Bronough street, Suite 300, Tallahassee, FL 32301
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54
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Chamber Connection
<[email protected]> on behalf of
Chamber Connection <[email protected]>
Charlie Latham
Duval County Teachers Participate in JAX Chamber Teacher Fellowship program
Chamber Connection: Duval County Teachers Participate in JAX Chamber Teacher Fellowship program
This message contains photos and graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view
TEACHER FELLOWSHIP
Duval County Teachers Participate in JAX Chamber
Teacher Fellowship program
55
Five Duval County public school teachers participated in the 2016 JAX Chamber
Teacher Fellowship program, each from Information Technology or IT-related academies
within their respective schools.
During the four-day externship program, the teachers visited Citizens Property
Insurance, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Regency Centers, Deutsche Bank, CSX and
Availity where they met with industry experts from IT divisions and took tours of the
companies’ IT departments and data centers.
On the last day of the program, the teachers utilized the information they learned during
the week and developed Thematic Learning Activities for lesson plans, which they will
use to instruct their students in the upcoming school year.
FEATURED EVENT
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Jacksonville University to Host Global Conference
Focusing on 'Innovation in Health Care'
The inaugural Global Conference on Advances in Management July 18 at Jacksonville
University's Davis College of Business, with the theme “Innovation in Health Care,”
features students and executives from as far away as Sweden and Switzerland
discussing new trends and research on topics ranging from collaboration to
entrepreneurism.
The event is organized by DCOB and JAX Chamber’s Entrepreneurial Growth Division in
partnership with ESCP Europe Business School in France.
For more details, click here. There are three options for attending the conference with
admission to the sessions ranging from free to $60. To purchase tickets, click here.
57
Members in the News
Riverside's new $22 million, 72,000-square-foot YMCA will open on time in
late August — The Times-Union
See why Florida ranks No. 1 for gross income in U.S. — JBJ
Tech talent flocking to Jacksonville, report finds — JBJ
Collaborative nonprofit programs in Northeast Florida recognized
— The Times-Union
Sweet Spot & Urban Lounge is helping those with learning
disabilities — First Coast News
Longtime Orsay chef hired by Forking Amazing Restaurants — JBJ
To see a full list of Members in the News, go to our Member News
Section.
Policy News
Beaches Biz backs Charlie Latham, Elaine Brown in mayoral races
— Florida Politics
UNF Poll: Mayor Curry's pension-tax plan gains ground; Sheriff Williams
most popular elected official — The Times-Union
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Curry has fulfilled promises during his first year as mayor
— The Times-Union
Gov. Rick Scott pitching Florida at British Air Show — Daily Record
North Florida designated to Clean Cities initiative — JBJ
JAX Chamber Events
Beaches Joint Luncheon with
the St. Johns County Chamber
Downtown Council Annual
Painting of the PawPrints
Meet Up with ImpactJAX
at Art Walk
• Thursday, July 14 — noon to
1:30 p.m. at Sawgrass Country Club,
10034 Golf Club Drive, Ponte Vedra
Beach. Cost: $25 with advance online
registration; $30 at the door.
Join General Manager/Regional
Director of TPC Operations Bill
Hughes for an update on the
renovations currently underway at TPC
Sawgrass. The Beaches Division and
the St. Johns County Chamber of
Commerce host this Joint Luncheon —
sponsored by Baptist Medical Center
Beaches. For more details, contact
Amanda Patch at (904) 273-5366 or
[email protected].
• Saturday, July 30 — 7:30 to 10:30
a.m. at Lot X off Bay Street in
Downtown Jacksonville. Cost: Free;
register here.
Join us at the JAX Chamber
Downtown Council's annual
Painting of the PawPrints event
presented by Performance Painting.
From the base of the Main Street
Bridge to EverBank Field,
participants will meet in Lot X at
7:30 a.m. and break into groups to
paint the paw prints along Bay
Street.
• Wednesday, August 3 — 5:15 to
6:15 p.m. at JAX Chamber, 3
Independent Drive, Downtown
Jacksonville. Cost: Free for
ImpactJAX members; $10 for
guests and non-members.
Our most involved ImpactJAX
members and the ImpactJAX Board
lead an informal tour of Downtown's
First Wednesday Art Walk. we will
start at the Chamber with drinks
and networking. Then, we'll explore
art walk visiting Chamber
members. Former ImpactJAX Chair
Kemal Gasper, now a member of
the Cultural Council of Greater
Jacksonville Board of Directors, will
lead the tour. For information, email
[email protected].
Register here.
Small Business Center
Orientation & Entrepreneurial
Assessment
• Tuesday, July 19 — noon to 2
p.m.
• All SBC Orientations held at JAX
Chamber, 3 Independent Drive,
Downtown Jacksonville. Free. For
more details or to register, contact
Shirley Moore at (904)
366-6618 or Shirley.Moore
@myjaxchamber.com.
After the painting is complete,
attendees will enjoy a family-friendly
after-party in Lot X from 9:30 to
10:30 a.m. We'll kick off the 2016
Jaguars season in style with
appearances from Jaxson de Ville,
the ROAR of the Jaguars and the
D-Line. Sponsored by Performance
Painting, AXA Advisors and the
Jacksonville Jaguars. Register
here. For more details,
email Gracie.Simendinger
@gmail.com.
59
JAX Chamber Council Meeting Dates & Times
Arlington Council
Mandarin Council
South Council
Breakfast & Networking
Hidden Hills Country Club
• 3901 Monument Road
7:30 a.m. • Last Wednesday
Member Cost: $17
The Red Elephant Pizza Bar and
Grill • 10131-12 San Jose Blvd.
8 a.m. • 4th Thursday
Member Cost: $12
Lunch & Networking
Jacksonville Sheraton
• 10605 Deerwood Park Blvd.
11:30 a.m. • 2nd Tuesday
Member Cost: $20
Downtown Council
Lunch & Networking
Bonefish Grill
• 10950 San Jose Blvd.
11:30 a.m. • 2nd Thursday
Member Cost: $16
Transportation &
Logistics Council
University Club
• 1301 Riverplace Blvd.
7:30 a.m. • 1st & 3rd Fridays
Member Cost: $17
North Council
Health Council
Lunch & Networking
Deerwood Country Club • 10239
Golf Club Drive
11:30 a.m. • 1st Thursday
Member Price: $20
IT Council
FSCJ • Advanced Technology
Center • 401 W. State St.
7:30 a.m. • Last Tuesday
Member Cost: Free
Lunch & Networking
Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens
Samburu Room • 370 Zoo Pkwy.
11:30 a.m. • 3rd Thursday
Member Cost: $17
Professional
Women’s Council
Lunch & Networking
Maggiano’s Little Italy • 10367
Midtown Pkwy.
11:30 a.m. • 1st & 3rd
Wednesdays
Member Price: $20
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Lunch & Networking
Deerwood Country Club
• 10239 Golf Club Drive
11:30 a.m. • 4th Thursday
Member Cost: $20
West Council
Biscottis • 3556 St. Johns Ave.
8 a.m. • 2nd Thursday
Member Cost: $10
Lunch & Networking
Florida Yacht Club • 5210 Yacht
Club Road
11:30 a.m. • 3rd Friday
Member Cost: $20
Copyright © 2016 JAX Chamber, All rights reserved.
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website.
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3 Independent Dr
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61
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Attachments:
Mayor Stan Totman <[email protected]>
Tuesday, July 12, 2016 8:53 PM
cityoflawtey; citymanager; Fleet, Janis; Charlie Latham; Mitchell E. Reeves ; St.
Augustine, Andrea; townofraiford
Fwd: Dump Truck
Direct Request Form.docx
F.Y.I.
Mayor Stan Totman
Town of Baldwin FL.
10 U.S. 90 West
Baldwin, FL. 32234
(904) 266-5030
BaldwinFl.com
Town of Baldwin, Florida Confidentially Notice: Correspondence to and from Mayor Totman is public record and subject to
public inspection.
From: "William O’Steen" <[email protected]>
Cc: "Frank Swindell" <[email protected]>, "Lisa Hughes"
<[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 3:40:51 PM
Subject: Dump Truck
S/C $1800 62
William O’Steen Distribution Supervisor Florida Department of Management Services Bureau of Federal Property Assistance 14281 U.S. Highway 301 South Starke, Florida 32091 Office: 904‐964‐5601 Cell: 904‐364‐6253 Skype: William.osteendms [email protected] DMS Customer Satisfaction Survey Federal Property Assistance Web site Inventory Web Site: https://ams.incircuit.com/eams/f?p=1014:1500:1291773534396001::NO:RP,1500:: GSAXcess: http://gsaxcess.gov/ User Name: FLSASP Password: SURPLUS “We Serve Those Who Serve Florida” 63
64
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Matthew Reimer <[email protected]>
Tuesday, July 12, 2016 8:28 AM
Charlie Latham
Issues at 1034 Theodore Avenue
Hello, My name is Matthew Reimer and my family resides at 1020 Theodore Avenue. Our neighbor at 1034 Theodore Avenue has been the cause of repeat police responses, some of which were called in by us a result of threats and disturbances to our family and others called in by other members of the neighborhood. The resident has been detained and Baker Acted on multiple occasions by the Jacksonville Beach Police sometimes within periods of less than 10 days at a time. I have audio and video recordings of her threats, trespasses, and slanderous statements. I have spent money on fencing, window treatments, cameras, etc. to protect my family. In short, that individual is impeding the neighborhood of our rights to life, liberty, and our pursuit of happiness. I would like to schedule a meeting with Chief Dooley and Mayor Latham to discuss options for my family and our neighborhood in dealing with this issue. I am available to meet at your office or if you would like to come and meet with us and our neighbors at our home, I would be happy to host. I can be reached at 904.509.1345 or by e‐mail at [email protected]. Matthew Reimer 904.509.1345 Report this message as spam
65
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Matthew Reimer <[email protected]>
Charlie Latham
Issues at 1034 Theodore Avenue
Hello, My name is Matthew Reimer and my family resides at 1020 Theodore Avenue. Our neighbor at 1034 Theodore Avenue has been the cause of repeat police responses, some of which were called in by us a result of threats and disturbances to our family and others called in by other members of the neighborhood. The resident has been detained and Baker Acted on multiple occasions by the Jacksonville Beach Police sometimes within periods of less than 10 days at a time. I have audio and video recordings of her threats, trespasses, and slanderous statements. I have spent money on fencing, window treatments, cameras, etc. to protect my family. In short, that individual is impeding the neighborhood of our rights to life, liberty, and our pursuit of happiness. I would like to schedule a meeting with Chief Dooley and Mayor Latham to discuss options for my family and our neighborhood in dealing with this issue. I am available to meet at your office or if you would like to come and meet with us and our neighbors at our home, I would be happy to host. I can be reached at 904.509.1345 or by e‐mail at [email protected]. Matthew Reimer 904.509.1345 Report this message as spam
66
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Amanda Patch <[email protected]>
Charlie Latham
Reminder: Beaches Joint Luncheon, Thursday, 7/14
Also, mark your calendar for Coffee on the Coast at VyStar Credit Union on Thursday, July 21. Click
here for more information.
