Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee Meeting - April 6, 2026
Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee Meeting - April 6, 2026
The committee met on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 9:30 AM in Council Chamber, City Hall, Jacksonville. The meeting was chaired by Mike Gay, with Vice Chair Randy White, and members Ken Amaro (late arrival 9:43 AM), Chris Miller, Ron Salem (early departure 10:00 AM), Michael Boylan, and Tyrona Clark-Murray present. Councilmember J. Carlucci visited. The meeting adjourned at 10:48 AM. The committee took action on 17 agenda items, including approvals, amendments, deferrals, and one withdrawal, and heard public comments on several topics.
Presentation by Northeast Florida Regional Council
Tyler Nolen, Special Projects Coordinator for the Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC), presented on the council’s support for Jacksonville public safety. He highlighted NEFRC’s role in administering the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) for hazardous materials, funded by state and federal mandates, and the Region 3 Healthcare Coalition, which serves 18 counties and has over 980 members across 550+ organizations. He detailed training initiatives for JFRD, including sending 15 personnel to the Florida Hazardous Materials Symposium, 2 to Advanced Hazmat Life Support, and 3 to a maritime hazmat course. NEFRC also funded $61,000 in equipment for Jacksonville-area facilities, including mass casualty stretchers, evacuation sleds, and 70 pediatric restraints for JFRD rescue units. Other initiatives include a Northeast Florida Military Installation Readiness Review, a JEA Hurricane Exercise, and a Regional Resilience Action Plan. Councilmember Boylan asked about traffic flow studies; Mr. Nolen noted a past hazardous materials commodity flow study and efforts to use AI and traffic cameras for future studies. Councilmember Amaro thanked NEFRC for its work.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Carnell Oliver (address on file) spoke generally about neighborhood rights, the 1866 Civil Rights Act, and the need for a freeman affairs division, referencing items 2026-0218, 2026-0219, and 2026-0207. He urged the city to address economic needs of historically oppressed communities.
- Blake Harper (address on file) spoke in favor of 2026-0186 (baby boxes) and 2026-0227 (prohibition on city funds for abortions), and opposed 2026-0140 (Confederate Street renaming), arguing that renaming hides history. He claimed the Democratic Party historically promoted white supremacy and criticized the “Southern Switch” narrative.
- Sally Barnes (address on file) spoke about a rezoning project on McDuff Ave (not on the committee’s agenda), expressing concern that a building was being used as a car lot without permits and requesting the zoning remain residential. The Chair directed her to the LUZ committee.
- Latavia Harris (address on file) spoke about the selection of board appointees to the Eastside CBA Board (not on the agenda), criticizing lack of transparency, vetting, and community representation. She urged rejecting all appointees except Larry Swink. The Chair directed her to the Rules committee.
Discussion Items
- 2026-0005 (Honorary street designation for Cedric Burrell): Amended to reflect additional noticing to two property owners; passed 7-0. Cherry Pollock (Office of General Counsel) confirmed the application was submitted by Mr. Burrell’s widow, and his restaurant operated for over 20 years. Councilmember Clark-Murray asked about Mr. Burrell’s community impact.
- 2026-0140 (Renaming Confederate Street to “Rose Arbor Way”): Amended to limit the name change to the segment between Market Street and Liberty Street (rather than the original full length), after Councilmember Boylan’s amendment to preserve the portion fronting Springfield Park. The amendment passed 6-1 (Councilmember Salem opposed). The bill as amended passed 5-2 (Councilmembers Gay and Salem opposed). Councilmember White noted he had considered a withdrawal amendment.
- 2026-0179 (Baymeadows Community Improvement District FY 26-27 budget): Approved 7-0. The budget includes $1,184,990 in assessments from 2,554 parcels, a 3% increase. Councilmember Clark-Murray asked about resident consent; Assistant Council Auditor Peterson noted no consent is required, and the maximum annual increase is 3% per the 2021 charter. Councilmember Salem asked about the district’s progress; Peterson reported about $400,000 remains from a $1.1 million budget, and improvements are ongoing.
- 2026-0180 (Tree planting appropriation): Amended to correct scrivener’s errors and passed 7-0. $4.5 million from the Tree Protection Trust Fund for Level 2 Tree Planting. Councilmember Boylan asked about promotion; Bill Delaney (Administration) said he would investigate, and Nina Sickler (Public Works) described the 100 Tree Challenge and ongoing work with council members.
- 2026-0181 (JFRD fire specialty teams grant): Amended to place grant agreement on file, passed 7-0. $359,000 from the Florida Department of Financial Services; no city match required.
- 2026-0182 (Tractor Supply Foundation grant): Withdrawn 7-0 at request of JFRD.
- 2026-0183 (Fire Station 18 scope revision): Amended to attach corrected CIP, passed 7-0. Eliminates property acquisition and parking expansion; adds art mural, landscaping, and exterior lighting. Chief Golden explained the property acquisition fell through due to high asking price. Councilmember Salem expressed philosophical opposition to using debt funding for art but supported the bill. The project has $1,490,003 remaining from $1.5 million appropriated; $161,000 for design, $800,000 for construction, $200,000 contingency, $150,000 for CEI. Mural cost not yet specified.
