Item 9AAGENDA ITEM # 9A
MAY 29, 2007
May 21, 2007
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Honorable Mayor
and Members of the Commission
FROM: Hans
City Manager
SUBJECT: City Man er's Report
Mayport Road Median Proiect; It has been reported recently that the current estimates for the
cost of installing the Mayport Road medians and the related resurfacing work would be in excess
of the amounts budgeted by the Cities of Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach and the Florida
Department of Transportation. After several letters and phone conversations, the FDOT agreed
to increase their funding, although it was not enough to cover the entire escalation in project cost.
One of the concerns raised by the FDOT was that several components of the project were not
included in the original project scope, mostly dealing with maintenance items such as
replacement of broken sidewalks, driveway closures and storm drains.
Most recently, the City of Jacksonville has decided to take bids for the project and expects the
advertisement to be issued within approximately four weeks. The bid will break the project into
two parts. The base bid will include the resurfacing, median construction and landscaping. A
second, optional, bid will including all of the repair work needed on Mayport Road. This will
give the FDOT the choice to have the median contractor do the additional work or to have it
done later. The bid opening is expected one month after the advertisement and an award is
expected in another 120 days. This would mean that the notice to proceed is expected in January
of 2008.
Governor Signs Cable Franchising Bill; In spite of being requested to veto the cable
franchising bill by numerous cities and counties, the Florida League of Cities and several
consumer groups, Governor Crist signed the bill on May 18, 2007. A copy of the "Legislative
Alert" from the League of Cities as well ~as a letter from Governor Crist dated May 18, 2007 is
attached for your review.
AGENDA ITEM # 9A
MAY 29, 2007
~MMEDIA TE A CTION REQ UESTED ~
Governor Signs HB 529 Regarding Cable Franchising
On Friday, May 18, Governor Crist signed HB 529, "The Consumer Choice
Act of 2007." This is the Cable and Video Franchising bill that removes local
authority to negotiate cable and video franchises for cable service in their
cities.
Attached is a letter by Governor Crist highlighting his concerns with the
legislation that he signed.
Thank you to all the cities who actively communicated with their legislators
and the governor
Should you have any questions or require additional information, please
contact Allison Payne at the League at 800-342-8112 or a-mail:
a~ayne(a~flcities. com .
Attachment
Florida League of Cities, Inc. • P.O. Box 1757 • Tallahassee, FL 32302-1757 • (850) 222-9684 • Suncom 278-5331 • FAX (850) 222806
AGENDA ITEM # 9A
----__- _ __--___-- MAY 29, 2007
.,... ,
- ~'~ ~,=~ CHARLIE GRIST
~~
?z ~ .. ~ ~~-:~ai GOVERNOR
~` '~"~~ `. `"~''~ May 18, 2007
The Honorable Kurt S. Browning ~.~,_ `::a
__,
Secretary of State .-°~~
•-< „~.•
Florida Department of State - _ •
R.A. Gray Building ~~
~,::.. u _
500 South Bronough Street ~~~=-
.., ,`~ pie
Tallahassee, Florida 32399 =. -~ ;---~
G~. •. ~y
Dear Secretary Browning: '"'~' ~`"
~TT~
By the Authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Florida, under the provisions
of Article Ill, Section 8, of the Constitution of Florida, I do hereby transmit Council Substitute for
Council Substitute for House Bill 529, with my signature, enacted during the 39'" Session of the
Legislature of Florida, convened under the Constitution of 1968, during the Regular Session of
2407, and entitled:
An act relating to Communications ...
This bill has three major provisions: 1) the repeal of telephone rate increases; 2}
automatic enrollment into Lifeline, a program that provides reduced telephone rates to
eligible low income residents; and 3) increased consumer choice in the cable television
market. I applaud the Florida Legislature for passing this important piece of legislation.
As Florida's Attorney General, I consistently fought to protect Florida consumers
from excessive telephone rates. When the Legislature and the Public Service
Commission authorized the telephone companies to raise rates in 2003, t asked the
Florida Supreme Court to block those rate increases. This bill finally repeals those rate
increases once and for all, and I commend the Florida legislature for taking this bold
step that will save Floridians an estimated $141 million per year.
In addition, I have always strongly supported the American Association of Retired
Persons' (HARP) efforts to increase Florida's participation in Lifeline. By requiring the
automatic enrollment of eligible residents into this program, this bill will save these
families at least $162 per year on the cost of potentially life-saving telephone service.
This bill will also increase consumers' choices in the cable television market.
Current !aw imposes excessive local regulatory barriers that impede providers' ability to
enter the Florida marketplace. Because access to the market has been limited,
competition has been stifled, and cable bills have increased dramatically. In
fact, the cost of cable has far outpaced inflation in recent years, with consumers in
some Florida markets experiencing up to 8% increases per year.
THE CAPITOL
TAlUF1ASSEE, FioRtow 32399 • (8501 488-2272 • Pwx (850) 922-4292
AGENDA ITEM # 9A
----•--- --.--- - - -- - ---- - --------- ----- - - -- -• -. -....----•-- ... - ..------- -------° -......_. MAY 29, 2007
The Honorable Kurt S. Browning
May 18, 2007
Page Two
This bill will reduce those regulatory barriers by creating a uniform statewide
licensing process for cable providers. Eliminating patchwork regulations should
encourage more competition which should, in tum, encourage providers to expand their
product lines, be more responsive to consumers' needs, and lower costs. A 2003 study
by the United States General Accounting Office determined that competition in the cable
market reduced costs for consumers by 15%. In areas of Florida where limited
competition already exists, consumers are saving approximately $265 per year--real
savings for families who need it.
Moreover, this legislation will spark substantial economic development in Florida.
Investment in new infrastructure will likely exceed $1 biNion dollars over the next several
years and create many new high wage jobs for Floridians.
However, despite my support for increased competition, l have several concerns
about this legislation and will remain vigilant that these concerns are addressed as this
bill is implemented. First, I want to be certain all Floridians benefit from more
competition, and this legislation must not increase the digital divide that exists in many
parts of the state. I am encouraged by the HARP, the Florida Legislative Black Caucus,
and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples' support for the
bill's stiff penalties against discrimination based on race or income and will work to
ensure that all Floridians benefit from this legislation. Second, while the bill contains
provisions that allow consumers to file complaints against their cable providers, it fails to
provide the state with enforcement mechanisms like suspension or revocation of cable
licenses in order to protect consumers. While I do not support excessive regulation, I
do support meaningful enforcement of reasonable regulations and adequate protections
for consumers. Accordingly, I encourage the Legislature to consider such measures in
future legislation. Third, I will work to ensure that this bill does not dilute the availability
of public access channels and will encourage the preservation of that important vehicle
of communication between local governments and the people they serve.
For these reasons, I sign Council Substitute for Council Substitute for House Bill
529 into law but will be vigilant that this important piece of legislation does, in fact,
protect Flor'~da's consumers.
Since ,
•
•
Cha ie Crist