If you wish to no longer receive emails about Beaches events and news please, click here to manage your
communications. If you experience issues with the link, please call 904-366-6628 or email
[email protected].
Amanda Patch
Director, Beaches Division
67
JAX Chamber
Office (904) 273-5366
Fax (904) 273-9361
www.myjaxchamber.com
Join us on: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter
68
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Charlie Latham
Events & Training: Annual Conference, Research Symposium, FLCityGuard Webinar &
More
Upcoming Events, Training, Webinars & Partner Events
Florida League of Cities
UPCOMING FLC EVENTS
FLC 2016 Annual Conference
August 18-20 in Hollywood - New Speaker Announced!
We are pleased to announce Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will be our guest speaker at the
General Opening Session on Friday! You won't want to miss this year's conference,
"Florida Cities: United & Strong" on August 18-20 at the Diplomat Resort in
Hollywood. Nearly 1,000 city officials from across Florida attend this meeting to share
ideas, attend educational workshops and sessions, discuss strategies for Florida's future,
determine League policies, and visit the Municipal Marketplace.
View the Announcement
Register Online
Pre-Conference Entrepreneurial Research
Symposium
August 17 in Hollywood - New!
This free half-day symposium, "Harnessing the Power of Local Entrepreneurial Energy &
Cutting-Edge Technologies: Transforming Your Community Through Collaboration," will
feature the League's municipal government research partners from MuniMod, Domi
Station, Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University, and a keynote
69
luncheon presentation from NASA's Technology Transfer Office Manager Mike Lester. The
registration deadline is Wednesday, August 10.
View the Flyer
Download the Registration Form
WEBINARS
Florida Regional Compact Initiative eLearning
Series
One Hour Sessions
The Florida League of Cities is pleased to bring you the Florida Regional Compact
Initiative (FRCI) eLearning series. Spread across three weeks, each of these standalone webinars will provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about the
Compact process and discover what cities are doing in regions across the state when
they come together to solves problems, share resources, and speak with one voice.
*It is recommended that participants either previously attended "Intro to Compacts" or
listened to it through the FLC U Webinar Library.
There's still one session left, sign up today!

Building a Brand - July 14 - Last Chance to Register!
FLCityGuard: How to Create a Crisis Plan
July 28 - New!
One Hour Session
Every city needs an effective crisis communications plan to help guide you through
whatever challenges arise, but sometimes the hardest part is knowing how and where
to get started. Join us for this enlightening session so you will be ready when the next
crisis hits.
Register Online
Affordable Care Act: The Benefits and How Cities
are Adapting to Change
August 4 - New!
One Hour Session
With the impacts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continuing to be realized, there
have been many changes to employee benefits over the last few years. During this
one-hour session, participants will review past and future impacts of ACA and discuss
what cities across Florida are doing to adapt.
Register Online
Click here to access our online Webinar Archive.
FLC UNIVERSITY TRAINING
70
Save the Date: Institute for Elected Municipal
Officials
October 7-9 in Tampa
Learn More
Save the Date: Advanced Institute for Elected
Municipal Officials
October 28-29 in Cocoa Beach
Learn More
FROM OUR PARTNERS
FACC Webinar: Organizing Email - Practical
Strategies for Records Management
July 14 - Last Chance to Register!
Learn More
NBC-LEO 2016 Summer Conference
July 20-23 in Columbus, OH
Learn More
FLGISA 2016 Annual Conference
July 26-29 in Boca Raton
Learn More
FMAA Annual Seminar
July 28-30 in Bonita Springs
Learn More
U.S. Communities Strategic Sourcing Summit
Featuring Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson
August 11 in Fort Myers - New!
Learn More
FLM Roundtable: Community Policing
August 17 in Hollywood - New!
Learn More
NLCU Leadership Summit: Leading Collaborative
Communities
September 28 - October 1 in Madison, WI
Learn More
71
NLC City Summit
November 16-19 in Pittsburgh, PA
Learn More
JOIN THE CONVERSATION #FLCU
Florida League of Cities, 301 S. Bronough Street, Suite 300, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Try it free today
72
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Mike Miller <[email protected]>
Nathaniel P. Ford
George Forbes; [email protected]; Carl Weckenmann; Patrick K. Dooley;
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Charlie
Latham; [email protected]; Lisa Darnall
RE: Beaches Trolley Performance
Subject:
Mr. Ford: I have had a conversation with Community First about sponsoring the Beaches Trolley and they stated that their promotional budget had been exhausted at this time. The only other company I spoke with was a representative from PepsiCo which was a referral from Mayor Latham. They stated that they might consider a sponsorship but not as a standalone. Considering where we are at this point of the seasonal service it would extremely challenging to find a sponsor for the remainder of this season. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you. Mike Mike Miller Manager of Business Development Jacksonville Transportation Authority 121 W. Forsyth Street, Suite 200 Jacksonville, FL 32202 904.630.3109 [email protected] From: Nathaniel P. Ford
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2016 9:53 PM
To: Mike Miller
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; Carl Weckenmann; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Lisa
Darnall
Subject: Re: Beaches Trolley Performance
Mike, Where do we stand on a sponsorship to offset the costs for this service? Nat Sent from my iPhone On Jul 11, 2016, at 10:14 PM, Carl Weckenmann <[email protected]> wrote: 73
All: Attached is a report on the current season of the Beaches Trolley. The information has been updated through last weekend. Please contact me with any questions you may have. Carl Weckenmann Senior Manager, Transit Planning Jacksonville Transportation Authority 121 W. Forsyth St., Suite 200 Jacksonville, FL 32202 904‐633‐8510 (office) 904‐673‐5176 (cell) [email protected] <Beaches Trolley Report_071116.pdf>
2016 APTA Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award Winner! The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is an independent agency of the State of Florida governed by a
seven‐member board of directors. JTA operates Jacksonville’s public bus service, downtown automated
Skyway and paratransit service. The Authority also plans, designs and builds roads and bridges. JTA’s mission is to improve Northeast Florida’s economy, environment and quality of life by providing safe, reliable, and
efficient multimodal transportation services and facilities. For more information, visit http://www.jtafla.com
Connect with JTA! 74
This email message and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the recipient
named above. If you have received this email message in error and you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and destroy this email message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified
that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this email message is strictly prohibited. Views or opinions in this email message are solely those of the sender and may not represent the views or opinions of the
Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). The JTA accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. Under Florida’s very broad public records law, email communications to and from JTA officials are subject to public disclosure.
75
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Attachments:
Office of Justice Programs <[email protected]>
Charlie Latham
OJP Guidance on Compliance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373
OJP Guidance on Compliance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373.pdf
Dear JAG grantee:
The following updated guidance on 8 U.S.C. § 1373 is provided for your information.
BJA is providing additional clarification regarding compliance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373 in the attached document,
which comprises the questions and answers (Q & As) that have been submitted by fellow grantees and
recipients in response to our email of March 31, 2016. We will continue to update our website with additional
questions and answers as we receive them. The link to BJA’s JAG website can be found
here: https://www.bja.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?Program_ID=59.
Please ensure that the information provided here is clearly communicated to your personnel and subrecipients,
as well as other relevant partners and/or other entities.
