Florida Politics: Jax Council OKs Pension Bills, FSCJ Downtown Housing, Term Limit Expansion

Florida Politics

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/200293-jax-city-council-finance-committee

Meanwhile, the Term Limit referendum proved more controversial. And the Safety Officer cure legislation discussion, as ever, was “delicate.”

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2015-422 would allow Police and Fire Pension Fund Board of Trustees employees to participate in the general employees retirement fund, eliminating any other option; the bill was approved by Finance. 2015-683 addresses the same concept, with a Charter amendment codifying it and clearing up a loose end from the June pension agreement.

Representing the Jax PFPF, Bill Scheu noted that progress has been made regarding fulfilling the city’s needs regarding getting more clarity on the Fund’s historic decisions.

Scheu also noted that a decision was made to terminate John Keane‘s consultancy by the end of February, with a reduced role.

Keane, former executive director of the fund, has been a “great help in going through his papers,” said Trustee Scheu.

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Good news for Florida State College at Jacksonville downtown students who want to live downtown:

2016-16, which would move $600,000 from a downtown historic preservation fund to rehab the Lerner Building at 20 West Adams Street to create 60 beds of student housing for FSCJ, was described as a “win/win/win” by FSCJ President Cynthia Bioteau, who added that 1,400 students indicated an interest in Downtown housing in a survey.

This move would leave $5.7 million in the fund.

Aaron Bowman, the Jax Chamber man on the Council, unreservedly endorsed the move, with Councilman Reggie Gaffneypiggybacking those plaudits, reminding Bioteau that the building is in his district.

Finance Chairman Bill Gulliford endorsed the move also.

For those wanting more residents downtown, college students provide an elegant solution to a long-standing problem. The goal is to spur continued improvements in downtown vitality.

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