I just got around to scanning this plan and while I appreciate the time that many respected people supposedly contributed to it (based on the names listed) -thank you! - it appears to me (1) almost all of it is a re-hash of previous ideas and plans (2) it is posed in a manner as to be politically correct (i.e. offend the fewest number of currently vested interests or causes) (3) lacks any real definition of bold, imaginative, and distinctive ideas that just pop off the page as "why didn't I think of that!?" (4) is very weak on providing rationales for the specific items recommended (most ideas lack any substantive commentary or comparison to other possibilities or support for why these recommendations are superior to others) (5) appears to be mostly driven by staff or city employee ideas or agendas - not a real and fresh brainstorming session by the citizen "volunteers" (6) is mostly common sense that has been continuously ignored or overlooked. I don't think we needed this level of talent to make this kind of effort to tell us this.
Example: It refers to both a desire to create more events downtown (now, where have I heard that before?) and later says that Metropolitan Park should be a mega-site with no mention of even considering other options such as the Shipyards or JEA property. Without any investigation, how do they conclude that this site is superior or has more future potential than others? And, did they compute the cost of moving the Kids Campus and WJCT as stated? Just moving WJCT is likely to match a large portion of the cost of buying the JEA or Shipyards property! Did anyone discuss this? WJCT buildings and land, alone, are listed by the property appraiser at $9.5 million (exclusive of valuable specialized improvements, I'm sure). And, as a depreciated value, you can bet replacement cost could be several times that amount. Add moving costs, and I bet the number would be north of $20 million for WJCT alone.
IMHO, the City really doesn't desire and/or know how to seek and execute creative and thoughtful solutions - just validation of what it already has on its agenda. The intentions may be good but the process is broken.
One suggestion would be to have a strategic planning blue ribbon committee of fresh pure-of-heart CITIZENS under the guidance of an experienced strategic planning facilitator. The committee should tell City staff - not the other way around - what information they want or need to formulate desired goals and strategies. Thoughts, comments, and ideas regarding goals and strategies should be sought from the committee members, the citizenry at large via town hall forums, surveys, and web site solicitations, interested city and independent professionals having appropriate expertise , etc. The committee, through investigation, inquiry, and vigorous discussion and debate should synthesize and prioritize into a final list the best key strategies that lead to achieving the desired goals without regard to cost or funding. Once this is done, the final strategic plan should be presented to the Mayor and City Council for adoption and support.
Upon approval, the plan should then be passed on to an implementation blue ribbon committee to focus on tactics, feasibility, funding, scheduling, implementation processes and methods, etc. needed to attain successful execution.
This process both builds support and consensus while recognizing that the creative mode is a distinctly different mode from the implementation mode. This is also the approximate and time tested standard for strategic planning and implementation but seems to be foreign to the City of Jacksonville. The absence of it may explain why so many of the hoped for goals of these "plans" and "reports" are never achieved.