76
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Charlie Latham
STATE NEWS
Alachua gets 5th travel‐related Zika case Gainesville Sun State officials on Monday reported 13 new Zika cases, a single‐day record for Florida, including the fifth one in Alachua County. There are now 276 reported cases of Zika in Florida, all travel related, according to the state Department of Health. The 13 new cases top last Wednesday's record of 11 new cases. Besides Alachua County, three of the new ones are in Broward, two in Miami‐Dade, two in Osceola, two in Polk, one in Orange, one in Palm Beach and one in St. Lucie counties. Alachua County is among 20 Florida counties where Gov. Rick Scott has declared a public health emergency because of the Zika virus. St. Lucie County was added on Monday. The Gainesville City Commission last week voted to allow the city manager to spend $120,762 from the Florida Department of Health ‐ if granted ‐ to battle the virus here. The money would be used for mosquito control programs and to hire two temporary staffers to help with community education. County health officials are advised residents to fight back against the deadly virus while waiting for the state funding to arrive. They urge residents to dump out any standing water and spray any mosquito‐breeding areas. Florida has been monitoring pregnant women with evidence of Zika regardless of symptoms since January. The total number of pregnant women who have been monitored is 43. There is a Zika Virus Information Hotline for current Florida residents and visitors, as well as anyone planning on traveling to Florida in the near future. The hotline, managed by the Department of Health, 1‐855‐622‐6735. Source Maria Sachs 'categorically denies' sexual harassment claims, says it's an attempt to stop her from pursuing investigation into aide Florida Politics Sen. Maria Sachs said in an exclusive interview Monday there is no truth to a complaint filed by Matthew Damsky, a former aide, with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In the complaint, which was first reported by Gossip Extra, Damsky claimed Sachs undressed in front of him on multiple occasions. Sachs said that never happened, and said she has "categorically denied" 77
every one of his allegations. She went on to say she believes the complaint is an attempt to stop her from pursuing a criminal investigation into the unauthorized use of her personal credit card. "My belief is that, based on the late date that he filed the EEOC complaint and based on the ludicrous ... the ridiculous allegations in the complaint, this was an attempt by him to get me to settle, and to bully me or to frighten me into trying to make me not want to pursue prosecution," said Sachs. "I have always ... been adamant that I will not be bullied into trying to excuse any prosecution or to minimize the process that had already been put into place." Sachs said she confronted Damsky in January 2016 after her American Express bill was flagged by another staff member in her legislative office. She said she was shocked by the number of charges and said Damsky was the only person who had the authority and opportunity to use the card. She said she spoke to him with her Chief of Staff present, and asked Damsky to designate which of the charges were his. She then asked him to sign a statement saying he did not have the authority to make the accusations. Sachs provided FloridaPolitics.com with an affidavit outlining the purchases and signed by Damsky on Jan. 21, 2016. According to that document, Damsky made more than $50,000 worth of unauthorized purchases using her American Express Platinum card between Aug. 27, 2015, and Oct. 10, 2015. Those purchases included a dozen airline tickets on Delta Air Lines. Sachs said she sent him back to Palm Beach County that same day, and alerted the Senate's General Counsel of what she learned. She said she wanted to make sure there weren't any problems with reports being filed with the state. According to the Senate's response to the EEOC complaint, Sachs learned around the same time Damsky had improperly been taking reimbursements out of her interoffice account for travel that hadn't incurred and hadn't been authorized. After speaking with Senate legal counsel, Sachs gave Damsky the option to resign his position, which the Senate response said he did on Feb. 5. "In retaliation for Senator Sachs refusal to accept (Damsky's) conduct, (he) has filed the subject baseless charge against her alleging gender discrimination and retaliation," reads the June 9 response. "The charge has no merit and should be dismissed." Source ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES NEWS
Lots of algae gone from demonstration site; county testing air around blooms TCPalm The thick mats of algae and much, but not all, of the putrid smell are gone. The water in the boat basin behind Outboards Only on Old Dixie Highway still had the color and consistency of split pea soup around noon Monday, but the crew from Stuart‐based Ecosphere Technologies was still at work. Ecosphere cranked up a high‐tech system to clear algae out of the football‐field‐sized basin along the north Shore of the St. Lucie River about 4 p.m. Saturday. "We ran about 15 hours over the weekend," said Corey McGuire, Ecosphere marketing director, "and we probably need another 10 hours of run time to be done. But the surface of the water has completely changed. The algae was anywhere from 4 to 8 inches thick on top, and that's all gone." Ecosphere officials agreed to clear algae out of the basin for free to demonstrate their ability to get rid of the bloom throughout the river. It'd unclear whether the company got permission ‐ or needed it ‐ to do the project from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. According to a statement issued Monday by Martin County, any technology to be used to clean up blue‐green algae "must be reviewed and approved by (the Florida Department of Environmental Protection) for regulatory compliance and to ensure appropriate protections for occupational exposure." Ecosphere officials contacted DEP about the project Friday, the day before work started, McGuire said, "and they told us we don't need a permit because we're not putting anything into the water." The company submitted "a description of what they planned to do" to DEP about 4 p.m. Friday, said Edward C. Smith, the agency's director of Everglades program and policy oversight. Typically, getting DEP's go‐ahead for 78
such a project "would take a couple of weeks," Smith said, adding that procedures to expedite the process are being set up but are not yet in operation. In a statement issued late Monday afternoon, DEP spokeswoman Dee Ann Miller said the agency will work with Ecosphere "to gather the additional information needed to evaluate the treatment." Meanwhile, a private company Martin County hired began testing air Monday, around some of the most foul‐smelling blooms. The county is paying EnviroTeam North America of Fort Lauderdale $6,210 to test air for hydrogen sulfide in the North River Shores neighborhood along the river's North Fork and at two commercial sites in the Rio community: Outboards Only and the Central Marine Stuart marina. U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson, D‐Fla., and Marco Rubio, R‐Fla., and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy have visited Central Marine to see the algae. Test results are expected by the end of the week. Source Staggered Lake O flow aims to reduce algae risk on Lake Worth Lagoon Palm Beach Post Damaging fresh water releases into the Lake Worth Lagoon will be "pulsed" instead of flowing out as one long gush in an unprecedented move meant to keep excess algae from fouling Palm Beach County's Intracoastal Waterway. The change in how water is discharged from the C‐51 Canal, which meets the lagoon at the boundary of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth, began Friday. South Florida Water Management District officials said sending out water intermittently is meant to help normal tidal fluxes recharge salinity levels in the lagoon, which can inhibit the kind of algae growth that triggered a state of emergency in four counties, including Palm Beach. While spacing apart releases has occurred for years with Lake Okeechobee discharges into the St. Lucie Estuary, it is a new practice for the C‐51, which carries water from the lake but also runoff from other areas, including Palm Beach County's western communities. Algae in Palm Beach County is nowhere near the level of concern it is in Martin County, where a recent widespread bloom of blue‐green algae choked marinas and closed popular Bathtub Beach to swimming. Water management officials say staggering releases from the C‐51 will prevent Palm Beach County from a similar algae inundation. "If you are having heavy rains, you can't really do this, but it's been a little drier so you can stagger the releases," said Randy Smith, a district spokesman. "This gives salinity levels a chance to come back up because they are not constantly fighting the releases." On Monday, Lake Okeechobee stood at 14.82 feet above sea level ‐ within the accepted 12‐ to 15‐foot range, but too high for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during rainy season when storms can push the lake level up rapidly. Source Algae Found in Miami‐Dade Canal to Be Tested NBC 6 Miami A type of algae that could be spilling into Biscayne Bay has some wondering if it's as toxic as the algae that's devastating parts of central Florida. NBC 6 contacted the South Florida water management district about this Monday and what the resident told us they saw along a canal in a Miami Shores neighborhood. Officials said they are hoping a team from the state's Department of Environmental Protection will be out soon to test the water in the canal. Residents say over the weekend the algae was everywhere. Green Algae floating from the bay into this canal. The canal runs from Biscayne Bay into Miami Shores in Northeast Miami‐Dade and cuts under Biscayne Boulevard and heads further inland. Boaters cleaning their vessels also said the volume of the algae was surprising to them too. Experts like FIU Professor Kathy Rein are now out gathering samples across the area in Palm Beach County, where toxic algae was recently found. "The problem is when we have a lot of nutrients entering the water system you can have a massive growth of this organism," Rein said. "It's certainly possible to have to have a Microsystis bloom down here as well." The state has set up and hotline to report algal blooms: 855‐305‐3903. They've also set up a website with information, which can be found here. Source Green slime emerges in Brevard County canals 79
Florida Today Several canals in Indian Harbour Beach turned milky shades of green over the past few days, prompting state water tests and concern for some residents. "I just feel like it looked really bad," Catherine Vecchio of Indian Harbour Beach said of the greenish‐brown water she saw Sunday in a canal north of Bahama Drive. Water near Oars and Paddles Park also took on a greenish tint this week. The discolored water is in the area near where Brevard County discharged more than 1 million gallons of raw sewage on May 11, but it's uncertain whether that caused the current discoloration in the canals. On Monday, staff from Fish and Wildlife Research Institute sent staff to sample the discolored canal water. A brown tide algae that killed countless fish in the Banana River this past March had mostly faded, water quality experts said last week, but patchy blooms of the algae remain. And Brevardians have watched nervously as a toxic blue‐green algae has turned waters in St. Lucie and Martin counties shades of green and gray in recent weeks, raising fears of toxic effects in humans, pets and wildlife. Sampling Monday by Florida Institute of Technology scientists did not turn up any brown tide, the blue‐green algae devastating South Florida, or the type of algae that caused the "superbloom" in the lagoon in 2011 linked with hundreds of manatees, dolphins and pelicans dying. The algae was mostly a mix of two types of algae called dinoflagellates, Kevin Johnson, an FIT biologists said via email. Dinoflagellates are a type of algae that propel through the water using whip‐like tails. The algae is considerably larger‐celled than most of the harmful algae blooms the lagoon suffers from, Johnson added, making the algae have a higher visual impact at much lower densities. Source Algae fight leads to flap over endangered birds SunSentinel Protecting endangered birds shouldn't get in the way of stopping toxic algae blooms spreading along Florida's coasts, warns South Florida's top water official. A state plan to hold more water north of Lake Okeechobee could help reduce draining lake water to the east and west coasts, where it is fueling toxic algae blooms that can kill fish and foul beaches. But the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has raised concerns that storing that water north of the lake also threatens 10 nests of endangered Everglades snail kites along the Kissimmee River. Now, South Florida's top water official is blaming the federal government for using the Endangered Species Act "to handcuff emergency operations." The state will stick with its water‐storage plan despite this "oblivious federal agency," South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Peter Antonacci wrote in a letter Friday responding to the federal concerns. "For our part, we'll continue to protect our citizens and take our chances with a federal judge if and when these tin‐eared bureaucrats haul us off to court," Antonacci wrote in his letter to Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service counters that it never threatened to go to court over the birds or to stand in the way of the state's water‐storage plan, according to agency spokesman Ken Warren. Instead, an email sent July 6 from a federal biologist to the South Florida Water Management District was aimed at discussing alternatives for both protecting the birds and keeping more water out of Lake Okeechobee, Warren said. "It was a recommendation. It was not a mandate," Warren said. "The health, safety and well being of people obviously comes first." Source FINANCE, TAXATION & PERSONNEL NEWS