- 2026-0184 (Marine artificial reef complex grant): Approved 6-0. $120,000 from FWC; no city match. Terry Carr (Environmental Quality Division) said the project is in planning; one bid exceeded the grant, so they are seeking another. Materials are staged.
- 2026-0185 (St. James Building elevator repairs): Deferred.
- 2026-0186 (Infant safety devices “Baby Boxes”): Deferred after discussion. Councilmember Boylan moved to reduce from 14 to 4 boxes but withdrew the amendment after Deputy General Counsel Staffopoulos noted locations were not yet identified. Councilmember White suggested deferring to allow Chief Golden to determine appropriate number and locations. Councilmember Clark-Murray questioned the funding source (General Fund reserves). Chief Golden said boxes are for anonymity; original concept was four locations near major thoroughfares. Councilmember Miller wanted a funding source change. The bill was deferred.
- 2026-0187 (North Florida School of Special Education funding): Deferred at request of Councilmember Amaro, to allow the recipient to resolve issues with the Council Auditor’s Office. The organization is on the Chapter 118 Non-Compliance List for failing to provide required reporting by March 25, 2026.
- 2026-0188 (Railroad crossing closure and opening): Amended to include corrected exhibits, passed 6-0.
- 2026-0189 (Westside Tax Collector Branch refurbishment): Approved 7-0. Councilmember Clark-Murray added as co-sponsor.
- 2026-0190 (Change order for Tax Collector office buildout): Approved 6-0.
- 2026-0207 (McDuff Ave Park land acquisition): Approved 6-0. Councilmember Clark-Murray explained the purchase of six parcels (1.3 acres) for $350,000 (appraised at $375,000) for a passive park. Future funding needed for boardwalks and sidewalks to connect to the Emerald Trail. Phase II environmental site assessment is pending. Councilmembers Miller, Amaro, and Gay added as co-sponsors.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (7-0): 2026-0005 (as amended), 2026-0179, 2026-0180 (as amended), 2026-0181 (as amended), 2026-0183 (as amended), 2026-0189, 2026-0190.
- Approved (6-0): 2026-0184, 2026-0188 (as amended), 2026-0207.
- Approved (5-2): 2026-0140 (as amended).
- Withdrawn (7-0): 2026-0182.
- Deferred: 2024-0966, 2025-0361, 2026-0185, 2026-0186, 2026-0187.
- Items on second reading (read and rereferred, no vote): 2026-0214, 2026-0215, 2026-0216, 2026-0217, 2026-0218, 2026-0219, 2026-0222, 2026-0223, 2026-0224, 2026-0225, 2026-0226, 2026-0227, 2026-0231, 2026-0237, 2026-0248, 2026-0249.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good morning. We'll go ahead and get started with our Monday, April 6th, 2026 neighborhoods meeting. And I call the meeting to order, and we'll start with introductions to my left. Brandon Russell, Council Research. Mary Stefopoulis, Office of General Counsel. Philip Peterson, Council Leaders Office. Good morning, Michael Boylan, District Six. Mike Gay, District Two. Good morning, Chris Miller at large group five. Ron Salem, group two at large. Good morning, Tyrona Clark Murray, District 9. Randy White, District 12. Thank you. All right, welcome everyone. So we'll go ahead and uh open up for public comment. Our first speaker will be Mr. Carnell Oliver. And you'll be given three minutes if you state your name and address or say it's on file for the record. And please, please be specific and stay on discussion for any item that's on the agenda. Mr. Oliver. Yes, my name is Carnegie Oliver. Address is on file. I'm I have to be broad and I'm gonna be specific. 2018, 2019, and 207. You know, when I take a good look and I look at available land in this city or any kind of focus of economic development, there are a couple of things that come to my mind, and then there's some questions I wanna ask. Number one, if the conversation of a new neighborhood bill of rights come up, will that be a conversation about the 1866 Civil Rights Act? Or will we actually have a conversation in this community about field order 15 from General Sherman? Will this with this mayor administration, or will the council put forward some kind of legislative approach with creating a freeman affairs division under community development? I think there needs to be a lot of pause on a lot of issues moving forward because when the birthright citizenship happens, this it has moving progressively strong, but there's a need to fulfill a redress that addresses a lot of key economic needs of people that have always been here. I filed a class act, I filed a complaint with the federal courts. I'm not getting much help on it. But I'm using the things that make me who I am in this country and what makes me pursue the things in this country. My self-determination is not that is not reflective of me running my mouth. It's about me meaning what I say and saying what I say doing it. The issues are very clear. The ones that establish this country have been overlooked, they have been oppressed because of bad policies of the past. And it goes from the east side to old La Villa, Riverside, because those old freedmen settlements. We got ran off because of consolidation. There are a lot of issues that must be addressed. Or we're gonna keep going through the same issue. If it means we gotta break this city up, let's go back to the basics of having small towns. But the thing about it is we gotta bring the power back to the people. And my people need the power. If we can get allocated resources from a division, if the mayor can do it, put in in the budget for the 2027. But if you have to reallocate that money, I'm looking for the council to do it because you can always find you can always find wasteful spending. Because when that 14th amendment case is settled, there's an obligation. And I yield my time. All right, thank you. Our next speaker will be uh Blake Harper, and then followed by Sally Barnes and Latera Harris.
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