A look at
some of the action taken by the Jacksonville City Council last
night.
ISSUE: Shands Jacksonville funding
What it means: Approves a $150 million funding
package for cash-strapped Shands Jacksonville hospital, $70
million of which will be paid by the city. Shands is the
city's only high-level trauma center and provides care for the
city's poor. The hospital has struggled with old debt and also
needs money for capital projects to keep up with the latest
technology. Shands HealthCare, the hospital's
Gainesville-based financial partner, will provide $50 million,
the University of Florida will give $20 million and the state
will kick in about $9 million.
Action: Approved.
ISSUE: Preservation Project
What it means: Spends $7.5 million to buy more than
2,500 acres of undeveloped land on the Northside, near the
Nassau County line. The land will be used for trails and other
passive recreation activities.
Action: Approved.
ISSUE: Redevelopment incentive
What it means: Approves a $250,000 grant from the
Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund to Trusted
Hand Service Inc., a Jacksonville janitorial service company.
The company, which has 93 employees in Jacksonville and more
than 250 across the country, is building its headquarters at
the corner of Davis Street and Kings Road near Interstate 95.
The company, which will move from its Edison Street office, is
planning to hire 50 more workers in Jacksonville after the
$3.1 million project is complete.
Action: Approved.
ISSUE: Springfield incentive
What it means: Approves a $250,000 loan from the
Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund to Symbiosis
Investments, which will put a variety of businesses in an
abandoned Springfield auto repair shop. The 8,000-square-foot
building at 1850 N. Main St. will have several tenants,
including a music and book store, a cafe and a community
theater.
Action: Approved.
ISSUE: Industrial incentives
What it means: Approves a variety of state and city
incentives for Ryan Foods, a Westside company that will
upgrade its plant to produce a soy-based milk product. The
company, at 2198 W. Beaver St., has been in Jacksonville 47
years and has 62 employees. The incentives include $500,000
from the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund and
a $146,000 grant from the state that requires the city to
match $24,000.
Action: Approved.
ISSUE: Westside park
What it means: Uses $140,000 from Better
Jacksonville Plan bond funds for the Jacksonville Heights
Elementary Park, 7750 S. Tempest St. The project will include
a playscape and other playground equipment, new fencing,
lighting and landscape improvements.
Action: Approved.
For more information about any agenda items, contact
the Council Secretary's Office at 630-1404.