Lake Worth taps communications guru to boost social media efforts Palm Beach Post LAKE WORTH ‐ To better inform residents and expand its social media presence, Lake Worth recently hired a communications specialist. Laura Tingo, former communications director for the 80
Florida Department of Children and Families and West Palm Beach's one‐time public information officer, started in her new Lake Worth role July 5. "Lake Worth is such an interesting arts and cultural mix," said Tingo, 51, who was also a public relations coordinator for the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County from April 2012 to December 2013. "It just seemed like a wonderful fit. I see myself as an educator and there are so many wonderful and rich stories to tell about the people of Lake Worth." Last July, the City Commission discussed putting money in the budget to hire a public information officer. At that meeting, Mayor Pam Triolo said that would be a good idea. "We have a lot going on in this city and we're a very eclectic and diverse community," Triolo said. "Every city has someone doing this in some capacity. We've just been so cash‐strapped for a long time." Dolores Key, the city's economic development and marketing director who interviewed Tingo with Finance Director Marie Elianor, said Tingo will earn $54,000 annually. "She's more than just a spokesperson," Key said. "We've been wanting to get someone on‐board for our social media. I've been doing it as best I could, but it was more than one person could handle. It's time for us to step up our game." Tingo said she plans to implement a communications strategy, but she couldn't cite specifics because she said she's still getting to know the city. Tingo said she would like to examine how public information requests are handled, determine how residents are getting their information on social media and assess how employees communicate internally. Source GROWTH MANAGEMENT & ECONOMIC AFFAIRS NEWS
Boynton envisions six districts for improvements SunSentinel Boynton Beach's downtown is full of personality, city officials say. From a budding art and brewery scene to the historic Heart of Boynton, officials say that the city's downtown has developed into six separate sections, each with its own development goals, architecture styles and businesses preferences. On Tuesday, the city will discuss ways to highlight the city's districts and put it into one big redevelopment plan. The decision "is simply to make the plan more understandable to residents, business owners and developers," said Vivian Brooks, executive director of Boynton's Community Redevelopment Agency. "The plan breaks the [agency's] 1,650 acres into six distinct planning districts based on what is currently in place and what is the desired vision." Each district faces unique challenges in redevelopment, but simple fixes such as updating the city's streets, walkways and bikeways, could be a good start, city officials say. Mayor Steven Grant said that many areas in the city are in need of "street redevelopment," but his plan would be to start in the Heart of Boynton, where he lives. He would like to see more trash cans on the streets and more sidewalks and lighting for dog walking. According to a survey given by the redevelopment agency, more than 50 percent of those surveyed ‐ including residents, business owners and developers ‐ said that the city could benefit from improved roadways. The city plans to widen lanes, add sidewalks and bike lanes. Source TRANSPORTATION & INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS NEWS
Hillsborough County PTC is raising fines on ridesharing drivers, and Jeff Brandes doesn't like it SaintPetersBlog The Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission is poised to begin increasing fines on Uber and Lyft drivers soon, and that's not going down well with one of the agency's biggest critics, 81
state Senator Jeff Brandes. The St. Petersburg Republican has frequently criticized the PTC over the years for their confrontational stance towards the two ridesharing companies, and he said on Monday that intends to file legislation to prohibit the actions of special district agencies like the PTC, who he says stand in the way of innovation in our state." "The Hillsborough Public Transportation Commission continues to bury their collective heads in the sand, ignoring the outcry of support from their constituents who support rideshare services like Uber and Lyft," Brandes said in a Facebook posting."The PTC is standing in the way of services which have been proven to reduce DUIs and make our roads safer. The Public Transportation Commission is the very definition of crony capitalism, and we cannot allow this blatant corruption to continue." Last week, the PTC rules committee unanimously approved a proposal to increase the fines charged to ridesharing drivers who get cited by PTC agents from $700 to $900, while the fine for allowing the operation of a vehicle without a permit would also rise from $200 to $400. The proposal was introduced by Temple Terrace City Council member David Pogolirich. The two companies have never been fully in compliance with PTC rules regarding insurance and background checks since they began operating in Hillsborough County since 2014, despite several attempts to come to an agreement. PTC Chair Victor Crist thought he had a deal set in May, but that failed to come to fruition. The state Legislature has also failed to come up with a statewide regulations regarding the companies, setting the stage for each individual county in the state to attempt to find a way to get them into compliance with their rules. Source Jax gets $295,650 port security grant from Homeland Security Florida Politics Jacksonville is set to receive a $295,650 grant for port security from the Department of Homeland Security, enhancing hazardous materials response. Tia Ford, spokesperson for Mayor Lenny Curry, said the money has been awarded to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, and will fund the Maritime CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives) Response System. So what will the city get for $295,650? Two rigid inflatable boats up to 16‐feet that allow "direct monitoring in shallow and rough river/ocean conditions and two up to 19‐foot, flat‐bottom boats used for shallow water conditions and boom deployment." This will have a regional impact, providing Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia with "the only hazardous materials monitoring and detection‐equipped watercraft capable of supporting operations in the port, in the river, and in the open ocean," Ford wrote. Speed and efficiency of response capability will be enhanced with this grant, which will "provide platforms for security and law enforcement activities and can be tasked during threats to bridges, special events, and port security for CRBNE and non‐CBRNE actions," Ford added. Source URBAN ADMINISTRATION NEWS
City votes for pause on pot dispensaries Orlando Sentinel Orlando commissioners voted to approve a temporary moratorium on marijuana dispensaries in the city Monday, months before Florida voters will again weigh in on medical uses for the drug. The City Council vote comes after three would‐be sellers of either medicinal marijuana or the low‐
THC oil known as Charlotte's Web have recently expressed interest in Orlando storefronts where current zoning would allow them. "We're not trying to keep them from doing business in the city," District 3 City Commissioner Robert Stuart said Monday. "We're looking at: What are the boundaries in which they would do that?" If it passes a second vote July 25, the moratorium would last through Dec. 31. In the meantime, city planning officials would study the potential impacts of 82
marijuana distributors, including whether they should be kept at arm's length from neighborhoods, churches or schools. "Our zoning code, of course, was written well before anyone imagined marijuana dispensaries being legal," Assistant City Attorney Kyle Shephard said. After the Legislature in 2014 legalized a non‐euphoric version of marijuana used to treat children with seizures, the city determined that, under its current rules, dispensaries would fit into the same category as a drug store, like Walgreens or CVS. In November, Florida voters will consider a referendum to decide whether to legalize pot for treatment of many other maladies. "You're dealing with a industry in which the state of Florida has said, you have to treat them like a drug store and... the federal government has said, it's illegal," Stuart said. "So we're all trying to navigate these waters." So far, the city has issued preliminary approval for three sites in District 3: one on Orange Avenue near Winter Park; another on Orange Blossom Trail near Lake Fairview; and a third on Edgewater Drive in College Park. Several South Florida cities and counties have adopted similar moratoriums, including North Lauderdale and Boca Raton. Others, including Oakland Park, Weston, Miramar and Plantation, already have specific zoning laws in place. Source Florida League of Cities To sign up for FLC Clips, email [email protected] Florida League of Cities, 301 S. Bronough street, Suite 300, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Try it free today
83
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Hans Hassell <[email protected]>
Charlie Latham
Cornell Survey of Current and Former Local Officials
Dear Mayor Charlie Latham
I would like to invite you to participate in a survey of current and former municipal officials from across the U.S. The
survey involves political scientists at universities across the country and will improve our understanding of the local policy
process and policymakers' decision making. Your participation is vital to making the survey fully representative of all U.S.
cities and towns.
This survey is completely confidential and your participation is voluntary. Many participants will complete the survey in
10 to 12 minutes, depending on how they answer the questions and their internet connection speed.
To take this confidential survey, please click the link below.
Take the survey
Or copy and paste this URL into your Internet browser:
https://cornellcollege.az1.qualtrics.com/SE?Q_DL=8c4eptOh4oNAO9f_6X7dICHBhmTrNWd_MLRP_6szfHfn9wPzuKP3&
Q_CHL=email
You can learn more about this survey and view results from past ones we’ve conducted at www.MunicipalSurvey.org.
If you have any questions, please reply to this email. You can also contact Adam Dynes, a co-director of the survey,
at [email protected] or 801-422-2337. If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant, you may
contact the IRB Administrator at A-285 ASB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602; [email protected]; (801) 422-1461.
Thank you for considering this request.
Sincerely,
Hans Hassell
Co-Director of the American Municipal Officials Survey
Assistant Professor, Political Science, Cornell College
******
If you would like to opt out of future emails, click this link:
https://cornellcollege.az1.qualtrics.com/CP/Register.php?OptOut=true&RID=MLRP_6szfHfn9wPzuKP3&LID=UR_9QQEfj
Z2eB4TUIl&BT=Y29ybmVsbGNvbGxlZ2U&_=1
84
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Visit Jacksonville Partner Events <[email protected]>
Charlie Latham
Handshakes & High Heels Reception
If this email does not display properly, please view our online version.
