News from NBL
Political Action Committee (PAC)
Chairman Warren Alvarez
December 1, 2008
Warren Alvarez and I were invited to the Mayors December 1, 2008, News Conference at the City Hall. He wanted the Northside Business Leaders along with Dot Mathius of the Northside Civic Association to be recognized for their efforts to make sure the businesses and residents of the Northside were being considered in the mix during the many upcoming infrastructure changes. It was an honor to be able to represent the NBL and we will continue to follow the JAXPORT closely with the help of the Mayor's point man, Ron Barton.
Paul
Dear Friend:
I want to update you on the progress of the Better Jacksonville Plan as it relates to the current financial climate. I announced today that despite significant declines in sales tax revenue, the City of Jacksonville will continue to invest in building roadways.
This commitment will ensure forward progress on projects and serve as a financial stimulus for Jacksonville’s residents. As a result of lower sales tax revenues, however, the investments will not be at the pace originally anticipated when the Better Jacksonville Plan was passed in 2000.
Through a plan that I am presenting to Jacksonville City Council, we will put a $100 million in roadway projects on the street. This course of action will employ thousands of workers and provide an important boost to our economy at a time when it is most needed.
Furthermore, we know that port activities are the most viable way to expand our local economy. Of the $100 million investment I am proposing, $50 million will support Phase One of the necessary roadway infrastructure investment in and around JAXPORT. The commitments for new terminals by Japanese shipping giant MOL and Korean shipping firm Hanjin will nearly triple the port’s capacity for container traffic and will create new jobs and opportunities for our local residents. The port doesn’t exist in a vacuum, however, and this plan will allow us to begin immediately making necessary enhancements to ensure our roadways are ready to handle the increased port cargo expected in the next few years. This $50 million investment in road projects will ensure a more viable port while putting even more people to work in the process.
I know that many of you will have questions relating to the status of the Duval County Courthouse. This project will move forward as planned, creating at least 2,000 jobs for people in a variety trades and skills. We have the opportunity now to move the courthouse off the St. Johns River, and even more importantly to accept bids on this project in an extremely competitive market.
No one could have predicted the economic difficulties that this country has faced during the past year or prepared for the impact it would have on the Better Jacksonville Plan. Even still, I believe that it is part of government’s role to make sure that we meet our obligations to residents. I also announced today that I will work with the city’s procurement staff to find the most ways allowable under state law to give these projects to local businesses. This measure will keep even more people working in our city.
These infrastructure investments make good business sense. At a time when our community cannot afford actions that take more jobs off the streets, this is the right decision for Jacksonville.
I have also attached the press release that we issued today outlining these items in more detail.
Sincerely,
John Peyton
July 1, 2008
Political Action Committee Meeting
Guest
Ron Barton Mayor's Office
Attendees:
| Warren Alvarez | Jim Fair | Georgia Reed |
| Faye Rustin | Stan Storey | Gerri Jones |
| Bill Baisden | Nancy Burnett | Paul Forte |
| Max Leggett | ||
| Don Drake JEA | John Fennotti JAXPORT | Dot Mathias Northside Civic Assoc. |
Ron
Barton met with the Political Action Committee to update us on the 45 day
progress made with the different agencies on the road situation and the
port.
Ron
informed us that the meetings with the Mayor are held bi-weekly and progress
is being made now that all agencies involved are required to account for
their immediate and long term plans. These
agencies are aware that the community will be adversely affected by the port
improvements and plans and projects must be implanted short term as well.
A timeline has been set for September, 2008 for short term,
intermediate and long term plans must be presented.
Ron believes that the group is well on its way to coordination of
efforts and all are now talking. Before
these meetings began, basically each agency was working individually.
Now all efforts are being shared.
With Mitsui coming in January, short term plans need to be
implemented. Short term means
current to 2011. Hanjin will
open in 2011. Intermediate
plans will fall into place 2011 to 2017 with the Panama Canal expansion in
2015.
The port
has left us to believe we will be run over by a gazillion trucks. This is not true. Because
the economy has slowed down and the fuel costs shipping has gone up.
Short term or at least until the Panama Canal expansion is competed,
Mitsui and Hanjin may choose to ship to the West Coast.
The shift of Hanjin to Dames Point is also big.
Several short term plans have been discussed including improvements
at 9A and Heckscher, and to use August Drive instead of New Berlin Road.
Moving the cruise ships to Mayport may also be one of the plans
implemented.
Don
Drake introduced his proposal to the group to make changes at ground level
and no flyovers or bridges were included.
A dedicated truck (toll road) was discussed.
All ideas will be presented at a meeting to be scheduled.
Warren
Alvarez indicated that funding was not a big obstacle.
The money can be found. With
Corrine Brown and the Mayor, plus contribution from other counties, funding
should not be a problem. The
big issue is we must have a plan. The
Florida Ports Council should also be contacted and involved.
Updates
will be provided and you will be informed of any meetings scheduled as soon
as we are made aware.
Ron Barton’s main point was all the agencies are at least working together now and not independently and that the bi-weekly meetings have brought everyone to the table and working together.
