Daily Record Financial News &
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Vol. 102, No. 124 • One Section
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
City lawyers: Arena signs illegal Opinion says displays must advertise services, events at facility
By Max Marbut Staff Writer The signs on the exterior of Veterans Memorial Arena advertising the Hunt, Green & James law firm violate the city’s charter and at least two of the signs violate state laws, according to an opinion from the city’s Office of General Counsel released Wednesday.
The city signed a facilities management contract with SMG in April 2013 to run several cityowned sports and entertainment facilities, including the arena. The agreement allows SMG to sell sponsorships, advertising, premium seating and naming rights at the facilities. In September, SMG signed a $300,000 sponsorship agreement with the law firm to temporarily
Vision Care eyes $301M expansion
identify certain suites inside the arena as “Hunt, Green & James” suites through Sept. 30, 2017. The agreement was amended about three weeks later to allow the law firm to display its advertisement in windows on all four sides of the arena. The signs show a picture of the firm’s three principal attorneys. According to the opinion, city law authorizes exterior signs to
be installed on the building as long as the signs advertise products, activities or services that are sold, produced, manufactured, provided or furnished within the facility or that sponsor a particular project, activity or event at the arena. Since the law firm does not provide services within the building, the signs “do not qualify as Sports and Entertainment Com-
plex on-site signs under current local law,” according to the opinion. For the signs on the north side of the building toward the expressway, the opinion said since the arena is within 660 feet of a federal-aid primary highway, state law does not allow commercial signage on the building unless the display is “directly Signs... Continued on Page A-3
Seeking $99M in city, state incentives Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. proposes a $301 million expansion and 100 new jobs in Jacksonville in exchange for almost $98.6 million in city and state incentives. The state would contribute a $1 million High Impact Performance Incentive contribution and up to $150,000, or $1,000 per employee, for Quick Response Training. In addition, the state proposes a tax credit of 5 percent of Vision Care’s total capital investment over 20 years, estimated to be $90.3 million, toward any state corporate income tax liability. The city filed legislation (2015-332) Wednesday requesting City Council to support a $7.1 million Recapture Enhanced Value grant to be paid after the expansion is completed by yearend 2018 and the project is on the tax rolls. The legislation would be introduced to council Tuesday. Jacksonville-based Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, formerly referred to as Vistakon, proposes to add 100 full-time jobs by yearend 2017 that pay an average $60,000 a year, plus $30,000 each in benefits. New jobs include technician positions, research and development specialists, high-speed machine operators, administrative support and back-office personnel. The plant, which makes 1.7 billion disposable contact lenses a year, occupies almost 69 acres at 7500 Centurion Parkway in Deerwood Park. The campus includes corporate offices, a research and development laboratory, manufacturing and distribution as well as The Vision Care Institute. In a news release, Mayor Alvin Brown said the project “shows continued confidence in our city’s growing market position as a destination for advanced manufacturing.” JAXUSA Partnership President Jerry Mallot called the project “a huge win for our region.” The city considers the project a win Vision... Continued on Page A-4
Public
Photo by David Chapman
By Karen Brune Mathis Managing Editor
Tears of happiness on graduation day Full of emotion, James Knuckles is consoled by Magistrate John Sampson and another after receiving his certificate honoring his graduation from the 4th Circuit Veterans Treatment Court. Knuckles and Darryl Woods graduated from the program Wednesday at the Duval County Courthouse, while a local U.S. representative was honored for his commitment to veterans. See story Page A-4.
Mayoral candidates go on offensive By David Chapman Staff Writer Mayor Alvin Brown and Lenny Curry stood at their podiums, took a breath, relaxed their shoulders. They scribbled some notes, maybe sipped a bottle of water. While the cameras were off Wednesday in the debate many didn’t expect, the two were quiet. They didn’t smile. They didn’t talk to each other, not even chat of families or the weather that normally fills awkward moments of silence. Back from commercial breaks, it was back to the show. Brown talking about 36,000 jobs, a thriving Downtown, and crime prevention and intervention.
legal notices begin on page
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Curry about making the city safer by bringing back 147 police officers, making it more attractive to business and investing in all neighborhoods. Much of what was said during the first mayoral debate before the May 19 general election has Brown been repeated over the past several months. For much of the campaign, Brown has said he’s been positive and Curry negative. On Wednesday, that changed when Brown went on the offensive during his opening statements, saying he found it
Published
for
“disturbing” Curry wouldn’t recognize Jacksonville’s growth and greatness in the past several years. “If you don’t believe that, then you’re not qualified to be our mayor,” he said. Curry didn’t back down, though. He Curry called Brown a nice guy. A well-intentioned person. But one who “just failed to lead the city of Jacksonville.” From there, the two disagreed on issues of crime, the budget and more. Debate... Continued on Page A-3
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