To ensure receipt of our email, please add us to your address book.
July 11, 2016
Don't miss the Handshakes & High Heels
Networking Reception!
This unique networking event, hosted by International Pageants Group and Visit Jacksonville, is a FREE
EVENT for partners and community leaders, featuring:



Complimentary cocktails & delicious hors d’oeuvres while networking with the city’s elite business
professionals and city leaders
Meet and greet with the contestants from the premiere pageant for married women, Mrs.
International Pageants, as they compete for the 2016 title in Jacksonville
Silent auction with all of the proceeds benefitting the American Heart Association-First Coast
Date: Next Thursday July 21, 2016
Time: 5:00PM-7:00PM
Location: Omni Jacksonville Hotel-Florida Ballroom (245 Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202)
Click here to Register!
Feel free to forward this event to your team members and network of colleagues,
or Click here for invite image to share and post in your businesses.
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86
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Sandy Golding <[email protected]>
CPAAA - SandyGolding
You are Invited: Town Hall with Mayor Curry & Bill Gulliford
Importance:
High
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the Town Hall meeting with Mayor Curry and Councilman Bill Gulliford on Wednesday, July 27 at 7pm at the Fletcher High School Auditorium, 700 Seagate Ave., Neptune Beach. Mayor Curry and Councilman Gulliford will be discussing the proposed half‐cent sales tax extension referendum on the August 30 primary ballot, how the half‐cent sales tax extension will solve the City of Jacksonville’s Police and Fire pension woes and how the half‐cent sales tax extension will impact the beaches communities. There will also be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions. We encourage you to share the Facebook event with your constituents and encourage them to attend the Town Hall so they can learn about the proposed half‐cent sales tax referendum and make an informed decision when they vote. Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/578622708977830/ We will have reserved seating for the beaches elected officials and spouses at the front seating of the auditorium. Please let us know if you are planning to attend the Town Hall meeting. We look forward to seeing you at the Town Hall meeting! Sincerely, Sandy Sandy Golding President Beaches Watch, Inc. www.beacheswatch.com 904‐333‐5101 Join Our Email List Enhancing Community Through Knowledge Beaches Watch is a non‐profit, non‐partisan civic organization whose mission is to promote and facilitate educated and productive citizen involvement in government decisions that impact the quality of life of our beaches communities in Duval County, FL. Beaches Watch achieves this by raising, monitoring and researching issues; providing factual issue information to the general public and government officials; encouraging citizen participation in the solutions to beaches growth and quality of life issues and organizing citizens for action. 87
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Nathaniel P. Ford <[email protected]>
Monday, July 11, 2016 9:53 PM
Mike Miller
George Forbes; [email protected]; Carl Weckenmann; Patrick K. Dooley;
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Charlie
Latham; [email protected]; Lisa Darnall
Re: Beaches Trolley Performance
Mike, Where do we stand on a sponsorship to offset the costs for this service? Nat Sent from my iPhone On Jul 11, 2016, at 10:14 PM, Carl Weckenmann <[email protected]> wrote: All: Attached is a report on the current season of the Beaches Trolley. The information has been updated through last weekend. Please contact me with any questions you may have. Carl Weckenmann Senior Manager, Transit Planning Jacksonville Transportation Authority 121 W. Forsyth St., Suite 200 Jacksonville, FL 32202 904‐633‐8510 (office) 904‐673‐5176 (cell) [email protected] <Beaches Trolley Report_071116.pdf>
2016 APTA Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award Winner! The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is an independent agency of the State of Florida governed by a
Skyway and paratransit service. The Authority also plans, designs and builds roads and bridges. JTA’s mission
is to improve Northeast Florida’s economy, environment and quality of life by providing safe, reliable, and
88
Connect with JTA! This email message and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the recipient
named above. If you have received this email message in error and you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and destroy this email message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified
that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this email message is strictly prohibited. Views or opinions in this email message are solely those of the sender and may not represent the views or opinions of the
Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). The JTA accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. Under Florida’s very broad public records law, email communications to and from JTA officials are subject to public disclosure.
89
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Shine, Scott <[email protected]>
Charlie Latham
RE: 2015-16 School Grades
Right now we are looking at an all time high graduation rate for Fletcher at around 91% ‐ so, yes, how can it be possible that we have a "C" grade?!! Part of what we are finding is related to "Quota" system for each letter grade (created this year by DOE) and unballanced weighting of grades to advanement that hurt high performing schools. Hard to advance when you are at the top. Will have more soon. Thanks. ________________________________________ From: Charlie Latham [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, July 11, 2016 9:28 AM To: Shine, Scott Subject: RE: 2015‐16 School Grades Scott, I can’t imagine FHS dropping that far… I’m hoping Dr. Vitti is correct and there was a miscalculation. I know you are on top of this. Keep up the great work… Charlie Charlie Latham Mayor Jacksonville Beach, Florida [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> http://www.jacksonvillebeach.org<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http‐
3A__www.jacksonvillebeach.org&d=CwMF_Q&c=xqeeNFbi0oBFbe4IznK4e‐‐
5GG6Clqq80LVi1AqPhGE&r=XTH3t9KVWb6_uV_OKdZMamVlimENGv_UD_H1Wvxz_BA&m=DZj3jvG5mbzDKbqahYTeKgq
_fWTbfIjTTSrxA8yUeak&s=1JaDHKl3ftPLFsajMvZTArOmpFoP9FfckEhMWG9X8wI&e=> Office: 904‐247‐6268 Cell: 904‐910‐4004 Please note that under Florida's public records law, email communications are subject to public disclosure. From: Shine, Scott [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2016 12:57 PM To: [email protected]; Charlie Latham <[email protected]> Subject: Fw: 2015‐16 School Grades 90
Charlie/Mitch, Not sharing this with a lot of people and will have an official statement next week. I know you read the paper. So, want you to know I am "on this" issue. These scores were a surprise to me and totally unexpected. FYI Scott ________________________________ From: Shine, Scott Sent: Saturday, July 9, 2016 12:53 PM To: Vitti, Nikolai P. Subject: Re: 2015‐16 School Grades Dr. Vitti Well now, five losers and one gain. That does not look too good for my District in the wake of overall gains by the global system. So, would ask for each school in D2 that lost ground, prepare a statement as to (1) what happened and (2) what is being action is being done to correct it? I am likely to take some heat here, so be prepared for some push back from me on the district, RE: disparity of assets/talent going to other districts. etc. My general statement to D2 constituents is "unacceptable." Keep in mind, I have 22 local elected officials, on top of 80,000 constituents to keep happy. Seriously, I don't want to see any "C" grades in this district. Landmark outperforming Kernan Middle makes no sense with the feeder pattern for Kernan. Mayport, Landmark have the demographic challenge, so can see some B grades here. What I am looking for is two or three "B"s in the pack. Rest "A"s and nothing but As in the beaches municipalities.
Overall, I am not happy, and know you are probably more concerned than I am, but I have confidence we will show a much improved picture next year, so I am not worried. Let me know your findings. 91
Many Thanks! Scott Shine ________________________________ From: Vitti, Nikolai P. Sent: Saturday, July 9, 2016 10:39 AM To: Shine, Scott Subject: Fw: 2015‐16 School Grades Here was the email with individual school grades. We will be appealing Fletcher HS's grade. They are two points from a B. There may have been a miscalculation. From: Vitti, Nikolai P. <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Sent: Friday, July 8, 2016 10:59 AM To: ALL ‐ School Board Subject: 2015‐16 School Grades Board Members, Attached is a breakdown of school grades by board member district and below is a breakdown of school grade distributions for traditional public schools and charters. As you will see, overall, as we committed to, we demonstrated improvement. Firstly, we maintained our district grade of a “B”. In addition: • The percentage of “A, B, and C” schools improved from 64% to 75% • 90% of “F” schools improved • 67% of “D and F” school improved • 75% of the original 36 DTO/QEA schools have either improved their school grade or maintained a “C” • The DTO region had no “F” schools 92
• Of our 6 remaining “F” schools, 2 are charter schools, one is an alternative school, and two (John Love and SP Livingston) were approved for conversions NV Grade DCPS Traditional Schools Charter Schools 2015 2016 2015 2016 % of Schools # of Schools % of Schools # of Schools % of Schools 93
# of Schools % of Schools # of Schools A 25% 37 19% 27 15% 4 12% 3 B 17% 25 21% 29 94
12% 3 20% 5 C 25% 38 35% 50 27% 7 36% 9 D 20% 30 22% 31 95
38% 10 24% 6 F 14% 21 3% 4 8% 2 8% 2 ________________________________ 96
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3e4c3a 97
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Attachments:
Carl Weckenmann <[email protected]>
George Forbes; '[email protected]'; Patrick K. Dooley; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; Charlie Latham;
'[email protected]'
Nathaniel P. Ford; Lisa Darnall
Beaches Trolley Performance
Beaches Trolley Report_071116.pdf
All: Attached is a report on the current season of the Beaches Trolley. The information has been updated through last weekend. Please contact me with any questions you may have. Carl Weckenmann Senior Manager, Transit Planning Jacksonville Transportation Authority 121 W. Forsyth St., Suite 200 Jacksonville, FL 32202 904‐633‐8510 (office) 904‐673‐5176 (cell) [email protected] 2016 APTA Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award Winner! The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is an independent agency of the State of Florida governed by a
Skyway and paratransit service. The Authority also plans, designs and builds roads and bridges. JTA’s mission is to improve Northeast Florida’s economy, environment and quality of life by providing safe, reliable, and
Connect with JTA! 98
This email message and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the use of the recipient
named above. If you have received this email message in error and you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately and
destroy this email message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified
that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this email message is strictly prohibited. Views or opinions
in this email message are solely those of the sender and may not represent the views or opinions of the
Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). The JTA accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. Under Florida’s
very broad public records law, email communications to and from JTA officials are subject to public disclosure.
