Finance committee approves $750,000 contract with JAX USA Partnership; adds reporting requirement

The Finance Committee approved a $750,000 contract with the JAX USA Partnership (the chamber's economic development arm) on an emergency basis Oct. 21 and added a committee amendment requiring more detailed reporting on how the funds are spent.

Anna Liebosch, senior vice president of JAX USA Partnership, told the committee the organization will cooperate with the city's Office of Economic Development on reporting. "We are happy to work with the office of OED in in looking at ways that we can modify the contract to include more information and clarity for you," Liebosch said during the hearing.

Background and amendment: the contract provides city funds for marketing and business attraction work. Committee member D. Diamond moved and the committee accepted an amendment requiring that quarterly summary reports include invoices and documentation showing use of the city funds—an additional transparency step the chamber agreed to accommodate. The amendment does not change the payment schedule; payments will continue under the contract's existing advance/disbursement terms.

Committee discussion: several members said they want a consistent standard for reporting when the city provides funding to nonprofit partners and asked staff to develop a broader approach for future contracts. Council staff and the chamber said they can provide invoice-level documentation in quarterly reports; staff said the city will continue to negotiate final contract language and that OGC will prepare the executed contract.

Vote and next steps: the Committee approved the contract as amended by a recorded vote (5–1). OGC staff said a fully executed contract should be in place and payments will be effective back to Oct. 1; finalization is expected in roughly a month after contract drafting.

Provenance: committee debate, chamber testimony and the amendment to add invoice-level reporting are on the Oct. 21 transcript.