NEWS FROM THE JACKSONVILLE CIVIC COUNCIL
Visit this page often to stay up to date on news from the Jacksonville Civic Council.
01-08-20: City of Jacksonville Urged to Add New Hurdles for Any Future JEA Sales Talks – Florida Times Union
The continuing fallout from JEA’s collapsed sales negotiations shifted this week toward potential changes in the City Charter that would give the City Council a decisive voice in whether a “for sale” sign ever again goes on JEA in the future.
01-07-20: Civic Council Wants City Council, U.S. Attorney’s Office to Cooperate in JEA Investigation – Jax Daily Record
The Jacksonville Civic Council expanded its call for investigations into JEA to include cooperation between City Council and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
12-19-19: Jacksonville Business Leaders Want to Stop JEA Sale, Start Grand Jury Inquest – Florida Politics
Another day brings yet another public relations debacle to Jacksonville’s public utility JEA. The latest lowlight Wednesday morning: a group of business leaders calling for a grand jury to investigate irregularities around the sale process.
12-18-19: Civic Council calls for further investigation of ousted JEA CEO Aaron Zahn –WJXT/News4Jax.com
The future of JEA remains uncertain after the decision to remove CEO Aaron Zahn brings even more questions to the table.
12-18-19: Jacksonville Civic Council Urges Grand Jury Probe of JEA – Florida Times Union
The Jacksonville Civic Council said a grand jury should investigate JEA’s decision to put the city-owned utility up for sale. The Civic Council said negotiations for a possible sale should halt until investigations are done.
12-18-19: Jacksonville Civic Council calls for grand jury investigation into JEA – Jacksonville Daily Record
The Northeast Florida CEO group also wants former CEO Aaron Zahn fired for cause.
12-18-19: State Attorney ‘Looking Into’ JEA; Civic Council Wants Grand Jury Investigation – WJCT
The Jacksonville Civic Council wants State Attorney Melissa Nelson to convene a grand jury to investigate the actions of the JEA board and senior management.
12-13-19: Civic Council co-chair on JEA: “Once the details became public, everyone was appalled” – First Coast News
The influential business executives who make up Jacksonville’s powerful Civic Council are sounding the alarm on JEA, again, as they call for change to how JEA leaders are collecting bids to sell the city’s public utility. Michael Ward, the former longtime CEO of CSX, and the co-chair for the Civic Council’s JEA subcommittee, says recent actions by JEA leaders have left him “outraged”.
12-13-19: Mayor ready to give City Council authority of JEA, won’t explain change of heart – ActionNewsJax.com
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is now ready to give the City Council the power to decide the future of JEA. That’s what he said Thursday in a letter to the JEA board and again Thursday night on Twitter.
12-13-19: As JEA meets with bidders, controversy mounts — here’s what you need to know – Jacksonville Business Journal
While JEA’s talks with bidders may have been happening in Atlanta, controversy over the deal is building in Jacksonville. City Council’s role will likely grow after Mayor Lenny Curry asked the body to step and evaluate the bidders, instead of JEA doing so.
11-15-19: JEA, Jacksonville Civic Council squabble about public records as utility sale explored – Florida Politics
As Jacksonville’s public utility explores privatization, rhetoric continues to heat up between it and stakeholders. This week, JEA responded to a claim made last week from Jeanne Miller, had of the Jacksonville Civic Council, a board of CEOs that has weighed in against the current process.
11-05-19: Jacksonville Civic Council: JEA not in financial ‘death spiral;’ privatization process lacks transparency – Florida Times Union
The continuing fallout from JEA’s collapsed sales negotiations shifted this week toward potential changes in the City Charter that would give the City Council a decisive voice in whether a “for sale” sign ever again goes on JEA in the future.
12-12-17: Civic Council Urges Community & New Member Inclusion in School Superintendent Search
The Jacksonville Civic Council today called on the Duval County School Board to conduct a comprehensive, inclusive, Superintendent search process and allow newly-elected School Board members to help select the next Superintendent. The group also offered to provide assistance with the search, which represents a crucial step toward Jacksonville’s desired future.
08-14-17: Civic Council Commends Consideration of Confederate Monument Removal
The Jacksonville Civic Council opposes racism and discrimination in every form and seeks to advance a culture of fairness and respect for all. We commend elected officials for considering removal of Confederate monuments from local public property.
04-07-17: Jacksonville Civic Council Urges City Council Approval of Mayor’s Pension Proposals
The Jacksonville Civic Council today urged the Jacksonville City Council to approve Mayor Lenny Curry’s collective bargaining agreements, presented to the City Council yesterday afternoon as an important step toward comprehensive reform.
01-17-17: City of Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance
The Jacksonville Civic Council supports a Human Rights Ordinance that protects all members of our community. All citizens of Jacksonville should be protected from discrimination.
9-21-16: Urge Duval County School Board and Superintendent to Work Through Challenges
Several key members of the Jacksonville business, nonprofit and philanthropic community jointly announced their support for the Duval County School Board and the superintendent as district leaders work through the challenging task of improving mutual cooperation and respect while focusing on overall student achievement with bold reforms and measurable outcomes.
8-21-16: Yes for Jax Ad in the Florida Times-Union
Voters in Jacksonville have a chance to shape the future of the City with their vote on August 30th. Voting yes means a dedicated source of funding — with no additional tax burden — will pay down the unfunded liability that has crippled City budgets for years.
2-4-16: City of Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance
The Jacksonville Civic Council supports a Human Rights Ordinance that protects all members of our community. All citizens of Jacksonville should be protected from discrimination.
1-27-16: Jacksonville Civic Council Endorses Mayor Curry’s Pension Funding Proposal
We commend Mayor Curry and the Council for developing the plan. We strongly and respectfully urge the Florida Legislature to pass HB 2016-1297 and SB 2016-1652 to allow the City of Jacksonville and its citizens decide our fate and make thoughtful decisions about the future of our city.
11-16-15: Jacksonville Civic Council Five Year Anniversary
The Jacksonville Civic Council, a nonpartisan group of the region’s most respected business and civic leaders celebrated its 5th Anniversary last night by welcoming American Enterprise Institute President Arthur E. Brooks for a presentation.
3-20-15: JAX Business Community Urges Legislators to Fund UF Health Jacksonville
This afternoon, the Jacksonville Civic Council sent a letter to Council President Clay Yarborough urging City Council to pass Ordinance 2015-54.
3-6-15: Jacksonville Civic Council Urges Pension Reform
This afternoon, the Jacksonville Civic Council sent a letter to Council President Clay Yarborough urging City Council to pass Ordinance 2015-54.
1-15-15: Jacksonville Civic Council Elects Ed Burr Chairman
The Jacksonville Civic Council membership elected Edward E. “Ed” Burr as 2015-2016 Chairman.
11-19-14: JEA Contribution to City
Upon initial review of the JEA proposal, it is clear that this is not a solution to the city’s pension funding shortfall, and the suggestion is a distraction to the other shortcomings of the Mayor’s proposal.
8-28-14: Statement on Behalf of Jacksonville Civic Council (the Civic Council) by Downtown Task Force Chairman Bob Rhodes
“The Jacksonville Landing is a community asset and remarkable site that deserves a design that is iconic and inspiring…”