99
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Monday, July 11, 2016 11:38 AM
Charlie Latham
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
Combee, Baxley Plan Legislation to Include Police Officers in Florida Hate Crime Definition Sunshine State News Florida lawmakers are responding to a shooting on Dallas police officers which left five officers dead and 14 people wounded Thursday evening, pledging to create new laws grouping law enforcement officers and firefighters in the state's definition of a hate crime. Rep. Neil Combee, R‐
Lakeland, said, if he is re‐elected, he plans to sponsor a "Blue Lives Matter" bill for the 2017 Legislative session which will begin in January in the Florida House. Combee was looking for a co‐
sponsor to bring the bill to the other chamber and quickly signed on Rep. Dennis Baxley, R‐Ocala, who he plans to sponsor the companion bill in the Senate. "Last night's attack that took the lives of five Dallas police officers who were protecting the rights of citizens to exercise their right to peaceful assembly is absolutely despicable," said Baxley in a statement released Friday. "Our hearts break for their families and for that community. This tragedy hardens my resolve to fight the dangerous and growing disdain for law enforcement that is seeping into our culture." Baxley said he would do everything in his power to protect, equip and honor law enforcement officers and their service. The legislation will be modeled on a Louisiana law which will take effect on August 1. The new Louisiana law will make it illegal to target a police officer in a hate crime. The proposal passed easily in the Louisiana legislature earlier this year. "Our first responders deserve every protection we can afford them," said Combee. "This is a simple issue. Those who protect us deserve protection. When they leave their families to keep ours safe, they should know we appreciate [their] dedication and sacrifice." Baxley agreed. "Law enforcement officers hold the fabric of our society together," said Baxley. "An attack on them is an attack on our tradition of ordered liberty, and we must do everything possible to hold individuals who do them harm accountable." Source Bunnell commissioners to discuss legislative priorities Daytona Beach News‐Journal Bunnell City Commissioner Elbert Tucker wants state legislators to consider requiring candidates 100
for public office to pass a test on the U.S. Constitution. That is one of a dozen issues city commissioners will discuss when they meet tonight. "You need to be able to know what you're talking about," Tucker said. "You need to know what our laws are based on." Tucker said he believes there are a lot of people who aren't familiar with the Constitution and those seeking public office should have that familiarity. "There needs to be a little higher standard for people to hold office," he said. While he is serious about the idea, Tucker said he understands his fellow commissioners and state legislators might not agree. "This is a go‐nowhere idea," he said. Other issues on the list include funding for commercial road development, wastewater discharge funding, infrastructure funding support, stormwater project funding, economic development support, allowing municipality treated wastewater to flow through private agricultural land, return authority to local school boards regarding the choice to follow Common Core curriculum and curtailing the authority of the Water Management District to control private property. City Manager Dan Davis said city staff and commissioners put together a list of 12 items, which will be pared down to five at tonight's meeting. Source U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown speaks: "This is just the beginning;" She and staff chief indicted; each face more than 350 years Florida Times‐Union U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown was indicted on federal mail and wire fraud charges following a lengthy investigation of a bogus scholarship fund that made vast sums of money available for personal use. A grand jury also indicted her chief of staff Ronnie Simmons. Brown, 69, faces up to 357 years in prison, up to $4 million fine and three years of supervised release. She pleaded not guilty on all counts. Simmons, 50, faces a maximum of 355 years in prison, a fine of up to $4 million, three years of supervised release, and the assessment of $1,900 in special fees. He too pleaded not guilty on all counts. Bail for both was set at $50,000, which they must pay only if they violate terms of their release. A trial is expected this fall. The 24‐count indictment unsealed Friday accuses the two of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, theft of government property, filing false tax returns, concealing material facts on required financial disclosure forms and obstruction. It focuses on the charity One Door for Education, the subject of a January Times‐Union report and a series of stories since. "Congresswoman Brown and her chief of staff are alleged to have used the Congresswoman's official position to solicit over $800,000 in donations to a supposed charitable organization, only to use that organization as a personal slush fund," Assistant Attorney General Caldwell said in a statement from the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. "Corruption erodes the public's trust in our entire system of representative government. One of the department's most important responsibilities is to root out corruption at all levels of government and to bring wrongdoers to justice." Brown refused to answer questions, but she spoke briefly outside the courthouse after her arraignment concluded and said she looked forward to going to trial and proving her innocence. "I will let the work I've done speak for me," Brown said. "My heart has been really heavy, this has been a really difficult time for me." But Brown said she was looking forward to a "speedy" day in court to vindicate herself. "This is just the beginning," she said, while adding that she was looking forward to having her attorneys present "the other side" of the story that prosecutors put forward on Friday. Source ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES NEWS
Scientists agree: Lake Okeechobee discharges, not septic systems, cause algae blooms TCPalm It's the lake, stupid. They say pictures don't lie, and that's never been more true in settling the 101
argument over what caused the St. Lucie River algae crisis: Lake Okeechobee discharges or septic systems. NASA satellite photography has tracked a massive algae bloom in the lake since early May. Videos and photographs by news organizations, including Treasure Coast Newspapers/TCPalm.com, also clearly show bright green algae flowing out of the lake, along the C‐
44 (St. Lucie) Canal and into the river. It was obvious on a July 1 airplane tour: Algae bunched up on the west side of the St. Lucie Lock and Dam before pouring through the gates and into the canal, like Black Friday shoppers jostling to squeeze through the just‐opened doors of a big‐box store. Even a pre‐eminent researcher who calls septic systems "one of the primary sources" of pollution in the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon agrees. "There's no challenging the fact that the algae is coming from Lake Okeechobee," said Brian Lapointe, a research professor at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce. "The lake is the biggest single source of the blue‐green algae bloom in the St. Lucie River estuary." He said there would be no algae bloom in the river without the discharges, which have poured more than 150 billion gallons of polluted lake water into the river since Jan. 30. "I don't know of any time we've had blooms without discharges," he said. Yes, septic systems pollute the river, but not nearly as much as lake discharges; and it's the combination of the two, plus other water entering the estuary from canals and creeks, that makes algae bloom. Lapointe puts it this way: Lake discharges caused the river algae bloom, but septic system runoff "greatly exacerbated it." "When the algae from the lake enters the estuary, it encounters high concentrations of what we call 'active' nutrients; and that makes the blooms explode," Lapointe said. Ed Phlips, an algae expert at the University of Florida, agreed lake discharges caused the algae bloom; but he said septic systems may have contributed "a little." "It's a very good thing to shift from septic systems to sewer systems," Phlips said, "but you'd be fixing only a small part of this particular problem." The South Florida Water Management District disagrees, claiming there have been algae blooms without discharges. "Algae blooms have occurred in past years such as 2014 when there were no lake releases," states a news release titled "Myth versus Fact." Spokesman Randy Smith also said there was an algae bloom "during a no lake release period in April of 2014 in the St. Lucie but the documentation does not list an exact location." Treasure Coast Newspapers made multiple requests for that documentation; but Smith never provided it, saying only that district scientists remember it. "At the time, detailed notes about blooms (were) not something the agency kept," he said. The St. Lucie River had only two toxic algae blooms in the past 10 years: in 2005 and 2013, according to a study Lapointe prepared for the Martin County Commission, dated March 4, 2015. "That's right," Lapointe said Friday. "There weren't any blooms in 2014." An algae bloom in April 2014 seems highly unlikely, based on the district's own data. Blue‐green algae, aka cyanobacteria, can't survive in water with a salinity above 10 parts per thousand. Salinity in the St. Lucie River estuary ranged from 18 to 30 parts per thousand, according to a presentation Terri Bates, director of water resources, gave to the district board April 7 and May 15 that year. It's a "myth," the district states, that "Lake Okeechobee is the sole contributor to blue‐green algae blooms." The key word here is "sole." Source Indian River Lagoon council hears algae woes TCPalm SEBASTIAN ‐ Expect more dead fish and increasingly toxic, bacteria‐laden water as the algae rots but more blue‐green algae from Lake Okeechobee flows to the St. Lucie River and the southern Indian River Lagoon, a Martin County official warned Friday. "We are in dire straits right now," Deborah Drum, Martin County's ecosystem restoration manager, told the Indian River Lagoon Council at its meeting at Sebastian City Hall Complex. "I don't have any good news." Drum described an estuary devastated in recent weeks by a thick blue‐green algae that has fouled coastal waterways, closed beaches and outraged the community. "We've been assessing the beach conditions on a daily basis," Drum told the council. "If algae is visible, we are flying double‐red flags." An algae called microcystis aeruginosa has been flowing from Lake Okeechobee to coastal waters in St. Lucie and Martin counties. The algae can emit a toxin called microcystin. Swallowing 102
