TU: Mayor Alvin Brown unveils reorganization plan for city departments

[Patricia M. McBride]

I understand the plan has not yet been put on the COJ web site, but it should appear shortly.  This is something we all need to focus on like a lazer as there are those that see some positions as equal to czars (like someone else has).  We must not allow anymore unelected officials to have the power held for elected officials, or those accountable to the people they represent, which should remain under the control of elected officials.  Be very wary as Brown also wanted to put "councils" in each part of town that basically would have been his people speaking for the community, and we have city council members for that function as well as CPAC in each section of town.  There is also a hint that there really are no cuts and only reshuffling!  Cuts in the numbers of people and the cost of city government while providing an acceptable level of city service should perhaps have been the ultimate goal (but perhaps, it wasn't?). 

 

The proposal would elevate some jobs and realign offices if the City Council approves.

Posted: November 9, 2011

By Steve Patterson

 November 9, 2011

Mayor Alvin Brown unveils reorganization plan for city departments

Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown’s administration will be run by five commissioners and a chief of staff, all reporting directly to the mayor, if Brown’s reorganization plan goes into effect.

The plan also changes how the economic development department is set up and elevates some jobs to higher profile positions.

Calling it “the next step in our combined efforts to take Jacksonville to the next level,” Brown formally submitted his plan to the City Council on Tuesday.

Read a transcript of the Times-Union's live blog from the mayor's announ...

That means the council could sign off on it as soon as Dec. 13, although council President Stephen Joost said council members would take as long as needed to review it.

The plan is the first phase in the reformation, which Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Hyde said set the stage for more cost-cutting measures in phase two next year. The changes in phase one will not increase the number of city employees and should allow the government to cut its budget by 10 percent to 15 percent, Brown said.

“The most important thing we’re doing is preparing for the budget year to come,” Hyde said.

The reorganization plan mainly moves around and renames departments, making it clearer — both internally and externally — what employees should be focusing on, Hyde said.

One of the changes most visible to the public involves the creation of a Special Services division that would deal with senior issues and other special demographics as well as work with a combined Jacksonville Journey and Children’s Commission. That combination will not come into being until phase two, and it’s unclear what it would do to the organizations’ funding.

The new organizational chart also elevates the military affairs, veterans and disabled services commissioner to a top-level post, making it report directly to the mayor, as would the economic development commissioner.

In the past, economic development went through the chief administrative officer and military affairs was part of the community services department.

Planning and development would be moved under the control of the economic development commissioner, which Brown said would help projects move faster but does not mean corners will be cut.

“We’re going to make sure we’re following the rules [and] we’re not breaking any codes,” he said.

That move came in for particular approval from Joost, an executive with Firehouse Subs. The council president said his job has shown him that planning and regulatory agencies can become bogged down in bureaucracy if they don’t consider the needs of businesses that use their services.

The changes to what is now the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission will require a bill to be passed by the Legislature, which the administration said will not happen in the upcoming session.

Under that legislation, the commission will still exist but would not have input into incentive packages. Brown said that will help save time when the city looks to attract companies; the council would still have to approve such deals.

The plan got a warm reception from council members, with some saying some of the changes mirrored ideas they were already considering.

“I’m really excited to have a willing partner,” said Councilman Ray Holt, who chairs a committee on privatization.

An hour after Brown’s speech, Holt led a previously scheduled meeting on outsourcing some work involving fueling and vehicle repair tasks as well as fire-safety inspections for buildings. The committee ended up taking no action because Brown’s plans already included timetables for gathering bid proposals from companies in those fields.

Other council members applauded Brown’s aims but also questioned his goal of passing legislation by Dec. 13, the last council meeting of the year.

“It’s a little ambitious,” said Councilman Johnny Gaffney, who said he appreciated a lot of the ideas the mayor has but wants to be sure members can really assess the plan.

“It’s an incredibly tight window for a very important bill,” said Councilman Richard Clark, who chairs the Finance Committee, one of three panels assigned to review the legislation. He said the council has one chance to make reorganization work well and needs to be thorough about reviewing it.

To give the attention the bill deserves, at least one committee might have to hold a separate meeting, said Councilman Bill Gulliford, who chairs a panel on community development and recreation. Gulliford said he’s willing to do that if it will help.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-11-09/story/mayor-alvin-bro...

[amanda choate]

Uh oh, everyone is in agreement, that scares me. Are no ones toes getting stepped on?