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Record of Proceedings

Jacksonville City Council Personnel Committee Meeting - April 6, 2026: Appointment of Philip Peterson as Council Auditor

City Council — Monday, April 6, 2026
BodyJacksonville, Florida
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 25:23

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

Folks, it is 101.

0:10

So we are gonna go ahead and gavel in and call this personnel committee agenda to order.

0:17

We will start with um actually I'll give you the date.

0:20

It is Monday, April 6th.

0:22

It is 101 p.m.

0:24

Let's do our introduction starting with Miss Staphoulis.

0:28

Mary Stephopolis, Office of General Counsel.

0:31

Jason Teal, Council Secretary.

0:34

Chris Miller at large group five.

0:36

Nick Allen at large group three.

0:38

Kevin Carico, Council District Four, and Chair.

0:41

Joe Carlucci, District Five.

0:43

Rockland Johnson, District 14.

0:45

We have in the crowd, they have microphones.

0:47

Go ahead, Mr.

0:48

White.

0:49

Past President White from the West Side.

0:51

Randy White, District 12.

0:53

Right.

0:54

Canamar, City Council, District 1.

0:57

Ron Salem, group two at large.

0:59

We should go ahead and let you guys introduce yourselves as well.

1:01

Philip Peterson Council's office.

1:03

Kim Taylor, Council Auditor.

1:05

All right, and we also have Ms.

1:06

Hamsey here from Council Research.

1:09

All right.

1:09

So we are calling this to order.

1:11

First up is the discussion on the council auditor position.

1:16

I think we have to call for public participation first.

1:19

Is that right?

1:20

Mr.

1:21

Chair, you have a couple of instances on here.

1:23

You have public participation for this item, which you would just take up before you vote.

1:27

So you can take it up now, or you can allow the conversation to occur, and then as long as you take up the public input before you vote on the matter, you can do it either way.

1:36

We have one card for this matter.

1:38

We'll go ahead and get it out of the way.

1:39

Mr.

1:39

Nooney, two minutes come on down.

1:46

And your time starts now.

2:00

All right.

2:02

Well, hello.

2:04

I am John J.

2:06

Nooney, Jacksonville City Council Resolution 2023 0819.

2:10

I'm in City Council District 4, CPAC 3 School Board District 3.

2:14

And just going from the agenda, the uh council auditor position.

2:19

Well, I don't know who it's up, but if I got a gut feeling, it's gonna be one of the best appointments the city could be making.

2:29

And it and in that spirit of the council auditor, it's almost like our CPAC, you know, representing the entire city.

2:38

So I would hope that this legislative body, the legislative branch, as well as the executive branch, and everyone that's here will almost join me in supporting what could be the first council auditor park for Duval County Jacksonville.

3:06

And uh so I just want to have that on the record.

3:10

I will probably be trying to advocate for it throughout the entire state.

3:17

And uh thank you for allowing me to participate in this process.

3:24

And uh I'll take any questions and uh thank you.

3:31

All right, Mr.

3:32

Nooney is standing by for questions.

3:34

I don't see any, so we are going to move on.

3:37

I think the most appropriate thing to do is probably turn it over to our current council auditor, and many of us probably know what is going to be said, but I'll let you say it.

3:48

Yes, sir.

3:49

Thank you, Council President.

3:50

Um, with my upcoming retirement at the end of May, I um had reflected in my letter to you all um that I absolutely recommend Philip Peterson, who is the current assistant council auditor, um, to this role.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
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Summary of Proceedings

Jacksonville City Council Personnel Committee Meeting - April 6, 2026

The Personnel Committee convened on April 6, 2026, at 1:01 PM to consider the appointment of a new Council Auditor following the retirement of Kim Taylor. After receiving public comment and extensive discussion, the committee unanimously nominated Philip Peterson, the current Assistant Council Auditor, to succeed her.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • John J. Nooney, a resident of Council District 4, expressed strong support for the appointment of Philip Peterson, calling it "one of the best appointments the city could be making" and advocating for the position.