small amounts of water can cause abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, according to the Florida Department of Health. When animals drink water with blue‐green algae toxins, they can suffer liver and nervous system damage and can sometimes die from the toxins. Dead fish have been reported recently near the old Palm City Bridge, Drum said. "It sounds like the conditions are going to get worse before they get better," she told the council. Drum said ideas such as adding copper algicide in the water to the kill the bloom won't be pursued if they create other ill consequences. "We're really conscious about not creating more environmental problems," Drum said. The council directed staff to gather information to prepare a letter to state and federal lawmakers and to President Barack Obama outlining the algae crisis and what help the region needs. St. Lucie and Martin county officials also are asking for state help to test for and to prevent algae blooms from Lake Okeechobee. Martin County also wants the state to test for hydrogen sulfide for three of four locations where the algae is the worst, Drum said. Algae mats clump up almost a foot thick in some spots and emit hydrogen sulfide gas as they rot. "We are concerned about what the health effects could be," Drum said. Martin County is asking state officials to test the livers of dead wildlife or livestock for any signs they died from algae toxins. "It could have acute, or accumulated impacts," Drum said. "It has a horrible stench. I can't really describe it. All I can say is that it stays with you for a while." And more algae is on the way. Recent satellite images show an algae bloom in excess of 200 square miles in Lake Okeechobee, Drum said. Martin County beaches saw a recent die‐off of sand fleas, Drum added, which the county is having tested for algae toxins. Chuck Jacoby, a scientist with the St. Johns River Water Management District, said that the northern lagoon is doing much better than the southern lagoon but experiencing "patchy" conditions from an ongoing brown algae bloom. Water quality is benefiting as salt levels rise because of warmer temperatures increasing evaporation, Jacoby said, and fewer tributaries in the northern lagoon. "It still looks like there is some brown tide around," Jacoby said, adding that the brown tide is mixed with other algae species. "The lagoon's fighting as hard as it can, but it's definitely rocky," Jacoby said. And the recent blooms have been a strain on local government, officials said. "This is uncharted territory for us. There is so much that we don't know," Drum said. "We don't have any response in place that's tried and true." Source
FINANCE, TAXATION & PERSONNEL NEWS
Editorial: City fire fees will be a hot issue St. Augustine Record St. Augustine city commissioners are likely to change the way the city collects fire fees, as the plan goes to a second and final hearing Monday night. The proposal may not only change the collection methodology, but also the amount of the fee. Currently the city charges a simple 6 cents per square foot for any and all buildings. Last year, the commission looked at upping that fee from 6 cents to 8.5 cents ‐ but did not. This new proposal sets up a distinction between residential and commercial properties. On the table Monday night is a proposal to raise the residential rate to 7 cents, and levy a fee of 12.7 cents on nonresidential properties. Collecting fire fees, apart from taxes, is nothing new. St. Johns County began looking at creating separate taxing districts in 2008. That was just after Amendment 1 passed in January that year. This was not the original Save our Homes Amendment voters OK'd in 1992, but one that closed a loophole that removed the property tax cap for Floridians who moved to a new home. This new one gave the 3 percent per year assessment cap portability for homeowners. These tax caps were creating havoc for the long‐
term financial planning for fire protection, because the tax revenue stream was both weakened and uncertain. The county wanted a more predictable and profitable way of bankrolling fire 103
services. The city's assessment procedure is different but, we assume, it sees some of the same advantages. We like the idea of separate and unequal charges for commercial properties and residential. City Manager John Regan calls it an apportionment method of assessing the fees, based on the number of fire calls from each sector. Most firefighters also agree that commercial fires conceal startups longer and spread faster than a home fire ‐ given equal square footage. It's a tougher fight. Commercial properties make money, homes pretty much make memories. It's important to understand that the fire fees do not cover the total fire department budget. EMT salaries, training and some infrastructure are still funded by taxes. Currently fees account for roughly 35 percent of the total budget. The rate, as proposed, would raise that percentage to about 50 percent. It's also important to know that the vote Monday night does not set a fee, but only sets the groundwork for the apportionment methodology to be applied, with different rates for homes and businesses. The city says it's a more equitable system, and we agree. Truly, shifting the burden to fees makes sense in that all entities in town ‐ colleges, churches and nonprofits ‐ pay it. As much as 40 percent of the total property assessment in St. Augustine is off the tax rolls and not paying anything for fire protection for the taxed portion of revenue. Source Council set to implement fire fee News Chief FROSTPROOF ‐ The City Council in Frostproof will vote Monday night on whether to finalize the proposed fire assessment fee. The council will decide whether to implement a $167 fee, which could only be used for fire services. The fee would bring in about $214,000 or about 89 percent of the city's $242,000 fire budget. The city began exploring the need for implementing the fee after Polk Fire Rescue cancelled its $85,000 outside protection agreement, which it paid to the Frostproof Volunteer Fire Department to service areas just outside the city limits. The city hired Tallahassee‐based Government Services Group to perform a study on what an assessment would cost. The group concluded that it would need to implement a $190 fee to pay the total cost of maintaining the Volunteer Fire Department and for the study. Other options included going to a full‐time Fire Department or contracting with the county, but the council elected to keep the Volunteer Fire Department and to use the general fund to eat some of the fire costs. Source GROWTH MANAGEMENT & ECONOMIC AFFAIRS NEWS
City of St. Cloud Launches New Economic Development Web Page American Towns St. Cloud, Fl ‐ City of St. Cloud is now providing a web page specifically dedicated to economic development. The link to the "Economic Development" web page is located at the center of the top navigation bar at www.stcloud.org and it will assist the municipality in connecting, engaging and partnering with the public sectors worldwide. "This new page reminds everyone that we are open for business," said City Manager Joe Helfenberger. "It's a virtual library for economic development information and it was designed in‐house by our Information Technology Department and Economic Development Division staff. They have done an excellent job of assisting our web visitors in quickly discovering how to do business with us. Visitors can now see the available commercial properties within our city that can be from three acres up to 1128 acres. This addition is a great asset in our economic development efforts, and I'm proud to share it with those who are interested in learning more about our great city and becoming a part of it!" The web page offers a map of commercial property that includes the city‐owned 148 acres of mixed‐use land in Stevens Plantation North and Stevens Corporate Campus with 10 shovel‐ready one‐ to three‐acre industrial/commercial sites. Preliminary plans include residential areas buffered from 104
commercial development by a natural habitat, parks, ponds, trails and a road. Also available are links to Community Redevelopment Area, City ordinances, Land Development Code, Planning & Zoning applications and checklists, vendor information and bid postings. Source TRANSPORTATION & INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS NEWS
FDOT: Rights Of Way Wrong For Political Signs NorthEscambia.com As election season gears up across Northwest Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is reminding all citizens that state law prohibits political signs on state right of way. In Section 479.11(8), Florida Statutes provide that no signs shall be erected, used, operated, or maintained on the right of way of any highway on the State Highway System. Political signs placed on state right of way will be removed by FDOT staff and placed at one of the department's operations centers. FDOT personnel will make reasonable attempts to preserve campaign signs that are taken down and to provide campaign offices an opportunity to claim the signs. The roadway right of way includes the roadway surface, concrete or grassy median, intersections, entrance and exit ramps, and a strip of land, usually bordering either side of the road, which is reserved for shoulders, drainage ditches, sidewalks, traffic signs/signals, fencing, electrical traffic signal control boxes, utility lines and future road expansion. Improperly located signs on state right of way poses a traffic safety hazard that can distract motorists or block their view, endanger the safety of individuals who are erecting signs along busy highways and present obstacles to crews who maintain roadways. Source PortMiami celebrates 1st ship to travel through expanded Panama Canal News 7 Miami PortMiami reached a milestone, Saturday, when the MOL Majesty traveled through the newly expanded Panama Canal. "This is the first ship that traversed the Panama Canal that we wouldn't have been able to accept in the past because of the billion dollars that we invested here," said Miami‐Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez. "That ship and others to come will represent thousands of new jobs in Miami‐Dade County." Crowds celebrated the arrival of the Majesty. It's the first Neo‐
Panamax ship to reach the U.S. after crossing the newly expanded Panama Canal. "We've got a lot of competition with many ports throughout the United States," said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros‐Lehtinen, R‐Fla. "Anything we can do to rev up this economic engine ‐ which is what the port is, what the airport is ‐ is beneficial for all of us." The MOL Majesty will make four other stops before heading to the West Coast and then back to Japan. Source URBAN ADMINISTRATION NEWS
South Florida cities struggle to collect millions in code enforcement fines SunSentinel A homeowner in West Palm Beach owes the city more than a million dollars in fines that date back more than a decade. In Davie, a property owner owes $415,500 for maintaining an unsecured facility and overgrowth on the property, a lien that was imposed this year. And in Pembroke Pines, a residential property with numerous violations dating back to 1998 has fines on it totaling over $3 million. While cities throughout South Florida use fines to prod homeowners to correct code 105
violations, collecting payment is often a struggle. Cities cannot seek foreclosure on residences with a homestead exemption. So most offer ways to dramatically cut what is owed as long as the violation is taken care of. For example, Davie began an amnesty program last year and collected $78,917 in settlement payments on $353,300 owed. But it is still seeking payment on $3,024,937 in fines, with a significant amount of that total owed by just three homeowners. Danny Stallone, a code compliance official in Davie, said the amnesty program has not lessened the effectiveness of liens as a code enforcement tool. Instead, he said, the program promotes the "rejuvenation and restoration" of neglected properties, and ultimately raise neighborhood property values and the tax revenues they bring. In West Palm Beach, officials are typically willing to settle fines for 25 percent of the total owed, but special magistrates sometimes reduce fines to as little as 5 percent, said code enforcement manager Mark Joyce. "The number of problem properties have reduced a lot because the economy has gotten better, but we still have a lot of cases where the homeowners haven't made any plans to clear their liens," he said. Fort Lauderdale's lien reduction program is popular, with a special magistrate hearing 120 cases in May. "Most cases are concluded with voluntary compliance and payment," said Matt Little, spokesman for the city. "The biggest problem is with repeat offenders," he said. That is also a problem in Hollywood, where several residences that have been fined for years and owe millions of dollars. One was fined $3,200 in 2001 for a bad roof, but since that time has been hit with at least four more violations that now total $1.9 million. Another home owes $4.7 million for five violations dating back to 2008. The property owner failed to obtain a permit for a rear porch enclosure and failed to repair or replace the front sidewalk, among other violations. In Delray Beach, Mayor Cary Glickstein said his city doesn't have a serious problem with nonpayment of code enforcement liens but has struggled to get residents to pay other fees. "There are lots of types of fines that accrue that aren't necessarily property fines, like fire rescue fees and parking ticket infractions, that are part of a larger collection issue that is a common thread for most cities. Most cities will simply write off non‐payments as noncollectable because court costs are almost always higher than the amounts being sought," he said. Source Florida League of Cities To sign up for FLC Clips, email [email protected] Florida League of Cities, 301 S. Bronough street, Suite 300, Tallahassee, FL 32301
