7/1/1999-6/30/2003
7/1/2003-6/30/2007
Elaine Brown, a longtime resident of Jacksonville, became a member of the City Council on July 1, 1999 and was elected President of the Council for the 2004-2005 Council year.
During her first term on the Council, Council Member Brown was Chair of the Finance Committee in 2000 and of the Transportation, Environment & Energy Committee for three consecutive years (2001 through 2003).
Council Member Brown has successfully initiated and passed legislation that has been effective in improving the quality of life for all of Jacksonville with:
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The Downtown Master Plan
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Annual mobile collections of household hazardous waste in each of the fourteen (14) City Council districts
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E-waste (electronic) collection of computers, monitors, printers, etc.
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More visible and legible display of commercial addresses
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Leading the state by passing legislation in Duval County that prohibits 'patron night' fighting in bars and clubs where alcohol is sold or distributed
While trying to plan for the future needs of Jacksonville and its citizens, Elaine continues to work on the Jacksonville Transportation Center, which will be a hub or center for connecting all modes of transportation downtown (automobile, bus, cab, automated skyway, light rail, Amtrak, etc.). Elaine, in her role as Chair of the Task Force on Affordable and Low-Income Housing, is also a strong proponent of affordable housing and has been at the forefront to advocate the elimination of substandard housing in Jacksonville.
Aside from her duties on the Council, Elaine is the former Director of Corporate Relations for PRI (Presentation Resource, Inc.) She is the former owner of Promotions Network & Convention Planners, Inc., and former director of Corporate Meetings and Event Services for St. John & Partners Advertising and Public Relations.
No stranger to community service, Elaine has a long affiliation with both the Jacksonville and the Beaches Chamber of Commerce and has chaired the Jacksonville and its Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau. She was appointed by Mayor Ed Austin to the Downtown Development Authority and was later asked to chair the Downtown Master Plan Task Force. Mayor Austin also selected her to lead the Multi-Modal Task Force, which studied the feasibility of creating a transportation center near the Prime Osborn Convention Center. In addition, Elaine is a founding member of Kids Kampus, a unique multi million-dollar children's park that combines education with recreation and safety.
Her civic involvement is also impressive. Elaine is on the Board of Directors of the Bridge of Northeast Florida, Community Connections (formerly the YWCA), and is a board member and treasurer of Cathedral Arts Project. She is a past board member of both the I. M. Sulzbacher Center and the March of Dimes. She was also past honorary co-chairperson of 'Walk America,' as well as a former Suicide Prevention volunteer.
During her childhood she lived in Riverside and later moved to the Westside. Ultimately Elaine settled in Neptune Beach, where she has resided for over 20 years. She is a graduate of Forrest High School and Massey Business College.
Elaine and her husband Richard (Dick), who is Mayor of Neptune Beach, have six children, spoiled cats, Romeo, Juliet and 'R2' and house bunnies, Stuart and Pancho.