Now that we have celebrated the 40th anniversary of Consolidation, we should perhaps acknowledge that it's time to take a another look at the efficiency of our consolidated government.  The Charter Commission, a once-a-decade group appointed to consider changes to the city's charter, is currently looking at suggestions for improving the form of government that Jacksonville/Duval County pioneered to the rest of the country in 1968.

One of the suggestions that has been made includes re-examining the role of the General Counsel's Office in regards to any potential conflict of interest that might arise between representing the Mayor's Office and the City Council (as well as the other Constitutional Officers).  Another suggestion that has been made is the adoption of staggered terms for City Council members.  The ideas are numerous, and many sound quite reasonable, but there are a few that have yet to be mentioned that should also receive attention.

First of all, why does a consolidated government need 19 elected City Council members?  (This, of course, on top of the five constitutional officers that are also elected.)  Do 19 representatives for a population of 850,000+ suggest an efficient consolidated government?  Orlando has 6 City Commissioners, which when combined with the 6 County Commissioners equals a total of 12 representatives---for a population nearly 200,000 larger than Jacksonville.  Tampa and Hillsborough County are similar.  Their City Council, when combined with the County Commission, equals 14 representatives---for a population of 1.2 million.  Even Miami and Miami-Dade have 1 less combined City Council/County Commissioner than Jacksonville---for a population 3 times as large.  With a proposed City Council budget of $9.5 million, perhaps it's time to re-visit the need for 5 at-large seats and explore reducing the number of council districts.

One of the suggestions that has been floating around for the Charter Review Commission is a look at whether or not the Sheriff should be an appointed position.  This would, in my opinion, be a bad move.  Duval County has benefited from a Sheriff who is directly accountable to the public.  It's hard to imagine an appointed Sheriff willing to take the Mayor's Office and the City Council to task over the budget like John Rutherford has.  While the Sheriff's Office should be forced to justify expenditures just like any other city department, it's hard not to admire a man willing to put his political capital on the line to do what he feels is in the city's best interest.  Appointing future Sheriff's would likely lead to "Yes Men (or Women)" who were unwilling to challenge the Mayor who appointed them, even when they felt it was in the best interest of their department.

On the other hand, the City and the Tax Collector have been at war for several years over who is responsible for doing what functions and, many counties have already moved to consolidate the functions of the Tax Collector within county government.  Perhaps Jacksonville should explore that option.

Another suggestion that has been floated has been the possibility of an appointed school board filled with volunteers.  This idea, which the Times-Union touted in a June 7 Editorial, is intriguing.  The plan would be modeled after the university board of regents model where appointees---often distinguished community leaders---serve without a salary.  As it is, the Mayor and the City Council are often incorrectly viewed by voters as being responsible for the City's education system, this type of system would place the responsibility for high-quality appointees at their feet.

One final suggestion to explore would be a review of the city's independent authorities.  With the tremendous growth at the JaxPort and the consistently-high profit margins maintained by JAA, wouldn't it be nice if JEA wasn't the only independent agency that made an annual contribution to the city's revenues?

In addition, the Board announced that they will appropriate $1.5 million dollars in order to receive matching federal stimulus grants of $4.6 million for airport improvement projects at Jacksonville International Airport.  The specific projects have yet to be identified, but JAA management will report to the Board before awarding any contracts.

Airport Chief Executive John D. Clark III earned a reputation in Jacksonville, Fla., for being an anti-union spendthrift, cutting jobs while treating himself lavishly as he traveled the world.

He made separate business trips to Paris, London, Shanghai, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Cairo -- four continents, all paid for by the airport and all within one year.

He once authorized $10,000 for a limousine in Paris for an airport board member and a lawyer, and ended up apologizing for it.

All of that on top of a $241,500 salary as Jacksonville airport chief executive officer, plus a car allowance and a private club membership.

But if such spending raised eyebrows in Jacksonville, airport officials in Indianapolis figure it comes with the job. They are poised to open up their wallets and formally name Clark the next executive director and CEO of Indianapolis International Airport at Friday's Indianapolis Airport Authority Board meeting.

The full story can be found here.

The man nominated to be CEO of the Indianapolis Airport Authority has been a polarizing figure in Jacksonville, where he’s been CEO of the Florida city’s aviation authority since 2001. 

During that time, Clark amassed a long list of critics — ranging from the city council to airport police to neighborhood residents in the path of a proposed runway extension. 

Jacksonville’s alternative newspaper, Folioweekly, in November published a scathing article about Clark, painting him as a big spender with little regard for authority.

Recently named chairman of the North American division of Airports Council International, Clark has flown around the world for ACI conferences, at the airport authority’s expense. 

According to the newspaper, Clark has flown to Shanghai, Brussels, Frankfort, Paris, London and Buenos Aires in the past two years, racking up expensive hotel bills, including a $726-per-night room in Buenos Aires and $582 room in Paris. His trip to the London Air Show cost the authority $10,491 and his trip to Shanghai cost $11,304.

“I’ve said on several occasions I’d be happy to write him a letter of recommendation, if it got him a job somewhere else,” said Bill Bishop, a Jacksonville architect and city councilman who helped stop Clark and the Jacksonville Aviation Authority from extending a runway into a residential area.
 
Hours after the Indianapolis Airport Authority announced Clark’s selection on March 10, bloggers who had “Googled” his name starting having a field day questioning the authority’s CEO pick.

He can now travel to Hong Kong on someone else's dime.

In contrast to a 5% decrease in traffic, 6% decrease in cargo and 14% fewer available seats, John Clark earned his annual 5% pay increase to top off his base salary of $241,000. Oh, and let's not forget his $72,300 bonus; his $10,200 car allowance; his $9,000 cell phone allowance; his $15,000 retirement contribution and his membership at his choice of the University Club or the River Club.

It's always interesting when an executive's salary continues to increase while his business is declining, particularly when the executive is laying off employees. We are still awaiting word on whether or not Mr. Clark's salary will be decreased to reflect the downturn in his business. (Of course, a decrease shouldn't hurt him too much. His salary remains higher than his counterparts at true international airports such as Miami, Tampa, Orlando or Atlanta.) Somehow I don't expect the answer to be coming anytime soon...

The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce opposes two bills that would allow City Council to partially regulate what the city’s independent agencies can and can’t do. In a letter to Council President Ronnie Fussell, Chamber Chair Ron Autrey says the consolidated nature of Jacksonville’s government was established to assure the independence of those agencies. “The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce urges you to vote no” on the two bills, wrote Autrey.

Surprise!

• Base salary of $241,000 (with an automatic 5% annual increase through 2012)
• $850 monthly car allowance
• $750 monthly cell phone/business expense allowance ($50 annual increase)
• 100% coverage of health insurance premiums
• Membership dues to the River Club or University Club
• $15,000 annual retirement contribution
• Business travel expenses, as needed, which included such things as $10,491 to attend this year's London Air Show and $11,304 to attend an Airports Council International meeting in Shanghai

Folio pointed out that Mr. Clark recently ordered staff cuts at JIA, presumably to preserve the 30% operating margin that triggers an automatic 30% bonus payout to him ($72,300).  The City Council, particularly Clay Yarborough, Glorious Johnson and Bill Bishop, appear to have taken an interest in reigning in JAA by attempting to restrict his dictatorial powers to move around his budget.  With JAA operating at such impressive margins, perhaps its time for it to start contributing to the City's general fund, much like another independent authority (the JEA) does...