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Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Geri <[email protected]>
Charlie Latham
Demonstrating/parades
Dear Mr. Mayor, Please consider this suggestion. I think demonstrations should be treated the same as parades. People are parading down city streets and disrupting normal activity flow. Any planned demonstration should first obtain a permit and outline their purpose and route as is required when planning a parade. If that route deviates to, say I‐95, they are breaking the law and should be arrested and demonstration ended. If the parade decides to throw Molotov cocktails instead of candy, they are breaking the law. If someone from the parade decides to jump off, to say, loot a business on the way, they are breaking the law. The start and finish times should also be stated and enforced. In essence, established rules and restrictions for parades should also be applied to demonstrations. I am disgusted with people disrupting and taking lives. Our police force never know which direction danger may be approaching in helter‐skelter demonstrations and a designated purpose, time and route would help. People have a right to express their discontent but they do not have the right to disrupt everyone else's life because they are mad! I have prayed for a solution and hope this could be a start to controlling a bad situation. Thank you, Geraldine Olson 12129 Millford Ln. N. Jacksonville, FL. 32246 Sent from my iPad Report this message as spam. http://smtp.jaxbchfl.net/quarantine/notifications/reportspam/message/5517518/check/bd0afa0ca406f6cc0e8fe52aae5
adc9b 108
Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Shine, Scott <[email protected]>
Charlie Latham
Fw: 2015-16 School Grades
fyi From: Vitti, Nikolai P. Sent: Saturday, July 9, 2016 1:56 PM To: Shine, Scott Subject: Re: 2015‐16 School Grades I share your concern. Already addressed with the team while on vacation. We will bounce those schools back next year. Issue is not talent loss, though, it's the change in how learning gains are calculated at the state level and how well traditionally higher performing schools adopted their interventions for students or did not. Some schools and leaders did not shift fast enough or at all because they assumed "everything will be ok in the end." I have honed the principal to principal supervisor ratio again so Kim Bays, Anthony Anderson, and Corey Wright can focus more on the schools that slipped. I will provide more details for these schools later in the week. Please note that historically higher performing schools and districts dropped across the state due to change in learning gains without an accompanying shift in practice. With few exceptions and nothing to impact these particular schools, QEA incentives were not the factor. Few transferring teachers came from the beaches and not enough from these schools to impact school grades. No leader left the beaches. If and when you raise concerns I want to be sure you speak factually to the problem. It's not a loss of strong teachers or leaders to lower performing schools. Easy explanation without evidence (there is none). Issue is purely a systems issue among the schools that slipped and in some cases, the need for stronger principal leadership and district support‐accountability. It will be fixed by next year. Please know that I hear and understand your concern. I know you trust me enough to know it will improve. Again, will send more information about individual schools later this week. NV From: Shine, Scott
Sent: Saturday, July 9, 2016 12:53 PM
To: Vitti, Nikolai P.
Subject: Re: 2015-16 School Grades
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Dr. Vitti Well now, five losers and one gain. That does not look too good for my District in the wake of overall gains by the global system. So, would ask for each school in D2 that lost ground, prepare a statement as to (1) what happened and (2) what is being action is being done to correct it? I am likely to take some heat here, so be prepared for some push back from me on the district, RE: disparity of assets/talent going to other districts. etc. My general statement to D2 constituents is "unacceptable." Keep in mind, I have 22 local elected officials, on top of 50,000 constituents to keep happy. Seriously, I don't want to see any "C" grades in this district. Landmark outperforming Kernan Middle makes no sense with the feeder pattern for Kernan. Mayport, Landmark have the demographic challenge, so can see some B grades here. What I am looking for is two or three "B"s in the pack. Rest "A"s and nothing but As in the beaches municipalities. Overall, I am not happy, and know you are probably more concerned than I am, but I have confidence we will show a much improved picture next year, so I am not worried. Let me know your findings. Many Thanks! Scott Shine From: Vitti, Nikolai P. Sent: Saturday, July 9, 2016 10:39 AM To: Shine, Scott Subject: Fw: 2015‐16 School Grades Here was the email with individual school grades. We will be appealing Fletcher HS's grade. They are two points from a B. There may have been a miscalculation. From: Vitti, Nikolai P. <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, July 8, 2016 10:59 AM
To: ALL - School Board
Subject: 2015-16 School Grades
Board Members, Attached is a breakdown of school grades by board member district and below is a breakdown of school grade
distributions for traditional public schools and charters. As you will see, overall, as we committed to, we demonstrated improvement. Firstly, we maintained our district grade of a
“B”. In addition: 110

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The percentage of “A, B, and C” schools improved from 64% to 75% 90% of “F” schools improved 67% of “D and F” school improved 75% of the original 36 DTO/QEA schools have either improved their school grade or maintained a “C” The DTO region had no “F” schools Of our 6 remaining “F” schools, 2 are charter schools, one is an alternative school, and two (John Love and SP
Livingston) were approved for conversions NV DCPS Traditional Schools
Grade 2015 2016
% of Schools # of Schools % of Schools # of Schools
25% 37 19%
27
A 17% 25 21%
29
B 25% 38 35%
50
C 20% 30 22%
31
D 14% 21 3%
4
F Charter Schools
2015 2016
% of Schools # of Schools % of Schools # of Scho
15%
4 12%
3
12%
3 20%
5
27%
7 36%
9
38%
10 24%
6
8%
2 8%
2
This communication may contain privileged and confidential information intended only for the addressee(s)
named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination,
distribution or duplication of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient,
please notify the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. Under Florida law, e-mail
addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records
request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. Florida has
broad public records laws and virtually all written communications are public records unless specifically
deemed confidential pursuant to state or federal law.
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Sheri Gosselin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Charlie Latham
Florida League of Cities Free Summer Research Symposium
The FLC Center for Municipal Research & Innovation invites you to join us for our free 5th Annual Summer Research Symposium Harnessing the Power of Local Entrepreneurial Energy & Cutting‐Edge Technologies: Transforming Your Community Through Collaboration Wednesday, August 17, 2016 | 8:30 a.m. ‐ 1:00 p.m. Diplomat Resort | Hollywood 112
Our free half‐day symposium will feature the League's municipal government research partners from MuniMod, Domi Station, Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University, and a keynote luncheon presentation from NASA's Technology Transfer Office Manager Mike Lester.  MuniMod: The FLC 21st Century Civic Tech Competition  The Domi Station: Creating and Stimulating the Entrepreneurial Spirit in Your Community: Does Co‐Working Incubator Space Work?  Florida Atlantic University: Town and Gown Meets Entrepreneurial Start‐ups: FAU's Technology Transfer Program  Florida International University: Town and Gown Meets Entrepreneurial Start‐ups: FIU's Technology Transfer Program  Luncheon Keynote Presentation: Mike Lester, Manager, NASA Kennedy Space Center Technology Transfer Office There is no cost for city officials and staff to attend, but registration is required. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. The registration deadline is Wednesday, August 10. Space is limited, register today! *The symposium is held in conjunction with the League's annual conference but is a separate event not included in the conference schedule and requires a separate registration. Download the symposium flyer and registration form » Symposium Presenters
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John Dailey, JDA Strategies, LLC, MuniMod Administrator Micah Widen, Co‐Founder, The Domi Station and Jake Kiker, Esq., Co‐Founder, The Domi Station, Williams, Gautier, Gwynn, DeLoach & Sorenson, P.A. Daniel Flynn, Ph.D., Vice President of Research, Florida Atlantic University Emily Gresham, Assistant Vice President for Research, Florida International University Mike Lester, Manager, NASA Kennedy Space Center Technology Transfer Office Tentative Symposium Schedule
8:00 a.m. ‐ 8:30 a.m. Delegate Registration & Continental Breakfast 8:30 a.m. ‐ 10:00 a.m. Presentations 113
10:00 a.m. ‐ 10:15 a.m. Break 10:15 a.m. ‐ 11:45 a.m. Presentations 11:45 a.m. ‐ 12:00 p.m. Break 12:00 p.m. ‐ 1:00 p.m. Luncheon & Keynote Presentation Visit the Center's website for detailed workshop information » Additional Information
Contact Liane Schrader via email or at 850‐222‐9684 for more information on the symposium. Return completed registration forms to Liane Schrader via email or fax (850‐
222‐3806). This program is designed for public administration practitioners and municipal government researchers, but elected municipal officials are welcome to attend. This is a free event. However, if you register for the symposium but do not attend, your city will be invoiced a $45 no‐show fee. Cancellations must be received by Thursday, August 11, to avoid the fee. Registration transfers are accepted. *The symposium is held in conjunction with the League's annual conference but is a separate event not included in the conference schedule and requires a separate registration. Visit the Center's website for detailed workshop information » Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved. Florida League of Cities, 301 S. Bronough street, Suite 300, Tallahassee, FL 32301
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Call: 1 - City of Jacksonville Beach

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