Councilman Clark to sponsor new 3-year Mobility Plan fee moratorium legislation

[thelakelander]

Unfortunately, this is the type of stuff that keeps us tripping over our own two feet.

Bill to be introduced Feb. 12 will place three-year moratorium on mobility fees

 By Steve DiMattia
Resident Community News

Just four months after a yearlong Mobility Plan fee moratorium ended, a bill for a new waiver is on its way to city council.

District 3 Councilman Richard Clark is sponsoring the new legislation, which General Council Dylan Reingold expects to file on Feb. 6 for introduction at the Feb. 12 council meeting. The proposed legislation would place a three-year moratorium on fees collected on new development required under the 2030 Mobility Plan, essentially extending the yearlong moratorium that ended Oct. 19.

In addition to the increased time period of three years, another significant piece of the new bill has to do with subdivision plats (a plat is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land that includes road right of ways, easements, utilities access, etc.).

full article: http://residentnews.net/2013/02/04/councilman-clark-sponsor-mobility-plan-fee-moratorium-legislation/

[JeffreyS]

Mount up guys we have to double our efforts from last time. Many who showed up last time will likely feel they have done their part. We need to prove it wasn't a one time spike in pressure but a relentless drive.  I will send out my first batch of emails tonight. Going forward we will need more substantial showing of force.  Doug hate to call on you gain buddy but your the man.

[sheclown]

Doug is the man on this.

[thelakelander]

Much focus has been placed on the amount of money being taken out of taxpayers mostly empty pockets to subsidize already feasible development.  However, one of the largest atrocities with this fiasco is the preservation of a land development pattern that makes places Jacksonville's cyclist and pedestrians at death's knocking door.  The mobility fee is designed to guide development, not penalize it.  There are several ways to significantly reduce or eliminate the fee by simply building development that makes Jacksonville a more human scaled community.  While it's certainly true that Clark's 3-year moratorium request would further lead us to the path of bankruptcy, it also promotes addition bad development policy, which will negatively impact us economically for years into the future.

[L.P. Hovercraft]

Jeez, who is Richard Clark really representing here? 
From the attached article it surely looks like Sleiman Enterprises and the Northeast Florida Builder’s Association more than anyone else.

[Tacachale]

It never can be easy, can it? Let's get to contacting our council members - the developers already have.

[Bridges]

This is very disheartening to hear.  Very.

I know doug and some other members do great work behind the scenes, but what can we do to help the process? I know we can get emails going.  I'm assuming this has to go through the whole bill process, so what meetings do we need to plan to be at, and encourage others to be at?

How about the Jax 2025 process? Talk about one of the most defining moments of what Jax will look like in 2025, here it is.

[Jimmy]

Someone needs to convince the Mayor on it.  That's another important angle. 

[PeeJayEss]

Nothing to add, just want to have this thread saved so I can stay updated on the meetings. Must show up in force. Stupid council.

[spuwho]

“The mobility fee contributes a very tiny percentage of our capital improvement dollars. The vast majority of dollars for capital improvement projects comes from our general fund, and the predominant source for that is our tax dollars,” Clark said.

If it contributes such a small percentage of dollars, then why is it such a big deal to stop it?

Why does a mobility plan usurp the ability of builders to enact construction?

Clark said the economy is driving his bill.

“There’s one single, biggest reason that I’m sponsoring this bill: Getting people slinging hammers and pouring concrete again. For me, its literally about putting people back to work,” said Clark, noting that, with the exception of Hart, who offered minor input, he had not conferred with any other developers in the creation of the bill.

I would like Mr. Clark to present actual facts on how a Mobility Plan keeps people from working.

[Jumpinjack]

At the Southside CPAC meeting, Mr. Sleiman proudly pointed out that he was able to build a development and provide sidewalks across the development from ONE SIDE to the OTHER as required by the City.  No connections to anything required.....

[Debbie Thompson]

Time to saddle up again!

[JeffreyS]

I have emailed my disappointment to Mr. Clark still working on the general message for the rest of our city government. I urge everyone to start your email campaigns and rallying more action groups to stand with us on this.

[Ocklawaha]

Time for a revolt, CLARK and REDMAN both get the boot.  Freaking Neanderthals!

[Charles Hunter]

Both are term-limited, so can't run in 2015 - or is there some grounds for a recall?  (I don't know if being an idiot and a developer's tool are grounds)