May 5, 2008
Meeting of NBL PAC with JEDC's Executive Director, Ron Barton. Ron has been assigned as the point man by Mayor Peyton on the road issues surrounding the area affected by the upcoming Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) Project. The following is highlights of the meeting.
PAC Minutes, MAY 5, 2008
Attendees:
Warren Alvarez, Paul Forte, Nancy Burnett, Jim Fair, Patrick Caffrey, Bob
Peeples, Georgia Reed
Guest
Speaker: Ron Barton, Executive
Director JEDC, and appointed by the Mayor to MOL Project.
On
Monday, May 5, 2008, the PAC Committee of the Northside Business Leaders
held a meeting at Panera Bread at River City Marketplace.
Ron
Barton is with JEDC and is liaison with Mayor Peyton on the development of
the port projects Mitsui and Hanjin and the affect of the growth on the
Northside. Mr. Barton indicated there has been, a communication
breakdown with the groups involved and the people on the Northside.
The FDOT, JTA, and the city have “siloed” their projects and
these projects need to be consolidated and presented in a package to the
Northside groups and the people.
Rick
Ferrin’s comments, “Port is not in the road business”, was a poor
choice of words on his part because the port budget will be used to build
the roads. The development will be a slow growth over time and we will
not be dealing with the 8,000 trucks early on.
Mitsui will open in January and the transition will be over time.
Warren
suggested a workshop be set up with all of the civic groups on the Northside
in attendance. Warren has requested maps so we can better visualize what the
plans are.
Mr.
Barton indicated there would be two preliminary reports so we can see the
plans in the process. Between
today and January Mr. Barton wants to eliminate the unknown, how to approach
the road project, who, and how to fund it.
Road projects now take 20 years.
We need to figure out getting these projects done sooner.
Patrick
Caffrey posed the question, “What capacity do we have now on the roads,
what can they handle and how fast will the ramp up be?.
Mr. Barton explained that the economy will dictate the ramp up time
and at this time with the business slow down it would be slower. He doesn’t have the figures on the present capacity.
Warren
did indicate that Heckscher Dr. would be widened to August Dr.
He also indicated the money is there and it just has to be located.
Bob
Peeples indicated that the railroads are also an issue and very important to
the port growth. Mr. Barton
indicated that the rail yard is currently on the Westside and CSX has
exclusive access to the port. Improving
the rail system to handle movement of additional cargo would ease the road
congestion problem.
Brad
Thoburn with the Planning Department is also involved on these projects.
Paul
Forte suggested that the truck traffic from Mitsui operate at hours that
would not affect high-peak travel times, specifically evenings.
Paul also presented an idea for a road plan to Mr. Barton for the
engineering firms to consider. The
plan would give the city a less expensive way to move the 71% of the
northern traffic while building the dedicated truck highway. Basically they would build a road coming out MOL on the east
side of the Dames Point Bridge on JaxPort property.
A toll
road from the port to 9A was discussed.
This toll road would be restricted to truck traffic only.
Mr.
Barton indicated he needed to time to put a package together, including all
the players in the MOL Project.
Georgia Reed also requested to know projections for the next 20 years. Mr. Barton will have the information at the next meeting in a month and a half, June time frame.
April
16, 2008 Meeting
Warren
Alvarez Committee Chairman PAC requested a meeting to discuss questions for
Mayor Peyton, which will be presented at our Members Luncheon Meeting,
Tuesday April 22, 2008. Warren
felt it would be better to let the Mayor know in advance the questions and
that way we might obtain answers sooner.
Those at the meeting were Gerri Jones, Georgia Reed, Faye Rustin, Bob
Peeples, Paul Forte and Warren. Ideas
were passed around and then after the meeting a letter was drafted with the
questions to be asked. After a
few revisions it was approved and then emailed to the Mayor’s Office.
Attached below is a copy of the letter.
We
hope all members will make an effort to be at the meeting, because the
Northside Business Leaders need to watch closely the decisions being made on
the Mitsui project and the associated infrastructure changes.
April 8, 2008 Meeting
Warren asked the members in attendance at our regular meeting, Tuesday, April 8, if any members were interested in helping out on a few projects to stay after for a short meeting. Attending the meeting with Warren were Sue Brinson, Faye Rustin, Dick Berry, Dino Ponson, Janet Johnson, Georgia Reed and Paul Forte. Warren feels the club needs to make a statement and show its presence on the Heckscher Drive and SR-9A (I295) road problems, caused by the upcoming Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) influx of up to 5000 plus trucks a day (12 Hour Period). The potential of the second line will bring another 3000 plus trucks and their containers.
The MOL is great for North Jacksonville, but the infrastructure must be ready so that neighboring businesses and home owners will not be totally devastated by this influx of truck traffic. The roads will have to be built quickly and be maintained due to the heavy wear and tear. The road problem can be a logistical nightmare and require monies from many areas (City, State and Federal Government.)
Warren said we need to set a goal and have 3-4 questions for the Mayor at our next meeting, Tuesday, April 22nd.
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Political Action Committee
