Jacksonville, FL — Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is outlining a series of steps he wants the JEA Board to take over the next several weeks, as the debate over JEA’s strategic review reaches a fever pitch.
In a letter to JEA Board members sent on Thursday, Curry said the process of vetting five different pathways and aligning them for simultaneous board consideration has been complicated, and decision-making of this magnitude is not easy.
Despite claims by many City Council Members that JEA’s process has not been transparent, Curry said he is ‘convinced that you have all conducted the process openly and in accordance with the law’.
Curry outlines multiple steps he wants the JEA Board to take as early as next week’s monthly board meeting. He says the Board should prepare possible scenarios by the end of January for the 19-member Jacksonville City Council to vote on. Curry is also calling for JEA to schedule community meetings in each of the 14 districts represented by City Council, at a minimum.
And he even outlines a sixth possible scenario that would be collapsing and moving the independent authority into a municipal department whose operation and budget would be managed by City Council and the Mayor’s Administration.
“Although, on its face this is a scenario I would be inclined to reject, I believe providing City Council research and legislative changes they can consider is important”, Curry said.
Curry said the City Council can conclude the strategic planning process in conjunction with his staff and JEA personnel as needed, and then ultimately decide whether one option is sent to a ballot or if multiple options are sent to a ballot for voters to consider.
JEA spokesperson Gina Kyle tells WOKV JEA leadership will not comment until a thorough review of the letter has been completed. WOKV attempted to interview the Mayor but a spokesperson said he is unavailable and wants the letter to speak for itself.
JEA says its leadership will have no comment until a thorough review of Mayor @lennycurry letter has been completed. What action Curry is calling for the #JEA Board to take: https://t.co/myF6FGUfff@WOKVNews @ActionNewsJax @NewsfromJEA
— Rich Jones (@RichJonesJax) December 13, 2019
I sent a letter to the JEA Board today asking them to do a number of things. Among my request was for them to move all decision making authority for the strategic future of JEA to City Council including the final decision. on the ITN process.
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) December 13, 2019
2. The JEA will not pick the bidder nor will they pick the path forward. Those decisions will be made your City Council. They can vote a buy or sell up or down among a number of bidders. Council can also choose a different path forward.
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) December 13, 2019
3. I’ve also asked them to host town halls to hear and inform the people.
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) December 13, 2019
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) December 13, 2019
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) December 13, 2019
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) December 13, 2019
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) December 13, 2019