The past, present and future of Downtown Vision Inc. was the main subject of a Jan. 19 retreat for the organization’s board of directors.
A recap and analysis of the retreat was the main item on the board’s meeting Wednesday at SunTrust Tower.
The retreat began with a presentation by JAX USA Partnership President Jerry Mallot and Don Shea, executive director of the Jacksonville Civic Council. Both are advisers to Mayor Alvin Brown.
They explained at the retreat the mayor’s commitment to Downtown development.
DVI board member and past Chairman Steve Crosby said Wednesday that Mallot and Shea gave the board a better understanding of the organization’s role in development and advocacy.
“I walked away with the notion that DVI is valued for having the Ambassadors on the ground. We really need to think of ourselves as a line item in some other budgets,” he said.
He was referring to the Downtown Ambassadors program.
Crosby said DVI’s primary mission has not changed since the organization was created almost 12 years ago.
“We’re here to serve the stakeholders who pay the taxes that fund our budget. We’re here to represent their interests,” Crosby said.
Board member Chris Flagg said the role of the organization has evolved, but it might be time to return to at least one of the original missions.
“DVI has grown into a greater position to be the voice of what’s happening Downtown. We need to re-include the ‘vision’ in Downtown Vision,” he said.
The consensus of the board was that DVI must increase the level of programming it creates and administers.
“I’d like to see DVI step up and organize some events for Hemming Plaza other than Art Walk,” said City Council member Don Redman, who represents Downtown and serves on DVI’s board.
“The mayor’s goal is to get things going Downtown. We have ideas and we have people who are ready to go to work,” he said.
The board agreed that based on the information and ideas developed at the retreat, DVI’s primary focus for the next 12 months should be in six areas: maintaining a clean and safe Downtown environment; improving the level of programming and activities; increasing marketing and communication efforts; raising funds from sources other than additional ad valorem taxes paid by Downtown property owners and from the City; and improving the organization’s advocacy for Downtown.
In other business, the board voted unanimously to renew DVI’s contract with SGI, the third-party provider that administers the Downtown Ambassadors program.
The new contract will retain the same services at the same annual cost, $579,251, with an amendment that DVI can change the terms of the agreement with SGI in regard to level of service and severability with 60 days’ notice.
According to SGI, in the past year the Ambassadors removed from Downtown’s streets 21 tons of leaves and acorns, cleaned 1,300 spills and odors, handled 2,000 nuisance activities, handled 15,000 directions and assistance requests and covered 21,000 miles on bicycles and Segways.
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