Pour Taproom in downtown Jacksonville. Take a look inside.
The Pour Taproom’s tap wall features wine, cocktails, beers including local beers designated with a 904. The taproom is on the ground floor and mezzanine of the new VyStar Credit Union garage facing Laura Street in downtown Jacksonville.
- Downtown Investment Authority board approves contract with Colin Tarbert as the new CEO.
- Tarbert’s annual salary will be $297,000, a $70,000 increase from outgoing CEO Lori Boyer.
- Boyer, whose last board meeting was marked by praise for her six years of service, oversaw a period of significant downtown development.
The Downtown Investment Authority board and Colin Tarbert reached agreement on a contract that will pay him $297,000 a year as CEO of the agency in charge of bringing residents and businesses into downtown Jacksonville.
Tarbert, who most recently served as president and CEO of the Baltimore Development Corp., emerged as the top choice in a national search when the board ranked three finalists on June 9. The board then moved quickly to start negotiations with him for the contract.
His salary is $70,000 higher than the compensation of outgoing CEO Lori Boyer, who is stepping down after six years.
Tarbert will start work in Jacksonville in August. The board designated Guy Parola, who is director of operations for DIA, as interim CEO until Tarbert moves into the CEO position.
The approval of the contract with Tarbert and designation of Parola as interim CEO occurred during Boyer’s last board meeting as CEO. She got a standing ovation from the board and audience members after the board unanimously approved a resolution highlighting her accomplishments.
The Downtown Investment Authority is responsible for carrying out the revitalization plan for a community redevelopment area that straddles both sides of the St. Johns River.
Board member John Hirabayashi praised Boyer for the “exhaustive knowledge your have about every aspect” of the community redevelopment area, known as a CRA for short.
“But most of all, the way you’ve kept the integrity in the process and adhered to the CRA and the plans for the city, always trying to do the right thing,” he said. “I really respected that.”
Board member Scott Wohlers recalled working with Boyer when he was on the board of the San Marco Merchants Association and she served on City Council representing San Marco from 2011-2019.
“It’s always been a pleasure to work with you and you’ve done such an amazing job leading this organization for the last six years and really setting Jacksonville up for a wonderful future moving forward,” he said.
“I think you’ve set us on such a critical path that the momentum that you’ve set is undeniable and I hope irreversible,” board member Sondra Fetner said.
The board extended Boyer’s contract a year ago. Boyer and board members said at the time that the agency would be commencing a search for the next CEO in order to create a smooth transition in leadership.
Until Tarbert moves to Jacksonville, the CEO will be Parola, who has worked at the Downtown Investment Authority since 2014. Boyer said he has the “breadth of perspective” for guiding DIA in the areas of private redevelopment projects, public works projects and budgetary issues.