Discussion Items

  • Kim Taylor, the retiring Council Auditor (effective May 27, 2026), recommended Philip Peterson, citing his 21 years of service, integrity, trustworthiness, and institutional knowledge. She highlighted his work on the Better Jacksonville Plan, economic development agreements, audits, and the JEA sale consideration in 2018.
  • Council President Kevin Carrico thanked Taylor for her service and expressed full support for Peterson, stating no nationwide search could find a better replacement.
  • Councilmember Dr. Rockland Johnson praised Taylor's leadership and noted the limited time before new council leadership in July, making a quick appointment necessary. He supported Peterson.
  • Councilmember Chris Miller commended the team Taylor built and gave full support to Peterson, emphasizing his dependability and pleasant demeanor under stress.
  • Councilmember Joe Carlucci praised the "dream team" of Kim, Philip, and others, and stated Peterson would win any nationwide search.
  • Councilmember Jason Teal moved to nominate Philip Peterson, citing the need for continuity and specialized skills.
  • Councilmember Randy White supported Peterson, noting he is from the Westside.
  • Councilmember Ken Amaro congratulated Taylor and supported the nomination, highlighting Peterson's financial astuteness and public service attitude.
  • Councilmember Ron Salem recalled the smooth transition in 2020 when Taylor was promoted, and listed past council auditors, stating Peterson can follow in their footsteps.
  • Councilmember Matt Peluso expressed comfort with the decision and excitement for both Taylor and Peterson.
  • A communication from Councilmember Roy Diamond was read into the record, expressing strong support for Peterson's appointment.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion and Vote: Councilmember Jason Teal moved to nominate Philip Peterson as Council Auditor; the motion was immediately seconded. The committee voted unanimously in favor (all ayes, no nays).
  • Effective Date: The resolution will set Philip Peterson's appointment effective May 28, 2026, the day after Kim Taylor's retirement on May 27, 2026.
  • Next Step: The Executive Committee (comprising the President, Vice President, and Finance Chair) will meet to discuss Peterson's salary.
  • Adjournment: The Personnel Committee adjourned at 1:26 PM to convene an executive session.

Meeting Transcript

Folks, it is 101. So we are gonna go ahead and gavel in and call this personnel committee agenda to order. We will start with um actually I'll give you the date. It is Monday, April 6th. It is 101 p.m. Let's do our introduction starting with Miss Staphoulis. Mary Stephopolis, Office of General Counsel. Jason Teal, Council Secretary. Chris Miller at large group five. Nick Allen at large group three. Kevin Carico, Council District Four, and Chair. Joe Carlucci, District Five. Rockland Johnson, District 14. We have in the crowd, they have microphones. Go ahead, Mr. White. Past President White from the West Side. Randy White, District 12. Right. Canamar, City Council, District 1. Ron Salem, group two at large. We should go ahead and let you guys introduce yourselves as well. Philip Peterson Council's office. Kim Taylor, Council Auditor. All right, and we also have Ms. Hamsey here from Council Research. All right. So we are calling this to order. First up is the discussion on the council auditor position. I think we have to call for public participation first. Is that right? Mr. Chair, you have a couple of instances on here. You have public participation for this item, which you would just take up before you vote. So you can take it up now, or you can allow the conversation to occur, and then as long as you take up the public input before you vote on the matter, you can do it either way. We have one card for this matter. We'll go ahead and get it out of the way. Mr. Nooney, two minutes come on down. And your time starts now. All right. Well, hello. I am John J. Nooney, Jacksonville City Council Resolution 2023 0819. I'm in City Council District 4, CPAC 3 School Board District 3. And just going from the agenda, the uh council auditor position. Well, I don't know who it's up, but if I got a gut feeling, it's gonna be one of the best appointments the city could be making. And it and in that spirit of the council auditor, it's almost like our CPAC, you know, representing the entire city. So I would hope that this legislative body, the legislative branch, as well as the executive branch, and everyone that's here will almost join me in supporting what could be the first council auditor park for Duval County Jacksonville. And uh so I just want to have that on the record.

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